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CENTENNIAL 


Portrait  and  Biographical  Record 


.  .  .  OK 


THE  CITY  OF  DAYTON 


AND  OK  • 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY,  OHIO, 


CONTAINING  . 


Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 


.  .  TOGETHER  WITH  . 


THE   BIOGRAPHIES   AND   PORTRAITS   OP  THE   PRESIDENTS 

OF  THE   UNITED   STATES   AND   BIOGRAPHIES 

OF  THE  GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


Edited  by  FRANK  CONOVER.  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 


A.  W.   BOWEN  &  CO. 

18©7. 


FEOM  THE  PRESS  OP  WILSON.  HUMPHREYS  *  CO., 
TOCKTH  ST.,  LOGAN6PORT,  IND. 


PREFACE. 


k*/^\  IOGRAPHY  is  the  fountain  head  of  history,  as  only  the  deeds  of  men 
\y\  form  the  true  basis  for  a  study  of  the  rise  and  fall  of  nations.  The 
achievements  of  the  individual  are  beneath  all  historical  events  deserv- 
ing of  record,  and  it  therefore  follows  that  the  personal  histories  of  the  more 
active  and  prominent  inhabitants  of  a  county,  such  as  are  presented  in  this  vol- 
ume, will  give  the  best  view  of  the  growth  and  progress  of  that  community, 
unbiased  and  veracious,  and  altogether  devoid  of  false  coloring. 

While  portraits  and  biographical  notices  of  some  of  the  worthy  settlers  and 
a  few  of  the  prominent  living  residents  of  the  county  will  be  missed  from  these 
pages,  the  fault  is  not  due  to  the  publishers.  Of  the  former  many  have  passed 
away,  of  whom  their  descendants  have  no  reliable  information;  while  a  number 
of  the  latter,  not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  character  of  the  work,  failed 
to  give  the  necessary  data  for  the  compilation  of  a  sketch. 

In  placing  before  the  reader  the  Centennial  Portrait  and  Biographical 
Record  of  the  City  of  Dayton  and  Montgomery  county,  the  publishers  can  con- 
scientiously claim  that  they  have  faithfully  fulfilled  every  promise  made  in  their 
prospectus,  and  they  are  confident  that  their  efforts  deserve  and  will  receive  the 
approbation  of  their  patrons. 

A.  W.  BO  WEN  &  CO.,  Publishers. 
August,  1897. 


&   ■%•, 


INDEX. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Adams,  J 29 

Adams,  J.  Q 45 

Arthur,  C.  A 117 

Buchanan,  ] 80 

Cleveland,  S.  G 121 

Fillmore,  M 72 


Garfield,  J.  A 113 

Grant,  U.  S 102 

Harrison,  B 125 

Harrison,  W.  H 57 

Hayes,  R.  B 106 

Jackson,  A 49 


Jefferson,  T 33 

Johnson,  A 98 

Lincoln,  A 84 

McKinley,  W 127 

Madison,  J 37 

Monroe,  J 41 


Pierce,  F 76 

Polk,  J.  K 64 

Taylor,  Z 68 

Tyler,  J 60 

Van  Buren,  M 53 

Washington,  G 25 


PRESIDENTIAL  PORTRAITS. 


Adams,  J 28 

Adams,  J.  Q 44 

Arthur,  C.  A 116 

Buchanan,  J 81 

Cleveland,  S.  G 120 

Fillmore,  M 73 


Garfield,  J.  A 112 

Grant,  U."  S 103 

Harrison,  B 124 

Harrison,  W.  H 56 

Hayes,  R.  B 107 

Jackson,  A 48 


Jefferson,  T 32 

Johnson,  A 99 

Lincoln,  A 85 

McKinley,  W 127 

Madison,  J 35 

Monroe,  J 40 


Pierce,  F   77 

Polk,  J.  K 66 

Taylor,  Z 69 

Tyler,  J 62 

Van  Buren,  M 51 

Washington,  G 24 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


Allen,  W 156 

Anderson,  C 152 

Bartley,  M 143 

Bartley,  T.  W 142 

Bebb,  W 143 

Bishop,  R 157 

Brough,  J 150 

Brown,  E.  A 136 

Bushnell,  A.  S 163 

Byrd,  C.  W 131 


Campbell,  J.  E 162 

Chase,  S.  P 147 

Corwin,  T 141 

Cox,  J.  B 153 

Dennison,  W.  J 148 

Foraker,  J.  B 160 

Ford,  S 145 

Foster,  C 159 

Hayes,  R.  B 154 

Hoadly,  G 160 


Huntingdon,  S 133 

Kirker,  T 133 

Looker,  0 135 

Lucas,  R 139 

McArthur,  D 138 

McKinley,  W 162 

Medill,  W 146 

Meigs,  R.J 134 

Morrow,  J 138 

Noyes,  E.  F 154 


Shannon,  W 140 

St.  Clair,  A 131 

Tiffin,  E 132 

Tod,  D 150 

Trumbull,  A 138 

Vance,  J 140 

Wood,  R 146 

Worthington,  T 136 

Young,  T.  L 156 


INDEX. 


DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Ackeret,  P.  M 929 

Acton,  E.  L 355 

Adelberger,  A 368 

Adkins,  T.  G 366 

Alhrecht,   C 928 

Allaback,  J 371 

Allaback,  [.  N 371 

Allaman,  t> 295 

Allaman,  D.   W 295 

Allen,  C.  R 927 

Allen,  D.  H 927 

Allen,  E 929 

Allen,  G.  V 873 

Allen,  J 373-1276 

Allen,}.  F '.131-1275 

Allen,  J.  M 373 

Allen,  R 372 

Allen,  R.  N 372 

Allen,  S.   | 1276 

Allison,  D.  K 376 

Allison,  J.  C 375 

Allison,  [.  W 375 

Althoff,  H    374 

Althoff,  H.  F 375 

Althoff,  T.  P 374 

Ambrose,  W.  J :;',', 

Ambrose.  \V.   M ;!77 

Anion,  J 376 

Anderson,  B 361 

Anderson,  B.  D ::sl 

Anderson,  C.  F 381 

Anderson.  F 361 

Anderson,  R.  M 817 

Anderson,  \Y.  B 814 

Anderton.C,  Sr 378 

Anspach,  G 1177 

Anspach,  J 1177 

Apple,  H.. 1109 

Appleton,  |.  M 250 

Arnold,  B.  F 383 

Arnold,  I) L303 

Arnold  Family 1300 

Arnold,  E.,  Miss 1301 

Arnold,  H.  H 1301 

Arnold,  J 1176-1300 

Arnold,  J.  W 383 

Arnold,  S 1300 

Aughe,  C,  Mrs 383 

Aughe,  S.  S 382 

Aughe,  \V 382 

Aull  Bro.  Paper  and 

Box  Co 384 

Aull,  F.  N 385 

Aull,  J.  W 386 

Aull,  W.  J 385 

Bad  us,  T.J 386 

us,  \v 386 

Baggott,   |.  H 391 

ott,  W 391 

Bailey,   II 1093 

Bailey,  | 1093 

.  N.  B   1093 

Ba      r,    \.  H    I  I  m 

Baker.    A.  M 


Baker,  B 1178-1279 

Baker,  D 1111 

Baker,  E.  R 393 

Baker,  G.  P 1280 

Baker.  1 393 

Baker,   |.  L 393 

Baker,  L 1279 

Baker,  M 1178-127!) 

Baker,  N 1178 

Baker,  S 1173 

Banker,  G.  C 1044 

Banker,  S 1044 

Barker,  F.  D   394 

Barker,  L.  D 394 

Barney,  B 183 

Barney,  E.  E 183 

Barney,  E.  J 240 

Basore,  D 941 

Basore,  G 941 

Bates,  D.  L 395 

Bates,  H 395 

Bates,  1 892 

Bates,  i.  11 387 

Bates,  L.  C 398 

Bat<  s,  Ns  D 398 

Bates,  O.  E 387 

Bates,  R 892 

Bates,  R.  H 396 

Bates,  \Y.  1 892 

Baum,  C 930 

Baum,  P 930 

Baumann,  R.  O MHO 

Beachler,  G.  W 931 

Beachler,  H 932 

Beachler,  J 931 

Bear,  H 1285 

Bear,  S.  D 243 

Beardshear,  ('■ 1230 

Beardshear,  1 1267 

Beardshear,).  F 1230 

Beardshear,  W.  M...1268 

Beaver,  F.  P..-. 500 

Beck,  C 396 

Bei  k,  H 1110 

Beck,  J 285 

Beck,  J.  S 285 

Beck,  S lllo 

Bei  k,  S.,  Sr lllo 

Beck,  W 396 

Becker,  H 933 

Becker,  H.  J 402 

Becker.  1 933 

Beeghly.W.  E 500 

Bell,  |.'X 397 

Berlin,  C 368 

Beyl,   1 1281 

Bevl,  S 1281 

Bickham,  W.  D 403 

Billings,  F.  M 404 

Billings,  T 404 

Billington,  A.  A 725 

Binkley,  J   934 

Binklev,  J.  A 934 

Binkley,  N 937 

Binkley,  S 935 


Binkley,  S.  H.... 935-936 

Birch,  J 512 

Bittinger,  F.  D 494 

Bixler,  G 1229 

Bixler,  S 1229 

Black,  G.  A 938 

Black,  W.  A 938 

Blakeny,  VV.  J 280 

Blocher.  W.  L 910 

Blum,  J 406 

Blum,  J.  F 400 

Blumenschein,  W.  L.  300 
Bohlender,  E.  E....  413 

Bohlender,  P 413 

Bonner,  C.  A 518 

Bonner,  J.  N 518 

Booher,  D.  L 1202 

Booher,  J 892  1202 

Booher,  S 892-1202 

Bookwalter,  B.  F....  939 

Bookwalter,  I) 940 

Bookwalter,  1 940 

Bookwalter,  W.  S...   939 

Boomershine,  A 1288 

Boomershine,  C.  L.  .1289 

Boomershine,  D 1287 

Boomershine,  H..  .  .    1287 

Boone,  D 411 

Boren,  J.  W ........ .  412 

Boren,  W 412 

Bothast,  J 414 

Bouck,  O.  L S7:l 

Bowersox,  A.  L 287 

Bowersox,  G.  A 288 

Bowles,  F.  K 942 

Bowman,  J 1107 

Bowser,  P" 1131 

Bradford,  E.,  Mrs...  1291 

Bradford,  G.G 1289 

Bradford,  T 1290 

Bradford,  J.  1 1291 

Bradford,  S.  J 1289 

Brandt,  1„  Jr 943 

Brandt,  J.,  Sr 943 

Breene.F.  S 418 

Brehm,  H 944 

Brehm,  H.  P 944 

Breidenbach,  C.  H..  415 
Breidenbach,  D.  G..  415 

Brenner.  F 899 

Brenner,  M 899-1222 

Bridgman,  F 1094 

Bridgman,  T.  ..1083-1094 
Bridgman,  W.  H.  H..1083 

Brookins,  X.  H 874 

Brookins.R.  R 874 

Brown,  E.  F 261 

Brown.  J.  A 944 

Brown,  M.  C,  Mrs...   945 

Brown,  O.  B 261 

Br. mil,  O.  G 945 

Brownell,  F 388 

Browned.   ].  R 388 

Brubaker,  J.  T 1296 

Bruestle,  C 1113 


Bruestle,  H.  C 1113 

Bruestle,  J Ill:: 

Brumbaugh,  C 1230 

Brumbaugh,  b L210 

Brumbaugh,  G 1231 

Brumbaugh,  H 1-51 

Brumbaugh,  J 040 

Brumbaugh,  J.  H..  ..1210 
Brumbaugh,  J.  K... .  946 
Brumbaugh,  J.  R....1251 
Brumbaugh,  S..1230-1252 

Bruner,  b 1240 

Bryant,  L.  M 410 

Bryant,  W 416 

Buechler,  J 1113 

Buehner,  C 948 

Buehner,  J 947 

Buehner,  J.  F 948 

Buehner,  J.  M 948 

Buehner,  0 949 

Bunker,  1 418 

Bunker,  X.  R 418 

Burkert,  E.  F 417 

Burkhardt,  F.  J 422 

Burkhardt,  J.  A 224 

Burkhardt,  R.  P 224 

Burns.  R.  W 950 

Burtner,  A.  K 950 

Burtner,  J 950 

Butler,  J.'J 425 

Butt,  ].  W 423 

Butt,  R 423 

Butt,  R.  R 423 

Butz,  C.  A 301 

Butz,  L 300 

Butz,  L.  C,  Miss 360 

Butz,  L.  M.,  Miss....  360 
Butz,  V.  M.,  Miss....  360 

Buvinger,  E.  E 318 

Buvinger,  G.  W 315 

Buvinger,  H 321 

Byron,  J.  W 425 

Callahan,  W.  A 330 

Callahan,  W.   P 190 

Carmony,  J 1269 

Carney,  A.  C 443 

Carr,  S.  H    278 

Carroll,  J 920 

Carson,  1.  L L297 

Carson.  R 1296 

Caten.F 231 

Caten,  \V.  L 230 

Catrow.  G.C 952 

Catrow,  X.  1 952 

Catrow.   P 952 

Cellarius,  H 524 

Cellarius,  H.  F.  E...   524 

Chamberlin,  S 288 

Chamberlin,  W.  B...  287 

Childs,  B.  B 201 

Chrisman,  C.  N 433 

Clagett,  S.  M 1112 

Clagett,  S.G 1112 

Clay,  A 951 


INDEX. 


DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Clay,  A.  K 951 

Clemmens,  A 427 

Clemmens,  F.  C 437 

Clemmens,  F.  N 432 

Clemmens,  H 432 

Clemmens,  J 42? 

Clemmens,  W.T....   432 

Clemmer,  J 1084 

Clemmer.W 1084 

Cline,  J.  C 310 

Coblentz,  E 434 

Coe,  A 530 

Coe,  E.  H 530 

Coffman,  C.  J 438 

Coffman.J 438 

Coler,  C.  A 1282 

Coler,  J 1282 

Collins,  C 4:!7 

Collins,  J 4:;t 

Compton.F.  M 457 

Conover,  O.  B 428 

Conover,  F 4: 14 

Cbnover,  \V 428 

Cook,  H 548 

Cook,  1 his;.- lira 

Cook.W 1085 

Cooper,  C.  A 444 

Cooper,  I)   444 

(  oover,  A.   1 1180 

Coover.  E.,  Mrs 1181 

Coover,  J 1181 

Coover,  J.  M 1267 

Coover,  J.  Q.A 1267 

Coover,  M.  J 1181 

Corbin,  L 899 

Corns,  C.  F 439 

Cotterman,  W   ....   1132 

Cowden,  R 445 

Cox,  J.  M 1146 

Coy,  L 1191 

Craig-,  Z.  A 467 

Craighead,    |.  B 273 

Craighead,  S 909 

Craighead,  \V 273 

Crandall,  H.  A 284 

Crandall,  1 284 

Crauder,  H 953 

Crauder,  J 953 

Crawford,  A 536 

Crawford,  C.  H 536 

Crawford,  W.  H 466 

Crawford,  Z 536 

Creager,  J 1085 

Creager,  J.  C 1085 

Creager,  J.  P. ..  1085-1308 

Creager,  W 1308 

Crider,  P 1146 

Cripe.  D 1114 

Cripe,  1.,  |r 1114 

Crist,  1 1302 

Crook,  C 922 

Crook,  G 923 

Crook,  T 922 

Crook,  W 923 

Crooks,  J.  C 44? 


Crooks,  T.J 447 

Crosbv,   J..' 111-". 

Crosby,  R 1115 

Crosby,  W.  A 1115 

Crull,  H 1261 

Crume,  J.  C 222 

Crume,  W.  E 222 

Culbert,  E 954 

Cummin,  R.  1 238 

Cummin,  W 239 

Cuppy,  H 1252 

Cuppy.J 1252 

Cusick.'T.  M 1179 

Dale,  C.  W 449 

Dancyger,  1 449 

Dancyger,  L 449 

Dancyger,  S 44*.< 

Darrow,   | 875 

Darrow,  P.   Mrs 876 

Darrow,  \Y.  L 875 

David,  1 1091 

Davidson,  J 229-1183 

Davidson,  ].,  Mrs  ...lis:; 

Davidson,  O.  E 165 

Davidson,  O.  G.  H...   465 

Davis,  C.  M 454 

Davis,  L.  N 453 

Davisson,  O.  F 229 

Davisson,  H.,  Mrs  .  .   230 

Davisson,  J 230 

Daw.   1 455 

Davy,  W 155 

Dayton    (."dirge    of 

Music 360 

Dean,  D.  A 157 

Deardorf,  J 1161 

DeBra.D 458 

DeBra,  J.  F 458 

Degger,  J 464 

Degger,  J.  J 459 

1  *egger,  J.  L 464 

Delawter,  J 1131 

Denise,  J.  S 463 

Denise,  W 463 

Denlinger,  A.  A 1086 

Denlmger,   I .  .  .  .705- Hiss 

Dennick,  Bros 554 

Dennick,  H 559 

Dennick,  J 554 

Denn  ck,  W 554 

Dennis,  H.  W 881 

Dennis,  M.J 881 

Densmore,  A 468 

Densmore,  W.....V  .   468 

Detrick,  A 955 

Detrick,  J.  J 955 

Detwiler,  J 1209 

Dhein,  A 465 

Dickev,  A 252 

Dickey,  R.  R 252 

Diehl,  E     956 

Diehl,  1 956 

Diers,  A.  J.  F 468 

Disher,  C. 1309 


Disher,  M 1309 

Disher,  P 1309 

Ditzel.F 562 

Ditzel,  J.  F 562 

Dodds,  C.  W 958 

Dodds,  L 959 

Dodds,  W 958 

Dohner,  A.  D.,  Miss..  999 

Dohner,  1 999 

Doren,  J.  G 47(1 

Drayer,  G 1141 

Drill,  G.  W 1298 

Drill,  J.  W 1297 

Drury,  M.  R 488 

Drurv,  M.  S 4SS 

Duckwall,  H 1244 

Duckwall,  W 1244 

Dupuv,  T 4S5 

Dustin,  C.  W 239 

Dustin,  M 239 

Eagle,  P 959 

Eagle,  P.  W '.'.v.i 

Earlv,  1 960 

Early,  J 960 

Earnshaw,  L.  P 466 

Earnshaw,  M.  A.,  Mrs.  232 
Earnshaw,  W. . .  .231^466 

Earnst,  M.  F 1089 

Earnst,  S 1089 

Ebert,  J.  M 469 

Ebling,  G.  M 961 

Ebling,  J 961 

Eby,  A..' 965 

Ebv,  C 1090 

Eby,  G 962 

Ebv,  J..  962-963-965-1 1  mo 

Ebv,  T.  P 962 

Ebv,  W 1090 

Eby,  W.  S 96:; 

Eckhardt,  G 1116 

Eckhardt,  H.  L 1116 

Ecki,  F 492 

Ecki,  W.  H.H 492 

Eckstine,  C 474 

Edgar,  M.  Miss 588 

Edwards,  G.  W 474 

Eichelberger,  D 832 

Eichelberger,  T.  D..   832 

Elder,  T 346 

Elliff,  C.  W 475 

Elliott,  H 1?:-; 

Elliott,  W 173 

Emert,  A 964 

Emert,  D 964 

Eminger,  A.  J 966 

Eminger,  C.  F 966 

Ensev,  D 884 

Ensey,  J 884 

Ensley,  G 1117 

Enslev,  J 111? 

Enslev,  J.  L 1117 

Erbaugh.A 1096 

Erbaugh,  G 1095 

Erbaugh.1 1091 


Erbaugh,  J 1091   lour. 

Erbaugh,  S 1095 

Epplev,  C.  S 476 

Eppley,  H.  C 176 

Euchenhofer,  E.  E.  .   338 
Euchenhofer,  F.  H       339 

Evans,  J 1299 

Evans,  M 1298 

Evans,  R 1299 

Evans,  T.  P 460 

Ewry,  B 967 

Ewry,  1 967 

Ewry,  W 967 

Fabing,  M   968 

Fair,  C 322 

Fair,  E.  S 322 

Falkner.L 968 

Falkner,  L.,  Sr   96s 

Falknor,  C.  W 1120 

Falknor.L 1120 

Fansher,  L.  M 486 

Fansher,  W 486 

Fansher,  \V.  1 187 

Farrell,  T.  J 888 

Easold,  E.. 440 

Fay,  A 497 

Fay,  W.  E 497 

Feight,  A.  G 571 

Feight,  F 

Feight,  H.  E 278 

Feight,   1.  G 568 

Ferneding,  H.  1 482 

Fiorini,  PI 481 

Flack,  P   187 

Flack,  W.H 487 

Fleck,  C.  M 193 

Fleck,  E.  L 193 

Fleming,  Z.  D 499 

Fletcher,  J.  R 500 

Flory,  A.". 1119 

Florv,  H 1119 

Florv,  J.  B 1119 

Flotron,  J.  R •- 

Foos.  J.. 229 

Forney,  A 11.18 

Forney,  C 1118 

Forrer,  S 309 

Fowler,  A      866 

Fox,  D.  B 970 

Fox,  D.  C,  Jr 970 

Fox,  1 969 

Fox.  L 969 

Fox,  T.S 969 

Francis,  A 911 

Francis,  O.  E 911 

Frank,  A 971 

Frank,  J 503 

Frank,  J.  L.  H 257 

Frank,  L 971 

Frantz.  A 1121 

Frantz,  D 1097-1121 

Frantz,  H   1097-1121 

Frantz, 1 1097 

Frantz,  M 1300 


INDEX 


DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Freigau,  C 321 

French,  G.  W 1121 

French,  S.  L 1120 

Freudenberger,  M  .  . .  504 

Frohmiller,  J.  B 512 

Fromm,  C 505 

Fromm,  C,  Sr 505 

Fry,  E.A 511 

Fry,  H.  A 511 

Gaddis,  M.P 218 

Gaddis,  T.  P 218 

Galbraith,  A.  S 343 

Galbraith,  N 344 

Galloway,  | 509 

Galloway,  "I.  G 509 

Ganger,  G 1215 

Garber,  1 972-1088 

Gardiner,  H 1122 

Gardiner,  H.E.    ...   1122 

Garlaugh,  A 1124 

Garlaugh,  H 1124 

Garlaugh,  H.  A 1123 

Garrett,  F.  C 578 

Garrett,  J 578 

Garrison,  D 1098 

Garrison.  1 1098 

Gebhart,  A 1124 

Gebhart,  G.  A 516 

Gebhart,  G.  H 516 

Gebhart,  G.  S 975 

Gebhart,  H 1125 

Geiger,  G.  H 517 

linger,  J 973 

Geiger,  L 517 

Gem  City  Stove  Co..   522 

George,  L 584 

George,  S.  F 584 

Gephart,  E.  A 974 

Gephart,  G.  S 975 

Gephart,  J 973 

Gephart,  J.  M 973 

Gephart,  M.  0 975 

Gerlaugh,  A 518 

Gerlaugh,  J.  A 518 

Gerlaugh,  J.  H 517 

Getter,  A.  T 1126 

Getter,  G 1125 

Geyer,  J 528 

Gilbert,  A 1232 

Gilbert,  J 1231 

Gilbert,  P.  E 352 

Gilbert,  T 1232 

Ginn,  C 528 

Gish,  A 1182 

Gish,  C 1182 

Gish,  M 1182 

Goetz,  F.  J 523 

( '. lhue,  G 264 

1.  A 540 

Gottschall,  J 296 

Gottschall,  O.  M.  ...  296 

Graf,  11.  P, 975 

Grausei ,  C 529 

Grauser,  CO 529 


Green  Family 345 

Grim.  A.  H..' 533 

Groby,  D 976 

Groby,  H 977 

Groby.  S 977 

Grove,  G.  A 977 

Gruver,  A 978 

Gruver,  1 978 

Gummer,  A.  M    522 

Gummer,  CM 522 

Gummer,  H.  R 522 

Gunckel,  L.  B 195 

Gussler,  J.  L 534 

Gussler.S.  B 534 

i  '.winner,  F 979 

Haas,  W.  E 546 

Haas,  W.  F 535 

Hackney,  J.  D 545 

Hacknev.  W.  W....  545 

Haeseler,  E 590 

Haeseler,  E.  C 590 

Haeussler,  J 542 

Haeussler,  W.  G 541 

Hagedorn,  H 547 

Hagedorn,  L.  P 547 

Hahne,  C   [ 211 

Hahne,  J.  A 548 

Hahne,  J.  F 212-551 

Haines,  A 1237 

Haines,  D.  A 177 

Haines,  I.  C 1237 

Hale,  W.  A 551 

Hall.  C.J 559 

Hall,  C.  S 552 

Hall,  1 552  560  980 

Hall,  J.  A 980 

Hall,  J.  F 571 

Hall,  J.N 553 

Hall,  V.  E 571 

Hall,  W 552 

Halteman,  C 567 

Halteman,  E.  C 567 

Hamilton,  E 561 

Ha  mm,  D 566 

Hamm,  E.  F 566 

Hammel,  J 980 

Hammel,  S 1126 

Hammel,  W 1126 

Hand,  J 566 

Hand,  J.  M 565 

Hanley,  E.  W 482 

Hansbarger.A 1099 

Hargrave,  B.  F 572 

Harker,  H.  K 572 

Harley,  A 981 

Harley,  R 981 

Harley,  R.,  lr 982 

Harries,  J.  W 573 

Harter,  M.  G 620 

Harter,  S.  K 620 

Hartranft,  U.C 574 

Hartshorn,  J.  0 575 

Hartzell,  A 1126 

Hartzell,  J 1126 


Hassler.C  M 421 

Hathaway,  B.  F 576 

Hathaway,    F... 576 

Hawker,  F 576 

Hawker,   W.  S 576 

Hawthorn,  J 577 

Hawthorn,  W.  S 577 

Heathman,  E 240 

Heathman,  G.  W..  ..  240 

Heck,  D 1128 

Heck,  D.  L 1128 

Hecker.  I.  H    581 

Hecker.L.E 581 

Heckman.D 983 

Heckman,  W 984 

Heeter,  E.,  Mrs 1259 

Heeter.S 1258 

Heidi nger,  [.  C 1188 

Heikes.R.  O 582 

Hendrix,  1 1254 

Hendrix,  J.  M 1254 

Hendrix,  W 1254 

Henkel.G.C 1129 

Henkel,  P 1129 

Hepner.H 1239 

Hepner,  J 1239 

Hepner,  J.  A 1238 

Herbruck,  E 897 

Herby,  C 588 

Herman,  H 984 

Herman,  H.  M 984 

Herr,  H 987 

Herr,  S 986-987 

Herr,  S.  L 986 

Herrman,  E.  A 589 

Herrman,  T.  B 588 

Hershev,  B.  F 332 

Hershey,  J. ..332-987  988 

Hickev,   I" 590 

Hickev,  P 589 

Hikes,' J 463-963 

Hiller,  J   600 

Himes,  B 594 

Himes,  J.  E 594 

Hoban,  J 583 

Hoch,  J 1070 

Hochw'alt,  A.   F 595 

Hochwalt,  G 595  900 

Hochwalt,  G.  A 900 

Hoffman,  G 1286 

Hoffman.  J 985-1286 

Hoffman,  L.  F 1286 

Hoffman,  W.  H 985 

Holbrook,  J.  H.,  Miss  360 
Holderman,  J.  G....  989 
Holderman,  J.  W....   989 

Hollencamp,  H 609 

Hollencamp,  H.  H..  609 

Hollenkamp,  T 595 

Holy  Trinity  Congre- 
gation   523 

Hook,  J  1192 

Hoops,  D 1130 

Hoops,  E 1130 

Hooven,  J 596 


Hooven,  W.  E 596 

Hoover,  J 887 

Hoover.  <).  P 887 

Hoover,  S.  W 885 

Hoover,  \V.  I.  T....  887 

Horner,  E.  L 272 

Horner,  G 1210 

Horner,  1 272 

Horner,  W 1211 

Horning,  J 272  1131 

Horning,  S 1234 

Horning,  W 1234 

Hosier,  R 1298 

Houk.G 1132 

Houk,  G.  W 894-1132 

Hous,  A 990 

Hous,  G 990 

Hous.  G.  W 990 

Hous,   1 1099 

Howell.  |.  M 1133 

Howell,  L 1133 

Howell,  W.  F 1133 

Hubler,  G.  W 991 

Hubler,  M 991 

Huddle.  D 936-1162 

Huffman,  D.  C 612 

Huffman,  W 598 

Huffman,  W.  P 507 

Hughes,  J.  R 204 

Hughes,  T.   E 294 

Humerickhouse,  J  ..  .1137 

Hunt,  E 992 

Hunt,  H.  C 992 

Hunter,  C 1134 

Hunter,  1 1134 

Hunter,  J.  B 330 

Huston,  M 1099 

Huston,  W 1099 

Hutchins,  O.  P 600 

Hvre,  A 1100 

Hyre,  M 1100 

Ridings,  A.  H 599 

Irvin.^A 289 

Irvin,  H.  A 289 

Irvin,  J.  B 289 

Irvin.  O.  \V 895 

Israel,  B 604 

Israel,  H 604 

Izor,  D 1134 

Izor,  J 1134 

Jackson,  I.  L 1212 

Jackson,  S 1212 

James,  F.  E 604 

James,  \V 604 

Jenner,  A 605 

Jenner,  A.  E 606 

Jenner,  H.  G 606 

Jennings,  E. 258 

John,  A 1094 

John,  J 876-1136 

Johns,  J 1200 

Johns,  L.  W 1135 

Johnson,  R.  T 609 


INDEX. 


DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Johnston,  J.  R 340 

Jones,  D 611 

Jones,  E (ill 

Jones,  W.  D 616 

Jones.  W.J 615 

Jordan,  N.  W 1090 

Judy,  C 993 

Judy,  J 993 

Judy,  S 993 

Kaiser,  H,  \Y 354 

Kamrath,  C.  F 612 

Kaufmann,  J 616 

Kauffman,  F 995 

Kauffman,  J 994 

Kauffman,  T.J 995 

Kauffman,  W.  1 996 

Kayler,  B 1187 

Keener,  1) 1136 

Keener.  J 1136 

Keener,  S.  B L136 

Kellner,  C 621 

Kellner.C.G 621 

Kellner,  J 621 

Kemp,  D 618-1139 

Kemp,  G.  W 1137 

Kemp,  J 618-1138 

Kemp,  L... tils  1138  1139 

Kemp,  W.  H 1139 

Kemper,  C.  S 378 

Kemper,  P.  A 315 

Kemper,  W.  H 619 

Kennedy,  G 1140 

Kennedy,  G.  C 334 

Kennedy,  J 334,  1140 

Kennedy,  J.  W 299 

Kennedy,  W 921 

Keplinger,  D.  K 1277 

Kersting,  F 995 

Ketrow,  J 1141 

Ketrovv,  R 1141 

Ketrow,  R.  J 1141 

Keyser,  D 324 

Kevser,  L.  S :!'_'4 

Kidder,  \V.  S 619 

Kimmel,  A 1255 

Kimmel,  A.  B 911 

Kimmel,  C 354 

Kimmel,  C.  F 911 

Kimmel,  D 626-1255 

Kimmel,  E.  F 354 

Kimmel,  H.  S 625 

Kimmel,  J.  P 1101 

Kimmel,  L 1101 

Kimmel,  M 626-1255 

Kinder,  C.  E 997 

Kinder,  J.  E 997 

King,  C.  S 026 

King,  J 1155 

King,  W 1176 

King,  W.  B 626 

Kinnard,  W.  M 622 

Kinsey,  D 1272 

Kinsey,  J 1257-1272 

Kinsey,  S 1257 


Kinsey,  W.  N 1256 

Kissinger,  H 631 

Kittredge,  A.  M 277 

Klepinger,  F 997 

Klepinger,  G 114:'. 

Klepinger,  H...  .627-1143 

Klepinger,   | 998 

Klepinger,  P.  M..      .  640 

Kline,  J.  H 633 

Kline,  R.  E 633 

Knecht,  I L142 

Knee,    [. 1184 

Koeppel,  1 999 

Krauss,  L 1000 

Krauss,  L.  S 1000 

Kreitzer,  |.  W 639 

Kreitzer,  P 1258 

Kreitzer,  W 1258 

King,  B lool 

Krug,  G 638 

King,  G.  F 638 

Krug,  H   1001 

Kuhnle,  F.  | 261 

Kuhnle,  P.  A lom; 

Kuhnle,  T 1006 

Kumler,  A.  W 299 

Kumler,  D 1309 

Kumler,  H 1309 

Kunkle,  F.J 261 

Kunnike,  C 1185 

Kunnike,  L 1185 

Kunnike,  T 1185 

Kuntz,  J   K37 

Kuntz,  \V 637 

Kurtz,  C.  S 1001 

Kurtz,  L.  S 1001 

Kurtz,  P 1001 

Lalon,  J 1151 

Landis,  A.  1002-1122  1186 

Landis,  A.  M 100'.' 

Landis.  C.  W 1186 

Landis,  D 1144 

Landis,  J 1040 

Landis,  J.  M... 1186 

Larkin,  D.  C 221 

Laughlin,  C.W 1145 

Laughlin,  J 1146 

Laughlin,  S 1145 

Lautenschlager,  G.  C  634 

Leasher,  B 995 

Lefevre,  I ; 1004 

Lefevre,  J 1005 

Lefevre,  J.  N 1003 

Lefevre,  W.  H 1004 

Leis,  H 1242 

Leis.J.P 1006 

Leis,  P 1242 

Leis,  W 1006 

Leisenhoff,  E 1009 

Leisenhoff,  F 1009 

Lenz,  J.  P 641 

Leopold,  C.  W 628 

Leopold,  G.  M 628 

Lewis,  J.  K 362 


Lewis,  I.  K.,  Mrs 362 

Lewis,  H.W 641 

Lewis,  T.  M 362 

Lewis,  W.  D 362. 

Lienesch,  T.  H 642 

Light,  E.. 644 

Light.  G   450 

Light,  J 450,  644 

Lindsey,  T.  C 643 

Lindsey.W 643 

Lindermuth,  S 1005 

Lindermuth,  T 1006 

Lingle,  IJ 1101 

Linxweiler,  I..  Jr.  . .  263 
Linxweiler,  J.,  Sr.  . .  .  263 

Loesch,  H 1013 

Logan,  J.  M 649 

Logan,  S.  M 649 

Long,  D 1260 

Long,  H 1102 

Long,  I L260 

Lorenz,  E 351 

Lorenz,  E.  S 896 

Loucks,  M 047 

Loucks,  S.  C,  Mrs..  .  648 
Lounsbury,  O.W.,  |r.  639 
Lounsbury.O.  \V.,'Sr.  639 

Loury,  F 268 

Loury,  E.  R.  M.,Mrs.  -'71 

Lucius,  C.  A 251 

Lucius,  C.  A..  Si  ...  .   251 

Lyon,  E.  B 650 

Lyons,  H.  B 1011 

Lyons,  T.V.,  ]r 1011 

Lyons,  T.  V.,  Sr    ....1010 

McCally,  A 634 

McCally,  1.  R 034 

McCann,  B 875 

McCarter,  J 1012 

McCarter,  j.  J loll' 

McCarty,  R.  J 640 

McClellan,  W 653 

McCov,  1 796 

McCoy,  M 796 

McCray,  A 1014 

McCray,  O 1014 

McCray.S lol4 

McDermont,  D 655 

McDermont,  S.  B.. ..  654 

MacGregor,  C 655 

MacGregor,  R 655 

McGregor,  f 331 

McGregor,  T 331 

Mclntire,  ].  K 208 

Mclntire,  S 208 

McKee,  C.  J 308 

McKemy,  W 656 

McKemy,  W.  D 656 

McKeown,  J.  VV 659 

McMahon,  J.  A 193 

Macy,  A 920-1019 

Macy,  D 910 

Macv  Family 915 

Macy.G 918 


Macy,  I '.117 

Macv,  J OKi 

Macv,  P 915 

Macy,  S 919 

Macy,  T 916,  1019 

Marshall.  E.,  Mrs....  661 

Marshall,  | 660 

Marshall,  J.  W 662 

Marsh, ill,  YV.  C 660 

Martin,  D.   M 663 

Martin,  E 227 

Martin,  U.  S 663 

Martin,  YV.   H L"_'7 

Martindale  Family.  .1304 

Martmdale,  [ '...1305 

Martindale,  J.  A 1304 

Martindale,  S...1292  1304 
Martindale,  W.L..     1292 

Mathews,  (',.  M 301 

Mathews,  J 301 

Mathias,  | 664 

Mathias,  |.  F 664 

Matthews,  A.  G 665 

Matthews.  E.  P 323 

Matthews,  YV.  G   ...  665 

Mays,  S 1015 

Mays,  S.  H 1016 

Mays,W.  A mi:, 

Mease,  L.   1019 

Mease,  L.  W 1019 

Mecklev,  B 1187 

Meckley,  C 1187 

Meckley,  H 1147 

Mehlbert,  B 669 

Mehlbert,  L 669 

Meienberg,  A 1016 

Mellinger,  G.  W...  .1021 
Mendenhall,  A.  L..  ..  or,.", 

Merkle,  C 666 

Merkle,  F.C 666 

Merkle,  J.  C 670 

Mescher,  B 908 

Mescher,  J 908 

Metzger,  B 1147 

Metzger,  H 1147 

Metzger,  ] 1147 

Meyer,  C 1022 

Meyer,  C,  Sr 1022 

Meyer,  H.  C 070 

Meyer,   H.W 671 

Meyer,  J 070 

Meyer,  J.  J 1148 

Meyer,  L 747 

Meyer,  M 1148 

Meyer,  P 670 

Meyers,  H.  W 675 

Mevers,  J 1024 

Meyers,  J.  R 675 

Michael,  J 1216 

Michelon,  C 349 

Miller,  A 1271 

Miller,  B 1144 

Miller,  D 1144-1271 

Miller,  D.  R 683 

Miller,  1).  W 672 


10 


INDEX. 


DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Miller,  G.  C 677 

Miller.G.  W 677 

Miller,  1 1240 

Miller,  I.,  Sr 1240 

Miller,  [....305  072   1271 

Miller,  J.  C 077  1271 

Miller,  J.  A 305 

Miller,  W.  H 684 

Mills,  I.  I.  T 205 

Mills,  J.  V 1023 

Mills,  W 102:; 

Mills.  \V.  M 205 

Minnich,  I    682 

Minnich,  S.  A 682 

Mitchell,  L 1024 

Moist,  1 1025 

Moist,  "1.  F 102:. 

Mooney,  W 688 

Moone'y,  W.  T 688 

Moore,  1.  K„  Mrs...   .  876 

Moran,  M 685 

Morgan,  J.  M 684 

Morrison,   1 271 

Morrison,  W 268 

Mull.  J 685 

Mull.  R 685 

Mumma,  H 1140 

Mumma,  11.  C   ....    1141) 

Mumma,  J.  H 1140 

Mundhenk,  D.  G....1192 

Mundhenk,  F 1192 

Mundhenk.  W.  S 1192 

Mundorff,  A 877 

Mundorff,  |.  W 877 

Munger,  E 1213 

Munger,  S.  S.,  Miss.  .1213 

Munger,  W 1213 

Murphy,  B.  S 694 

Murphy,  F.  W 687 

Myers,  C 1150 

Myers,  E 1150 

Myers,  G.  C 691 

Myers,  1 1024  1214 

Myers,  M 1150-1214 

Nat ,  T 1259 

Ni  der,  G 687 

Neff,  A 1236 

Neff,  1 1236 

Neff,  M 1236 

Negley,  I.  C 201 

Negley,  W.  H 207 

Neiffer,  C 693 

\.  iffer,  |.  G 692 

Nelhs,  A.  S.  B 901 

Nelson,  F.  S 1026 

Kevin,  K 242 

Ni  \  in,  R.  M 242 

h,  L 1027 

Ni  m  -in,  E 1102 

Newcom,  E.  F 1102 

New  o        i    1 .  \\  ....   317 

Newcomer,  j 311 

Newsalt,  A. 312 

Nil  r,  II.  G 69] 


Nu-r,  N.  S... 691 

Niswonger,  G 1076 

Niswonger,  J.  D.  ...1028 

Niswonger,  O.  P 1028 

Nixon,  A.  H 693 

Nixon,  1 693 

Nolan,  H.  F 678 

Nolan,  M.  P 078 

Nonas,    S 1212 

North,  1) 1305 

North,  G 1306 

North,  S.  F 1305 

Nutt,  J.  M 697 

Oates.  A.  K 0,07 

Oblinger,  D.  L 1020 

Oblinger,  E.  C 1029 

Oblinger,  G 1029 

O'Connor,  1 888 

O'Donohue,  R 698 

Oehlschlager,  F 705 

Oehlschlager,  J.  F...    705 

Oldfather,  S..  .' 1135 

Oldt,  G 1102 

Oldwine,  W 1113 

Olinger,  ).  K 1272 

O'Neill,  C 703 

O'Neill,  J.  P 699 

O'Neill,  W 703 

i  fWill.  W.  S 703 

I  Hikst,  D.  A 704 

Onkst,  W 704 

Ortman,  B 1150 

Ortman,  H 1150 

i  Isness.  A.    M 713 

(  isnoss,  M 713 

Otter,  1. 706 

( >tter,  "F.  J 706 

Owens,  G.  B L030 

Owens,  I.  S 1030 

Ozias.  G.  W 7oo 

Pansing,  B.  J 1028 

Pansing,  |.  H 1028 

Pansing,  W.  H    1032 

Pardonner,  J.  A 311 

Pardonner,  J.  H Mil 

Pardonner,  W.  S....   312 

Parrott,  H.  W 708 

Parrott,  \\\,  Jr 708 

Parrott,  W.,  Sr 708 

Patrick,  A 1007 

Patterson,  C.  L 707 

Patterson,  J.  C 353 

Patterson,  "1.  H 171s 

Patterson,  R   913 

Patterson,  T.   N 714 

Patterson,  W.  J... 707  71s 

Pattison,  T.  N 714 

Pattv.  1 560 

Paullus,  J 456 

Pease,  C.  E 290 

Pease,  G 1032 

Pease,  H 290 

Pease,   P 7no 


Pease,  P.  R 709 

Peiffer,  J.  R 1241 

Pierce,  H.  F -    309 

Peirce,  I 309 

Peirce,  J.  E 305 

Pence,  j.  H 305 

Peirson,  J 1151 

Peirson,  P.  W 1151 

Pettit,  A 717 

Philipps,  C 715 

Piatt,  J 1034  1195 

Piatt,  J.  B 1033 

Piatt,  \V 1104 

Pierson,  A 918 

Pine,  C 1104 

Pine,  S 1105 

Plander.G.  A 1104 

Plander,  f.  H 1104 

Plocher,  A 716 

Plocher,  1 716-1034 

Pond,G.F 724 

Poock,  A.  H 41S 

Poock,  F.L 408 

Poock,  L.  H 408 

Porter,  Mary,  Mrs. . .  237 

Pote,  A....: 1101 

Pote,  [.  C 1191 

Pote,  M 1191 

Powell,  C.  F 1152 

Powell,  1 720 

Powell,  J.  C 1152 

Powell,  W.  G 720 

Powers,  A.  B 725 

Powers,    1 725 

Price,  [.. 1234 

Prinz,  1 891 

Prinz.  J.  H 891 

Priser,  J.  W 1106 

Priser,  M 1106 

Priser,  P 1106 

Pritz,  I.  A 72.". 

Prugh,  C 1036 

Prugh,  1 726-1035 

Prugh,  J.  W 720 

Prugh,  T.  1 1035 

1'rvor,  E.  0 727 

Puis,  J 1153 

i  Oiance,  A 1193 

Quance,  S.  S 1194 

Ouinn,  J.  F 72S 

Quinn,  M.  E   728 

Ralston,  J.  H 1026 

Ramsey,  N.  P 7H7 

Randall,   H.  E 736 

Rasor,   D 1215-  1217 

Rasor,  H 1218 

Rasor,  1 1215  1217 

Rasor,  P 1215 

Ratcliffe,  J 720 

Raymond,  C.  W.   .  .  .   868 

Raymond,  G.  M 868 

Reed,  H.  N 1154 

Reed.  1 1264 


Reed,  P 1154 

Reel,  J 1155 

Reel,  P 1155 

Reeve,  J.  C 195 

Regan,  E.  D 734 

Regan,  T 734 

Reiche,  G.  1 7:;:. 

Reillv,  D.  G 736 

Reiter,  I.  H 1037 

Reiter,  W.  L 1036 

Renner,  J 7MS 

Requarth,  H.  W 738 

Reynolds,  W.  H 1216 

Rhoades.J 1158 

Rhoades,  W 1158 

Rice,  C,  Mrs 1038 

Rice,  F 1037 

Rice,  1 1038-1156 

Rice,  J.  A 74M  1156 

Rice,  N.  H 743 

Rice,  W 1038 

Richman,  D 1107 

Richman,  \V 1107 

Riegal,  D 1242 

Riegel,  F.J 1156 

Riegel,  J 1242 

Rilev,  H 744 

Rison,  J 1039 

Kison.P 1039 

Ritchie,  A.  T 744 

Ritchie,  J.  B 744 

Rittenhouse,  J 1209 

Ritty,  B ' 748 

Ritty,  1 748 

Robertson,  1 1042 

Robertson,  J.  S 1042 

Robinson,  E.  P 710 

Robinson,  J.  A 740 

Robinson,  W 710 

Robinson,  \V.  A.    ...    740 

Rock,  J 740 

Rock,  W.  S 740 

Rogers,  ] 1040 

Rogers,  J.  J lo4o 

Rogers,  R 1040 

Rogge,  H 318 

Rohrer.C 1041    1157 

Rohrer.D 1042 

Rohrer,  J 1202 

Rohrer,  J.  H 1041 

Rohrer,  M   1  151 

Rowe,  C.  E 328 

Rowe,  W.H 328 

Rouzer,  J 470 

Rouzer,  M.  J..  Mrs..  .   470 
Rubsam.  H. 1281 

Sage,  H.  H 720 

St.  Mary's  Institute.  .   747 

Salisbury,  C.  \V 752 

Salisbury,  J.  A 7.r>'> 

Salisbury, 'I.  N 752 

Sandridge,  P 750 

Savler,  J 1219 

Sayler,  R 1219 


INDEX. 


11 


DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Schaefer,  F 753 

Schaeffer,  J 1043 

Schaeffer,  J.  C 1044 

Schaeffer,  J.  H 1043 

Schaeffer,  M.  B 1043 

Schaeffer,  W.  H....1044 

Schath,  A.  J  360 

Schell,  A.  C 1045 

Schell,  D.  P 1159 

Schell,  H 1045,1159 

Schell,  J 1045,  1150 

Si  lirllhaus,  L 1047 

Schenck,  J.  F 219 

Schenck,  R. C. .  .171-277 

Schenck.  W.  C 171 

Schlosser.M 1197 

Schlosser.S....  1194-1197 

Schneider.  J 11147 

Schoenfeld,  H 1046 

Schreiber,  P 1047 

Schuberth,  H.  C 1048 

Schuberth,  W 1048 

Schwind,  C 755 

Schwind,  E.  J 755 

Sears,  F.  H S44 

S<  ars,  J.G 842 

Sears,  P 842 

Sears,  S 842 

Sears,  S.,  Mrs 843 

Selz,  C 74n 

Sri/.  T.  A 74(1 

Seybold,  I L206 

Seybold.J.G 1206 

Shank,  A 1040 

Shank,  H 1049 

Shank,  J 1050 

Shank,  J.  A 1040 

Shank,  J.  W 1049 

Shank,  N 1050 

Shank,  P 1148 

Shauck,  E 200 

Shauck,  J.  A 200 

Sheets,  D 1130 

Shepherd,  G 750 

Shepherd,  G.  E...    .    756 
Shepherd,  S.Nellie..   398 

Sheer.  C.J 482 

Sheverling,  A.,  Miss.. 1186 

Shiveley,  C,  [r 1160 

Shiveley,  O.G 1160 

Shoe,  B.  F 1196 

Shoe,  J 1196 

Shoemaker,  1 762 

Shoemaker,  W.  W  .  .   762 

Shriver,  1.  W 1180 

Shroyer,  B.  D 765 

Shroyer,  E 765 

Shroyer,   G.  W 757 

Shroyer,  J 757 

Shrover,  W 705 

Shry,  A 761 

Shry,  A.  H 761 

Shuey,  A 188 

Shuey,  F 1051 

Shuey,  J 1052 


Shuey,  L 1051 

Shuey,  W.  J 188 

Shuler,  H 1052 

Shuler,  W 1052 

Shultz,  E 1053 

Simonds,  A.  A 206 

Simonton,  A 1054 

Simonton,  C.  A 1054 

Sinclair,  D.  A 176 

Sloan,  J 921 

Smart.  A.  F 307 

Smart,  A.  M 307 

Smith,  A 1055 

Smith,  A.J 772 

Smith,  D.  L 700 

Smith,  H 023-1101 

Smith,  H.  A 773 

Smith,  J 700  772  923 

956  1055  L170  1203 

Smith,  I.  A 765 

Smith,  J.  \V 1101 

Smith,  L.  R 1199 

Smith,  P 1199 

Smith,  R 705 

Smith,  S.  B 270 

Smith,  T.  J-  S 270 

Snead,  J.  A 771 

Snead,  R.  C 771 

Sneller.  A 1056 

Snepp,  D.  J 1056 

Snepp,  J L056 

Snepp,  J.  T 1057 

Snyder,  C.  F 249 

Snyder,  E.  N 774 

Snyder,  F 249 

Snyder,  G 506 

Sollenberger,  D.  P..  1251 

Sortman,  G 730 

Sortman,  H.  B 775 

Sortman,  J.  W 73o 

Souders.  J 1307 

Sunders.  S 1 .' !<  >7 

Sparks,  E 770 

Sparks.  W.  E 770, 

Spatz,  J.J 913 

Spatz,  S 913 

Spear,    D ",',': 

Spear,  M.  L 777 

Spinning,  D.  C 181 

Spitler,  D 1021 

Spitler.  E.W 1278 

Spitler,  J 1261   1277 

Spitler,  J.  M 1061 

Spitler,  N.  E 1061 

Spitler,  S 1061-1261 

Sproule,  R 1122 

Stainrook,  C.  A 781 

Stainrook,  D 7yl 

Stalev,  H.  J 783 

Staley,  J.  C 782 

Stamm,  J.  H 1062 

Stark  &  Weckesser..  826 

Starr,  C.  A 768 

Starr,  G.  B 768 

Steel,  J 175 


Steel,  R.  W 175 

Stein,  L 783 

Stein,  R 783 

Stetson,  C.  W 786 

Stetson,  F.  A 786 

Stettler,  D 1062 

Stettler,  J.  J 1002 

Stewart,  J.  R 785 

Stewart,  T.  L 783 

Stiver,"J.  C 1063 

Stiver,  S.,  Jr 1003 

Stiver,  S.,  Sr 1063 

Stiver,  W 1064 

Stockslager,  1 1274 

Stockslager,  J 1275 

Stoddard,  E.  F 788 

Stoddard,  H 787 

Stoddard,  J.  \V 202 

Stomps,  G 758 

Stoppelman,  J.  H....  7V'J 
Stoppelman,  P.  H..  ..  789 

Straub,  J 791 

Straub,  J.,  Sr 791 

Strong,  J..  Sr 1292 

Sunderland,  A   .  .  .    .   792 

Sunderland,  J 1198 

Sunderland,  R 1263 

Sunderland,  W 1263 

Sunderland,  W.  P...   792 

Sutter,  A..  Mrs 704 

Sutter,  F.I 794 

Sutter,  L 794 

Swank,  1 1162 

Swank,  N 1162 

Swadener,  S 1309 

Swartzel,  A 1243 

Swartzel,  J 124:; 

Swartzel,  M 124:; 

Swartzel,  P 1205 

Tanner,  M.  L 853 

Tanner.  \Y.  (', 853 

Teeter,  A 1164 

Teeter,  S 1164 

Teetor,  1 1238 

Terwilhger,  C.  1 792 

Theobald,  H.,  Jr....  801 
Theobald,  H.,  Sr....   801 

Thomas,  A 804 

Thomas,  C   1163 

Thomas,  C.  R 807 

Thomas,  E.  0 802 

Thomas,  H.  E 803 

Thomas,   [..283   1163   127:; 

Thomas,  J.  B 283 

Thomas,].  H 796 

Thomas,  N 795 

Thompson,  C,  Mrs.  .1277 

Thompson,  E 

Thompson,  H.  A....  805 

Thompson,  J  „ 805 

Thompson,  J.  F 878 

Thompson,  J.  R 808 

Tobias,  D 1212 

Tomlinson,  W.  H...  806 


Tomlinson,  W.  R...  806 

Treon,  C 1004 

Treon,  H.  P 1064 

Treon,  1 1065 

Trone,  J 809 

Trone,  S.  D 808 

Troxel,  P 1007 

Troxel,  P.  H 1066 

Troxel,  R 1067 

Tucker,  T 810 

Tucker,  T.  E 810 

Turner,  D 1201 

Turner,  F.  L 810 

Turner,  J.  C 811 

Turner,  L   H 1200 

Turner.  W 811 

Turpin,  J 812 

Ullery,  S 1115 

Ulm.'D 1067 

Ulm,  H.  B 1067 

Umbenhaur,  \V 1165 

Underwood,  1 1268 

Underw 1.  J.  W.  . .  .1268 

Vaile,   1 302 

Vaile.J.  H 302 

Van  Ausdal,  C...  184-188 

VanAusdal,  1 184 

Van  Cleve,  B 176 

Van  Clevc  W 170. 

Vaniman,  J 972-1231 

Van  Riper.  W.  H....  818 

Vaughan,  H   813 

nan.  L.H 813 

Wagner,  C 1068 

Wagner,  P 1166 

\\  agner,  T.  M loos 

Wagner,  W   1166 

Waitman,  S 1167 

Waitman,  1 1167 

Wallace,  W 1256 

Walter,  M 350 

Walters,  E 217 

Walters,  J.  A 217 

Wampler,  D 1255 

Wampler,  1 1220 

Want], lei',  W 1255 

Warlord,  C.  H 819 

Warner,  G 11  OS 

Warner,    J 110,8 

Warner,  J.  0 1168 

Warrington,  G.  O..  ..  333 

Watrous,  E.  R Ma 

Watrous,  W 819 

Watson,  E 820 

Watson.  E.  E 820 

Watson,  I.  W 820 

Waymire,  I) 1069 

Wavmire,  J 1069 

Weakley,  E.  T 356 

Weakley,  H.  H 356 

Weaver,  D 1169 

Weaver,  F.  C 214 


12 


INDEX. 


DAYTON  AND   MONTGOMERY  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Weaver,  F.  T.  G....   82] 

Weaver.  G 1070 

Weaver,  G.  W   1071 

Weaver,  H 1070 

Weaver,   f.,  821   902 

'. 1069-1170 

Weaver,  J.I 1156 

Weaver,  ].  | 1170 

Weaver,  J.  M 213 

Weaver,  }.  S 213 

Weaver,  P 1236 

Weaver,  S.  H 1169 

\\  r.n  er,  W 1072 

Weaver,  W.  P 1072 

Webber,  C 1073 

Webber,  L.  H 345 

Webber,  T 345 

Wehb.rt,  H 322 

Webbert,  M :i22 

Webster,  E 267 

Webster,  F 268 

\\  i  bster,  1 267 

Webster,  T 267 

Webster,  W 265 

Weckesser,  A.  A....  826 

Weglage,  F.  W 823 

W<  glage,  H 823 

Wehner.  A S-J4 

Wehner,  M 824 

Weidner,  P 824 

Weinman,  C.  F 825 

Weinman,  C.  H 825 

Weinman,  C.J 829 

Weinreich,  D 836 

Weinreich,  E 836 

Wells,  E.  T 827 

Wells,  S 1203-1264 

Wells,  W 1203 

Wells,  W.  J 827 

Welsh,  J   1171 

Welsh,  "W.  1) 1H7:I 


Welsh,  W.  S 1171 

Wenger,  A 1077 

Wenger,  C In;:, 

Wenger,  J 1075 

Wenger,  J.,  Sr 1074 

Wenger, 'L 1077 

Wenger,  S 1074 

Wenger,  W 1172 

Werkmeister,  F   ....  830 

Werthimer,  M 350 

W.rts.  D 1078-1 'J  10 

Wert/,  1 1H7S 

Wessel,  B 1173 

Wessel,  H 117:1 

West,  J 1201 

Weston,  E.  B 337 

Weston,  J.  G :!:i7 

Wet/el,  I) 901 

Whalev,  A 835 

Whaley,  J.  C 335 

Whealen,  C 333 

Whitcomb,  R s:',l 

White,  A.  C 844 

White,  J.  R s:!7 

White.  X    840 

White,  P.  W 840 

White,  W.J 837 

Wiggim,  A 1174 

Wiggim,  S 1174 

Wiihelm,  D 1223 

Wilhelm,  F 1222 

Wiihelm,  J 1222 

Will,  J.  G 841 

Will,  J.  G.,  Sr 841 

Will.T 845 

Will.  T.,  Sr 845 

Williamson,  A.M...  846 

Williamson,  1 846 

Williamson,  M.  E...  847 

Wilson,  B 1221 

Wilson,  1 1221-1222 


Wilson,  I.  B S47 

Wilson,  | 1070 

Wilson,  j.R 1079 

Wilson,  M.E 233 

Wilson,  T.  B 233 

Wilson,  W.  C 1070 

Wilt,  A.  D 274 

Wilt,  1 274 

Winchell,  W.  1 848 

Winder,  J.  H 849 

Wine,  D.  D 854 

\\  me,  J.  M 853 

Winter,  T S-"»4 

Winter,  W.J 854 

Winters,  J.  C 855 

Winters,  L.  W 855 

Wolf,  J.  W 835 

Wolfe,  M 856 

Wollenhaupt,  H.A..  857 
Wollenhaupt,  W.F..  857 

Wolpers,  C.  O   1081 

Wolpers,  H 1081 

W 1.  E.  M 199 

Wood,  G.  H 857 

Woodhull,  J 241 

Woodhull,  M 241 

Work,  A 859 

Work,  E.  W 255 

Work,  F.  M 858 

Work,  J 256 

Work,  |.  W 256 

Wormon,  D 1224 

Wormon,  H 1223 

Wormon,  S .  1223 

Wortman,  J.  A 860 

Wright,  J.  A 863 

WrigmvM 861 

W  right,  R 863-1127 

Wunderlich,  F 863 

Wunderlich,  H 863 

\\  ysong,  C Hoc,  1175 


W  \song,  S 1175 

Yenny,  T 864 

Vike.'D 1108 

Young,  A.  T   866 

Young,  D 1080 

Young,  D.  W 1080 

Young,  E.  S 234 

Young,  G.M 234 

Young,  G.  R 244 

Young,  II 866 

Young,  J.  F 866 

Young,  W.  H L'44 

Yount,  C 1240 

Yount,  J 1 251 I 

Yount,  G 1240 

Yount,  J 1125-1250 

Yount,  S 1200 

Zehring,  A 1082  1204 

Zehring,  B 1204 

Zehring,  C 1204 

Zehring,  J 1309 

Zehring,  L 1082 

Zehring,  L.  H 1082 

Zehring,  P 1082 

Zeil,  O. 867 

Zeil,  O.,  Jr 867 

Zeller,  A. 1058 

Zeller.  J 1058 

Zeller,  W.  S 1058 

Zimmerman,  A.  J ...  .  1092 

Zimmerman,  B 865 

Zizert,  C 871 

Zizert,  J   871 

Zwick,  E 542 

Zwick,  H 324 

Zwick,  W.G 343 

Zwiesler,  A 867 

Zwiesler,  C 867 

Zwissler,  J.  E 872 


PORTRAITS  AND  VIEWS. 


Allen,  C.  R 926 

Anderson,  W.  B 815 

Bates,  NsD 399 

Beaver,  F.  P 507 

er,  H 933 

Beeghly.W.  E   Mil 

Berlin,  C 369 

Birch,  J 513 

Bittenger,  F.  D 405 

Bixler,  G L226 

Bixler,  Mrs.  G 1227 

Bonner,  i    A .",10 

Brown.  O.  B 915 


Brownell,  J.  R 389 

Burkhardt,  R.  P 225 

Callahan,  W.  P 191 

Cellarius,  H 525 

Coe,  E.  H 531 

Coler,  C.  A 1283 

Conover,  F 435 

Conover,  W 429 

Cook,  H 549 

Coover,  J.  Q.  A 1266 

Crawford,  C.  H 537 

Crawford,  W.  H 466 


Davisson,  O.  F 228 

Dennick,  H 555 

Dennick,  W 556 

Dickey,  R.  R 253 

Ditzel,  J.  F 563 

Doren,  J.  G 477 

Drurv,  M.  R 489 

Duckwall,  W 1240 

Duckwall,  W.,  Mrs..  1247 

Dustin,  C.  W 915 

Eichelberger,  T.  D..  833 

Elder.T 347 

Evans,  T.  P 461 


Farrell,  T.  J 889 

Fasold,  E 441 

Feight,  I.  G 569 

Frank,  j.  L.  H 257 

Garrett,  F.  C 579 

George,  S.  F     585 

Gottschall,  O.  M  . .  .     297 

Haeseler,  E.  C 591 

Hanlev,  E.  W 483 

Heidinger,  J.  C 1189 

Hiller,  J 601 

Hollencamp,  H 608 


INDEX. 


PORTKAITS  AND  VIEWS. 


18 


Houk,  G.  W 895 

Huffman,  D.  C 613 

Irvin,  0.  W 915 


Jennings,  E.. . . 
Johnston,  J.  R.. 


259 
341 


Kemper,  C.  S 379 

Kennedy,  G.  C 335 

Kinnard,  W.  M 623 

Kuhnle,  T 1007 

Kumler,  A.  W 915 

Lautenschlager.G.  C.  635 

Leopold,  G.  M 629 

Lewis,  J.  K 363 

Light,  E 645 

Light,  J 451 

Loury,  F 269 

Lyon,  E.B 651 


McCarty,  R.J 640 

McCoy,  M 797 

Mclntire,  J.  K 209 

McKemv,  W.  D 657 

Martin,  \V.  H 226 

Martindale,  W.  L...1293 

Mease,  L.  W 1018 

Merkle,  F.  C 667 

Merkle,  |.  C 670 

Miller,  D.W 673 

Mooney,  W.  T 689 

Murphy,  B.  S 695 

Newcom,  G 788 

Newsalt,  A 313 

Nolan,  M.  P 679 


Ozias,  G.  \V. 


701 


Patterson,  J.  H 179 

Patterson,  R HI;; 

Pease,  C.  E 291 


Poock.A.  H 419 

Poock,  L.  H 409 

Raymond,  C.  W 869 

Robinson,  E.  P 711 

Rogge,  H 319 

Rouzer,  J 471 

Sage,  H.  H 721 

Schenck,  R.  C 170 

Schenck,  R.  C 276 

Sears,  S , .   843 

Sears,  S.,  Mrs 843 

Selz,  T.  A 741 

Seybold,  J 1207 

Shauck,  J.  A 915 

Sortman,  J.  W 731 

Starr,  C.  A 769 

Steele,  R.  \V 17.", 

Stoddard,  J.  W 203 

Stomps,  G 759 


Thomas,  J.  B 282 

Thompson,  E 879 

Tanner,  W.  G 852 

VaileJ.  H 303 

Van  Ausdal,  1 185 

Van  Cleve,  B.. .'.  . .  .  177 

Walters,  J.  A 216 

Weakley,  H.  H :::,7 

Weaver,  J no:; 

Young,  E.  S 235 

Young,  G.  R   246 

Young,  W.  H 247 

/el lei.  W.  S 1059 

Zwick,  E 543 

Zwick,  H 325 


Dayton  Public  Library 824 

Newcom's  First  Log  Cabin 789 

Newcom's  Tavern 789 

Steele  High  School  Building 806 


PRESIDENTS 


OK    THE 


UNITED   STATES. 


GEORGE    WASHINGTON. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


^"^EORGE  WASHINGTON  was  born 
■  ^\  in  Westmoreland  county,  Va. ,  Febru- 
^Lj  ary  22,  1732.  His  parents  were 
Augustine  and  Mary  (Ball)  Washing- 
ton. His  great-grandfather,  John  Washing- 
ton, came  from  England  to  Virginia  about 
1657,  and  became  a  prosperous  planter.  He 
had  two  sons,  Lawrence  and  John.  The  former 
married  Mildred  Warner  and  had  three  children, 
John,  Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augustine,  the 
father  of  George,  first  married  Jane  Butler, 
who  bore  him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached  maturity. 
Of  six  children  by  his  second  marriage,  George 
was  the  eldest,  the  others  being  Betty,  Sam- 
uel, John  Augustine,  Charles  and  Mildred. 

Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George, 
died  in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property. 
To  his  eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed 
an  estate  on  the  Potomac,  afterward  known 
as  Mount  Vernon,  and  to  George  he  left  the 
parental  residence.  George  received  only 
such  education  as  the  neighborhood  schools 
afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instructions 
in  mathematics. 

He  was  an  acknowledged  leader  among  his 
companions,  and  was  early  noted  for  that 
nobleness  of  character,  fairness  and  veracity 
which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  fourteen  years  old  he  had 


a  desire  to  go  to  sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant 
was  secured  for  him,  but  through  the  opposi- 
tion of  his  mother  the  idea  was  abandoned. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  surveyor  to 
the  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In  this  business 
he  spent  three  years.  In  175 1,  though  only 
nineteen  years  of  age,  he  was  appointed  ad- 
jutant with  the  rank  of  major  in  the  Virginia 
militia,  then  being  trained  for  active  service 
against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon  after 
this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his 
brother  Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore 
his  health.  They  soon  returned,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1752  Lawrence  died,  leaving  a 
large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter,  who  did 
not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the  estate 
of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as 
lieutenant-governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the 
militia  was  reorganized,  and  the  province 
divided  into  four  military  districts,  of  which 
the  northern  was  assigned  to  Washington  as 
adjutant-general.  Shortly  after  this  a  very 
perilous  mission  was  assigned  him.  This  was 
to  proceed  to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie 
in  northwestern  Pennsylvania.  The  distance 
to  be  traversed  was  between  500  and  600  miles. 
Winter  was  at  hand,  and  the  journey  was  to 
be  made  without  military  escort,  through  a 
territory  occupied  by  Indians.  The  trip  was  a 
perilous  one,  and  several  times  he  came  near 


26 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and 
furnished  a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expe- 
dition. A  regiment  of  300  men  was  raised  in 
Virginia  and  put  in  command  of  Col.  Joshua 
Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was  then  begun 
against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In 
the  memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known 
as  Braddock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost 
the  only  officer  of  distinction  who  escaped 
from  the  calamities  of  the  day  with  life  and 
honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock  were  dis- 
abled early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In 
a  letter  to  his  brother  he  says:  "I  had  four 
bullets  through  my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot 
under  me,  yet  I  escaped  unhurt,  though  death 
was  leveling  my  companions  on  every  side." 
\n  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was  not  born 
to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken  direct 
aim  at  him  several  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him.  After  having  been  five  years  in  the 
military  service,  he  took  advantage  of  the  fall 
of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the  expulsion  of  the 
French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio,  to  resign 
his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
legislacure,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he 
took  an  active  and  important  part.  January 
J7.  1759.  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge) 
Custis,  the  wealthy  widow  of  John  Parke 
Custis. 

When  the  British  parliament  had  closed 
the  port  of  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  through- 
out the  provinces  that  "The  cause  of  Boston 
is  the  cause  of  us  all."  It  was  then,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  congress  of  all 
the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Philadel- 
phia, September  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  com- 
mon liberties,  peaceably  if  possible.  To  this 
congress  Col.  Washington  was  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate. On  May  10,  1775,  the  congress  re- 
assembled, when  the  hostile  intentions  of  Eng- 


land were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of 
Concord  and  Lexington  had  been  fought. 
Among  the  first  acts  of  this  congress  was  the 
election  of  a  commander-in-chief  of  the  colo- 
nial forces.  This  high  and  responsible  office 
was  conferred  upon  Washington,  who  was  still 
a  member  of  the  congress.  He  accepted  it  on 
June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that 
he  receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact 
account  of  expenses  and  expect  congress  to 
pay  them  and  nothing  more.  The  war  was 
conducted  by  him  under  every  possible  disad- 
vantage, and  while  his  forces  often  met  with 
reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every  obstacle,  and 
after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion  and  match- 
less skill,  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  December  23,  1783, 
Washington  resigned  his  commission  as  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  army  to  the  continental 
congress  sitting  at  Annapolis,  and  retired  im- 
mediately to  Mount  Vernon. 

In  February,  1789,  Washington  was  unani- 
mously elected  president.  In  his  presidential 
career  he  was  subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  in- 
cidental to  a  new  government;  trials  from  lack 
of  confidence  on  the  part  of  other  govern- 
ments; trials  for  the  want  of  harmony  between 
the  different  sections  of  our  own  country;  trials 
from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  coun- 
try, owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit ;  trial 
from  the  beginnings  of  party  strife. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was 
unanimously  re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this 
term  many  were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected, 
but  he  absolutely  refused  a  third  nomination. 
On  the  fourth  of  March,  1797,  he  returned  to 
his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there  his  few  remain- 
ing years  free  from  the  annoyance  of  public 
life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with 
France.  At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was 
again  urged  to  take  command  of  the  armies. 
He  chose  his  subordinate  officers  and  left  to 


JOHN   ADAMS. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


29 


them  the  charge  of  matters  in  the  field,  which 
he  superintended  from  his  home.  In  accepting 
the  command  he  made  the  reservation  that  he 
was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until  it  was  neces- 
sary. In  the  midst  of  these  preparations  his 
life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he 
took  a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain, 
which,  settling  in  his  throat,  produced  inflam- 
mation, and  terminated  fatally  on  the  night 
of  the  14th.  On  the  18th  his  body  was  borne 
with  military  honors  to  its  final  resting  place, 
and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at  Mount 
Vernon. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusually 
tall,  erect  and  well  proportioned.  His  features 
were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry.  He  commanded 
respect  without  any  appearance  of  haughtiness, 
and  was  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


>yOHN  ADAMS,  the  second  president 
J  and  the  first  vice-president  of  the 
/•  1  United  States,  was  born  in  Braintree, 
now  Quincy,  Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  October  19,  1735.  His 
great-grandfather,  Henry  Adams,  emigrated 
from  England  about  1640,  with  a  family  of 
eight  sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and  Susannah 
(Boylston)  Adams.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
of  limited  means,  to  which  he  added  the  busi- 
ness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his  eldest  son, 
John,  a  classical  education  at  Harvard  college. 
John  graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took 
charge  of  the  school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This 
he  found  but  a  "school  of  affliction,"  from 
which  he  endeavored  to  gain  relief  by  devot- 
ing himself,  in  addition,  to  the  study  of  law. 
For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself  under  the 
tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
was  well  fitted  for  the  legal  profession,  pos- 
sessing a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being  ready  and 
fluent  of  speech,  and    having  quick  perceptive 


powers.  In  1764  he  married  Abigail  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  a  minister,  and  a  lady  of  superior 
intelligence.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  ( 1 765) 
the  attempt  of  parliamentary  taxation  turned 
him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial  steps 
toward  holding  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 
tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very 
popular  throughout  the  province,  and  were 
adopted  word  for  word  by  over  forty  different 
towns.  He  moved  to  Boston  in  1768,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  courageous  and  prom- 
inent advocates  of  the  popular  cause,  and  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  general  court  (the 
legislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  dele- 
gates from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  conti- 
nental congress,  which  met  in  1774.  Here  he 
distinguished  himself  by  his  capacity  for  busi- 
ness and  for  debate,  and  advocated  the  move- 
ment for  independence  against  the  majority  of 
the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved  and 
carried  a  resolution  in  congress  that  the  colo- 
nies should  assume  the  duties  of  self-govern- 
ment. He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
committee  of  five  appointed  June  11,  to  pre- 
pare a  declaration  of  independence.  This 
article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but  on  Adams 
devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through  con- 
gress in  a  three  days'  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence was  passed,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his 
wife  which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have 
been  dictated  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy. 
"Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the  greatest  question 
was  decided  that  ever  was  debated  in  America; 
and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  will  be 
decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  'that  these 
United  States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be, 
free  and  independent  states.'  The  4th  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the 
history  of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it 
will  be  celebrated  by  succeeding  generations, 


30 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


as  the  great  anniversary  festival.  It  ought  to 
be  commemorated  as  the  day  of  deliverance 
by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty  God. 
It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows, 
games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illu- 
minations from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the 
other,  from  this  time  forward  for  ever.  You 
will  think  me  transported  with  enthusiasm,  but 
I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of  the  toil,  and 
blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to  main- 
tain this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  states;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can 
see  the  rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see 
that  the  end  is  worth  more  than  all  the  means; 
and  that  posterity  will  triumph,  although  you 
and  I  may  rue,  which  I  hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  ap- 
pointed a  delegate  to  France  to  co-operate 
with  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who 
were  then  in  Paris,  in  the  endeavor  to  obtain 
assistance  in  arms  and  money  from  the  French 
government.  He  left  France  June  17,  1779. 
In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself 
in  readiness  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and 
of  commerce  with  Great  Britain,  as  soon  as 
the  British  cabinet  might  be  found  willing  to 
listen  to  such  proposals.  He  sailed  for  France 
in  November,  from  there  he  went  to  Holland, 
where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England 
was  signed  January  2 1 ,  1783.  The  re-action 
from  the  excitement,  toil  and  anxiety  through 
which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed  threw  him  into 
a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  continued 
fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the 
waters  of  Bath.  While  in  England,  still 
drooping  and  desponding,  he  received  dis- 
patches from  his  own  government  urging  the 
necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to  nego- 
tiate another  loan.      It  was  winter,    his  health 


was  delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and 
through  storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot, 
he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  congress  appointed 
Mr.  Adams  envoy  to  the  court  of  St.  James. 
Here  he  met  face  to  face  the  king  of  England, 
who  had  so  long  regarded  him  as  a  traitor. 
As  England  did  not  condescend  to  appoint  a 
minister  to  the  United  States,  and  as  Mr. 
Adams  felt  that  he  was  accomplishing  but  lit- 
tle, he  sought  permission  to  return  to  his  own 
country,  where  he  arrived  in  June  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  presi- 
dent, John  Adams,  rendered  illustrious  by  his 
signal  services  at  home  and  abroad,  was 
chosen  vice  president.  Again  at  the  second 
election  of  Washington  as  president,  Adams 
was  chosen  vice  president.  In  1  796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr  Adams 
was  elected  president,  though  not  without 
much  opposition.  Serving  in  this  office  four 
years,  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  his 
opponent  in  politics. 

While  Mr.  Adams  was  vice  president  the 
great  French  revolution  shook  the  continent 
of  Europe,  and  it  was  upon  this  point  which 
he  was  at  issue  with  the  majority  of  his 
countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jeffarson.  Mr.  Adams 
felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people  in 
their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in 
their  power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly 
abhorred  the  class  of  atheist  philosophers  who 
he  claimed  caused  it.  On  the  other  hand 
Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly  enlisted 
in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  origi- 
nated the  alieniation  between  these  distin- 
guished men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were 
thus  soon  organized,  Adams  at  the  head  of 
the  one  whose  sympathies  were  with  England, 
and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in  sympathy  with 
France.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was 
filled  to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated 
to  the  highest  station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 


THOMAS   JEFFERSON. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


33 


The  4th  of  July,  1826,  which  completed 
the  half  century  since  the  signing  of  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence,  arrived,  and  there 
were  but  three  of  the  signers  of  that  immortal 
instrument  left  upon  the  earth  to  hail  its 
morning  light.  And,  as  it  is  well  known,  on 
that  day  two  of  these  finished  their  earthly 
pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as  to 
seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and,  on  the 
4th,  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from  his 
bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for 
the  customary  celebration  oi  the  day,  he  ex- 
claimed "Independence  forever."  When 
the  day  was  ushered  in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells 
and  the  firing  of  cannons,  he  was  asked  by 
one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew  what  day  it 
was?  He  replied,  "  Oh,  yes;  it  is  the  glorious 
Fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you 
all."  In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is 
a  great  and  glorious  day."  The  last  words  he 
uttered  were  "Jefferson  survives."  But  he 
had,  at  one  o'clock,  resigned  his  spirit  into  the 
hands  of  his  God.  The  personal  appearance 
and  manners  of  Mr.  Adams  were  not  particu- 
larly prepossessing.  His  face,  as  his  portrait 
manifests,  was  intellectual  and  expressive,  but 
his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncour- 
teous. 


>HOMAS  JEFFERSON,  third  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born 
April  2,  1743,  at  Shadwell,  Albemarle 
county,  Va.  His  parents  were  Peter 
and  Jane  (Randolph)  Jefferson,  the  former  a 
native  of  Wales,  and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six  daughters  and 
two  sons,  of  whom  Thomas  was  the  eldest. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  died. 
He  received  a  most  liberal  education,  having 
been  kept  diligently   at  school   from  the  time 


he  was  five  years  of  age.  In  1760  he  entered 
William  and  Mary  college.  Williamsburg  was 
then  the  seat  of  the  colonial  court,  and  it 
was  the  abode  of  fashion  and  splendor.  Young 
Jefferson,  who  was  then  seventeen  years  old, 
lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  was  much  caressed  by  gay  society, 
yet  he  was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies', 
and  irreproachable  in  his  morals.  In  the 
second  year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by 
some  unexplained  inward  impulse,  he  discarded 
his  horses,  society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin, 
to  which  he  had  previously  given  much  time. 
He  often  devoted  fifteen  hours  a  day  to  hard 
study,  allowing  himself  for  exercise  only  a  run 
in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out  of  the  city 
and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very  high 
intellectual  culture,  and  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult 
Latin  and  Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began 
the  study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  rose 
rapidly  and  distinguished  himself  by  his  energy 
and  acuteness  as  a  lawyer.  But  the  times 
called  for  greater  action.  The  policy  of 
England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of  resistance 
of  the  American  colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained 
soon  led  him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769 
he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Virginia  house 
of  burgesses.  In  1772  he  married  Mrs. 
Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beautiful,  wealthy  and 
highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shad- 
well,  there  was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called 
Monticello,  which  commanded  a  prospect  of 
wonderful  extent  and  beauty.  This  spot  Mr. 
Jefferson  selected  for  his  new  home;  and  here 
he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet  elegant 
architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our 
land. 


34 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  colonial  con- 
gress, where,  though  a  silent  member,  his 
abilities  as  a  writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  be- 
came known,  and  he  was  placed  upon  a  num- 
ber of  important  committees,  and  was  chairman 
of  the  one  appointed  for  the  drawing  up  of  a 
declaration  of  independence.  This  committee 
consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Rob- 
ert R.  Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman, 
was  appointed  to  draw  up  the  paper.  Frank- 
lin and  Adams  suggested  a  few  verbal  changes 
before  it  was  submitted  to  congress.  On  June 
28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made  in  it  by 
congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July  4, 
1776.  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of 
that  man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his 
breast — who  was  charged  with  the  preparation 
of  that  declaration,  which,  while  it  made 
known  the  wrongs  of  America,  was  also  to 
publish  her  to  the  world,  free,  sovereign  and 
independent! 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor 
to  Patrick  Henry,  as  governor  of  Virginia.  At 
one  time  the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a 
secret  expedition  to  Monticello,  to  capture  the 
governor.  Scarcely  five  minutes  elapsed  after 
the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jefferson  and  his 
family  ere  his  mansion  was  in  possession  of 
the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excite- 
ment and  in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  congress  in 
1783.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
minister  plenipotentiary  to  France.  Return- 
ing to  the  United  States  in  September,  1789, 
he  became  secretary  of  state  in  Washington's 
cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned  January  1, 
1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  vice  president 
and  four  years  later  was  elected  president  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  vice  president. 
In  1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful 
unanimity,  and  George  Clinton,  vice  president. 


The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second 
administration  was  disturbed  by  an  event 
which  threatened  the  tranquility  and  peace  of 
the  Union;  this  was  the  conspiracy  of  Aaron 
Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election  to  the 
vice  presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the 
plan  of  a  military  expedition  into  the  Spanish 
territories  on  our  southwestern  frontier,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  there  a  new  republic. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second 
term  for  which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected, 
he  determined  tQ  retire  from  political  life. 
For  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years,  he  had 
been  continually  before  the  public,  and  all 
that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of  the 
greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having 
thus  devoted  the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  serv- 
ice of  his  country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of 
that  rest  which  his  declining  years  required, 
and  upon  the  organization  of  the  new  adminis- 
tration, in  March,  1809,  he  bade  farewell  for- 
ever to  public   life,  and   retired   to  Monticello. 

The  4th  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of 
the  Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's 
jubilee,  and  the  citizens  of  Washington,  to 
add  to  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  invited 
Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer,  and  one  of  the 
few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declaration,  to 
participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  illness, 
which  had  been  of  several  week's  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled 
him  to  decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  the  disease  under 
which  he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a 
reduced  state  that  his  medical  attendants  en- 
tertained no  hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this 
time  he  was  perfectly  sensible  that  his  last 
hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next  day,  which 
was  Monday,  he  asked,  of  those  around  him, 
the  day  of  the  month,  and  on    being  told  that 


JAMES   MADISON 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


37 


it  was  the  3d  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest 
wish  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe 
the  air  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary.  His  prayer 
was  heard — that  day,  whose  dawn  was  hailed 
with  such  rapture  through  our  land,  burst 
upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a 
noble  life  !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birth  of 
a  nation — the  day  which  his  own  name  and 
own  act  had  rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst 
the  rejoicings  and  festivities  of  a  whole  nation, 
who  looked  up  to  him,  as  the  author,  under 
God,  of  their  greatest  blessings,  was  all  that 
was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  of  his  life. 
Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kindred 
spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear  him 
company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin, 
rather  above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed; 
his  eyes  were  light,  his  hair,  originally  red,  in 
after  life  became  white  and  silvery;  his  com- 
plexion was  fair,  his  forehead  broad,  and  his 
whole  countenance  intelligent  and  thoughtful. 
He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as  well 
as  personal  courage;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate 
friends  never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a 
passion.  His  manners,  though  dignified,  were 
simple  and  unaffected,  and  his  hospitality  was 
so  unbounded  that  all  found  at  his  house  a 
ready  welcome.  In  conversation  he  was  fluent, 
eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and  his  language  was 
remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He  was  a 
finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings 
is  discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed 
his  style  upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


l^AMES  MADISON,  fourth  president  of 

£3      the  United  States,  was  born  March  16, 

A  I      1751,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Virginia, 

June  28,  1836.      He  was  the  last  of  the 

founders  of   the    Constitution    of   the    United 


States  to  be  called  to  his  eternal  reward. 
The  Madison  family  were  among  the  early 
emigrants  to  the  New  World,  landing  upon  the 
shores  of  the  Chesapeake  but  fifteen  years 
after  the  settlement  of  Jamestown.  The  father 
of  James  Madison  was  an  opulent  planter,  re- 
siding upon  a  very  fine  estate  called  "Mont- 
pelier, "  Orange  county,  Va.  The  mansion 
was  situated  in  the  midst  of  scenery  highly 
picturesque  and  romantic,  on  the  west  side  of 
Southwest  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of  Blue 
Ridge.  It  was  but  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
home  of  Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest 
personal  and  political  attachment  existed  be- 
tween these  illustrious  men  from  their  early 
youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was 
conducted  mostly  at  home  under  a  private 
tutor.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  sent 
to  Princeton  college,  in  New  Jersey.  Here  he 
applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 
prudent zeal,  allowing  himself  for  months  but 
three  hours'  sleep  out  of  the  twenty-four.  His 
health  thus  became  so  seriously  impaired  that 
he  never  recovered  any  vigor  of  constitution. 
He  graduated  in  1 77 1 ,  when  a  feeble  boy,  but 
with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with 
learning. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and 
systematic  reading.  This  educational  course, 
the  spirit  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  all 
combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong  love  of 
liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of  a 
statesman. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Virginia  convention,  to  frame  the  constitution 
of  the  state.  The  next  year  (1777)  he  was  a 
candidate  for  the  general  assembly.  He  re- 
fused to  treat  the  whisky-loving  voters,  and  con- 
sequently lost  his  election;  but  those  who  had 


38 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit 
of  the  modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves 
in  his  behalf  and  he  was  appointed  to  the 
executive  council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson 
were  governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison 
remained  member  of  the  council;  and  their 
appreciation  of  his  intellectual,  social  and 
moral  worth,  contributed  not  a  little  to  his 
subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year  1780,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  continental  con- 
gress. Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men 
in  our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned 
to  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  positions 
among  them.  For  three  years  Mr.  Madison 
continued  in  congress,  one  of  its  most  active 
and  influential  members.  In  the  year  1784, 
his  term  having  expired,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Virginia  legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison 
the  utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy, 
with  no  national  government,  with  no  power 
to  form  treaties  which  would  be  binding,  or  to 
enforce  law.  There  was  not  any  state  more 
prominent  than  Virginia  in  the  declaration, 
that  an  efficient  national  government  must  be 
formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison  car- 
ried a  resolution  through  the  general  assembly 
of  Virginia,  inviting  the  other  states  to  appoint 
commissioners  to  meet  in  convention  at  Ann- 
apolis to  discuss  the  subject.  Five  states  only 
were  represented.  The  convention,  however, 
issued  another  call,  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Madison, 
urging  all  the  states  to  send  their  delegates  to 
Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft  a  consti- 
tution for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  confederate  league.  The  delegates  met 
at  the  time  appointed.  Every  state  but  Rhode 
Island  was  represented.  George  Washington 
was  chosen  president  of  the  convention;  and 
the  present  constitution  of  the  United  States 
was  then  and  there  formed.  There  was,  per- 
haps,   no  mind  and    no    pen    more    active    in 


framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  of  81 
to  79,  was  to  be  presented  to  the  several  states 
for  acceptance.  But  grave  solicitude  was  felt. 
Should  it  be  rejected  we  should  be  left  but  a 
conglomeration  of  independent  states,  with 
but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the 
convention  to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States,  expounding  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  constitution,  and  urging  its  adop- 
tion. There  was  great  opposition  to  it  at  first, 
but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and  went 
into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  house  of 
representatives  in  the  first  congress,  and  soon 
became  the  avowed  leader  of  the  republican 
party.  While  in  New  York  attending  congress, 
he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a  young  widow  of  remark- 
able power  of  fascination,  whom  he  married. 
She  was  in  person  and  character  queenly,  and 
probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied  so 
prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  soci- 
ety which  has  constituted  our  republican  court, 
as  Mrs.  Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  secretary  of  state 
under  Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of 
his  administration  was  chosen  president. 
At  this  time  the  encroachments  of  Eng- 
land had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 
British  orders  in  council  destroyed  our  com- 
merce, and  our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant 
insult.  Mr.  Madison  was  a  man  of  peace. 
Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring  in  his  disposi- 
tion, war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's 
blood  boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American 
ship  brought  to  upon  the  ocean  by  the  guns  of 
an  English  cruiser.  A  young  lieutenant  steps 
on  board  and  orders  the  crew  to  be  paraded 
before  him.  With  great  nonchalance  he  selects 
any  number  whom  he  may  please  to  designate 


JAMES    MONROE. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


41 


as  British  subjects;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  the  boat;  and  places  them  on 
the  gun-deck  of  the  man-of-war  to  fight,  by 
compulsion,  the  battles  of  England.  This 
right  of  search  and  impressment,  no  efforts  of 
our  government  could  induce  the  British  cabi- 
net to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madi- 
son gave  his  approval  to  an  act  of  congress  de- 
claring war  against  Great  Britain.  Notwith- 
standing the  bitter  hostility  of  the  federal 
party  to  the  war,  the  country  in  general  ap- 
proved; and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
18 1 3,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority,  and 
entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  The 
contest  commenced  in  earnest  by  the  appear- 
ance of  a  British  fleet  early  in  February,  181 3, 
in  Chesapeake  bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 
The  emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services 
as  mediator.  America  accepted;  England  re- 
fused. A  British  force  of  five  thousand  men 
landed  on  the  banks  of  the  Patuxant  river,  near 
its  entrance  into  Chesapeake  bay,  and  marched 
rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladensburg,  upon  Wash- 
ington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington 
was  thrown  into  consternation.  The  cannon 
of  the  brief  conflict  at  Bladensburg  echoed 
through  the  streets  of  the  metropolis.  The 
whole  population  fled  from  the  city.  The 
president,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door 
to  await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet 
the  officers  in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our 
troops  utterly  routed,  and  he  could  not  go 
back  without  danger  of  being  captured.  But 
few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  presidential  mansion, 
the  capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting, 
and  on  February  13,  181  5,  the  treaty  of  peace 
was  signed  at  Ghent. 


March  4,  1817,  James  Madison's  second 
term  of  office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the 
presidential  chair  to  his  friend,  James  Monroe. 
He  retired  to  his  beautiful  home  at  Montpelier 
and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


WAMES  MONROE,  the  fifth  president  of 
B  the  United  States,  was  born  in  West- 
(•  J  moreland  county,  Va.,  April  28,  1758. 
He  joined  the  colonial  army  when  every- 
thing looked  hopeless  and  gloomy.  The  num- 
ber of  deserters  increased  from  day  to  day. 
The  invading  armies  came  pouring  in,  and  the 
tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the  mother 
country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect 
of  contending  with  an  enemy  whom  they  had 
been  taught  to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave 
spirits  as  James  Monroe,  who  went  right  on- 
ward undismayed  through  difficulty  and  danger, 
the  United  States  owe  their  political  eman- 
cipation. The  young  cadet  joined  the  ranks 
and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with 
her  strife  for  liberty.  Firmly,  yet  sadly,  he 
shared  in  the  melancholy  retreat  from  Harlaem 
Heights  and  White  Plains,  and  accompanied 
the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled  before  its  foes 
through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months  after 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  bat- 
tle of  Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the 
act  of  charging  upon  the  enemy  he  received  a 
wound  in  the  left  shoulder.  As  a  reward  for 
his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  promoted  a  cap- 
tain of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered  from 
his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  how- 
ever, receded  from  the  line  of  promotion  by 


42 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


becoming  an  officer  on  the  staff  of  Lord  Stir- 
ling. During  the  campaigns  of  1777  and  1778, 
in  the  actions  of  Brandywine,  Germantown, 
and  Monmouth,  he  continued  aid-de-camp; 
but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his  position  in 
the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a  regi- 
ment for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  state. 
Upon  this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr. 
Jefferson,  at  that  period  governor,  and  pursued 
with  considerable  ardor  the  study  of  common 
law.  He  did  not,  however,  entirely  lay  aside 
the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag;  but  on  the  in- 
vasions of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volunteer 
during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George 
county  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Virginia, 
and  by  that  body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in 
the  executive  council.  He  was  thus  honored 
with  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  at 
twenty-three  years  of  age;  and  at  this  early- 
period  displayed  some  of  that  ability  and  apti- 
tude for  legislation,  which  were  afterward 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  pub- 
lic good;  he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen 
a  member  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfec- 
tions of  the  old  confederacy,  he  was  opposed 
to  the  new  constitution,  thinking,  with  many 
others  of  the  republican  party,  that  it  gave  too 
much  power  to  the  central  government,  and 
not  enough  to  the  individual  states.  In  1789 
he  became  a  member  of  the  United  States  sen- 
ate, which  office  he  held  for  four  years.  Every 
month  the  line  of  distinction  between  the  two 
great  parties  which  divided  the  nation,  the 
federal  and  the  republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now 
separated  them  were,  that  the  republican  party 
was  in  sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in 
favor  of  such  a  strict  construction  of  the  con- 
stitution as  to  give  the  central  government  as 
little    power,    and  the   state    governments    as 


much  power,  as  the  constitution  would  war- 
rant. The  federalists  sympathized  with  Eng- 
land, and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construc- 
tion of  the  constitution,  which  would  give  as 
much  power  to  the  central  government  as  that 
document  could  possibly  authorize. 

Washington  was  then  president.  England 
had  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Bourbons 
against  the  principles  of  the  French  revolu- 
tion. All  Europe  was  drawn  into  the  conflict. 
We  were  feeble  and  far  away.  Washington 
issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  between 
these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the 
despotisms  of  Europe  were  combined  to  pre- 
vent the  French  from  escaping  from  a  tyranny 
a  thousand-fold  worse  than  that  which  we  had 
endured.  Col.  Monroe,  more  magnanimous 
than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at  whatever 
hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in  their 
extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the 
president's  proclamation  as  ungrateful  and 
wanting  in  magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a 
character,  developed  his  clam,  serene,  almost 
divine  greatness,  by  appointing  that  very 
James  Monroe,  who  was  denouncing  the  policy 
of  the  government,  as  the  minister  of  that 
government  to  the  republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  national  conven- 
tion in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic 
demonstrations. 

Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr. 
Monroe  was  elected  governor  of  Virginia,  and 
held  the  office  for  three  years.  He  was  again 
sent  to  France  to  co-operate  with  Chancellor 
Livingston  in  obtaining  the  vast  territory 
then  known  as  the  province  of  Louisiana, 
which  France  had  but  shortly  before  obtained 
from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of 
fifteen  millions    of  dollars,  the  entire  territory 


JOHN    QUINCY    ADAMS. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE   UNITED    STATES. 


45 


of  Orleans  and  district  of  Louisiana  were 
added  to  the  United  States.  This  was  prob- 
ably the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate  which 
was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England 
to  obtain  from  that  country  some  recognition 
of  our  rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate 
against  those  odious  impressments  of  our  sea- 
men. But  England  was  unrelenting.  He 
again  returned  to  England  on  the  same  mis- 
sion, but  could  receive  no  redress.  He  returned 
to  his  home  and  was  again  chosen  governor  of 
Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned  to  accept  the 
position  of  secretary  of  state  under  Madison. 
While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was  de- 
clared, the  secretary  of  war  resigned,  and  dur- 
ing those  trying  times  the  duties  of  the  war  de- 
partment were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was 
truly  the  armor-bearer  of  President  Madison, 
and  the  most  efficient  business  man  in  his  cab- 
inet. Upon  the  return  of  peace  he  resigned 
the  department  of  war,  but  continued  in  the  of- 
fice of  secretary  of  state  until  the  expiration  of 
Mr.  Madison's  administration.  At  the  election 
held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  had  been 
chosen  president  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four 
years  later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  presi- 
dency were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United 
States;  the  Missouri  compromise,  and  the 
"Monroe  doctrine."  This  famous  "Monroe 
doctrine"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At 
that  time  the  United  States  had  recognized 
the  independence  of  the  South  American 
states,  and  did  not  wish  to  have  European 
powers  longer  attempt  to  subdue  portions  of 
the  American  continent.  The  doctrine  is  as 
follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  at- 
tempt on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  ex- 
tend their  system  to  any  portion  of  this  hemi- 
sphere as  dangerous  to  our  peace  and  safety," 
and  "that   we  could    not    view    any  interposi- 


tion for  the  purpose  of  oppressing  or  controll- 
ing American  governments  or  provinces  in  any 
other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  Euro- 
pean powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  to- 
ward the  United  States."  This  doctrine  imme- 
diately affected  the  course  of  foreign  govern- 
ments, and  has  become  the  approved  senti- 
ment of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe 
retired  to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived 
until  1830,  when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live 
with  his  son-in-law.  In  that  city  he  died  on 
the  4th  of  July,   1831. 


WOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the  sixth 
m  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
/•  1  born  in  Quincy,  Mass.,  on  the  11th  of 
July,  1767.  His  mother,  a  woman  of 
exalted  worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during  the  almost  constant  absence  of  his 
father. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he  took  a  tear- 
ful adieu  of  his  mother,  to  sail  with  his  father 
for  Europe,  through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British 
cruisers.  The  bright,  animated  boy  spent  a 
year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where  his  father  was 
associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as  minister 
plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted  the 
notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  re- 
ceived from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  tc 
this  country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent 
abroad.  Again  John  Quincy  accompanied  his 
father.  At  Paris  he  applied  himself  with  great 
diligence,  for  six  months,  to  study;  then  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Holland,  where  he  entered 
first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then  the  univer- 
sity at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this  time, 
in  1 78 1,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana, 
our  minister  to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  pri- 
vate secretary. 


46 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  en- 
nobling culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and 
then  returned  to  Holland  through  Sweden, 
Denmark,  Hamburg  and  Bremen.  This  long 
journey  he  took  alone,  in  the  winter,  when  in 
his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed  his 
studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague. 
Thence,  in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompa- 
nied his  father  to  Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of 
paintings  and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At 
Paris  he  again  became  associated  with  the 
most  illustrious  men  of  all  lands  in  the  con- 
templations of  the  loftiest  temporal  themes 
which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After  a 
short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris, 
and  consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until 
May,   1785,  when  he  returned  to  America. 

After  leaving  Harvard  college  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In 
June,  1794,  being  then  but  twenty-seven  years 
of  age,  he  was  appointed,  by  Washington,  res- 
ident minister  at  the  Netherlands.  Sailing 
from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached  London  in 
October,  where  he  was  immediately  admitted 
to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinck- 
ney,  assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commer- 
cial treaty  with  Great  Britain.  After  thus 
spending  a  fortnight  in  London,  he  proceeded 
to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to 
Portugal  as  minister  plenipotentiary,  On  his 
way  to  Portugal,  upon  arriving  in  London,  he 
met  with  despatches  directing  him  to  the  court 
of  Berlin,  but  requesting  him  to  remain  in 
London  until  he  should  receive  his  instruc- 
tions. While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previ- 
ously engaged — Miss  Louisa  Catherine  John- 
son, daughter  of  Mr.  Joshua' Johnson,  Ameri- 
can consul  in  London. 

He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  Novem- 
ber,    1797,    where    he    remained    until    July, 


1799,  when,  having  fulfilled  all  the  purposes  of 
his  mission,  he  solicited  his  recall.  Soon  after 
his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to  the  sen- 
ate of  Massachusetts  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  senator  of  the  United  States  for 
six  years,  from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His 
reputation,  his  ability  and  his  experience, 
placed  him  immediately  among  the  most  prom- 
inent and  influential  members  of  that  body. 
Especially  did  he  sustain  the  government  in  its 
measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroachments 
of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in 
the  presidential  chair,  and  he  immediately 
nominated  John  Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St. 
Petersburg.  Resigning  his  professorship  in 
Harvard  college,  he  embarked  at  Boston,  in 
August,  1809.  While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams 
was  an  intense  student.  He  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  the  language  and  history  of  Russia; 
to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the  European  system 
of  weights,  measures,  and  coins;  to  the 
climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while 
he  kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the 
Greek  and  Latin  classics.  All  through  life  the 
Bible  constituted  an  important  part  of  his 
studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five  chapters 
every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe 
took  the  presidential  chair,  and  immediately 
appointed  Mr.  Adams  secretary  of  state. 
Taking  leave  of  his  friends  in  public  and  pri- 
vate life  in  Europe,  he  sailed  in  June,  18 19, 
for  the  United  States.  On  the  iSth  of  August, 
he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his  home  in 
Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued 
secretary  of  state. 

Some  time  before  the   close  of  Mi.  Mr 
roe's  second   term    of    office,    new  candidates 
began    to    be    presented    for   the   presidency. 
The    friends    of   Mr.  Adams  brought   forward 


ANDREW   JACKSON. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two 
hundred  and  sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast. 
Andrew  Jackson  received  ninety-nine;  John 
Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four;  William  H.  Craw- 
ford, forty-one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty-seven. 
As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  house  of  representatives. 
Mr.  Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr. 
Adams,  and  he  was  elected. 

Mr,  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  de- 
gree, abstemious  and  temperate  in  his  habits; 
always  rising  early,  and  taking  much  exercise. 
When  at  his  home  in  Quincy,  he  has  been 
known  to  walk,  before  breakfast,  seven  miles 
to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said  that 
he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting 
his  own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in 
his  library  often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams 
retired  from  the  presidency,  and  was  suceeded 
by  Andrew  Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was 
elected  vice  president.  The  slavery  question 
now  began  to  assume  portentous  magnitude. 
Mr.  Adams  returned  to  Quincy,  and  to  his 
studies,  which  he  pursued  with  unabated  zeal. 
But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  remain  in 
retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  congress.  For  sev- 
enteen years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the 
post  as  representative,  ever  ready  to  do  brave 
battle  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  house,  he  announced  that  he  should 
hold  himself  bound  to  no  party.  He  was 
usually  the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning, 
and  the  last  to  leave  his  seat  in  the  evening. 
Not  a  measure  could  be  brought  forward  and 
escape  his  scrutiny.  The  battle  which  Mr. 
Adams  fought  almost  singly,  against  the 
proslavery  party  in  the  government,  was  sub- 
lime in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For 
persisting  in  presenting  petitions  for  the  aboli- 


tion of  slavery,  he  was  threatened  with  i  dict- 
ment  by  the  grand  jury,  with  expulsior  from 
the  house,  and  also  with  assassination,  but 
no  threats  could  intimidate  him  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

On  the  2 1st  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on 
the  floor  of  congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand, 
to  address  the  speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell, 
again  stricken  by  paralysis,  and  was  caught  in 
the  arms  of  those  around  him.  For  a  time  he 
was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to  the 
sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around 
and  said:  "This  is  the  end  of  earth;"  then, 
after  a  moment's  pause,  he  added,  "I  am 
content. "  These  were  the  last  words  of  the  sixth 
president. 

HNDREW  JACKSON,  the  seventh 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days  after  his 
father's  death.  His  parents  were  from  Ireland, 
and  took  up  their  abode  in  Waxhaw  settle- 
ment, where  they  lived  in  deepest  poverty. 

Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was  universally 
called,  grew  up  a  very  rough,  rude,  turbulent 
boy.  His  features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very  little  in  his  char- 
acter, made  visible,  which  was  attractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the 
volunteers  of  Carolina  against  the  British  in- 
vasion. In  1 78 1,  he  and  his  brother  Robert 
were  captured  and  imprisoned  for  a  time  at 
Camden.  A  British  officer  ordered  him  to 
brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am  a 
prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the 
reply  of  the  dauntless  boy.  The  brute  drew 
his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate  blow  at  the 
head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner.  Andrew 
raised  his  hand,  and  thus  recived  two  fearful 
gashes — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon 
the  head.       The  officer   then   turned    to    his 


50 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


brother  Robert  with  the  same  demand.  He 
also  refused,  and  received  a  blow  from  the 
keen-edged  saber,  which  quite  disabled  him, 
and  which  probably  soon  after  caused  his 
death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treat- 
ment, and  were  finally  stricken  with  the  small- 
pox. Their  mother  was  successful  in  obtain- 
ing their  exchange,  and  took  her  sick  boys 
home.  After  a  long  illness  Andrew  recovered, 
and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon  left  him  en- 
tirely friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways, 
such  as  working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching 
school  and  clerking  in  a  general  store,  until 
1784,  when  he  entered  a  law  office  at  Salis- 
bury, N.  C.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed  solicit- 
or for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina, 
of  which  Tennessee  was  then  apart.  This  in- 
volved many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid 
dangers  of  every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson 
never  knew  fear. 

In  1 79 1,  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman 
who  supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former 
husband.  Great  was  the  surprise  of  both 
parties,  two  years  later,  to  find  that  the  con- 
ditions of  the  divorce  had  just  been  definitely 
settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but 
the  occurrence  was  often  used  by  his  enemies 
to  bring  Mr.  Jackson  into  disfavor.  During 
these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profession, 
and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickinson,  was 
especially  disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  territory  of  Tennes- 
see then  containing  nearly  80,000  inhabitants, 
the  people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to 
frame  a  constitution.  Five  were  sent  from  each 
of  the  eleven  counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was 
one  of  the  delegates.  The  new  state  was  en- 
titled  to  but  one  member  in  the  national  house 
of  representatives.  Andrew  Jackson  was 
chosen  that   member.      Mounting  his  horse  he 


rode  to  Philadelphia,  where  congress  then 
held  its  sessions — a  distance  of  about  800 
miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
democratic  party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He 
admired  Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated 
England.  As  Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen. 
Washington,  whose  second  term  of  office  was 
then  expiring,  delivered  his  last  speech  to 
congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a  compli- 
mentary address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one 
of  the  twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was 
not  willing  to  say  that  Gen.  Washington's 
administration  had  been  "wise,  firm  and 
patriotic. " 

Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned.  Soon  after 
he  was  chosen  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of 
his  state,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1 8 1 2  with  Great  Britain 
commenced,  Madison  occupied  the  presidential 
chair.  Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  president 
that  there  was  an  unknown  man  in  the  west, 
Andrew  Jackson,  who  would  do  credit  to  a 
commission  if  one  were  conferred  upon  him. 
Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson  offered  his 
services  and  those  of  2,500  volunteers.  His 
offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops  were  assem- 
bled at  Nashville.  As  the  British  were  hourly 
expected  to  make  an  attack  upon  New  Orleans, 
where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was  in  command,  he 
was  ordered  to  descend  the  river  with  1,500 
troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The  expedition 
reached  Natchez,  and  after  a  delay  of  several 
weeks  there,  the  men  were  ordered  back  to 
their  homes.  But  the  energy  Gen.  Jackson 
had  displayed,  and  his  entire  devotion  to  the 
comfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him  golden 
opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular  man 
in  the  state.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  rickname  of  ''Old 
Hickory." 


MARTIN    VAN    BUREN. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


53 


Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horse- 
whip Col.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark 
that  gentleman  made  about  his  taking  a  part 
as  second  in  a  duel,  in  which  a  younger  brother 
of  Benton's  was  engaged,  he  received  two 
severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was  lingering 
upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh 
from  Florida  to  the  lakes,  to  exterminate  the 
white  settlers,  were  committing  the  most 
awful  ravages.  Decisive  action  became  neces- 
sary. Gen.  Jackson,  with  his  fractured  bone 
just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in  a  sling,  and 
unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assistance, 
gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendevous  at  Fayettesville,  Ala. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong 
fort  on  one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa 
river,  near  the  center  of  Alabama,  about  fifty 
miles  below  Fort  Strother.  With  an  army  of 
2,000  men,  Gen.  Jackson  traversed  the  path- 
less wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven  days.  He 
reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or  Horse- 
shoe, on  the  27th  of  March,  18 14.  The  bend 
of  the  river  inclosed  100  acres  of  tangled 
forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable 
breastwork  of  logs  and  brush.  Here  900  war- 
riors, with  an  ample  supply  of  arms,  were  as- 
sembled. The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight 
was  utterly  desperate.  Not  an  Indian  would 
accept  of  quarter.  When  bleeding  and  dying, 
they  would  fight  those  who  endeavored  to  spare 
their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morning  until 
dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was  awful 
and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into 
the  river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their 
heads  as  they  swam.  Nearly  every  one  of  the 
900  warriors  was  killed.  This  closing  of  the 
Creek  war  enabled  us  to  concentrate  all  our 
militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the  allies  of 
the  Indians.  No  man  of  less  resolute  will  than 
Gen.   Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 


campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue.  Immedi- 
ately he  was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  2,000 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  went 
to  Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensa- 
cola,  landed  a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored 
near  the  little  fort,  and  from  both  ship  and 
shore  commenced  a  furious  assault.  The  battle 
was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length  one  of  the 
ships  was  blown  up  and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  Jackson  moved  his 
troops  to  New  Orleans,  and  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans,  which  soon  ensued,  was  in  reality  a 
very  arduous  campaign.  Here  his  troops, 
which  numbered  about  4,000  men,  won  a 
signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
9,000.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  2,600. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to 
be  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  presi- 
dency, but,  in  1824,  he  was  defeated  by  Mr. 
Adams.  He  was,  however,  successful  in  the 
election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected  for  a 
second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the 
death  of  his  wife.  At  the  expiration  of  his  two 
terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage, 
where  he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years 
of  Jackson's  life  were  that  of  a  devoted  chris- 
tian man. 


QARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the  eighth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1782.  He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July  24,  1862,  and  his  body  rests  in  the 
cemetery  at  Kinderhook.  Above  it  is  a  plain 
granite  shaft  fifteen  feet  high,  bearing  a  sim- 
ple inscription  about  half  way  up  on  the  face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered  or  unbounded 
by  shrub  or  flower.  His  ancestors,  as  his 
name   indicates,    were   of    Dutch   origin,    and 


54 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Hol- 
land to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father 
was  a  farmer,  residing  in  the  old  town  of 
Kinderhook.  His  mother,  also  of  Dutch 
lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intelligence 
and  exemplary  piety.  At  the  age  of  fourteen, 
he  had  finished  his  academic  studies  in  his  na- 
tive village,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law. 
As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law  office  were  required  of 
him  before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar. 
Inspired  with  a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious 
of  his  powers,  he  pursued  his  studies  with  in- 
defatigable industry,  After  spending  six  years 
in  an  office  in  his  native  village,  he  went  to 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law 
in  his  native  village.  The  great  conflict  be- 
tween the  federal  and  republican  parties  was 
then  at  its  height.  Van  Buren  was  in  cordial 
sympathy  with  Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and 
eloquently  espoused  the  cause  of  state  rights; 
though  at  that  time  the  federal  party  held  the 
supremacy  both  in  his  town  and  state.  His 
success  and  increasing  reputation  led  him  after 
six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson, 
the  county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent 
seven  years,  constantly  gaining  strength  by 
contending  in  the  courts  with  some  of  the 
ablest  men  who  have  adorned  the  bar  of  his 
state. 

just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson, 
Mr.  VanBuren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished 
for  beauty  and  accomplishments.  After 
twelve  short  years  she  sank  into  the  grave, 
the  victim  of  consumption,  leaving  her  hus- 
band and  four  sons  to  weep  over  her  loss.  In 
1  8 12,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen 
to  the  state  senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous 
support  to  Mr.  Madison's  administration.  In 
181 5,  he  was  appointed  attorney-general,  and 


the  next  year  moved  to  Albany,  the  capital  of 
the  state. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the 
most  prominent  leaders  of  the  democratic 
party,  he  had  the  moral  courage  to  avow  that 
true  democracy  did  not  require  that  "univer- 
sal suffrage"  which  admits  the  vile,  the  de- 
graded, the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of  governing 
the  state.  In  true  consistency  with  his  demo- 
cratic principles,  he  contended  that,  while 
the  path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting 
should  be  open  to  every  man  without  distinc- 
tion, no  one  should  be  invested  with  that 
sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were  in  some 
degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of 
the  state. 

In  1 82 1  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
United  States  senate,  and  in  the  same  year  he 
took  a  seat  in  the  convention  to  revise  the 
constitution  of  his  native  state.  His  course  in 
this  convention  secured  the  approval  of  men 
of  all  parties.  In  the  senate  of  the  United 
States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a  conspicuous  posi- 
tion as  an  active  and  useful  legislator.  In 
1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re- 
elected to  the  senate.  He  had  been,  from  the 
beginning,  a  determined  opposer  to  the  ad- 
ministration, adopting  the  state  rights  view  in 
opposition  to  what  was  deemed  the  federal 
proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen 
governor  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  ac- 
cordingly resigned  his  seat  in  the  senate. 
Probably  no  one  in  the  United  States  con- 
tributed so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  presidential  chair,  and  placing 
in  it  Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van 
Buren.  Whether  entitled  to  the  reputation 
or  not,  he  certainly  was  regarded  throughout 
the  United  States  as  one  of  the  most  skillful, 
sagacious  and  cunning  politicians.    It  was  sup- 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


57 


posed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how  to 
touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull 
all  the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion; 
and  how  to  organize  a  political  army  which 
would,  secretly  and  stealthily,  accomplish  the 
most  gigantic  results.  By  these  powers  it  is 
said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Clay, 
Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which  few 
thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  presi- 
dent, he  appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  secretary 
of  state.  This  position  he  resigned  in  1831, 
and  was  immediately  appointed  minister  to 
England,  where  he  went  the  same  autumn. 
The  senate,  however,  when  it  met,  refused  to 
ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned  home, 
apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  vice 
president  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re- 
election of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles 
for  all  and  frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place 
at  the  head  of  that  senate  which  had  refused 
to  confirm  his  nomination  as  ambassador.  His 
rejection  by  the  senate  aroused  all  the  zeal 
of  President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated 
favorite;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any 
other  cause,  secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair 
of  the  chief  executive.  On  the  20th  of  May, 
1836,  Van  Buren  received  the  democratic  nom- 
ination to  succeed  Gen.  Jackson  as  president 
of  the  United  States.  He  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the  retir- 
ing president. 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting 
events.  The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which 
threatened  to  involve  this  country  in  war  with 
England,  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question, 
and  finally  the  great  commercial  panic  which 
spread  over  the  country,  all  were  trials  to  his 
wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  attributed 
to  the  management  of  the  democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  president  into  such  disfavor 
that  he  failed  of  re-election.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  being  nominated  for  the  presidency 


by  the  free  soil  democrats,  in  1848,  Mr.  Van 
Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until  his 
death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal 
habits,  and,  living  within  his  income,  had  now 
fortunately  a  competency  for  his  declining 
years.  It  was  on  the  4th  of  March,  1841, 
that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from  the  presidency. 
From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald,  he  still 
exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death, 
on  the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  he  resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman 
of  leisure,  of  culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying 
in  a  healthy  old  age,  probably  far  more  happi- 
ness than  he  had  before  experienced  amid  the 
stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


m. 


»ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON,  the 
ninth  president  of  the  United 
States;  was  born  at  Berkeley,  Va., 
Feb.  9,  1773.  His  father,  Benja- 
min Harrison,  was  in  comparatively  opulent 
circumstances,  and  was  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  of  his  day.  He  was  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  George  Washington,  was  early 
elected  a  member  of  the  continental  congress, 
and  was  conspicuous  among  the  patriots  of 
Virginia  in  resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.  In  the  celebrated  congress  of 
1775,  Benjamin  Harrison  and  John  Hancock 
were  both  candidates  for  the  office  of  speaker. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  subsequently  chosen 
governor  of  Virginia,  and  was  twice  re-elected. 

Having  received  a  thorough  common- 
school  education,  William  Henry  Harrison 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  college,  where  he 
graduated  with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of 
his  father.  He  then  repaired  to  Philadelphia 
to  study  medicine  under  the  instructions  of 
Dr.     Rush    and    the    guardianship  of    Robert 


58 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles, 
and  notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  his 
friends,  he  abandoned  his  medical  studies  and 
entered  the  army,  having  obtained  a  commis- 
sion of  ensign  from  President  Washington.  He 
was  then  but  nineteen  years  old.  From  that 
time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank  until 
he  became  aid  to  Gen.  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was 
then  appointed  secretary  of  the  Northwestern 
territory.  This  territory  was  then  entitled  to 
but  one  member  in  congress,  and  Capt.  Harri- 
son was  chosen  to  fill  that  position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  Northwestern 
territory  was  divided  by  congress  into  two 
portions.  The  eastern  portion,  comprising 
the  region  now  embraced  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
was  called  "The  Territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which  included 
what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Wis- 
consin, was  called  the  "Indiana  territory." 
William  Henry  Harrison,  then  twenty-seven 
years  of  age,  was  appointed,  by  John  Adams, 
governor  of  the  Indiana  territory,  and  imme- 
diately after,  also  governor  of  upper  Louisi- 
ana. He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the 
globe.  He  was  superintendent  of  Indian  af- 
fairs, and  was  invested  with  powers  nearly 
dictatorial  over  the  now  rapidly  increasing 
white  population.  The  ability  and  fidelity 
with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he 
was  four  times  appointed  to  this  office — first 
by  John  Adams,  twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson 
and  afterward  by  President  Madison. 

When  he  began  his  administration  there 
were  but  three  white  settlements  in  that  al- 
most boundless  region,  now  crowded  with 
cities  and  resounding  with  all  the  tumult  of 
wealth  and  traffic.      One  of  these  settlements 


was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville; 
one  at  Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the 
third  a  French  settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Har- 
rison reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of 
Indians.  About  the  year  1806,  two  extraordi- 
nary men,  twin  brothers,  of  the  Shawnee 
tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of  these  was 
called  Tecumseh,  or  "The  Crouching  Pan- 
ther;" the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Pro- 
phet." Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian 
warrior,  but  a  man  of  great  sagacity,  far- 
reaching  foresight  and  indomitable  persever- 
ance in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might  en- 
gage. He  was  inspired  with  the  highest 
enthusiasm,  and  had  long  regarded  with  dread 
and  with  hatred  the  encroachments  of  the 
whites  upon  the  hunting  grounds  of  his  fath- 
ers. His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was  an  orator, 
who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath 
which  they  dwelt. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to 
conciliate  the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war 
came,  and  at  Tippecanoe  the  Indians  were 
routed  with  great  slaughter.  October  28, 
1 812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When  near 
the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Har- 
rison was  approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an 
attitude.  After  a  short  conference,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  a  meeting  the  next  day, 
to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace.  But  Gov.  Har- 
rison was  too  well  acquainted  with  the  Indian 
character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protestations. 
Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against 
surprise.  His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow 
square,  and  slept  upon  their  arms.  The 
troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accoutrements 
on,  his  loaded  musket  by  his  side,  and  his 
bayonet  fixed.   The  wakeful  governor,  between 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


59 


three  and  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  had 
risen  and  was  sitting  in  conversation  with  his 
aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It  was  a 
chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain. 
In  the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near 
as  possible,  and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell, 
rushed  with  all  the  desperation  which  supersti- 
tion and  passion  most  highly  inflamed  could 
give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  little  army. 
The  savages  had  been  amply  provided  with 
guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompanied  by  a  shower  of 
bullets.  The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extin- 
guished, as  the  light  aided  the  Indians  in  their 
aim.  With  hideous  yells,  the  Indian  bands 
rushed  on,  not  doubting  a  speedy  and  entire 
victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's  troops  stood  as 
immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them  until  day 
dawned;  they  then  made  a  simultaneous  charge 
with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  everything  before 
them,  and  completely  routed  the  foe.  Gov. 
Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked  to  the 
utmost.  The  British,  descending  from  the  Can- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable 
force;  but  with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like 
wolves  from  the  forest,  searching  out  every 
remote  farm  house,  burning,  plundering,  scalp- 
ing, torturing,  the  wide  frontier  was  plunged 
into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even  the 
most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  con- 
ceive. Gen.  Hull  had  made  the  ignominious 
surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit.  Under 
these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  comman- 
der-in-chief of  the  Northwestern  army,  with 
orders  to  retake  Detroit,  and  to  protect  the 
frontiers. 

Harrison  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by 
always  sharing  with  them  their  fatigue.  His 
whole  baggage,  while  pursuing  the  foe  up  the 
Thames,  was  carried  in  a  valise;  and  his  bed- 
ding consisted  of  a  single  blanket  lashed  over 
his   saddle.      Thirty-five     British    officers,    his 


prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  bat- 
tle. The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef 
roasted  before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  national  house  of  representatives  to 
represent  the  district  of  Ohio.  In  congress  he 
proved  an  active  member,  and,  whenever  he 
spoke,  it  was  with  force  of  reason  and  power 
of  eloquence,  which  arrested  the  attention  of 
all  the  members. 

In  1 8 19,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  sen- 
ate of  Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presi- 
dential electors  of  that  state,  he  gave  his  vote 
for  Henry  Clay.  The  same  year  he  was  chosen 
to  the  United  States  senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison 
brought  him  forward  as  a  candidate  for  the 
presidency  against  Van  Buren,  but  he  was  de- 
feated. At  the  close  of  Mr.  Van  Buren's  term, 
he  was  re-nominated  by  his  party,  and  Harri- 
son was  unanimously  nominated  by  the  whigs, 
with  John  Tyler  for  the  vice  presidency.  The 
contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson 
gave  all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's 
election;  but  his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel 
Webster  at  its  head  as  secretary  of  state,  was 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  with  which  any  presi- 
dent had  ever  been  surrounded.  In  the  midst 
of  these  bright  and  joyous  prospects.  Gen. 
Harrison  was  seized  by  a  pleurisy-fever,  and, 
after  a  few  days  of  violent  sickness,  died  on 
the  4th  of  April;  just  one  month  after  his  inau- 
guration as  president  of  the  United  States. 

With  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  death 
of  George  Washington,  the  demise  of  no  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  down  to  this  time, 
had  created  a  deeper  thrill  of  sympathy  through- 
out the  country  than  that  of  President  Harri- 
son. North  and  south,  his  obsequies  were  ob- 
served with  unaffected  sorrow,  and  men  of  all 
parties  seemed  to  forget  differences  of  opinion 
in  doing  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  dead. 


60 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


>7*OHN  TYLER,  the  tenth  president  of 
m  the  United  States,  was  born  in  Charles 
/»  1  City  county,  Va.,  March  29,  1790. 
At  the  early  age  of  twelve,  John  entered 
William  and  Mary  college  and  graduated  with 
much  honor  when  but  seventeen  years  old. 
He  devoted  himself  with  great  assiduity  to  the 
study  of  law,  partly  with  his  father  and  partly 
with  Edmund  Randolph,  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  His  success  was  rapid 
and  astonishing.  It  is  said  that  three  months 
had  not  elapsed  ere  there  was  scarcely  a  case 
on  the  docket  of  the  court  in  which  he  was  not 
retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
he  was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  state  legislature.  He  connected  himself 
with  the  democratic  party,  and  warmly  ad- 
vocated the  measures  of  Jefferson  and  Madison. 
For  five  successive  years  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature,  receiving  nearly  the  unanimous 
vote  of  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  congress.  Here  he  acted 
earnestly  and  ably  with  the  democratic  party, 
opposing  a  national  bank,  internal  improve- 
ments by  the  general  government,  a  protective 
tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  construction  of 
the  constitution,  and  the  most  careful  vigilance 
over  state  rights.  His  labors  in  congress  were 
so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire 
to  his  estate  in  Charles  City  county,  to  recruit 
his  health.  He,  however,  soon  after  consented 
to  take  his  seat  in  the  state  legislature,  where 
his  influence  was  powerful  in  promoting  public 
works  of  great  utility.  He  was  then  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  governor  of 
his  native  state.  His  administration  was  sig- 
lally  a  successful  one,  and  his  popularity 
secured  his  re-election. 

ohn   Randolph,  a  brilliant,    erratic,    half- 


crazed  man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the 
senate  of  the  United  States.  A  portion  of  the 
democratic  party  was  displeased  with  Mr. 
Randolph's  wayward  course,  and  brought 
forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent,  and 
Tyler  was  the  victor.  In  accordance  with  his 
professions,  upon  taking  his  seat  in  the  senate, 
he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposition.  He 
opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and  voted 
against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery, 
resisting  all  projects  of  internal  improvements 
by  the  general  government,  and  avowed  his 
sympathy  with  Mr.  Calhoun's  view  of  nullifica- 
tion; he  declared  that  Gen.  Jackson,  by  his 
opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had  abandoned  the 
principles  of  the  democratic  party.  Such  was 
Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  congress  —  a  record  in 
perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which 
he  had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  There  was  a  split 
in  the  democratic  party.  His  friends  still  re- 
garded him  as  a  true  Jeffersonian,  gave  him  a 
dinner,  and  showered  compliments  upon  him. 
He  had  now  attained  the  age  of  forty-six. 
Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children;  and 
he  again  took  his  seat  in  the  legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

By  the  southern  whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the 
national  convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate 
a  president  in  1839.  The  majority  of  votes 
were  given  to  Gen.  Harrison,  a  genuine  whig, 
much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  south,  who 
wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  conciliate  the 
southern  whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for 
vice  president.  Thus  it  happened  that  a  whig 
president  and,  in  reality,  a  democratic  vice 
president  were  chosen. 

In  1 84 1,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  vice 
president  of  the  United  States.      In  one  short 


JOHN    TYLER 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


63 


month  from  that  time  Pres.  Harrison  died,  and 
Mr.  Tyler  thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  sur- 
prise and  that  of  the  whole  nation,  an  occu- 
pant of  the  presidential  chair.  This  was  a  new 
test  of  the  stability  of  our  institutions,  as  it 
was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our  country 
that  such  an  event  had  occurred.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received 
the  unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  Pres. 
Harrison.  He  hastened  to  Washington,  and 
on  the  6th  of  April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high 
and  responsible  office.  Gen.  Harrison  had 
selected  a  whig  cabinet.  Should  he  retain 
them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
selors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his 
own?  or,  on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn 
against  the  party  which  had  elected  him  and 
select  a  cabinet  in  harmony  with  himself,  and 
which  would  oppose  all  those  views  which  the 
whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  public  wel- 
fare? This  was  his  fearful  dilemma,  and  so  he 
invited  the  cabinet  which  Pres.  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats. 

The  whigs  carried  through  congress  a  bill 
for  the  incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the 
United  States.  The  president,  after  ten  days' 
delay,  returned  it  with  his  veto.  He  suggested, 
however,  that  he  would  approve  of  a  bill 
drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he  proposed. 
Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his 
approval.  It  was  passed  without  alteration, 
and  he  sent  it  back  with  his  veto.  Here  com- 
menced the  open  rupture.  It  is  said  that  Mr. 
Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  measure  by  a  pub- 
lished letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M.  Botts,  a 
distinguished  Virginia  whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  president. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the 
president  into  their  arms.  The  party  which 
elected  him  denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the 
members  of  his  cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Web- 
ster, resigned.     The  whigs  of  congress,  both  the 


senate  and  the  house,  held  a  meeting  and  issued 
an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
proclaiming  that  all  political  alliances  between 
the  whigs  and  Pres.  Tyler  were  at  an  end. 

Still  the  president  attempted  to  conciliate. 
He  appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished 
whigs  and  conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out 
all  strong  party  men.  Mr.  Webster  soon 
found  it  necessary  to  resign,  forced  out  by  the 
pressure  of  his  whig  friends.  Thus  the  four 
years  of  Mr.  Tylor's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy 
with  his  old  friends,  the  democrats,  until,  at 
the  close  of  his  term,  he  gave  his  whole  influ- 
ence to  the  support  of  Mr.  Polk,  the  demo- 
cratic candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from 
office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His 
first  wife,  Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in 
Washington,  in  1842;  and  in  June,  1844, 
Pres.  Tyler  was  again  married,  at  New  York,  to 
Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of  many 
personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed 
mainly  in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home — 
Sherwood  Forest,  Charles  City  county,  Va. 
A  polished  gentleman  in  his  manners,  richly 
furnished  with  information  from  books  and 
experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing  bril- 
liant powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle 
was  the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With 
sufficient  means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous 
hospitality,  he  might  have  enjoyed  a  serene 
old  age  with  the  few  friends  who  gathered 
around  him,  were  it  not  for  the  storms  of  civil 
war  which  his  own  principles  and  policy  had 
helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  rebellion  rose,  which  the 
state  rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  John  C. 
Calhoun  had  inaugurated,  Pres.  Tyler  re- 
nounced his   allegiance   to  the   United  States. 


64 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


and  joined  the  confederates.  He  was  chosen 
a  member  of  their  congress;  and  while  engaged 
in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by  force  of  arms, 
the  government  over  which  he  had  once  pre- 
sided, he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


Vj*AMES  KNOX  POLK,  the  eleventh 
■  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
Al  born  in  Mecklenburg  county,  N.  C. , 
November  2,  1795.  His  parents  were 
Samuel  and  Jane  (Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a 
son  of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located  at  the 
above  place,  as  one  of  the  first  pioneers,  in 

1735- 

In  the  year  1806,  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, and  soon  after  followed  by  most  of  the 
members  of  the  Polk  family,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred  miles  further 
west,  to  the  rich  valley  of  the  Duck  river,  Tenn. 
Here,  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a 
region  which  was  subsequently  called  Maury 
county,  they  reared  their  log  huts,  and  estab- 
lished their  homes.  In  the  hard  toil  of  a  new 
farm  in  the  wilderness,  James  K.  Polk  spent 
the  early  years  of  his  childhood  and  youth. 
His  father,  adding  the  pursuit  of  a  surveyor  to 
that  of  a  farmer,  gradually  increased  in  wealth 
until  he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
region. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste 
for  reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire 
to  obtain  a  liberal  education.  His  mother's 
training  had  made  him  methodical  in  his  habits, 
had  taught  him  punctuality  and  industry,  and 
had  inspired  him  with  lofty  principles  of 
morality.  His  health  was  frail;  and  his  father, 
fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 
sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind 
the  counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial 
pursuits.  He  remained  in  this  uncongenial 
occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation    his  father  removed    him, 


and  made  arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute 
his  studies.  Soon  after  he  sent  him  to  Mur- 
freesboro  academy.  In  the  autumn  of  181  5  he 
entered  the  sophomore  class  in  the  university 
of  North  Carolina,,  at  Chapel  Hill.  He  grad- 
uated in  1 81 8,  with  the  highest  honors,  being 
deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both 
in  mathematics  and  classics.  He  was  then 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health 
was  at  this  time  much  impaired  by  the  assi- 
duity with  which  he  had  prosecuted  his  studies. 
After  a  short  season  of  relaxation  he  went  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  entered  the  office  of 
Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jack- 
son, who  resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Her- 
mitage, but  a  few  miles  from  Nashville. 

James  K.  Polk  was  a  popular  public  speaker, 
and  was  constantly  called  upon  to  address  the 
meetings  of  his  party  friends.  His  skill  as  a 
speaker  was  such  that  he  was  popularly  called 
the  Napoleon  of  the  stump.  He  was  a  man 
of  unblemished  morals,  genial  and  courteous 
in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic  na- 
ture in  the  joys  and  griefs  of  others  whichever 
gave  him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr. 
Polk  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of  Tennes- 
see. Here  he  gave  his  strong  influence  toward 
the  election  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Jackson,  to  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss 
Sarah  Childress,  of  Rutherford  county,  Tenn. 
His  bride  was  altogether  worthy  of  him — a 
lady  of  beauty  and  culture.  In  the  fall  of  1825, 
Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a  member  of  congress. 
The  satisfaction  which  he  gave  to  his  constit- 
uents may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  for 
fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was 
continued  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily 
withdrew,  only  that  he  might  accept  the 
gubernatorial  chair  of  Tennessee.  In  congress 
he  was  a  laborious  member,  a  frequent  and 
popular  speaker.      He  was  always  in  his  seat, 


JAMES    K.    POLK. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


67 


always  courteous;  and  whenever  he  spoke  it 
was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any  am- 
bitious rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  congress,  Mr.  Polk 
was  speaker  of  the  house.  Strong  passions 
were  aroused,  and  stormy  scenes  were  witness- 
ed; but  Mr.  Polk  performed  his  arduous  duties 
to  a  very  general  satisfaction,  and  a  unani- 
mous vote  of  thanks  to  him  was  passed  by  the 
house  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of  March, 

1839. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1839,  he  took  the 
oath  of  office  as  governor  of  Tennessee  at 
Nashville.  In  1841,  his  ■  term  of  office  ex- 
pired, and  he  was  again  the  candidate  of  the 
democratic  party,  but  was  defeated.  On  the 
4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugurated 
president  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict 
of  the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of 
Texas  exerted  its  influence  upon  congress;  and 
the  last  act  of  the  administration  of  President 
Tyler  was  to  affix  his  signature  to  a  joint  reso- 
lution of  congress,  passed  on  the  3d  of  March, 
approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the 
American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed 
Texas  as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican 
minister,  Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his 
passports  and  left  the  country,  declaring  the 
act  of  annexation  to  be  an  act  hostile  to 
Mexico. 

In  his  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  congress, 
be  received  into  the  Union  on  the  same  foot- 
ing with  the  other  states.  In  the  meantime, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  with  an  army  into  Texas 
to  hold  the  country.  He  was  sent  first  to 
Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was 
sent  nearly  two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to 
the  Rio  Grande,  where  he  erected  batteries 
which  commanded  the  Mexican  city  of  Matamo- 
ras,  which  was  situated  on  the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and 


war  was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President 
Polk.  The  war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr. 
Polk's  administration  with  great  vigor.  Gen. 
Taylor,  whose  army  was  first  called  one  of 
"observation,"  then  of  "occupation,"  then  of 
"invasion,"  was  sent  forward  to  Monte- 
rey. The  feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter, 
were  hopelessly  and  awfully  slaughtered.  It 
was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administra- 
tion that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

"To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils.''  Mex- 
ico was  prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was 
in  our  hands.  We  now  consented  to  peace 
upon  the  condition  that  Mexico  should  sur- 
render to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas,  all  of  New 
Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Califor- 
nia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive 
of  Texas,  800,000  square  miles.  This  was  an 
extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  states  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing 
eighteen  majestic  states  to  be  added  to  the 
Union.  In  the  prosecution  of  this  war  we  ex- 
pended 20,000  lives  and  more  than  $100,000,- 
000,  Of  this  more  than  $15,000,000  were 
paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  re- 
tired from  office,  having  served  one  term.  The 
next  day  was  Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen. 
Taylor  was  inaugurated  as  his  successor.  Mr. 
Polk  rode  to  the  capitol  in  the  same  carrriage 
with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  evening,  with 
Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to  Ten- 
nessee. He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of 
age.  He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in 
all  his  habits  and  his  health  was  good.  With 
an  ample  fortune,  a  choice  library,  a  cultivated 
mind,  and  domestic  ties  of  the  dearest  nature, 
it  seemed  as  though  long  years  of  tranquility 
and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — the  awful  scourge — was  then  sweep- 
ing up  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he 
contracted,  and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849, 
in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 


68 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


V  m  ACHARY  TAYLOR,  .twelfth  presi- 
J^^f  dent  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
f  J  on  the  24th  of  November,  1784,  in 
Orange  county,  Va.  His  father, 
Colonel  Taylor,  was  a  Virginian  of  note,  and 
a  distinguished  patriot  and  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lution. When  Zachary  was  an  infant,  his 
father,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  frontier  home 
young  Zachary  could  enjoy  but  few  social  and 
educational  advantages.  When  six  years  of 
age  he  attended  a  common  school,  and  was 
then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy,  rather 
remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter. He  was  strong,  fearless  and  self-reli- 
ant, and  manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter 
the  army  to  fight  the  Indians  who  were  ravag- 
ing the  frontiers. 

In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining 
for  him  the  commission  of  lietenant  in  the 
United  States  army;  and  he  joined  the  troops 
which  were  stationed  at  New  Orleans  under 
Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after  this  he  married 
Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady  from  one 
of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war 
with  England,  in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he 
had  then  been  promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put 
in  command  of  Fort  Harrison,  on  the  Wa- 
bash, about  fifty  miles  above  Vincennes. 
This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilderness  by 
Gen.  Harrison,  on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the 
Indians,  led  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  con- 
sisted of  a  broken  company  of  infantry  num- 
bering fifty  men,  many  of  whom  were  sick. 
Early  in  the  autumn  of  18 12,  the  Indians, 
stealthily,  and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon 
the  fort.  Their  approach  was  first  indicated 
by  the  murder  of  two  soldiers  just  outside  of 
the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor  made  every  possi- 
ble preparation   to  meet  the  anticipated    as- 


sault. On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the 
fort,  waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt. 
Taylor  that  in  the  morning  their  chief  would 
come  to  have  a  talk  with  him.  It  was  evident 
that  their  object  was  merely  to  ascertain  the 
state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt.  Taylor, 
well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance.  The  sun  went  down;  the 
savages  disappeared,  the  garrison  slept  upon 
their  arms.  One  hour  before  midnight  the 
war-whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips  in  the 
forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every 
man,  sick  and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every 
man  knew  that  defeat  was  not  merely  death, 
but  in  case  of  capture,  death  by  the  most 
agonizing  and  prolonged  torture.  The  savages 
succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block- 
houses. Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this 
awful  conflict  continued.  The  savages  then, 
baffled  at  every  point,  and  gnashing  their  teeth 
with  rage,  retired.  Capt.  Taylor,  for  this  gal- 
lant defense,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor 
was  placed  in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but 
little  more  of  active  service.  He  was  sent  far 
away  into  the  depths  of  the  wilderness,  to 
Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  river,  which  empties 
into  Green  bay.  Gradually  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  that  renowned 
chieftain,  Col.  Taylor  took  a  subordinate  but 
a  brave  and  efficient  part.  For  twenty-four 
years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in  the  defense 
of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was 
unknown  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  imme- 
diate acquaintance.  In  the  year  1836,  he  was 
sent  to  Florida  to  compel  the  Seminole  Indians 
to  vacate  that  region  and  retire  beyond  the 
Mississippi,    as    their   chiefs,    by    treaty,    had 


ZACHARY   TAYLOR. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


71 


promised  they  should  do.  The  services  ren- 
dered here  secured  Col.  Taylor  the  high  ap- 
preciation of  the  government;  and  as  a  reward, 
he  was  elevated  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-gen- 
eral by  brevet;  and  soon  after,  in  May,  1838, 
was  appointed  to  the  chief  command  of  the 
United  States  troops  in  Florida.  After  two 
years  of  such  wearisome  employment,  Gen. 
Taylor  obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change 
of  command,  and  was  stationed  over  the  de- 
partment of  the  southwest.  This  field  em- 
braced Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and 
Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters  at 
Fort  Jesup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  fam- 
ily to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased  near 
Baton  Rouge.  Here  he  remained  for  five 
years,  buried,  as  it  were,  from  the  world,  but 
faithfully  discharging  every  duty  imposed  upon 
him. 

In  1846  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the 
land  between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande, 
the  latter  river  being  the  boundary  of  Texas, 
which  was  then  claimed  by  the  United  States. 
Soon  the  war  with  Mexico  was  brought  on, 
and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Gen. 
Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the  Mex- 
icans. The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and 
his  name  was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost 
everywhere  in  the  nation.  Then  came  the 
battles  of  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista,  in  which 
he  won  signal  victories  over  forces  much  larger 
than  he  commanded.  His  careless  habits  of 
dress  and  his  unaffected  simplicity,  secured  for 
Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops  the  sobriquet  of 
"Old  Rough  and  Ready." 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena 
Vista  spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the 
country.  The  whig  party  decided  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  wonderful  popularity  in  bring- 
ing forward  the  unpolished,  uncultured,  honest 
soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the  presidency. 
Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished    at  the  announce- 


ment, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it; 
declaring  that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for 
such  an  office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken 
in  politics  that,  for  forty  years,  he  had  not 
cast  a  vote. 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker 
nor  a  fine  writer.  His  friends  took  possession 
of  him,  and  prepared  such  few  communica- 
tions as  it  was  needful  should  be  presented  to 
the  public.  The  popularity  of  the  successful 
warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  triumph- 
antly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates — 
Gen.  Cass  and  ex-Pres.  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the 
good  old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncon- 
genial position,  and  was,  at  times,  sorely  per- 
plexed and  harassed.  His  mental  sufferings 
were  very  severe,  and  probably  tended  to  has- 
ten his  death.  The  proslavery  party  was 
pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy;  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba;  Cali- 
fornia was  pleading  for  admission  to  the 
Union,  while  slavery  stood  at  the  door  to  bar 
her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found  the  political  con- 
flicts in  Washington  to  be  far  more  trying  to 
the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles.  Gen. 
Taylor,  after  he  had  occupied  the  presidential 
chair  but  little  over  a  year,  took  cold,  and 
after  a  brief  sickness,  of  but  litttle  over  five 
days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850.  His  last 
words  were;  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty." 
He  died  universally  respected  and  beloved. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic 
and  truthful  description  of  his  character: 
"  With  a  good  store  of  common  sense.  Gen. 
Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  enlarged  and  re- 
freshed by  reading,  or  much  converse  with  the 
world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  consequence. 
The  frontiers  and   small    military    posts    had 


72 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant 
for  his  rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  igno- 
rance. His  simplicity  was  child-like  and 
with  innumerable  prejudices,  amusing  and  in- 
corrigible, well  suited  to  the  tender  age. 
Thus,  if  a  man,  however,  respectable,  chanced 
to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer 
to  leave  a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling 
from  an  outside  pocket — in  any  such  case,  this 
critic  held  the  offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (per- 
haps something  worse),  whom  he  would  not, 
to  use  his  oft  repeated  phase,  "touch  with  a 
pair  of  tongs." 


m 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thirteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Summer  Hill,  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y. ,  on  the  7th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1800.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and, 
owing  to  misfortune,  in  humble  circumstances. 
Of  his  mother,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar 
Millard,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been  said 
that  she  possessed  an  intellect  of  very  high 
order,  united  with  much  personal  loveliness, 
sweetness  of  disposition,  graceful  manners  and 
exquisite  sensibilities.  She  died  in  1831; 
having  lived  to  see  her  son  a  young  man  of 
distinguished  promise,  though  she  was  not  per- 
mitted to  witness  the  high  dignity  which  he 
finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and 
limited  means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed 
but  slender  advantages  for  education  in  his 
early  years.  The  sacred  influences  of  home 
had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible,  and  had 
laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  sent 
him  some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the 
then  wilds  of  Livingston  county,  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  clothier.      Near  the  mill  there  was 


a  small  village,  where  some  enterprising  man 
had  commenced    the    collection    of    a  village  I 
library.     This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing] 
to  young  Fillmore.      His  evenings  were  spent  1 
in  reading.      Soon  every  leisure  moment  was 
occupied  with  books.    His  thirst  for  knowledge 
became  insatiate,  and  the  selections  which  he 
made    were   continually    more    elevating    and 
instructive.        He    read    history,     biography, 
oratory,    and    thus   gradually  there    was    en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something 
more  than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and 
he  was  becoming,  almost  unknown  to  himself, 
a  well  informed,  educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the 
age  of  nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  per- 
sonal appearance  and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor. 
It  so  happened  that  there  was  a  gentleman  in 
the  neighborhood  of  ample  pecuniary  means 
and  of  benevolence — Judge  Walter  Wood — 
who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  appear- 
ance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  ac- 
quaintance, and  was  so  much  impressed 
with  his  ability  and  attainments  that  he  ad- 
vised him  to  abandon  his  trade  and  devote 
himself  to  the  study  of  law.  The  young  man 
replied  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own,  no 
friends  to  help  him,  and  that  his  previous  edu- 
cation had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge 
Wood  had  so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he 
kindly  offered  to  take  him  into  his  own  office, 
and  to  loan  him  such  money  as  he  needed. 
Most  gratefully  the  generous  offer  was  ac- 
cepted. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  court  of  common  pleas. 
He  then  went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  law.  In  this 
secluded,  peaceful  region,  his  practice,  of 
course,  was  limited,  and  there  was  no  oppor- 
tunity for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of 
great  moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorn- 


MILLARD   FILLMORE 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


75 


ing  any  station  she  might  be  called  to  fill — 
Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  in- 
dustry, his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as 
an  advocate,  gradually  attracted  attention; 
and  he  was  invited  to  enter  into  partnership, 
under  highly  advantageous  circumstances,  with 
an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in  Buffalo.  Just 
before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829,  he  took 
his  seat  in  the  house  of  assembly,  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
county.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympa- 
thies were  with  the  whig  party.  The  state 
was  then  democratic,  and  he  found  him- 
self in  a  helpless  minority  in  the  legislature, 
still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties,  that 
his  courtesy,  ability,  and  integrity,  won,  to 
a  very  unusual  degree,  the  respect  of  his  asso- 
ciates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to 
a  seat  in  the  United  States  congress.  He  en- 
tered that  troubled  arena  in  some  of  the  most 
tumultuous  hours  of  our  national  history. 
The  great  conflict  respecting  the  national  bank 
and  the  removal  of  the  deposits  was  then 
raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed,  and  he  re- 
turned to  his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with 
increasing  reputation  and  success.  After  a 
lapse  of  two  years  he  again  became  a  candi- 
date for  congress;  was  re-elected,  and  took  his 
seat  in  1837.  His  past  experience  as  a  repre- 
sentative gave  him  strength  and  confidence. 
The  first  term  of  service  in  congress  to  any 
man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduc- 
tion. He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty. 
Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  state,  and  in  the  year 
1847  he  was  elected  comptroller  of  the  state. 

Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty- 
seven  years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the 
legislature,   in    congress,   and    as  comptroller, 


had  given  him  very  considerable  fame.  The 
whigs  were  casting  about  to  find  suitable  can- 
didates for  president  and  vice  president  at  the 
approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough 
old  soldier,  who  had  fought  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his 
name  to  be  proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all 
over  the  land.  But  it  was  necessary  to  asso- 
ciate with  him,  on  the  same  ticket,  some 
man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman.  Under  the 
influence  of  these  considerations,  the  names  of 
Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying  cry  of  the  whigs,  as  their  candi- 
dates for  president  and  vice  president.  The 
whig  ticket  was  signally  triumphant.  On  the 
4th  of  March,  1849,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugu- 
rated president,  and  Millard  Fillmore  vice 
president,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  Pres.  Taylor,  but 
one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By 
the  constitution,  Vice  Pres.  Fillmore  thus  be- 
came president.  He  appointed  a  very  able 
cabinet,  of  which  the  illustrious  Daniel  Web- 
ster was  secretary  of  state. 

Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to 
contend  with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  ma- 
jorty  in  both  house.  He  did  everything  in 
his  power  to  conciliate  the  south;  but  the  pro- 
slavery  party  in  the  south  felt  the  inadequacy 
of  all  measures  of  transient  conciliation.  The 
population  of  the  free  states  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  states  that  it 
was  inevitable  that  the  power  of  the  govern- 
ment should  soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the 
free  states.  The  famous  compromise  meas- 
ures were  adopted  under  Fillmore's  administra- 
tion, and  the  Japan  expedition  was  sent  out. 
On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Fillmore,  having 
served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the 
presidency  by  the  "know  nothing"  party,  but 


76 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


was  beaten  by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that 
Fillmore  lived  in  retirement.  During  the  ter- 
rible conflict  of  civil  war  he  was  mostly  silent. 
It  was  generally  supposed  that  his  sympathies 
were  rather  with  those  who  were  endeavoring 
to  overthrow  our  institutions.  He  lived  to  a 
ripe  old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. , 
March  8,   1874. 


BRANKLIN  PIERCE,  the  fourteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
in  Hillsborough,  N.  H., November 23, 
1804.  Franklin  was  a  very  bright 
and  handsome  boy,  generous,  warm-hearted 
and  brave.  He  won  alike  the  love  of  old  and 
young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground  loved 
him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neigh- 
bors looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection. 
He  was  by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speak- 
ing kind  words,  doing  kind  deeds,  with  a 
peculiar  unstudied  tact  which  taught  him  what 
was  agreeable.  Without  developing  any  pre- 
cocity of  genius,  or  any  unnatural  devotion  to 
books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body,  in  mind, 
in  affections,  a  finely  developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  .years  of  age,  in  the  year 
1820,  he  entered  Bowdoin  college  at  Bruns- 
wick, Maine.  He  was  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar young  men  in  the  college.  The  purity  of 
his  moral  character,  the  unvarying  courtesy  of 
his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and  genial 
nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning 
in  his  address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the 
slightest  degree  studied;  it  was  the  simple  out- 
gushing  of  his  own  magnanimous  and  loving 
nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Frank- 
lin Pierce  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Woodbury,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  lawyers  of  the  state,  and  a  man 
of  great  private  worth.      The  eminent  social 


qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his  father's 
promince  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury 
was  entering,  all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce 
into  the  fascinating,  yet  perilous,  path  of  po- 
litical life.  With  all  the  ardor  of  his  nature 
he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen.  Jackson  for  the 
presidency.  He  commenced  the  practice  of 
law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected  to 
represent  the  town  in  the  state  legislature. 
Here  he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two 
years  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a 
very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  congress.  Without  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful 
and  laborious  in  duty,  and  ever  rising  in  the 
estimation  of  those  with  whom  he  was  associ- 
ated. In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  he  was  elected  to  the  senate  of 
the  United  States,  taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr. 
Van  Buren  commenced  his  administration. 
He  was  the  youngest  member  in  the  senate. 
In  the  year  1S34  he  married  Miss  Jane  Means 
Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn 
every  station  with  which  her  husband  was 
honored.  Of  the  three  sons  who  were  born 
to  them,  all  now  sleep  with  their  parents  in 
the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing 
fame  and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took 
up  his  residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of 
New  Hampshire.  President  Polk,  upon  his 
accession  to  office,  appointed  Mr.  Pierce  at- 
torney-general of  the  United  States;  but  the 
offer  was  declined  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home  and  the 
precarious  state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He 
also  about  the  same  time  declined  the  nomina- 
tion for  governor  by  the  democratic  party. 
The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr.  Pierce  to  the 
army.      Receiving  the  appointment    of   briga- 


FRANKLIN    PIERCE. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


79 


dier-general,  he  embarked  with  a  portion  of 
his  troops  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of 
May,  1847.  He  took  an  important  part  in 
this  war,  proving  himself  a  brave  and  true 
soidier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his 
native  state  he  was  received  enthusiastically 
by  the  advocates  of  the  Mexican  war,  and 
coldly  by  its  opponents.  He  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  very  frequently  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  political  questions,  giving 
his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery  wing  of 
the  demociatic  party.  The  compromise  meas- 
ures met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the 
infamous  fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked 
the  religious  sensibilities  of  the  north.  He  thus 
became  distinguished  as  a  "northern  man  with 
southern  principles."  The  strong  partisans  of 
slavery  in  the  south  consequently  regarded 
him  as  a  man  whom  they  could  safely  trust  in 
office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  democratic 
convention  met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  the  presidency.  For  four  days 
they  continued  in  session,  and  in  thirty-five 
ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a  two-thirds 
vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delega- 
tion brought  forward  his  name.  There  were 
fourteen  more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen. 
Pierce  constantly  gained  strength,  until,  at  the 
forty-ninth  ballot,  he  received  282  votes,  ahd 
all  other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott  was  the  whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce 
was  chosen  with  great  unanimity.  Only  four 
states — Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee — cast  their  electoral  votes 
against  him.  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce  was  there- 
fore inaugurated  president  of  the  United  States 
on  the  4th  of  March,   1853. 

His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most 
stormy  our  country  had  ever  experienced.    The 


controversy  between  slavery  and  freedom  was 
then  approaching  its  culminating  point.  It 
became  evident  that  there  was  an  "irrepress- 
ible conflict"  between  them,  and  that  the 
nation  could  not  long  exist  "half  slave  and 
half  free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole 
of  his  administration,  did  everything  he  could 
to  conciliate  the  south;  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 
The  conflict  every  year  grew  more  and  more 
violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution  of  the 
Union  were  borne  to  the  north  on  every 
southern  breeze. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President 
Pierce  retired  to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of 
three  children,  two  had  died,  and  his  only  sur- 
viving child  had  been  killed  before  his  eyes  by 
a  railroad  accident;  and  his  wife,  one  of  the 
most  estimable  and  accomplished  of  ladies, 
was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The  hour 
of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world  without  wjfe  or  child. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when 
Pres.  Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four 
years'  term  of  office.  The  north  had  become 
thoroughly  alienated  from  him.  The  anti- 
slavery  sentiment,  goaded  by  great  outrages, 
had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all  the  intellectual 
ability  and  social  worth  of  Pres.  Pierce  were 
forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  adminis- 
trative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  south, 
also,  unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he 
had  advocated  those  measures  of  government 
which  they  approved,  and  perhaps,  also,  feel- 
ing that  he  had  rendered  himself  so  unpopular 
as  no  longer  to  be  able  acceptably  to  serve 
them,  ungratefully  dropped  him,  and  nomi- 
nated James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

When  the  terrible  rebellion  broke  forth, 
which  divided  our  country  into  two  parties, 
Mr.  Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles 
which  he  had  always  cherished  and  gave  his 
sympathies  to  that  pro-slavery  party  with 
which  he  had  ever    been  allied.      He  declined 


80 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


to  do  anything,  either  by  voice  or  pen,  to 
strengthen  the  hand  of  the  national  govern- 
ment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  i 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
October,  1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial 
and  social  of  men,  an  honored  communicant 
of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  one  of  the  kind- 
est of  neighbors.  Generous  to  a  fault,  he  con- 
tributed liberally  for  the  alleviation  of  suffer- 
ing and  want,  and  many  of  his  townspeople 
were  often  gladdened  by  his  material  bounty. 


WAMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fifteenth  presi- 
m  dent  of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
#•  ■  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1 79 1.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  the  north  of  Ireland;  a  poor  man,  who  had 
emigrated  in  1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterward  he 
married  Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a 
respectable  farmer,  and,  with  his  young  bride, 
plunged  into  the  wilderness,  staked  his  claim, 
reared  his  log  hut,  opened  a  clearing  with  his 
ax,  and  settled  down  to  perform  his  obscure 
part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  secluded 
home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained  for 
eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intel- 
lectual advantages.  When  James  was  eight 
years  of  age  his  father  removed  to  the  village 
of  Mercersburg,  where  his  son  was  placed  at 
school,  and  commenced  a  course  of  study  in 
English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His  progress  was 
rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered 
Dickenson  college  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand 
among  the  first  scholars  of  the  institution.  His 
application  to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his 
native  powers  enabled  him  to  master  the  most 
abstruse  subjects  with  facility.  In  the  year 
1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  of 
his  class.      He  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age; 


tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened 
with  an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He 
immediately  commenced  the  study  of  law  in 
the  city  of  Lancaster,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  18 12,  when  he  was  but  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  state.  When 
but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  coun- 
sel, he  successfully  defended  before  the  state 
senate  one  of  the  judges  of  the  state,  who  was 
tried  upon  articles  of  impeachment.  At  the 
age  of  thirty  it  was  generally  admitted  that  he 
stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar. 

In  1820  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as 
a  candidate  for  congress.  He  was  elected, 
and  for  ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of 
the  lower  house.  During  the  vacations  of 
congress,  he  occasionaily  tried  some  important 
case.  In  183 1  he  retire  i  altogether  from  the 
toils  of  his  profession,  having  acquired  an 
ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the 
presidency,  appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister 
to  Russia.  The  duties  of  his  mission  he  per- 
formed with  ability  which  gave  satisfaction  to 
all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in  1833,  he  was 
elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States  senate. 
He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated 
the  measures  proposed  by  Pres.  Jackson,  of 
making  reprisals  against  France,  to  enforce 
the  payment  of  our  claims  against  that  country: 
and  defended  the  course  of  the  president  in 
his  unprecedented  and  wholesale  removal  from 
office  of  those  who  were  not  supporters  of  his 
administration.  Upon  this  question  he  was 
brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  ex- 
punging from  the  journal  of  the  senate  the 
vote  of  censure  against  Gen.  Jackson  for  re- 
moving the  deposits.      Earnestly  he    opposed 


JAMES   BUCHANAN. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


83 


the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the  circu- 
lation of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mail. 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  presi- 
dency, Mr.  Buchanan  became  secretary  of 
state,  and  as  such  took  his  share  of  the  respon- 
sibility in  the  conduct  of  the  Mexican  war.  Mr. 
Polk  assumed  that  crossing  the  Nueces  by  the 
American  troops  into  the  disputed  territory  was 
not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross  the 
Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declara- 
tion of  war.  Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself 
thoroughly  with  the  party  devoted  to  the  per- 
petuation and  extension  of  slavery,  and  brought 
all  the  energies  of  his  mind  to  bear  against  the 
Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his  approval  of 
the  compromise  measures  of  1850,  which  in- 
cluded the  fugitive  slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce,  upon 
his  election  to  the  presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  democratic 
convention  nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the 
presidency.  The  political  conflict  was  one  of 
the  most  severe  in  which  our  country  has  ever 
engaged.  All  the  friends  of  slavery  were  on 
one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  restriction 
and  final  abolition  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery, 
received  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan 
received  174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular 
vote  stood  1,341,264  for  Fremont,  1,838,160 
for  Buchanan.  On  March  4,  1857,  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan was  inaugurated.  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four  years  were 
wanting  to  fill  up  his  three  score  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends — those  with  whom  he 
had  been  allied  in  political  principles  and 
action  for  years — were  seeking  the  destruction 
of  the  government,  that  they  might  rear  upon 
the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a  nation 
whose  corner  stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hope- 


lessly bewildered.  He  could  not,  with  his 
long  avowed  principles,  consistently  oppose 
the  state-rights  party  in  their  assumptions. 
As  president  of  the  United  States,  bound  by 
his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws,  he 
could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the 
republic.  He  therefore  did  nothing.  Mr. 
Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to 
offer  them  far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to 
claim.  All  the  south  had  professed  to  ask  of 
the  north  was  non-interference  with  the  sub- 
ject of  slavery.  Mr.  Buchanan  had  been 
ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co-operation  of 
the  government  to  defend  and  extend  the  in- 
stitution. As  the  storm  increased  in  violence, 
the  slave  holders  claiming  the  right  to  secede, 
and  Mr.  Buchanan  avowing  that  congress  had 
no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of  the  most  piti- 
able exhibitions  of  governmental  imbecility 
was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  congress  had  no  power  to  enforce 
its  laws  in  any  state  which  had  withdrawn,  or 
which  was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the 
Union.  This  was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew 
Jackson,  when,  with  his  hand  upon  his  sword 
hilt,  he  exclaimed:  "The  Union  must  and 
shall  be  preserved." 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860, 
nearly  three  months  before  the  inauguration 
of  Pres.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in 
listless  despair.  The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in 
Charleston;  Fort  Sumter  was  besieged;  our 
forts,  navy  yards  and  arsenals  were  seized; 
our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plundered; 
and  our  custom  houses  and  post  offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels.  The  energy  of 
the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our  executive, 
were  alike  marvelous.  The  nation  looked  on 
in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glidf 
away  and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible 
in  its   weakness.      At   length  the   long  looked 


84 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


for  hour  of   deliverance  came,  when  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  to  receive  the  scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan 
was  certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country 
has  experienced.  His  best  friends  cannot  re- 
call it  with  pleasure.  And  still  more  deplor- 
able it  is  for  his  fame,  that  in  that  dreadful 
conflict  which  rolled  its  billows  of  flame  and 
blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our 
country's  banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag 
of  the  rebellion.  He  died  at  his  Wheatland 
retreat,  June  i,   1S68. 


HBRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the  sixteeeth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Hardin  county,  Ky. ,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1809.  About  the  year  1780, 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  left 
Virginia  with  his  family  and  moved  into  the 
then  wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years  after 
this  emigration,  still  a  young  man,  while  work- 
ing one  day  in  a  field,  he  was  stealthily  ap- 
proached by  an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His 
widow  was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two  girls, 
Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the  boys,  was  four 
years  of  age  at  his  father's  death.  This 
Thomas  was  the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
the  president  of  the  United  States,  whose 
name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled  with 
the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  Thomas 
Lincoln  built  a  log  cabin  of  his  own,  and  mar- 
ried Nancy  Hanks,  the  daughter  of  another 
family  of  poor  Kentucky  emigrants,  who  had 
also  come  from  Virginia.  Their  second  child 
was  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  mother  of  Abra- 
ham was  a  noble  woman,  gentle,  loving,  pen- 
sive; created  to  adorn  a  palace,  doomed  to 
toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel.      "All  that  I 


am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grateful  son, 
"I  owe  to  my  angel  mother." 

When  Abraham  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  sold  his  cabin  and  farm,  and  moved  to 
Harrison  county,  Ind,  where  two  years  later 
his  mother  died.  Abraham  soon  became  the 
scribe  of  the  uneducated  community  around 
him.  He  could  not  have  had  a  better  school 
than  this  to.teach  him  to  put  thoughts  into 
words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few;  but  these  he 
read  and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  com- 
mitted to  memory.  As  the  years  rolled  on, 
the  lot  of  this  lowly  family  was  the  usual  lot  of 
humanity.  There  were  joys  and  griefs,  wed- 
dings and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister,  Sarah, 
to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually 
scattered.  Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his 
squatter's  claim  in  1830,  and  emigrated  to 
Macon  county,  111.  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
then  twenty-one  years  of  age.  With  vigorous 
hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing  another 
log  cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled, 
and  their  small  lot  of  inclosed  prairie  planted 
with  corn,  when  he  announced  to  his  father 
his  intention  to  leave  home,  and  to  go  out  into 
the  world  and  seek  his  fortune.  Little  did  he 
or  his  friends  imagine  how  brilliant  that 
fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of  educa- 
tion and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the 
ruin  which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and 
became  strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a 
drop  of  intoxicating  liquor  to  pass  his  lips. 
And  he  had  read  in  God's  word,  "Thou  shalt 
not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in 
vain;"  and  a  profane  expression  he  was  never 
heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncor.taminated 
by  a  single  vice. 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


97 


Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a 
hired  laborer  among  the  farmers.  Then  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  employed  in 
building  a  large  flat-boat.  In  this  he  took  a 
herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down  the  Sanga- 
mon to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Missis- 
sippi to  New  Orleans.  In  this  adventure  his 
employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon  his 
return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his 
care.  In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  he  enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain 
of  a  company.  He  returned  to  Sangamon 
county,  and  although  only  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  afterward  received 
from  Andrew  Jackson  the  appointment  of  post- 
master of  New  Salem.  His  only  postoffice 
was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he  received  he 
carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those  he 
chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying  and 
soon  made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again 
became  a  candidate  for  the  legislature,  and 
was  elected.  Mr.  Stuart,  of  Springfield,  ad- 
vised him  to  study  law.  He  walked  from  New 
Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of  Mr.  Stuart 
a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and  began 
his  legal  studies.  When  the  legislature  assem- 
bled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his 
back  100  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital. 
In  1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature. 
Here  it  was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 
In  1839  he  removed  to  Springfield  and  began 
the  practice  of  law.  His  success  with  the  jury 
was  so  great  that  he  was  soon  engaged  in  al- 
most every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between 
Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery 
question.  In  the  organization  of  the  republi- 
can party  in  Illinois,  in  1856,  he  took  an  active 
part,  and  at  once  became  one  of  the  leaders  in 
that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's  speeches  in  opposi- 
tion to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  contest  in  1858 
for  a  seat   in  the  senate,  form   a  most  notable 


part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  en  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all 
men  are  created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  de- 
feated in  this  contest,  but  won  a  far  higher 
prize — the  presidency. 

The  great  republican  convention  met  at 
Chicago  on  the  16th  of  June,  i860.  The  del- 
egates and  strangers  who  crowded  the  city 
amounted  to  25,000.  An  immense  building, 
called  "The  Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accom- 
modate the  convention.  There  were  eleven 
candidates  for  whom  votes  were  cast.  William 
H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame  as  a  statesman 
had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most  prom- 
inent. It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however, 
received  the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot. 
Little  did  he  then  dream  of  the  weary  years  of 
toil  and  care,  and  the  bloody  death,  to  which 
that  nomination  doomed  him;  and  as  little  did 
he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services  to  his 
country  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would 
give  him  a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  coun- 
trymen, second  only,  if  second,  to  that  of 
Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
ceived 1 80  electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and 
was,  therefore,  constitutionally  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  The  tirade  of 
abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this  good  and 
merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders, 
was  greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever 
elected  to  this  high  position.  In  February, 
1 86 1,  Mr.  Lincoln  started  for  Washington, 
stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his  way, 
making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was 
fraught  with  much  danger.  Many  of  the 
southern  states  had  already  seceded,  and  sev- 
eral attempts  at  assassination  were  afterward 
brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Baltimore  had 
arranged,  upon  his  arrival,  to  "get  up  a  row," 


98 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death 
with  revolvers  and  hand  grenades.  A  detect- 
ive unraveled  the  plot.  A  secret  and  special 
train  was  provided  to  take  him  from  Harris- 
burg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an  unexpected 
hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at  half- 
past  ten;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  com- 
munication on  the  part  of  the  secessionists 
with  their  confederate  gang  in  Baltimore,  as 
soon  as  the  train  had  started  the  telegraph 
wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln  reached  Wash- 
ington in  safety  and  was  inaugurated,  although 
great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln 
gave  to  Mr.  Seward  the  department  of  state, 
and  to  other  prominent  opponents  before  the 
convention  he  gave  important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the 
duties  devolving  upon  the  president  been  so 
manifold,  and  the  responsibilities  so  great,  as 
those  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  President  Lincoln. 
Knowing  this,  and  feeling  his  own  weakness 
and  inability  to  meet,  and  in  his  own  strength 
to  cope  with  the  difficulties,  he  early  learned 
to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in  deter- 
mining his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary 
to  his  own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  one  of  the  most  courageous  of  men.  He 
went  directly  into  the  rebel  capital  just  as  the 
retreating  foe  was  leaving,  with  no  guard  but 
a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he  had  left 
Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination,  and  he  at  last  fell 
a  victim  to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he, 
with  General  Grant,  was  urgently  invited  to 
attend  Ford's  theater.  It  was  announced  that 
they  would  be  present.  Gen.  Grant,  however, 
left  the  city.  Pres.  Lincoln,  feeling,  with  his 
characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that  it  would 
be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While 
listening  to  the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of 


John  Wilkes  Booth  entered  the  box  where  the 
president  and  family  were  seated,  and  fired  a 
bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the  next  morn- 
ing at  seven  o'clock,  and  now,  if  never  before, 
the  nation  was  plunged  into  the  deepest 
mourning,  and  truly  mourned  the  "country's 
loss." 


HNDREW  JOHNSON,  the  seventeenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  December  29,  1808,  in  Raleigh, 
N.  C.  When  Andrew  was  five  years 
of  age,  his  father  accidentally  lost  his  life 
while  heroically  endeavoring  to  save  a  friend 
from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  An- 
drew was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  sup- 
ported by  the  labor  of  his  mother,  who  ob- 
tained her  living  with  her  own  hands.  He 
then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was 
apprenticed  to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A 
gentleman  was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the 
tailor's  shop  occasionally  and  reading  to  the 
boys  at  work  there.  He  often  read  from  the 
speeches  of  distinguished  British  statesmen. 
Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of 
more  than  ordinary  native  ability,  became 
much  interested  in  these  speeches;  his  ambi- 
tion was  roused,  and  he  was  inspired  with  a 
strong  desire  to  learn  to  read.  He  according- 
ly applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the 
gentleman  to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches. 
The  owner,  pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only 
gave  him  the  book,  but  assisted  him  in  learn- 
ing to  combine  the  letters  into  words.  Under 
such  difficulties  he  pressed  onward  laboriously, 
spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours  at  work 
in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could 
to  reading. 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


101 


He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826  and  located 
at  Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady 
who  possessed  some  education.  Under  her 
instructions  he  learned  to  write  and  cipher. 
He  became  prominent  in  the  village  debating 
society,  and  a  favorite  with  the  students  of 
Greenville  college.  In  1828  he  organized  a 
workingman's  party,  which  elected  him  alder- 
man, and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years.  He  now  began 
to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political  affairs, 
identifying  himself  with  the  working  classes  to 
which  he  belonged.  In  1835  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  of 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  just  twenty-seven 
years'  of  age.  He  became  a  very  active  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature,  gave  his  adhesion  to  the 
democratic  party,  and  in  1840  "stumped  the 
state,"  advocating  Martin  Van  Buren's  claims 
to  the  presidency  in  opposition  to  those  of 
Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  ac- 
quired much  readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  ex- 
tended and  increased  his  reputation. 

In  1 841  he  was  elected  state  senator;  in 
1843  he  was  elected  a  member  of  congress, 
and  by  successive  elections  held  that  important 
post  for  ten  years.  In  1853  he  was  elected 
governor  of  Tennessee,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1855.  In  all  these  responsible  positions  he 
discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  ability 
and  proved  himself  the  friend  of  the  working 
classes.  In  1857  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected  a 
United  States  senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  ad- 
vocated the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating 
however,  as  his  reason,  that  he  thought 
this  annexation  would  probably  prove  "to  be 
the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable  sons  of  Africa 
are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom,  and  be- 
come merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850  he  also  supported  the 
compromise  measures,    the  two  essential  fea- 


tures of  which  were,  that  the  white  people 
of  the  territories  should  be  permitted  to  de- 
cide for  themselves  whether  they  would  en- 
slave the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that  the 
free  states  of  the  north  should  return  to  the 
south  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from 
slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his 
lowly  origin;  on  the  contrary  he  often  took 
pride  in  avowing  that  he  owed  his  distinction 
to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir,"  said  he  on  the 
floor  of  the  senate,  "I  do  not  forget  that  I 
am  a  mechanic;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig  leaves,  and  that  our 
Savior  was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston-Baltimore  convention  of 
1 860,  he  was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee 
democrats  for  the  presidency.  In  1861,  when 
the  purpose  of  the  southern  democracy  became 
apparent,  he  took  a  decided  stand  in  favor  of 
the  Union,  and  held  "slavery  must  be  held 
subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever  cost." 
He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly  im- 
periled his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennessee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from 
the  Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4, 
1862,  appointed  him  military  governor  of  the 
state,  and  he  established  the  most  stringent 
military  rule.  His  numerous  proclamations 
attracted  wide  attention.  In  1864  he  was 
elected  vice  president  of  the  United  States,  and 
upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15,  1865, 
became  president.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said:  "The  American  people  must  be 
taught,  if  they  do  not  already  feel,  that  trea- 
son is  a  crime  and  must  be  punished;  that  the 
government  will  not  always  bear  with  its  ene- 
mies; that  it  is  strong  not  only  to  protect,  but 
to  punish.  *  *  The  people  must  under- 
stand that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of  crimes 
and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,    the  history  of  which  is  so  well 


102 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


known,  was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and 
the  most  violent  opposition  to,  the  principles 
laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and 
general  amnesty  he  was  opposed  by  congress; 
and  he  characterized  congress  as  a  new  rebel- 
lion, and  lawlessly  defied  it  in  everything  pos- 
sible to  the  utmost.  In  the  beginning  of  1868, 
on  account  of  "high  crimes  and  misdemean- 
ors," the  principal  of  which  was  the  removal 
of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  act,  articles  of  impeachment 
were  preferred  against  him,  and  the  trial  began 
March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly 
three  months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeach- 
ment was  at  length  submitted  to  the  court  for 
its  action.  It  was  certain  that  as  the  court 
voted  upon  that  article,  so  would  it  vote  upon 
all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced  the  presi- 
dent guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced 
acquitted,  notwithstanding  the  great  majority 
against  him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from 
the  not  guilty  side  would  have  sustained  the 
impeachment. 

The  president  for  the  remainder  of  his 
term  was  but  little  regarded.  He  continued, 
though  impotently,  his  conflict  with  congress. 
His  own  party  did  not  think  it  expedient  to 
renominate  him  for  the  presidency.  The  bul- 
let of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the  presi- 
dent's chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never 
was  there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  oppor- 
tunity to  immortalize  his  name  and  win  the 
gratitude  of  a  nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He 
retired  to  his  home  in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  tak- 
ing no  very  active  part  in  politics  until  1875. 
On  January  26,  after  an  exciting  struggle,  he 
was  chosed  by  the  legislature  of  Tennessee 
United  States  senator  in  the  forty-fourth  con- 
gress; and  took  his  seat  in  that  body  at  the 
special  session  convened  by    President  Grant 


on  the  5th  of  March.  On  the  27th  of  July, 
1875,  the  ex-president  made  a  visit  to  his 
daughter's  home,  near  Carter  Station,  Tenn. 
When  he  started  on  his  journey  he  was  appar- 
ently in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on 
reaching  the  residence  of  his  child  the  follow- 
ing day  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering 
him  unconscious.  He  rallied  occasionally,  but 
finally  passed  away  at  2  A.  M.,  July  31,  aged 
sixty-seven  years.  He  was  buried  at  Green- 
ville, on  the  3d  of  August,  1875. 


aLYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the  eighteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  on  the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
christian  parents,  in  a  humble  home, 
at  Point  P'easant,  Va. ,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio. 
Shortly  after  his  father  moved  to  Georgetown, 
Brown  county,  Ohio.  In  this  remote  frontier 
hamlet,  Ulysses  received  a  common  school 
education.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  in  the 
year  1839,  he  entered  the  Military  academy  at 
West  Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a  solid, 
sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respect- 
able rank  as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he 
graduated,  about  the  middle  in  his  class,  and 
was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  infantry  to  one  of 
the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Missouri  terri- 
tory. Two  years  he  passed  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasper- 
ating Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant 
was  sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi. 
His  first  battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was 
no  chance  here  for  the  exhibition  of  either 
skill  or  heroism,  nor  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma, 
his  second  battle.  At  the  battle  of  Monterey, 
his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that  he  per- 
formed a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its 
ammunition.      A   messenger  must    be  sent   for 


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ityLYSSErs  s.  grant. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


105 


more,  along  a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of 
the  foe.  Lieut.  Grant,  adopting  an  expedient 
learned  of  the  Indians,  grasped  the  mane  of 
his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one  side  of  the 
animal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 
From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  Fourth 
infantry,  to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of 
Vera  Cruz.  In  preparation  for  the  march  to 
the  city  of  Mexico,  he  was  appointed  quarter- 
master of  his  regiment.  At  the  battle  of 
Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first 
lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at 
Chapultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  Capt. 
Grant  returned  with  his  regiment  to  New 
York,  and  was  again  sent  to  one  of  the  mili- 
tary posts  on  the  frontier.  The  discovery  of 
gold  in  California  causing  an  immense  tide  of 
emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent,  with  a  battalion,  to  Fort 
Dallas,  in  Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the 
interests  of  the  emigrants.  Life  was  weari- 
some in  those  wilds.  Capt.  Grant  resigned 
his  commission  and  returned  to  the  states; 
and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He 
had  but  little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil 
not  remunerative,  he  turned  to  mercantile 
life,  entering  into  the  leather  business,  with  a 
younger  brother  at  Galena,  111.  This  was  in 
the  year  1 860.  As  the  tidings  of  the  rebels 
firing  on  Fort  Sumter  reached  the  ears  of 
Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting  room,  he  said — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army; 
though  I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I 
do  not  feel  that  I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt. 
I  am  still  ready  to  discharge  my  obligations.  I 
shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword  and  see 
Uncle  Sam  through  this  war,  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company 
of  volunteers,  and  led  them,  as  their  captain, 
to  Springfield,  the  capital  of  the  state,  where 
their  services  were  offered  to  Gov.  Yates.   The 


governor,  impressed  by  the  zeal  and  straight- 
forward executive  ability  of  Capt.  Grant,  gave 
him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the  volun- 
teer organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
state  in  behalf  of  the  government.  On  the 
1 5th  of  June,  1861,  Capt.  Grant  received  a 
commission  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty-first 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers.  His  merits  as 
a  West  Point  graduate,  who  had  served  for 
fifteen  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier  general  and  was  placed  in  command 
at  Cairo.  The  rebels  raised  their  flag  at  Pa- 
ducah,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  river. 
Scarcely  had  its  folds  appeared  ere  Gen.  Grant 
was  there.  The  rebels  fled.  Their  banner 
fell,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  were  unfurled  in 
its  stead. 

At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort 
Henry  won  another  victory.  Then  came  the 
brilliant  fight  at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation 
was  electrified  by  the  victory,  and  the  brave 
leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was  immediately 
made  a  major  general,  and  the  military  district 
of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew 
well  how  to  secure  the  results  of  a  victory.  He 
immediately  pushed  on  to  the  enemy's  lines. 
Then  came  the  terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  Corinth,  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  city  with  over  30,000  men 
and  172  cannon.  The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was 
by  far  the  most  severe  blow  which  the  rebels 
had  thus  far  encountered,  and  opened  up  the 
Mississippi  from  Cario  to  the  gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate 
with  Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas, 
and  proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was 
thrown  from  his  horse  and  received  severe  in- 
juries, from  which  he  was  laid  up  for  months. 
He  then  rushed  to  the  aid  of  Gens.  Rosecrans 


106 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and  by  a  won- 
derful series  of  strategtic  and  technical  measures 
put  the  Union  army'  in  fighting  condition. 
Then  followed  the  bloody  battles  of  Chatta- 
nooga, Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary 
Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels  were  routed  with 
great  loss.  This  won  for  him  unbounded 
praise  in  the  north.  On  the  4th  of  February, 
1864,  congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen. 
Grant.  He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive 
his  credentials  and  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his 
new  office. 

Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took 
charge  of  the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely 
dispersed  national  troops  for  an  attack  on 
Richmond,  the  nominal  capital  of  the  rebel- 
lion, and  endeavor  there  to  destroy  the  rebel 
armies  which  would  be  promptly  assembled 
from  all  quarters  for  its  defense.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp 
of  these  majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  deci- 
sive battle-field.  Steamers  were  crowded  with 
troops;  railway  trains  were  burdened  with 
closely  packed  thousands.  His  plans  were 
comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of  cam- 
paigns, which  were  executed  with  remarkable 
energy  and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at 
the  surrender  of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved. 
The  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  nation  de- 
clared Gen.  Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent 
instrument  in  its  salvation.  The  eminent 
services  he  had  thus  rendered  the  country 
brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the  re- 
publican candidate  for  the  presidential  chair. 
At  the  republican  convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated 
for  the  presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  elec- 
tion received  a  majority  of  the  popular 
vote,  and  214  out  of  294  electoral  votes.  The 
national  convention  of  the  republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June, 


1872,  placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a 
second  term  by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selec- 
tion was  emphatically  endorsed  by  the  people 
five  months  later,  292  electoral  votes  being 
cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term, 
Gen.  Grant  started  upon  his  famous  trip 
around  the  world.  He  visited  almost  every 
country  of  the  civilized  world,  and  was  every- 
where received  with  such  ovations  and  demon- 
strations of  respect  and  honor,  private,  as  well 
as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate 
before  the  republican  national  convention  i.i 
1 880  for  a  renomination  for  president.  But  he 
went  to  New  York  and  embarked  in  the 
brokerage  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was 
sent  to  the  penitentiary.  The  general  was 
attacked  with  cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered 
in  his  stoic-like  manner,  never  complaining. 
He  was  re-instated  general  of  the  army  and 
retired  by  congress.  The  cancer  soon  finished 
its  deadly  work,  and  July  23,  1885,  the  nation 
went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of  the  illus- 
trious general. 


kS~\  UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES,  the  nine- 
I  /^    teenth  president  of  the  United  States, 
T    was  born  in  Delaware,  Ohio,  October 
4,   1852,    almost   three    months   after 
the    death    of  his    father,    Rutherford  Hayes. 
His  ancestry,  an  both  the  paternal  and  mater- 
nal sides,  was  of  the  most  honorable  character. 
It  can  be  traced,    it    is    said,    as    far   back   as 
1280,  when  Hayes   and   Rutherford  were  two 
Scottish  chieftains,  fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,   William   Wallace  and   Robert   Bruce. 
Both  families  belonged  to  the  nobility,    owned 
extensive   estates,  and  had  a  large  following. 


RUTHERFORD    B.    HAYES. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


109 


Misfortune  overtaking  the  family,  George 
Hayes  left  Scotland  in  1680,  and  settled  in 
Windsor,  Conn.  His  son  George  was  born 
in  Windsor,  and  remained  there  during  his 
life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  married 
Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his 
marriage  until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn. 
Ezekiel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and 
was  a  manufacturer  of  scythes  at  Bradford, 
Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes,  son  of  'Ezekiel  and 
grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  in  August,  1.756.  He  was  a 
farmer,  blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He 
emigrated  to  Vermont  at  an  unknown  date, 
settling  in  Brattleboro,  where  he  established  a 
hotel.  Here  his  son,  Rutherford  Hayes,  the 
lather  of  President  Hayes,  was  born.  He  was 
married,  in  September,  18 13,  to  Sophia  Bir- 
chard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors 
emigrated  thither  from  Connecticut,  they  hav- 
ing been  among  the  wealthiest  and  best  fami- 
lies of  Norwich.  Her  ancestry  on  the  male 
side  are  traced  back  to  1635,  to  John  Bir- 
chard,  one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Nor- 
wich. Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  in- 
dustrious, frugal  and  open-hearted  man.  He 
was  of  a  mechanical  turn,  and  could  mend  a 
plow,  knit  a  stocking,  or  do  almost  any- 
thing else  that  he  chose  to  undertake.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  church,  active  in  all  the 
benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  christian  principles. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  of  18 12,  for  reasons 
inexplicable  to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to 
emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that 
day,  when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor 
railways,  was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of 
inspection  was  first  made,  occupying  four 
months.  Mr.  Hayes  determined  to  move  to 
Delaware,  where  the    family  arrived  in  1817. 


He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth 
of  the  son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs. 
Hayes,  in  her  sore  bereavement,  found  the 
support  she  so  much  needed  in  her  brother 
Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  house- 
hold from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had 
adopted  some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at 
birth  that  he  was  not  expected  to  live  beyond 
a  month  or  two  at  most.  As  the  months  went 
by  he  grew  weaker  and  weaker,  so  that  the 
neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  inquiring  from 
time  to  time  "if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died  last 
night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who 
was  on  familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after 
alluding  to  the  boy's  big  head,  and  the  moth- 
er's assiduous  care  of  him,  said  in  a  bantering 
way,  "That's  right!  Stick  to  him.  You  have 
got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder 
if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes. 
"You  wait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I 
shall  make  him  president  of  the  United  States 
yet."  The  boy  lived  in  spite  of  the  universal 
predictions  of  his  speedy  death;  and  when,  in 
1825,  his  older  brother  was  drowned,  he  be- 
came, if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his  mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he 
went  to  school.  His  education,  however,  was 
not  neglected.  He  probably  learned  as  much 
from  his  mother  and  sister  as  he  would  have 
done  at  school.  His  sports  were  almost  wholly 
within  doors,  his  playmates  being  his  sister 
and  her  associates.  His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard 
took  the  deepest  interest  in  his  education;  and 
as  the  boy's  health  had  improved,  and  he  was 
making  good  progress  in  his  studies,  he  pro- 
posed to  send  him  to  college.  His  preparation 
commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he  was 
afterward  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in 


110 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  Wesleyan  university,  in  Middletown,  Conn. 
He  entered  Kenyon  college  in  1838,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  was  graduated  at  the  head 
of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Spar- 
row, Esq.,  in  Columbus.  Finding  his  oppor- 
tunities for  study  in  Columbus  somewhat 
limited,  he  determined  to  enter  the  law  school 
at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  law 
school,  he  was  admitted  to  the  barat  Marietta, 
Ohio,  and  shortly  afterward  went  into  practice 
as  an  attorney-at-law  with  Ralph  P.  Buck- 
land,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  remained  three 
years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice,  and 
apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his 
profession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his 
ambition  found  a  new  stimulus.  Two  events, 
occurring  at  this  period,  had  a  powerful  influ- 
ence upon  his  subsequent  life.  One  of  these 
was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  Ware  Webb, 
daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of  Chillicothe; 
the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cincin- 
nati Literary  club,  a  body  embracing  among 
its  members  such  men  as  Chief  Justice  Salmon 
P.  Chase,  Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F 
Noyes,  and  many  others  hardly  less  distin- 
guished in  after  life.  The  marriage  was  a 
fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as  everybody 
knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our  presi- 
dents was  more  universally  admired,  rever- 
enced and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and 
no  one  did  more  than  she  to  reflect  honor 
upon  American  womanhood.  The  Literary 
club  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into  constant  associa- 
tion with  young  men  of  high  character  and 
noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
extreme  modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of 
judge  of   the  court  of    common  pleas;  but  he 


declined  to  accept  the  nomination.  Two 
years  later,  the  office  of  city  solicitor  becoming 
vacant,  the  city  council  elected  him  for  the  un- 
expired term. 

In  1 86 1,  when  the  rebellion  broke  out,  he 
was  at  the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His 
rank  at  the  bar  was  among  the  first.  But  the 
news  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  found  him 
eager  to  take  up  arms  for  the  defense  of  his 
beloved  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illus- 
trious. In  October,  1861,  he  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  August,  1862,  promoted 
colonel  of  the  Seventy-ninth  Ohio  regiment, 
but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades  and 
go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however, 
he  was  made  colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At 
the  battle  of  South  Mountain  he  received  a 
wound,  and  while  faint  and  bleeding  displayed 
courage  and  fortitude  that  won  admiration 
from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment, 
after  his  recovery,  to  act  as  brigadier-general, 
and  placed  in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kana- 
wha division,  and  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Fisher's 
Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was  promoted  briga- 
dier-general. He  was  also  brevetted  major- 
general  "for  gallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1S64  in  West  Vir- 
ginia." In  the  course  of  his  arduous  services 
four  horses  were  shot  from  under  him,  and  he 
was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  con- 
gress, from  the  Second  Ohio  district,  which 
had  long  been  democratic.  He  was  not  pres- 
ent during  the  campaign,  and  after  his  election 
was  importuned  to  resign  his  commission  in 
the  army;  but  he  finally  declared:  "  I  shall 
never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected 
in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  governor 


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JAMES    A.    GARFIELD. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


118 


of  Ohio  over  Hon,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popu- 
lar democrat.  In  1869  was  re-elected  over 
George  H.  Pendleton.  He  was  elected  gov- 
ernor for  the  third  term  in  1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard-bearer  of  the 
republican  party  in  the  presidential  contest, 
and,  after  a  hard,  long  contest,  was  chosen 
president,  and  was  inaugurated  Monday,  March 
5.  1875. 

He  served  one  full  term  of  four  years,  then 
retired  to  his  peaceful  home,  where  he  expired 
January  17,  1893. 


>^*AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twentieth  pres- 
m  ident  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
/*  1  November  19,  1831,  in  the  woods  of 
Orange,  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio.  His 
parents  were  Abram  and  Eliza  (Ballou)  Gar- 
field, both  of  New  England  ancestry,  and  from 
families  well  known  in  the  early  history  of  that 
section  of  our  country,  but  had  moved  to  the 
Western  Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was  born 
was  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the 
spaces  between  the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His 
father  was  a  hard-working  farmer,  and  he  soon 
had  his  fields  cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and 
a  log  barn  built.  The  household  comprised 
the  father  and  mother  and  their  four  children — 
Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and  James.  In 
May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  contracted 
in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months 
old,  and  Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  He 
now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sisters  live 
in  Solon,  Ohio,  near  their  birth-place. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young 
Garfield  enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he 
made  the  most  of  them.  He  labored  at  farm 
work  for  others,  did  carpenter  work,  chopped 


wood,  or  did  anything  that  would  bring  in  a 
few  dollars.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever 
ashamed  of  his  origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the 
friends  of  his  struggling  childhood,  youth  and 
manhood,  neither  did  they  ever  forget  him. 
When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor,  the 
humblest  friend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield 
until  he  was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be 
a  captain  of  a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was 
anxious  to  go  aboard  a  vessel,  which  his 
mother  strongly  opposed.  She  finally  con- 
sented to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to 
obtain  some  other  kind  of  employment.  He 
walked  all  the  way  to  Cleveland.  After 
making  many  applications  for  work,  and  try- 
ing to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meet- 
ing with  success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his 
cousin,  Amos  Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Penn- 
sylvania canal.  He  remained  at  this  work 
but  a  short  time  when  he  went  home,  and 
attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for  about 
three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of 
school  in  the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work. 
This  school  was  started  by  the  Disciples  of 
Christ  in  1850,  of  which  church  he  was  then 
a  member.  He  became  janitor  and  bell-ringer 
in  order  to  help  pay  his  way.  He  then  be- 
came both  teacher  and  pupil.  In  the  fall  of 
1854,  he  entered  Williams  college,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  high- 
est honors  of  his  class.  He  afterward  re- 
turned to  Hiram  college  as  its  president.  Dr. 
Noah  Porter,  president  of  Yale  college,  says  ot 
him  in  reference  to  his  religion: 

"President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man 
of  strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His 
whole  history,  from  boyhood  to  the  las'i. 
shows  that  duty  to  man  and  to  God,  and  de- 
votion to  Christ  and  life  and  faith  and  spiritual 


11-4 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


commission    were   controlling    springs    of    his 
being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree." 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Lucretia  Rudolph,  November  1 1,  1S58, 
who  proved  herself  worthy  as  the  wife  of  one 
whom  all  the  world  loved  and  mourned.  To 
them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political 
speeches  in  1856,  in  Hiram  and  the  neighbor- 
ing villages,  and  thrje  years  later  he  began  to 
speak  at  county  mass  meetings,  and  became 
the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he  was.  Dur- 
ing this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleve- 
land, and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
The  great  rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part 
of  this  year,  and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved 
to  fight  as  he  had  talked,  and  enlisted  to  de- 
fend the  old  flag.  He  received  his  commission 
as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Forty-second  reg- 
iment of  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  August  14, 
1 86 1.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active 
service,  and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun 
fired  in  action,  was  placed  in  command  of  four 
regiments  of  infantry  and  eight  companies  of 
cavalry,  charged  with  the  work  of  driving  out 
of  his  native  state  the  officer  (Humphrey  Mar- 
shall) reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of  those,  not 
educated  to  war,  whom  Kentucky  had  given  to 
the  rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and 
speedily  accomplished,  although  against  great 
odds.  President  Lincoln,  on  his  success,  com- 
missioned him  brigadier  general,  January  10, 
1862;  and  as  "he  had  been  the  youngest  man 
in  the  Ohio  senate  two  years  before,  so  now 
he  was  the  youngest  general  in  the  army." 
He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh,  in 
its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march 
through  Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a 
member  of  the  general  court-martial  for  the 
trial  of  Fitz-John  Porter.  He  was  then  or- 
dered  to  report    to  Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  was 


assigned  to  the  chief  of  staff.  The  military 
history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with  his  brill- 
iant services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  major-general. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gen.  Garfield 
was  elected  to  congress  in  the  fall  of  1862 
from  the  Nineteenth  district  of  Ohio.  This 
section  of  Ohio  had  been  represented  in  con- 
gress for  sixty  years  mainly  by  two  men — 
Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua  R.  Giddings.  It 
was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he  resigned 
his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  entered 
congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  Here  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  president  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  congress  Senator  Hoar  savs: 
"Since  the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a 
question  which  has  been  debated  in  congress, 
or  discussed  before  a  tribunal  of  the  American 
people,  in  regard  to  which  you  will  not  find, 
if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argument  on  one 
side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance,  better 
than  by  anybod)'  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  house  of  representatives  or  on  the  hustings 
by  Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  January  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and  on 
the  8th  of  June,  of  the  same  year,  was  nom- 
inated as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  presi- 
dent at  the  great  Chicago  convention.  He  was 
elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably 
no  administration  ever  opened  its  existence 
under  brighter  auspices  than  that  of  President 
Garfield,  and  every  day  it  grew  in  favor  with 
the  people,  and  by  the  first  of  July  he  had 
completed  all  the  initiatory  and  preliminary 
work  of  his  administration  and  was  preparing 
to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Will- 
iams college.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the 
depot,  in  company  with  Secretary  Blaine,  a 
man  stepped  behind  him,  drew  a  revolver,  and 
fired   directly    at    his    back.       The    president 


F 


CHESTER    A.    ARTHUR. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


117 


tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the  assassin 
fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the  left 
coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no 
further  injury.  For  eighty  days  all  during 
the  hot  months  of  July  and  August,  he  lingered 
and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained  master 
of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the 
world  the  noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to 
live  grandly  in  the  very  clutch  of  death.  He 
passed  serenely  away  September  19,  1881,  at 
Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  seashore,  where  he  had 
been  taken  shortly  previous.  The  murderer 
was  tried,  found  guilty  and  executed,  in  one 
year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


a  HESTER  A.  ARTHUR,  twenty-first 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont, 
on  the  fifth  of  October,  1830,  and  is 
the  eldest  of  a  family  of  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.  His  father  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
William  Arthur,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  from  the  county 
Antrim,  Ireland,  in  his  eighteenth  year,  and 
died  in  1875,  m  Newtonville,  near  Albany,  N. 
Y. ,  after  a  long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at  Union  col- 
lege, Schenectady,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  excelled 
in  all  his  studies.  After  his  graduation,  he 
taught  school  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  went  to  New 
York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket,  and  entered 
the  office  of  ex-Judge  E.  D.  Culver,  as  student. 
After  being  admited  to  the  bar  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room- 
mate, Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention 
of  practicing  in  the  west,  and  for  three  months 
they  roamed  about  in  the  western  states  in 
search  of  an  eligible  site,  but  in  the  end  re- 
turned to  New  York,  where  they  entered  upon 
a   successful   career   almost    from    the    start. 


Gen.  Arthur  soon  afterward  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  Lieut.  Herndon,  of  the  United  States 
navy,  who  was  lost  at  sea.  Congress  voted  a 
gold  medal  to  his  widow  in  recognition  of  the 
bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occasion.  Mrs. 
Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's  nomi- 
nation to  the  vice  presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal 
celebrity  in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous 
Lemmon  suit,  brought  to  recover  possession  of 
eight  slaves  who  had  been  declared  free  by 
Judge  Paine,  of  the  superior  court  of  New 
York  city.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jonathan 
Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas, 
when  they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The 
judge  decided  that  they  could  not  be  held  by 
the  owner  under  the  Fugitive  Slave  law.  A 
howl  of  rage  went  up  from  the  south,  and  the 
Virginia  legislature  authorized  the  attorney 
general  of  that  state  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
William  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur 
were  employed  to  represent  the  people,  and 
they  won  their  case,  which  then  went  to  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  Charles 
O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause  of  the  slave- 
holders, but  he  too,  was  beaten  by  Messrs. 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken 
toward  the  emanicipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by 
Gen.  Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Liz- 
zie Jennings,  a  respectable  colored  woman, 
was  put  ofi  a  Fourth  avenue  car  with  violence 
after  she  had  paid  her  fare.  Gen.  Arthursued 
on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a  verdict  of  $500 
damages.  The  next  day  the  company  issued 
an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride  on 
their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 
followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth 
avenue  company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  col- 
ored persons  and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let 
them  ride  at  all. 


118 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


Gen.  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tion at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  republican 
party.  Previous  to  the  war  he  was  judge-ad- 
vocate of  the  Second  brigade  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  Governor  Morgan,  of  that 
state,  appointed  him  engineer-in-chief  of  his 
staff.  In  1 86 1,  he  was  made  inspector  gen- 
eral, and  soon  afterward  became  quartermas- 
ter general.  In  each  of  these  offices  he  ren- 
dered great  service  to  the  government  during 
the  war.  At  the  end  of  Gov.  Morgan's  term 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  forming  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Ransom,  and  then  Mr. 
Phelps,  the  district  attorney  of  New  York, 
was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  practice  of 
this  well  known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive; each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  was 
an  able  lawyer,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local 
reputation,  if  not  indeed  one  of  national 
extent. 

Arthur  was  appointed  collector  of  the  port 
of  New  York  by  President  Grant,  November 
21,  1872,  to  succeed  Thomas  Murphy,  and 
held  the  office  until  July  20,  1878,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt.  Mr. 
Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the 
famous  national  republican  convention  held  at 
Chicago  in  June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the 
greatest  political  convention  that  ever  assem- 
bled on  the  continent.  It  was  composed  of 
the  leading  politicians  of  the  republican  party, 
all  able  men,  and  all  stood  firm  and  fought 
vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  con- 
vention for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen. 
Garfield  received  the  nomination  for  president 
and  Gen.  Arthur  for  vice  president.  The  cam- 
paign which  followed  was  one  of  the  most 
animated  known  in  the  history  of  our  country. 
Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of  the 
democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 


Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's 
choice  was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were 
inaugurated  March  4,  1881,  as  president  and 
vice-president.  A  few  months  only  had  passed 
ere  the  newly  chosen  president  was  the 
victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  The  remarka- 
ble patience  that  Garfield  manifested  during 
those  hours  and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of 
the  most  terrible  suffering  man  has  often  been 
called  upon  to  endure,  was  seemingly  more 
than  human.  It  was  certainly  God-like. 
During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it 
said  to  his  credit,  that  his  every  action  dis- 
played only  an  earnest  desire  that  the  suffer- 
ing Garfield  might  recover,  to  serve  the  re- 
mainder of  the  term  he  had  so  auspiciously 
begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the 
most  honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any 
moment  likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President 
Garfield  from  further  suffering.  Then  it  be- 
came the  duty  of  the  vice  president  to  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  the  high  office,  and  he 
took  the  oath  in  New  York,  September  20, 
1 88 1.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing  one 
to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he 
would  do,  what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and 
whom  he  would  select  as  advisers.  The  duties 
of  the  office  had  been  greatly  neglected  during 
the  president's  long  illness,  and  many  import- 
ant measures  were  to  be  immediately  decided 
by  him;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances 
he  became  president,  and  knew  the  feelings  of 
many  on  this  point.  Under  these  trying  cir- 
cumstances President  Arthur  took  the  reins  of 
the  government  in  his  own  hands;  and  as  em- 
barrassing as  was  the  condition  of  afiairs,  he 
happily  surprised  the  nation,  actign  so  wisely 
that  but  few  criticised  his  administration.     He 


STEPHEN    GROVER    CLEVELAND 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


121 


served  until  the  close  of  his  administration, 
March  4,  1885,  and  was  a  popular  candidate 
before  his  party  for  a  second  term.  His  name 
was  ably  presented  before  the  convention  at 
Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great  favor, 
and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would 
have  been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of 
his  party  for  another  campaign.  He  retired 
to  private  life  carrying  with  him  the  best 
wishes  of  the  American  people,  whom  he  had 
served  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  them  and 
with  credit  to  himself.  Although  not  a  man 
of  the  transcendent  ability  possessed  by  the 
lamented  Garfield,  Mr.  Arthur  was  able  for 
the  emergency  he  was  so  unexpectedly  called 
to  fill,  and  was  a  worthy  successor  to  his  chief. 


£^*TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVELAND, 
*^^MT    the  twenty-second  and  twenty-fourth 

^  j  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  town  of  Cald- 
well, Essex  county,  N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two- 
and-a-half  story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark  the  hum- 
ble birth-place  of  one  of  America's  great  men 
in  striking  contrast  with  the  old  world,  where 
all  men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in  origin, 
and  born  in  the  cradle  of  wealth.  When  three 
years  of  age,  his  father,  who  was  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister  with  a  large  family,  and  a  small 
salary,  moved  by  the  way  of  the  Hudson  river 
and  Erie  canal  to  Fayetteville  in  search  of  an 
increased  income  and  a  larger  field  of  work. 
Fayetteville  was  then  the  most  straggling  of 
country  villages,  about  five  miles  from  Pompey 
Hill,  where  Gov.  Seymour  was  born.  At  the 
last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  commenced 
going  to  school  in  the  "good  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself 
after  the  manner  of  all  village  boys  in  doing 


the  things  he  ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the 
distinguishing  trait  of  all  village  geniuses  and 
independent  thinkers.  When  he  arrived  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a 
most  emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  acad- 
emy. To  this  his  father  decidedly  objected. 
Academies  in  those  days  cost  money;  besides, 
his  father  wanted  him  to  become  self-support-- 
ing  by  the  quickest  possible  means,  and  this 
at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed  to  be  a 
position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father, 
with  the  large  family  on  his  hands,  had  con- 
siderable influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid 
$50  for  his  services  the  first  year,  and  if  he 
proved  trustworthy  he  was  to  receive  $100  the 
second  year.  Here  the  lad  commenced  his 
career  as  a  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he  had 
earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthi- 
ness that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him 
longer. 

But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in 
Fayetteville,  he  went  with  the  family  in  their 
removal  to  Clinton,  where  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  attending  a  high  school.  Here  he 
industriously  pursued  his  studies  until  the 
family  removed  with  him  to  a  point  on  Black 
river  known  as  the  Holland  Patent,  a  village 
of  500  or  600  people,  fifteen  miles  north  of 
Utica,  N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died, 
after  preaching  but  three  Sundays.  This  event 
broke  up  the  family,  and  Grover  set  out  for 
New  York  city  to  accept,  at  a  small  salary, 
the  position  of  "under-teacher"  in  an  asylum 
for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  repu- 
tation in  this  capacity,  he  concluded  that 
teaching  was  not  his  calling  for  life,  and,  re- 
versing the  traditional  order,  he  left  the  city  to 
seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going  to  a  city. 
He  first  thought  of  going  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
as  there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him; 
but  before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to 


122 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


Buffalo  to  ask  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis 
F.  Allan,  a  noted  stock  breeder  of  that  place. 
After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered 
him  a  place  temporarily  as  assistant  herdkeeper 
at  $50  a  year,  while  he  could  "look  around." 
One  day  afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the 
office  of  Rogers,  Bowers  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo, 
and  told  them  what  he  wanted.  A  number  of 
young  men  were  already  engaged  in  the  office, 
but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and  he  was  fin- 
ally permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library  for  the  nomi- 
nal sum  of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he 
had  to  pay  for  his  board  and  washing.  The 
walk  to  and  from  his  uncle's  was  a  long  and 
rugged  one;  and,  although  the  first  winter  was 
a  memorably  severe  one,  yet  he  was  neverthe- 
less prompt  and  regular.  On  the  first  day  of 
his  service  there,  his  senior  employer  threw 
down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him  with  a 
bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying,  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around 
the  little  circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they 
thought  that  was  enough  to  scare  young 
Grover  out  of  his  plans;  but  in  due  time  he 
mastered  that  cumbersome  volume.  Then,  as 
ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland  exhib- 
ited a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphys- 
ical possibilities.  "Let  us  quit  talking  and  go 
and  do  it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleve- 
land was  elected  was  that  of  sheriff  of  Erie 
county,  N.  Y. ,  in  which  Buffalo  is  situated; 
and  in  such  capacity  it  fell  to  his  duty  to  in- 
flict capital  punishment  upon  two  criminals. 
In  1 88 1  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Buffalo  on  the  democratic  ticket,  with  especial 
reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 
in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs 
of  that  city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of 
sheriff,  his  performance  of  duty  has  generally 
been   considered  fair,  with  possibly  a  few   ex- 


ceptions, which  were  ferreted  out  and  magni- 
fied during  his  last  presidential  campaign. 
The  editorial  manager  or  the  New  York  Sun 
afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  mayor  of  Buffalo,  and 
thereupon  recommended  him  for  governor  of 
the  Empire  state.  To  the  latter  office  he  was 
elected  in  1882,  and  his  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  state  was  generally  satisfactory.  The 
mistakes  he  made,  if  any,  were  made  very 
public  throughout  the  nation  after  he  was  nom- 
inated for  president  of  the  United  States.  For 
this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July  11, 
1884,  by  the  national  democratic  convention 
at  Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas 
A.  Hendricks,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G. 
Thurman,  etc. ;  and  he  was  elected  by  the 
people  by  a  majority  of  about  a  thousand  over 
the  brilliant  and  long-tried  James  G.  Blaine. 
President  Cleveland  resigned  his  office  as  gov- 
erner  of  New  York  in  January,  1885,  in  order 
to  prepare  for  his  duties  as  the  chief  executive 
of  the  United  States,  in  which  capacity  his  term 
commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of  March,  1885. 
In  November,  1892,  Mr.  Cleveland  was  re- 
elected to  the  presidency  by  the  democratic 
party,  the  candidate  of  the  republican  party 
being  their  ex-chief,  Benjamin  Harrison,  a 
sketch  of  whom  follows  this.  The  popular 
vote  on  this  occasion  stood:  Cleveland,  5,556- 
562;  Harrison,  5,162,874;  the  electoral  vote 
was  277  for  Cleveland,  and  145  for  Harrison. 
During  the  early  part  of  his  first  administra- 
tion, Mr.  Cleveland  was  married  to  Miss 
Frances  Folsom,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  and  in  Oc- 
tober, 1 89 1,  a  daughter,  Ruth,  came  to  bless 
the  union,  and  a  second  daughter,  Esther,  was 
born  in  July,  1893.  The  first  act  of  Mr. 
Cleveland,  on  taking  his  seat  for  his  second 
term,  was  to  convene  congress  in  extra  session 
for  the  purpose  of  repealing  the  Sherman  sil- 
ver bill,  and  accordingly  that  body  met  Sep- 


— During  the  second  administration  of  Mr.  Cleveland  a  thiid  daughter,  Frances  Marian,  was  born.] 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


125 


tember  4,  1893,  and  both  houses  being  demo- 
cratic, the  bill,  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation ol  the  president,  was  uncondition- 
ally repealed.  The  special  feature,  however, 
ol  the  second  administration  of  Grover  Cleve- 
land was  the  repeal  of  the  McKinley  tariff  bill 
by  congress  and  the  substitution  of  the  bill  re- 
ported by  William  L.  Wilson,  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, as  chairman  of  the  ways  and  means  com- 
mittee of  the  house  of  representatives,  which 
bill,  being  concurred  in,  with  sundry  amend- 
ments, by  the  senate,  was  finally  passed  and 
went  into  effect  in  the  latter  part  of  1894, 
materially  reducing  the  duties  on  imports. 


<V^\  ENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the  twenty- 
I<^^  third  president,  is  the  descendant  of 
^d^J  one  of  the  historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the  family 
was  a  Major  General  Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  followers  and  fighters.  In 
the  zenith  of  Cromwell's  power  it  became  the 
duty  of  this  Harrison  to  participate  in  the 
trial  of  Charles  I,  and  afterward  to  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subsequently 
paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being  hung  October 
13,  1660.  His  descendants  came  to  America, 
and  the  next  of  the  family  that  appears  in  his- 
tory is  Benjamin  Harrison,  of  Virginia,  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Har- 
rison was  a  member  of  the  continental  con- 
gress during  the  years  1774-5-6,  and  was  one 
of  the  original  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  He  was  three  times  elected 
governor  of  Virginia. 

Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of 
the  distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution, 
after  a  successsul  career  as  a  soldier  during  the 
war  of  181 2,  and  with  a  clean  record  as  gov- 
ernor of  the  Northwestern  territory,  was 
elected  president  of  the  United  States  in  1840. 


His   career   was    cut    short    by  death  in  one 
month  after  his  inauguration. 

President  Benjamin  Harrison  was  born  at 
North  Bend,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  August 
20,  1833.  His  life  up  to  the  time  of  his  grad- 
uation by  the  Miami  university,  at  Oxford, 
Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  country  lad 
of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college 
to  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  principal  of  a 
female  school  at  Oxford.  After  graduating, 
he  determined  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  the 
law.  He  went  to  Cincinnati  and  there  read 
law  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  young  Harrison  received  the  only  inher- 
itance of  his  life;  his  aunt,  dying,  left  him  a 
lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy 
as  a  fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at 
once,  take  this  money  and  go  to  some  eastern 
town  and  begin  the  practice  of  law.  He  sold 
his  lot,  and  with  the  money  in  his  pocket,  he 
started  out  with  his  young  wife  to  fight  for  a 
place  in  the  world.  He  decided  to  go  to 
Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at  that  time  a 
town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight  encour- 
agement at  first,  making  scarcely  anything  the 
first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applying 
himself  closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  ex- 
tensive practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the 
legal  profession.  He  is  the  father  of  two 
children. 

In  i860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for 
the  position  of  supreme  court  reporter,  and 
then  began  his  experience  as  a  stump  speaker. 
He  canvassed  the  state  thoroughly,  and  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  In  1862  he 
raised  the  Seventeenth  Indiana  infantry,  and 
was  chosen  its  colonel.  His  regiment  was 
composed  of  the  rawest  of  material,  but  Col. 
Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first  master- 
ing military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men;  when 
he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the   east 


126 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED    STATES. 


with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the 
best  drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At 
Resaca  he  especially  distinguished  himself, 
and  for  his  bravery  at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was 
made  a  brigadier  general,  Gen.  Hooker  speak- 
ing of  him  in  the  most  complimentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in 
the  field  the  supreme  court  declared  the  office 
of  the  supreme  court  reporter  vacant,  and 
another  person  was  elected  to  the  position. 
From  the  time  of  leaving  Indiana  with  his 
regiment  until  the  fall  of  1864  he  had  taken 
no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been  nomi- 
nated that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that 
time  made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  state,  and 
was  elected  for  another  term.  He  then  started 
to  rejoin  Sherman,  but  on  the  way  was 
stricken  down  with  scarlet  fever,  and  after  a 
most  trying  siege  made  his  way  to  the  front  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  closing  incidents  of 
the  war. 

In  1 868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  a  re-elec- 
tion as  reporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
law.  In  1876  he  was  a  candidate  for  governor. 
Although  defeated,  the  brilliant  campaign  he 
made  won  for  him  a  national  reputation,  and 
he  was  much  sought,  especially  in  the  east,  to 
make  speeches.  In  1880,  as  usual,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  the  campaign,  and  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate.  Here  he  served 
six  years,  and  was  known  as  one  of  the  ablest 
men,  best  lawyers  and  strongest  debaters  in 
that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  sena- 
torial term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the 
strongest  firms  in  the  state  of  Indiana. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of 
the  most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try. The  convention,  which  assembled  in 
Chicago  in  June  and  named  Mr.  Harrison  as 
the  chief  standard  bearer  of  the  republican 
party,  was  great   in  every  particular,  and  on 


this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  assumed  upon 
the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief  among 
which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest  in 
the  campaign  throughout  the  nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit 
Mr.  Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This 
movement  became  popular,  and  from  all  sec- 
tions of  the  country  societies,  clubs  and  dele- 
gations journeyed  thither  to  pay  their  respects 
to  the  distinguished  statesman.  The  popu- 
larity of  these  was  greatly  increased  on  ac- 
count of  the  remarkable  speeches  made  by  Mr. 
Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through  the 
summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent 
were  his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed 
him  in  the  foremost  rank  of  American  orators 
and  statesmen.  On  account  of  his  eloquence 
as  a  speaker  and  his  power  as  a  debater,  he 
was  called  upon  at  an  uncommonly  early  age 
to  take  part  in  the  discussion  of  the  great 
questions  that  then  began  to  agitate  the  coun- 
try. He  was  an  uncompromising  anti-slavery 
man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  the 
most  eminent  democratic  speakers  of  his  state. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  de- 
sired to  be  pitted  with  him  again.  With  all 
his  eloquence  as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for 
oratorical  effect,  but  his  words  always  went 
like  bullets  to  the  mark.  He  is  purely  Ameri- 
can in  his  ideas  and  is  a  splendid  type  of  the 
American  statesman.  Gifted  with  quick  per- 
ception, a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue,  he 
is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  nation.  Original  in  thought, 
precise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement,  yet  wilhal 
faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as  the 
sound  statesman  and  brilliant  orator  of  the 
day.  His  term  of  office  as  president  of  the 
United  States  expired  on  March  4,  1893,  when 
he  surrendered  the  high  position  to  Stephen 
Grover  Cleveland,  allusion  to  which  fact  is 
made  on  a  preceding  page. 


william  Mckinley. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


127 


ar 


TLLIAM  McKINLEY,  the  twenty- 
fourth  president,  and  twice  governor 
of  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished politicians  of  his  state  and 
nation.  His  ancestry  lived  in  western  Penn- 
sylvania, his  father,  William  McKinley,  who 
died  recently  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years, 
having  been  born  on  a  farm  in  Pine  township, 
Mercer  county,  that  state — a  farm  which  was 
recently  and  may  be  to-day  in  the  possession 
of  the  Rose  family,  which  is  related  to  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinley, and  of  which  ex-Mayor  W.  G.  Rose,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  is  a  member.  William  Mc- 
Kinley, Sr. ,  was  in  the  iron  business  all  his 
life,  as  was  also  his  father  before  him. 

William  McKinley,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Niles, 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  January  29,  1843.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  in  the 
academy  at  Poland,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of 
i860  he  entered  Allegheny  college  at  Mead- 
ville,  Pa.,  with  the  view  of  taking  a  full  college 
course;  but  owing  to  sickness  he  was  obliged 
to  return  home  before  the  winter  came  on. 
During  the  winter  of  1860-61  he  taught  a  dis- 
trict school,  and  intended  to  return  to  Alle- 
gheny college,  but  in  April,  1861,  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  upon  by  the  rebels,  and  the  spirit 
of  patriotism  in  young  McKinley's  heart  was 
so  strong  that  he  enlisted  in  company  E, 
Twenty-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  with 
which  he  marched  and  fought  in  the  ranks  for 
fourteen  months.  His  regiment  was  with 
Rosecrans  and  McClellan  in  Virginia  and 
West  Virginia.  His  first  battle  was  that  of 
Carnifax  Ferry.  After  this  he  joined  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  and  fought  with  McClellan. 
Subsequently  Private  McKinley  was  promoted, 
first  to  second  lieutenant,  September,  24,  1862; 
then  to  first  lieutenant,  February  7,  1863,  and 
then  to  captain,  July  25,  1864.  Then  he 
served  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes  and 
was  afterward  detailed  to  act  as  assistant 
adjutant-general  on   the  staff  of  Gen.  George 


Crook.  He  was  with  Sheridan  in  the  Shenan- 
doah valley,  in  the  battles  of  Winchester, 
Cedar  Creek,  Fisher's  Hill,  Opequan,  Kerns- 
town,  Cloyd  Mountain  and  Berryville.  For 
meritorious  conduct  he  was  brevetted  major 
by  President  Lincoln,  and  after  Gen.  Crook's 
capture,  in  Maryland,  he  served  on  the  staff 
of  Maj.-Gen.  Hancock,  and  later  on  that  of 
Gen.  S.  S.  Carroll,  commander  of  the  veteran 
reserve  corps  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee,  April  9, 
1865,  was  with  his  regiment  all  through  its 
campaigns  and  battles,  and  was  mustered  out 
of  service  July  26,  1865,  having  been  in  the 
army  four  years  and  one  month. 

Returning  to  Ohio,  Maj.  McKinley  studied 
law  with  Hon.  Charles  S.  Glidden  and  David 
Wilson,  of  Mahoning  county,  and  then  at- 
tended the  law  school  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  In 
1867  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  May 
of  that  year  located  in  Canton,  Ohjo,  where  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Judge  Belden, 
practicing  in  that  relationship  for  two  years. 
In  1869  he  was  elected  on  the  republican 
ticket  prosecuting  attorney  of  Stark  county, 
notwithstanding  that  county  was  democratic 
usually  by  a  reliable  majority,  but  in  1871 
he  was  defeated  for  re-election  by  an  ad- 
verse majority  of  forty-five.  In  1876  he 
ran  for  congress,  and,  to  the  surprise  of  the 
older  politicians,  was  elected  and  was  then 
continuously  in  congress  from  his  district  (not- 
withstanding several  gerrymanders  made  for 
the  sake  of  defeating  him)  for  fourteen  con- 
secutive years,  with  the  exception  of  a  part  of 
his  fourth  term,  when  he  was  unseated  by  a 
democratic  majority  in  congress  and  his  place 
given  to  his  competitor.  He  was  a  candidate  for 
re-election  to  congress  in  1890,  but  on  account 
of  fictitious  alarm  awakened  by  his  political  en- 
emies as  to  the  result,  or  the  probable  result,  of 
the  "  McKinley  tariff  bill,"  which  went  into  ef- 
fect about  October  1,  1890,  a  little  more  than 


128 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


one  month  before  the  election,  he  was  defeated, 
the  majority  against  him  and  in  favor  of  his 
competitor,  Lieut. -Gov.  Warwick,  being  303 
votes.  The  year  before  the  counties  compos- 
ing this  district,  which  had  been  most  out- 
rageously gerrymandered  for  the  sake  of  ac- 
complishing his  defeat,  gave  a  majority  to 
James  E.  Campbell  for  governor  of  2,900. 
But  while  this  defeat  retired  him  from  con- 
gress it  at  the  same  time  made  him  governor 
in  1891,  when  he  was  elected  over  his  opponent 
by  a  plurality  of  21,511.  In  1893  he  was 
again  elected  governor  by  the  phenomenal 
plurality  of  80,995,  ms  opponent  this  time  be- 
ing the  Hon.  Lawrence  T.  Neal. 

While  in  congress  Maj.  McKinley  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  revision  of  laws, 
the  judiciary  committee,  the  committee  on  ex- 
penditures in  the  post  office  department,  and 
the  committee  on  rules.  Upon  the  nomina- 
tion of  Gen.  Garfield  for  the  presidency,  Mr. 
McKinley  took  his  place  on  the  committee  on 
ways  and  means,  with  which  he  served  for  the 
rest  of  his  time  in  congress.  It  was  while  he 
was  chairman  of  this  committee  that  he  framed 
the  "McKinley  Bill"  which  still  bears  its  name, 
and  provided  for  a  high  rate  of  duty  on  an  im- 
mense number  of  articles  imported  from  for- 
eign countries,  but  made  sugar  free.  Its  pur- 
pose was  to  reduce  the  national  revenue  and 
to  increase  protection. 

The  work  involved  in  the  preparation  of 
this  bill  is  almost  inconceivable.  It  contained 
thousands  of  items  and  covered  nearly  every 
interest  in  the  country.  For  four  weeks,  while 
the  house  was  in  session,  Mr.  McKinley  was 
almost  constantly  upon  his  feet  answering  num- 
berless questions,  meeting  objections  and  giving 
information.  With  the  exception  of  two  minor 
amendments  the  bill  passed  exactly  as  it  came 
from  the  hands  of  the  committee,  and  its  pas- 
sage was  the  signal  for  a  conflict  which  few 
statesmen    in  the  history   of   free  government 


could  have  withstood.  It  was  assaulted  as  no 
other  law  has  ever  been  assaulted  in  this  gen- 
eration and  for  a  time  even  republican  leaders 
had   misgivings. 

The  indomitable  courage  and  unbounded 
faith  of  Mr.  McKinley  during  this  trying  period 
alone  seemed  to  hold  the  republican  party  to- 
gether. He  never  wavered  for  an  instant. 
With  a  fervor  born  of  conviction,  he  had  thrown 
his  ambitions,  his  hopes,  almost  his  very  life, 
into  the  cause  he  represented.  Its  defeat  was 
his  defeat;  its  triumph  his  triumph.  From 
the  apparent  defeat  of  his  cause  in  1S90,  and 
again  in  1892,  he  arose  courageous,  steadfast, 
hopeful.  Others  might  change,  others  might 
doubt,  others  might  modify  their  views,  but  he 
stood  firm  for  a  protective  tariff — for  the  Ameri- 
can producer  against  the  foreign  producer. 
He  accepted  with  true  American  spirit  the 
popular  verdict  and  challenged  the  interpreta- 
tion put  upon  it  by  political  opponents.  He 
took  an  appeal  to  the  people  and  in  two  years 
from  the  crushing  defeat  of  1892  he  led  the 
republican  hosts  to  the  greatest  victory  and  the 
most  stupendous  change  in  the  popular  vote  of 
a  country  ever  recorded.  The  tide  turned; 
the  result  of  the  free  trade  policy  was  apparent, 
the  object  lesson  was  received,  noted  and  the 
decision  reversed. 

In  1884  Maj.  McKinley  was  a  delegate  at 
large  to  the  republican  national  convention 
which  nominated  Hon.  James  G.  Blaine.  In 
1888  he  was  again  a  delegate  at  large  to  the 
republican  national  convention,  and  this  time 
was  in  favor  of  the  Hon.  John  Sherman  for 
the  party's  candidate,  but  the  complications 
then  were  numerous  and  difficult  of  solution, 
because  of  Mr.  Blaine's  refusal  to  be  again  the 
nominee.  Many  thought  the  nomination  of 
Maj.  McKinley  would  solve  all  problems  and 
harmonize  all  factions,  but  in  spite  of  all  argu- 
ments and  all  persuasions  he  remained  true  to 
his  state  and  to  himself  by  steadfastly  refusing 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


129 


to  permit  his  name  to  be  used  as  a  presidential 
candidate.  Again,  in  1892,  Maj.  McKinley 
was  a  delegate  at  large  to  the  Minneapolis  con- 
vention which  renominated  President  Harrison, 
and  in  this  convention,  in  spite  of  all  remon- 
strances that  he  could  make,  he  received  within 
a  fraction  of  as  many  votes  as  were  given  to 
the  idol  of  the  republican  party,  James  G. 
Blaine,  the  latter  receiving  1S2  5-6  votes, 
while  McKinley  received  182  1-6  votes.  Pres- 
cient Harrison  was,  however,  renominated,  only 
to  be  defeated  by  Grover  Cleveland. 

In  his  political  campaigns  he  has  mani- 
fested brilliant  qualities  as  an  orator.  It  is 
probably  true  that  more  people  have  heard 
him  discuss  political  questions  than  have  ever 
listened  to  any  other  campaign  speaker  in  the 
United  States.  Thousands  of  people  assemble 
to  hear  him  ;  he  always  commands  the  rapt 
attention  of  his  hearers,  and  he  frequently 
elicits  at  least  hearty  applause. 

His  great  tour  in  the  fall  of  1894  is  prob- 
ably without  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  the 
United  States.  Everywhere  thousands  greeted 
him.  For  more  than  eight  weeks  he  averaged 
seven  speeches  a  day,  and  it  is  estimated  that 
during  that  time  2,000,000  people  listened  to 
him.  It  is  altogether  likely  that  the  secret  of 
his  power  over  an  audience  lies  in  his  sincerity, 
as  he  employs  no  adventitious  methods  and  is 
not  amusing,  his  simple  and  single  aim  being 
apparently  to  convince  by  argument  fairly 
and  squarely. 

The  preliminary  canvass  or  campaign  of 
1896,  which  resulted  in  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
McKinley  for  the  presidency,  was  remarkable 
in  many  ways,  but  in  no  respect  more  so  than 
in  the  unanimity  of  public  sentiment  which 
made  it  possible  to  predict  with  almost  abso- 
lute certainty  weeks  before  the  convention  the 
selection  of  the  champion  of  protection  and  a 
sound  financial  policy  as  the  candidate.  His 
choice  as  the  representative   of  the   party  best 


fitted  to  be  entrusted  with  the  administration  of 
national  affairs  was  a  natural  sequence — the  re- 
suit  of  sentiment  that  had  been  engendered 
during  the  four  years  previous,  and  yet  it  had 
every  characteristic  of  spontaneity.  The  increas- 
ing favor  with  which  he  was  regarded  by  the 
voters  of  the  country  was,  until  a  few  months 
before  the  convention,  a  steady,  rapid,  but 
withal  a  natural  growth,  and  the  almost  uni- 
versal endorsement  of  his  candidacy,  which 
came  a  short  time  before  the  St.  Louis  con- 
vention, must  be  attributed  in  a  great  measure 
to  the  desire  of  the  American  people  to  return 
to  an  idea  and  a  policy  which  a  majority  of  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  came  to  regard  as 
absolutely  indispensable  to  individual  and  na- 
tional prosperity  of  which  the  distinguished 
Ohioan  stood  as  the  recognized  exponent.  The 
national  republican  convention  convened  in  the 
city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  16,  1896,  and 
upon  the  first  ballot  Mr.  McKinley  was  nomi- 
nated with  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  receiving 
66 1  J  of  the  700  ballots  cast. 

In  many  respects  the  campaign  of  1896 
was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  presidential 
contests  in  the  history  of  the  nation,  but  the 
outcome,  as  foreshadowed  for  weeks  before  the 
election,  resulted  in  the  triumph  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinley over  the  brilliant  and  popular  young 
Nebraskian,  William  J.  Bryan,  a  man  of  dis- 
tinguished ability,  whose  uncompromising  ad- 
vocacy of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  sil- 
ver and  hostility  to  the  American  idea  of 
protection  made  him  a  formidable  opponent. 
Mr.  McKinley  entered  upon  the  discharge  of 
his  high  official  functions  on  the  4th  day  of 
March,  1897,  with  the  unbounded  confidence 
of  his  political  party  and  the  American  people, 
and  thus  far  he  has  steadily  and  courageously 
followed  the  lines  mapped  out  by  the  platform 
upon  which  he  was  nominated.  And  his  ad- 
ministration in  ability  and  wisdom  gives  every 
promise  of  comparing  favorably  with  those  of 


130 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  distinguished  men  who  have  preceded  him 
in  the  high  office  of  the  presidency. 

President  McKinley  was  married  January 
25,  1 87 1,  to  Miss  Ida  Saxton,who  is  an  ac- 
complished lady  and  daughter  of  James  A.  Sax- 
ton,  of  Canton,  Ohio.  They  have  had  born  to 
them  two  children,  both  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  In  religion  President  McKinley  and 
his  wife  are  Methodists,  as  were  his  father 
and  mother.  His  grandfather,  however,  was 
a  Presbyterian,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Lis- 
bon Presbyterian  church  from  1822  to  1836, 
during     the     pastorate   of   Rev.    Dr.     Vallan- 


digham,  father  of  Clement  L.  Vallandigham. 
As  already  stated  President  McKinley's  father 
died  recently  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  but  his 
mother  is  still  living. 

"There  is  probably  not  a  more  stalwart 
and  sturdy  figure  to-day  before  the  American 
people  than  William  McKinley.  The  story  of 
his  life  is  not  only  instructive  but  interesting; 
it  is  the  history  of  an  American  for  Americans; 
its  activity  is  so  interwoven  in  the  life  of  the 
republic  during  his  career  of  the  past  thirty 
years  that  political  friends  and  foes  may  read 
it  with  profit  and  learn  an   important   lesson." 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


0. 


RTHUR  ST.  CLAIR,  one  of  the  most 
noted  characters  of  our  early  colonial 
days,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  being 
born  at  Edinburg  in  1735.  Becom- 
ing a  surgeon  in  the  British  army,  he  subse- 
quently crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his  regiment 
and  thenceforward  was  identified  with  the 
history  of  this  country  until  the  day  of  his 
death.  Serving  as  a  lieutenant  with  Wolfe  in 
the  memorable  campaign  against  Quebec,  St. 
Clair  won  sufficient  reputation  to  obtain  ap- 
pointment as  commander  of  Fort  Ligonier,  Pa. , 
where  a  large  tract  of  land  was  granted  to  him. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  espoused  the 
colonial  cause,  and  before  its  close  had  risen 
to  the  rank  of  major-general.  In  1875  he  was 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  Continental  congress 
and  afterward  became  its  president.  After  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  St.  Clair 
was  appointed  first  military  governor  of  the 
Northwest  territory,  which  then  embraced  the 
territory  now  comprised  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  present  state  of  Ohio,  with  headquarters 
at  Fort  Washington,  now  Cincinnati.  In  1791 
he  undertook  an  expedition  against  the  north- 
western Indians,  which  resulted  in  the  great 
disaster  known  in  western  history  as  "St 
Clair's  defeat.  "  On  November  4  the  Indians 
surprised  and  routed  his  whole  force  of  about 
1,400    regulars    and  militia,    in  what   is    now 


Darke  county,  Ohio,  killing  over  900  men  and 
capturing  his  artillery  and  camp  equipage. 
Gen.  St.  Clair  held  the  office  of  territorial 
governor  until  1802,  when  he  was  removed  by 
President  Jefferson.  He  returned  to  Ligonier, 
Pa.,  poor,  aged  and  infirm.  The  state  granted 
him  an  annuity  which  enabled  him  to  pass  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  comfort.  He  died  near 
Greensburgh,  Pa.,  August  31,  1S18,  leaving  a 
family  of  one  son  and  three  daughters. 


aHARLES  WILLING  BYRD,  who  was 
secretary  of  the  Northwest  territory, 
and  who  succeeded  Gov.  St.  Clair  as 
governor,  on  the  removal  of  the  latter 
from  office,  was  born  in  Virginia,  received  a 
liberal  education  and  settled  in  Ohio.  While 
it  is  not  practicable  to  find  fully  authentic 
material  for  a  full  biography  of  Gov.  Byrd, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  recite  briefly  the  rea- 
sons for  the  removal  of  Gov.  St.  Clair,  which 
are  of  course  the  reasons  for  Mr.  Byrd  becom- 
ing governor  of  the  territory.  St.  Clair's  gov- 
ernment was  very  unpopular,  and  when  the 
people  became  desirous  of  forming  a  state  gov- 
ernment in  1 80 1,  and  found  themselves  unable 
to  secure  a  majority  of  the  legislature,  they 
ser.t  Thomas  Worthington  to  congress  to  ob- 
tain if  possible    a   law   under   which  a  conven- 


132 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


tion  could  be  called  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  forming  a  state,  and  framing  a  constitution 
therefor.  This  convention  met  in  Chillicothe 
in  November,  1802,  voted  to  form  a  state  gov- 
ernment and  adopted  a  constitution,  all  this 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  territory  did 
not  then  contain  the  60,000  inhabitants  re- 
quired at  that  time. 

But  this  was  a  small  difficulty  compared 
with  the  prohibition  in  the  ordinance  of  1787 
against  slavery  in  the  territory  of  the  north- 
west. This  clause  tended  to  prevent  immigra- 
tion to  Ohio  from  Virginia  and  other  southern 
states;  and  the  attempt  was  made  to  so  frame 
a  constitution  for  the  new  state  that  slavery  in 
a  somewhat  modified  form  could  be  established. 
When  this  clause  was  proposed  it  was  discov- 
ered by  the  opponents  of  slavery  that  on  the 
morrow  there  would  be  a  majority  of  one  in  its 
favor,  and  thus,  if  it  were  adopted,  the  curse 
of  slavery  would  be  fixed  upon  the  state. 
Judge  Ephraim  Cutler,  of  Washington  county, 
a  delegate  to  the  convention,  and  a  son  of 
one  of  the  principal  framers  of  the  ordinance 
of  1787,  was  lying  sick  in  bed,  when  this  situ- 
ation was  revealed,  and  Gen.  Putnam,  hasten- 
ing to  his  bedside,  urged  him  to  reach  the  con- 
vention hall  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment 
the  next  morning.  Judge  Cutler  having  next 
day  reached  the  hall,  made  an  impassioned 
appeal  to  the  delegates  in  opposition  to  the 
proposed  action  of  the  convention,  and  won 
over  the  one  delegate  necessary  to  save  the 
state  from  the  blighting  curse  of  slavery. 

Gov.  St.  Clair  and  his  friends  looked  upon 
the  convention  as  little  short  of  revolutionary, 
the  governor  taking  strong  grounds  against  the 
formation  of  a  state  government,  before  the 
convention  began  the  labors  of  the  day.  Their 
utter  disregard  of  this  advice  filled  him  with 
irritation,  and  in  the  bitterness  of  his  heart  he 
declared,  in  the  hearing  of  unfriendly  listeners, 
that  he  no  longer  had  confidence  in  republican 


institutions,  and  that  in  his  opinion,  without 
some  stronger  form  of  government,  anarchy 
seemed  inevitable.  These  remarks  were  quickly 
reported  to  President  Thomas  Jefferson,  who 
immediately  removed  St.  Clair  from  his  office, 
and  the  secretary  of  the  territory,  Charles  W. 
Byrd,  became  acting  governor,  serving  until 
the  state  government  was  formed  under  the 
constitution,  which,  as  framed  by  the  conven- 
tion, was  declared  by  that  convention,  without 
having  been  submitted  to  the  people  for  their 
ratification,  to  be  the  fundamental  law  of  the 
land.  After  the  expiration  of  his  brief  term  as 
governor  of  the  Northwest  territory,  Gov. 
Byrd  was  appointed  by  President  Jefferson 
United  States  judge  for  the  district  of  Ohio. 


first  governor    of 
organization  of    the 


eDWARD  TIFFIN 
Ohio  upon  the 
state,  in  1803,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, born  in  the  city  of  Carlisle  on 
the  19th  day  of  June,  1766.  After  coming  to 
the  United  States  he  studied  medicine,  located 
at  Charlestown,  W.  Va.,  in  1784,  and  in  1789 
received  his  degree  from  the  university  of  Penn- 
sylvania. In  the  year  last  named  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Worthington, 
sister  of  Gov.  Thomas  Worthington,  and  in 
1790  united  with  the  Methodist  church,  of 
which  he  soon  afterward  became  a  local 
preacher.  In  1796  Mr.  Tiffin  settled  at  Chilli- 
cothe, Ohio,  where  he  preached  and  practiced 
medicine,  and  was  instrumental  in  organizing 
a  number  of  local  congregations  in  that  part  of 
the  state.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  the  Northwest  territory,  became 
speaker  of  that  body,  and  in  1802  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention  that  formed  the 
state  constitution.  He  proved  to  be  a  potential 
factor  in  political  affairs,  and  in  1 803  was 
elected  first  governor  of  the  state  under  the 
constitution.      He  was  re-elected  in    1805,  and 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


133 


proved  a  most  capable  chief  executive,  but  re- 
signed in  1807  to  become  United  States  sena- 
tor, having  been  elected  to  the  latter  body  as 
successor  to  his  brother-in-law,  Hon.  Thomas 
Worthington.  Gov.  Tiffin's  senatorial  career 
was  cut  short  on  account  of  the  death  of  his 
wife,  by  reason  of  which  he  resigned  in  March, 
1S09,  and  for  a  time  lived  a  retired  life.  Sub- 
sequently he  married  again,  and  afterward  was 
elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legis- 
lature, in  which  he  served  two  terms  as  speaker. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  legislative  experi- 
ence, Gov.  Tiffin  resumed  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  Chillicothe,  and  in  18 12  was  appointed 
by  President  Madison  commissioner  of  the 
general  land  office,  having  been  the  first  person 
to  fill  that  position.  On  assuming  his  official 
functions  he  removed  to  the  national  capital 
and  organized  the  system  that  has  obtained 
in  the  land  office  until  the  present  time;  in 
18 14  he  was  instrumental  in  having  the  papers 
of  his  office  removed  to  Virginia,  thus  saving 
them  from  destruction  when  the  public  build- 
ings in  Washington  were  burned  by  the  British. 
Becoming  dissatisfied  with  residing  in  Wash- 
ington and  wishing  to  return  west,  Gov.  Tiffin 
succeeded  in  exchanging  his  position  for  that  of 
surveyor  of  public  lands  northwest  of  the  Ohio 
river,  held  by  Josiah  Meigs,  the  change  being 
sanctioned  by  the  president  and  senate,  and  he 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  latter  position 
until  July,  1829,  receiving  while  on  his  death- 
bed an  order  from  President  Jackson  to  deliver 
the  office  to  a  successor.  During  his  long 
period  of  public  service,  Gov.  Tiffin  maintained 
most  scrupulously  his  ministerial  relations,  and 
preached  the  gospel  whenever  occasion  would 
admit.  He  was  on  familiar  terms  with  Gen. 
Washington,  who  always  spoke  of  him  in  terms 
of  praise,  and  he  will  always  be  remembered 
as  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  formative 
period  of  Ohio's  history.  His  death  occurred 
at  Chillicothe  on  the  9th  day  of  August,   1829. 


HOMAS  KIRKER,  who  succeeded 
Edward  Tiffin  as  governor  of  Ohio,  is 
one  of  the  few  governors  of  the  state 
of  whom  but  little  can  be  learned. 
In  1807  there  was  a  remarkable  contest  for 
the  governorship  of  the  state.  The  two  oppos- 
ing candidates  were  Return  Jonathan  Meigs 
and  Nathaniel  Massie.  The  former  received  a 
majority  of  the  votes,  and  therefore,  so  far  as 
the  people  were  concerned,  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state.  The  general  assembly,  how- 
ever, declared  him  to  be  ineligible  to  the 
office,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  not  a  resi- 
dent of  the  state,  and  as  Mr.  Massie  had  not 
received  a  sufficient  number  of  votes,  he  had 
not  been  elected  governor,  and  the  election 
was  therefore  entirely  void.  Hon.  Thomas 
Kirker  bing  then  speaker  of  the  state  senate, 
became  acting  governor  by  virtue  of  his  office 
as  speaker,  when  Gov.  Edward  Tiffin  resigned 
his  office  in  order  to  take  his  seat  in  the  United 
States  senate.  Gov.  Kirker  remained  in  the 
office  of  governor  until  after  the  election,  in 
1808,  of  Samuel  Huntington,  who  had  been 
elected  by  the  people.  At  the  time  of  serving 
as  governor  he  was  a  resident  of  Adams  county, 
and  he  served  in  the  general  assembly  of  the 
state  for  twenty-five  years. 


^"V'AMUEL  HUNTINGTON,  the  second 
*\^^r    governor    elected    by   the    people    of 

hs^^J  Ohio,  was  born  at  Norwich,  Conn., 
in  1765,  and  graduated  at  Yale  col- 
lege in  1 78 5.  He  adopted  the  profession  of 
law,  in  1795  married  a  lady  of  his  own  name, 
and  attended  strictly  to  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession in  the  town  of  his  birth  until  the  year 
1800,  when  he  resolved  to  visit  that  western 
country  which  was  then  attracting  to  it  so 
many  residents  of  the  New  England  states. 
First  stopping  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  he  from 
there  went  to  Marietta,   where   he  spent  the 


134 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


summer,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  returned 
to  Norwich.  The  following  spring,  taking  his 
wife  and  children  in  an  Ohio  wagon  (then  so 
called),  they  arrived,  after  weeks  of  toilsome 
travel,  at  Cleveland,  then  a  settlement  of 
doubtful  name  as  a  healthy  abode,  as  they 
found  that  many  who  had  preceded  them  had 
vacated  the  cabins  they  had  first  built  and 
had  removed  to  the  higher  ground  back  of  the 
town  to  escape  the  sickness  so  prevalent  near 
the  lake.  He  erected  a  strongly-built  house, 
as  attacks  by  drunken  and  riotous  Indians  were 
not  uncommon.  Mr.  Huntington  soon  entered 
upon  public  life.  Gen.  Saint  Clair  appointed 
him  second  in  command  of  a  regiment  of 
Trumbull  count}'  militia,  and  he  was  shortly 
afterward  elevated  to  the  position  of  presiding 
judge  in  the  first  court  in  that  part  of  the  ter- 
ritory. In  1802  he  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
stitutional convention,  and  by  that  body  ap- 
pointed state  senator  from  Trumbull  county, 
the  name  then  borne  by  the  territory  now 
known  as  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  state 
and  which  at  present  is  divided  into  six  coun- 
ties. For  some  time  he  was  speaker  or  presi- 
dent of  the  state  senate,  and  by  the  legislature 
elected  to  a  seat  on  the  supreme  bench.  When 
Michigan  was  organized  as  a  territory  Judge 
Huntington  was  offered  the  position  of  judge 
of  the  district  court  of  that  territory,  but  this 
he  declined,  as  well  as  other  important  offices 
which  were  pressed  upon  him.  The  prevailing 
unhealthiness  of  Cleveland  finally  induced  him 
to  remove  his  residence  to  Newburg,  where  he 
erected  a  grist-milll,  then  a  very  important 
construction  and  advantageous  to  the  settlers. 
In  1809  he  purchased  a  mill,  located  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Grand  river,  between  Paines- 
ville  and  the  lake,  and  erected  a  mansion — 
commodious,  and,  for  those  days,  rather  im- 
posing in  its  style  of  architecture.  This  house 
remains  to  attest  by  its  position  the  good  taste 
of  him  who  built  it.      A  conflict  of  authoritv 


arose  between  the  legislative  and  judicial  de- 
partments of  the  state  while  Judge  Huntington 
was  on  the  supreme  bench.  The  legislature 
passed  a  law  conferring  certain  rights  upon 
justices  of  the  peace  which  the  judges  of  the 
supreme  court  declared  to  be  unconstitutional. 
Thereupon  the  whole  house  filed  articles  of 
impeachment  against  the  judges,  but  in  the 
midst  of  this  confusion  the  people  of  Ohio  had 
elected  Judge  Huntington  governor  of  the  state. 
He,  having  resigned,  was  therefore  not  brought 
to  trial,  and  it  being  impossible  to  obtain  two- 
thirds  of  the  legislative  vote  against  the  other 
two  judges,  the)-  consequently  escaped  convic- 
tion. Nothing  of  particular  moment  occurred 
the  term  he  held  office,  but  his  prominence 
prevented  his  retiring  to  private  life.  In  18 12 
he  was,  during  the  second  war  with  Great 
Britain,  a  member  of  the  Ohio  legislature. 
The  destruction  of  life  and  property  by  the 
Indians  during  that  year  was  such  that  Gov. 
Huntington,  having  with  Gen.  Cass  visited 
Washington  to  represent  to  the  authorities 
there  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Ohio,  was  ap- 
pointed district  paymaster,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel,  and  returned  to  the  camp  of  Gen. 
Harrison  with  a  supply  of  funds  in  the  shape 
of  government  drafts.  He  remained  for  many 
months  in  the  army  and  until  peace  was  de- 
clared, when  he  returned  to  his  home,  where 
he  subsequently  lived  peacefully  until  18 17, 
during  which  year  he  died  a  comparatively 
young  man,  being  but  fifty-two  years  old.  His 
character  for  strict  integrity,  great  executive 
ability  and  accomplished  scholarship  was  sec- 
ond  to  that  of  no  other  governor. 


ETURN    JONATHAN    MEIGS,   who 


succeeded  Samuel  Huntington  in  the 


11 

W    gubernatorial  chair,  was  born  in  Mid- 

dletown,  Conn.,  in   March,   1765,  the 

son  of  Return  J.  Meigs,  a  distinguished  Ameri- 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


135 


can  soldier,  whose  name  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  war  of  American  independence. 
Gov.  Meigs  was  graduated  from  Yale  college 
in  1785,  after  which  he  studied  law  and  began 
the  practice  of  the  same  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  at 
which  place  his  father  had  previously  settled. 
He  entered  the  army  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Indian  war,  and  was  sent  on  a  commission 
to  the  British  commander  at  Detroit,  by  Gen. 
St.  Clair,  in  1790,  and  later  took  part  in  a 
number  of  battles  with  the  savages.  He  rose 
rapidly  in  his  profession  and  in  1 803-4  was 
chief  justice  of  the  Ohio  supreme  court;  later 
he  had  charge  of  the  Saint  Charles  circuit  in 
Louisiana  until  1806,  with  the  brevet  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel  in  the  United  States  army, 
being  also  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  said 
district  during  the  years  of  1805  and  1806. 
Mr.  Meigs  was  further  honored,  in  1807,  by 
being  appointed  judge  of  the  United  States 
district  court  of  Michigan,  in  which  capacity 
he  continued  until  1808,  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  from  Ohio.  The 
honorable  distinction  acquired  by  Mr.  Meigs 
as  a  jurist  was  not  dimmed  by  his  senatorial 
experience,  and  his  record  in  the  national  legis- 
lature is  replete  with  duty  ably  and  conscien- 
tiously performed.  He  served  in  the  senate 
from  January,  1809,  till  May,  1810. 

In  October,  1807,  Mr.  Meigs  was  the  dem- 
ocratic candidate  for  governor  of  Ohio,  and 
after  the  election,  which  went  in  his  favor  by 
a  decided  majority,  his  competitor,  Nathaniel 
Massie,  contested  the  same  on  the  ground  that 
Meigs  had  not  been  a  resident  of  the  state  for 
the  four  years  next  preceding  the  election,  as 
provided  by  the  constitution.  The  general 
assembly,  in  joint  convention,  decided  that 
Meigs  was  not  entitled  to  the  office,  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  his  competitor  was  allowed  to 
assume  the  same;  Thomas  Kirker,  acting  gov- 
ernor, continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the 
office    until    December,     1808,    when    Samuel 


Huntington  was  inaugurated  as  his  immediate 
successor. 

In  18 10  Mr.  Meigs  was  again  a  candidate 
for  governor,  and  at  the  ensuing  election  was 
victorious,  defeating  his  competitor  by  a 
large  majority.  He  was  triumphantly  re- 
elected in  18 12  and  filled  the  office  with  dis- 
tinguished ability  during  the  trying  years  of 
the  last  war  with  England,  his  services  in  be- 
half of  the  national  government  throughout 
that  struggle  being  far  greater  than  those  of 
any  other  governor,  and  of  such  a  patriotic 
character  as  to  elicit  the  warmest  praise  from 
the  president  and  others  high  in  authority. 
He  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  state 
militia,  garrisoned  the  forts  on  the  border, 
thus  securing  safety  to  the  exposed-settlements, 
and  did  much  toward  strengthening  the  army 
under  Gen.  Harrison.  Near  the  expiration  of 
his  gubernatorial  term,  in  18 14,  Gov.  Meigs 
resigned  to  accept  the  appointment  of  post- 
master-general in  the  cabinet  of  President 
Madison,  to  fill  the  place  made  vacant  by  the 
death  of  Gideon  Granger;  he  continued  in 
office  under  President  Monroe  until  1823,  in 
December  of  which  year  he  retired  from  active 
life  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  at  his 
home  in  Marietta,  dying  March  29,   1825. 


OTHNIEL  LOOKER,  the  fourth  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio,  was  born  in  the  state  of 
New  York  in  1757.  He  was  a  private 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  go- 
ing into  the  army  from  his  native  state,  and  serv- 
ing through  the  war.  He  was  a  man  of  humble 
origin  and  a  farmer  most  of  his  life.  In  1784, 
having  received  a  land  warrant  for  his  services 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  he  crossed  the 
Alleghany  mountains,  and  located  his  land  in 
what  was  then  the  wilderness  of  the  territory 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  river,  within  the  limits  of 
the  future  state  of  the  same  name.      Upon  this 


136 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


grant  he  erected  his  cabin  and  began  the  labor 
of  clearing  his  farm,  as  did  other  pioneers  of 
his  day.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  state 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of 
the  general  assembly,  and  by  increasing  his 
knowledge  and  acquaintanceship  with  the  peo- 
ple of  the  new  state,  he  so  rose  in  popular  favor 
and  esteem  as  to  be  elected  to  the  senate.  Of 
this  body  he  eventually  became  president,  and 
by  virtue  of  holding  this  office,  when  Gov. 
Return  J.  Meigs  resigned,  in  1814,  to  accept 
the  position  of  postmaster-general  in  the  cabi- 
net of  President  Madison,  became  governor  of 
Ohio.  He  served  eight  months,  and  afterward 
was  a  candidate  before  the  people  for  election 
to  the  office  of  govenor,  but  was  defeated  by 
his  opponent,  Thomas  Worthington.  Mr. 
Looker  afterward  returned  to  his  farm,  where 
he  lived  respected  by  all  for  his  unusual  intelli- 
gence, his  clear  logical  mind,  and  his  pleasing 
disposition.  But  little  else  is  known  of  Gov. 
Looker,  except  that  he  died  unmarried. 


IHOMAS  WORTHINGTON,  fourth 
elected  governor  of  Ohio,  was  born 
near  Charlestown,  Va.,  July  16,  1773. 
He  received  a  liberal  education,  but 
when  a  young  man  went  to  sea  and  continued 
before  the  mast  for  three  years — from  1 790  to 
1793.  In  1797  he  became  a  resident  of  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  served  as  a  member  of  the  ter- 
ritorial legislature  in  1 799-1 801,  and  was 
chosen  delegate  to  the  state  constitutional 
convention  in  the  year  1S02.  He  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  as  a  democrat 
immediately  after  the  adoption  of  the  state 
constitution  and  served  in  that  body  from 
October  17,  1803,  till  March  7,  1807;  was 
again  chosen  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  Return  J.  Meigs,  Jr.,  and 
ed  from  January  8,  181 1,  until  his  resigna- 
tion  in  1 814.      Mr.  Worthington    was   elected 


governor  of  Ohio  in  18 14  and  served  till  1818 
— having  been  chosen  his  own  successor  in 
18 16.  After  the  expiration  of  his  second 
gubernatorial  term  Gov.  Worthington  became 
canal  commissioner,  which  position  he  held 
till  his  death.  He  was  a  public-spirited  man 
and  to  him  is  the  great  commonwealth  not  a 
little  indebted  for  much  of  its  development 
and   prosperity. 

To  Gov.  Worthington  belongs  the  unique 
distinction  of  being  the  only  Ohio  governor 
ever  arrested  and  started  to  jail  for  debt.  In 
1 81  5  or  1 8 16,  Gov.  Worthington  contracted 
with  Judge  Jarvis  Pike  to  grub  and  chop  the 
timber  off  the  present  state-house  square.  The 
governor  was  a  non-resident  of  Franklin 
county,  residing  at  Chillicothe.  Some  mis- 
understanding arose  as  to  the  payment  of 
Judge  Pike  for  his  labors,  whereupon  he  sued 
a  capias  from  the  court  of  Squire  King,  and 
had  the  governor  arrested  and  marched  off  to 
jail.  He  was  not  locked  up,  however,  the 
matter  having  been  amicably  adjusted.  Gov. 
Worthington  departed  this  life  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  June  20,  1827. 


eTHAN  ALLEN  BROWN,  seventh 
governor  and  the  fifth  elected  by  the 
people  of  Ohio,  was  born  on  the 
shores  of  Long  Island  Sound  in  Fair- 
field county,  Conn.,  July  4,  1766,  and  died  at 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  February  24,  1S52.  His 
father,  Roger  Brown,  was  an  intelligent 
farmer  of  wealth,  who,  to  secure  the  advan- 
tages of  a  liberal  education  for  his  children, 
employed  a  teacher  of  good  ability  to  instruct 
them  at  home.  Under  such  tuition  Ethan's 
quickness  of  apprehension  and  extraordinary 
memory  enabled  him  to  acquire  a  knowledge 
of  the  Latin,  Greek  and  French  languages  not 
inferior  to  that  of  most  college  graduates  of 
the  present  day.      Having  determined  to  adopt 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


137 


the  profession  of  a  lawyer,  he  then  procured 
the  necessary  books  and  began  the  study  of 
law  at  home,  at  the  same  time  assisting  in  the 
labors  of  his  father's  farm.  After  thus  ac- 
quiring some  legal  knowledge  he  went  to  New 
York  city  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Alex- 
ander Hamilton,  who,  as  a  lawyer  and  states- 
man, had  achieved  at  that  time  a  national 
reputation.  Here  he  soon  won  the  esteem 
and  friendship  of  Mr.  Hamilton,  while  also  he 
was  brought  into  contact  with  others  of  the 
ablest  men  of  the  day,  and,  mingling  with  the 
most  refined  and  cultivated  society  of  the  city, 
his  mind  was  developed  and  stimulated  and  he 
acquired  the  elegance  and  polish  of  manners 
for  which  he  was  remarkable  in  after-life. 
Diverted  from  the  study  of  law  at  this  time, 
he  engaged  in  business,  by  which  he  obtained 
very  considerable  property,  but  subsequently 
he  again  entered  upon  his  neglected  study,  and 
in  1802  he  was  admitted  to  practice.  Then, 
urged  by  love  of  adventure  and  a  desire  to  see 
the  principal  portion  of  that  state  which,  in 
that  year,  had  qualified  for  admission  into  the 
Union,  he,  with  a  cousin,  Capt.  John  Brown, 
started  on  horseback  and  followed  the  Indian 
trails  from  east  to  west  through  middle  and 
western  Pennsylvania  until  they  reached 
Brownsville  on  the  Monongahela  river.  Hav- 
ing brought  a  considerable  sum  of  money  with 
them  they  here  purchased  two  fiat-bottomed 
boats,  loaded  them  with  flour,  and  placing 
crews  upon  them  started  for  New  Orleans, 
which  city  they  reached  in  safety,  but  not  be- 
ing able  to  sell  their  cargoes  to  advantage  they 
shipped  the  flour  to  Liverpool,  England,  and 
took  passage  themselves  in  the  same  vessel. 
Having  disposed  of  their  flour  at  good  prices, 
they  returned  to  America,  landing  at  Baltimore 
the  same  year.  Then  his  father,  wishing  to 
secure  a  large  tract  of  western  land,  eventually 
to  make  it  his  home,  he  empowered  his  son  to 
select  and  purchase  the  same,  which   he    pro- 


ceeded to  do,  locating  it  near  the  present  town 
of  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  that  locality  having 
attracted  his  attention  on  his  flat-boat  trip  to 
New  Orleans.  Hither  his  father  removed 
from  Connecticut,  in  18 14,  when  that  part  of 
the  Northwest  territory  which  subsequently 
became  Indiana  was  canvassing  delegates  to 
hold  a  territorial  convention. 

Ten  years  subsequently,  however,  and  after 
securing  the  land  mentioned,  Ethan  Allen 
Brown  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Cincinnati, 
where  he  soon  took  a  prominent  position  in  the 
profession  and  secured  a  large  income  for  his 
professional  services.  In  18 10  he  was  chosen 
by  the  Ohio  legislature  a  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state,  a  position  he  held  with  dis- 
tinguished ability  during  the  eight  following 
years,  and  in  181 8  was  elected  governor  of  the 
state.  His  administration  is  marked  for  the 
prosecution  and  completion  of  important  inter- 
nal improvements,  among  the  chief  of  which 
may  be  mentioned  that  important  work,  the 
"Ohio  canal,"  and  which  was  nicknamed 
"Brown's  Folly."  In  1820  he  was  re-elected, 
and  in  1 82  1  elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
and  served  one  term  with  distinction.  In  1S30 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  Brazil,  remaining 
in  that  country  four  years  and  giving  general 
satisfaction,  when  he  resigned  and  came  home. 
A  few  months  later,  at  the  urgent  request  of 
President  Andrew  Jackson,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  commissioner  of  public  lands,  held 
the  office  two  years,  and  then  retired  finally 
from  public  life.  Gov.  Brown  never  married, 
and  the  close  of  his  life  was  spent  among  his 
relatives  at  Rising  Sun.  After  reaching  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  with  not  more  than  a  week's 
sickness  during  all  the  years  of  his  long  life, 
he  died  suddenly  while  attending  a  democratic 
convention  at  Indianapolis,  and  was  buried  at 
Rising  Sun,  near  the  grave  of  his  venerated 
father,  leaving  an  enduring  record  of  a  useful 
and  well-spent  life. 


138 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


HLLEN  TRIMBLE,  who  filled  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Ethan  Allen  Brown 
as  governor  of  Ohio,  and  also  served 
as  governor  by  election  from  1827  to 
1830,  was  born  in  Augusta  county,  Va.,  March 
24,  1783.  He  was  the  son  of  Capt.  James 
Trimble,  who  removed  in  1784  to  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  who  died  in  that  state  about  the  year 
1S04.  Later  Allen  Trimble  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  the  county  of  Highland,  where  he 
served  in  various  official  positions,  including 
those  of  clerk  of  the  courts  and  recording  sec- 
retary, filling  the  last  two  offices  for  a  period 
of  about  seven  years.  He  took  part  in  the 
war  of  1812  as  commander  of  a  regiment  of 
mounted  troops  under  Gen.  William  Henry 
Harrison,  and  in  18 16  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  state  legislature.  Subsequently,  from 
1817  to  1826,  he  served  as  state  senator,  and 
was  also  speaker  of  the  house  for  several  terms. 
In  1 82 1  he  was  appointed  governor,  and,  as 
already  stated,  was  elected  to  the  office  in  1 826, 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  position  in 
an  eminently  satisfactory  manner  until  1830. 
In  184G,  Gov.  Trimble  was  chosen  president 
of  the  state  board  of  agriculture,  being  the 
first  man  honored  with  that  office,  and  served 
as  such  until  1848.  While  governor  he  was 
untiring  in  promoting  the  cause  of  education 
in  Ohio,  and  the  present  excellent  public 
school  system  is  indebted  to  him  for  much  of 
its  efficiency;  he  also  encouraged  manufactur- 
ing and  did  much  toward  improving  the  penal 
institutions  of  the  state.  Politically  Gov. 
Trimble  was  a  federalist;  his  death  occurred  at 
Hillsborough,  Ohio,  February  2,  1870. 


>-j*EREMIAH   MORROW,  sixth  governor 

M      elected    under   the    state    constitution, 

A  1       was  born  in  Gettysburg,  Pa. ,  October 

6,   1 77 1.    In  early  manhood  he  removed 

to  the  Northwest    territory    and    in    1 802   was 


chosen  delegate  to  the  convention  that  framed 
the  constitution  of  Ohio.  Politically  he  was 
an  ardent  democrat,  and  in  1803  was  elected 
a  representative  in  the  congress  of  the  United 
States,  in  which  body  he  served  for  a  period 
of  ten  years.  He  did  much  toward  promoting 
legislation  in  behalf  of  the  western  section  of 
the  United  States,  and  for  some  time  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  public  lands. 
In  1 8 14  he  was  commissioner  to  treat  with  the 
Indians  west  of  the  Miami  river,  and  from  1 S  r  3 
till  1 8 19  served  with  distinction  in  the  United 
States  senate.  In  1822  Mr.  Morrow  was  elected 
governor  of  Ohio  and  served  as  such  until  1 826, 
having  been  re-elected  in  1824.  From  1826 
to  1828  he  was  state  senator,  later  became 
canal  commissioner,  and  for  some  time  served 
as  president  of  the  Little  Miami  Railroad  com- 
pany. In  1 84 1  he  was  again  elected  to  repre- 
sent his  district  in  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, in  which  capacity  he  served  a  single 
term.  Gov.  Morrow  left  the  impress  of  his 
character  on  the  commonwealth  and  his  is 
among  the  many  illustrious  names  which  have 
given  Ohio  so  prominent  a  position  among  her 
sister  states;  his  death  occurred  in  the  county 
of  Warren,  on  the  22nd  day  of  March,   1852. 


,y^V  UNCAN  McARTHUR,  distinguished 
I  as  a  soldier  and  statesman,  and  gov- 
/^^J  ernor  of  Ohio  from  1831  to  1832,  was 
a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
born  in  the  county  of  Dutchess,  on  the  14th 
day  of  June,  1772.  When  he  was  a  mere  lad 
his  parents  emigrated  to  the  western  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  volunteered  in  Gen.  Harmar's  expedition 
against  the  Miami  Indians,  in  which  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  many  acts  of  bravery. 
Subsequently  he  acted  as  scout  in  the  warfare 
with  the  Indians  in  Ohio  and  Rentucky,  and 
after  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  in  1794,  set- 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


139 


tied  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  where  he  became 
the  possessor  of  large  tracts  of  real  estate. 
For  some  years  after  settling  in  Ohio  Gov. 
McArthur  followed  the  profession  of  civil  engi- 
neer, later  he  became  interested  in  political 
matters  and  in  1 805  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Ohio  legislature.  In  1808  he  was 
appointed  major-general  of  the  territorial  mili- 
tia, and  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  of  18 12 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  First  Ohio 
volunteers.  He  was  second  in  command  at 
Detroit,  when  that  ill-fated  post  was  surren- 
dered to  the  British  by  Gen.  Hull,  and  it  is 
stated  that  so  great  was  his  chagrin  and  anger 
at  the  capitulation  that  he  tore  off  his  epau- 
lettes and  broke  his  sword  in  a  fit  of  indigna- 
tion. Gov.  McArthur  was  commissioned  brig- 
adier-general in  1 8 1 3,  and  upon  the  resigna- 
tion of  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison  the  year 
following,  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  western  army.  He  planned  the  conquest 
of  Canada,  crossed  the  Saint  Clair  river  in 
1 814  with  a  strong  force,  and  after  consider- 
able manuvering  returned  to  Detroit  by  way  of 
Saint  Thomas,  and  discharged  his  force  at 
Sandwich  the  latter  part  of  the  aforesaid  year. 
In  the  meantime,  1S13,  he  had  been  elected 
by  the  democrats  to  a  seat  in  the  congress  of 
the  United  States,  but  declined  to  leave  the 
army,  remaining  with  the  command  until  hon- 
orably discharged  June  15,  1815.  On  leaving 
the  army  Gov.  McArthur  was  returned  to  the 
state  legislature,  and  during  the  years  18 16-17 
served  as  commissioner  to  negotiate  treaties 
with  the  Indians,  by  which  their  lands  in  Ohio 
were  ceded  to  the  general  government  in  18 18. 
From  181 7  to  18 19  he  was  again  a  member  of 
the  lower  house  of  the  legislature,  of  which  he 
was  made  speaker,  and  in  1822  was  elected 
to  congress  on  the  democratic  ticket  and  served 
as  a  member  of  that  body  from  December  1, 
1823,  till  March,  1825.  In  1830  he  was 
elected  governor   of   Ohio,  which   position  he 


filled  very  acceptably  for  one  term,  and  in 
1832  was  again  a  candidate  for  congress,  but 
lost  the  election  by  a  single  ballot. 

The  record  of  Gov.  McArthur,  both  mili- 
tary and  civil,  is  without  a  blemish,  and  he 
will  ever  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  leading 
soldiers  and  officers  of  the  great  commonwealth 
of  Ohio.  While  governor  he  suffered  severe 
injuries  from  an  accident,  and  never  entirely 
recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  same.  He 
died  near  Chillicothe,  on  the  28th  day  of 
April,   1839. 


BOBERT  LUCAS,  the  immediate  suc- 
cessor of  Duncan  McArthur,  was  born 
in  Shepherdstown,  Va.,  April  1,1781, 
and  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Will- 
iam Penn,  the  founder  of  the  commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  bore  a  distin- 
guished part  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
serving  thoughout  that  struggle  as  captain  in 
the  American  army,  and  was  a  trusted  friend 
of  Gen.  Washington.  Robert  Lucas  spent  his 
youthful  years  in  his  native  state,  and  about 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  in  due  time  he  became  major- 
general  of  the  state  militia.  Subsequently  he 
was  commissioned  captain  in  the  Ninteenth 
United  States  infantry,  and  in  February,  181 3, 
became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  same,  serving 
as  such  until  June  of  the  same  year,  when  he 
resigned.  Immediately  after  leaving  the  gov- 
ernment service  Mr.  Lucas  was  made  brigadier- 
general  of  Ohio  militia,  and  as  such  served  from 
July,  18 1 3,  till  the  following  September,  in 
defense  of  the  frontier.  In  1 8 1 4  he  was  elected 
to  the  Ohio  legislature,  in  the  deliberations  of 
which  he  took  a  prominent  part,  and  in  1832 
presided  over  the  democratic  national  conven- 
tion which  nominated  Andrew  Jackson  for  a 
second  term.  In  1S32  General  Lucas  was 
elected   governor   of    Ohio,   was   re-elected  in 


140 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


1834,  and  in  1S38  was  made  first  territorial 
governor  of  Iowa,  at  which  time  the  now  state 
of  that  name  was  erected  into  a  territory,  in- 
cluding Minnesota  and  the  Dakotas,  and  De- 
cember 28,  1846,  as  a  state.  He  was  a  man 
of  marked  ability,  possessing  great  energy,  and 
was  noted  as  a  man  of  strong  impulses  and 
strict  integrity.  He  died  February  7,  1853,  in 
Iowa  City,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  sev- 
enty-two years. 


!OSEPH  VANCE,  governor  of  Ohio  for 
one  term,  1837-3S,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  March  21,  1 781,  in 
the  county  of  Washington,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  While  quite  young  he  was  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  after  which  he  removed  to  Ohio, 
locating  at  Urbana,  where  he  became  a  suc- 
cessful merchant  and  married  Miss  Mary 
Lemen,  of  that  city.  Subsequently  he  turned 
his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  in 
which  he  also  met  with  success  and  financial 
profit,  in  the  meantime  becoming  conversant 
with  public  affairs.  Gov.  Vance,  becoming 
quite  popular,  was  elected  to  and  served  in  the 
legislature  in  1S12-16,  and  in  1822  was  elected 
to  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
he  served  by  successive  re-elections  until 
March,  1835.  Originally  Gov.  Vance  was  a 
democrat,  and  as  such  was  elected  to  the 
aforesaid  offices,  but  later  he  became  a  whig, 
"which  party  sent  him  to  congress  in  1842.  He 
served  through  two  terms,  during  one  of  them 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  claims.  In 
the  meantime,  1836,  he  was  elected  governor, 
and  as  chief  executive  of  the  commonwealth 
his  record  will  compare  favorably  with  those  of 
his  illustrious  predecessors  and  successors.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  whig  national  conven- 
tion of  1848,  and  while  attending  the  consti- 
tutional convention  of   1850  was  stricken  with 


paralysis,  from  which  he  suffered  extremely 
until  his  death,  August  24,  1852,  near  the  city 
of  Urbana. 


■VINSON  SHANNON,  the  eleventh 
governor  of  Ohio  whom  the  people 
elected,  was  born  February  24, 1803, 
in  Belmont  county,  and  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Mount  Olivet  township, 
that  county.  He  was  also  the  first  governor 
of  Ohio  who  was  a  native  of  the  state.  His 
parents  crossed  the  Alleghany  mountains  from 
Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Belmont  county, 
Ohio,  in  1802.  In  January  of  the  next  year 
the  father  of  the  future  governor,  whose  name 
was  George  Shannon,  and  who  had  settled  on 
a  farm,  upon  his  arrival  in  that  county  went 
out  hunting.  Late  in  the  day,  while  returning 
home,  he  lost  his  way,  became  bewildered  and 
wandered  round  and  round,  finally  sitting  down 
by  a  large  maple  tree  and  freezing  to  death. 
His  tracks  were  plainly  visible  next  morning 
in  the  deep  snow  that  had  fallen  during 
the  night. 

Upon  the  farm  his  father  had  selected 
young  Wilson  Shannon  was  reared.  When 
fifteen  years  old  he  attended  the  Ohio  univer- 
sity at  Athens,  remaining  one  year,  and  for 
two  years  afterward  was  a  student  at  the 
Transvlvania  university  at  Lexington,  Ky. 
Returning  home,  he  began  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  Charles  Hammond  and  David 
Jennings,  completing  his  studies  with  them  in 
Saint  Clairsville,  which  town  became  the 
county  seat.  There  he  practiced  for  eight 
years.  In  1832  he  was  the  democratic  nomi- 
nee for  congress,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small 
majority.  In  1834  he  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney,  and  was  so  assiduous  in  the  perform- 
ance of  his  duties  that  his  party  elected  him 
governor  of  the  state  in  1838  by  a  majority  of 
3,600.      At  the  close  of   his  first  term   he  was 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


141 


again  a  candidate,  but  was  defeated  by  his 
opponent,  Thomas  Corwin,  the  whig  candi- 
date, who  was  opposed  to  slavery,  while  Gov. 
Shannon,  together  with  the  entire  democratic 
party,  favored  it.  The  most  remarkable  thing 
about  this  election  was  that  the  democratic 
candidate  for  president  carried  the  state  by 
about  25,000  majority.  Gov.  Shannon  then 
returned  to  Belmont  county  to  the  practice  of 
the  law.  In  1842  he  was  again  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  over  Gov.  Corwin,  both  of 
whom  during  the  campaign  had  thoroughly 
canvassed  the  entire  state,  as  they  had  done 
in   1840. 

In  the  spring  of  1843  President  Tyler 
offered  Gov.  Shannon  the  appointment  of 
minister  to  Mexico,  which  he  accepted,  resign- 
ing his  governorship  and  going  to  the  city  of 
Mexico,  where  he  remained  two  years,  when 
he  was  compelled  to  return  home,  because 
Mexico,  on  account  of  difficulties  between  the 
two  countries  over  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  Union,  severed  all  diplomatic  relations 
with  the  United  States.  After  being  then  en- 
gaged for  several  years  in  the  practice  of  the 
law,  Gov.  Shannon  was  elected  to  congress  by 
a  majority  of  1,300.  In  congress,  by  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  performed  his  duties,  he 
attracted  the  attention  of  President  Pierce, 
and  was  appointed  territorial  governor  of 
Kansas,  the  most  difficult  position  he  had  tried 
to  fill.  The  contest  on  the  soil  of  Kansas  was 
more  bitter  and  persistent  than  anywhere  in 
the  country,  both  pro-slavery  and  anti-slavery 
partisans  being  determined  to  carry  out  their 
own  views  in  that  state.  It  was  therefore 
impossible  for  any  man  to  preserve  peace 
within  her  borders,  especially  as  the  weight  of 
the  administration  at  Washington  was  in  favor 
of  the  pro-slavery  party.  Shannon,  therefore, 
after  fourteen  months  as  governor  in  Kansas, 
was  superseded  by  John  W.  Geary,  who  gave 
but   little  better    satisfaction    than    had    Gov. 


Shannon.  The  following  year  Gov.  Shannon 
removed  his  family  to  Lecompton,  Kans.,  the 
capital,  and  began  the  practice  of  the  law  in 
that  turbulent  state.  His  reputation  soon 
gained  for  him  a  very  large  and  profitable 
practice,  as  there  was  much  litigation  under 
the  pre-emption  laws  of  the  United  States. 

When  Kansas  was  admitted  to  the  Union, 
Topeka  became  the  capital,  Lecompton  rap- 
idly declined,  and  Gov.  Shannon  removed  his 
office  and  residence  to  Lawrence,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death,  highly  regarded  by  all 
who  knew  him  as  having  been  a  faithful  public 
servant,  and  as  a  most  conscientious  man. 
His  death  occurred  in  September,  1877. 


HOMAS  CORWIN,  the  twelfth  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  elected  by  the  people, 
was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Ky., 
July  29,  1794.  In  1798  his  father, 
Matthias  Corwin,  who  subsequently  became  a 
judge,  removed  to  what  afterward  became 
Lebanon,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  there,  in 
a  log  school-house,  taught  by  a  school  teacher 
named  Dunlevy,  young  Corwin  obtained  what 
was  then  considered  a  thorough  English  edu- 
cation. When  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he 
drove  a  wagon-load  of  provisions  for  the  army 
to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Harrison,  and  this 
event  had  a  potential  influence  upon  his  sub- 
sequent career.  In  1817,  after  having  studied 
law  one  year,  he  was  admitted  to  practice,  and 
in  March,  18 18,  was  elected  prosecuting  attor- 
ney of  his  county.  In  1822  he  was  elected  to 
the  legislature,  having  become  by  this  time  a 
well-read  lawyer  and  a  fluent  speaker.  Re- 
turning to  his  law  practice  he  was  again  elected 
prosecuting  attorney.  In  1829  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  Ohio  legislature,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  to  congress  on  the  whig  ticket.  By 
subsequent  re-elections  he  was  kept  in  congress 
for  ten  years.     In   1840  he  was  elected  gov- 


142 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


ernor  of  Ohio,  serving  one  term.  In  1845  he 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and 
discharged  his  duties  there  with  great  ability  and 
faithfulness  until  1 850.  It  is  on  his  attitude 
while  in  this  body  that  his  memory  will  be  per- 
petuated to  posterity,  for  he  showed  the  great- 
est courage  imaginable,  and  took  the  true 
ground  in  reference  to  the  war  with  Mexico, 
which  is  now  generally  recognized  as  a  wholly 
unnecessary  and  unwarranted  war,  begun  with- 
out proper  authority  from  congress,  and  solely 
for  the  purpose  of  conquest,  in  order  that 
slavery  might  be  extended  into  free  territory. 
His  speech  against  that  war  was  bold,  pa- 
triotic and  high-toned,  and  it  is  probable  that 
had  he  subsequently  been  consistent  in  the 
attitude  he  then  assumed  his  party  would  have 
made  him  its  candidate  for  the  presidency  in 
1852,  but  he  became  an  advocate  of  the  Wil- 
mot  proviso,  which  by  many  is  believed  to 
have  sealed  his  political  career,  so  far  as 
national  promotion  is  concerned.  For  his  ac- 
tion, however,  in  connection  with  this  proviso, 
he  was  appointed,  by  President  Fillmore,  sec- 
retary of  the  United  States  treasury,  a  position 
which  he  held  until  1852,  when  he  resigned, 
and  returned  to  private  life  among  the  hills  of 
Warren  county. 

Not  long  afterward  he  opened  a  law  office 
in  Cincinnati,  and  was  again  elected  to  con- 
gress in  1858  and  i860.  By  President  Lincoln 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  Mexico,  and  on 
April  11,  1 86 1,  he  embarked  for  Vera  Cruz, 
whence  he  went  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  where 
he  served  his  country  efficiently  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  returning  to  the  United  States  in 
April,  1S65,  opening  a  law  office  in  Washington, 
D.  O,  but  had  no  more  than  settled  down  to 
practice  there  than  he  was  stricken  with  apo- 
plexy, and  died  after   an  illness  of  three  days. 

While  he  was  in  congress  he  never  rose  to 
speak  unless  he  had  something  to  say;  hence 
he  always   commanded    the    attention  of   that 


branch  in  which  he  was  serving.  His  great- 
ness in  oratory  is  beyond  question,  his  patriot- 
ism no  one  ever  doubted,  and  in  his  private 
life,  from  boyhood  until  his  death,  every  one 
recognized  the  integrity  and  purity  of  his  char- 
acter, which,  during  his  whole  public  career, 
took  on  the  form  of  the  highest  sense  of  honor, 
and  through  which  he  always  maintained  his 
reputation  among  his  countrymen. 

November  13,  1822,  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Ross,  a  sister  of  Hon.  Thomas  R.  Ross,  who 
served  three  terms  in  congress.  By  his  mar- 
riage he  had  no  children,  so  that  he  left  noth- 
ing to  his  country  but  his  labor  therefor  and 
his  great  and  his  everlasting  fame. 


HOMAS  WELLES  BARTLEY,  who 
succeeded  Gov.  Wilson  Shannon  as 
governor  of  Ohio,  upon  that  gentle- 
man's resignation,  as  mentioned  in  his 
life  above  inserted,  was  born  February  11, 
1812,  at  the  home  of  his  parents,  in  Jefferson 
county,  Ohio.  His  ancestry  emigrated  from 
Northumberland  county,  England,  in  1724, 
and  settled  in  Londoun  county,  Va.,  but  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Fayette  county,  Pa. , 
where  his  father,  Mordecai  Bartley,  was  born. 
His  mother  was  Elizabeth  Welles,  and  Gov. 
Bartley  was  named  Thomas  Welles,  from  her 
father,  Thomas  Welles,  of  Brownsville,  Pa. 
Having  received  a  liberal  education  under  his 
father's  care  and  guidance,  and  having  grad- 
uated with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts 
from  Washington  &  Jefferson  college,  a  Pres- 
byterian institution  of  learning  located  at 
Washington  Pa.,  and  founded  in  1802,  Mr. 
Bartley  studied  law  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  was  licensed  to  practice  at  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  in  1834.  The  following  year  he  had 
conferred  upon  him  by  his  alma  mater  the 
honorary  degree  of  master  of  arts.  Having 
taken  a  high  position  at  the  bar  he  was  elected 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


H3 


attorney-general  of  Ohio  and  served  as  such 
four  years;  being  afterward  appointed  United 
States  district  attorney,  he  served  in  that  po- 
sition also  four  years.  Subsequently  he  was 
elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  general  as- 
sembly of  the  state,  served  therein  one  term, 
and  was  then  elected  to  the  state  senate,  in 
which  he  served  four  years.  While  president 
of  the  senate  of  Ohio,  in  1844,  he  became 
governor  of  the  state,  through  the  resignation 
of  Gov.  Shannon,  who  had  been  appointed, 
by  President  Tyler,  minister  to  Mexico,  and 
he  administered  the  affairs  of  the  office  until 
he  was  succeeded  therein  by  his  father,  Mor- 
decai  Bartley,  in  December  of  that  year. 

In  1 85 1  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  state,  served  two  terms  in 
this  high  position,  and  then  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law,  in  Cincinnati,  continuing  there, 
thus  engaged,  for  several  years,  when,  owing 
to  the  ill  health  of  his  family,  he  removed,  in 
1869,  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  followed 
his  profession  until  his  death. 

Gov.  Bartley  was  a  sound  attorney,  a  faith- 
ful public  official,  a  wise  judge  and  a  most 
courteous  gentleman,  and  his  removal  to  the 
capital  of  the  nation  placed  him  in  a  field 
where  he  enjoyed  full  scope  for  the  exercise  of 
his  powers,  untrammeled  by  local  politics,  for 
in  that  city,  where  the  people  have  no  vote, 
politics  does  not  enter  into  their  business  and 
their  profession  as  it  does  elsewhere  in  the 
United  States.  Gov.  Bartley  is  well  remem- 
bered by  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  state. 


ORDECAI  BARTLEY,  who  suc- 
ceeded his  son  Thomas  W.  Bartley 
as  governor,  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Pa.,  December  16,  1783. 
He  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  attended  school  at  intervals  during  his 
minority,  and    in    1809   moved   to   Ohio.      He 


tendered  his  services  to  the  government  in  the 
war  of  1812,  served  as  captain  and  adjutant 
under  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison,  and  on 
leaving  the  army  settled,  in  18 14,  in  Richland 
county,  where  he  remained  until  his  removal 
to  the  city  of  Mansfield  in  1834.  For  some 
years  Mr.  Bartley  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits  in  Mansfield,  but  previous  to  locating 
there,  had  served  as  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
state  senate,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  18 17. 
In  18 18  he  was  chosen,  by  the  legislature, 
registrar  of  the  land  office  of  Virginia  Mili- 
tary school-lands,  which  position  he  held  until 
1823,  when  he  resigned  in  order  to  take  his 
seat  in  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  to 
which  he  had  been  elected  in  the  meantime. 
He  served  in  congress  until  March,  1831,  and 
in  1844  was  elected,  on  the  whig  ticket,  gov- 
ernor of  the  state,  the  functions  of  which  office 
he  discharged  in  a  very  creditable  manner 
until  1846,  declining  a  renomination  and  retir- 
ing to  private  life.  After  the  nomination  by 
the  whigs  for  governor  of  Mordecai  Bartley,  the 
democrats  in  their  convention,  in  the  same 
year,  came  within  one  or  two  votes  of  placing 
his  son  Thomas  once  again  in  the  field  as  his 
opponent.  Gov.  Bartley  was  very  decided  in 
his  opposition  to  the  Mexican  war,  but  when 
the  president  issued  a  call  for  troops,  he 
promptly  responded  and  superintended  the 
organization  of  the  Ohio  forces  in  person. 
Politically  Gov.  Bartley  affiliated  with  the 
whigs  until  the  disruption  of  that  party,  after 
which  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  republican 
party.  He  died  in  the  city  of  Mansfield  Oc- 
tober 10,  1 770. 


*ILLIAM  BEBB,  lawyer  and  judge, 
the  fourteenth   governor   elected  by 
the    people   of    Ohio,    was   born    in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  1804,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Rock   River  county,  111., 


144 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


October  23,  1873.  His  father  emigrated  from 
Wales,  Great  Britian,  in  1795,  and  first  located 
in  the  Keystone  state.  Traveling  across  the 
mountains  to  the  valley  of  the  Miami  on  foot, 
he  purchased  in  the  neighborhood  of  North 
Bend  an  extensive  tract  of  land,  returned  to 
Pennsylvania  and  married  Miss  Robert,  to  whom 
he  had  been  engaged  in  Wales,  and,  with  his 
bride,  riding  in  a  suitable  conveyance,  again 
crossed  the  mountains  and  settled  on  his  land 
in  what  was  then  but  a  wilderness.  He  was  a 
man  of  sound  judgment,  and,  in  common  with 
many  of  his  countrymen,  of  a  joyous  and  ever 
hopeful  disposition.  His  wife  was  a  lady  of 
culture  and  refinement,  and  her  home  in  the 
valley  of  the  Miami,  with  few  neighbors  except 
the  wild,  unshorn,  and  half-naked  savages, 
was  a  great  change  from  her  previous  life. 
There  were  of  course  no  schools  there  to  send 
her  children  to,  and  this  was  a  matter  of  grave 
concern  to  the  parents  of  our  subject,  who  was 
in  consequence  taught  to  read  at  home.  In 
those  years  the  Western  Spy,  then  published 
in  Cincinnati,  and  distributed  by  a  private  post- 
rider,  was  taken  by  his  father,  and  William 
read  with  avidity  its  contents,  especially  the 
achievements  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  His 
education  advanced  no  further  until  a  peripa- 
tetic schoolmaster,  passing  that  way,  stopped 
and  opened  a  school  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
under  him  our  subject  studied  English,  Latin 
and  mathematics,  working  in  vacation  on  his 
father's  farm  When  twenty  years  old  he  him- 
self opened  a  school  at  North  Bend  and  resided 
in  the  home  of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  em- 
ployment he  remained  a  year,  during  which  he 
married  Miss  Shuck,  the  daughter  of  a  \yealthy 
German  resident  of  the  village.  Soon  after- 
ward he  began  the  study  of  law  while  continu- 
ing his  school,  and  as  a  teacher  was  eminently 
successful,  and  his  school  attracted  pupils  from 
the  most  distinguished  families  of  Cincinnati. 
In  1  S3 1  he  rode  to  Columbus  on  horseback. 


where  the  supreme  court  judges  examined  him 
and  placed  him  in  the  practice  of  the  state.  He 
then  removed  to  Hamilton,  Butler  county,  and 
opened  a  law  office,  where  he  continued  quietly 
and  in  successful  practice  fourteen  years.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  took  an  active  interest  in 
political  affairs,  and  advocated  during  his  first 
(called  the  "  Hard  Cider  ")  campaign,  the  claims 
of  Gen.  Harrison,  and  no  less  distinguished 
himself  during  that  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler, 
too,  "  campaign,  in  which  the  persons  indicated 
were  successful,  and  the  whigs  in  1840,  for  the 
first  time,  succeeded  in  electing  their  candi- 
dates. Six  years  afterward  he  was  elected 
governor  of  the  state,  and  the  war  with  Mexico 
placed  him,  as  the  governor  of  Ohio,  in  a  very 
trying  position.  As  a  whig  he  did  not  person- 
ally favor  that  war,  and  this  feeling  was  greatly 
entertained  by  the  party  who  made  him  their 
leader  in  the  state,  but  he  felt  that  the  ques- 
tion was  not  one  of  party  but  of  cordial  support 
of  the  general  government,  and  his  earnest 
recognition  of  this  fact  eventually  overcame 
the  danger  that  had  followed  President  Polk's 
proclamation  of  war.  His  term  of  office 
(1846-48)  was  distinguished  by  good  money, 
free  schools,  great  activity  in  the  construction 
of  railroads  and  turnpikes;  the  arts  and  in- 
dustry generally  were  well  revived,  and  high 
prosperity  characterized  the  whole  state. 

In  1844  Gov.  Bebb  purchased  5,000  acres 
of  land  in  Rock  River  county,  111.,  of  which 
the  location  was  delightful  and  the  soil  rich; 
500  acres  were  wooded  and  constituted  a 
natural  park,  while  the  remainder  was  pasture 
of  the  best  quality,  with  a  stream  of  water  fed 
by  perpetual  springs.  No  man  of  moderate 
ambition  could  desire  the  possession  of  a  more 
magnificent  portion  of  the  earth's  surface. 
Three  years  after  making  this  purchase  he  re- 
moved to  it,  taking  with  him  fine  horses,  and 
a  number  of  the  choicest  breeds  of  cattle,  and 
entered  upon  the  cultivation  of  this  fine  prop- 


QOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


145 


erty.  Five  years  afterward  he  visited  Great 
Britain  and  the  continent  of  Europe.  In  the 
birth-place  of  his  father  he  found  many  de- 
sirous to  immigrate  to  America,  and  encourag- 
ing the  enterprise  a  company  was  formed  and 
a  tract  of  100,000  acres  purchased  for  them  in 
east  Tennessee,  where  he  agreed  to  preside 
over  their  arrangements  in  the  settlement  of 
this  land.  In  1856  a  party  of  the  colonists 
arrived  on  the  land  and  Gov.  Bebb  resided 
with  them  until  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  began, 
when  he  left  the  state  with  his  family.  The 
emigrants,  discouraged  by  the  strong  pro- 
slavery  sentiment,  scattered  and  settled  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  northern  states. 

On  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln 
Gov.  Bebb  was  appointed  examiner  in  the  pen- 
sion department  at  Washington,  and  held  this 
position  until  1866,  when  he  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Illinois  and  the  peaceful  pursuits  of 
agriculture.  His  scale  of  farming  was  the  cul- 
tivation of  2,000  acres  in  a  season,  while  an- 
other 1,000  formed  his  cattle  pasture.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  election  of  Gen. 
Grant,  and  the  first  sickness  of  any  conse- 
quence he  ever  experienced  was  an  attack  of 
pneumonia  following  an  exposed  ride  to  his 
home  from  Pecatonica,  where  he  had  addressed 
the  electors.  From  this  he  never  recovered, 
and  although  he  spent  the  following  winter  in 
Washington,  occupied  mainly  as  a  listener  to 
the  debates  in  the  senate,  he  felt  his  vital  forces 
declining.  Returning  home  the  next  summer, 
and  feeling  that  he  was  no  longer  able  to  su- 
perintend his  farm  operations,  he  resided  at 
Rockford  until  his  death. 


EABURY    FORD,    the    fifteenth  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  elected  by  the  people, 
was  born  in  Cheshire,  Conn.,  in  1S02. 
John  Ford,    his  father,    was  a   native 
of  New  England,  but  of  Scotch  descent,  while 


his  mother,  Esther  Cook,  was  of  English 
Puritan  ancestry.  She  was  -a  sister  of  Nabbie 
Cook,  the  wife  of  Peter  Hitchcock,  the  first 
chief  justice  of  Ohio.  In  1805,  John  Ford 
explored  the  Western  Reserve  in  search  of 
lands  and  a  home  in  the  west,  purchasing 
2,000  acres  in  what  is  now  the  township  of 
Burton,  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  and  removing  to 
this  land  in  the  fall  of  1807.  Seabury  was 
then  but  five  years  old,  but  even  then  gave  in- 
dications of  superior  intelligence.  He  pre- 
pared for  college  at  the  academy  in  Burton, 
entering  Yale  college  in  1821,  in  company  with 
another  young  Ohioan,  named  D.  Witter,  they 
two  being  the  first  young  men  from  Ohio  to 
enter  Yale.  Graduating  from  Yale  in  1825, 
he  then  began  the  study  of  the  law  in  the 
office  of  Simon  W.  Phelps,  of  Painesville, 
completing  his  course  in  the  office  of  his  uncle. 
Judge  Peter  Hitchcock,  in  1827.  Being  ad- 
mitted to  practice  he  opened  an  office  in  Bur- 
ton, and  grew  rapidly  in  popular  favor.  He 
was  always  interested  in  military  affairs,  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  and  in  politics,  and  was  in 
1835  elected  by  the  whigs  to  the  legislature 
from  Geauga  county.  Being  twice  re-elected, 
he  served  three  terms,  during  the  latter  term 
acting  as  speaker  of  the  lower  house.  In  1841 
he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  from  Cuya- 
hoga and  Geauga  counties,  and  remained  a 
member  of  that  body  until  1844,  when  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  lower  house.  In  1S46  he 
was  again  elected  to  the  senate  and  was  chosen 
speaker  of  that  body.  In  1848  he  was  elected 
governor  by  a  small  majority,  retiring  at  the 
close  of  his  term  to  his  home  in  Burton,  much 
broken  in  health.  On  the  Sunday  after  reach- 
ing his  home  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis, 
from  which  he  never  recovered. 

During  twenty  years  of  his  life  he  was  an 
honored  member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
and  was  always  a  highly  respected  citizen.  As 
a  representative  of  the  people  he  was    faithful 


U6 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


to  their  interests,  and  was  possessed  of  the 
most  rigid  integrity.  A  private  letter,  pub- 
lished in  a  Cleveland,  Ohio,  paper,  said  of  him, 
in  1839,  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  useful 
men  in  the  legislature  and  that  in  a  few  years 
he  had  saved  the  state  millions  of  dollars. 

September  10,  1828,  he  married  Miss  Har- 
riet E.  Cook,  a  daughter  of  John  Cook,  of 
Burton,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  three 
of  whom  reached  mature  age,  as  follows: 
Seabury  C. ,  George  H.,  and  Robert  N.  Gov. 
Ford  died  May  8,  1S55. 


SEUBEN  WOOD,  the  successor  of 
Seabury  Ford,  was  born  in  Rutland 
county,  Yt.,  in  the  year  1792.  He 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
state,  served  with  distinction  in  the  war  of  1 8 1 2 
as  captain  of  a  company  of  Vermont  volun- 
teers, and  afterward  studied  law  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
From  1S25  till  1828  Mr.  Wood  served  in  the 
state  senate;  in  1830  was  appointed  president- 
judge  of  the  Third  district,  and  in  1833  was 
elected  associate  judge  of  the  state  supreme 
court,  which  office  he  held  until  1845. 

In  1848  Mr.  Wood  was  the  democratic 
nominee  for  the  governorship,  to  which  office 
he  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  and 
with  such  ability  and  satisfaction  did  he  dis- 
charge his  official  functions  that  in  1850  he 
was  chosen  his  own  successor,  being  the  first 
governor  under  the  new  constitution.  Gov. 
Wood  was  prominently  spoken  of  in  1852  as 
an  available  presidential  candidate,  but  the 
party,  while  admitting  his  fitness  for  the 
high  position,  finally  united  upon  Franklin 
Pierce.  In  addition  to  the  honorable  positions 
above  mentioned,  Gov.  Wood  served  eighteen 
months  as  United  States  consul  at  Valpa- 
raiso, Chili,  resigning  at  the  end  of  that  time  and 
retiring   to  private  life.      The    death    of    this 


eminent  jurist  and  statesman  occurred  in  Rock- 
port,  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  October  2nd, 
1864,  in  his  seventy -second  year. 


^y  WILLIAM  MEDILL,  the  seventeenth 
m  B  governor    of    Ohio    elected    by  the 

\_3^/^  people,  was  born  in  New  Castle 
county,  Del.,  in  1801.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Delaware  college  in  1825,  and  stud- 
ied law  with  Judge  Black,  of  New  Castle  city. 
Removing  to  Lancaster,  Ohio,  in  1830,  he 
began  there  the  practice  of  the  law,  being  regu- 
larly admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court 
in  1832.  In  1835  he  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  general  assembly  from  Fairfield 
county,  and  served  several  years  with  great 
ability.  In  1838  he  was  elected  to  congress 
from  the  counties  of  Fairfield,  Perry,  Morgan 
and  Hocking,  and  was  re-elected  in  1840, 
serving  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
In  1841;  he  was  appointed  by  President  Polk 
second  assistant  postmaster-general,  perform- 
ing his  duties  with  marked  ability.  The  same 
year  he  was  appointed  commissioner  of  Indian 
affairs,  and  as  such  commissioner  introduced 
many  needed  reforms.  Indeed,  he  was  one 
of  the  few  men  holding  office  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  who  have  treated 
the  unfortunate  sons  of  the  forest  with  any 
semblance  of  justice.  Both  these  offices  he 
held  during  President  Polk's  administration,  at 
its  close  returning  to  Ohio  and  resuming  the 
practice  of  the  law.  In  1849  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  that 
gave  us  the  present  constitution  of  the  state  of 
Ohio,  serving  with  impartial  ability  as  presid- 
ing officer  of  that  body.  In  1851  he  was 
elected  lieutenant-governor,  and  in  1853  as 
the  second  governor  under  the  new  constitution. 
In  1857  he  was  appointed  by  President  Bu- 
chanan first  controller  of  the  United  States 
treasury,  holding  that  office  until  March  4, 1861, 


GOVERNQRS^OF   QHLCL 


147 


when  he  retired  to   private  life  in  Lancaster, 
Ohio,  holding  no  office  afterward. 

Gov.  Medill  was  a  man  of  great  ability,  a 
true  patriot,  of  spotless  character,  a  faithful 
friend  and  an  incorruptible  public  servant.  He 
never  married,  and  died  at  his  residence  in 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  September  2,  1865. 


•""V*ALMON    P.   CHASE,    the  eighteenth 
*\^^%T    governor  of  Ohio  elected  by  the  peo- 

h^_J  pie,  was  born  at  Cornish,  N.  H.,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1808.  His  father,  Ithaman 
Chase,  was  descended  from  English  ancestry, 
while  his  mother  was  of  Scotch  extraction. 
Ithaman  Chase  was  a  farmer,  was  a  brother  of 
the  celebrated  Bishop  Philander  Chase,  and 
died  when  his  son,  Salmon  P.,  was  yet  a  lad. 
In  1 8 1 5  his  father  removed  his  family  to 
Keene,  Cheshire  county,  N.  H.,  where  young 
Salmon  received  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation. Bishop  Chase,  having  removed  to 
Ohio,  invited  his  young  nephew  to  the  state, 
and  in  Worthington,  Franklin  county,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  preparatory  to  entering  col- 
lege, becoming  a  student  at  Dartmouth  in 
1825,  and  graduating  in  1826.  He  then  went 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  for  some  time  he 
taught  a  classical  school,  which  did  not  prove 
successful.  For  this  reason  he  made  applica- 
tion to  an  uncle  of  his,  in  the  United  States 
senate,  to  secure  for  him  a  position  in  one  of 
the  government  offices,  but  was  met  with  the 
reply  from  that  uncle  that  he  had  already 
ruined  two  young  men  in  that  way,  and  did 
not  intend  to  ruin  another.  Young  Chase  then 
secured  the  patronage  of  Henry  Clay,  Samuel 
L.  Southard  and  William  Wirt,  who  placed 
their  sons  under  his  tuition,  and  he  in  the 
meantime  studied  law  with  William  Wirt. 

In  1830,  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar, 
he  settled  down  in  Cincinnati  to  the  practice 
of  the   law,  but    meeting  for  some  years  with 


indifferent  success,  he  spent  his  leisure  time  in 
revising  the  statutes  of  Ohio,  and  introduced 
his  compilation  with  a  brief  historical  sketch 
of  the  state.  This  work,  known  as  Chase's 
Statutes,  in  three  octavo  volumes,  proved  of 
great  service  to  the  profession,  and  its  sale  was 
so  great  a  success  that  his  reputation  as  a 
lawyer  of  ability  was  at  once  established. 

In  1834  he  became  solicitor  of  the  branch 
bank  of  the  United  States  in  the  city  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  soon  afterward  of  one  of  the  city 
banks,  and  in  1837  he  distinguished  himself 
by  defending  a  negro  woman  who  had  been 
brought  by  her  master  to  Ohio,  and  who  had 
escaped  from  his  possession.  This  gave  him 
considerable  prominence  as  an  abolitionist,  and 
by  some  it  was  thought  he  had  ruined  his  pros- 
pects, especially  when  he  enhanced  that  repu- 
tation in  the  defense  of  James  G.  Birney,  whose 
newspaper,  the  Philanthropist,  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  friends  of  slavery.  Mr.  Chase 
had  always  looked  upon  things  from  the  moral 
standpoint,  believed  ever  in  freedom,  and  that 
if  Christ  died  for  any  man  he  died  for  all  men, 
and  hence  Mr.  Chase  was  always  the  friend  of 
man.  The  position  he  took  in  the  defense  of 
slaves  who  had  escaped  to  or  were  brought  to 
free  soil,  was  that  by  that  act  alone,  even 
under  the  constitution  of  the  United  States, 
they  obtained  their  freedom. 

In  1846  Mr.  Chase,  in  the  supreme  court 
of  the  United  States,  defended  Van  Zandt 
(who  was  the  original  of  John  Van  Trompe,  in 
"  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  "),  who  was  prosecuted 
for  harboring  fugitive  slaves,  taking  the  ground, 
as  before,  that,  even  though  the  constitution 
contained  a  provision  for  the  return  of  such 
fugitives,  no  legislative  power  on  the  subject 
had  been  granted  to  congress,  and  that  there- 
fore the  power  to  devise  legislation  thereon 
was  left  to  the  states  themselves.  The  bold 
statements  and  forcible  arguments  of  Mr. 
Chase     in    his    management    of    such    cases, 


148 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


alarmed    the  southern    states,   and  ultimately 
led  to  the  enactment  of  the  fugitive  slave  law 
in  1850,  as  a  portion  of  the  compromise  meas- 
ures of  that  period. 

In  1 84 1  Mr.  Chase  united  with  others  op- 
posed to  the  further  extension  of  slavery,  in  a 
convention  for  which  he  was  the  principal 
writer  of  the  address  to  the  people  on  that 
subject.  He  also  wrote  the  platform  for  the 
liberty  party  when  it  nominated  James  G. 
Birney  as  its  candidate  for  the  presidency.  In 
1842  he  projected  a  convention  of  the  same 
party  in  Cincinnati,  the  result  of  which  was 
the  passage  of  a  resolution  declaring  the  ur- 
gent necessity  for  the  organization  of  a  party 
committed  to  the  denationalization  of  slavery. 
In  1848  Mr.  Chase  presided  over  the  Buffalo 
free  soil  convention,  which  nominated  Martin 
Van  Buren  and  Charles  Francis  Adams  for 
president  and  vice-president.  On  the  22d  of 
February,  1849.  Mr.  Chase  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate  by  a  coalition  of 
democrats  and  free  soilers,  who  had  declared 
slavery  to  be  an  evil,  but  when  the  Baltimore 
convention  in  1852  approved  of  the  compro- 
mise measures  of  1850  he  withdrew  from 
their  ranks,  and  advocated  the  formation  of  an 
independent  democratic  party,  which  should 
oppose  the  extension  of  slavery.  In  1855  Mr. 
Chase  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio  by  the 
newly  organized  republican  party  by  a  ma- 
jority of  15,651  over  Gov.  Medill,  and  in  1857 
he  was  elected  governor,  the  second  time,  over 
Henry  B.  Payne. 

At  the  national  republican  convention  in 
i860  Mr.  Chase  received  on  the  first  ballot 
forty-nine  votes,  in  a  total  of  375,  and  im- 
mediately withdrew  his  name.  By  President 
Lincoln  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States,  holding  this 
position  until  July,  1864,  when  he  resigned. 
His  management  of  the  nation's  finance  was 
marked   with   consummate   ability,    and    con- 


tributed largely  to  the  success  of  the  govern- 
ment in  its  efforts  to  suppress  the  Rebellion. 
In  November,  1864,  he  was  nominated  by 
President  Lincoln  as  chief  justice  of  the 
United  States,  to  succeed  Chief  Justice  Tanty, 
who  had  then  recently  died,  and  he  filled  this 
great  office  until  his  death. 

In  1868  he  permitted  his  name  to  go  be- 
fore the  democratic  national  convention  as  a 
candidate  for  the  presidency,  but  received  only 
four  votes  out  of  663,  Horatio  Seymour  of 
New  York  securing  the  nomination.  The  most 
valuabe  public  service  rendered  the  nation  by 
Mr.  Chase,  as  secretary  of  the  treasury,  was 
the  origination  by  him  of  the  bill  under  which, 
in  1863,  state  and  private  banks  became  na- 
tional banks,  and  under  which  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  became  responsible 
for  the  circulation  .of  national  bank  notes, 
the  government  being  secured  by  a  de- 
posit of  bonds  equal  in  amount  to  the  pro- 
posed circulation,  plus  ten  per  cent.  While 
this  law  was  at  first  opposed  by  many  public 
men,  yet  in  time  it  won  its  way  into  their 
judgment  long  before  Mr.  Chase's  death,  and 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  realizing  that  its  ad- 
vantages were  such  that  the  people  of  the 
United  States  were  more  greatly  benefited 
by  this  than  by  any  previous  monetary  meas- 
ure, as  under  it  the  money  of  the  banks  was 
made  equally  valuble  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Chase  was  married  three  times,  and  of 
six  children  born  to  him,  two  accomplished 
daughters  survived  him  at  his  death,  which 
occurred  of  paralysis,  May  7,   1S73. 


ar 


ILLIAM    DENNISON,    Jr.,    nine- 
teenth governor  of  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  November  23, 
1815.      His  father  and  mother  emi- 
grated from  New  Jersey  to  Ohio,  settled  in  the 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


149 


Miami  valley  about  1805,  gave  their  son  a 
liberal  education,  and  he  graduated  from 
Miami  university  in  1835  with  high  honors  in 
political  science,  belles  lettres  and  history. 
After  his  graduation  he  became  a  law  student 
in  the  office  of  Nathaniel  C.  Pendleton,  father 
of  Hon.  George  H.  Pendleton,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1840.  The  same  year  he 
married  a  daughter  of  William  Neil,  of  Co- 
lumbus, to  which  city  he  removed  and  applied 
himself  with  energy  and  diligence  to  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law.  In  1848  he  was  elected  to 
the  Ohio  senate  as  a  whig  for  the  district  com- 
posed of  Franklin  and  Delaware  counties.  At 
that  time  the  slavery  question  was  a  promi- 
nent one  in  politics,  men  taking  positive  posi- 
tions on  one  side  or  the  other,  and  a  desperate 
struggle  was  made  throughout  the  state  for  the 
control  of  the  general  assembly.  After  failing 
by  a  small  adverse  majority  to  be  elected 
president  of  the  senate  he  was  appointed  to  a 
leading  position  on  a  committe  having  in  charge 
the  revisal  of  the  statutes,  which  had  become 
in  the  opinion  of  most  of  the  people  a  disgrace 
to  the  state,  especially  those  laws  which  pro- 
hibited black  men  and  mulattoes  from  gaining 
a  permanent  residence  within  the  state,  and 
from  testifying  in  courts  against  white  persons. 
Mr.  Dennison  warmly  advocated  the  repeal  of 
these  laws,  and  with  complete  success.  He 
was  equally  opposed  to  the  extension  of  slaverv, 
with  its  blighting  effects,  into  new  territory. 
From  1850  to  1852  he  was  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  the  law,  and  in  the  latter  year,  as 
a  presidential  elector,  he  cast  his  vote  for 
Gen.  Winfield  Scott.  From  this  time  on  for 
some  years  he  took  great  interest  in  the  sub- 
ject of  railroads  in  the  west,  and  was  elected 
president  of  the  Columbus  &  Xenia  Railroad 
company,  and  was  very  active  as  a  director  of 
all  railroads  entering  Columbus.  In  1856  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  republican  national  con- 
vention at  Pittsburg,  and  voted  for  Gen.  John 


C.  Fremont  for  president.  In  1859  he  was 
elected  governor  of  Ohio  by  the  republican 
party,  and  in  his  first  message  to  the  general 
assembly  took  the  position  that  "The  federal 
Union  exists  by  solemn  compact  voluntarily 
entered  into  by  the  people  of  each  state  and 
thus  they  became  the  United  States  of-  Amer- 
ica, e  plaribus  iiiium,  and  this  being  so,  no 
state  can  claim  the  right  to  secede  from  or 
violate  that  compact." 

When  the  war  was  begun  he  exerted  all  the 
authority  of  his  office  to  aid  the  general  govern- 
ment to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  and  as  the  first 
war  governor  of  Ohio  his  name  will  go  down 
to  posterity  as  one  of  the  most  patriotic  of  men. 
When  Gov.  Magoffin,  of  Kentucky,  telegraphed 
to  President  Lincoln  that  Kentucky  would  fur- 
nish no  troops  for  such  a  wicked  purpose  as 
the  subduing  of  the  sister  southern  states, 
Gov.  Dennison  telegraphed  that  if  Kentucky 
would  not  fill  her  quota,  Ohio  would  fill  it  for 
her,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  her  patriotic  governor,  Ohio  raised 
enough  soldiers  to  fill  the  quota  of  three  states, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  the  attention  of  the 
entire  country  was  directed  to  Ohio  as  the 
leading  state  in  the  suppression  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, a  position  which  she  proudly  maintained 
all  through  the  war.  The  people  of  West 
Virginia  owe  to  Gov.  Dennison  the  fact  of  their 
separate  existence  as  a  state,  the  story  of 
which  is  well  known  and  too  long  for  publica- 
tion here. 

At  first  Gov.  Dennison  opposed  Sec.  Chase's 
national  banking  system,  but  as  its  beneficial 
effects  became  apparent  he  gave  it  his  unquali- 
fied support,  and  it  is  well  known  that  Ohio 
took  the  lead  in  the  establishment  of  national 
banks,  a  system  of  banking  which,  among  its 
other  features,  has  done  much  to  cement  the 
union  of  the  states  since  the  war.  After  his 
term  of  office  as  governor  had  expired  he  be- 
came a  favorite  speaker  in  defense  of  the  Union. 


150 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


As  a  delegate  to  the  national  republican  con- 
vention, in  1864,  he  did  much  to  secure  the 
renomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  suc- 
ceeded Montgomery  Blair  as  postmaster-gen- 
eral, but  resigned  his  office  when  President 
Johnson  had  defined  his  "policy."  For  several 
years  after  this  Gov.  Dennison  lived  in  retire- 
ment, but  was  called  on  by  President  Grant, 
in  1875,  to  act  as  one  of  the  commissioners  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  a  position  which  he 
filled  until  1878. 

By  his  marriage  to  Miss  Neil  he  became  the 
father  of  three  children,  the  first-born  dying  in 
infancy,  and  the  others  being  named  Neil  and 
Elizabeth.  He  died  June  15,  1882,  respected 
by  all  people  as  an  able,  patriotic  and  good  man. 


^V^V  AVID  TOD,  Ohio's  twentieth  elect- 
I  ed  governor,  was  born  in  Youngs- 
/^^.J  town,  Mahoning  county,  February  21, 
1805,  received  a  good  literary  educa- 
tion, and  after  studying  for  the  legal  profession 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  year  1827.  He 
practiced  about  fifteen  years  at  Warren,  where 
his  talents  soon  won  him  recognition  among 
the  leading  lawyers  of  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  state,  and  while  a  resident  of  Warren  was 
elected,  in  1838,  a  member  of  the  state  senate. 
Gov.  Tod  soon  took  high  rank  as  a  successful 
politician,  made  a  brilliant  canvass  for  Martin 
Van  Buren  in  1840,  and  in  1844  was  nominated 
for  governor,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  ma- 
jority. One  of  the  issues  of  the  gubernatorial 
campaign  of  1844  was  "hard"  and  "soft" 
money,  the  democrats  representing  the  former 
and  the  whigs  the  latter.  In  a  speech  David 
Tod,  the  democratic  candidate,  said  that 
sooner  than  adopt  "  soft  "  or  paper  money,  it 
would  be  better  to  go  back  to  the  Spartan  idea 
of  finance  and  coin  money  from  pot-metal. 
His  opponents  seized  upon  this  expression, 
dubbed  him    "pot-metal"  Tod,    and    insisted 


that  he  was  really  in  favor  of  coining  pot-metal 
into  currency.  Medallions  of  Mr.  Tod  about 
the  size  of  a  silver  dollar  were  struck  off  by  his 
opponents  by  the  thousands,  being  composed 
of  pot-metal  and  circulated  throughout  the 
state.  The  "pot-metal"  cry  doubtless  had 
much  to  do  in  bringing  about  his  defeat  by  a 
slender  margin,  showing  that  small  things  are 
often  effective  in  political  campaigns,  if  the 
people  happen  to  be  in  the  humor  to  be  influ- 
enced by  them,  which  not  infrequently  hap- 
pens to  be  the  case.  In  1847  ne  was  ap- 
pointed, by  President  Polk,  minister  to  Brazil, 
and  represented  his  government  until  1852, 
when  he  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign  which  re- 
sulted in  the  election  of  Franklin  Pierce  to  the 
presidency.  In  i860  he  was  chosen  delegate 
to  the  Charleston  convention,  of  which  he  was 
made  vice-president,  and  after  the  withdrawal 
of  the  southern  wing  of  the  democratic  party, 
presided  over  that  body  until  its  adjournment. 
Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  Gov. 
Tod  was  earnest  in  his  advocacy  of  a  compro- 
mise between  the  north  and  south,  but  with 
the  commencement  of  hostilities  he  became  a 
firm  supporter  of  the  Union  and  did  much  to 
arouse  enthusiasm  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
struggle.  In  1861  he  was  the  republican  nom- 
inee for  governor,  and  at  the  ensuing  election 
defeated  his  competitor  by  an  overwhelming 
majority  of  55,000  votes.  He  proved  a  very 
popular  and  capable  executive,  and  during  his 
term  of  two  years,  greatly  aided  the  national 
administration. 


WOHN  BROUGH,  the  twenty-first  gov- 
m  ernor  of  Ohio  elected  by  the  people 
A  1  of  the  state,  was  born  at  Marietta, 
Ohio,  September  17,  1811.  His  father, 
John  Brough,  was  a  companion  and  friend  of 
Blennerhassett,    both    coming    to    the    United 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


151 


States  in  the  same  ship  in  1S06.  They  re- 
mained in  close  friendship  for  many  years,  but 
Mr.  Brough  was  not  connected  with  the  unfor- 
tunate complications  between  Blennerhassett 
and  Aaron  Burr.  John  Brough  died  in  1822, 
leaving  his  wife  with  five  children,  and  with 
but  small  means  of  support. 

John  Brough,  who  became  governor  of  Ohio, 
was  sent  to  learn  the  trade  of  printer  in  the 
office  of  the  Athens  Mirror  before  he  was  four- 
teen. After  a  few  months  he  entered  the  Ohio 
university  at  Athens,  reciting  with  his  class  in 
the  day  time,  and  setting  type  mornings  and 
evenings  to  support  himself.  He  was  a  good 
compositor  and  also  a  good  student,  and  was 
distinguished  for  his  skill  in  athletic  games. 
Having  completed  his  education  at  the  univer- 
sity he  began  the  study  of  law,  but  soon  after- 
ward went  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  to  edit  a  news- 
paper. Returning  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  in  1831, 
he  became  proprietor  of  the  Washington  county 
Republican,  a  democratic  paper,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1833,  when  he  sold  out,  and  in 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Charles  H.,  pur- 
chased the  Ohio  Eagle,  published  at  Lancas- 
ter, Ohio,  and  while  he  was  a  strong  partisan, 
yet  he  had  no  patience  for  any  kind  of  under- 
hand work  in  either  party.  In  1835  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  Ohio  senate,  and  retained 
this  position  until  1838.  He  was  chosen  rep- 
resentative from  Fairfield  and  Hocking  coun- 
ties in  1838,  and  the  next  year  he  was  chosen 
by  the  legislature  to  fill  the  office  of  auditor 
of  state.  To  this  latter  office  he  was  again 
elected  and  served  six  years.  Many  evils  then 
existed  in  the  finances  of  the  state,  but,  not- 
withstanding much  opposition  and  many  em- 
barrassments, he  succeeded  in  finding  remedies 
therefor,  and  the  pecuniary  affairs  of  the  state 
were  placed  on  a  solid  foundation.  The  re- 
ports he  made  upon  the  state's  financial  sys- 
tem are  among  the  ablest  and  most  valuable  of 
our  state  papers. 


During  his  second  term  as  auditor  of  state 
he  purchased  the  Phcenix,  a  newspaper  in  Cin- 
cinnati, changed  its  name  to  the  Enquirer  and 
placed  it  in  charge  of  his  brother,  Charles  H., 
and  at  the  close  of  that  term  removed  to  Cin- 
cinnati, opened  a  law  office  and  wrote  edi- 
torials for  his  paper.  He  also  became  a  power- 
ful and  effective  public  speaker,  and  while  he 
was  becoming  a  distinguished  leader  in  the 
democratic  party  he  was  also  becoming  with 
equal  rapidity  thoroughly  disgusted  with  party 
politics.  In  1848  he  retired  from  partisan 
strife,  sold  one-half  interest  in  the  Enquirer, 
and  devoted  his  attention  to  railroads.  Being 
elected  president  of  the  Madison  &  Indiana 
Railroad  company,  he  removed  to  Madison, 
Ind.,  but  later,  at  the  invitation  of  one  of  his 
friends,  Stillman  Witt,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
he  accepted  the  presidency  of  the  Bellefon- 
taine  Railroad  company,  which,  under  his  man- 
agement, became  one  of  the  leading  railroads 
of  the  country.  In  1861  he  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, and  during  the  first  two  years  of  the  war 
was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  serve  the  govern- 
ment by  the  prompt  transportation  of  troops  to 
the  front. 

In  1S63,  that  portion  of  the  democrats  of 
Ohio  that  was  opposed  to  the  further  prose- 
cution of  the  war  nominated  C.  L.  Vallandig- 
ham  for  governor  of  the  state,  and  Stillman 
Witt,  having  urged  Mr.  Brough  to  take  an  ac- 
tive part  in  politics,  generously  offering  to  per- 
form the  duties  of  the  president  of  the  railroad, 
and  permit  Mr.  Brough  to  draw  the  salary, 
Mr.  Brough  was  at  length  nominated  by  the 
republican  party  as  its  candidate  in  opposition 
to  Vallandigham.  The  result  of  the  election 
was  that  Mr.  Brough  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  101,099,  the  total  vote  being  471,643.  It 
was  at  the  suggestion  of  Gov.  Brough  that  an 
extra  force  of  100,000  men  was  raised  to  aid 
Gen.  Grant  in  his  arduous  campaign  of  1 864, 
Ohio's   quota   of  this    100,000    being    30,000. 


152 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


Within  ten  days  Ohio  raised  38,000  men,  the 
result  being  due  largely  to  Gov.  Brough's  ener- 
getic action,  which  called  out  the  warmest 
commendation  from  both  President  Lincoln 
and  Gen.  Grant. 

While  Gov.  Brough  lived  to  see  the  war 
brought  to  a  successful  close,  yet  he  died  -be- 
fore the  close  of  his  term,  on  August  29,  1865. 
He  was  of  the  honest  men  in  politics,  just  in 
all  his  motives  and  acts.  Though  not  a 
member  of  any  church,  yet  he  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  religion  and  died  in  the  hope  of  an 
eternal  life.  Gov.  Brough  was  twice  married — 
first  to  Miss  Acsah  P.  Pruden,  of  Athens, 
Ohio,  who  died  in  1838  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years,  and  second,  to  Miss  Caroline  A. 
Nelson,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  whom  he  married 
in  1843  at  Lewiston,  Pa.  By  this  latter  mar- 
riage he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 


a 


HARLES  ANDERSON  was  put  in 
nomination  as  lieutenant-governor  of 
Ohio  on  the  ticket  in  1S63,  with  John 
Brough  for  governor  and  elected.  The 
death  of  the  latter  transferred  Col.  Anderson 
to  the  office  of  governor  in  August  of  the  same 
year. 

Charles  Anderson  was  born  June  1,  18 14, 
at  the  residence  of  his  father,  called  Soldiers' 
Retreat,  or  Fort  Nelson,  near  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio,  and  which  locality  is  about  nine  miles 
from  the  city  of  Loaisville,  Ky.  His  father, 
Col.  Richard  Clough  Anderson,  a  gentleman 
of  high  character,  who  was  an  aid-de-camp  to 
Lafayette,  removed  to  Soldiers'  Retreat  from 
Virginia  in  1793,  and  there,  in  the  capacity 
of  surveyor-general  of  the  Virginia  military 
land  grant,  made  his  residence  three  years  be- 
fore Kentucky  was  recognized  as  a  territory. 
His  mother  was  a  relative  of  Chief-Justice 
Marshall,  and  his  eldest  brother,  Richard 
Clough    Anderson,    represented   his  district  in 


congress,  was  the  first  United  States  minister 
to  the  republic  of  Columbia  and  commissioner 
in  congress  at  Panama.  Robert  Anderson, 
another  brother  of  Gov.  Anderson,  was  the 
Major  Anderson  commanding  Fort  Sumter  in 
April,   1 86 1. 

Charles  Anderson  graduated  from  Miami 
university  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  in  1833,  began  the 
study  of  law  in  Louisville  in  his  twentieth  year 
in  the  office  of  Pirtle  &  Anderson,  and  in  1835 
was  admitted  to  practice.  He  then  went  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  September  16th  married 
Miss  Eliza  J.  Brown,  a  young  lady  of  that 
place.  He  remained  a  resident  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  varying  his  professional  engagement  by 
working  the  farm  during  the  following  ten 
years,  having  in  that  time  been  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  the  county,  and  in  1  844  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate.  His  vote  in  this 
body  in  favor  of  bills  to  give  to  the  colored  men 
the  privilege  of  testifying  in  court  caused  him 
the  enmity  of  all  the  pro-slavery  element  among 
his  constituency,  but  of  this  he  took  no  notice. 
He  resolved  that  at  the  close,  of  his  term  he 
would  recuperate  his  health  by  a  protracted 
sea  voyage,  and,  descending  to  New  Orleans, 
he  took  a  vessel  for  Havana,  and  there  took 
passage  on  a  vessel  bound  for  Europe,  and 
with  much  advantage  to  his  health  returned 
by  the  way  of  Paris  and  Liverpool.  Arriving 
in  Cincinnati,  he  entered  into  a  law  partner- 
ship with  Rufus  King,  Esq.,  and  for  eleven 
years  practiced  his  profession.  Then  his 
original  love  of  farming  still  influencing  his 
life,  he  went  to  Texas  in  1859,  and  found  the 
people  greatly  excited  on  account  of  the  polit- 
ical condition  of  the  country.  Demagogues 
had  advocated  dissolution  of  the  Union  there 
as  elsewhere,  and  the  establishment  of  a  new 
southern  states'  government  of  a  monarchical 
form,  its  foundation-stone  human  slavery,  and 
under  the  protectorate  of  Great  Britain,  to 
which  people  their  cotton  would  be  exchanged 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


153 


for  goods  of  British  manufacture  exclusively. 
He  soon  saw  that  this  treasonable  project  had 
taken  deep  root  among  the  ignorant  masses  of 
the  south.  There  was  no  term  that  had  been 
uttered  that  could  be  more  opprobrious  than 
abolitionist,  and  his  well-known  love  of  free- 
dom prompting  him  to  boldly  address  the 
people,  he  did  so  at  a  great  gathering  at  San 
Antonio  November  20,  i860,  advocating,  in 
the  most  stirring  and  patriotic  language,  the 
perpetuity  of  the  national  Union.  Though  the 
recipient  subsequently  of  letters  threatening  his 
life,  he  continued  to  reside  in  San  Antonio  in 
spite  of  the  forty-day  resident  act  passed  by 
the  Confederate  congress  at  Montgomery,  Ala. , 
and  was  therefore  confined  as  a  political  pris- 
oner in  the  guard-tent  of  Maclin's  battery  of 
artillery.  By  the  assistance  of  two  persons, 
who  subsequently  were  maltreated  for  so  assist- 
ing him,  he  escaped  to  the  north.  It  was  not 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  Mr.  Anderson,  born 
in  Kentucky,  and  from  infancy  surrounded  by 
and  breathing  the  atmosphere  of  slavery,  could 
have  regarded  that  institution  as  it  was  looked 
upon  by  the  millions  who  had  not  been  simi- 
larly situated.  Hence  the  original  idea  of  the 
war,  restoring  the  Union  as  it  was,  caused  him 
to  offer  his  services  to  Gov.  Tod,  and  he  was 
appointed  colonel  of  the  Ninety-third  Ohio 
regiment,  in  command  of  which  brave  body  of 
men  he  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River.  After  his  term  of  service  as 
lieutenant-governor  and  governor  of  Ohio  he 
removed  to  a  large  iron  estate  on  the  Cumber- 
land river,  in  Lyon  county,  Ky. ,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 


>-j*ACOB  DOLSON  COX,  the  twenty-sec- 

M      ond  governor  of   Ohio   elected    by  the 

{•  J      people,  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada, 

October    27,    1828,    to   which  city  his 

parents,  who  were  natives  of  the  United  States, 


and  who  were  then  residents  of  New  York,  had 
gone  for  a  temporary  purpose,  Mr.  Cox  being 
a  master  builder,  and  having  in  charge  in  Mon- 
treal the  erection  of  the  frame  work,  roofing, 
etc.,  of  the  church  of  Notre  Dame.  The  fol- 
lowing year  they  returned  to  New  York,  where 
were  spent  the  childhood  days  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  In  1846  he  eatered  Oberlin 
college,  from  which  he  graduated  in  185  1,  and 
in  1852  he  removed  to  Warren,  Ohio,  where 
for  three  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
high  school.  In  the  meantime  he  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1859  he 
he  was  elected,  from  the  Trumbull  and  Mahon- 
ing district,  to  the  legislature,  where  throughout 
his  term  he  was  regarded  as  a  "radical,"  not 
only  on  account  of  the  section  of  the  state  from 
which  he  came,  but  also  on  account  of  his  hav- 
ing married  the  daughter  of  President  Finney 
of  Oblerlin  college.  He  took  his  seat  in  the 
senate  on  the  first  Monday  in  January,  i860. 
After  the  enactment  of  the  fugitive  slave 
law  of  1850  the  state  of  Ohio  passed  a  law 
providing  penalties  for  carrying  free  blacks  out 
of  the  state  without  first  having  recourse  to 
judical  proceedings.  The  democrats  in  the 
legislature  earnestly  desired  to  repeal  this  law, 
and  Mr.  Cox,  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee, made  a  minority  report  against  its  re- 
peal, to  which  report  the  support  of  the  entire 
republican  party  was  given.  While  Mr.  Cox 
was  not  in  favor  of  any  unnecessarily  harsh 
measures  to  grieve  the  southern  states,  yet  he 
was  always  uncomprisingly  in  favor  of  support- 
ing the  government  in  its  efforts  to  suppress 
the  Rebellion.  Ten  days  after  President  Lin- 
coln's first  call  for  troops,  Mr.  Cox  was  com- 
missioned, by  Gov.  Dennison,  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral of  Ohio  volunteers  for  the  three  months' 
service,  and  placed  in  command  of  Camp 
Jackson,  which  was  established  for  the  re- 
ception of  troops.  A  larger  camp  being  nec- 
essary,   President  Lincoln    commissioned  him 


154 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  he  laid  out 
Camp  Dennison.  On  the  6th  of  July,  1861,  he 
was  ordered  by  Gen.  McClellan  to  take  a  posi- 
tion at  the  south  of  the  Great  Kanawha,  whence 
he  drove  the  rebels  under  Gen.  Wise  out  of  the 
valley  of  that  river,  and  took  and  repaired  the 
bridge  at  Gauley,  and  other  bridges;  and  it  is 
owing  to  the  success  of  these  early  military 
maneuvers  that  West  Virginia  became  an  inde- 
pendent state.  In  August,  1862,  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  army  of  Virginia  under  Gen. 
Pope,  and  when  Gen.  Reno  fell  succeeded  to 
his  command,  that  of  the  Ninth  corps,  which 
he  commanded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  in 
which  battle  his  troops  so  distinguished  them- 
selves that  he  was  appointed  to  a  full  major- 
generalship.  On  April  16,  1S63,  Gen.  Cox 
was  in  command  of  the  district  of  Ohio,  and 
also  of  a  division  of  the  Twenty-third  army 
corps,  with  headquarters  at  Knoxville,  Tenn. 
In  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  led  the  Third  di- 
vision of  the  Twenty-third  army  corps,  and  in 
the  engagement  at  Columbus  had  entire  com- 
mand, as  he  had  also  at  Franklin,  November 
30,  where  he  felt  the  full  force  of  Hood's  at- 
tack. On  reaching  Nashville  Gen.  Thomas 
assumed  command  of  the  army,  Gen.  Scho- 
field  of  the  Twenty-third  corps,  and  Gen.  Cox 
of  his  division — his  division  in  this  battle  cap- 
turing an  important  rebel  position  and  eight 
pieces  of  cannon.  In  January,  1865,  Gen. 
Cox,  with  his  division,  performed  important 
service  in  North  Carolina,  aiding  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Kingston,  and  then  he  united  his  forces 
with  Sherman's  army.  Gen.  Cox  had  charge 
of  the  details  connected  with  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Johnston's  soldiers.  In  July,  1865,  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  district  of  Ohio, 
and  while  in  charge  of  the  discharge  of  Ohio 
soldiers  was  elected  governor  of  the  state,  and 
was  inaugurated  January  15,  1866.  Through- 
out   the    war    Gen.    Cox    was    steadily    pro- 


moted, and  won  golden  opinions  from  all  pa- 
triots, but  after  the  close  of  the  struggle  he 
supported  President  Johnson's  "  policy,"  which 
gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  loyal  people.  In 
1869  President  Grant  appointed  him  secretary 
of  the  interior,  which  position  he  resigned 
after  a  few  months,  and  returned  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  was  appointed  receiver  of  the 
Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western  railroad,  and  re- 
sided temporarily  at  Toledo,  where,  in  1875, 
he  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  Sixth  dis- 
trict. He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Potter  committee,  which  investigated  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  presidential  election  of  1876 
had  been  conducted  in  the  "disputed  states," 
South  Carolina,  Florida  and  Louisiana.  Sub- 
sequently he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  died. 


«V~\  UTHERFORD    B.   HAYES.— For   a 

I  ^Z  sketch  of  the  life  of  Rutherford  B. 
P  Hayes,  the  twenty-third  governor  of 
Ohio  elected  by  the  people  and  elec- 
ed  to  succeed  himself,  and  also  elected  to 
succeed  William  Allen,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  that  portion  of  this  work  which  is  devoted 
to  the  lives  of  the  presidents  of  the  United 
States. 


eDWARD  FOLLANSBEE  NOYES, 
twenty-fourth  governor  of  Ohio  elect- 
ed by  the  people,  was  born  in  Hav- 
erhill, Mass.,  October  3,  1832.  His 
parents,  Theodore  and  Hannah  Noyes,  both 
died  before  he  was  three  years  old,  and  he  was 
reared  by  his  grandparents,  Edward  and  Han- 
nah Stevens,  who  resided  at  East  Kingston, 
Rockingham  county,  N.  H.  His-  grandfather 
Stevens  having  died,  he  was  taken  when 
twelve  years  of  age  by  his  guardian,  Joseph 
Hoyt,  of  Newton,  N.   H.      For  two  years  he 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


155 


worked  on  his  guardian's  farm  in  summer  and 
attended  schools  in  winter,  and  at  fourteen  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  printer's  trade  in  the 
office  of  the  Morning  Star  at  Dover,  N.  H., 
the  organ  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church. 
In  this  office  he  remained  four  years.  Though 
his  apprenticeship  required  him  to  remain  un- 
til he  was  twenty-one,  yet  his  employer 
released  him  at  eighteen,  in  order  that  he 
might  secure  an  education.  He  prepared 
himself  for  college  at  the  academy  at  Kingston, 
N.  H.,  and  entered  Dartmouth  college  in  1853, 
graduating  at  that  institution  in  1857.  In  the 
winter  of  his  senior  year  he  began  to  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Stickney  &  Tuck  at  Exeter, 
N.  H.,  and  before  leaving  Dartmouth  he  had 
become  really  an  abolitionist.  Being  a  good 
speaker,  he  was  appointed  by  ihe  republican 
state  executive  committee  of  New  Hampshire  to 
traverse  the  state  in  the  interest  of  Gen.  John 
C.  Fremont  for  the  presidency.  The  next  win- 
ter he  entered  the  law  office  of  Tilden,  Raridan 
&  Curwen,  and  attended  lectures  on  law  at  the 
Cincinnati  Law  school  during  the  winter  of 
1857—58,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  during  the 
latter  year,  and  not  long  afterward  established 
himself  in  a  profitable  practice.  Giving  atten- 
tion to  the  political  crises  then  impending,  he 
became  convinced  that  secession,  if  accom- 
plished, would  finally  disrupt  the  Union,  and 
on  the  8th  of  July,  1S61,  converted  his  law 
office  into  a  recruiting  station,  and  was  com- 
missioned major  of  the  Thirty-ninth  regiment 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  On  August  20,  1861, 
the  Twenty-seventh  and  the  Thirty-ninth  regi- 
ments were  transferred  from  the  eastern  to 
the  western  army,  the  latter  being  officered 
as  follows:  John  Groesbeck,  colonel;  A.  W. 
Gilbert,  lieut. -colonel,  and,  as  stated  above, 
Edward  F.  Noyes,  major.  Early  in  1862  this 
latter  regiment  joined  the  army  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, then  commanded  by  Gen.  Pope,  and 
took  part  in  the   capture  of  New  Madrid   and 


Island  No.  10.  From  that  time  until  Gen. 
Pope  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
Potomac,  Maj.  Noyes  was  on  that  general's 
staff,  and  when  the  colonel  and  lieutenant-col- 
onel of  the  Thirty-ninth,  as  named  above,  re- 
signed, Maj.  Noyes  was  commissioned  colonel, 
and  took  command  of  his  regiment  in  October, 
1862.  In  1864  his  regiment  was  one  of  those 
composing  the  First  division  of  the  Seven- 
teenth army  corps,  and  on  July  4,  of  that  year, 
took  part  in  the  assault  on  Ruff's  Mill,  in  which 
he  was  shot  in  the  leg,  which  had  to  be  am- 
putated on  the  field  of  battle.  The  operation 
not  proving  successful,  the  colonel  was  taken 
to  Cincinnati,  and  operated  on  by  Dr.  W.  H. 
Mussey,  and  in  the  following  October  he  re- 
ported for  duty  to  Gen.  Hooker,  who  assigned 
him  to  the  command  of  Camp  Dennison.  Upon 
the  recommendation  of  Gen.  Sherman  he  was 
promoted  to  the  full  rank  of  brigadier. 

He  was  soon  afterward  elected  city  solicitor 
of  Cincinnati,  and  in  1871  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  by  a  majority  of  20,000,  while  at 
the  election  of  1873,  when  he  was  again  a  can- 
didate, he  was  defeated  by  an  adverse  majority 
of  800.  In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1876 
he  was  an  active  participant,  and  was  later 
appointed  by  his  old  friend,  President  Hayes, 
minister  to  France.  He  remained  in  Paris 
four  years,  in  the  meantime,  however,  making 
an  extensive  tour  through  the  countries  along 
the  Mediterranean  sea  for  the  purpose  of  inves- 
tigating the  condition  of  the  laboring  classes, 
making  an  able  report  to  the  government.  He 
resigned  in  1881  and  resumed  his  law  practice 
in  Cincinnati.  He  was  very  enthusiastic  and 
cheerful  in  his  disposition,  and  kindly  in  his 
manner.  In  February,  1863,  on  a  leave  of 
absence,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  W.  Proc- 
tor, at  Kingston,  N.  H.,  with  whom  he  be- 
came acquainted  while  in  the  academy  in  his 
youthful  days.  He  died  September  4,  1 890, 
nearly  fifty-eight  years  of  age. 


156 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


>ILLIAM  ALLEN,  twenty-fifth  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  elected  by  the  peo- 
ple, was  born  in  Edenton,  Chowan 
county,  N.  C,  in  1807.  His  par- 
ents both  died  within  a  few  months  of  each 
other  before  he  was  one  year  old,  and  he  was 
cared  for  by  an  only  sister,  who  soon  afterward 
removed  with  her  .husband  to  Lynchburg,  Ya., 
taking  young  William  with  her.  This  sister 
was  the  wife  of  an  itinerant  Methodist  minis- 
ter and  the  mother  of  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman. 
She  was  a  very  superior  woman,  and  was  well 
fitted  for  the  task  of  rearing  two  of  Ohio's  dis- 
tinguished statesmen,  whose  names  are  given 
above.  About  1821  Mrs.  Thurman,  with  her 
husband  and  family,  removed  to  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  leaving  her  brother  to  attend  an  acad- 
emy at  Lynchburg,  Va.,  but  he  rejoined  her 
two  years  later,  and  attended  the  academy  in 
Chillicothe,  and  later  read  law  in  the  office  of 
Edward  King,  the  most  gifted  son  of  Rufus 
King,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  a  popular 
statesman  for  many  years.  Having  been  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  his  twentieth  year,  he  be- 
came a  partner  of  his  preceptor,  and  early  in 
his  career  manifested  that  forensic  ability  to 
which  he  was  mainly  indebted  for  his  success. 
This,  together  with  his  tall,  commanding  fig- 
ure and  powerful,  penetrating  voice,  attracted 
people  to  him,  the  latter  giving  him  the  name 
of  the  "Ohio  Gong,"  and  all  together  secured 
his  nomination  to  congress,  he  being  elected 
by  the  democrats  in  1832,  in  a  whig  district, 
by  a  majority  of  one  vote.  While  he  was  the 
youngest  man  in  the  Twenty-third  congress, 
yet  he  was  recognized  as  a  leading  orator,  tak- 
ing part  in  the  most  important  discussions  in 
that  body. 

In  January,  1837,  on  what  was  called 
"Saint  Jackson's  Day,"  at  a  supper  given  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  he  made  a  speech  which  un- 
expectedly led  to  his  election  to  the  United 
States  senate,  to  succeed  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing. 


He  remained  in  the  senate  twelve  years,  or 
until  1849,  during  which  time  he  was  at  the 
full  measure  of  his  powers. 

In  1845  Senator  Allen  married  Mrs.  Erne 
(McArthur)  Coons,  a  daughter  of  ex-Gov.  Mc- 
Arthur,  who  had  been,  in  1830,  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio.  She  inherited  from  her  father 
the  old  homestead,  "Fruit  Hill"  farm,  upon 
which  Gov.  Allen  resided  with  his  only  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Scott,  his  wife  having  died  in  Wash- 
ington soon  after  the  birth  of  her  daughter.  In 
August,  1873,  Mr.  Allen  was  elected  governor 
of  Ohio,  being  the  only  man  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket  not  defeated.  As  governor  he 
recommended  the  reduction  of  taxation  and 
economy  instate  affairs.  He  was  the  first  demo- 
cratic governor  of  Ohio  after  the  war,  and  though 
his  administration  gave  general  satisfaction,  he 
was  defeated  with  the  rest  of  the  democratic 
ticket  in  1875.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that 
he  originated  the  political  catch-word,  "Fifty- 
four  forty,  or  fight,"  in  reference  to  the 
boundary  question  between  the  United  States 
and  the  British  dominions,  from  which  posi- 
tion the  democratic  party  so  ignominiously 
backed  down.  Gov.  Allen  died  at  Fruit  Hill 
farm  in  1879.  He  was  a  man  of  high  charac- 
ter, cordial  manners,  and  above  all  political 
chicanery  of  every  kind,  and  his  name  will 
long  be  an  honored  one  in  American  history. 


HOMAS  L.  YOUNG,  ex-officio  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio,  succeeding  to  the 
office  by  the  election  of  Gov.  R.  B. 
Hayes  to  the  presidency  of  the  United 
States,  taking  possession  of  the  office  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1877,  was  born  December  14,  1832,  on 
the  estate  of  Lord  Dufferin  in  the  north  of 
Ireland.  Of  Lord  Dufferin  it  may  perhaps  be 
permissible,  parenthetically,  to  remark  that  as 
governor-general  of  Canada,  in  1874,  he  made 
a  remarkable  report  on  the  loyalty  of  the  peo- 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


157 


pie  of  Canada  to  the  British  government,  which 
appeared  to  him  so  "wholesome  and  satisfac- 
tory." This  estate  of  Lord  Dufferin  was  in 
Down  county,  Ireland.  When  Mr.  Young  was 
twelve  years  old  his  parents  brought  him  to 
this  country,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  New  York  city.  When  he  was 
sixteen  years  old  he  enlisted  in  the  regular 
army,  serving  in  all  ten  years.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  enlistment  he  visited  the  home  of 
his  parents,  in  the  northern  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  one  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the 
Susquehanna  river,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
business  of  country  merchant  until  1859,  when 
he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  and  took  charge  of 
the  house  of  refuge,  a  youths'  reformatory  in- 
stitution, which  position  he  retained  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
Having,  while  in  the  regular  army,  spent  sev- 
eral years  among  the  people  of  the  south,  he 
knew  that  they  had  determined  upon  war,  and 
in  March,  1861,  he  wrote  to  Gen.  Scott,  whom 
he  personally  knew,  offering  to  assist  in  organ- 
izing volunteers  for  the  defense  of  the  govern- 
ment. Gen.  Scott  thanked  him  for  his  loyalty, 
but  expressed  bis  incredulity  as  to  the  southern 
people  entertaining  any  such  purpose. 

In  August,  1 86 1,  Mr.  Young  was  commis- 
sioned a  captain  in  Gen.  Fremont's  bod}' guard, 
serving  in  that  capacity  until  the  following 
January,  when  that  organization  was  disbanded 
by  Gen.  Halleck.  For  some  months  after- 
ward Capt.  Young  was  engaged  in  editing  a 
democratic  paper  in  Sidney,  Ohio,  in  which  he 
severely  condemned  the  indecision  manifested 
in  the  conduct  of  the  war.  In  August,  1862, 
he  was  appointed  to  raise  a  company  for  the 
One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  regiment  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  became  the  first  major 
of  the  regiment.  In  Februarv,  1863,  he  was 
promoted  to  lientenant-colonel,  and  com- 
manded his  regiment  in  the  Tennessee  cam- 
paign.     In  April,   1864,  he  was  commissioned 


colonel  of  his  regiment  and  served  as  such 
until  the  4th  of  September  following,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  phys- 
ical disability  resulting  from  his  services,  •  and 
exposures  in  the  field.  At  the  battle  of  Rq- 
saca,  Ga.,  Col.  Young  led  the  first  charge  on, 
the  enemy's  works,  the  severity  of  the  contest 
being  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  lost  1 16 
men  out  of  270  engaged.  For  this  and  other, 
acts  of  bravery  the  president  brevetted  hirn< 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  March,  13, 1865.1 
Upon  leaving  the  service  he  engaged  in  the 
study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
April,  1865,  being  in  the  same  month  appointed 
assistant  city  auditor  of,  Cincinnati.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1865,  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio  house 
of  representatives  for  Hamilton  county,  and  in 
December,  186S,  was  appointed,  by  President 
Johnson,  supervisor  of  internal  revenue  for  the 
southern  district  of  Ohio.  This  position  he  re- 
signed at  the  end  of  one  year.  For  some  time 
afterward  he  was  engaged  in  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  real  estate,  and  in  1871  was  the  only 
republican  elected  to  the  state  senate  from 
Hamilton  county.  In  1873  he  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Gen.  H.  B.  Banning  and 
Jacob  McGarry,  and  in  1875  he  was  elected 
lieutenant-governor.  Upon  the  resignation  of 
Gov.  Hayes  he  became  governor,  serving  the 
remainder  of  the  term.  In  1878  he  was  elected 
to  congress  by  the  republicans  of  the  second  dis- 
trict, and  died  July  19, 1 888,  thoroughly  admired 
for  his  integrity  of  character  and  manliness. 


5>^\  ICHARD  M.    BISHOP,    the  twenty- 
I  <^T     sixth  governor  of  Ohio,  was  born  No- 
P    vember  4,   18 12,    in  Fleming  county, 
Ky.      His  parents,  who  were  of  Ger- 
man and  English  lineage,   removed  from  Vir- 
ginia   in    1 80c.     They   were    members  of   the 
regular  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  also  be- 
came a  member  in  1828. 


158 


GOVERNORS   OF   OHIO. 


At  this  lime  the  Baptist  churches  in  Ken- 
tucky were  greatly  excited  in  consequence  of 
the  criticisms  made  by  Mr.  Campbell,  and  his 
co-laborers,  upon  the  religious  corruption  of 
the  age.  This  excitement  continued  to  in- 
crease in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the 
Bishop  family  until  1832,  when  they  and 
others  were  excluded  from  the  Baptist  church 
on  account  of  "  Campbellite  heresy."  Since 
then  Mr.  Bishop  has  been  associated  with 
the  church  of  the  Disciples  or  Christians. 
Mr.  Bishop  began  his  business  career  in  Flem- 
ing county,  Ky. ,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and 
before  he  was  twenty-one  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  the  store  which  he  had  entered  as  a 
clerk  From  1838  to  184 1  he  was  engaged 
with  his  brother  in  the  pork  business,  which 
proved  unfortunate  in  consequence  of  the  sud- 
den depression  in  prices,  and  the  failure  of  the 
Mississippi  banks,  in  which  state  they  sold 
largely.  They  were  compelled  to  suspend, 
but  this  temporary  embarrassment  did  not  dis- 
courage him,  for  he  soon  resumed  business  in 
the  same  place,  where  he  continued  until  1847. 
He  then  removed  to  Mount  Sterling,  Kentucky, 
where  he  established  a  branch  house,  his 
brother  remaining  at  the  old  stand.  In  1848 
he  removed  to  Cincinnati  and  commenced  the 
wholesale  grocery  business  under  the  style 
of  Bishop,  Wells  &  Co.  This  firm  continued 
until  1855,  when  the  business  was  reorganized 
and  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  R.  M. 
Bishop  &  Co.  The  firm  was  composed  of 
himself  and  three  sons,  and  at  one  time  did 
the  largest  business  in  the  city,  the  sales 
amounting  in  some  years  to  nearly  $5,000,- 
000.  In  April,  1857,  he  was  nominated  for 
council  in  the  Second  ward  and  was  elected 
by  a  large  majority.  At  the  end  of  the  second 
year  he  was  elected  presiding  officer.  In 
1859  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Cincinnati  by  a 
handsome  majority,  holding  the  same  office 
until  1 86 1,  when  he  declined  the  renomination 


tendered  him  by  each  of  the  political  par- 
ties. In  January,  i860,  when  the  Union  was 
threatened  by  the  leaders  of  the  Rebellion, 
the  legislatures  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  visited  Cincinnati  to  encourage 
each  other  to  stand  by  the  old  flag.  At  a 
grand  reception  given  them  at  Pike's  opera 
house,  Mayor  Bishop  delivered  an  address  of 
welcome  amid  a  storm  of  applause.  In  the 
September  ensuing  his  Royal  Highness,  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  visited  Cincinnati  at  the  in- 
vitation of  the  mayor  and  received  from  him 
a  cordial  welcome.  In  February,  1861,  when 
President  Lincoln  was  passing  on  his  way  to 
his  inauguration  through  Cincinnati,  he  was 
received  in  a  speech  by  the  mayor.  During 
his  administration  the  laws  were  rigidly  en- 
forced, of  which  the  Sunday  ordinance,  and 
those  against  gambling  houses,  were  notable 
examples.  Liquor  selling  and  various  other 
forms  of  Sabbath  desecration  were  in  the  main 
suppressed.  He  inaugurated,  amid  much  op- 
position, most  important  reforms  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  city  prison,  work-house  and 
the  police. 

Mr.  Bishop  has  become  widely  known  for 
his  liberality  and  devotion  to  the  Christian 
church.  From  1859  to  1867  he  was  president 
of  the  Ohio  State  Missionary  society,  and  was 
the  successor  of  the  late  Dr.  Alexander  Camp- 
bell in  the  presidency  of  the  general  Christian 
Missionary  conference,  which  office  he  held 
until  1875.  He  was  president  of  the  board  of 
curators  of  Kentucky  university  from  its  or- 
ganization until  1S80,  when  he  declined  a  re- 
election; he  was  also  one  of  the  curators  of 
Bethany  college;  also  for  many  years  trustee 
of  the  McMicken  university.  He  was  director 
of  the  First  National  bank  for  many  years, 
and  of  several  other  business  enterprises,  as 
well  as  philanthropic  institutions.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Ohio  state  constitutional  con- 
vention held  in  1873  and  1874,  and  was  presi ■• 


GOVERNORS    OF   OHIO. 


159 


dent  of  the  great  national  commercial  conven- 
tion held  in  Baltimore  in  187 1.  He  was  one 
of  the  prime  movers  in  that  great  enterprise, 
the  Southern  railway,  the  building  of  which 
he  so  successfully  managed,  having  been  a 
trustee  from  the  beginning,  and  the  laborious 
work  of  obtaining  charters  for  the  road  is 
largely  his. 

In  1877  he  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio 
by  a  majority  of  nearly  23,000  over  the  domi- 
nant party,  and  served  two  years  with  entire 
satisfaction  to  all  parties.  His  first  annual 
message  was  well  received  and  complimented 
by  the  press  generally.  Upon  his  return  to 
Cincinnati  he  was  given  a  cordial  and  enthu- 
siastic reception  at  Lytle  hall,  where  a  large 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  had  assembled 
to  welcome  him  home.  Since  the  expiration 
of  his  term  as  governor  he  has  been  urged  by 
his  friends  to  accept  the  nomination  for  various 
important  offices,  but  always  declined. 

Few  men  in  the  state  can  point  to  so  many 
substantial  benefits  conferred  upon  society  as 
the  results  of  their  single  labors.  Prompt  de- 
cision, constant  industry,  sound  judgment,  and 
a  desire  to  benefit  his  fellow-men,  are  his 
chief   characteristics. 


aHARLES  FOSTER,  twenty-seventh 
governor  of  Ohio  elected  by  the  peo- 
ple, was  born  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio, 
April  12,  1828.  His  parents,  Charles 
W.  Foster  and  wife,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Crocker,  were  from  Massa- 
chusetts, reaching  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  in  1827. 
Charles  Foster  received  only  a  common- 
school  education,  and  went  to  Rome,  now 
Fostoria,  Ohio,  when  he  was  fourteen  years 
old,  where  he  was  compelled  to  take  charge  of 
his  father's  store,  and  thus  failed  to  secure  a 
liberal  education,  which  his  father  intended  he 


should  receive,  and  for  which  he  had  prepared 
himself  at  the  Norwalk  seminary.  His  success 
in  the  management  of  the  store  was  very 
marked,  and  he  soon  became  sole  manager. 
The  town  of  Fostoria,  named  from  the  Foster 
family,  was  the  result  of  the  consolidation  of 
Rome  and  Risdon,  which  lay  but  a  mile  or  two 
apart.  In  1870  Mr.  Foster  was  induced  to 
accept  the  nomination  for  congress  at  the 
hands  of  the  republicans  of  his  district,  and  he 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  776  over  Hon. 
E.  F.  Dickinson.  In  1872  he  was  again  elected 
to  congress  by  a  majority  of  726  over  Rush  R. 
Sloane.  In  1874  he  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  159  over  Hon.  George  E.  Seney,  and  in 
1876  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  271.  In 
1878,  the  democratic  party  having  secured  a 
majority  of  the  state  legislature,  in  order  to 
defeat  Mr.  Foster  most  outrageously  gerry- 
mandered his  district,  and  he  was  defeated  by 
a  majority  of  1,255.  In  1879  he  was  elected 
governor  of  Ohio  over  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing, 
by  a  plurality  of  17,129,  and  in  1881  he  was 
again  elected,  by  a  plurality  of  24,309,  over 
John  W.  Buchwalter. 

Upon  the  death  of  the  secretary  of  the 
United  States  treasury,  William  Windom,  Mr. 
Foster  was  appointed  his  successor  by  Presi- 
dent Harrison,  February  27,  1891,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  Harrison  administration, 
March  4,  1893.  The  successful  adjustment  of 
the  four  and  one-half  per  cent,  loan  was  one 
of  the  notable  events  of  his  first  year's  admin- 
istration of  the  treasury  department  of  the 
government.  Of  the  $50,869,200  of  the  four 
and  one-half  per  cent,  bonds,  July  1,  1891, 
$25,364,500  were  presented  for  continuance  at 
two  per  cent.,  the  rest  being  called  in  for  re- 
demption. No  other  financial  officer  of  the 
general  government  has  ever  negotiated  a 
public  loan  at  so  low  rate  of  interest.  Since 
retiring  from  the  national  treasury,  Mr.  Foster 
has  been  engaged  in  arranging  his  own  financial 


160 


GOVERNORS    OF    OHIO. 


affairs,  which  were  thrown  into  confusion, 
while  he  was  in  public  office  by  those  whom  he 
had  trusted. 


^^EORGE  HOADLY,  who  was  the 
■  f7\  twenty-eighth  governor  of  Ohio,  was 
\^^f  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  July  31, 
1826.  He  is  the  only  son  of  George 
and  Mary  Ann  (Woolsey)  Hoadly'.  Mary  Ann 
Woolsey  was  a  daughter  of  William  Walton 
and  Elizabeth  (Dwight)  Woolsey  of  New  York, 
and  she  was  a  great-granddaughter  of  Jonathan 
Edwards,  the  famous  New  England  theologian. 
She  was  a  niece  of  President  Dwight  of  Yale 
college,  and  the  eldest  daughter  in  a  family 
containing  among  its  members  President  Wool- 
sey of  Yale  college.  Theodore  Winthrop  was 
her  nephew  and  Sarah  Woolsey,  known  in 
literature  as  "Susan  Coolidge,"  her  niece. 
George  Hoadly,  Sr. ,  was  at  one  time  mayor 
of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  removed  in  1830  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  resided  there  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  serving  as  mayor  of  that 
city  five  terms,  from  1832  to  1S37,  and  again 
one  term,   1846-47. 

George  Hoadly,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
received  his  preliminary  education  in  Cleve- 
land, and  when  fourteen  years  old  was  sent  to 
the  Western  Reserve  college  at  Hudson,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1844.  He  then 
spent  one  year  in  the  Harvard  law  school 
under  the  tuition  of  Judge  Story  and  Prof. 
Simon  Greenleaf,  and  after  studied  a  year  with 
Charles  C.  Convers,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  then 
removed  to  Cincinnati  and  entered  the  office 
of  Chase  &  Ball  as  a  student.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  1847  and  in  1849  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  Chase,  Ball  & 
Hoadly,  the  senior  member  of  which  was  Sal- 
mon P.  Chase.  In  185 1  he  was  elected  judge  of 
the  supreme  court  of  Cincinnati,  and  in  1853 
formed   a  co-partnership    with  Edward   Mills. 


In  1 85 5-56. he  was  city  solicitor  of  Cincinnati, 
and  in  1859  succeeded  Judge  W.  Y.  Gholson 
as  judge  of  the  new  superior  court,  holding 
this  office  uutil  1866,  when  he  resigned,  in 
order  to  form  the  firm  of  Hoadly,  Jackson  & 
Johnson.  He  was  a  member  of  the  constitu- 
tional convention  of  1873-74,  and  served  as 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  municipal  cor- 
porations. For  eighteen  years  he  was  profes- 
sor in  the  law  school  at  Cincinnati,  trustee 
of  the  university,  and  of  the  Cincinnati  mu- 
seum. He  was  one  of  the  counsel  in  behalf  of 
the  board  of  education  in  its  famous  case  of 
resistance  to  the  attempt  to  compel  Bible 
reading  in  the  public  schools,  in  which  the 
victory  was  with  the  board. 

Originally  a  democrat,  he  left  that  party 
and  became  a  republican  on  the  question  of 
slavery,  but  during  the  campaign  of  1876  sup- 
ported Tilden  as  against  Hayes.  In  1877  he 
appeared  as  counsel  before  the  electoral  com- 
mission and  argued  in  favor  of  the  democratic 
electors  from  Florida  and  Oregon.  In  1880 
he  was  temporary  chairman  of  the  democratic 
national  convention  which  nominated  W.  S. 
Hancock  for  president.  In  18S3  he  was 
elected  governor  of  Ohio,  and  in  March,  1887, 
he  removed  to  New  York  city,  became  the 
head  of  a  law  firm  there,  and  has  resided  there 
ever  since. 

In  185 1  he  married  Mary  Burnet  Perry, 
third  daughter  of  Capt.  Samuel  Perry,  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Cincinnati.  He  and  his 
wife  have  had  three  children,  viz:  George, 
Laura  and  Edward  Mills. 


>-j*OSEPH  BENSON  FORAKER,  ex-gov- 

3      ernor  of  Ohio  and  United  States  senator, 

/»  1      elect,     was    born    near    Rainsborough, 

Highland  county,    Ohio,   July   5,    1846. 

His  parents,  who  are  still  living,  represent  the 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


161 


agricultural  class  of  the  population  of  this 
country,  and  upon  their  farm  he  spent  his 
earlier  years. 

When  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out 
young  Foraker  enlisted  in  company  A,  Eighty- 
ninth  regiment  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  being 
then  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  With  this  regi- 
ment he  served  until  after  the  fall  of  Atlanta, 
at  which  time,  by  successive  promotions,  he 
had  risen  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  Im- 
mediately after  the  fall  of  Atlanta  he  was 
detailed  for  service  in  the  signal  corps  as  a  sig- 
nal officer  on  the  staff  of  Maj.-Gen.  Slocum, 
commanding  the  left  wing  of  the  army  of 
Georgia.  After  the  marches  through  Georgia 
and  the  Carolinas  he  was  promoted  brevet 
captain  of  United  States  volunteers,  and  as- 
signed to  duty  as  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Slocum,  holding  this  position  until  he  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Returning  home  and  resuming  his  studies, 
he  graduated  from  Cornell  university,  Ithaca, 
N.  Y. ,  in  1869.  To  gain  time  lost  while  in 
the  service  of  his  country  in  the  army  he  read 
law  while  attending  the  university,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Cincinnati,  October  14, 
1869,  and  he  at  once  began  in  that  city  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  married 
October  4,  1870,  to  Miss  Bulia  Bundy,  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  H.  S.  Bundy,  of  Wellston, 
Ohio,  and  they  have  five  children,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters. 

In  April,  1879,  he  was  elected  judge  of  the 
superior  court  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  held 
this  position  until  May  1,  1882,  when  he  re- 
signed on  account  of  ill  health.  Recovering 
his  health  he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law 
in  Cincinnati,  and  in  18S3  was  nominated  for 
governor  of  Ohio,  but  was  defeated  by  his 
opponent,  Judge  George  Hoadly.  In  1884  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  of 
the  republicans  which  met  in  Chicago,  and  as 
chairman  of  the  Ohio  delegation,  placed  Hon. 


John  Sherman  in  nomination  before  the  con- 
vention for  the  presidency.  In  1885  he  was 
again  a  candidate  for  governor  of  Ohio,  and 
this  time  was  elected,  defeating  his  former 
opponent,  Judge  Hoadly,  and  in  1887  he  was 
re-elected  governor  of  the  state.  In  188S  he 
was  again  a  delegate  to  the  republican  national 
convention  and  was  again  chairman  of  the 
Ohio  delegation,  placing  Hon.  John  Sherman 
again  in  nomination  before  the  convention  for 
the  presidency  of  the  United  States.  In  1889 
he  was  again  nominated  for  governor  of  Ohio, 
but  through  the  persistent  cry  of  "  third  term- 
ism  "  he  was  defeated  by  James  E.  Campbell. 
In  January,  1892,  he  was  a  candidate  for 
United  States  senator,  receiving  thirty-eight 
votes,  but  was  defeated  by  Senator  John  Sher- 
man. That  year  he  was  a  delegate  at  large  to 
the  national  republican  convention,  which  met 
at  Minneapolis,  serving  in  that  body  as  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  resolutions.  The 
state  convention  held  at  Zanesville,  May  28, 
1895,  unanimously  endorsed  him  as  the  repub- 
lican candidate  for  United  States  senator  to 
succeed  Hon.  Calvin  S.  Brice,  whose  term 
of  office  expired  March  4,  1897,  and  at  the 
November  election,  1895,  a  republican  legisla- 
ture was  chosen  by  a  majority  of  nearly  100,- 
000,  which  was  practically  instructed  by  the 
people  to  elect  Mr.  Foraker  to  the  position 
named  above.  In  obedience  to  these  instruc- 
tions the  legislature  of  the  state  on  January 
14,  1896,  elected  Mr.  Foraker  United  States 
senator  from  Ohio,  for  six  years  from  March 
4,  1897,  by  a  majority,  on  joint  ballot,  of 
eighty-five,  the  majority  in  the  senate  being 
twenty-three,  and  in  the  house  of  representa- 
tives being  sixty-two,  the  entire  legislative  ma- 
jority being,  as  stated,  eighty-five.  Mr.  For- 
aker is,  therefore,  the  people's  choice  for  this 
high  position,  in  which  it  is  confidently  pre- 
dicted he  will  confer  honor  on  his  native  state, 
even  as  he  has  had  honor  conferred  upon  him. 


162 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


In  his  speech  accepting  the  office  Mr.  Foraker 
used  the  following  language  : 

"  I  go  there  (to  the  United  States  senate) 
as  a  republican.  I  belong  to  that  party.  I 
believe  in  that  party.  I  believe  in  its  past  ;  I 
believe  in  its  present;  I  believe  in  its  future. 
I  believe  it  the  most  acceptable  agency  we  can 
command  in  the  administration  of  national 
affairs.  I  believe  it  is  better  calculated  than 
any  other  political  organization  to  contribute 
to  the  strength,  power,  dignity,  happiness  and 
glory  of  the  American  people. "  After  speak- 
ing in  favor  of  American  marine  interests 
and  of  the  construction  of  the  Nicaragua  ca- 
nal he  then  referred  to  financial  questions  as 
follows  :  "I  believe  in  bi-metallism.  I  be- 
lieve the  world  made  a  mistake  when  it  de- 
monetized silver.  I  sincerely  hope  some  safe 
way  may  be  found  for  the  restoration  of  silver 
to  its  rightful  place  alongside  of  gold  as  a 
money  of  ultimate  redemption.  I  shall  favor 
every  measure  calculated  in  my  judgment  to 
bring  about  that  result,  subject  always,  how- 
ever, to  the  condition  that  it  provides  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  parity  of  the  two  metals." 


>~>AMES  EDWIN  CAMPBELL,  ex-gov- 
M  ernor  of  Ohio,  was  born  in  Middletown, 
a  1  Ohio,  July  7,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  Andrew  and  Laura  P.  (Reynolds) 
Campbell,  the  former  of  Scotch  and  the  latter 
of  English  descent.  John  P.  Reynolds,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Campbell,  was  at  one 
time  a  publisher  of  the  state  of  New  York,  but 
later  a  resident  of  Madison,  Ohio.  The  Rey- 
nolds family  came  originally  from  Devonshire, 
England.  Jonathan  Reynolds  emigrated  from 
Plympton  Earl,  in  that  country,  in  1645,  to 
America,  taking  up  his  residence  near  Plymp- 
ton, in  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  bay,  and 
n  Jonathan  Reynolds  Mr.  Campbell  is  of 
the  sixth  generation.     By   another   branch  of 


his  family  on  his  mother's  side  he  is  a  descend- 
ant of  John  Parker,  who  commanded  the 
American  troops  at  the  battle  of  Lexington, 
the  first  battle  of  the  American  Revolution. 
Both  his  grandfathers  were  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Upon  reaching  his  maturity  Mr.  Campbell 
began  reading  law.  In  the  summer  of  1863  he 
became  a  master's  mate  on  the  gunboats  Elk 
and  Naiad,  and  took  part  in  several  engage- 
ments, but  on  account  of  ill  health  he  was  dis- 
charged at  the  end  of  one  year's  services. 
During  the  winter  of  1864-65  he  was  a  law 
student  in  the  office  of  Doty  &  Gunckel  at 
Middletown,  Ohio,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1865.  Beginning  practice  in  1867,  he  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Butler  county 
in  1875  and  again  in  1877.  In  1S79  he  was 
defeated  for  the  state  senate  by  twelve  votes. 
Up  to  1S72  he  was  a  republican,  but  then  voted 
for  Greeley,  and  has  since  acted  with  the  demo- 
crats. He  was  elected  to  the  Forty-eighth, 
Forty-ninth  and  Fiftieth  congresses,  and  in 
1889  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio.  In  1891 
he  was  again  a  candidate,  but  was  defeated  by 
Maj.  McKinley.  In  1895  he  was  the  third 
time  a  candidate,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
present  incumbent  of  the  office,  Hon.  Asa  S. 
Bushnell,  by  a  plurality  of  92,622  votes. 

On  January  4,  1870,  Mr.  Campbell  was 
married  to  Miss  Libbie  Owens,  a  daughter  of 
Job  E.  and  Mary  A.  (Price)  Owens,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  the  latter 
of  Welsh  descent. 


m. 


ILLIAM  McKINLEY,  who  succeed- 
ed James  E.  Campbell  in  the  guber- 
natorial chair,  and  who  served  out  a 
well-administered  term  of  office,  on 
retiring  filled  a  higher  position  in  the  esteem  of 
the  people  of  Ohio  than  he  had  ever  before 
enjoyed,  and  this  measure  of  esteem  was  also 
supplemented  by  that  of  the  people  of  the  na- 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


163 


tion  at  large,  who,  in  November,  1896,  elected 
him  chief  magistrate  of  the  United  States.  In 
that  portion  of  this  volume  devoted  to  the  bi- 
ographies of  our  presidents,  that  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinley  is  given  in  full,  and  to  it  the  attention 
of  the  reader  is  respectfully  invited. 


HSA  S.  BUSHNELL,  governor  of  Ohio 
at  the  present  time,  is,  without  doubt 
and  without  qualification,  one  of  the 
ablest  men  in  the  state.  In  many 
respects  his  career  has  been  an  exceptional 
one.  His  education  and  training  have  been 
those  of  a  practical  man  of  affairs,  and  to-day, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two,  having  been  born  at 
Rome,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y. ,  in  1834,  he  is 
one  of  the  most  clear-headed  business  men  in 
the  country. 

At  the  age  of  eleven  he  left  his  home  in 
the  Empire  state,  to  begin  his  career  in  the 
Buckeye  state,  reaching  Cincinnati  in  1845, 
where  he  spent  six  years  in  the  public  schools, 
paying  his  own  expenses  by  working  out  of 
school  hours  and  in  vacation  seasons.  At  the 
end  of  the  six  years  spent  in  Cincinnati  he  re- 
moved, in  1 85  1,  to  Springfield,  Ohio,  in  which 
city  he  has  since  lived  and  in  which  city  he  has 
acquired  a  princely  fortune.  His  first  three 
years  in  the  "Champion  City"  were  spent  as 
a  dry-goods  clerk,  during  which  time  he  be- 
came a  thoroughly  practical  bookkeeper,  and 
at  their  expiration  he  was  given  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  with  the  old  and  well-known 
water-wheel  firm  of  Leffel,  Cook  &  Blakeney, 
which  was  even  then  doing  an  extensive  busi- 
ness. This  position  he  retained  until  1857, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  John 
Ludlow  in  the  drug  business,  a  partnership 
which  lasted  ten  years,  or  until  1867.  The 
only  break  in  the  continuity  of  his  labors  here 
was  while  he  was  engaged  as  captain  of  com- 


pany E,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  in  1864,  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley.  Here  his  bravery  and  his  kindly  man- 
ner won  for  him  the  admiration  of  and  made 
him  very  popular  among  his  fellow-soldiers  of 
the  entire  regiment.  While  he  was  in  the  army 
he  was  somewhat  slight  in  build  and  light  in 
weight,  and  he  was  not  much  given  to  physi- 
cal exercise,  while  at  the  present  time  he  is 
unusually  active  and  weighs  fully  200  pounds. 

In  1867  Capt.  Bushnell  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  large  manufacturing  firm  of  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Warder,  Bushnell  & 
Glessner  Co.,  of  which  the  late  Benjamin  F. 
Warder  was  then  the  head,  and  of  which  the 
junior  member  was  J.  J.  Glessner,  now  a 
prominent  capitalist  of  Chicago.  And  it  is  in 
connection  with  this  concern,  which  Mr.  Bush- 
nell has  so  long  and  so  successfully  managed, 
that  he  has  made  the  fortune  which  he  to-day 
possesses. 

Hon.  Asa  S.  Bushnell  has  long  been  closely 
identified  with  the  republican  party  in  Ohio, 
though  his  attempt  to  become  governor  of  the 
state  was  the  first  he  ever  made  to  secure  pub- 
lic office.  He  became  chairman  of  the  repub- 
lican state  executive  committee  in  1885,  and 
from  1886  to  1890  he  served  the  state  as 
quartermaster-general,  having  been  appointed 
by  Gov.  Foraker,  who  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  for  him  the  nomination  for 
governor  in  1895,  at  Zanesville.  In  the  fall  of 
1888  he  was  assaulted  in  the  streets  of  Spring- 
field by  political  enemies,  and  through  that  as- 
sault came  near  losing  his  life.  This  assault 
still  remains  a  mystery,  and  no  one  has  been 
brought  to  punishment.  He  was  chosen  as 
a  delegate  at  large  to  the  republican  national 
convention  which  met  at  Minneapolis  in  1892, 
and  which  nominated  President  Harrison  for 
re-election,  and  on  November  2,  1895,  he  was 
elected  governor  of  Ohio  by  a  plurality  of 
92,622,  over   Hon.   James    E.    Campbell,   the 


164 


GOVERNORS  OF  OHIO. 


democratic  candidate,  this  plurality  being  the 
largest  ever  given  to  a  governor  with  the  ex- 
ception of  that  given  Gov.  John  Brough,  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Civil  war,  when  the 
soldiers  at  the  front  voted  almost  unanimously 
for  Brough  as  against  Vallandigham.  He  was 
inaugurated  governor  on  January  13,   1896. 

In  the  affairs  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  Gov.  Bushnell  has  long  been  a  prom- 
inent participant,  being  a  member  of  Mitchell 
post,  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  He  is  also  an  ar- 
dent Free  Mason.  Among  other  of  Gov. 
Bushnell's  benefactions  may  be  mentioned  the 
Ohio  Masonic  Home,  which  was  in  all  proba- 
bility preserved  to  Springfield  by  his  unsolicited 
contribution  of  $10,000,  at  a  time,  too,  when 
he  was  not  a  Mason. 

Dr.  John  Ludlow,  with  whom  Mr.  Bushnell, 
as  a  young  man,  found  employment,  had  at 
that  time  a  pretty  daughter  named  Ellen,  and 
these  two  young  people  were  eventually  mar- 
ried. Several  children  blessed  the  union,  three 
of  whom  survive,  as  follows:  Mrs.  J.  F.  Mc- 
Grew,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Dimond,  and  John  Ludlow 
Bushnell,  the  latter  of  whom  graduated  with 
honors  from  Princeton  in  1894.  Mrs.  Bushnell 
is  an  ideal  woman  in  every  relation.  While 
she  is  a  society  woman,  yet  she  is  not  so  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  phrase,  her  principal 
strength  lying  in  her  domestic  qualities.  Her 
two  daughters  are  as  happily  married  as  is  she 


herself.  Mrs.  McGrew  is  the  wife  of  one  of 
Springfield's  most  promising  young  attorneys, 
and  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Ellen  and 
Fanny,  while  Mrs.  Dimond  is  the  wife  of  a 
prominent  young  physician  and  also  the  mother 
of  two  children,  Asa  Bushnell  and  Douglas 
Marquand  Dimond. 

Brief  reference  can  be  made  to  the  inau- 
gural address  of  Gov.  Bushnell.  Among  other 
things  he  commended  was  the  proposition  of 
home  rule  or  local  option  in  matters  pertaining 
to  taxation — which  means  that  counties  should 
provide  their  own  systems  of  taxation  for  their 
necessary  expenses ;  that  double  taxation  should 
be  avoided,  and  that  such  taxation  as  is  nec- 
essary should  be  distributed  as  to  lighten  the 
burden  of  government,  and  so  as  to  retain  and 
attract  capital  to  the  state.  He  also  favored 
a  purchasing  board  for  state  institutions,  and 
the  providing  of  some  means  by  which  the  state 
could  supply  employment  to  such  of  its  prison- 
ers as  are  now  compelled  to  remain  perpetually 
idle.  He  also  favored  the  limitation  by  statute 
of  local  indebtedness  to  ten  per  cent  of  the  tax 
duplicate,  and  in  closing  said:  "Time  only  can 
tell  how  much  or  how  little  I  shall  merit  your 
commendation,  but  it  will  be  my  constant  aim 
and  purpose  to  serve  you  as  faithfully  and  as 
wisely  as  there  is  light  given  me  to  show  the 
path  of  right,  and  I  shall  ever  remember  that 
I  am  the  servant  of  the  people." 


From  "Early  Dayton." 

CEN.   ROBERT  C.   SCHENCK. 


DAYTON,  OHIO. 


THE  GEM  CITY. 


y^-^EN.  ROBERT  C.  SCHENCK,  de- 
■  (j\  ceased,  one  of  Ohio's  most  distin- 
^L^J  guished  sons,  and  one  whom  the 
people  of  Dayton  take  pride  in  claim- 
ing as  their  fellow-citizen,  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin, Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  October  4,  1809,  and 
was  the  son  of  Gen.  William  C.  Schenck. 

Gen.  William  C.  Schenck  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  born  in  January,  1773.  He  came 
to  Cincinnati  in  1795,  and  served  for  a  time  in 
the  land  office  under  Gen.  James  Findlay,  and 
afterward  under  John  Cleve  Symmes,  as  a  sur- 
veyor, which  became  his  profession.  In  1798 
he  married  Betsey  Rogers,  of  Huntington, 
Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  reached  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  with  his  wife,  January  1,  1799.  They 
resided  in  that  city  until  about  1803,  when 
they  removed  to  Franklin,  Ohio,  of  which 
place,  as  well  as  of  Newark,  Licking  county, 
he  was  the  founder  and  proprietor.  His  death 
occurred  in  January,  1821,  on  the  forty-eighth 
anniversary  of  his  birthday,  at  Columbus, 
where  he  was  serving  as  a  member  of  the  leg- 
islature from  Warren  county.  His  eldest  son, 
James   Findlay  Schenck,  was  rear  admiral  of 

the  United  States  navy. 
1 


After  the  death  of  his  father,  Robert  C. 
Schenck  was  placed  under  the  guardianship  of 
Gen.  James  Findlay.  In  November,  1824,  he 
entered  the  sophomore  class  at  Miami  univer- 
sity, and  in  [827  was  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution, but  remained  in  Oxford,  the  seat  of 
the  university,  employing  his  time  in  reading, 
and  as  tutor  of  French  and  Latin,  until  1830, 
when  he  received  the  degree  of  master  of  arts. 
In  November,  1830,  he  entered  the  law  office 
of  Thomas  Corwin,  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  in 
the  following  January  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  then  located  in  Dayton  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  law,  which  he  continued  with 
success  until  the  commencement  of  his  public 
life.  In  1 84 1  he  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Ohio  general  assembly.  In  May, 
1843,  he  was  elected  to  congress,  and  was  re- 
elected for  each  succeeding  term  until  1850, 
when  he  declined  a  renomination.  In  185 1 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Fillmore  as 
United  States  minister  to  Brazil.  In  April, 
1852,  while  in  Brazil,  he  received  instructions 
to  proceed  to  Buenos  Ayres,  and  to  Monte- 
video, and  with  the  charge  d'affaires  to  the 
Argentine  confederation,  to  propose  treaties  of 


172 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


commerce  with  the  latter  government,  and 
with  the  oriental  republic  of  Uruguay.  He 
was  also  empowered  to  negotiate  with  any 
person  authorized  to  represent  the  republic  of 
Paraguay.  He  returned  from  Brazil  in  1854, 
and  for  some  years  took  no  active  part  in  pol- 
itics, spending  his  time  in  attending  to  import- 
ant law  cases  and  in  managing,  as  president,  a 
line  of  railroad  from  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  to  the 
Mississippi  river.  In  1859,  at  a  meeting  of  his 
fellow-citizens  of  Dayton,  he  delivered  an  ad- 
dress upon  the  political  questions  of  the  day, 
and  was  on  this  occasion  the  first  to  suggest 
the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  the  next 
president. 

When  the  attack  was  made  on  Fort  Sum- 
ter, Mr.  Schenck  at  once  tendered  his  services 
to  the  government,  and  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  On  June  17, 
1 86 1,  Gen.  Schenck  was  ordered  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  London  &  Hampshire  railroad  as 
far  as  Vienna.  On  reaching  Vienna  he  was 
unexpectedly  attacked  by  a  body  of  rebels  in 
ambush  under  Gregg,  in  greatly  superior  num- 
bers. Gen.  Schenck,  with  great  coolness, 
rallied  his  few  men,  and  behaved  with  so 
much  courage  that  the  rebels  withdrew.  At 
Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  he  commanded  a 
brigade  in  Gen.  Tyler's  division,  and  when 
the  order  for  retreat  was  given,  Gen.  Schenck, 
forming  his  brigade,  brought  off  the  only  por- 
tion of  that  great  army  that  was  not  resolved 
into  the  original  elements  of  a  mob.  Gen. 
Schenck  was  next  assigned  to  the  command  of 
a  brigade  in  West  Virginia  under  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  cam- 
paign on  the  Kanawha  and  New  rivers.  From 
Cumberland,  he,  with  a  small  force,  was  or- 
dered to  move  up  the  south  bank  of  the  Poto- 
mac river,  did  so,  and  successfully  occupied 
and  held  Moorefield,  Petersburg,  Franklin  and 
other  important  points.  At  the  battle  of  Cross 
Keys  he  was  assigned  to  the  right  of  the  line, 


and  the  rebels,  in  heavy  force,  attempted  to 
flank  his  position,  but  the  attempt  was  prompt- 
ly repulsed.  From  that  time  until  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run  the  General  was  actively 
engaged  in  all  the  fatiguing  marches  along  the 
Rappahannock.  Gen.  Pope  abandoned  this 
point,  and  on  August  22,  1862,  Gen.  Schenck's 
division  was  ordered  toward  Bull  Run.  In  the 
two  days'  fight  that  ensued  his  division  took  an 
active  part.  His  orders  were  given  with  great 
promptness  and  judgment,  and  he  himself  was 
active  in  seeing  them  executed.  Gen.  Polk's 
report  mentioned  his  conduct  in  highly  com- 
mendatory terms.  On  the  second  day  of  the 
battle  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  was  car- 
ried from  the  field  and  conveyed  to  Washing- 
ton. Shortly  afterward  he  received  his  ap- 
pointment as  major-general  of  volunteers,  and 
accompanying  it  a  letter  from  Secretary  Stan- 
ton, in  which  he  stated  that  no  official  act  of 
his  was  ' '  ever  performed  with  more  pleasure 
than  the  forwarding  of  the  inclosed  appoint- 
ment." For  some  time  Gen.  Schenck's  wound 
was  critical,  and  he  recovered  very  slowly, 
with  his  right  arm  permanently  injured.  His 
service  in  the  field  closed  with  the  second  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run.  Over  six  months  elapsed 
before  Gen.  Schenck  was  again  fit  for  duty. 
In  the  meantime  his  great  reputation  and  ex- 
perience in  civil  affairs  had  suggested  him  as 
the  fit  commander  for  the  troublesome  Middle 
department,  and  accordingly  he  was,  on  De- 
cember 11,  1862,  assigned  to  that  command, 
Eighth  army  corps,  with  headquarters  at  Bal- 
timore, where  he  assumed  command  on  the 
22nd  of  the  month.  His  administration  of  the 
Middle  department  was  what  might  have  been 
expected  from  one  of  his  known  executive 
ability  and  firmness.  He  was  warmly  praised 
by  the  president  and  the  war  department,  and 
had  the  unqualified  endorsement  of  all  Union 
men  within  the  Middle  department  for  his 
course  while  in  Maryland  and  Delaware. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


173 


On  December  5,  1863,  Gen.  Schenck  re- 
signed his  commission  to  take  his  seat  in  con- 
gress, to  which  he  had  been  elected  from  the 
third  congressional  district  of  Ohio.  He  was 
appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on. mili- 
tary affairs,  a  position  of  much  responsibility, 
involving  continuous  and  exhaustive  labors. 
A  history  of  his  course  in  the  thirty-eighth  and 
thirty-ninth  congress  would  be  a  complete  his- 
tory of  the  military  legislation  of  the  country 
through  the  most  eventful  years  of  the  war  and 
after  its  close.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
fortieth  congress  Gen.  Schenck  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  house  committee  on  ways  and 
means,  thus  becoming  the  leader  of  the  house, 
which  position  he  held  until  near  the  close  of 
the  forty-first  congress.  His  services  during 
that  period  were  of  great  benefit  to  the  coun- 
try. From  1 87 1  to  1876  Gen.  Schenck  ably 
represented  the  United  States  as  minister  to 
the  Court  of  St.  James,  by  appointment  from 
President  Grant,  previous  to  which  appoint- 
ment he  had  served  as  a  member  of  the  high 
joint  commission  for  the  settlement  of  questions 
then  in  dispute  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain.  On  his  return  he  located  in 
Washington,  D.  C. ,  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  Subsequently  the  department  of  state 
placed  in  his  hands  the  codification  of  interna- 
tional laws,  upon  which  task  he  was  employed 
for  several  years. 

Gen.  Schenck's  death  occurred  in  Wash- 
ington City  in  March,  1890,  and  his  remains 
were  brought  to  Dayton  for  interment. 


'y-rf  ENDERSON    ELLIOTT,   jurist,  was 
[^\    born   in   Perquimans    county,    N.   C, 
I  ,r    August    17,    1827,    son  of  Jesse  and 
Rachel  (Jordan)  Elliott.      His  ances- 
tors on  both  sides  were  Irish,  his  grandparents 
being  Quakers.      His  first  American  ancestor, 
Col.  William  Elliott,  emigrated   from   Ireland 


toward  the  close  of   the  seventeenth  century. 
Young  Elliott  came  in  1830  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio,    where   the  family  engaged   in   farming. 
The  father  died  in    1839,   and  at  sixteen  the 
sonT  who  had  early  shown  some  taste  for  me-' 
chanics,  apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the  cabi- 
net trade.      He  relinquished  this  at  the  end  of 
six  months,  and  after  some  two  years  devoted 
to  mechanical  employments,  all  his  spare  time 
being  meanwhile  given  to  reading  and  study, 
he  entered  upon  active  preparations  for  teach- 
ing.     His  opportunities  for   even  a  common- 
school    education    were     limited,     hence     he 
worked    by    day   and   studied   by   night,    until 
he  was  able  to  pass  an  examination  qualifying 
him  to   teach   in   the   county  schools.      After 
some  years  of  alternately  teaching  and  attend- 
ing school,  he  in    1845  entered   Farmers' col- 
lege, near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  had  the 
benefit  of  the  instruction  of  the  foremost  edu- 
cators of  that  day,  such  as  President  Freeman 
G.  Cary,  the  venerable  R.  H.  Bishop,  D.  D., 
Dr.   John  Scott  and  others.     At  the  close  of 
his  collegiate  career  Mr.  Elliott  resumed  teach- 
ing,   and   at   the   same   time  commenced    the 
study  of  the  law  with  Gen.    Felix   Marsh,  of 
Eaton.      He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the 
supreme  court  of  Ohio  in   1851,  his  examina- 
tion having  been  made  by  Hon.  William  Den- 
nison,  afterward  Ohio's  war  governor.      In  all 
his  efforts  in  school  and  in  the  study  of  the 
law  Mr.  Elliott  had  no  assistance  from  others, 
but  made  his  own  way,  paying  his  entire  ex- 
penses by  teaching.      He  opened  an  office  in 
Germantown,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1852,  but 
business  not  proving  so  profitable  as  he  had 
hoped,  he  in  1855  removed  to  the  city  of  Day- 
ton.     Here,  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
spent  in  editorial  work,  he  continued  the  prac- 
tice  of   his    profession,    until    elevated    to    the 
common  pleas  bench  in  187 1.      In  this  position 
he  served   continuously  for  twenty-five  years, 
in    which    time    he    performed    an    immsnse 


174 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


amount  of  judicial  labor.  He  presided  in 
every  class  of  cases  in  the  nisi  prius  courts, 
criminal  and  civil,  equitable  and  legal.  His 
predilection  was  always  toward  the  equity  side 
of  the  court,  and  notwithstanding  that  he  sat 
in  about  800  felony  trials,  and  in  many  hun- 
dreds of  civil  jury  trials,  Judge  Elliott  is  best 
known  for  his  trial  of  equity,  corporation  and 
ecclesiastical  cases.  He  gave  especial  atten- 
tion to  railroad  law,  while  his  experience  in 
the  trial  of  church  disputes  and  contests  was 
considerable.  Of  these  thousands  of  cases, 
adjudged  by  him  in  the  ccurt  of  common 
pleas,  his  decisions  in  less  than  half  a  dozen 
civil  cases,  and  in  but  one  criminal  case,  were 
reversed  by  the  supreme  court,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter case  the  law  was  so  clearly  with  Judge 
Elliott  that  the  legislature  ultimately  amended 
the  statute  to  correspond  with  his  views  of  the 
criminal  law.  In  a  recent  work,  entitled  "The 
History  of  Dayton,"  the  author  of  the  depart- 
ment allotted  to  the  "Bench  and  Bar, "  the 
Hon.  Geo.  W.  Houk,  himself  an  accomplished 
lawyer,  makes  this  highly  complimentary  state- 
ment: "No  judge  ever  so  long  discharged 
judicial  functions  in  Montgomery  county  since 
its  organization  as  Judge  Elliott.  The  judicial 
qualities  of  mind,  possessing  a  strong  sense  of 
natural  justice,  and  well  learned  in  the  ele- 
mentary principles  of  the  law,  have  been  de- 
veloped by  long  experience  and  conscientious 
devotion  to  duty  into  rare  excellence."  In 
politics  Judge  Elliott  was  always  a  democrat, 
although  during  his  service  on  the  bench  he 
was  not  actively  identified  with  party  politics. 
Judge  Elliott  always  took  a  deep  interest  in 
educational  matters,  serving  with  much  ability 
on  the  board  of  education  of  Dayton  for  the 
period  of  six  years.  In  religion  he  was  both 
by  education  and  by  inclination  a  Methodist, 
which  church  bestowed  upon  him  its  highest 
honors.  He  was  a  member  of  every  electoral 
conference  of  his  jurisdiction  after  the  intro- 


duction of  lay-representation,  and  also  served 
as  a  member  of  the  general  conference  of  the 
church.  In  1844,  at  the  request  of  the  bish- 
ops, he  attended  the  centennial  of  Methodism, 
at  Baltimore,  as  the  representative  of  the  laity 
of  the  Cincinnati  conference.  Judge  Elliott 
was  especially  prominent  in  the  organization 
of  the  State  Bar  association.  Upon  the  death 
of  the  lamented  Gen.  Durbin  Ward,  he  suc- 
ceeded that  eminent  lawyer  as  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  this  association  on  judicial  ad- 
ministration and  legal  reform,  in  which  posi- 
tion, as  elsewhere,  he  did  much  toward  ad- 
vancing law  reform  in  Ohio.  In  this  capacity, 
too,  he  wrote  and  submitted  to  the  State  Bar 
association,  in  1885,  an  elaborate  report  in 
favor  of  codification,  which  report  was  en- 
dorsed by  the  association.  He  had  much  to 
do  with  preparing  the  bill  for  the  organization 
of  the  new  circuit  court.  At  the  meeting  of 
the  State  Bar  association,  held  at  Put-in-Bay, 
July,  1S90,  Judge  Elliott  was  elected,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  president  for  the  ensuing  year. 
In  May,  1888,  he  attended  a  convention  called 
at  the  national  capital  for  the  purpose  of  or- 
ganizing a  national  bar  association,  in  which 
body  he  was  likewise  active.  In  1850  Judge 
Elliott  was  married  to  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
John  and  Rebecca  Snavely.  Of  the  five  chil- 
dren born  to  them  but  two  daughters  are  now 
living. 

Judge  Elliott  died  June  25,  1896,  having 
continued  for  months,  even  under  the  burden 
and  distress  of  failing  health  and  increasing 
feebleness  of  body,  to  give  conscientious  and 
laborious  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office. 
After  a  quarter  century  of  faithful  and  devoted 
service,  in  which  he  had  won  the  love  and  re- 
spect of  the  bar  and  of  the  community,  he 
passed  away  full  of  years  and  of  honor.  His 
fine  record  as  a  jurist,  his  pure  personal  char- 
acter, his  never-failing  sympathy  for  the 
younger  members  of  the  bar,  his  certain  in- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


175 


terest  in  every  movement  for  the  public  weal, 
the  goodness  and  usefulness  of  his  life,  these 
will  long  remain  fresh  in  the  memory  of  the 
people  to  whom  Henderson  Elliott  gave  the 
fullness  of  his  intellectual  strength  and  of  his 
moral  nature. 


<y^\  OBERT  W.  STEELE,  deceased,  was 
I  /<^    one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Day- 
P    ton,  Ohio,  and  did   much  toward  the 
advancement  of  the  literary,    educa- 
tional and  social  interests  of  the  city.      He  was 
a  native  of  Dayton,  born  on  July  3,   1819,  and 
was  a  son  of  James  Steele,  who  came  to  Day- 
ton from  Kentucky  in  1805. 

James  Steele  was  a  native  of  Rockingham 
county,  Va.,  born  October  28,  1778.  He  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  his  family  having  emi- 
grated from  the  north  of  Ireland  to  Virginia  in 
1737.  Robert  Steele,  father  of  James,  re- 
moved from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  in  1788, 
settling  in  Fayette  county.  In  18 12  James 
Steele  married  Miss  Phebe  Pierce,  a  sister  to 
Joseph  Pierce,  with  whom  he  was  engaged  in 
merchandizing  in  Dayton  for  many  years. 
Isaac  Pierce,  father  of  Mrs.  Steele,  was  a 
member  of  the  Ohio  company,  and  came  to 
Marietta,  Ohio,  from  Rhode  Island  in  1788, 
with  the  first  colony  that  settled  in  this  state. 
During  the  war  of  18 12  a  company  of  soldiers 
was  led  by  James  Steele  to  the  relief  of  the 
people  in  the  vicinity  of  Piqua,  who  were  sup- 
posed to  be  in  danger  from  the  Indians  assem- 
bled in  council  n«ar  that  place.  With  a  por- 
tion of  this  company,  Capt.  Steele  was  retained 
in  the  service  by  order  of  Gen.  Harrison,  and 
was  sent  to  St.  Mary's,  where  a  block  house 
was  erected  and  commanded  by  Capt.  Steele 
for  several  weeks. 

In  1824  Capt.  Steele  was  a  presidential 
elector,  and  cast  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  He 
served    as    associate   judge    for    Montgomery 


county  for  fourteen  years,  and  as  state  senator 
for  four  years.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  Woodland  Cemetery  asso- 
ciation. In  1 S 1  5  he  was  a  director  in  the 
Dayton  bank,  and  in  1822  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  that  institution,  a  position  he  held  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  August  22, 
1 841. 

Robert  W.  Steele  was  prepared  for  college 
in  the  old  Dayton  academy,  and  entered  Miami 
university  in  1836.  In  1857  he  was  appointed 
a  trustee  of  Miami  university,  a  position  he 
held  for  nine  years.  After  leaving  college,  Mr. 
Steele  read  law  in  Dayton,  but  on  account  of 
delicate  health  was  advised  by  his  physician 
against  a  continuance  of  those  studies.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  public  schools  of  Day- 
ton, under  the  first  charter  of  the  city,  Mr. 
Steele  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education,  and  served  as  such  for  a  period 
of  thirty  years,  during  twelve  of  which  he  was 
president  of  the  board.  In  1847  he  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Dayton  Library  asso- 
ciation, and  was  for  many  years  a  director  and 
president  of  the  same.  In  i860,  when  the 
Library  association  was  united  with  the  public 
library,  he  was  appointed,  by  the  board  of  ed- 
ucation, chairman  of  the  library  committee, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  until  1873.  In 
1876  Mr.  Steele  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  board  of  city  examiners  for  the  public 
schools,  and  in  1888  a  member  of  the  library 
board,  then  made  an  independent  body.  In 
1866  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Cox  a  member 
the  state  board  of  charities,  and  served  for  five 
years.  In  1844  Mr.  Steele  was  one  of  the  in- 
corporators of  Cooper  Female  seminary,  and 
served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  as 
long  as  the  institution  existed.  He  was  secre- 
tary of  Woodland  Cemetery  association  from 
1853  to  1858,  being  elected  president  of  the 
association  in  the  latter  year  and  continuing  as 
such  until  his  death.      He  was  one  of  the  ear- 


176 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


liest  members  of  the  Montgomery  county  Ag- 
ricultural association,  and  an  active  member 
of  the  several  horticultural  societies  which 
were  established  in  the  county,  and  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  state  board  of  agriculture. 
In  1853  he  had  charge  of  the  first  state  fair 
held  in  Dayton.  He  was  active  in  promoting 
the  interests  of  early  railroads  entering  Day- 
ton, and  was  especially  active  and  patriotic 
during  the  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Steele  served  as  a  member  of  the  mili- 
tary committee  of  Montgomery  county,  was  a 
member  of  the  sanitary  committee,  and  chair- 
man of  the  citizens'  committee  to  assist  in 
raising  the  Ninety-third  regiment  of  Ohio  vol- 
unteers. He  aided  in  the  organization  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  association,  and  was  its 
first  president.  He  served  six  years  as  trustee 
of  the  Children's  home,  beginning  with  its 
establishment  in  1867.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  from  1841,  and  an 
elder  in  the  Third  Presbyterian  church  from 
1854  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Septem- 
ber 24,  1 89 1.  He  left  a  widow,  and  four 
daughters  and  two  sons,  as  follows:  Mary  D. , 
who  died  February  25,  1S97;  Sarah  S.,  Agnes 
C,  Charlotte,  William  and  Egbert. 


^V^V  AVID  ANSLIE  SINCLAIR,  secre- 
I  tary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
/^^J  association  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  near  Edinburg,  Scotland,  in 
May,  1850,  and  at  the  age  of  three  years  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  who  set- 
tled in  Hamilton,  Ontario,  Canada.  Until 
twelve  years  of  age,  young  Sinclair  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  city  of  Hamilton,  and 
then  relinquished  his  studies  in  order  to  devote 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  support  of  the 
family,  who  needed  his  assistance.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1870,  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  in  1871    became  general  secretary 


of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  association  of 
Hamilton;  in  August,  1874,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  general  secretary  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  association  of  Dayton,  which 
position  he  has  acceptably  filled  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  when  Mr.  Sinclair 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  present  office  the 
association  consisted  of  300  members  only, 
possessed  no  property,  and  was  burdened  with  a 
debt  of  $1,800.  It  now  has  a  membership  of 
over  1,800,  has  property  valued  at  $82,000, 
and  is  free  of  debt  or  other  incumbrance;  and 
it  is  largely  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Sinclair 
that  this  prosperous  state  of  affairs  has  been 
reached.  He  is  foremost  in  promoting  the 
best  interests  of  the  young  men  of  the  city, 
and  the  powerful  influence  for  good  now  wield- 
ed by  the  association  is  largely  due  to  his  wis- 
dom, strong  judgment  and  broad  conception 
of  the  possible  usefulness  of  the  organization. 


K*f\  ENJAMIN  and  WILLIAM  VAN 
I  /"^  CLEVE.  — Among  the  original  settlers 
JK^J  of  Dayton,  were  Benjamin  and  Will- 
iam Van  Cleve,  who,  with  their  moth- 
er, Mrs.  Catherine  Thompson,  her  husband, 
Samuel  Thompson,  and  their  two  daughters, 
Sarah  and  Martha,  left  Cincinnati  in  March, 
1796,  for  Dayton.  All  the  family  save  Will- 
iam made  the  trip  by  water,  he  coming  by  land 
with  other  settlers,  in  order  to  drive  the  fam- 
ily cow.  The  pirogue  containing  the  family 
landed  at  the  head  of  St.  Clair  street  (now 
Van  Cleve  Park)  on  Friday,  April  1,  1796. 
Mrs.  Thompson  was  the  first  to  step  ashore, 
and  she  was  the  first  white  woman  to  set  foot 
on  Dayton  soil.  Samuel  Thompson,  second 
husband  of  Mrs.  Van  Cleve,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  removed  to  Cincinnati  soon 
after  its  settlement,  and  there  married  the 
widow   of  John    Van   Cleve.  ■    Mr.    Thompson 


Bj   Permission      Copyright,   1MI5;  W.  J.  Shuey. 
BENJAMIN   VAN   CLEVE. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


177 


was  drowned  in  Mad  river  in  1 8 1 7.      His  widow 
died  in  Dayton,  August  6,  1837. 

Benjamin  and  William  Van  Cleve  were 
born  in  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  the  former 
in  1773  and  the  latter  in  1777,  and  were  the 
sons  of  John  and  Catherine  (Benham)  Van 
Cleve.  The  father  served  with  the  New  Jer- 
sey militia  during  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Revo- 
lution. In  1785  he  emigrated  from  New  Jer- 
sey to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  on  a  farm 
near  Washington  until  1789,  when  he  removed 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  making  the  journey  down 
the  river  in  a  boat.  He  was  killed  by  the  In- 
dians in  Cincinnati  June  1,  1790.  After  the 
death  of  his  father,  Benjamin  Van  Cleve,  then 
seventeen  years  of  age,  tried  as  best  he  could 
to  take  the  place  of  the  head  of  the  family. 
Much  of  the  time  from  1791  until  1794  he  was 
employed  in  the  quartermaster's  department, 
at  Washington.  He  branded  and  herded  gov- 
ernment horses  and  cattle,  brought  up  boat 
loads  of  salt  and  provisions  from  Kentucky, 
accompanied  brigades  of  loaded  pack  horses  to 
the  headquarters  of  St.  Clair's  army  in  the  In- 
dian country;  carried  orders,  kept  accounts, 
acted  as  hostler  for  his  uncle  and  himself, 
often  walking  many  miles  over  icy  roads  or 
through  snow,  slush  and  mud,  earning  his 
wages  of  fifteen  dollars  per  month  by  hard, 
rough  work.  He  was  present  at  St.  Clair's 
defeat.  In  making  the  retreat  with  the  army 
to  Cincinnati  he  lost  his  clothing  and  his  horse. 
In  the  spring  of  1792,  he  was  sent  off  from 
Cincinnati  at  midnight,  at  a  moment's  notice, 
by  the  quartermaster-general  to  carry  dis- 
patches to  the  war  department  at  Philadelphia. 
In  the  spring  of  1794,  he  went  with  Hugh 
Wilson,  commissary,  William  Gahagan,  and 
others,  down  the  Ohio  to  Fort  Massac,  in 
charge  of  two  contractors'  boats,  loaded  with 
provisions  and  accompanied  by  a  detachment 
of  troops.  In  the  fall  of  1795  he  accompanied 
Capt.  Dunlap's  party  to  make   the  survey  for 


the  Dayton  settlement.  When  not  surveying 
he  wrote  in  the  recorder's  office.  In  the  fall 
of  1796  (the  year  of  the  settlement  of  Dayton) 
he  went  with  Israel  Ludlow  and  Gen.  William 
C.  Schenck  to  survey  the  United  States  mili- 
tary lands  between  the  Scioto  and  Muskingum 
rivers.  From  this  time  on  he  farmed  in  sum- 
mer, and  in  winter  he  also  studied  surveying, 
or  assisted  the  clerk  of  the  Ohio  legislature,  or 
made  out  the  list  of  taxable  persons  and  their 
property.  On  August  28,  1800,  he  married 
Mary  Whitten,  daughter  of  John  and  Phebe 
Whitten,  who  lived  in  Wayne  township.  In 
the  winter  of  1 799-1 800  he  taught  the  first 
school  opened  in  Dayton.  From  the  organi- 
zation of  Montgomery  county,  in  1803,  until 
his  death,  in  1821,  he  was  clerk  of  the  court. 
He  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Dayton,  serving 
from  1804  until  1821.  In  1805  he  was  one  of 
the  incorporators  of  the  Dayton  library.  In 
1809  he  was  appointed  by  the  legislature  a 
member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees  of  Miami 
university.  He  was  also  an  active  member  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church. 

William  Van  Cleve,  brother  of  Benjamin, 
was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Effie 
Westfall,  had  several  children.  At  the  first 
call  for  troops,  in  18 12,  he  raised  a  company 
of  riflemen  in  Dayton  and  went  to  the  front  with 
the  company,  as  captain,  in  June  of  that  year. 
From  the  close  of  the  war  until  his  death,  in 
1828,  he  kept  a  tavern  at  the  junction  of  War- 
ren and  Jefferson  streets  in  Dayton. 


1  •£! 
WUDGE  DANIEL  A.  HAYNES 
J  was  one  of  the  ablest  jurists  of  Ohio, 
(•  1  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  Dayton  bar.  He  was  born 
in  Chatham,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  Sep- 
tember 9,  181 5,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Magda- 
lena  (Simmonds)  Haynes,  the  former  a  native 
of  Hampden  county,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  of 


178 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


New  York.  The  former  was  a  physician  of 
more  than  ordinary  skill  and  note  in  his  com- 
munity. 

Judge  Haynes  was  graduated  from  Union 
college,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  in  1835.  Soon 
afterward  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Day- 
ton. The  first  year  in  Dayton  he  spent  as 
teacher  of  the  Dayton  academy,  after  which 
he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  1839.  In  1840  he  began  prac- 
tice in  partnership  with  the  late  Henry  Stod- 
dard. In  1843  he  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney  for  Montgomery  county,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1845.  In  1844  he  was  elected  to 
the  Ohio  legislature.  In  1856  the  superior 
court  of  Montgomery  county  was  created,  and 
Judge  Haynes  was  elected  judge  of  the  same, 
was  re-elected  to  that  bench  in  i860  and  again 
in  1865,  and  resigned  in  1870,  after  having 
held  the  position  for  fourteen  years.  Upon 
retiring  from  the  bench  Judge  Haynes  associ- 
ated himself  in  the  law  practice  with  Hon. 
Clement  L.  Yallandigham,  which  partnership 
was  terminated  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Yal- 
landigham in  187 1.  In  1875  Judge  Haynes 
was  again  elected  to  the  bench  of  the  supe- 
rior court  and  served  another  full  term,  retir- 
ing in  1 88 1.  His  death  occurred  in  1895. 
Judge  Haynes  was  at  one  time  a  director 
in  the  Dayton  &  Western  Railroad  com- 
pany, and  was  also,  for  a  time,  president 
of  the  Dayton  bank,  the  leading  banking  house 
of  its  day  in  Dayton.  He  was  also  president 
of  the  Dayton  Insurance  company.  On  June 
13,1 848,  Judge  Haynes  was  married  to  Emily, 
daughter  of  Gen.  Sampson  Mason,  of  Spring- 
field, Ohio.  Her  death  occurred  September 
2,    1848. 

This  outline  of  the  professional  and  judicial 
career  of  Daniel  A.  Haynes  gives  no  hint  of 
his  great  ability  as  a  lawyer  or  of  his  excep- 
tional equipment  as  a  judge.  His  knowledge  of 
legal   principles  seemed    almost  intuitive;  his 


mind  had  a  broad  grasp  and  a  keen  power  of 
analysis;  his  memory  was  both  retentive  and 
accurate,  enabling  him  to  carry  without  confu- 
sion the  questions  of  law  and  of  fact  involved 
in  a  score  of  cases  reserved  for  his  decision  at 
the  same  time.  No  judge  in  the  history  of 
Ohio  has  ever  surpassed  Judge  Haynes  in  the 
clearness,  sound  reasoning  and  inherent  justice 
of  his  decisions. 


WOHN  H.  PATTERSON,  a  prominent 
■  manufacturer  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  the 
(%  1  son  of  Jefferson  and  Julia  (Johnston) 
Patterson,  and  a  grandson  of  Col.  Rob- 
ert Patterson,  a  pioneer  in  the  settlement  of 
Kentucky,  and,  later,  one  of  the  three  original 
proprietors  of  Cincinnati. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  the  original  homestead,  which  lay  south 
of  Dayton,  and  early  in  life  developed  the  hab- 
its of  industry  and  perseverance  which  have 
enabled  him  to  carry  great  enterprises  to  a 
successful  termination.  In  his  early  years  he 
spent  his  leisure  hours  in  assisting  in  his  fa- 
ther's sawmill  and  gristmill,  and  in  the  general 
work  of  the  farm,  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  The  next  three  years  were  spent  at 
Miami  college,  Oxford,  Ohio,  where  he  pur- 
sued a  classical  course  of  study.  His  senior 
year  was  passed  at  Dartmouth  college.  After 
he  was  graduated,  he  returned  to  his  native 
place,  where  he  secured  a  position  as  collector 
of  tolls  on  the  Miami  canal.  Three  years  later 
he  gave  up  this  position  and  engaged  in  the 
retail  coal  business  in  Dayton.  He  then  be- 
came interested  in  coal  mining  at  Coalton,  in 
Jackson  county,  Ohio,  and  assisted,  in  com- 
pany with  John  H.  Winters,  George  Harsh- 
man  and  others,  in  pushing  to  completion  the 
D.  &  S.  E.  railroad,  which  was  built  for  the 
purpose  of  introducing  Jackson  coal  into  south- 
ern Ohio.      He  continued  in  the  mining  busi- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


181 


ness  for  several  years,  after  which  he  accepted 
the  position  of  manager  for  the  Southern  Ohio 
Coal  &  Iron  company,  with  offices  located 
at  Dayton. 

Mr.  Patterson's  real  life  work  has  been  the 
perfection  and  introduction  of  cash  registers. 
He  became  interested  in  this  great  industry  in 
1882,  and  from  that  time  he  has  been  inti- 
mately connected  with  its  development.  The 
National  Manufacturing  company  was  organ- 
ized in  1882  for  the  manufacture  of  these 
machines,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000, 
held  by  Dayton  citizens.  In  18S3  Mr.  Patter- 
son became  a  director  in  the  company,  and  the 
capital  stock  was  increased  to  $15,000,  the 
added  shares  being  taken  by  Mr.  Patterson 
and  his  brother.  Little  progress  was  made 
until  1 88  5,  when  the  company  was  reorgan- 
ized. Mr.  Patterson  then  gave  up  all  connec- 
tion with  the  coal  business,  and,  with  his 
brother,  Frank  J.  Patterson,  devoted  his  en- 
tire attention  to  the  cash  register  industry, 
becoming  the  president  and  manager  of  the 
company.  In  1886  the  capital  stock  of  the 
National  Cash  Register  company,  as  it  is  now 
called,  was  increased  to  $100,000,  and  in  1891 
was  again  increased  to  $500,000.  The  factory 
covers  five  and  three-fourths  acres  of  ground; 
it  turns  out  a  cash  register  every  fifteen  min- 
utes, and  the  number  of  machines  in  use  has 
long  since  passed  the  one  hundred  thousand 
mark. 

Mr.  Patterson  is  the  captain  of  an  indus- 
trial army  of  1000  men  and  200  women  in  the 
factory  at  Dayton,  and  300  agents  scattered 
over  nearly  all  the  world.  The  factory  is  gov- 
erned, not  by  a  superintendent,  but  by  a  com- 
mittee of  five  expert  mechanics  of  the  broadest 
experience  in  the  manufacture  of  cash  regis- 
ters. Under  this  committee  are  a  number  of 
sub-committees,  which  absorb  a  vast  amount 
of  detail  work,  making  the  running  of  the  plant 
almost  automatic,  so   far  as  the   necessity  for 


the  personal  attention  of  its  officers  is  con- 
cerned. A  new  building,  350  feet  long  and 
four  stories  high,  has  recently  been  erected, 
making  the  plant  one  of  the  finest  factories  in 
the  world. 

The  company's  policy  is  to  promote  from 
the  ranks  and  reward  merit  wherever  found. 
Mr.  Patterson's  plan  creates  enthusiasm  in  his 
little  army;  this  is  his  chief  aim,  for  he  finds 
that  enthusiasm  is  as  neccessary  to  success  in 
business  as  in  battles.  The  people  employed 
form  a  particularly  intelligent  and  industrious 
community,  embracing,  with  their  families, 
thousands  of  Dayton's  most  hardworking  and 
prosperous  citizens.  A  number  of  those  in  the 
employ  of  the  company  are  college  graduates 
and  professional  people,  and  the  standard  of 
education  among  the  rank  and  file  is  con- 
stantly being  raised. 

Mr.  Patterson  is  known,  not  only  in  his 
own  state,  but  in  the  east  also,  as  a  persistent 
advocate  of  co-operation  between  employer 
and  employe,  and  the  establishment  of  the 
"new  factory  system,"  of  which  his  own 
factory  is  the  embodiment.  He  has  spoken 
and  written  forcibly  upon  labor  questions,  and 
also  upon  questions  of  municipal  and  legislative 
reform,  and  is  universally  recognized  for  his 
public  spirit.  Out  of  a  ripe  business  experi- 
ence, he  has  learned  the  secret  of  sharing 
prosperity  with  those  who  work  for  him,  while 
steadily  and  materially  building  up  a  great 
business. 


^y^VEWITT  C.  SPINNING,  now  living 
I  in  retirement  at  No.  401  West  First 
/^^_^  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of 
this  city,  and  was  born  May  14,  1821. 
His  parents  were  Benjamin  R.  and  Maria 
(Simpson)  Spinning,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  was  a  contractor  and 
builder   by  occupation,    settled    in    Dayton    in 


182 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


1 8 14,  and  here  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty 
years,  in  1823,  his  wife  following  him  to  the 
grave  one  year  later.  Of  the  four  children 
born  to  these  parents  DeWitt  C.  was  the 
youngest  and  is  the  only  survivor.  The  eldest, 
Charity  Ann,  was  married  to  Caleb  Birchell, 
and  died  at  about  sixty  years  of  age,  in  Spring- 
field, 111.;  Eliza  Jane  became  the  wife  of  Na- 
than Allen,  and  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio;  and 
Alexander,  a  cabinetmaker,  died  in  Braid- 
wood,  111.,  when  about  seventy-four  years  old. 
DeWitt  C.  Spinning  has  no  recollection  of 
his  parents,  but  remembers  that,  after  their 
death,  he  lived  for  a  short  time  with  his  mater- 
nal grandparents,  and  then  with  strangers, 
working  on  a  farm  from  the  age  of  twelve  until 
sixteen,  and  that,  although  he  did  a  man's 
work,  his  compensation  was  very  meager.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  an  apprenticeship 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Dayton,  and  fol- 
lowed that  calling  for  about  fifteen  years,  and 
then  embarked  in  the  lumber  trade  in  partner- 
ship with  Daniel  Beckel,  now  deceased.  After 
a  period  of  five  years  spent  in  this  connection, 
Mr.  Spinning  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Beckel,  continued  the  business  alone  for  fifteen 
years,  and  thus  laid  the  foundation  of  his  later 
success.  Disposing  of  his  lumber  interests, 
Mr.  Spinning  and  two  associates  purchased 
the  gas  works  at  Urbana — his  partners  being 
Joseph  Light  and  Charles  Kiefer.  Later  Mr. 
Light  and  DeWitt  C.  Spinning  purchased  the 
Piqua,  Ohio,  gas  plant,  Mr.  Spinning  being 
president  of  both  companies  for  about  eighteen 
years.  These  two  companies  realized  consid- 
erable profit,  and  although  the  Piqua  plant  has 
been  disposed  of,  Mr.  Spinning  is  still  the  pres- 
ident of  the  Urbana  company,  which  is  carried 
on  under  the  style  of  the  Urbana  Gas  Light  & 
Coke  company.  Beside  attending  to  the  duties 
pertaining  to  his  present  position,  Mr.  Spin- 
ning has  spent  much  of  his  time,  in  recent 
years,  in  managing  his  real    estate  in  Dayton, 


comprising  numerous  residences  and  out-lot 
property,  all  of  which  represent  the  result  of 
his  foresight  and  prudence,  as  he  began  his 
business  life  with  no  capital  excepting  a  strong 
physical   constitution  and  indomitable    energy. 

Mr.  Spinning  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1846,  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Hannah  Eliza  Wright,  and 
with  her  he  lived  thirty-six  years,  her  death 
occurring  in  1 882.  Of  the  two  children  born  to 
this  union,  Edgar  died  in  infancy,  and  Frank, 
a  young  man  of  great  promise — an  architect 
and  draftsman,  of  Chicago,  111. — died  of  con- 
gestion of  the  brain.  The  second  marriage  of 
Mr.  Spinning  was  solemnized  March  20,  1883, 
with  Miss  Annie  Corson,  a  native  of  Wapello, 
Louisa  county,  Iowa,  but  most  of  whose  child- 
hood and  early  womanhood  was  passed  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  where  she  was  residing 
with  her  parents  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
Her  father  and  mother,  John  and  Clara  (Lan- 
ston)  Corson,  are  now  residents  of  Dayton, 
although  they  were  for  many  years  residents  of 
the  national  capital,  where  the  father  held  va- 
rious positions  under  the  United  States  govern- 
ment. 

Mr.  Spinning  was  made  a  Mason  in  Dayton 
in  May,  1842,  and  two  years  later  became  an 
Odd  Fellow,  and  still  retains  his  membership 
in  both  orders.  In  Masonry  he  is  a  member 
of  St.  John's  lodge,  No.  13,  in  which  he  has 
held  all  the  official  positions,  as  well  as  in  the 
chapter;  the  consistory  degrees  were  conferred 
upon  him  in  Cincinnati  in  1867,  he  having  now 
attained  the  thirty-second  degree  in  this  grand 
fraternity.  In  politics  he  was  a  whig  until 
the  organization  of  the  republican  party, 
since  when  his  adherence  to  the  latter  has 
been  unswerving. 

The  Spinning  family  is  of  Scotch  origin, 
and  the  Simpson  family  of  German  extraction, 
and  both  the  grandfathers  of  Mr.  Spinning 
were  patriots  of  the  Revolutionary  war.      The 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


183 


Corson  family  is  also  of  Scotch  descent.  John 
Corson,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Spinning, 
was  born  in  Dumfries,  Scotland,  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  1807,  and  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  Selah  Benton,  who  was  a  captain 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Corson  died 
in  New  York  city  in  181 2. 


eLIAM  E.  BARNEY,  deceased,  promi- 
nent educator  and  manufacturer  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  a  native  of  Adams, 
Jefferson  county,  N..  Y.,  and  was 
born  on  October  14,  1807.  He  was  the  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Nancy  (Potter)  Barney,  the 
former  a  native  of  Guilford,  Vt. ,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Connecticut.  Benjamin  Barney  was  a 
strong  advocate  of  education,  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Union  academy  at  Belleville, 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  For  more  than  fifty 
years  this  academy  has  been  a  successful  insti- 
tution of  learning,  and  has  reflected  much 
credit  upon  its  founders.  Eliam  E.  Barney 
acquired  his  elementary  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  following  which  he  taught  school 
during  one  or  two  winters.  He  was  prepared 
for  college  at  Lowville  academy,  New  York, 
and  at  Union  academy  at  Belleville,  that  state, 
and  entered  the  sophomore  class  at  Union 
college,  Schenectady,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1831.  After  teaching  for 
a  brief  period  in  a  family  boarding-school  at 
Sand  Lake,  N.  Y. ,  Mr.  Barney  became  princi- 
pal of  the  Lowville  academy,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  In  the  year  1833  he  came 
to  Ohio  and  taught  for  six  months  in  Granville 
college  (now  Dennison  university),  filling  the 
place  of  one  of  the  professors  who  had  been 
elected  but  had  not  yet  arrived.  In  the  spring 
of  1834  he  came  to  Dayton  and  was  principal 
of  the  Dayton  academy  from  1834  to  1838. 
During  the  following  two  years  he  taught  a 
private    school     for    both    sexes,    when,     on 


account  of  poor  health,  he  relinquished  teach- 
ing and  for  four  years  was  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business.  In  the  meantime  the  Cooper 
Female  academy  had  been  established,  and 
Mr.  Barney  was  called  to  the  charge  of  it  as 
principal  in  1845,  an<^  so  continued  until  1851. 
This  closed  his  career  as  a  teacher.  His  teach- 
ing from  first  to  last  was  attended  with  great 
success,  and  he  attained  a  high  reputation  as 
an  educator.  His  education  and  the  range  of 
his  information  were  ample,  and  he  possessed 
a  rare  faculty  of  communicating  knowledge  to 
his  pupils.  He  seemed  without  difficulty  to 
reach  the  understanding  and  to  compel  a  ready 
apprehension  of  all  he  sought  to  teach.  His 
discipline  was  strict,  but  his  kindness  at  the 
same  time  was  so  manifest  that  he  secured 
alike  the  pupils'  respect,  affection  and  obe- 
dience. 

In  the  summer  of  1850,  in  company  with 
E.  Thresher,  Mr.  Barney  established  the  Day- 
ton Car  works.  Their  capital  was  limited, 
and  the  business  was  carried  on  upon  a  small 
scale,  and  prudently,  but  successfully.  In 
1854  Caleb  Parker  succeeded  Mr.  Thresher 
in  the  firm,  and  from  that  time  on  until  1854 
the  business,  which  had  greatly  increased,  was 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Barney, 
Parker  &  Co.  Mr.  Parker  then  sold  out  to 
Mr.  Preserved  Smith,  the  firm  becoming  Bar- 
ney, Smith  &  Co.,  and  was  so  continued  until 
1867,  when  a  joint  stock  company  was  formed 
under  the  name  of  Barney  &  Smith  Manufac- 
turing company,  of  which  Mr.  Barney  became 
the  president,  and  so  continued  until  his  death. 
To  Mr.  Barney  is  due  in  a  great  measure  the 
wonderful  growth  and  success  of  the  business 
of  the  above  concern.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
ability,  bold  but  prudent,  clear-headed,  far- 
sighted,  energetic,  practical  and  thoroughly 
familiar  with  business  in  general  and  in  detail. 

Mr.  Barney  had  varied  and  important 
business   interests  aside  from   the  car  works. 


184 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


He  was  president  of  the  Dayton  Hydraulic 
company  from  from  its  organization  until  his 
death,  and  vice-president  and  director  of  the 
Second  National  bank  of  Dayton.  For  twenty 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  Dennison  university,  to  which  institu- 
tion he  gave  liberally  to  endow  two  memorial 
professorships.  He  was  for  many  years  prom- 
inently connected  with  the  First  Baptist  church 
of  Dayton. 

On  October  10,  1834,  Mr.  Barney  was 
married  to  Julia,  daughter  of  Dudley  Smith,  of 
Galway,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  Mrs.  Agnes  E.  Piatt,  Eugene  J. 
Barney,  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Piatt,  Albin  C.  Barney 
and  Edward  E.   Barney  (deceased). 


ISAAC  VAN  AUSDAL,  representative 
citizen  and  merchant  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state,  having 
been  born  at  Eaton,  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  February  13,  1821.  He  is  the  son  of 
Cornelius  and  Martha  (Bilba)  Van  Ausdal, 
both  natives  of  Virginia.  Cornelius  Van  Aus- 
dal was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Va.,  on 
October  2,  1783,  and  was  there  reared  toman- 
hood.  At  about  the  time  that  he  attained  his 
majority  he  came  west  to  Ohio  and  spent  the 
winter  with  his  brother  Peter,  who  had  shortly 
before  settled  in  the  wilderness  in  what  is  now 
Lanier  township,  Preble  county.  Being  much 
pleased  with  the  west,  and  finding  an  oppor- 
tunity, Cornelius  determined  to  make  his  start 
in  life  in  the  above  section.  In  the  spring  of 
1805  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Virginia,  and 
the  following  spring  he  again  turned  his  face 
toward  Ohio,  reaching  what  is  now  Preble 
county  during  that  summer,  with  a  wagon 
loaded  with  plain,  substantial  goods.  The 
town  of  Eaton  was  then  being  laid  out,  and 
was  already  talked  of  as  the  prospective  seat  of 


the  county,  which  must  some  day  be  erected 
from  the  western  portion  of  Montgomery  coun- 
ty. Our  young  merchant  decided  to  open  a 
store  in  Eaton,  but  before  he  could  find  a  build- 
ing he  had  customers,  selling  his  goods  direct 
from  the  Canestoga  wagon  in  which  they  were 
transported  from  the  seaboard.  He  opened  the 
first  store  in  Eaton  in  a  log  cabin.  His  second 
wagon  load  of  goods  he  got  from  Cincinnati. 
His  reputation  as  a  good  business  man  and 
wide-awake  merchant  grew  from  the  very 
first  day  he  began  business.  There  was  very 
little  money  in  the  country  at  that  time,  and 
he  received  in  exchange  for  his  goods  the 
various  products  of  the  country,  such  as  furs, 
skins,  beeswax,  maple  sugar,  ginseng  and  pearl- 
ash.  With  these  articles,  or  the  money  which 
they  brought,  he  secured  more  goods,  and  as 
the  settlement  of  the  county  increased,  he  en- 
larged his  trade,  and  within  a  few  years  was 
considered  one  of  the  most  substantial  business 
men  in  northwestern  Ohio.  Mr.  Van  Ausdal's 
reputation  won  for  him  more  than  a  local  field 
of  custom,  and  for  many  3Tears  he  carried  on  a 
wholesale  as  well  as  a  retail  business.  During 
his  early  career  he  dealt  largely  with  the  In- 
dians, who  dwelt  in  or  roamed  through  south- 
western Ohio  and  that  part  of  Indiana  adjoin- 
ing. Among  them  was  Tecumseh,  the  famous 
Shawnee  war-chief,  with  whom  the  store- 
keeper was  as  intimately  acquainted  as  with 
any  white  man  in  the  county.  In  18 10  Mr. 
Van  Ausdal  was  appointed  United  States  dep- 
uty marshal,  and  in  that  capacity  took  the 
first  census  of  Preble  county.  In  the  war  of 
1 8 1 2  he  was  a  paymaster  of  the  army,  and  a 
large  amount  of  public  money  was  disbursed 
by  him.  He  faithfully  discharged  his  duty, 
and  upon  the  close  of  the  war,  when  his 
accounts  were  examined  at  Washington,  they 
were  allowed  without  delay  or  expense.  In  the 
year  18 19  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio  legisla- 
ture, in  which  body  he  served  with  entire  sat- 


ax^joy  QJUyiy( 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


187 


isfaction  to  his  constituents.  Gen.  William 
Henry  Harrison  was  a  colleague  of  Mr.  Van 
Ausdal  in  that  session  of  the  legislature,  and 
the  two  became  intimate  friends.  During  the 
campaign  of  1840  Gen.  Harrison  was  present 
at  a  political  meeting  held  in  Eaton,  at  which 
time  he  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Van  Ausdal.  At 
about  the  time  Mr.  Van  Ausdal  entered  the 
legislature  he  became  the  owner  of  the  West- 
ern Telegraph,  a  weekly  paper  published  at 
Eaton,  which  he  subsequently  sold.  From 
1828  until  1833  Mr.  Van  Ausdal  was  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  dry-goods  business  on  Main 
street  in  Cincinnati,  the  firm  name  being  Van 
Ausdal,  Hatch  &  Gray,  and  during  that  period 
he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  time  in  New 
York  city  as  purchaser  for  his  house.  Be- 
tween the  years  1828  and  1832  he  was  also  a 
partner  in  the  pork  business  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Judge  Curry,  in  Hamilton,  Ohio.  In 
1846  he  became  interested  in  business  with  his 
son  Isaac  in  Dayton,  the  firm  name  being  C. 
Van  Ausdal  &  Son.  This  continued  until 
1863,  when  Cornelius  withdrew  from  the  firm 
and  retired  to  private  life,  and  his  death 
occurred  on  August  10,  1870.  Mr.  Van  Aus- 
dal was  a  broad,  public-spirited  man,  and  as 
much  concerned  in  advancing  the  welfare  of 
the  community  as  in  forwarding  his  own  inter- 
ests. His  reputation  for  honesty  and  fair 
dealing  was  unexcelled.  It  was  this  reputa- 
tion, constantly  extending,  which  drew  to  him 
the  enormous  business  from  which  he  accumu- 
lated an  independence,  and  which  made  him 
one  of  the  first  merchants  in  this  section  of 
Ohio.  He  was  rigidly  moral  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life,  and  thoroughly  and  conscien- 
tiously religious,  and  he  practiced  his  religion 
in  all  walks  of  life. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Van  Ausdal  and  Mar- 
tha Bilba  took  place  on  July  24,  18 12,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren:    John,    born     October    16,     1814,    now 


deceased;  Sarah,  born  January  17,  18 17,  now 
deceased;  Lucinda  (Donohoe),  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  181 8;  Isaac,  born  February  13,  1821;. 
Julian,  born  June  29,  1824,  deceased;  Rufus 
Leavitt,  twin  brother  to  Harvey  Buell,  born 
June  1,  1830,  deceased;  Harvey  Buell,  born 
June  1,  1830;  Emily  (Gould),  born  February 
17,  1835,  and  Sarah  Ann  (Nelson),  born  May 
29,  1840.  An  infant  was  also  born  that  died 
unnamed. 

Isaac  Van  Ausdal,  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy, acquired  his  early  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Eaton,  afterward  attending 
Miami  university,  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1842.  In  1845  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  embarked  in  the  dry-goods  busi- 
ness, in  partnership  with  Daniel  McCleary,  of 
Rossville,  Ohio,  that  gentleman  having  been 
his  class-mate  at  Oxford.  This  co-partnership, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Van  Ausdal  &  McCleary, 
lasted  for  only  one  year,  when  Mr.  Van  Aus- 
dal purchased  this  partner's  interest.  During 
the  same  year,  however,  his  father,  Cornelius 
Van  Ausdal,  became  a  partner  in  the  business, 
the  firm  becoming  C.  Van  Ausdal  &  Son,  and 
continuing  so  until  the  withdrawal  of  the  senior 
member  in  1863.  Up  to  1886  several  changes 
were  made  in  the  firm,  but  in  the  year  last 
named,  the  style  of  the  firm  was  changed  to 
that  of  the  present  time,  I.  &  C.  Van  Ausdal, 
Charles  Van  Ausdal,  son  of  Isaac,  becoming 
a  member.  When  the  house  was  first  estab- 
lished only  dry  goods  was  dealt  in.  Later  it 
was  merged  into  the  carpet  trade,  being  the 
first  to  engage  in  that  specialty  in  Dayton,  and 
to  this  was  added  from  time  to  time  almost 
every  article  needed  for  fitting  up  a  household. 
As  far  back  as  1859  the  dry-goods  department 
was  entirely  abandoned.  In  its  line,  this  is 
the  leading  house  in  Dayton,  and  enjoys  a 
trade  of  large  and  increasing  proportions.  Its 
reputation  for  sound  business  principles  is  well 
known  throughout  all  this  section  of  the  state,. 


II 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


and  draws  its  trade,  not  only  Irom  Dayton  and 
Montgomery  county  but  from  the  adjoining 
counties  and  territory.  Aside  from  the  above 
interests  Mr.  Van  Ausdal  is  connected  in  a  busi- 
ness way,  as  a  stockholder  and  director,  with 
several  of  the  large  and  important  corporations 
of  the  city.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Third 
National,  Fourth  National,  and  Teutonia  Na- 
tional banks,  three  of  the  leading  banking  cor- 
porations of  Dayton,  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Firemans,  the  Ohio,  and  the  Columbia 
Insurance  companies,  also  of  Dayton.  He  has 
other  financial  interests,  whose  general  nature 
is  indicated  by  those  cited. 

Mr.  Van  Ausdal  was  married  in  June,  1855, 
to  Mary  C,  the  daughter  of  Orlistus  Roberts, 
of  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  seven 
children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Robert, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years;  Cor- 
nelius, who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
Mary,  a  graduate  of  Smith  college,  Mass.,  and 
now  living  at  home  with  her  parents;  Charles, 
who  graduated  from  Princeton  university,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  I.  &  C.  Van 
Ausdal;  Laura,  a  graduate  from  Bradford's 
seminary,  Mass.,  and  who  is  now  Mrs.  Charles 
G.  Stoddard,  of  Dayton;  Thomas  E. ,  who  was 
also  a  collegian  and  was  for  a  long  time  a  busi- 
ness associate  with  his  father,  but  whose  death 
occurred  in  1895,  he  leaving  a  widow  (Margaret, 
the  daughter  of  George  L.  Phillips,  of  Dayton) ; 
Catherine  C,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Corn- 
stock  school,  of  New  York  city,  and  is  now  at 
home  with  her  parents. 

For  over  fifty  years  Isaac  Van  Ausdal  has 
been  a  citizen  and  business  man  of  Dayton,  and 
during  all  that  time  his  success  has  been  uni- 
form. His  mercantile  career  has  been  not 
only  a  successful,  but  an  honest  one.  While 
he  has  confined  himself  closely  to  business,  yet 
he  has  not  neglected  the  duties  incumbent 
upon  all  good  citizens.  He  has  always  been 
found  on  the  right  side  of  public  questions  and 


movements  looking  towards  the  betterment 
and  building  up  of  Dayton,  and  he  has  ever 
been  ready  to  lend  his  aid  and  influence  to  help 
along  such  movements.  As  a  business  man 
and  financier  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
able  in  the  city.  Shrewd,  sound  and  conserv- 
ative, he  has  made  but  few  mistakes  in  a  long 
and  active  career.  As  a  man  he  is  possessed  of 
sterling  traits  and  characteristics  which  have 
won  for  him  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  who 
stand  ready  to  testify  to  his  worth  and  excel- 
lence. 


aHARLES  VAN  AUSDAL,  merchant, 
and  member  of  the  firm  of  I.  &  C.  Van 
Ausdal,  of  Dayton,  was  born  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  on  July  26,  1863,  and  is 
the  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  C.  (Roberts)  Van 
Ausdal.  He  was  educated  in  the  Dayton  pub- 
lic schools  and  at  Princeton  university,  gradu- 
ating from  the  latter  place  in  1885.  In  1886 
he  became  associated  with  his  father  in  busi- 
ness in  Dayton,  becoming  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  I.  &  C.  Van  Ausdal.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

He  was  married  on  January  31,  1888,  to 
Susie,  the  daughter  of  H.  H.  Weakley,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Dayton  Daily  Herald.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Van  Ausdal  have  three  children:  Char- 
lotte, Herbert  Weakley  and  Catherine. 


,/^EV.   WILLIAM    JOHN   SHUEY, 

I  ^T  financial  agent  of  the  United  Brethren 
P  Publishing  House,  and  a  representa- 
tive citizen  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
at  Miamisburg,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
February  9,  1827,  and  is  the  son  of  Adam  and 
Hannah  (Aley)  Shuey.  The  father  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  in  1S05,  when  six  years 
of  age,  came  with  his  father,  Martin  Shuey,  to 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


189 


Montgomery  county.  His  death  occurred  in 
Dayton  in  1881.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Maryland,  and  in  1805,  at  the  age  of  six  years, 
came  to  Montgomery  county  with  her  father, 
Isaac  Aley,  who  settled  near  Dayton. 

Rev.  William  J.  Shuey  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  at  an  academy  in  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  near  which  city  he  subsequently 
taught  school  for  a  time.  He  was  converted, 
and  became  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  in  1843,  received  license  to  preach  from 
the  Miami  conference  in  1848,  and  was  or- 
dained in  1 85 1  by  Bishop  Erb.  He  was  pas- 
tor at  Lewisburg,  Ohio,  from  1849  to  1851;  at 
Cincinnati  from  1851  to  1859,  and  at  Dayton 
from  i860  to  1862.  From  1862  to  1864  he 
was  presiding  elder.  In  1 8  54  he  was  appointed 
the  first  missionary  of  the  church  to  Africa;  and 
in  1855,  in  company  with  Rev.  D.  K.  Flick- 
inger  and  Dr.  D.  C.  Kumler,  he  made  a  voy- 
age to  the  "Dark  Continent"  for  the  purpose 
of  selecting  a  site  for  a  mission. 

In  1864  Mr.  Shuey  was  appointed  assistant 
agent  of  the  publishing  house  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  in  1865  was  elected  senior  agent,  and  by 
the  successive  resignations  of  two  assistant 
agents,  became  sole  agent  in  1866,  a  position 
he  has  since  occupied.  Rev.  Shuey  has  been 
a  delegate  to  seven  general  conferences  and 
the  secretary  of  one;  a  member  of  the  board 
of  missions  twenty-six  years ;  one  of  the 
first  directors  of  the  church  erection  society; 
for  twelve  years  from  its  organization,  the 
superintendent  of  the  General  Sabbath-School 
association,  and,  since  1880,  has  been  its 
treasurer.  For  four  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education;  for  fourteen 
years  a  trustee  of  Otterbein  university;  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  Union 
Biblical  seminary;  a  member  of  the  church 
commission,  and  since  1889  one  of  the  newly 
incorporated  board  of  trustees  of  the  church. 
He    has   been  a   trustee  of  the  First    United 


Brethren  church  of  Dayton  for  many  years,  a 
member  of  the  Montgomery  county  Bible  so- 
ciety and  a  president  of  the  Dayton  United 
Brethren  Minister's  association. 

In  1859  Rev.  Mr.  Shuey  became  the  joint 
author,  with  Rev.  D.  K.  Flickinger,  of  a  vol- 
ume entitled  "Discourses  on  Doctrinal  and 
Practical  Subjects."  He  has  been  the  editor 
of  the  year  books  of  the  church,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  numbers,  since  their  first  pub- 
lication in  1867,  and  of  the  general  conference 
minutes  since  1865.  He  has  contributed  an 
article  on  the  United  Brethren  church  to 
McClintock  &  Strong's  Cyclopedia,  has  issued 
a  number  of  pamphlets,  and  has  written  con- 
stantly for  the  Religious  Telescope.  In  1880 
the  title  of  doctor  of  divinity  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  Hartville  university,  but  was  de- 
clined. 

Rev.  Mr.  Shuey  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  Dayton  board  of  education  and  on  the 
board  of  trade  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is 
a  director  of  the  Fourth  National  bank,  and 
vice-president  of  the  Union  Safe  Deposit  & 
Trust  company,  of  Dayton,  and  has  occupied 
other  positions  of  trust  in  the  city.  In  1 848  Mr. 
Shuey  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Berger,  of 
Springfield.  Those  of  their  children  who  are 
still  living  are  Edwin  L.,  who  has  charge  of 
the  book  department  of  the  United  Brethren 
Publishing  company,  and  William  A.,  who  is 
editor  of  book  literature  of  the  same  establish- 
ment. Mr.  Shuey's  prominence  and  usefulness 
in  the  community  of  which  he  is  an  honored 
citizen  cannot  be  estimated  from  the  mere  re- 
cital of  the  official  positions  he  has  filled,  either 
in  the  church,  in  business  circles,  or  in  public 
life.  He  is  an  active  power  for  good  in  every 
educational  and  philanthropic  movement  in 
Dayton,  and  his  integrity  of  character,  his  wise 
judgment,  his  strong  common  sense,  inspire 
the  confidence  and  win  the  sincere  respect  of 
good  citizens  of  every  class  and  creed. 


190 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


'ILLIAM    P.    CALLAHAN,    banker 
and  manufacturer,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 


a\ 

\JL>1  was  born  in  county  Armagh,  Ire- 
land, on  February  10,  1833,  and  is 
the  son  of  James  and  Jane  Callahan.  The 
Callahan  family  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1848,  and  settled  at  Shippensburg,  Pa., 
where  the  parents  resided  for  many  years.  Be- 
fore leaving  Ireland,  William  P.  Callahan  had 
acquired  the  foundation  of  a  common-school 
education,  and  to  this  he  added  by  attending 
the  common  schools  of  Shippensburg.  Before 
completing  his  schooling,  however,  he  left 
school  to  serve  an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade 
of  cabinetmaking,  which  trade  he  mastered. 
Before  attaining  his  majority,  young  Callahan 
began  to  dream  of  what  he  might  accomplish 
in  the  west,  and  in  1853  he  left  his  home  in 
Pennsylvania,  coming  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Dayton,  then  considered  a  western  town  by 
the  people  of  the  east.  Here  he  found  em- 
ployment in  the  furniture  factory  of  M.  Ohmer, 
where  for  a  time  he  and  Judge  Dennis  Dwyer 
worked  together  at  the  same  bench.  In  1854 
these  two  young  men — Callahan  and  Dwyer — 
went  west  to  Iowa,  where  they  worked  at  their 
trade  for  about  eight  months,  when  they  re- 
turned to  Dayton.  Mr.  Callahan  then  entered 
the  shops  of  Chapman  &  Edgar,  of  Day- 
ton, where  he  learned  the  trade  of  pattern- 
making.  He  left  that  firm  in  1855  to 
accept  the  foremanship  of  the  pattern  shops  of 
Thompson,  McGregor  &  Co.,  on  Third  street, 
by  which  firm  he  was  employed  for  two  years. 
In  1857  he  became  a  member  of  the  above 
firm  by  the  purchase  of  John  Clary's  interest 
therein.  In  1862  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  died,  and  in  1868  Mr.  Callahan  bought 
out  the  interest  of  McGregor  and  became  sole 
proprietor  of  the  works.  In  1876  Mr.  Calla- 
han admitted  as  a  partner  Thomas  DeArmon, 
and  the  firm  became  that  of  W.  P.  Callahan 
&   Co.     In    1885   William    K.    Callahan,    son 


of  W.  P.  Callahan,  was  admitted  to  the  firm, 
the  firm  name  remaining  as  above.  This  busi- 
ness was  originally  founded  in  1841  on  Shaw- 
nee street,  between  Wayne  and  Wyandotte 
streets,  on  a  very  small  scale,  and  gradually 
grew  into  its  present  large  proportions.  In 
1856  it  was  removed  to  its  present  location  on 
East  Third  street,  where  the  company  has  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  important  manufactur- 
ing plants  in  Dayton  or  the  state  of  Ohio.  In 
February,  1865,  Mr.  Callahan  made  a  second 
business  venture,  becoming  one  of  a  party  of 
five  gentlemen  who  established  the  Miami  Val- 
ley Boiler  &  Sheet-Iron  works,  under  the  firm 
name  of  McGregor,  Callahan  &  Co.  A  few 
years  later  Mr.  Callahan  purchased  the  interest 
of  Mr.  McGregor,  but  later  sold  his  own  inter- 
est and  retired  from  the  firm. 

In  1873  W.  P.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Calla- 
han built  what  is  known  as  the  Lewis  paper- 
mill,  on  Monument  avenue,  which  has  been  a 
success,  and  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Callahan. 
In  1883  Mr.  Callahan  bought  a  controlling  in- 
terest in  the  Ohio  Paper  company,  at  Miamis- 
burg,  Ohio,  which  has  been  running  success- 
fully ever  since.  He  has  been  a  stockholder 
and  director  of  the  Cooper  Insurance  company 
since  its  organization,  and  since  the  death  of 
Col.  D.  E.  Mead  has  been  its  president.  He 
has  also  served  as  a  director  in  the  Dayton 
Gas  Light  &  Coke  company  for   twenty  years. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Callahan  has  been 
identified  with  many  of  the  leading  financial 
institutions  and  insurance  companies  of  Day- 
ton, either  as  an  officer,  director  or  stockholder. 
He  was  for  some  years  a  director  and  large 
stockholder  of  the  Dayton  National  bank, 
which  position  he  resigned  a  few  years  since, 
becoming  associated  with  the  City  National 
bank,  with  which  he  had  been  identified  since 
its  organization,  and  on  January  10,  1894,  he 
became  its  president.  For  many  years  Mr. 
Callahan    has  been  a   holder   of  valuable  city 


^■^L*w. 


<^^<__ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


193 


real  estate,  improved  and  unimproved.  His 
first  notable  purchase  of  real  estate  was  that 
of  the  Main  street  business  and  office  property, 
on  Main  street  between  Second  and  Third 
streets.  In  1890  he  began  the  erection  of 
the  Callahan  bank  building  on  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Main  streets,  which  was  completed 
in  1 89 1,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous business  buildings  in  the  city.  In 
1859  Mr.  Callahan  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Keifer,  who  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
1834,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Philip  Keifer. 
Her  father  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  pioneers 
of  Dayton.  He  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1801, 
and  came  to  Dayton  at  a  very  early  date  in 
the  history  of  the  city. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Callahan  the  following 
children  have  been  born:  Will  K.,  Charles, 
Lillie  and  Cora,  the  latter  daughter  deceased. 
The  business  career  of  Mr.  Callahan  is  one 
most  worthy  of  record  and  is  a  marvel  in  its 
way.  Greater  fortunes  have  been  accumu- 
lated, but  few  lives  furnish  so  striking  an  ex- 
ample of  the  wise  application  of  sound  prin- 
ciples and  safe  conservatism  as  does  that  of 
W.  P.  Callahan.  The  story  of  his  success  is 
short  and  simple.  It  contains  no  exciting  chap- 
ters, but  in  it  lies  one  of  the  most  valuable  se- 
crets of  the  prosperity  which  it  records.  Be- 
ginning with  no  capital  save  brains,  energy, 
integrity  and  rugged  health,  and  building  up 
the  great  business  which  bears  his  name,  his 
business  life  is  pregnant  with  interest  to  the 
public.  He  is  truly  a  self-made  man  in  the 
broadest  sense  of  that  often  misapplied  term. 
When  he  came  to  Dayton  forty-three  years  ago 
he  was  only  a  young,  inexperienced  cabinet- 
maker, with  no  money  and  few  friends.  Yet 
he  has  in  that  time  built  up  one  large  and  suc- 
cessful manufactory,  and  has  contributed  to  the 
success  of  a  dozen  other  enterprises.  To-day 
he  is  the  head  and  controlling  spirit  in  one  of 
the  leading  manufacturing  plants  in  the  state, 


and  president  of  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
substantial  banking  houses  in  the  city,  and  is 
prominently  identified  with  other  important 
concerns,  all  of  which  have  been  of  great  ben- 
efit to  Dayton  in  a  material  and  lasting  way. 
Mr.  Callahan's  life  has  been  a  most  active  and 
busy  one,  but  he  has  not  permitted  business  to 
interfere  with  his  duties  as  a  citizen.  He  has 
always  been  found  on  the  right  side  of  public 
questions  having  for  their  aim  and  object  the 
building  up  and  beautifying  of  his  adopted  city. 
His  views  on  public  matters  have  always  been 
broad  and  liberal,  tempered  with  conservatism. 
While  progressive,  he  is  prudent,  ambitious, 
yet  cautious.  As  a  man,  Mr.  Callahan  pos- 
sesses characteristics  which  have  won  for  him 
the  friendship  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Dayton, 
and  the  admiration  of  all  who  know  him.  Per- 
sonally he  is  pleasant,  agreeable  and  always 
approachable,  fond  of  humor,  and  with  a  de- 
sire to  make  life  enjoyable  for  himself  and  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  Though  in 
his  sixty-third  year,  and  after  a  life  of  activity 
and  constant  business  occupation,  Mr.  Calla- 
han is  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  his  physical  and 
mental  faculties,  and  is  a  striking  example  of 
the  well-preserved,  progressive  and  represent- 
ative men  of  Dayton. 


>-j*OHN  A.  McMAHON,  one  of  the  lead- 
m  ing  members  of  the  Dayton  bar,  and 
(9  I  ex-member  of  congress  from  the  Third 
Ohio  district,  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  on  February  19,  1833.  His  fa- 
ther, John  V.  L.  McMahon,  of  Baltimore,  was 
a  distinguished  lawyer,  ranking  among  the  lead- 
ers of  the  Maryland  bar.  John  A.  McMahon, 
at  an  early  age,  was  sent  to  St.  Xavier's  col- 
lege, Cincinnati,  where  he  graduated  in  1849, 
after  a  full  collegiate  course.  He  remained  at 
that  institution  as  a  teacher  until  June,  1850. 
In  1S52  he  came  to  Dayton  and  became  a  law 


194 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


student  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  C.  L.  Val- 
landigham,  who  married  the  sister  of  his  fa- 
ther. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1854, 
and  immediately  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Vallandigham.  Thorough  preparations  and 
diligence  as  a  student  enabled  him  at  once  to 
achieve  a  high  position  at  the  bar,  and  a  gen- 
eral reputation  in  the  community  that  secured 
a  large  and  important  practice.  He  was  not 
infrequently,  before  he  was  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  opposed  in  the  trial  of  causes  to  some 
of  the  most  able  lawyers  of  the  state;  upon 
one  occasion,  in  the  year  1859,  trying  an  im- 
portant case  at  Dayton  in  opposition  to  Judge 
Thurman,  then  in  the  zenith  of  his  reputation 
at  the  Ohio  bar,  in  which  Mr.  McMahon  was 
successful.  After  Mr.  Vallandigham's  en- 
trance into  official  political  life,  Mr.  McMahon 
practiced  alone  for  a  time,  and  in  1861  formed 
a  partnership  with  the  late  George  W.  Houk, 
which  continued  until  January,  1  880.  On  the 
23d  of  January,  1861,  Mr.  McMahon  married 
Miss  Mollie  R.  Sprigg,  of  Cumberland,  Md.,  a 
lady  belonging  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in 
that  state. 

Mr.  McMahon  persistently  declined  all  po- 
litical preferment  up  to  the  year  1872,  when 
he  was  elected  a  delegate  at  large  by  the 
democratic  state  convention  of  Ohio  to  at- 
tend the  democratic  national  convention  held 
at  Baltimore  in  that  year.  He  several  times 
refused  a  nomination  for  congress  from  the 
Dayton  district,  but  in  1874,  after  he  had 
been  nominated  in  spite  of  his  declination,  his 
acceptance  was  so  strongly  insisted  upon  that 
he  consented  to  make  the  canvass.  The  dis- 
trict at  that  time  was  largely  republican,  but 
he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  nearly  eleven 
hundred  votes.  In  the  first  session  of  the  first 
term  (Forty-fourth  congress)  he  was  one  of  the 
managers  of  the  Belknap  impeachment  pro- 
ceedings, and  upon  the  organization  of  the 
management  of  the  conduct  of  the  trial  Mr. 


McMahon  was  selected  chairman  of  the  sub- 
committee to  try  the  case.  During  the  same 
session  he  was  appointed  upon  a  special  com- 
mittee to  investigate  the  St.  Louis  whisky 
frauds.  He  was  afterward  appointed  by  the 
house  one  of  the  committee  of  fifteen  to  in- 
vestigate the  presidential  election  in  the  state 
of  Louisiana  prior  to  the  counting  of  the  elect- 
oral vote,  of  which  committee  Mr.  Morrison, 
of  Illinois,  was  chairman. 

Mr.  McMahon  was  renominated  without 
opposition  for  a  second  term  by  the  demo- 
cratic party,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  Forty- 
fifth  congress.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
session  Mr.  McMahon  was  assigned  to  a  position 
upon  the  judiciary  committee  on  accounts. 
During  the  session  he  was  also  selected  as  one 
of  the  Potter  investigation  committee.  During 
the  congress  the  undetermined  questions  con- 
nected with  a  distribution  of  a  remainder  of 
the  Geneva  award  fund,  amounting  to  nearly 
ten  millions  of  dollars,  were  referred  to  the 
house  judiciary  committee.  It  soon  became 
apparent  that  there  would  be  so  wide  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion  in  the  committee  as  to  neces- 
sitate two  reports,  one  from  the  majority  and 
one  from  the  minority.  The  minority  report 
was  drawn  and  reported  by  Mr.  McMahon,  and 
was  signed  by  Fry,  of  Maine;  Butler,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts; Conger,  of  Michigan;  and  Lapham, 
of  New  York.  It  was  adopted  by  the  house, 
and  the  principle  of  this  report  was  subse- 
quently enacted  into  a  law. 

In  1878,  though  desirous  of  retiring  from 
public  life,  Mr.  McMahon  was  again  unani- 
mously renominated  and  elected  to  the  Forty- 
sixth  congress.  During  his  third  term  he  was 
a  member  of  the  committee  on  apportionment. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  last  term,  in  1881,  he 
resumed  his  practice  in  Dayton,  at  which  he 
has  been  continuously  engaged  ever  since. 
After  the  election  of  a  democratic  state  legisla- 
ture in  1889,   Mr.    McMahon    was   a  candidate 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


195 


for  the  nomination,  by  a  caucus  of  his  party, 
for  United  States  senator,  receiving  the  vote 
next  highest  to  that  of  Hen.  Calvin  S.  Brice, 
who  was  chosen  and  elected. 

Mr.  McMahon's  political  service  was  char- 
acterized by  ability  and  a  broad  scope  of  use- 
fulness, reflecting  credit  upon  himself  and  honor 
upon  his  constituents.  As  a  lawyer  his  career 
has  been  abundantly  successful.  The  secret  of 
his  prominence  in  the  profession  does  not  lie 
alone  in  his  strong  natural  endowments,  his 
breadth  of  mental  grasp  and  intellectual  vigor. 
It  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  he  has  always 
been  a  close  and  conscientious  student,  not 
only  of  text  books,  but  of  the  reported  de- 
cisions of  both  English  and  American  courts, 
so  that  he  is  to-day  familiar,  in  a  marked  degree, 
with  case-law,  as  well  as  the  underlying  legal 
principles.  Industry,  method,  thoroughness, 
intense  application — these  are  the  habits  which 
Mr.  McMahon  has  brought  to  the  practice  of 
the  law,  and  which,  exerted  upon  the  opera- 
tions of  a  keen  and  alert  intellect,  have  placed 
him  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  lawyers  of  Ohio. 


WOHN  C.  REEVE.  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
m  oldest  and  most  prominent  physicians 
A  1  and  surgeons  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  England,  June  5,  1826.  When 
six  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  father's  fam- 
ily to  America,  their  residence  being  taken  up 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years  young  Reeve  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  by  the  death  of  his  mother,  and  by 
financial  reverses  to  the  family.  Up  to  this 
time  he  had  enjoyed  good  school  privileges  in 
the  common  schools  of  Cleveland.  Following 
the  death  of  his  mother  he  apprenticed  himself 
to  become  a  printer,  and  spent  several  years 
in  the  office  of  the  Cleveland  Advertiser  and 
Herald.  While  thus  employed  he  fitted  him- 
self for  teaching  school,  which  occupation  he 


followed  for  a  time  as  the  means  of  improve- 
ment and  education.  He  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  John  Delamater,  professor  of  obstetrics  in 
the  medical  department  of  Western  Reserve 
college,  Cleveland,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated.  In  1849  Dr.  Reeve  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Dodge  county,  Wis. 
Some  years  later  he  visited  Europe  for  the 
purpose  of  further  study  of  his  profession,  and 
after  passing  the  winter  in  London  and  a  sum- 
mer at  the  university  of  Gottingen,  Germany, 
he  returned  to  this  country,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1854  located  in  Dayton,  where  he  has  since 
practiced.  Dr.  Reeve  is  a  member  of  the 
Montgomery  Medical  society,  of  which  he  has 
several  times  been  president.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Ohio  State  Medical  society,  the 
American  Medical  association  and  the  Ameri- 
can Gynaecological  society,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  founders.  He  has  made  numerous 
reports  of  important  professional  cases,  and 
has  been  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  leading 
medical  journals  of  the  country.  On  August 
10,  1849,  Dr.  Reeve  was  married  to  Emma  J. 
Barlow,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  To  this  union 
two  sons  and  two  daughters  have  been  born, 
namely:  Charlotte  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Frank 
Conover.  attorney,  of  Dayton;  John  C,  Jr., 
practicing  physician  and  surgeon,  of  Dayton; 
Mary  S.,  now  the  wife  of  Robert  E.  Dexter, 
architect,  of  Dayton;  and  Sidney  A.,  professor 
of  mechanical  engineering  in  Worcester  Poly- 
technic school,  Worcester,  Mass. 


*w    *  ON.    LEWIS  B.    GUNCKEL,   prom- 

I^^V    inent  lawyer  and  ex-member  of  con- 

r    gress,     was    born     in     Germantown, 

Montgomery  county,   Ohio,   October 

15,     1826.       His    grandfather,    Judge    Philip 

Gunckel,    and     his    father.    Colonel    Michael 

Gunckel,    were     among    the    first    settlers    of 

Montgomery  county.      Mr.  Gunckel  graduated 


196 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


at  Farmers  college  in  1848,  and  from  the  Cin- 
cinnati Law  school  in  185 1,  and  in  the  same 
year  was  admitted  to  practice.  In  his  early 
professional  life  he  was  associated  with 
Hiram  Strong,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
practice  which,  through  his  fidelity,  industry, 
and  ability,  has  grown  to  be  as  important  as 
any  ever  enjoyed  at  the  Dayton  bar.  In  1862, 
Mr.  Gunckel  was  elected  to  the  Ohio  state 
senate.  He  served  there  during  the  years  of 
the  war,  was  chairman  of  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee, and  during  the  entire  period  especially 
distinguished  himself  in  furthering  legislation 
favorable  to  the  soldiers  and  their  families. 
He  introduced  a  bill  for  the  establishment  of 
a  state  soldiers'  home,  another  for  a  bureau  of 
military  statistics,  and  in  all  that  concerned 
the  welfare  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field  he  was 
especially  conspicuous  and  efficient.  In  1864, 
he  was  a  presidental  elector,  and  canvassed 
the  state  for  Mr.  Lincoln.  He  was  influen- 
tial in  the  inauguration  of  measures  for  the 
establishment  of  the  soldiers'  home  in  Day- 
ton, and  was  appointed  one  of  its  first  board 
of  twelve  managers.  He  held  this  position  for 
twelve  years,  during  ten  of  which  he  was  sec- 
retary of  the  board  and  local  manager. 

In  1 87 1,  Mr.  Gunckel  was  appointed  by 
President  Grant  special  commissioner  to  inves- 
tigate frauds  upon  the  Cherokee,  Creek  and 
Chickasaw  Indians,  upon  which  subject  he 
made  a  valuable  report,  which  led  not  only  to 
the  detection  and  punishment  of  the  guilty 
parties,  but  to  important  reforms  in  the  Indian 
service.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to  congress, 
served  on  the  military  committee,  voted  to  re- 
peal the  salary-grab  law  of  the  preceding  con- 
gress, and  declined  to  accept  the  increased  pay 
to  which  he  was  entitled  under  that  law.  Since 
Mr.  Gunckel's  retirement  from  congress  he  has 
been  more  especially  identified  with  his  pro- 
fession and  devoted  to  its  practice.  He  was 
for  three  successive  years  a  delegate  from  the 


Ohio  state  bar  to  the  National  Bar  association, 
and  was  for  the  same  period  treasurer  and 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  lat- 
ter. In  1884  he  was  nominated  by  his  party 
for  congress,  but  persisted  in  his  refusal  to 
accept  the  nomination,  thus  making  another 
convention  and  nomination  necessary. 

Mr.  Gunckel's  public  services  have  been 
varied  and  important;  and  those  most  highly 
appreciated  by  the  community,  as  well  as  most 
satisfactory  to  himself,  were  rendered  in  con- 
nection with  the  soldiers'  home.  He  has  been 
long  known  as  one  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  Dayton  bar,  and  so  recognized  throughout 
the  state. 

In  his  latter  years,  as  he  has  gradually  be- 
come less  absorbed  in  the  routine  of  profes- 
sional work,  he  has  given  much  thought  and 
study  to  the  improvement  of  municipal  con- 
ditions in  Dayton,  and  to  the  moral  and  mate- 
rial advancement  of  the  city.  He  is  prominent 
in  all  movements  looking  to  the  public  good, 
and  in  these  activities  is  rounding  out  a  most 
useful  public  career. 

Mr.  Gunckel  was  married  in  i860  to  Kate, 
daughter  of  Valentine  Winters,  a  prominent 
capitalist  and  banker  of  Dayton. 


at 


ILLIAM  HAVE  LOCK  CRAW- 
FORD, president  of  the  Dayton 
Last  works,  and  one  of  the  city's 
representative  manufacturers,  was 
born  on  West  Second  street,  Dayton,  Novem- 
ber 22,  1863.  His  father  was  the  late  Charles 
H.  Crawford,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  work,  and  his  mother  was  Sarah 
(Thresher)  Crawford,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Ebenezer  Thresher,  and  a  sister  to  E.  M. 
Thresher,  of  Dayton.  Mrs.  Crawford's  death 
occurred  in  1880.  She  was  one  of  Dayton's 
well-known  and  beloved  women,  and  her 
death  was  universally  regretted. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


199 


William  H.  Crawford  was  reared  in  Day- 
ton, and  received  his  preliminary  education  at 
the  Second  district  school.  Subsequently  he 
attended  the  Cooper  academy,  and  later  took 
a  course  at  the  Miami  commercial  college.  In 
1883  he  began  working  in  the  last  factory  of 
Crawford,  Coffman  &  Company.  During  the 
first  four  years  of  his  service  in  the  factory,  he 
filled  various  positions,  working  in  all  the  de- 
partments of  the  factory  and  acquiring  a  general 
knowledge  of  the  business.  Having  become 
thoroughly  familiar  with  all  details  of  the  work 
in  the  factory,  young  Crawford  was  taken  into 
the  office  of  the  company  as  book-keeper. 
While  employed  in  this  capacity  he  had  charge 
of  the  sales  of  the  goods  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent. Later  he  traveled  in  the  interest  of  the 
firm.  Upon  the  death  of  the  father,  in  1887, 
Mr.  Crawford  succeeded  to  his  interests  and 
took  general  charge  of  the  business,  which  dur- 
ing the  past  nine  years  has  increased  some  ten- 
fold, a  fact  which  indicates  clearly  the  posses- 
sion of  fine  business  ability  by  Mr.  Crawford. 

In  1886  the  firm  of  Crawford,  Coffman  & 
Company  sold  out  to  the  firm  of  Crawford, 
McGregor  &  Canby,  which  partnership  con- 
tinued until  April,  1896,  when  the  company 
was  incorporated  under  the  firm  name  of  the 
Crawford,  McGregor  &  Canby  company,  con- 
sisting of  W.  H.  Crawford,  as  president;  John 
McGregor,  vice-president  and  general  manager, 
and  W.  J.  Blakeney  as  secretary  and  treasurer. 
The  other  members  are  Edward  Canby,  W.  H. 
Kemper,  and  O.  A.  Woodruff.  In  1884  Mr. 
Crawford  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
Last  Makers'  National  association,  consisting  of 
thirty-seven  members,  and  of  this  association 
he  was  the  first  president  and  was  three  times 
re-elected  to  that  position.  Mr.  Crawford  is  a 
director  of  the  Dayton  Computing  Scales 
company,  is  a  director  of  the  Dayton  board 
of  trade,  and  a  director  of  the  Homestead 
Aid    association.       He    is    a     member    of  the 


Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  of  the  First  Baptist 
church.  Mr.  Crawford  was  married  on  Novem- 
ber 4,  1 886,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  D.  O. 
Cunningham,  a  prominent  glass  manufacturer 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  to  their  union  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born:  Marie  Made- 
leine, Charles  Henry,  and  William  Harelock. 
W.  H.  Crawford  is  recognized  as  one  of 
Dayton's  most  successful  manufacturers  and 
most  useful  citizens.  The  enterprise  of  which 
he  is  the  head  and  guiding  spirit,  is  one  of  the 
city's  most  important  industries,  as  well  as  the 
largest  plant  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States, 
and  is  well  known  wherever  the  manufacture 
of  shoes  is  carried  on.  Though  comparatively 
a  young  man  Mr.  Crawford  has  demonstrated 
that  he  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  busi- 
ness ability,  the  best  evidence  of  which  is  the 
uniform  success  that  has  been  enjoyed  by  the 
Dayton  Last  works  under  his  management.  As 
a  citizen  Mr.  Crawford  is  active,  liberal  minded, 
and  public  spirited.  He  is  to  be  found  always 
on  the  side  of  progress,  and  always  ready  to  do 
his  full  snare  towards  the  building  up  and  de- 
velopment of  the  Gem  City  and  the  advance- 
ment of  its  welfare. 


a  APT.  EPHRAIM  MORGAN  WOOD, 
a  prominent  business  man  of  Dayton, 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 24,  1838.  His  father  was  Dr. 
William  Wood,  an  eminent  member  of  the 
medical  profession,  a  writer  upon  professional 
and  general  subjects  and  a  distinguished  edu- 
cator, occupying  a  chair  in  the  Cincinnati 
Medical  college.  Capt.  Wood's  mother  was 
the  daughter  of  Ephraim  Morgan,  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  Cincinnati,  one  of  the  origi- 
nators of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  and  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Capt.  Miles  Morgan,  one  of  the 
founders   of  Springfield,    Mass.,  in    1636,   and 


200 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


a  brave  officer  in  the  Indian  wars,  to  whom 
a  statue  has  been  erected  in  the  most  promi- 
nent square  of  Springfield. 

Capt.  Wood  graduated  from  Yale  college 
when  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  studied  law 
with  the  late  Justice  Stanley  Matthews,  of  the 
U.  S.  supreme  court.  Soon  after  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar,  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  a  captain  in  the  Fifteenth  United  States 
infantry  and  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
on  the  Mississippi  until  the  breaking  down  of 
his  health  compelled  his  resignation  from  the 
army.  He  married  Miss  Victoria  H.  Clegg, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  after  his  retirement  from 
the  army  returned  to  this  city,  with  which  he 
has  since  been  prominently  identified  in  busi- 
ness and  public  affairs. 

For  six  years  Capt.  Wood  was  president  of 
the  board  of  education,  and  for  seven  years 
occupied  a  similar  position  in  the  city  council. 
Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  municipal  gov- 
ernment he  accepted  the  office  of  president  of 
the  board  of  police  directors.  During  his  term 
in  the  board  of  education,  in  conjunction  with 
Robert  W.  Steele  and  other  leading  members, 
he  introduced  the  office  of  superintendent  of 
schools  and  established  the  Normal  school. 

Capt.  Wood  is  a  director  of  the  Winters 
National  bank  and  of  several  large  manufac- 
turing corporations.  He  holds  a  number  of 
the  most  prominent  offices  in  the  Episcopal 
church  in  the  diocese  of  southern  Ohio  ;  is  an 
officer  in  the  Ohio  Society  of  Colonial  Wars 
and  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  is  a 
Companion  of  the  Loyal  Legion. 

In  every  official  relation  sustained  toward 
the  city  of  Dayton,  Capt.  Wood's  services 
have  been  marked  by  sound  judgment,  strong 
business  sagacity  and  a  broad  and  public-spir- 
ited conception  of  official  duty.  His  services 
upon  the  board  of  police  directors,  of  recent 
date,  were  most  valuable  in  the  reorganization 
of  that  most  important  municipal  department  ; 


while  his  earlier  labors  upon  the  board  of 
education  and  in  the  city  council  reflected  great 
honor  upon  himself  and  were  of  most  marked 
benefit  to  the  community.  He  is  actively  in- 
terested in  every  movement  looking  to  the 
betterment  of  municipal  conditions,  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  Dayton's  most  influential 
citizens.  Capt.  Wood  is  an  able  and  accom- 
plished public  speaker.  Many  of  his  addresses, 
delivered  in  this  city  and  elsewhere,  have 
been  published  and  widely  circulated. 


Vj»UDGE  JOHN  ALLEN  SHAUCK,  of 
■  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  the  Buck- 
et 1  eye  state,  and  was  born  in  Richland 
county,  March  26,  1841.  His  parents, 
Elah  and  Barbara  (Halderman)  Shauck,  were 
born  in  Pennsylvania  —  the  father  in  York 
county  in  1806,  and  the  mother  in  Lancaster 
in  1802,  and  both  were  children  when  brought 
to  Ohio  by  their  respective  parents,  who  set- 
tled in  Richland  county,  in  that  particular  por- 
tion which  was  afterward  selected,  in  1848,  to 
become  a  component  part  of  Morrow  county. 
The  marriage  of  these  parents  took  place  in 
Richland  county  in  1829,  when  they  at  once 
settled  on  a  farm,  on  which  they  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  days,  the  death  of  the 
mother  occurring  in  January,  1862,  and  that 
of  the  father  in  October,  1875.  The  six  chil- 
dren born  to  this  marriage  were  named,  in  or- 
der of  birth,  as  follows:  Jacob,  who  is  now  a 
merchant  of  Kendallville,  Ind. ;  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Coe,  of  Morrow  county,  Ohio;  Moses,  in  the 
insurance  business  at  Newark,  Ohio;  John  A., 
the  subject  of  this  memoir;  Sarah,  who  died 
after  reaching  the  years  of  maturity,  and  Mar- 
tha Johnstone,  of  Ringgold  county,  Iowa.  In 
politics,  the  father  was  a  strong  republican, 
was  utterly  inimical  to  the  institution  of  slav- 
ery, and  died  an  honored  and  respected  citi- 
zen, his  philanthropic  principles  having  gained 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


201 


for  him  the  esteem  of  the  most  enlightened 
residents  of  Morrow  county,  which  was,  in  its 
early  days,  a  cradle  of  abolition. 

The  early  education  of  John  Allen  Shauck 
was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  Johns- 
ville,  Morrow  county,  and  was  supplemented 
by  a  classical  course  of  five  years  at  Otterbein 
university.  In  1865  he  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  university  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor,  from  which  he  graduated  in  April,  1867. 
Soon  thereafter  he  located  in  Dayton  and  for 
two  years  practiced  law  on  his  own  account, 
establishing  in  this  brief  period  an  enviable 
reputation  in  his  profession.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  Judge  Samuel  Boltin,  and 
this  firm,  which  long  stood  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  legal  profession,  continued  until  February 
8,  1885,  when  Judge  Shauck  was  called  upon 
to  assume  his  duties  on  the  bench  of  the  cir- 
cuit court.  Here  he  served  with  eminent  abil- 
ity until  February,  1895,  when  his  strong  judi- 
cial qualifications  and  fine  reputation  were 
recognized  and  rewarded  by  his  elevation  to  the 
office  of  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state  of  Ohio. 

Judge  Shauck  was  most  happily  united  in 
wedlock,  at  Centralia,  111.,  June  1,  1876,  with 
Miss  Ada  May  Phillips,  who  was  born  in  Bond 
county,  HI.,  May  26,  1855,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  W.  and  Eliza  D.  (Marshall)  Phillips, 
natives  of  Fayette  county,  Pa.  To  this  union 
two  children  have  been  born,  of  whom  one, 
Helen  C,  still  lives  to  bless  the  home  of  her 
parents,  but  Perie,  the  younger  of  the  two,  is 
deceased. 

Politically,  Judge  Shauck  is  a  republican. 
As  an  attorney  and  as  a  jurist  he  has  few 
equals  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  as  a  man  his 
life  has  been  so  pure,  simple  and  unostenta- 
tious as  to  win  the  respect  of  all  who  have  ever 
met  him.  In  the  short  term  of  his  service,  up 
to  this  time,  upon  the  supreme  bench,  the 
strength,  clearness  and  courage  of  his  decisions 


have  won  him  the  admiration  of  the  entire  bar 
of  Ohio.  They  give  evidence  of  a  broad  and 
safe  knowledge  of  legal  principles  and  of  a  fine 
discrimination  in  their  application.  The  char- 
acteristic style  of  Judge  Shauck's  opinions, 
their  virile,  nervous  English,  the  absence  of 
doubt  or  compromise  in  their  conclusions,  mark 
their  author  as  one  of  the  ablest  judges  known 
to  the  history  of  Ohio's  highest  tribunal. 


kS~\  ENJAMIN  B.  CHILDS,  member  of 
|(^^  the  board  of  water-works  trustees  of 
£*^_J  Dayton  and  general  foreman  of  the 
Barney-Smith  Car  works  of  the  same 
city,  was  born  in  Livermore,  Androscoggin 
county,  Me.,  August  29,  1825.  He  is  a  son  of 
Godney  and  Mary  (Marsh)  Childs,  both  of  whom 
are  now  deceased.  Receiving  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  he  left  home  when 
ten  years  old  and  hired  out  to  work  on  a  farm. 
In  1 841  he  left  his  home  in  Maine  and  went  to 
Worcester,  Mass.,  where  he  again  was  em- 
ployed on  a  farm,  and  there  he  remained  thus 
engaged,  working  on  different  farms,  for  two 
years,  and  then  began  to  learn  the  carpenter 
trade  in  Worcester.  In  1845  he  began  work- 
ing at  car  building,  and  in  1856  removed  to- 
Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  became  employed  in 
the  car  shops  of  Barney  &  Parker,  now  the 
Barney  &  Smith  Car  Co.  From  that  time  up 
to  the  present  day,  a  period  of  forty  years,  he 
has  been  continuously  in  the  employ  of  thi& 
same  company.  At  first  he  was  made  fore- 
man of  the  freight  car  department,  being  sub- 
sequently promoted  to  the  position  of  foreman 
of  the  passenger  car  department,  and  for  the 
past  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  general  fore- 
man of  the  shops. 

Mr.  Childs  was  married  at  Worcester, 
Mass.,  January  12,  185 1,  to  Annis  E.  Howe, 
a  native  of  Leicester,  Mass.,  who  died  in  June, 
1894,  leaving  three  children,  as  follows:     Ed- 


LMI-2 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ward  E. ,  who  is  engaged  in  railroading;  Ada- 
line  M.,  who  married  Will  D.  Huber,  of  Day- 
ton, and  Charles,  draughtsman  in  the  car  shops 
of  the  Barney  &  Smith  Car  Co. 

Mr.  Childs  was  elected  to  the  water-works 
board  of  Dayton  in  April,  1890,  was  re-elected 
in  1893,  and  again  in  1896,  and  during  his 
last  term  has  served  as  president  of  the  board. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and 
is  in  every  way  a  man  worthy  of  the  highest 
regard  and  esteem. 


WOHN  W.  STODDARD,  a  prominent 
•  citizen  and  president  of  the  Stoddard 
/•  J  Manufacturing  company,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city  on  the  first 
day  of  October,  1837,  and  is  the  son  of  the 
late  Henry  Stoddard,  a  pioneer  citizen  and  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  of  Dayton,  of  whom  a  sketch 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

John  W.  Stoddard  was  prepared  for  college 
in  the  private  schools  of  Dayton,  and  spent 
his  freshman  and  sophomore  years  at  Miami 
university.  He  next  entered  the  junior  class 
at  Princeton  college,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  '58.  Determining  to  adopt  the 
legal  profession  as  a  calling,  Mr.  Stoddard  en- 
tered the  Cincinnati  Law  school,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  i860.  He  practiced  law 
in  Dayton  for  two  years,  with  every  probabilty 
of  success,  after  which  he  decided  to  abandon 
the  legal  profession  for  a  business  career,  and 
in  1862  began  the  manufacture  of  linseed  oil 
in  partnership  with  his  brother  Henry,  and 
Charles  G.  Grimes,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Stoddard  &  Grimes.  That  business  was  con- 
tinued for  three  or  four  years  when  it  was  en- 
larged, and  the  manufacture  of  varnishes  was 
added,  the  firm  also  dealing  by  wholesale  in 
paints,  oils,  window  glass,  etc.,  under  the 
name  of  Stoddard  &  Company  (which  business 
is  continued  at  the  present  time  by   the  Lowe 


Brothers'  company).  Mr.  Stoddard  retired 
from  connection  with  the  above  business  in 
1869,  disposing  of  his  interest  to  his  brothers, 
Henry  and  E.  Fowler  Stoddard,  and  in  the 
same  year  began  the  manufacture  of  agricul- 
tural implements  in  partnership  with  John 
Dodds,  under  the  firm  name  of  John  Dodds  & 
Company.  This  firm  continued  business  for 
five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  that  of  J.  W. 
Stoddard  &  Company,  the  other  members  of 
which  were  E.  Fowler  Stoddard  and  William 
A.  Scott.  This  firm  was  followed,  in  1884,  by  the 
incorporation  of  the  Stoddard  Manufacturing 
company,  of  which  Mr.  Stoddard  became,  and 
has  ever  since  been,  the  president  and  princi- 
pal stockholder.  This  is  one  of  the  principal 
manufacturing  plants  of  Dayton,  and  one  of 
the  largest  in  its  line  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Stoddard  is  also  president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Stoker  company,  of  Dayton;  president  of 
the  Milburn  &  Stoddard  company,  of  Minne- 
apolis; vice-president  of  the  Milburn  Wagon 
company,  of  Toledo;  and  vice-president  and 
acting  president  of  the  Pasteur  Filter  com- 
pany, of  Dayton.  He  holds  a  directorship  in 
the  following  corporations:  The  Fourth  Na- 
tional bank,  the  National  Improvement  com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  president;  the  American 
Carbon  company,  the  Davis  Sewing  Machine 
company,  all  of  Dayton,  and  in  the  Indiana 
Iron  company,  of  Muncie,  Ind.  He  is  also 
president  of  the  Dayton  club,  the  leading  social 
organization  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Stoddard  was  married  in  May,  1861, 
to  Susan,  daughter  of  Daniel  Keifer,  one 
of  the  old  citizens  of  Dayton,  and  to  this 
marriage  the  following  children  have  been  born: 
Charles  G.,  vice-president  and  superintendent 
of  the  Stoddard  Manufacturing  company;  Mrs. 
Charles  M.  Nash,  and  Misses  Alice  and  Flor- 
ence. 

John  Williams  Stoddard  was  named  for  his 
grandfather,  John  Williams,  a  pioneer  of  Day- 


■ 


%*~ 


Vfc&£&f*^e 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


205 


ton.  His  ancestry  comprises  a  long  line  of 
prominent  names,  in,  many  instances  distin- 
guished in  the  history  of  this  country. 

As  a  business  man  Mr.  Stoddard  has  been 
cautious,  conservative,  but  courageous.  He 
possesses  to  a  marked  degree  what  is  known  in 
the  commercial  world  as  "nerve."  This  ele- 
ment in  his  character  has  been  wisely  tempered 
with  sagacity  and  most  excellent  judgment. 
He  commenced  his  business  life  most  admir- 
ably equipped.  Educated  in  the  best  schools 
of  this  country,  and  with  that  further  legal 
training  which  so  thoroughly  disciplines  the 
mind,  few  men  have  enjoyed  better  preparation. 
To-day  the  sixtieth  milestone  is  nearly  passed 
and  the  period  of  retrospect  has  arrived.  The 
future  in  Mr.  Stoddard's  business  life  is  assured, 
and  the  pages  of  the  past  disclose  a  career  of 
unvarying  success.  President  and  principal 
stockholder  of  one  of  the  largest  manufactories 
of  its  kind  in  the  world,  and  identified  with  the 
management  of  many  of  Dayton's  largest  in- 
dustries and  financial  institutions,  he  may  in- 
deed view  the  present  and  review  the  past  with 
feelings  of  becoming  pride. 

Socially  those  who  know  Mr.  Stoddard  well 
know  him  with  ever  increased  attachment. 
His  long,  assiduous  attention  to  business  left 
little  time  for  him  to  cultivate  extended  social 
relations.  The  formation  of  the  Dayton  club 
within  the  last  few  years  has  brought  Mr.  Stod- 
dard more  prominently  in  contact  with  his  fel- 
low-citizens and  he  has  become  one  of  its  most 
popular  members.  His  social  qualities  have 
thus  become  more  generally  known  and  recog- 
nized. Strong  in  his  attachments,  firm,  de- 
cided and  sincere  in  character,  he  well  deserves 
his  position  of  prominence  and  influence  in  his 
native  city. 

He  enjoys  a  beautiful  home  on  a  hillside  of 
Dayton,  from  which  is  presented  a  kaleide- 
scopic  view  of  progress  and  development,  in 
which  he  is  and  has  been  a  prominent  factor. 


*yy  wMLLIAM  M.  MILLS,  vice-president 
Mm  and  general  manager  of  the  Globe 

vJLyJ  [ron  Works  Co.,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
is  one  among  the  old  and  well- 
known  citizens  of  the  Gem  City.  Mr.  Mills 
was  born  in  Wythe  county,  Va.,  of  French- 
Welsh  origin,  and  is  of  the  fourth  generation 
since  the  first  of  his  ancestors  settled  in  Albe- 
marle county,  Va.  His  grandfather,  Menan 
Mills,  was  an  ensign  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  was  with  his  regiment  at  the  sur- 
render of  Yorktown,  Va.  He  lived  to  reach 
the  age  of  eighty-nine  years,  and  during  the 
last  year  of  his  life  rode  horseback  from  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  to  the  western  part  of  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  intending  to  remain  in  this 
county  during  the  winter.  But  about  three 
months  after  his  arrival  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
after  a  few  days'  illness  died. 

The  father  of  William  M.  was  the  Rev. 
John  I.  T.  Mills,  who  married  Maria  Galladay, 
daughter  of  Maj.  Galladay,  of  Augusta  county, 
Va.,  and  a  few  years  later  removed  to  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  whither  he  had  been  preceded  a  few 
years  by  his  father  and  two  brothers.  Rev. 
Mills  began  the  realities  of  life  as  a  minister  of 
the  M.  E.  church  and  a  teacher,  in  both  of 
which  callings  he  became  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful in  Kentucky.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
physique,  and  exceedingly  fond  of  athletic 
sports,  taking  part  with  his  pupils  at  play  dur- 
ing recess.  Although  very  strict  during  study 
hours,  he  was  the  idol  of  his  students.  Dur- 
ing the  cholera  epidemic  of  1833  he  suffered 
from  a  very  severe  attack  of  that  disease,  from 
which  he  never  fully  recovered,  and  died 
eighteen  months  afterward,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
six  years,  in  the  full  promise  of  his  manhood. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  and  for  several  years 
prior  thereto,  he  was  professor  of  Greek  and 
Hebrew  in  the  seminary  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky., 
a  school  which  he  had  founded  on  his  own 
account.      Rev.    Mills   was   considered  one   of 


206 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  leading  educators  in  the  state  of  Kentucky. 
He  was  a  natural  orator,  a  close  student,  a 
fine  instructor,  and  withal  a  true  type  of  the 
Christian  gentleman.  After  the  death  of  Rev. 
Mills  his  widow,  with  her  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters,  removed  to  Jackson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where 
she  purchased  a  farm  and  began  farming,  al- 
though her  eldest  son,  Jewette  M.  Mills,  was 
but  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  her  youngest, 
William  M.,  was  not  yet  fourteen.  These  two 
boys  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  so  success- 
fully did  they  manage  it  that  they  greatly  sur- 
prised the  neighbors.  Fortunately  for  his 
family,  Rev.  Mills  was  very  fond  of  farm  life, 
and  had  for  many  years  owned  and  cultivated 
a  good  farm,  so  his  boys  were  no  strangers  to 
their  new  duties. 

W.  M.  Mills  remained  with  his  mother  until 
he  reached  his  eighteenth  year,  and  having  by 
that  time  made  up  his  mind  that  farming 
was  not  his  choice  of  business,  with  the 
consent  of  his  mother  and  brother,  he  went 
to  learn  the  carpentering  trade  with  a  neigh- 
bor. After  working  as  an  apprentice  for 
about  two  years  young  Mills  concluded  that 
he  would  be  something  more  than  a  country 
carpenter,  and  consequently  came  to  Day- 
ton to  finish  his  trade.  After  completing  his 
apprenticeship  and  working  as  a  carpenter  for 
a  few  years  Mr.  Mills  determined  to  seek  em- 
ployment in  some  branch  of  manufacturing, 
where  there  would  be  an  opportunity  of  ad- 
vancement, and  so  obtained  a  place  as  pattern- 
maker. A  few  years  later  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  an  iron  foundry  and  machine  busi- 
ness, forming  what  afterward  became  the  firm 
of  Stout,  Mills  &  Temple,  the  successor  to 
which  firm  is  now  the  Dayton  Globe  Iron 
Works  Co.,  which  was  formed  in  1890,  at 
which  time  Mr.  Mills  was  made  secretary.  In 
1891  he  was  made  vice-president  and  general 
manager.      Mr.  Mills  was  made  an  elder  in  the 


Presbyterian  church  when  he  was  thirty-five 
years  of  age.  He  is  now  one  of  the  ruling 
elders  of  the  Third  street  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Mills  was  married  on  October  28,  1845, 
to  Margaret  Bowersock,  daughter  of  David 
Bowersock,  who  was  of  German  descent,  born 
in  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  settled  in 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  at  an  early  date.  Mrs. 
Mills  was  born  in  Miami  county  in  December, 
1822,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  have  lived  to  cel- 
ebrate their  golden  wedding  anniversary.  To 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Mills  the  following  children  have 
been  born:  Annie  M.,  widow  of  Samuel 
Steele,  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Steele,  of  Dayton  ; 
David  T. ,  now  engaged  in  the  wood  pulp  man- 
ufacturing business  in  the  state  of  Maine;  Belle 
W.;  William  H.,  who  died  in  his  thirteenth 
year  ;  Edna  L.,  now  Mrs.  E.  P.  Matthews,  of 
Dayton,  and  Gussie  L. 

When  Cincinnati  was  menaced  by  Gen. 
Kirby  Smith,  Mr.  Mills  organized  a  company 
of  103  men,  two  lieutenants  and  a  drum  corps, 
was  commissioned  captain  by  Gov.  Tod,  and 
assisted  in  repelling  the  rebel  invader. 

In  about  1870  Mr.  Mills  was  elected  to  the 
Dayton  city  council,  and  was  chosen  president 
of  that  body.  He  has  also  served  a  number 
of  times  as  chairman  of  county  conventions. 


HLVAN  A.  SIMONDS,  manufacturer 
of  machine  knives,  Dayton,  was  born 
at  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  January  28, 
1 841 .  His  father  was  Abel  Simonds, 
a  scythe  manufacturer  of  that  place.  Alvan 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  state,  and  when 
sixteen  years  of  age,  learned  the  trade  upon 
which  his  present  business  is  based.  He 
worked  at  it  for  four  years,  and  then,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  George  F.,  opened  a 
shop  at  home,  remaining  in  business  there  for 
ten  years.      The   firm    was    known  as  Simonds 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


207 


Brothers,  and  subsequently  was  organized  into 
a  joint-stock  company,  under  the  name  of 
the  Simonds  Manufacturing  company,  of 
which  Mr.  Simonds  became  the  trusted  and 
efficient  treasurer. 

The  firm  of  Simonds  Brothers  commenced 
business  with  ten  men  in  their  employ,  and  in 
1874,  when  Mr.  Simonds  resigned  his  position 
as  treasurer  of  the  company,  the  force  had 
been  increased  to  125  employees,  and  the 
amount  of  business  to  $200,000  annually.  In 
the  year  last  named  Mr.  Simonds  came  west, 
seeking  a  location  for  the  establishment  of  a 
new  plant  of  the  same  character.  On  his 
arrival  at  Dayton, he  was  so  impressed  with  the 
industrial  outlook  that  he  determined  to  locate 
himself  in  this  city.  He  erected  his  present 
shops  in  Dayton  View,  and  his  success  has  fully 
justified  his  decision. 

In  1 86 1,  Mr.  Simonds  enlisted  in  company 
B,  Fifteenth  regiment  Massachusetts  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  served  in  the  Second  corps, 
army  of  the  Potomac.  After  a  term  of  three 
years  in  defense  of  the  Union,  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  and  returned  home.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Old  Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Dayton. 

Mr.  Simonds  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss 
Marcella  C.  Willard,  a  native  of  Leominster, 
Mass.  Of  the  five  children  born  to  them,  four 
are  living — Caroline  J.,  Cora  B. ,  Herbert  R. , 
and  Ethel  G. ;  Bessie  E.  being  deceased. 

Mr.  Simonds,  in  starting,  upon  a  modest 
scale,  the  knife  manufacturing  plant  which  has 
grown  into  a  large  and  prosperous  industry, 
introduced  a  new  feature  into  the  business 
activities  of  Dayton.  To  every  detail  of  its 
development  he  gave  the  most  watchful  care 
and  judicious  direction,  and  in  a  few  years  of 
residence  here,  he  took  place  among  the  sound 
and  reliable  business  men  of  the  city.  At  the 
time  of  his  retirement,  by  reason  of  ill  health, 
from  the   personal   and  active  management  of 


his  business,  he  was  recognized  in  the  com- 
munity not  only  as  a  prominent  and  influential 
factor  in  the  industrial  life  of  Dayton,  but  as 
one  of  her  most  useful  and  liberal  citizens. 
The  establishment  of  the  Deaconess  hospital 
was  largely  due  to  the  untiring  labors  of  Mr. 
Simonds,  who  was  the  first  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  so  continued  until  1896, 
when  the  failure  of  his  health  precluded  his 
further  service.  He  has  been  identified  with 
very  many  of  the  charitable  and  benevolent 
movements  in  Dayton,  wherein  his  good  judg- 
ment and  his  generosity  have  been  equally  ap- 
preciated. 


^yn^ILLIAM  HENRY  NEGLEY,  M.D., 

mm  whose    office   is  at   No.    137    West 

\JL/I  Third  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  ,1 
native  of  the  Buckeye  state,  and 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Montgomery  county, 
July  16,  1863,  a  son  of  William  Henry  and 
Eleanor  A.  (Schultz)  Negley. 

John  C.  Negley,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
near  Carlisle,  Cumberland  county,  Pa..,  July 
21,  1783,  and  when  about  twelve  years  of  age 
accompanied  his  father  and  other  members  of 
the  family  to  Mercer  county,  Ky.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  In  1805  he  came  to  Ohio 
and  entered  a  section  of  land  in  German  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  just  east  of  German- 
town,  that  village  then  consisting  of  a  post- 
office,  store,  tavern,  and  a  few  houses.  In 
181 1,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Shuey,  a  daughter 
of  John  Martin  Shuey,  the  marriage  resulting 
in  the  birth  of  five  children,  viz:  Christiana, 
Caroline,  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  William 
Henry.  Shortly  after  his  marriage,  John  C. 
Negley  volunteered  for  the  war  of  18 12,  enter- 
ing the  army  with  the  commission  of  ensign, 
and  later,  for  brave  and  gallant  conduct,  was 
promoted  to  be  captain. 


1'O.S 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


William  Henry  Negley,  the  only  son  of 
John  C.  and  the  father  of  Dr.  Negley,  was  born 
in  Germantown,  Ohio,  December  iS,  182S, 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  in  1857 
married  Miss  Eleanor  A.  Schultz,  a  native  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  this  union  being  blessed  with 
two  children — Frank  Herwood  and  Dr.  Will- 
iam H.  Mr.  Negley,  like  his  father,  was  a 
brave  soldier,  and  served  his  country  through 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion;  in  1869  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  there 
Dr.  W.  H.  Negley  was  educated. 

Dr.  Negley  received  his  elementary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Cincinnati,  and 
passed  through  all  the  intermediate  grades  until 
he  reached  the  Woodward  high  school,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1882.  In  1883  he 
entered  the  Miami  Medical  college  at  Cincin- 
nati, to  prepare  himself  for  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, and  from  this  institution  he  graduated  in 
March,  1886.  In  October,  18S6,  he  was  ap- 
pointed acting  assistant  surgeon  at  the  National 
Military  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers 
near  Dayton;  January  1,  1887,  was  promoted 
to  the  position  of  second  assistant  surgeon,  and 
July  1,  1S89,  was  promoted  to  first  assistant 
surgeon. 

June  9,  1891,  Dr.  Negley  was  most  happily 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Poyntz  An- 
derson, daughter  of  Charles  B.  and  Belle 
(Bradford)  Anderson,  of  Campbell  county,  Ky. 
March  1,  1892,  the  doctor  resigned  his  position 
in  the  Military  home,  near  Dayton,  in  order  to 
go  to  Europe,  and  further  to  prosecute  the 
study  of  his  profession  in  the  hospitals  of  the 
old  world.  Returning  to  Dayton  in  November 
of  the  same  year,  he  opened  his  present  office 
January  1,  1893.  In  March,  1894,  he  was 
appointed  attending  physician  to  Saint  Eliza- 
beth hospital,  which  position  he  has  filled  with 
marked  credit  and  ability.  Two  children — 
Eleanor  Bradford  and  William  Henry,  Jr. — 
have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Negley. 


^-j»OHN  R.  McINTIRE,  capitalist,  banker 
g  and  wholesale  merchant,  of  Dayton, 
(9  1  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  the  Reystone  state, 
having  been  born  at  Lancaster,  Pa. , 
and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Mcln- 
tire.  The  Mclntire  family  was  one  of  the 
early  ones  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
Samuel  Mclntire  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
born  of  Scotch-Irish  parents.  Before  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  There 
he  was  married,  his  wife  having,  when  a  child, 
gone  with  her  parents  to  that  state  from  her 
native  place  in  Virginia.  In  the  spring  of 
1840  Samuel  Mclntire  brought  his  family  to 
Montgomery  county,  making  the  entire  trip  by 
wagon,  the  journey  consuming  twenty-one 
days.  Upon  arriving  in  this  county  he  located 
temporarily  at  Harshmanville.  His  death  oc- 
curred four  years  later.  His  widow  survived 
him  until  1885,  her  death  occurring  in  Dayton, 
where  she  had  resided  for  a  number  of  years. 
After  securing  a  common-school  education, 
John  K.  Mclntire  came  to  Dayton  in  the  fall 
of  1846,  and  took  a  position  as  clerk  in  the 
grocery  store  of  George  W.  Rneisley,  continu- 
ing in  that  capacity  with  the  same  house  until 
January  1,  1854,  when  he  purchased  an  inter- 
est in  the  business,  and  became  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Kneisley,  Mclntire  &  Co.,  whole- 
sale grocers.  In  1861  the  firm  became  that  of 
Rneisley  &  Mclntire,  with  Mr.  Mclntire  an 
equal  partner.  In  1876  Mr.  Mclntire  retired 
from  the  above  firm,  and  in  the  same  year 
established  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  J. 
R.  Mclntire  &  Co.,  on  East  Third  street, 
which,  on  May  1,  1894,  was  removed  to  No. 
116  North  Main  street.  This  is  the  largest 
and  the  leading  house  in  its  line  in  Dayton, 
and  one  of  the  largest  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Mclntire  has  other  large  and  important 
business  interests  in  Dayton.  For  the  past 
twenty-one  years  he   has   been   a  stockholder 


{^1^1- -J 


/i/i^<Ll 


V 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


211 


and  director  in  the  Third  National  bank,  and 
since  1888  has  been  president  of  that  institu- 
tion. He  has  been  a  director  in  the  Miami 
Insurance  company  since  its  incorporation  in 
1862,  he  being  one  of  the  original  members, 
and  is  vice-president  of  the  company  at  the 
present  time.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the 
Fireman's  Insurance  company,  director  in  the 
Dayton  Gas  Light  &  Coke  company,  direct- 
or in  the  Dayton  Spice  mills  company,  vice- 
president  and  director  in  the  Weston  Paper 
company,  and  is  in  one  way  or  another  inter- 
ested in  other  enterprises.  He  is  also  a  large 
owner  of  valuable  business  property  and  real 
estate  in  the  city.  Mr.  Mclntire  was  one  of 
the  original  members  of  the  old  volunteer  fire 
department  of  Dayton,  and  for  three  years  was 
a  member  and  for  one  year  president  of  the 
Dayton  board  of  fire  commissioners.  In 
this  direction  he  has  always  taken  a  most  act- 
ive interest,  and  to  him  as  much  as  to  any 
other  man  does  Dayton  owe  the  credit  for  the 
establishment  of  the  present  very  efficient  city 
fire  department.  Mr.  Mclntire  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  both 
a  thirty-second  degree  and  knight  templar 
Mason.  He  is  also  a  member  of  and  director 
in  the  Dayton  club. 

In  1858,  at  Romulus,  on  Seneca  lake,  in 
New  York  state,  Mr.  Mclntire  was  married  to 
Evaline  Van  Tuyl,  who  died  in  Dayton  in 
1887,  leaving  the  following  children:  Stella, 
who  married  George  W.  Elkins,  of  the  well- 
known  Philadelphia  family  of  that  name,  and 
who  resides  in  that  city;  Ada,  who  married 
Frank  T.  Huffman,  of  Dayton,  and  John  S. 
and  Edward  M.,  both  of  whom  are  among  the 
well-known  and  rising  young  business  men  of 
Dayton  and  members  of  the  firm  of  J.  K.  Mc- 
lntire &  Co. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Mclntire  has  been  an  act- 
ive and  busy  one,  and  has  been  one  of  almost 
uniform  success.      Beginning  life  in  a  subordi- 


nate position  in  a  mercantile  house,  it  was  his 
industry,  energy  and  determination  to  rise 
above  the  common  level  which  brought  him  into- 
favor  with  his  employers  and  made  his  ad- 
vancement possible  at  a  time  in  the  history  of 
the  business  of  this  city  when  promotions  were 
slow.  Once  given  an  opportunity  to  advance, 
he  was  active  in  making  other  opportunities. 
It  was  but  natural  that  when  such  a  man  be- 
gan to  have  surplus  capital,  beyond  the  re- 
quirements of  his  regular  business,  he  should 
seek  for  it  profitable  investments.  It  was. 
natural,  too,  that  in  the  hands  of  a  man  of  his 
shrewdness  and  sagacity,  capital  should  con- 
tinue to  accumulate  with  accelerating  rapidity, 
and  be  distributed  in  a  diversity  of  channels. 
In  this  respect  his  history  is  not  different  from 
that  of  many  other  financiers,  nor  has  suc- 
cess in  business  been  allowed  to  change  the 
man.  He  is  the  kind  and  constant  friend,  the 
pleasant  and  genial  acquaintance,  and  the 
broad  and  liberal-minded  citizen.  In  the  prime 
of  his  mental  and  physical  vigor,  Mr.  Mclntire 
has  won  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  the  solid, 
progressive  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Day- 
ton. His  success  has  not  only  been  of  benefit 
to  him  and  to  his  immediate  family,  but  the 
city  of  Dayton  has  shared  in  it,  his  business 
operations  having  been  on  such  lines  as  mate- 
rially aid  the  community.  The  traits  of  char- 
acter of  Mr.  Mclntire  are  such  as  to  have  won 
for  him  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances not  only  in  Dayton  but  away  from  home. 


BEV.  CHARLES  J.  HAHNE,  pastor  of 
Emanuel  church,  the  leading  Catholic 
congregation  of  Dayton,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Schleswig,  in  the  province 
of  Schleswig,  Germany,  March  12,  1833.  His 
father  and  mother  were  devout  Catholic?,  but 
were  not  in  affluent  circumstances,  his  father 
beint;  a  shoemaker.      To  his 'mother  he  owes 


212 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  earlier  religious  instruction,  and  to  her 
pious  influence  he  owes  gratitude  for  her  en- 
couragement of  his  desire  to  become  a  servant 
of  the  church.  He  was  educated  at  Mount 
St.  Mary's  seminary,  at  Cincinnati,  and  was 
ordained  priest  on  May  29,  1863,  by  Arch- 
bishop PurceU,  of  that  city. 

Rev.  John  F.  Hahne,  elder  brother  of 
Father  Charles  J.  Hahne,  was  born  in  Schles- 
wig,  April  19,  1 8 1  5 .  While  yet  a  mere  boy 
he  announced  his  intention  to  devote  his  life  to 
the  church,  and  as  he  advanced  in  years  this 
determination  was  strengthened.  His  parents, 
however,  were  too  poor  to  permit  him  to  de- 
vote all  his  time  to  the  necessary  study,  but  he 
nevertheless  availed  himself  of  every  oppor- 
tunity for  obtaining  books  through  loan  and 
otherwise,  and  devoted  himself  assiduously  to 
their  study.  He  also  laid  aside  from  his  earn- 
ings all  the  funds  he  could  possibly  spare, 
until,  having  learned  his  trade,  he  was  able  to 
visit  various  parts  of  Prussia,  working  as  he 
journeyed  and  saving  his  earnings,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  forwarding  his  life  object — that  of 
reaching  the  priesthood.  Having  accumulated 
sufficient  means,  he  began  his  theological  stud- 
ies at  Freyburg,  in  Switzerland.  He  was  em- 
ployed as  a  private  tutor  for  some  time  in 
Hanover,  Prussia,  and  continued  to  devote 
himself  to  stud}-  under  the  supervision  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  Eventually  he 
was  ordained  priest  in  the  city  of  Osnabruck, 
Germany,  December  23,  1848,  whence  he  went 
to  Alfhausen,  and  some  time  afterward  was 
appointed  chaplain  to  the  army  at  Schleswie, 
his  native  city.  In  September,  185  1,  he  came 
to  America,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  he  was  appointed  assistant 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Saint  Philomena,  and 
a  short  time  afterward  was  transferred  to  the 
assistant  pastorate  of  St.  Paul's  church,  in 
which  he  continued  until  May,  1857,  when  he 
was    transferred-  to    Dayton.       Here     Father 


Hahne  soon  secured  the  confidence  and  love 
of  those  among  whom  his  lot  was  cast,  and 
through  his  efforts  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant Catholic  organizations  in  the  city  were 
established.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  energetic  and  zealous  clergymen  in  the 
diocese  of  Cincinnati,  and  in  private  life  was 
universally  beloved  for  his  warm-hearted  dis- 
position and  truly  amiable  character.  His 
death  occurred  February  21,  1882,  and  his 
memory  is  sorrowfully  cherished  by  many 
hundreds  of  his  loving  and  admiring  friends. 

Emanuel's  Catholic  church,  on  Franklin 
street,  Dayton,  is  the  result  of  Father  John  F. 
Hahne's  devotion  to  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of 
the  holy  faith.  The  corner  stone  of  the  edi- 
fice was  laid  September  8,  1871,  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  nativity  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary, 
according  to  the  church  calendar.  It  is  the 
largest  church  building  in  Dayton,  its  outside 
measurement  being  166x68  feet,  with  two  tow- 
ers in  front,  each  212  feet  high;  the  auditory 
has  a  seating  capacity  for  1,500  persons,  and 
the  children's  gallery  will  seat  600.  The  cost 
of  the  edifice  was  $100,000,  and  the  interior 
is  in  full  keeping  with  the  exterior,  both  being 
chaste  and  elegant  in  design  and  finish. 

Father  Charles  J.  Hahne  came  to  America 
December  22,  1854,  and  since  1S63  has  been 
connected  with  Emanuel's  church,  having  of- 
ficiated as  assistant  pastor  from  that  date  un- 
til the  demise  of  his  brother,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  pastorate,  a  position  he  has  since 
most  ably  and  zealously  filled.  He  has  labored 
hard  in  the  service  of  his  flock,  which  numbers 
over  3,000  souls,  and  whom  he  considers  first 
in  all  things,  excepting  only  his  allegiance  to 
the  faith.  He  is  self-sacrificing,  is  filled  with 
kindness,  charity  and  love,  and  is  not  only 
venerated  by  his  own  immediate  people,  but  is 
honored  and  respected  throughout  the  entire 
citv  of  Dayton,  and  by  those  of  every  class  and 
creed. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


213 


WAMES  MANFORT  WEAVER,  M.  D., 
J  physician  and  surgeon,  of  Dayton, 
f»  1  Ohio,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city 
since  1880,  removing  hereto  from  the 
National  soldiers'  home,  where  he  had  been 
filling  an  appointment  as  surgeon  and  medical 
adviser  since  1874.  He  was  born  in  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  near  Greensburg,  April  9,  1838, 
and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  John  S.  Weaver,  who  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1802.  The  fam- 
ily originated  in  the  German  district  of  Alsace- 
Lorraine,  which,  however,  prior  to  1871,  had 
been  in  the  possession  of  France,  the  great- 
grandfather of  Dr.  Weaver  being  the  first  mem- 
ber of  the  family  to  emigrate  to  the  United 
States.  John  Weaver,  his  son,  and  the  grand- 
father of  Dr.  Weaver,  was  a  shipbuilder  in  the 
United  States  navy  for  many  years,  and  late 
in  life  came  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  farming. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Smallwood,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  eight  or  ten  chil- 
dren, who  scattered  abroad  throughout  the 
country,  some  going  south,  others  west,  and 
engaging  in  various  occupations. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Weaver  was  a  graduate 
of  Miami  university,  being  a  member  of  the 
first  class  sent  out  by  that  institution,  and  he 
was  afterward  a  tutor  at  Oxford  for  some  time. 
He  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  about  1828,  beginning  his  work  at  Bell- 
brook,  Greene  county.  Some  time  afterward  he 
was  transferred  to  Franklin,  Warren  county,  and 
thence  to  a  charge  in  the  vicinity  of  Greensburg, 
Ind.,  returning  to  Ohio  about  1838.  Herefor 
some  time  he  had  charge  of  a  church  near  the 
village  of  Millville,  Butler  county,  remaining 
there  for  two  or  three  years,  after  which  he 
took  charge  of  the  New  Jersey  church  in  War- 
ren county,  which  church  is  now  called  the 
Carlisle  church.  Here  he  remained  until 
about  1858,  when  he  assumed  charge  of  Dick's 
Creek  church,  his  home  being  the  village  of 
Blue  Ball,  along  the  line  of  Butler  and  War- 


ren counties,  Ohio.  Continuing  here  in  charge 
until  1865,  he  then  removed  to  Springfield, 
Ohio,  where  also  he  engaged  in  ministerial 
work,  though  not  having  any  special  charge. 
His  last  sermon  was  preached  in  Bellbrook, 
Ohio,  the  same  place  in  which  he  began  his 
work  in  the  ministry,  his  death  occurring  in 
Springfield,  Ohio,  in  1872.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  literary  attainments,  and  was  a 
contributor  to  several  religious  journals.  His 
entire  life  was  given  to  the  work  of  the  church, 
and  in  a  most  unselfish  manner  did  he  perform 
every  duty  that  devolved  spon  him. 

He  married  Miss  Amanda  Hurin,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Silas  Hurin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Lebanon,  Warren  county,  Ohio.  Silas  Hurin 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Warren  county,  at  a  very  early  day. 
By  trade  he  was  a  tanner.  He  married  a  Miss 
Ludlow,  who  was  also  of  one  of  the  earliest 
families  of  Ohio.  The  mother  of  Dr.  Weaver 
was  born  in  Lebanon  and  died  in  1882.  She 
and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  as  follows  :  Susan  A.,  deceased  ; 
Kate  C. ,  wife  of  Capt.  James  H.  Robinson,  of 
Springfield,  Ohio  ;  James  M. ;  Mary  Agnes, 
widow  of  Capt.  A.  M.  Robinson,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio  ;  John  S.,  who  has  always  been  engaged 
in  educational  work,  and  who  is  now  principal 
of  the  high  school  at  Springfield,  Ohio  ;  Geor- 
giana  D.,  wife  of  R.  E.  Naylor,  a  farmer  of 
Kansas  ;  Walter  L. ,  a  well-known  attorney  at 
law,  of  Springfield,  Ohio. 

James  M.  Weaver  was  reared  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Ohio,  and  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  district  schools,  attending 
school  during  the  winter  season  and  working 
on  the  farm  in  the  summer.  He  then  attended 
an  academic  school  some  two  years,  and  taught 
school  one  winter.  In  1857  he  entered  the 
office  of  Drs.  Firestone  &  Robison,  of  Woos- 
ter,  Ohio,  and  attended  his  first  course  of  lec- 
tures at  Cincinnati,  in  the  winter  of  1859-60. 


214 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


His  second  course  he  attended  at  the  medical 
department  of  the  Western  Reserve  college,  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  graduating  there  in  the  class 
of   1861. 

He  began  practice  at  Jackson,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  remaining  there  until  August,  1862, 
when  he  entered  the  service  of  the  government 
as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Ninety-third  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  being  promoted  to  the  office 
of  surgeon  in  1S64,  and  serving  in  the  field  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war,  or  until  June,  1865. 
Part  of  the  time  he  was  on  the  operating  staff 
and  in  charge  of  the  hospital  of  the  Third  di- 
vision, Fourth  army  corps. 

After  severing  his  connection  with  the  army 
Dr.  Weaver  located  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  and 
practiced  medicine  there  in  partnership  with 
Dr.  J.  D.  Robison,  following  a  general  prac- 
tice until  1874,  when  he  was  appointed  sur- 
geon to  the  central  branch  of  the  National 
soldiers'  home,  at  Dayton.  This  position  he 
filled  until  1S80,  when  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  Dayton,  and  has  ever  since  been  here  engaged 
in  general  practice  as  a  physician  and  surgeon. 
His  house  and  office  are  at  No.  1  1 1  South 
Ludlow  street.  Here  he  has  built  up  a  most 
extensive  practice  in  the  city  and  immediate 
vicinity,  and  is  well  known  as  a  skillful  and 
conscientious  practitioner.  While  in  Wooster 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  pension 
examiners,  and  since  locating  in  Dayton  has 
served  in  the  same  capacity  from  1881  until 
1884,  and  again  from  1890  until  1893.  He 
also  served  as  health  officer  of  Dayton  from 
1886  to  1891,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
consulting  staff  of  St.  Elizabeth's  hospital  since 
1882,  and  surgeon  of  the  Big  Four  railroad 
since  1881.  His  entire  attention  is  given  to 
his  profession,  as  that  affords  him  the  greatest 
interest,  as  well  as  being  the  most  profitable 
manner  of  spending  his  life. 

Dr.  Weaver  is  a  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county   Medical   society,  of  the  Ohio  state 


Medical  association,  of  the  American  Medical 
association,  of  the  state  association  of  railroad 
surgeons,  and  of  the  National  association  of 
railroad  surgeons.  He  is  a  member  of  Day- 
ton lodge  No.  147,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  of  Unity  chap- 
ter No.  16;  of  Reese  council  No.  9,  and  of  Reed 
commandery  No.  6.  He  is  a  thirty-second  de- 
gree Mason,  of  the  Scottish  rite.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Old  Guard  post  No.  23,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  is  in  good  standing  in  all  these  various 
societies  and  orders.  He  was  elected  to  the 
board  of  education  in  the  spring  of  1896,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  valued  and  efficient  members 
of  that  body. 

Dr.  Weaver  was  married  September6,  1865, 
to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Jacobs,  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. , 
a  daughter  of  William  Jacobs  of  that  city. 
She  was  born,  however,  in  Wooster,  Ohio. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  are  the  parents  of  four 
children,  as  follows:  Anna  L. ,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  sixteen;  Mary  M. ,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Frederick  C. ,  a  practicing  physician  of 
Dayton,  in  partnership  with  his  father,  and 
Mima  J.,  living  at  home.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this 
city. 

Frederick  C.  Weaver  was  born  December 
16,  1870,  and  received  his  literary  education 
at  the  Wesleyan  university,  at  Delaware,  Ohio. 
He  read  medicine  with  his  father,  and  attended 
the  Miami  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  grad- 
uating therefrom  with  the  class  of  1894.  He  is 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  Third  regiment,  O.  N. 
G. ,  and  is  one  of  the  attending  physicians  of 
St.  Elizabeth's  hospital  at  Dayton.  He  was 
married,  in  1 891,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Bridge- 
man,  of  London,  Ohio.  The  Drs.  Weaver 
are  considered  by  the  citizens  of  Dayton,  gen- 
erally, as  one  of  the  strongest  medical  and 
surgical  firms  in  the  city,  their  skill  and  suc- 
cess being  quite  marked  and  widely  recognized,, 
not  only  in  the  city  itself,  but  throughout  a 
wide  circuit  of  the  surrounding  country. 


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OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


217 


>^EFFERSON  A.  WALTERS,  M.  D.,  of 
M  Dayton,  is  now  living  in  retirement  and 
/•  1  devoting  his  leisure  to  the  study  of  his- 
torical and  philosophical  literature,  hav- 
ing long  since  acquired  a  competency  and 
being  now  one  of  the  solid  capitalists  and  finan- 
ciers of  the  Gem  City.  He  descends  from  one 
of  the  oldest  of  American  families,  was  born  in 
Fayette  county,  Pa.,  October  19,  1810,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  Ohio  since  1830.  His 
father,  Ephraim  Walters,  also  a  native  of  Fay- 
ette county,  was  born  in  1776,  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and,  while  still  a  young  man,  also  en- 
gaged in  trading,  and  as  early  as  1  800  floated 
flour  to  New  Orleans,  La.,  on  a  keel-boat.  In 
1803  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Ache,  daugh- 
ter of  a  Dunkard  preacher,  and  thenceforward 
confined  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-one  years. 

Ephraim  Walters,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Wal- 
ters, was  born  about  1737,  and  when  fourteen 
years  of  age  was  captured  by  the  Shawanese 
Indians  on  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac 
river,  in  Virginia.  His  father,  mother,  and  six 
children  beside  himself,  were  also  the  victims 
of  this  onslaught,  and  the  father  was  shot  dead 
on  the  spot.  While  crossing  the  mountains 
westwardly  the  Indians  seized  a  nursing  babe 
from  its  mother's  arms  and  dashed  out  its 
brains  against  a  stump,  and  then  tied  the  mother 
to  a  tree  and  slowly  tortured  her  to  death  with 
fire.  Young  Ephraim,  with  the  other  prison- 
ers, was  taken  to  an  Indian  village  on  the  Mo- 
nongahela  river  near  Pittsburg  (as  it  is  now 
known),  where  he  was  adopted  by  the  chief, 
Yougashaw,  and  was  kindly  treated.  He  be- 
came an  expert  hunter  and  a  brave  warrior, 
and  was  present  at  Braddock's  defeat  and  at  the 
subsequent  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  in  1758.  He 
was  of  course  among  the  Indians  who  sided 
with  the  French,  and  in  1759  was  exchanged, 
and  so  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English, 
who  then  controlled  the  colonies.      But  the  ar- 


rogance of  the  British  officers  was  to  him  un- 
bearable, and  he  soon  rejoined  his  Indian  as- 
sociates and  with  them  came  to  Ohio,  where 
he  passed  two  years  on  the  Muskingum  river 
and  its  tributaries.  In  1761  he  returned  to 
Pennsylvania  and  made  his  home  on  the  Mo- 
nongahela  river  in  the  village  of  the  renowned 
Indian  chief,  Cornstalk,  in  what  is  now  Fay- 
ette county.  In  1770  he  located  a  "toma- 
hawk" title  to  about  7,000  acres  of  land  in 
that  county,  most  of  which  is  to-day  very  valu- 
able and  a  great  portion  of  it  in  the  possession 
of  his  descendants.  The  same  year  he  married 
Miss  DeBolt,  of  French  descent,  to  which 
union  were  born  seven  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, and  of  these  ten  children  three  lived  to 
reach  the  age  of  ninety  years,  six  to  be  sev- 
enty-five, and  one  to  be  fifty-five  years  old. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  Mr.  Walters 
raised  a  company  for  the  defense  of  the  settle- 
ment, and  during  the  war  of  181 2,  his  young- 
est son  having  been  drafted,  he  offered  himself 
as  a  substitute  and  was  accepted,  although  he 
was  then  seventy-five  years  old.  He  was  ever 
prominent  in  local  affairs  and  for  many  years 
was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  His  death  took 
place  in  1835  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years, 
and  his  memory  is  still  cherished  and  vener- 
ated in  the  western  part  of  the  Keystone  state. 
Dr.  Jefferson  A.  Walters,  on  coming  to 
Ohio  in  1830,  was  the  first  student  to  enter 
the  Eclectic  Medical  college,  just  organized  at 
Worthington,  and  from  this  institution  he 
graduated  in  1834.  The  first  three  years  of 
practice  he  passed  in  Perry  county,  and  in 
June,  1837,  he  settled  in  Dayton.  December 
24,  1840,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucetta  E.  Brooks,  only  daughter  of  James 
Brooks,  and  to  this  union  were  born  one  son 
and  one  daughter.  In  the  summer  of  1841  the 
Doctor  opened  a  drug  store  and  for  twenty-five 
years  did  a  very  successful  business,  but  in 
1866  had  the  misfortune  to  be  thrown  from  his 


■2  is 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


buggy,  sustaining  a  serious  injury  to  his  spine, 
from  which  he  suffered  for  six  years  before 
finding  permanent  relief,  since  when  he  has 
enjoyed  very  fair  health.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  living  in  retirement,  passing  his  time 
in  the  perusal  of  standard  works  of  philosophy 
and  antiquarian  research.  He  is  well  pre- 
served for  his  age  and  adds  to  his  longevity  by 
maintaining  an  equable  temper  and  the  exer- 
cise of  an  unusual  degree  of  sociability.  He 
has  always  been  a  democrat  in  politics,  but 
has  never  aspired  to  public  office  nor  cared  to 
burden  himself  with  official  cares,  being  satis- 
fied with  his  lot  as  an  honored  and  quiet 
citizen  of  the  republic. 


IHOMAS  P.  GADDIS,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  the  Dayton 
Malleable  Iron  works  and  one  of  the 
Gem  City's  representative  manufac- 
turers and  citizens,  was  born  in  this  city  June 
5,  1850.  His  father  was  the  late  Rev.  Max- 
well Pierson  Gaddis,  who  for  years  was  one  of 
the  well-known  ministers  of  the  Cincinnati  M. 
E.  conference,  and  was  the  author  of  that  val- 
uable and  interesting  autobiographical  work, 
"Footprints  of  an  Itinerant."  Rev.  Gaddis 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa. ,  on  Sep- 
tember 9,  181 1.  His  parents,  Robert  and 
Mary  Ann  (Frazier)  Gaddis,  who  were  natives 
of  Ireland,  were  married  in  1789,  and  became 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  seven  of  whom 
were  born  in  that  country.  In  1801  the  fam- 
ily sailed  from  Ireland  on  the  ship  Stafford, 
and  after  a  perilous  voyage  of  thirteen  weeks, 
reached  this  land.  They  first  located  on  a 
small  farm  in  Delaware,  but  in  1803  they  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania,  and  in  18 17  came  to 
Ohio.  Rev.  Gaddis  was  educated  principally 
by  his  mother.  Before  he  had  reached  his  six- 
teenth year  he  had  passed  the  necessary  exam- 


ination, had  been  pronounced  competent  to 
teach,  and  had  taught  his  first  common  school. 
By  teaching  he  earned  means  to  go  to  college, 
which  he  entered  in  1830,  but  soon  afterward 
was  forced  to  abandon  his  studies  on  account 
of  poor  health.  In  1832-33  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  business.  In  1824  he  was  con- 
verted to  religion;  in  1835  he  was  authorized 
to  exhort  in  the  M.  E.  church,  and  during  that 
year  he  received  his  first  appointment  to  a  cir- 
cuit. His  first  appointment  to  a  station  was  in 
1838,  when  he  was  placed  in  charge  at  Fulton, 
Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1841  he  was  appointed 
agent  for  the  Worthington  Female  seminary  and 
Asbury  academy  at  Parkersburg,  Va.  In  1852 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  active  work, 
on  account  of  ill  health,  and  the  following  year 
he  severed  his  connection  as  pastor  at  Piqua, 
and  went  east  to  recuperate.  He  recovered 
his  health  to  a  slight  degree,  but  continued 
weak,  and  was  compelled  to  take  a  superan- 
nuated relation  with  the  church.  Following 
this  he  located  in  Dayton,  and  here  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1878.  His 
widow  still  resides  in  Dayton. 

Thomas  P.  Gaddis  was  reared  in  Dayton, 
first  attended  the  public  schools,  and  then  An- 
tioch  college,  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio.  In 
1869  he  went  to  Colorado,  where  he  served  in 
the  U.  S.  engineering  corps  under  Maj.  John 
E.  Clark.  In  1872  he  was  in  Wisconsin  and 
Michigan  with  the  engineering  corps  of  the 
Northwestern  Railway  company,  and  in  1873 
he  returned  to  Dayton  and  entered  the  Malle- 
able Iron-Works  as  a  partner,  holding  first  the 
position  of  shipping  clerk  and  subsequently 
that  of  foreman  of  the  foundry,  then  superin- 
tendent and  general  manager.  In  1884  he 
became  vice-president  and  general  manager. 
For  a  time  he  was  president  of  the  company. 

In  1878  Mr.  Gaddis  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Col.  John  G.  Lowe,  of 
Dayton. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


219 


HDMIRAL  JAMES  FINDLAY 
S  CHE  NCR,  deceased,  was  born 
at  Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  on 
June  ii,  1807,  and  was  the  son  of 
Gen.  William  C.  Schenck,  a  pioneer  of  Ohio, 
of  whom  extended  mention  is  made  in  the  biog- 
raphy of  Gen.  R.  C.  Schenck,  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  In  182.2,  James  Findlay 
Schenck  received  an  appointment  as  cadet  at 
the  United  States  Military  academy,  at  West 
Point,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  remained  for  about 
two  years;  but  in  consequence  of  some  trouble 
with  one  of  the  tactical  officers,  resulting  from 
certain  reports  which  had  been  made  against 
cadets  by  that  officer,  and  of  his  subsequent 
actions  respecting  these  cadets  and  deemed  by 
them  to  have  been  conducted  in  a  spirit  of  in- 
justice. Cadet  Schenck  and  several  others  ten- 
dered their  resignations.  On  March  1,  1825, 
Mr.  Schenck  received  an  appointment  as  mid- 
shipman in  the  United  States  navy,  and  in  the 
following  August  was  ordered  to  the  sloop 
Hornet,  of  the  West  India  squadron.  In 
March,  1827,  he  was  detached  and  ordered  to 
the  Natchez,  which  vessel  had  been  fitted  out 
at  the  Norfolk  navy  yard,  under  special  in- 
structions from  the  navy  department,  to  join 
the  West  India  squadron  for  service  against 
pirates,  which  infested  those  waters  at  that 
time.  While  serving  with  the  vessel  on  the 
south  side  of  the  island  of  Cuba,  in  July,  1828, 
two  schooners  and  a  sloop  were  fitted  out  to 
aid  the  Natchez  in  her  operations  against  the 
pirates.  The  latter  vessel,  the  Surprise,  with 
thirty  men,  was  for  some  time  under  the  com- 
mand of  Mr.  Schenck.  In  November,  1828,  he 
was  detached  from  the  Natchez  and  ordered  to 
the  Peacock,  of  the  same  squadron,  and  in 
December,  1829,  he  was  ordered  to  the  Bran- 
dywine,  then  lying  at  the  New  York  navy  yard, 
under  orders  to  join  the  same  squadron,  which 
vessel  reached  Havana  on  April  first  following. 
In  July,  1830,  Mr.  Schenck  was  detached  from 


the  Brandy  wine  and  placed  upon  "  waiting 
orders,"  and  on  June  4,  1831,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  passed  midshipman,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing month  ordered  to  the  receiving-ship  at 
Norfolk,  Va.,  but  in  October  following  was 
detached  and  granted  leave.  In  January, 
1832,  he  was  ordered  to  the  frigate  United 
States,  then  fitting  out  at  the  New  York  navy 
yard,  whence  he  sailed  to  join  the  Mediterra- 
nean squadron  on  the  3d  of  July  of  that  year, 
touching  at  Funchal,  Lisbon,  Gibraltar,  and 
arriving  at  Port  Mahon  on  the  26th  of  the 
following  August.  Here  Mr.  Schenck  was 
transferred  as  the  acting  master  to  the  frigate 
John  Adams,  she  being  short  of  officers.  After 
the  usual  services  upon  this  station  he  was,  in 
March,  1834,  detached  and  granted  leave.  He 
was  commissioned  lieutenant  on  December  22, 
1835,  ar,d  in  June,  1836,  was  ordered  to  the 
Boston,  then  fitting  out  at  Boston,  Mass.  The 
Boston  sailed  for  Pensacola  on  July  10  of  that 
year,  for  services  in  the  West  India  squadron. 
From  that  vessel  Lieut.  Schenck  was  detached 
in  September,  1836,  and  ordered  to  the  St. 
Louis,  and  to  the  Constellation  in  July,  1837, 
and  in  May,  1838,  he  was  detached  and 
granted  leave.  In  August,  1839,  he  was  or- 
dered to  the  Dolphin,  Brazil  squadron,  where 
he  served  until  July,  1840,  when  he  was  de- 
tached and  granted  leave.  In  November, 
1 84 1,  he  was  ordered  to  the  receiving-ship  at 
New  York,  and  in  July,  1842,  detached  to  the 
razee  Independence,  of  the  home  squadron,  and 
in  December,  1843,  was  detached  to  the  Preble, 
which  vessel  sailed  from  Boston  for  Pensacola 
and  the  West  India  squadron  on  January  24, 
1844.  On  the  28th  of  June  of  that  year  Com- 
mander Freelon  forwarded,  with  a  very  favor- 
able and  flattering  indorsement,  an  application 
of  Lieut.  Schenck  for  leave  of  absence,  and 
the  following  month  he  was  detached  and 
granted  leave.  In  August,  1845,  ne  was  or- 
dered to  the  frigate   Congress,  Pacific   squad- 


220 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ron,  Commodore  Stockton  commanding,  and 
as  chief  military  aid  to  that  officer,  Lieut. 
Schenck  landed  and  took  possession  of  Santa 
Barbara  and  San  Pedro,  in  California,  and  in 
the  same  capacity  marched  upon  and  was  at 
the  first  capture  of  Los  Angeles.  This  was 
during  the  war  of  the  United  States  with  Mex- 
ico. As  the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Congress, 
Lieut.  Schenck  was  at  the  bombardment  and 
capture  of  Guaymas,  and  at  the  taking  of 
Mazatlan,  in  Mexico.  In  October,  1848,  he 
returned  from  the  Pacific  squadron  as  bearer 
of  dispatches,  and  was  granted  leave.  In  May, 
1849,  he  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 
Pacific  mail  steamer  Ohio,  in  which  service  he 
remained  until  granted  leave  of  absence  in 
December,  1852.  He-  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  a  commander  on  September  14,  1855, 
and  in  April,  1857,  was  ordered  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  receiving-ship  at  New  York.  In 
June,  1858,  he  was  placed  on  waiting  orders, 
and  in  July,  1859,  was  ordered  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Saginaw,  of  the  East  India  squad- 
ron. In  June,  1861,  Commander  Schenck 
was  ordered  by  Flag  Officer  Engel  to  proceed 
with  the  Saginaw  to  Quim-hon  bay,  in  Cochin 
China,  in  the  execution  of  certain  duties,  in  the 
performance  of  which,  after  his  vessel  had 
thrice  been  fired  upon  from  the  fort  at  that 
point,  he  was  compelled  to  reduce  the  Chinese 
fortifications.  In  February,  1862,  after  an  ap- 
plication had  been  made  by  him  to  the  secretary 
of  the  navy  to  be  relieved  from  the  command  of 
the  Saginaw,  which  vessel  was  not  considered 
seaworthy,  Commander  Schenck  was  ordered 
home.  This  order  was  anticipated  by  him, 
however,  and  he  arrived  in  New  York  on 
March  11  following,  and  on  the  19th  of  the 
next  month  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
frigate  St.  Lawrence,  and  at  once  proceeded 
to  Hampton  Roads,  and  assumed  command  of 
his  ship  on  May  3,  1862,  proceeding  to  join 
the    West    gulf   blockading   squadron.       This 


vessel  was  soon  found  to  be  of  little  value  for 
such  duty,  and  was  converted  into  a  store  ship 
and  stationed  at  Key  West.  At  his  own  re- 
quest, made  some  months  before,  he  was 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence on  April  14,  1863.  On  October  6,  1864, 
he  received  the  notification  of  his  promotion 
to  the  rank  of  commodore,  his  commission  dat- 
ing back  to  January  2,  1863.  October  6, 
1864,  he  was  ordered  to  command  of  the 
Powhatan,  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron, 
and  assumed  command  of  that  vessel  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  the  same  month.  The  Pow- 
hatan took  a  prominent  part  in  the  two  attacks 
upon  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C,  under  command  of 
Commodore  Schenck,  who,  in  these  attacks, 
also  commanded  the  third  division  of  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron.  In  March,  1865, 
Commodore  Schenck,  still  in  command  of  the 
Powhatan,  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Key 
West.  Previous  to  the  departure  of  the  vessel 
from  Hampton  Roads,  however,  he  applied  to 
be  relieved  from  command  of  the  vessel,  which 
was  done  upon  his  arrival  at  Key  West,  and 
he  was  placed  upon  waiting  orders.  In  No- 
vember, 1865,  he  was  ordered  to  command 
the  naval  station  at  Mound  City,  Ills.,  and  in 
the  following  November  was  detached  and 
placed  on  waiting  orders.  This  was  his  last 
assignment  to  duty,  and  on  June  11,  1869, 
having  reached  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  he 
was,  in  accordance  with  the  law  governing  the 
navy,  placed  upon  the  retired  list.  July  18, 
1870,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  rear- 
admiral  on  the  retired  list,  but  to  date  from 
September,  1868,  his  promotion  having  been 
unjustly  delayed  by  permitting  another  officer 
above  him  to  remain  on  the  active  list-without 
warrant  of  law.  Upon  his  retirement  Admiral 
Schenck  returned  to  Dayton,  where  he  had  for 
many  years  maintained  a  home,  and  here  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  after  having  devoted 
upwards  of  forty-four  years  of  it  to  the  service 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


221 


of  his  country,  most  of  which  was  spent  on 
duty  at  sea.  The  death  of  Admiral  Schenck 
occurred  on  December  21,   1882. 

Admiral  Schenck  was  married  at  Smith- 
town,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  1S29,  to  Doro- 
thy Ann  Smith,  a  descendant  of  Maj.  Richard 
Smith,  the  patentee  of  Smithtown,  Long 
Island.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  as 
follows:  Sarah  Smith,  Jane  Findlay,  Caspar 
and  Woodhull  Smith. 

During  the  years  passed  by  Admiral  Schenck 
in  Dayton,  after  his  retirement  from  active 
service,  his  home  was  the  center  of  attraction 
for  many  of  the  city's  most  prominent  men, 
who  were  drawn  to  him  by  those  splendid 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which  marked  him 
both  as  a  fine  public  character  and  as  a  worthy 
private  citizen.  His  personal  characteristics 
of  bluff  speech  and  uncompromising  directness 
of  judgment  only  added  strength  to  his  rare 
social  attributes.  He  was  the  true  friend  and 
beloved  associate  of  many  men  of  the  later 
generation. 

Dayton  cherishes  the  memory  of  James 
Findlay  Schenck,  not  only  as  a  loyal  servant 
of  his  country,  but  as  a  strong  man,  a  good 
citizen  and  a  valued  factor  in  the  social  life  of 
this  community. 


\S~\  ANIEL  C.  LARKIN,  chief  of  the  fire 
I  department  of  Dayton,  was  born  in 
A^^J  Sandusky,  Erie  county,  Ohio,  July 
29,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
Larkin,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut.  Thomas 
Larkin  was  one  of  six  brothers  who  came  west 
together  in  1824,  three  of  them  settling  in  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  the  other  three  going  further  and 
locating  in  Detroit,  Mich.  Thomas  Larkin 
was  a  locomotive  engineer  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  and  lost  his  life  in  an  accident,  his  loco- 
motive exploding  June  5,  1875,  about  two 
miles  from  Sandusky.     His  wife  was  Ann  Ryne, 


who  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  who  came  to 
the  United  States  when  a  child,  with  her  two 
sisters,  and  died  in  1893. 

Daniel  C.  Larkin  was  reared  in  Sandusky, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  After  leaving  school  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  machinist,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years.  He  then  began  firing 
a  locomotive  running  between  Sandusky  and 
Dayton,  being  promoted  to  engineer  three 
years  later,  his  route  lying  between  Sandusky 
and  Dayton,  on  the  C. ,  S.  &  C.  railroad.  For 
three  years  afterward  he  ran  a  locomotive  on 
the  C,  C,  C.  &  I.  railroad,  between  Cincin- 
nati and  Dayton.  In  1875  he  retired  from 
the  road  and  took  charge  of  a  number  of  teams 
in  Dayton,  doing  draying  for  large  firms  in 
that  city,  continuing  thus  engaged  until  1880, 
in  which  year  he  was  appointed  chief  of  the 
Dayton  fire  department,  a  position  which  he 
has  held  ever  since.  This  was  at  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  present  board  of  fire 
commissioners. 

Mr.  Larkin  was  married  May  26,  1875,  to 
Hannah  A.  Hartnett,  of  Dayton.  This  lady, 
a  daughter  of  Morris  and  Julia  (Hern)  Hart- 
nett, natives  of  Ireland,  was  born  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  January  10,  1856,  and  has  blessed  her 
husband  with  seven  children,  viz.:  Morris  D., 
assistant  secretary  of  the  Dayton  fire  depart- 
ment; Thomas,  a  student  of  Saint  Mary's  insti- 
tute of  Dayton;  John,  Alice,  Helen,  Francis 
and  David.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larkin  are  mem- 
bers of  Saint  Joseph's  church,  and  Mr.  Larkin 
is  a  member  of  Iola  lodge  No.  83,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  which  was  instituted  March  24,  1875, 
and  also  of  the  society  of  Elks. 

A  brief  review  of  the  growth  and  improve- 
ment of  the  Dayton  fire  department  is  appro- 
priate in  this  connection,  as  it  is  in  point  of 
fact,  a  history  of  the  great  success  of  the  life 
of  Mr.  Larkin.  When  he  took  charge  of  the 
department  in  1880  it  had  eleven  horses,  while 


222 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


now  it  has  thirty-six.  It  then  had  six  hose 
reels,  and  now  has  thirteen  new,  improved 
hose  wagons.  At  that  time  it  had  two  old  en- 
gines, and  now  has  four  engines,  two  of  which 
are  new.  It  had  then  but  one  hook  and  lad- 
der truck,  where  now  it  has  three.  There 
were  then  only  thirty-five  fire  alarm  boxes, 
while  to-day  there  are  122,  with  the  Game- 
well  fire-alarm  system.  In  1880  the  depart- 
ment owned  but  2,000  feet  of  good  hose,  and 
4,000  feet  of  that  which  was  inferior.  Now  it 
has  25,000  feet  of  good  hose.  It  had  six  en- 
gine houses,  three  of  which  were  unfit  for  the 
service.  Now  it  has  twelve  engine  houses, 
nine  of  them  new  and  of  modern  construction, 
and  the  appointments  for  quick  hitching  to  the 
engines  are  complete,  seconds  being  required 
now  instead  of  minutes  as  then.  At  the  time 
Mr.  Larkin  took  charge  there  were  eighteen  reg- 
ular firemen,  and  thirteen  subject  to  call;  now 
there  are  seventy  regular  men  and  five  call 
men.  Many  other  improvements,  which  it 
would  be  tedious  to  enumerate,  have  been 
made  and  put  in  operation  in  the  department, 
all  tending  to  rapid  and  efficient  service.  In 
the  first  year  Mr.  Larkin  had  charge  of  the 
department  there  were  sixty-five  fires,  and 
during  the  year  1895  there  were  342.  In  1875 
there  were  forty-six;  in  1880,  sixty-five;  in 
1885,  103;  in  1S90,  138;  in  1895,  342.  and  in 
1896,  353-  The  citizens  of  Dayton  are  cer- 
tain that  they  have  one  of  the  best  fire  depart- 
ments in  the  country,  the  improvements  in  its 
equipment  and  administration  being  a  source 
of  great  pride  in  the  entire  community.  Mr. 
Larkin  is  treasurer  of  the  International  Fire 
Chiefs'  association,  having  held  this  position 
for  twelve  years;  and  in  1895  he  was  made 
president  of  the  Fire  Chiefs'  association  of 
Ohio.  He  is  likewise  a  member  of  the  Great 
Britain  Fire  Brigade  union,  is  president  of  the 
Firemen's  Benevolent  society,  and  secretary  of 
the  Firemen's  Relief  fund. 


Chief  Larkin's  personality  is  so  closely 
identified  in  the  public  mind  with  the  recog- 
nized excellence  and  efficiency  of  the  fire  de- 
partment, that  it  is  impossible  to  discuss  the 
latter  without  giving  large  praise  to  the  man 
who  has  given  the  best  years  of  his  life  in 
its  service. 


m. 


'ILLIAM  E.  CRUME,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  the  western 
department  of  the  Carter-Crume 
Manufacturing  company,  and  a  rep- 
resentative citizen  of  Dayton,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  having  been  born  at  Collinsville,  Butler 
county,  on  March  26,  1848.  The  ancestors  of 
Mr.  Crume  came  from  Wales  to  America  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century 
and  settled  in  Maryland,  from  which  state  his 
paternal  great-grandfathers,  Jesse  Crume  and 
Mathew  Richardson,  came  to  Ohio  in  1802  and 
settled  in  Butler  county.  Jesse  Crume  shortly 
afterward  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
spent  the  balance  of  his  life,  while  Mathew 
Richardson  remained  in  Ohio  and  served  in 
the  state  legislature  in  1804  and  1806.  The 
great-grandfathers  of  Mr.  Crume  on  the  mater- 
nal side  were  James  Martin,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  David  Steel,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
The  paternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Crume  were 
John  C.  Crume,  who  came  from  Kentucky,  his 
native  state,  to  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in 
1810,  but  returning  to  Kentucky,  died  therein 
1 81 5;  and  Sarah  Richardson,  who  came  with 
her  parents  from  Maryland  to  Ohio  in  1803. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Crume  were 
David  Steel,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  Nancy 
Martin,  a  native  of  Ireland.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Crume  was  William  H.  Crume,  who  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky.  He  came  to  Ohio  about 
1830,  locating  in  Butler  county,  where  he  lived 
many  years.  His  death  occurred  in  Dayton 
in  1882. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


223 


William  E.  Crume  was  reared  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  he  en- 
listed in  the  late  war,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  spent  at  Muscatine,  Iowa,  where  his 
parents  removed  in  1858.  He  attended  the 
common  schools,  and  secured  a  good  English 
education,  his  school  days  being  brought  to  a 
close  by  his  enlistment  when  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  on  May  1,  1864,  in  the  167th 
regiment  of  Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  He  was 
mustered  out  of  this  regiment  in  September  of 
that  year,  and  February  2,  1865,  re-enlisted 
in  the  184th  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  October  3,  1865,  with 
rank  of  corporal.  Returning  to  Butler  county 
he  remained  there  until  the  following  year, 
when  he  came  to  Dayton  and  learned  the  trade 
of  carpentering  and  building  with  Andrew 
Slentz.  He  pursued  that  business  until  1873, 
when  he  began  the  manufacture  of  wooden 
boxes,  which  proved  very  successful,  and  was, 
in  fact,  the  foundation  of  the  establishment 
with  which  he  is  at  the  present  time  connected. 
In  1877  he  organized  the  firm  of  Aulabaugh, 
Crume  &  Co.,  the  other  members  of  which 
firm  were  P.  M.  Aulabaugh  and  J.  W.  Sefton. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Aulabaugh  in  1880,  the 
firm  became  known  as  the  Crume  &  Sefton 
Manufacturing  company,  which  continued  un- 
til 1893,  when  it  was  amalgamated  with  four 
other  concerns,  engaged  in  a  like  manufactur- 
ing business,  and  became  the  Carter-Crume 
company,  with  works  at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y., 
Toronto,  Canada,  Saginaw,  Mich.,  and  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  Mr.  Crume  holding  the  position  of 
vice-president  of  the  company  and  general 
manager  of  the  western  department  of  the 
same.  Mr.  Crume  has  other  business  inter- 
ests of  importance,  and  is  a  director  in  the 
Fourth  National  bank. 

Politically,  Mr.  Crume  has  always  been  a 
member  of  the  republican  party,  and  has  for 


years  been  active  and  prominent  in  its  coun- 
cils. While  his  career  has  been  a  business  one, 
and  he  has  in  no  sense  sought  public  office  or 
political  honor,  yet  he  has  been  frequently  rec- 
ognized by  his  party  and  fellow  citizens.  In 
1892  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  republican 
national  convention  at  Minneapolis,  and  in 
1896  was  a  delegate  to  the  republican  national 
convention  at  St.  Louis,  and  is  usually  a  dele- 
gate to  the  county,  district  and  state  conven- 
tions of  his  party.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to 
the  Dayton  city  council,  re-elected  in  1878  and 
1880,  and  was  chosen  vice-president  of  that 
body  in  1881.  He  was  appointed  to  a  position 
on  the  board  of  police  directors,  of  Dayton,  in 
1892,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  in  1896  was 
re-appointed  for  another  term  of  four  years.  In 
1894  and  1895  Mr.  Crume  was  president  of 
the  board,  where  his  services  have  been  of 
great  value  to  the  city,  as  during  his  terms  the 
existing  efficient  police  department  was  in- 
augurated. Mr.  Crume  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  Knight 
Templar  and  a  Scottish  rite  Mason. 

Mr.  Crume  has  long  been  recognized  and 
considered  one  of  Dayton's  leading,  progressive 
and  representative  citizens.  As  a  man  of  large 
business  affairs  he  has  exhibited  talents  of  more 
than  the  ordinary.  The  business  with  which  he 
is  connected  and  which  has  enjoyed  so  pros- 
perous a  career,  was  originated  and  founded  by 
him,  and  it  was  by  his  guiding  hand  that  it 
was  made  successful.  Personally,  Mr.  Crume 
is  one  of  our  most  popular  citizens,  his  genial- 
ity, progressive  ideas,  and  liberal  views  winning 
him  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  admirers.  In 
the  business  world  he  ranks  among  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  city. 

On  January  18,  1S70,  Mr.  Crume  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  C.  Slentz,  who  was  born  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Slentz,  who  was  a  prominent  contractor  of  the 
the  city.      To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crume  the  follow- 


224 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ing  children  have  been  born:  Enimi  I.,  wife 
of  John  P.  Lytle,  of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Lola  H., 
wife  of  Harrie  P.  Clegg,  of  Dayton;  William 
H.,  Roscoe  A.,  and  Eleanor  J. 


^/^\  ICHARD    P.    BURKHARDT,   presi- 

I  ^T    dent   and    manager    of    the  Stomps— 

_^P     Burkhardt  company,    Dayton,    Ohio, 

was    born    in     the     grand     duchy    of 

Baden,    Germany,    October  28,  1845,  and  is  a 

son    of  Joseph    Anthony  and  Theresia   (Ber- 

berich)  Burkhardt,    who   came  to   America  in 

1850,  with  their  family  of  seven  children,  and 

settled  in  Dayton,  where  the  mother  died  July 

9,  1869,  and  the  father  August  6,   1880,  at  the 

age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Joseph  Anthony  Burkhardt  descended  from 
a  family  of  business  men  who  held  sway  for 
generations  in  Baden  as  prominent  in  their 
various  callings.  For  a  number  of  years 
Joseph  A.  Burkhardt  was  burgomaster  of  his 
native  city,  and  on  coming  to  this  country  fol- 
lowed his  business  in  Dayton,  from  which  bus- 
iness he  retired,  with  a  competency,  in  1858. 
To  Joseph  Anthony  Burkhardt  and  wife  were 
born  eight  children,  of  whom  the  eldest, 
Frank  Stephen,  was  the  first  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica, leaving  his  parents  and  family  of  seven 
children  to  follow,  and  he  still  keeps  his  resi- 
dence in  Dayton;  Theresa,  the  second  born, 
died  in  California,  the  wife  of  John  Huberty; 
Gertrude  is  the  widow  of  Joseph  Burkhardt, 
deceased;  August  died  in  California;  John  V. 
also  died  in  that  state;  Mary  H.  is  the  wife  of 
Nicholas  Sacksteder,  of  Dayton;  Mark  A.  is  a 
druggist  of  the  same  city,  and  Richard  P.  is 
the  youngest  born. 

Richard  P.  Burkhardt  was  in  his  fifth  year 
when  the  family  came  to  Dayton,  and  was 
educated  in  the  parochial  school  and  in  Saint 
Mary's  institute  until  twelve  or  thirteen  years 
old,  when  he  engaged  as  an   errand  boy  in  the 


cabinetmaker's  union,  at  $1.25  per  week,  for 
one  year;  he  was  next  apprenticed  for  two  and 
one-half  years  at  the  cabinetmakers'  trade, 
with  Philip  Haverstick;  he  then  entered  the 
employ  of  M.  Ohmer,  as  clerk,  and  remained 
in  that  position  until  his  employer's  place  of 
business  was  destroyed  by  fire,  in  May,  1869; 
he  next  traveled  for  a  few  months  as  an  intro- 
ducer of  a  patent  bed  bottom,  and  for  five 
months  afterward  was  employed  as  clerk  in 
the  dry-goods  store  of  H.  V.  Perrine.  He  then 
purchased  the  interest  of  Martin  Brabec  in  the 
firm  of  G.  Stomps  Brothers  &  Company.  One 
month  later  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
that  of  G.  Stomps  &  Company,  under  which 
style  business  was  carried  on  for  twenty-one 
years,  when,  on  January  1,  1890,  it  was  merged 
into  a  joint  stock  concern  under  the  title  of 
the  Stomps-Burkhardt  company,  Mr.  Burk- 
hardt during  the  interval,  having  had  charge  of 
the  general  office  work  and  finances  of  the 
firm.  On  the  formation  of  the  stock  company 
Mr.  Stomps  was  made  its  president,  and  Mr. 
Burkhardt  vice-president  and  general  manager; 
the  year  following  this  action  Mr.  Stomps  was 
called  from  business  cares  by  death,  and  Mr. 
Burkhardt  became  president;  Gustave  Stomps, 
vice-president  and  treasurer;  J.  M.  Kramer, 
secretary;  and  R.  P.  Burkhardt,  Jr.,  superin- 
tendent. 

When  Mr.  Burkhardt  first  became  a  mem- 
ber of  this  concern,  its  annual  financial  tran- 
sactions amounted  to  an  average  of  $30,000; 
the  business  now  done  reaches  from  $250,000 
to  $300,000  per  year;  the  plant  has  a  frontage 
of  200  feet  on  First  street  aside  from  the  space 
allotted  to  warerooms,  and  the  number  of  peo- 
ple employed  is  235.  The  output  of  the  firm 
reaches  all  points  in  the  United  States,  Cana- 
da and  Mexico,  and  the  superiority  of  the 
wares  is  fully  shown  by  the  demand  for  them 
all  over  this  extensive  territory. 

The    marriage    of    Richard    P.    Burkhardt 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


227 


took  place  November  21,  1871,  with  Miss 
Mary  Adelaide  Stomps,  daughter  of  Gustav 
Stomps,  and  to  this  marriage  were  born  six 
children,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy;  Richard 
P.,  Jr.,  is  alluded  to  in  a  preceding  paragraph; 
William  M.  is  a  traveling  salesman  in  the 
factory  of  which  his  father  is  the  head;  Mary 
A.,  Catherine  T.  and  Ellanore  E.  are  at  home 
with  their  father.  Of  these  children,  the  eld- 
est, Richard  P. ,  Jr. ,  was  married,  November 
21,  1894,  to  Miss  Emma  Bauman,  and  to  this 
union  has  been  born  one  child — R.  Waldron. 
R.  P.  Burkhardt  was  bereft  of  his  wife  by 
death,  May  12,  1893,  she  being  then  but  little 
over  thirty-nine  years  of  age.  She  was  a 
faithful  Catholic  in  her  religious  faith  and  all 
the  family  are  members  of  the  same  church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Burkhardt  is  a  true  demo- 
crat, and  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of 
tax  commissioners  of  Dayton.  He  is  what  is 
usually  called  a  self-made  man  in  mercantile 
matters — in  other  words,  his  knowledge  of 
trade  and  his  natural  astuteness,  industry  and 
honesty  have  led  to  his  present  business  pros- 
perity; while  he  is  honored  and  esteemed  for 
his  breadth  of  mind  and  public  spirit,  by  the 
entire  community  wherein  he  has  earned  a 
well-merited  success. 


@EN.  WILLIAM  H.  MARTIN,  now 
living  in  retirement  at  No.  1 15  South 
Dudley  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  near  Boston,  Mass.,  Septem- 
ber 13,  1830.  His  parents,  Edward  and 
Betty  Martin,  were  also  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  were  respectively  of  German  and 
Irish  descent.  The  father  died  two  months 
before  the  birth  of  our  subject,  and  when  the 
latter  was  but  two  years  of  age  he  was  bereft 
of  his  mother.  Of  the  four  sons  and  three 
daughters  born  to  Edward  and   Betty  Martin, 


all  are  now  deceased,  excepting  William  H., 
and  of  the  sons,  who  were  all  seafaring  men, 
John  was  governor  of  one  of  the  South  sea 
jslands  under  the  British  crown  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  Joseph  died  on  an  East  India  island 
on  a  return  trip  from  Egypt,  and  James  was 
lost  at  sea;  of  the  daughters,  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Capt.  Thomas  M.  Fulton,  sailed  with  her 
husband  four  times  around  the  world  and  died 
in  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  Mary  E.  was  married  to 
Edward  Deering,  and  died  in  Portsmouth,  N. 
H.;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Mapes,  died  in 
Saint  Louis,   Mo. 

While  yet  a  mere  boy,  William  H.  Martin 
ran  away  from  his  adopted  home  and  followed 
the  sea  for  two  or  three  years  as  a  cabin  boy, 
but  finally  left  his  vessel  at  a  seaport  in  Nova 
Scotia,  where  he  attended  school  for  two  win- 
ters and  worked  at  farming  during  the  summer 
months.  He  then  returned  to  Boston  and  at- 
tended night  school  for  several  years.  In  1847 
he  was  employed  by  the  Boston  &  Worcester 
Railroad  company,  and  in  1850  went  to  Central 
America  with  a  crew  employed  to  construct  the 
Panama  railroad;  six  months  later  he  returned 
north  to  New  York,  visited  Boston,  then  again 
returned  to  New  York,  and  at  Delaware,  that 
state,  was  employed  on  the  New  York  &  Erie 
railroad.  In  185 1  he  was  made  a  conductor,  a 
position  he  held  nearly  three  years;  in  July, 
1853,  he  came  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  with  Major 
Seymour;  made  his  first  visit  to  a  slave  state, 
Kentucky,  but  was  dissatisfied,  and  returned  to 
Cincinnati,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railroad  com- 
pany. He  located  his  home  in  Dayton,  and 
continued  with  this  company  until  1881,  hav- 
ing a  leave  of  absence  during  the  Civil  war. 

On  the  night  of  April  14,  1861,  Mr.  Mar- 
tin signed  enlistment  papers,  in  Dayton,  in 
the  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  went  at 
once  to  Columbus.  He  was  soon  appointed 
color-sergeant  of  his  regiment,  and  carried  the 


228 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


regimental  flag  through  the  three-months  serv- 
ice, and  saw  active  service  at  Vienna  and  Bull 
Run.  In  the  latter  battle  he  won  his  first  pro- 
motion for  gallant  conduct  on  the  battlefield. 
In  the  excitement  of  the  struggle,  when  the 
Union  troops  were  sorely  pressed,  the  regiment 
became  separated  from  its  color-bearer,  who 
had  advanced  nearer  to  the  enemy  than  the  re- 
mainder of  his  regiment.  This  fact  was  no- 
ticed and  reported  by  the  brigade  staff  of  Gen. 
R.  C.  Schenck,  and  by  order  of  President  Lin- 
coln, Sergt.  Martin  was  promoted  to  be  assist- 
ant quartermaster-general  of  his  brigade,  and 
ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  A.  S.  Piatt,  com- 
manding the  mountain  department  of  Virginia. 
He  was  to  rank  as  captain,  but  a  year  passed 
before  he  received  official  notice  of  this  action. 
After  a  service  of  four  months  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge.  He  was  at  once  tendered 
the  colonelcy  of  the  Fourteenth  Missouri,  de- 
clined acceptance,  but  accepted  the  lieutenant- 
colonelcy  of  the  Seventy-fifth  Ohio;  but  this 
regiment  was  soon  afterward  consolidated  with 
the  Seventy-first  Ohio,  which  left  him  a  super- 
numerary, and  he  retired  in  January,  1862,  and 
resumed  his  old  place  as  conductor  on  the  C, 
H.  &  D.  road. 

But  these  were  stirring  times,  and  Col. 
Martin,  in  July,  1862,  recruited  company  A, 
Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  many 
enlistments  being  made  with  the  distinct  un- 
derstanding that  Col.  Martin  should  remain 
with  his  men.  Two  hours  after  his  muster-in 
as  captain  of  this  company,  he  received  his 
commission  from  President  Lincoln,  before  no- 
ticed, for  his  gallant  services  on  the  battlefield 
of  Bull  Run,  but  this  he  was  forced  to  decline, 
owing  to  the  conditions  on  which  his  com- 
pany had  been  organized.  The  Ninety-third 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Twentieth  army 
corps,  under  Maj.-Gen.  McCook,  army  of 
the  Ohio,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville,    Ky.,  against   Kirby  Smith;  was  on  the 


flank  of  the  Union  army  at  Dry  Ridge,  near 
near  Harrodsburg;  was  next  at  Antioch  church, 
Tenn.;  next  for  two  days  at  Triune,  Tenn., 
fighting  Hardee;  next,  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
river,  where  the  regiment  suffered  severely — 
Capt.  Martin  acting  as  lieutenant-colonel,  as  he 
had  indeed  done  almost  from  the  beginning. 
Here  he  was  shot  through  the  body,aminie  ball 
entering  the  left  clavicle  and  passing  out  through 
the  shoulder  blade,  barely  missing  the  main 
artery  of  the  neck.  While  being  treated  in  hos- 
pital, Capt.  Martin  was  promoted  to  major,  in 
February,  1863,  and  to  lieutenant-colonel  in 
March;  in  April  he  returned  to  his  regiment 
with  his  wound  yet  unhealed,  which  was  aggra- 
vated by  the  exercise  required  in  mounting  and 
riding  his  horse;  he  was  granted  a  furlough, 
however,  which  was  extended  until  August, 
1863,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  Col.  Hiram  Strong 
received  a  fatal  wound,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Martin 
assumed  command  of  the  regiment.  While 
here  leading  a  charge  against  a  battery  he 
was  struck  in  the  leg  by  a  spent  ball,  which 
brought  him  to  the  ground,  and  this  fall  tore 
open  the  old  wound;  but  he  tenaciously  com- 
manded his  regiment  until  the  battle  was  ended. 
It  was  found  necessary  to  extract  from  the  old 
wound  twenty-four  pieces  of  bone  at  different 
operations,  and  the  Colonel,  on  two  or  three 
occasions,  tendered  his  resignation,  believing 
that  he  would  never  again  be  fit  for  service, 
but  each  resignation  was  peremptorily  rejected. 
He  was  granted  a  leave  of  absence,  however, 
and  on  his  return  to  Dayton  a  consultation  of 
Cincinnati  and  Dayton  surgeons  was  held,  re- 
sulting in  the  removal  of  fifteen  splinters  of 
bone  from  the  wound  at  one  time.  Soon  after 
this  the  Colonel  again  sent  in  his  resignation, 
but,  receiving  no  response  for  several  months, 
he  decided  to  return  to  the  front,  and  while 
en  route  received,  at  Chattanooga,  the  accept- 
I  ance  of  his  resignation.      In  May,  1865,  he  was 


GU*^  H 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


229 


honored  with  a  commission  as  brevet  brigadier 
general. 

On  returning  to  Dayton  he  was  incapaci- 
tated, through  his  wounds,  from  engaging  in 
any  business  for  several  months,  but  finally  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  government  store-keeper 
at  Dayton,  and  held  the  position  for  five  years; 
in  1873  he  was  appointed  chief  of  police,  held 
the  position  two  years,  and  then  resigned.  As 
a  testimonial  of  the  esteem  in  which  their  chief 
was  held,  the  police  force  of  Dayton  presented 
the  General  with  a  fine  gold-headed  cane  on  his 
retirement.  During  all  these  years  of  varying 
fortune,  his  position  on  the  Cincinnati,  Hamil- 
ton &  Dayton  railroad  was  always  open  to 
him,  and  on  the  publication  of  a  news  item  of 
his  resignation  as  chief  of  police,  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  railroad  company  telegraphed 
him  that  his  old  train  was  ready  for  him;  he 
thereupon  resumed  his  former  position,  and  re- 
mained on  the  road  until  1881,  as  has  already 
been  stated. 

In  1 88 1  Gen.  Martin  went  to  northwest 
Minnesota,  leaving  a  valuable  home  on  Fifth 
street,  Boston,  which  he  still  owns.  He  pur- 
chased a  quantity  of  railroad  land  in  Minne- 
sota, on  which  he  resided  until  November, 
1895,  when  he  returned  to  Dayton  to  pass  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  retirement,  although 
he  still  owns  a  fine  farm  in  Minnesota. 

Gen.  Martin  was  most  happily  united  in 
marriagej  at  Dayton,  in  1854,  with  Miss  Hen- 
rietta Pierce  Carpenter,  whose  parents  settled 
in  the  city  in  1813.  Her  father,  Thomas  G. 
Carpenter,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1802, 
and  was  a  builder  by  occupation;  her  mother, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hannah  E. 
Heitman,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  in 
1803.  The  only  child  born  to  the  General  and 
his  wife,  was  named  Frank  P.,  and  died  No- 
vember 4,  i860,  at  the  age  of  five  years,  eight 
months  and  twenty  days. 

Gen.  Martin  has  taken  all  the  degrees  in 


the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  all 
the  degrees  in  Masonry  excepting  the  thirty- 
third;  he  still  holds  membership  in  lodge  and 
chapter  in  Dayton  and  Cincinnati;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Old  Guard  Post,  G.  A.  R. ;  of  the  Union 
Veteran  Legion,  and  of  the  Ohio  division  of 
the  Loyal  Legion.  The  religious  relations  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  are  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  politics  Gen.  Martin  is 
an  uncompromising  republican,  although  in 
his  earlier  years  he  was  a  democrat,  but  found 
occasion  to  change  his  political  views  at  the 
ballot  box  in  1852.  Gen.  Martin's  courage 
upon  the  field,  as  well  as  at  the  head  of  the 
police  department  and  in  the  discharge  of  his 
railroad  duties,  has  been  one  of  his  marked 
characteristics;  and  his  splendid  services  with 
Dayton's  favorite  regiment,  the  old  Ninety- 
third,  have  always  endeared  him  to  the  people  of 
this  city.  He  is  held  in  the  warmest  regard  by 
all  who  have  watched  his  varied,  but  uniformly 
honorable,  career. 


OSCAR    F.    DAVISSON,    a    prominent 
member  of  the  Dayton  bar,  was  born 
in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  on  June    12, 
185  1,  and  is  a  son  of  Josiah  and  Han- 
nah (Foos)  Davisson. 

His  grandfather,  also  Josiah  Davisson,  was 
a  pioneer  of  Preble  county,  whither  he  removed 
from  Virginia  in  1812,  after  having  liberated  a 
large  number  of  slaves,  then  owned  by  him. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
for  gallant  service  upon  the  field  of  battle  dur- 
ing that  struggle  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Rock- 
ingham county,  Va.  (then  comprising  all  of 
what  is  now  the  state  of  West  Virginia),  by 
Patrick  Henry,  governor  of  Virginia.  Mr. 
Davisson's  death  occurred  in  Preble  county  on 
September  9,   1825,  in  his  eighty-first  year. 

Jacob  Foos,  the  maternal  grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  owned  a  farm  near 


230 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


what  is  now  Fairmount  park,  Philadelphia. 
He  was  an  artilleryman  during  the  Revolution. 
Some  time  before  the  twenties  of  this  century 
he  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Warren  county, 
whence  he  removed  to  Preble  county  in  1822, 
dying  in  that  county  on  August  7,  1842,  in  his 
sixty-first  year. 

Josiah  Davisson,  father  of  Oscar  F. ,  was 
born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. ,  and  came  to 
Ohio  in  18 12  with  his  parents.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Preble 
county,  holding  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  for  over  thirty  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  attainments,  having  been 
given  a  good  education,  and  for  years  was  in  a 
manner  judicial  officer  for  all  the  northern  por- 
tion of  his  county.      His  death  occurred  in  1 863. 

The  mother  of  Oscar  F.  was  born  near 
Waynesville,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  on  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1 8 19,  and  removed  with  her  parents 
to  Preble  county  in  her  third  year.  She  lived 
to  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  five 
months  and  two  days,  her  death  occurring  on 
July  15,  1896.  She  was  one  of  the  most 
widely  known  women  in  Preble  county,  and 
was  an  important  factor  in  the  development  of 
that  county.  She  was  a  strong  character,  and 
was  always  in  the  front  rank  of  those  advocat- 
ing needed  reforms  and  improvements  for  the 
benefit  of  mankind.  She  was  endowed  by  na- 
ture with  a  very  high  order  of  executive  abil- 
ity, was  a  wise  counselor,  and  eminently  a 
woman  of  affairs.  She  was  generous  to  the 
poor,  and  kind  and  sympathetic  with  those  in 
distress.  Her  marriage  occurred  on  May  12, 
1846,  and  she  survived  her  husband  almost 
thirty-three  years,  and  left  the  following  chil- 
dren: Francis  M.,  Amelia  E.,  Sarah  A.,  all 
of  Preble  county,  and  Oscar  F.  and  Dr.  E.  C, 
of  Dayton. 

Oscar  F.  Davisson  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  Preble  county,  where  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools.     In  1870  he  entered  the  National 


normal  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  was  there  grad- 
uated in  1874.  He  then  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  university  of  Michigan,  at  And 
Arbor.  In  1875  he  came  to  Dayton  and  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Gunckel  &  Rowe  as  a 
student,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  Jan- 
uary 2,  1877.  He  remained  with  the  above 
firm  until  the  first  of  the  following  June,  and 
then  opened  an  office  and  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral practice  of  law  by  himself.  From  the 
beginning  Mr.  Davisson  met  with  success  in 
his  profession,  and  year  by  year  his  practice 
grew  until  he  took  rank  among  the  foremost 
attorneys  of  the  city.  His  business  is  general 
and  civil  practice,  and  he  is  attorney  for  nu- 
merous important  corporations.  As  a  lawyer 
Mr.  Davisson  is  able  and  thorough,  strong  in 
argument,  resourceful  and  aggressive,  and  has 
met  with  unvarying  success.  As  a  citizen  he 
is  progressive  and  enterprising,  and  ready  to 
lend  his  aid  and  endorsement  to  movements 
having  for  their  object  the  improvement  and 
benefit  of  the  community.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  at- 
tained the  thirty-second  and  knight  templar 
degrees.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  is 
in  no  sense  a  partisan,  and  has  never  held  nor 
sought  public  office. 

Mr.  Davisson  was  married  in  Dayton  on 
June  18,  1889,  to  Jessie  M.  Leach,  who  was 
born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Richard  T.  and  Mary  Ann  Leach,  residents  of 
Dayton.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are 
Richard  and  Marian. 


m. 


ILLIAM  L.  CATEN,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  known  as  the  South- 
ern Ohio  Coal  company,  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y. , 
August  29,  1 86 1,  receiving  his  earlier  educa- 
tion in  Gloversville,  Fulton  county,  in  the 
same  state,  and  graduated  from  the  Saint  Law- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


231 


rence  university,  Canton,  N.  Y. ,  in  the  scien- 
tific course,  in  1883.  For  a  short  time  he 
was  engaged  in  Goshen,  Ind.,  in  the  lumber 
business,  but  in  1884  came  to  Dayton  as  the 
manager  of  the  Southern  Ohio  Coal  company, 
which  corporation  ceased  to  exist  in  1892. 
Mr.  Caten  and  his  brother,  Frederick,  then 
purchased  the  business  and  are  still  conducting 
it  under  the  old  firm  name,  operating  four 
places  of  business  in  the  city,  handling  all  vari- 
eties of  fuel,  and  giving  employment  to  forty 
men.      In   politics   Mr.  Caten   is  a  republican. 

Frederick  Caten,  the  junior  partner,  was 
born  in  Blossburg,  Pa.,  May  21,  1866,  and 
was  educated  at  the  Clinton  Liberal  institute, 
Fort  Plain,  N.  Y.',  from  which  he  graduated, 
in  the  scientific  course,  in  1885.  Immediately 
thereafter  Mr.  Caten  came  to  Dayton  and  be- 
came associated  with  his  brother  in  the  South- 
ern Ohio  Coal  company,  but  in  1890  returned 
to  Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  glove  leather  for  four 
years,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the 
business  and  returned  to  Dayton  to  rejoin  his 
brother  William. 

Frederick  Caten  was  united  in  marriage 
December  8,  1891,  in  Cortland,  N.  Y. ,  with 
Miss  Anna  B.  Cordo,  the  union  being  blessed 
with  one  child — Mary  Louise. 


m 


ILLIAM  EARNSHAW,  D.  D.,  de- 
ceased chaplain  of  the  soldiers' 
home  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  12,  1828, 
and  was  the  third  son  of  George  and  Eliza 
Earnshaw,  who  had  a  family  of  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

William  Earnshaw  was  carefully  reared 
within  the  pale  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  his  early  years  were  passed  in  fit- 
ting himself  for  the  ministry.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-five,  in   1853,  he  joined   the  Baltimore 


conference  and  entered  upon  his  duties  as  an 
itinerant  minister,  and  for  one  year  his  first 
charge  was  at  Warriors'  Mark;  the  next  two 
years  he  was  stationed  at  Gettysburg,  and  the 
following  two  at  Hancock,  Md.  His  fourth 
charge  was  at  Mercersburg,  Pa. ,  for  two  years, 
and  his  last  conference  charge  was  at  Ship- 
pensburg  Station,  Pa.,  in  which  he  was  en- 
tering on  his  second  year,  when  he  enlisted, 
April  16,  1 86 1,  in  response  to  the  president's 
first  call  for  volunteers.  He  was  assigned  to 
the  Forty-ninth  Pennsylvania  infantry  and  em- 
ployed for  several  months  in  home  guard  duty, 
was  then  commissioned  chaplain  of  his  regi- 
ment, served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
thereafter  continued  his  work  of  love  and  devo- 
tion until  September,   1867. 

Chaplain's  Earnshaw's  service  was  first 
with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  he  was 
present  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  at 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettys- 
burg; but  after  the  enemy  was  driven  out  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  he  was  transferred 
to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  where  he 
served  under  Maj.-Gen.  George  H.  Thomas, 
whose  cordial  friendship  and  support  he  earned 
by  his  untiring  zeal  in  the  performance  of  duty. 
While  in  the  service  Mr.  Earnshaw  was  pres- 
ent, as  a  non-combatant,  on  nineteen  battle 
fields,  and,  after  the  final  surrender,  was  ap- 
pointed by  Gen.  Thomas  as  superintendent  of 
cemeteries  at  Stone  River  and  Nashville;  sub- 
sequently this  appointment  was  so  enlarged  as 
to  include  the  national  cemeteries  at  Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth  and  Memphis.  In 
the  presence  of  thousands  of  unreconstructed 
rebels,  and  of  women  and  children  who  were 
imbued  with  the  idea  that  secession  was  just 
and  the  northern  soldiers  usurpers,  this  duty 
was  most  arduous;  yet,  in  the  face  of  insult  and 
intimidation  and  personal  danger,  the  bodies 
of  22,000  fallen  Union  soldiers  were  gathered 
from  their  shallow,  temporary  graves,  decently 


232 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


interred,  and  carved  headboards  were  placed 
at  each  grave — many,  however,  being  marked 
"unknown." 

About  the  time  Mr.  Earnshaw  had  com- 
pleted this  serious  task,  the  national  military 
home  was  established  near  Columbus,  Ohio, 
for  which,  from  many  applicants  for  the  posi- 
tion, with  strong  credentials,  Mr.  Earnshaw 
was  appointed  chaplain  on  the  sole  recommen- 
dation of  Gen.  Thomes,  which  read,  "  This  is 
the  best  chaplain  I  have  known  during  the 
war."  Mr.  Earnshaw  entered  at  once  upon 
his  duties,  and  when  the  home  was  transferred 
from  Columbus  to  Dayton,  continued  as  its 
chaplain,  and  was  the  only  one  known  to  over 
3,000  veterans  who  died  and  were  buried  under 
his  ministrations.  Hon.  L.  B.  Gunckel  has 
said  that,  after  watching  him  for  eighteen 
years,  he  is  not  sure  "they  could  have  made 
a  better  selection  had  they  searched  the  whole 
army."  But  the  exposures  of  camp  and  field, 
and  nearly  six  years  of  hard  labor,  had  left 
their  impress  upon  the  physical  constitution  of 
Mr.  Earnshaw.  A  short  respite — the  first  he 
had  ever  asked  for — and  a  trip  to  the  south 
afforded  him  temporary  relief;  but  death  finally 
claimed  him  on  the  afternoon  of  July  17,  1885, 
his  last  message  being,  "Tell  the  veterans  I 
love  them  all."  Grizzled  old  soldiers  and 
youthful  employees  wept  alike,  as  for  a  father, 
and  they  felt  that  no  truer  friend  of  mankind 
had  ever  lived.  The  funeral  services  were 
conducted  at  the  home  chapel,  concluding  with 
the  Masonic  ceremony  of  transferring  the  ring 
from  father  to  son — William,  the  eldest  son, 
being  the  heir  to  the  emblem  the  father  had  so 
worthily  worn  for  years.  The  remains  were 
followed  to  their  final  resting  place  in  Wood- 
land cemetery  by  a  large  number  of  citizens, 
soldiers,  organizations  and  civil  societies.  For 
a  time  the  home  flags  were  displayed  at  half- 
mast,  offices  were  closed  and  business  entirely 
suspended. 


In  the  eulogy  pronounced  over  his  dead 
body  it  was  said  by  the  orator:  "On  the 
eighth  of  June  last,  it  was  my  sad  privilege  to 
confer  with  him  and  to  listen  to  his  words  of 
religious  faith  and  hope.  I  repeat  them  for 
the  comfort  of  his  friends  and  for  the  honor  of 
his  Master.  He  said,  '  Feeble  as  I  am,  it  is 
not  certain  that  I  shall  not  recover,  although 
I  do  not  expect  to.  I  wish  to  make  all  prac- 
ticable preparations  for  the  event  which  I  be- 
lieve is  near.  I  am  not  alarmed  about  dying. 
I  have  not  been  as  good  as  I  should  have 
been,  but  my  hope  is  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  saved  me  in  my  boyhood  and  who  has 
been  with  me  ever  since.  He  will  not  desert 
me  now.  Perhaps  I  am  too  cheerful  and  exu- 
berant about  it.  I  have  no  fears  whatever. 
The  quiet,  beautiful  resting-place  in  Wood- 
land cemetery  awaits  me.  I  look  back  over 
my  life  with  the  peculiar  satisfaction  that  I 
have  been  able  to  do  something  for  my  fellow- 
men  and  for  Christ.'  To  his  wife  he  said: 
'  Dear  mother,  you  were  never  willing  to  let  me 
die;  but  can  you  give  me  up  now?  I  am  going 
— glory,  giory. '     These  were   his  last  words." 

Chaplain  Earnshaw  was  in  appearance  tall 
and  graceful;  of  military  pose  and  bearing,  he 
looked  rather  more  martial  than  ministerial; 
yet  he  never  sank  the  minister  into  the  soldier, 
nor  lost  the  soldierly  bearing  in  the  minister. 
He  was  the  soul  of  honor,  truth  and  nobility, 
and  in  all  undertakings  was  earnest,  laborious 
and  persistent.  Eminent  positions  came  to 
him  unsought.  He  was  grand  chaplain  of  the 
National  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and 
also  its  commander-in-chief,  and  was  the  first 
person  below  the  rank  of  major-general  to  hold 
this  office.  He  was  also,  as  has  been  seen, 
eminent  as  a  Mason,  and  was  a  member  of 
several  local  organizations. 

Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Earnshaw,  widow  of 
Chaplain  William  Earnshaw,  D.  D.,  was  born 
at  Warriors'   Mark,    Huntingdon  county,  Pa., 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


233 


January  28,  1833,  and  was  educated  in  its 
public  and  private  schools.  Her  parents,  Ben- 
jamin and  Rebecca  (Wilson)  Hutchison,  were 
also  natives  of  Huntingdon  county,  the  father 
being  a  farmer,  and  both  parents  died  at  the 
family  homestead  in  Warriors'  Mark.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Earnshaw  were  of  Irish  and 
German  descent;  the  father  was  accidentally 
killed  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  while  the 
mother  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years.  Of  their  seven  children,  three  are  still 
living  at  this  writing. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earnshaw 
took  place  in  Warriors'  Mark,  October  10, 
1855.  From  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war 
until  1864,  Mrs.  Earnshaw  lived  under  the 
parental  roof,  and  then  joined  her  husband  at 
Murfreesboro,  and  for  twenty-one  days  was 
shut  up  in  the  fortifications  of  that  city.  She 
remained  at  the  south  until  the  chaplain  had 
completed  his  work,  witnessed  a  number  of 
battles,  and  then  accompanied  her  husband  to 
Ohio,  occupying  the  chaplain's  house,  first  at 
Columbus  and  then  at  Dayton,  and  encounter- 
ing her  sad  affliction  at  the  latter  place,  as 
narrated  above.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earnshaw 
there  were  born  five  children,  viz. :  Minnie 
W. ,  wife  of  B.  F.  Hershey,  of  Dayton,  a 
biography  of  whom  will  be  found  on  another 
page;  William  B. ,  for  the  past  eighteen  years 
secretary  of  the  Dayton  Malleable  Iron-works, 
and  married  to  Miss  Louise  Stockstill,  of  Day- 
ton; Margaret  H.,  married  to  Dr.  Grube,  a 
practicing  physician  of  Greenville,  111. ;  Fred- 
erick S.,  who  died  in  his  fifteenth  year,  an  in- 
telligent lad  of  great  promise;  and  Louis  Put- 
nam, a  practicing  physician  of  Dayton. 

Mrs.  Earnshaw  is  not  altogether  sectarian 
in  her  religious  views,  although  she  has  been  a 
life-long  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  her  rectitude,  beauty  of  character 
and  warm  impulses  have  won  for  her  hundreds 
of  sincere  friends. 


kS~*\  EV.   MAURICE  EMERY  WILSON, 

I  t^T    D.   D.,   pastor  of    the  First  Presby- 

P    terian  church  of   Dayton  Ohio,   was 

born     in    Baltimore,    Md.,    April    2, 

1855,  but  was  reared  in  Cannonsburg,  Pa. 

Rev.  Thomas  B.  Wilson,  father  of  Rev. 
Maurice  Emery,  was  a  native  of  Cannonsburg, 
Pa.,  born  November  17,  1822,  and  descended 
from  good  old  ante-American  Revolutionary 
families.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  B.  Wilson  was  a  native  of  London- 
derry, Ireland,  and  the  maternal  grand- 
mother, who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Dill, 
descended  from  Col.  Matthew  Dill,  of  York 
county,  Pa.,  a  prominent  hero  of  the  war  for 
American  independence,  and  who  traced  his 
genealogy  to  Oliver  Cromwell.  Rev.  Thomas 
B.  Wilson  was  educated  at  Jefferson  college 
and  at  the  Western  Theological  seminary,  and 
his  first  pastoral  charge  was  that  of  the  Sixth 
Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  his  sec- 
ond, that  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Xenia, 
Ohio,  and  while  here  engaged  in  work  of  the 
ministry,  he  was  taken  sick,  which  caused  his  re- 
turn to  Cannonsburg,  Pa. ,  where  he  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1858.  His  widow,  who  prior  to  mar- 
riage was  Miss  Margaret  B.  Sanders,  survived 
him  until  August  31,  1895.  She  was  a  native  of 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Maj. 
Jacob  Sanders,  a  gallant  officer  of  the  war  of 
1 8 12,  a  hero  of  Lundy's  Lane,  and  an  ardent 
friend  of  Gen.  Winfield  Scott.  The  children 
born  to  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  and  wife  were 
two  in  number,  Rev.  Maurice  E.  and  Rev. 
Calvin  Dill  Wilson — the  latter  being  the  pres- 
ent pastor  of  the  Franklin,  Ohio,  Presbyterian 
church.  These  brothers  were  educated  in  the 
same  schools,  and  were  classmates  from  the 
time  of  their  entrance  upon  collegiate  work 
until  their  graduation,  so  that  a  brief  record  of 
the  educational  course  of  one  is  equivalent  to 
that  of  the  other. 

Maurice   Emery   Wilson   received   his  ele- 


■234 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mentary  instructions  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cannonsburg,  Pa.,  and  prepared  for  college  in 
the  Cannonsburg  academy.  He  entered  the 
sophomore  class  of  Washington  and  Jefferson 
college  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  graduated 
when  twenty-one  years  old,  and  immediately 
entered  the  Western  Theological  seminary  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  completed  his  three- 
years'  course  in  April,  1879.  In  December  of 
the  latter  year  he  was  ordained  to  the  minis- 
try of  the  Presbyterian  church,  having  accepted 
a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  church  at  Galli- 
polis,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  and  one- 
half  years.  His  next  charge  was  at  Emsworth, 
one  of  the  suburban  Presbyterian  churches  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  officiated  very  ac- 
ceptably for  the  same  period  of  time,  and  was 
then  called  to  the  pastorate  of  Westminster 
church,  of  his  native  city,  Baltimore,  Md., 
where  he  gained  celebrity  as  a  pulpit  orator 
and  a  profound  interpreter  of  the  Scriptures 
and  remained  over  five  years.  In  March, 
1890,  Dr.  Wilson  was  called  to  his  present 
charge  in  Dayton,  where  he  has  established 
himself  each  year  more  firmly  in  the  affection 
and  esteem  of  his  congregation  and  has  added 
to  his  character  for  piety  and  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  religion,  a  high  repute  for  that  good 
citizenship  which  concerns  itself  in  the  every- 
day affairs  and  interests  of  the  community. 

In  June,  1879,  Dr.  Wilson  was  united  in 
matrimony  with  Miss  Fanny  McCombs,  who 
comes  from  two  of  the  oldest  and  most  prom- 
inent families  of  Washington,  Pa.,  but  now  of 
Pittsburg.  Miss  McCombs  was  highly  edu- 
cated in  her  girlhood  and  a  graduate  of  Wash- 
ington seminary.  The  union  of  Rev.  M.  E. 
Wilson  and  wife  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child  only — Anna  Quail,  a  young  lady  now  un- 
der the  instruction  of  private  tutors.  In  his 
politics  Mr.  Wilson  is  independent  of  party 
control,  but  is  a  warm  and  earnest  advocate  of 
temperance;    fraternally,    he    is  a   member   of 


the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  also  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  The  Wilson  family  have  ever 
been  eminent  in  literary  pursuits  and  belles 
lettres  generally  as  well  as  in  the  ministry  and 
other  spheres  of  usefulness.  One,  Rev.  Dr. 
John  R.  Paxton,  is  now  in  Europe,  seeking  the 
restoration  of  his  health  which  has  been  lost 
through  over-exertion  in  the  performance  of 
his  arduous  professional  duties,  he  having  for 
many  years  been  eminent  as  pastor  of  the 
West  Presbyterian  church  of  New  York  city; 
another  member  of  the  family,  Prof.  Samuel 
J.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  LL  D.,  was  for  twenty- 
five  years  professor  of  church  history  in  the 
Western  Theological  seminary  of  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  while  the  Dr.  M.  E.  Wilson  and  his 
brother  have  edited  and  published  a  volume, 
entitled  "Occasional  Addresses  and  Sermons," 
delivered  by  this  able  and  eloquent  scholar. 


eDMOND  STAFFORD  YOUNG,  de- 
ceased, one  of  the  ablest  members  of 
the  Dayton  bar,  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  that  city,  was 
born  at  Lyme,  N.  H.,  on  February  28,  1827, 
and  was  the  son  of  George  Murray  Young  and 
Sibel  (Green)  Young. 

He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  his  grand- 
father, Dr.  Hugh  Murray  Young,  having  been 
an  early  Irish  emigrant  to  Connecticut. 

His  father,  George  Murray  Young,  was 
born  in  Litchfield  county,  Conn.,  on  April  1, 
1802.  He  was  educated  at  Exeter  and  Pough- 
keepsie  academies,  and  then,  learning  the  trade 
of  a  printer,  carried  on  business  for  a  time  as 
a  printer  and  publisher.  In  1836  he  married 
Sibel  Green,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Green, 
of  Lyme,  N.  H.,  and  granddaughter  of  Col. 
Ebenezer  Green,  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

In  1835  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Ohio, 
and  located  at  Newark,  where  for  ten  years  he 
was    extensively    engaged    in   mercantile    pur- 


«p^p 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


237 


suits.  In  1845  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  where 
for  six  years  he  carried  on  the  produce  and 
commission  business.  He  came  to  Dayton  in 
1851.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  this  city  in 
1854,  and  re-elected  in  1855,  and  was  subse- 
quently appointed  United  States  commissioner, 
an  office  which  he  held  until  his  death.  His 
wife  died  in  Dayton  in  1865. 

He  was  grand  worthy  patriarch  of  the  Sons 
of  Temperance,  when  that  order  numbered 
30,000  in  Ohio.  In  politics  he  was  a  whig, 
and  subsequently  a  republican.  During  the 
war  he  was  a  stanch  Union  man.  He  was 
prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  was  at  all  times,  and  in  whatever  commu- 
nity he  resided,  honored  and  respected  for  his 
integrity  and  strength  of  character.  He  died 
at  Dayton  on  August  30,   1878. 

Edmond  Stafford  Young  attended  college 
at  Granville,  Ohio,  and  afterward  at  Cincin- 
nati, graduating  from  Farmers  (afterwards 
Belmont)  college  near  that  city  in  1845. 

At  the  latter  institution  he  had  among  his 
school-mates  ex-President  Benjamin  Harrison, 
Murat  Halstead,  and  Hon.  L.  B.  Gunckel,  and 
the  late  Judge  Henderson  Elliott,  of  Dayton. 
He  read  law  in  the  office  of  W.  J.  McKinney, 
of  Dayton,  and  after  a  term  of  service  in  the 
office  of  the  clerk  of  the  court  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati 
Law  school,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
year  1853. 

Mr.  Young's  professional  partners  were, 
successively,  George  W.  Brown,  Hon.  D.  A. 
Houk  and  Oscar  M.  Gottschall,  with  the  latter 
of  whom  his  partnership  continued  from  1866 
until  1879.  In  1878  his  eldest  son,  George  R. 
Young,  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  which,  under 
the  name  of  Young,  Gottschall  &  Young,  con- 
tinued until  the  year  1879,  when  Mr.  Gott- 
schall retired.  Mr.  Young  and  his  son  re- 
mained together  in  the  practice  under  the  firm 
name  of  Young  &  Young  until  his  death  in  1 888. 


In  September,  1856,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Mr.  Young  married  Sarah  B.  Dechert,  daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  Dechert,  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
Reading,  Pa.,  and  granddaughter  of  Judge 
Robert  Porter  of  that  city. 

Her  mother,  Mary  Porter,  was  descended 
from  Robert  Porter,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 
landed  at  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  and  afterwards 
purchased  a  farm  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa., 
where  he  took  up  his  permanent  residence. 
His  most  successful  and  prominent  son  (Mrs. 
Dechert's  grandfather)  was  Gen.  Andrew 
Porter,  who'was  born  September  24,  1743,  and 
served  with  distinction  as  an  officer  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  After  its  close  he 
was  commissioned  major-general  of  militia  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  tendered  the  position  of 
secretary  of  war  by  President  Madison,  but 
declined.  His  son,  Judge  Robert  Porter,  of 
Reading,  Pa.,  was  born  January  10,  1768,  and 
served  during  the  latter  part  of  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  as  a  lieutenant  of  artillery.  Hav- 
ing entered  the  army  with  his  father  when  but 
eleven  years  of  age,  he  was  perhaps  the  young- 
est soldier  and  officer  of  the  war. 

In  1789  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Philadelphia,  and  was  afterwards  appointed 
president  judge  of  the  Third  judicial  district 
of  Pennsylvania,  a  position  which  he  filled  for 
over  twenty-five  years,  when  he  resigned  and 
retired  to  private  life.  Edmond  S.  Young  was 
a  strong  Union  man  and  an  earnest  supporter 
of  President  Lincoln's  administration.  He  was 
appointed  by  Gov.  Brough  commissioner  of 
the  draft  for  Montgomery  county,  and  made 
the  largest  draft  of  any  in  the  state.  He  also 
served  as  a  member  of  the  military  committee, 
and  was  identified  with  the  organization  of  all 
the  local  companies  raised  in  Dayton  and  its 
vicinity.  He  devoted  much  time  and  labor  to 
the  cause,  and  through  his  out-spoken  and  un- 
compromising efforts,  was  often  exposed  to 
much  personal  danger. 


238 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Young  was  a  member  of  the  first  non- 
partisan police  board  of  Dayton,  appointed  in 
1 873,  by  which  the  present  metropolitan  po- 
lice system  of  that  city  was  inaugurated.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Dayton 
Bar  association,  now  known  as  the  Dayton 
Law  Library  association. 

During  the  course  of  his  practice  he  was 
frequently  urged  to  accept  a  judicial  position, 
but  declined.  Upon  the  death  of  Judge  W. 
W.  Johnson  in  1886  he  was  asked  to  become 
a  candidate  for  his  unexpired  term  upon  the 
supreme  bench;  and  without  his  knowledge  a 
petition  for  his  appointment,  signed  by  the  en- 
tire Dayton  bar,  was  presented  to  Gov. 
Foraker.  Learning  of  the  movement,  how- 
ever, Mr.  Young,  for  personal  reasons,  declined 
to  permit  the  use  of  his  name. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  State  Bar 
association,  and  also  of  the  American  Bar  asso- 
ciation, and  from  a  biographical  sketch  of  him, 
which  appears  in  the  published  proceedings  of 
the  latter  organization,  for  the  year  1888,  we 
select  the  following  extract,  which  is  truthfully 
descriptive  of  him,  both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a 
citizen: 

Mr.  Young  was  a  man  of  striking  physic- 
al appearance,  and  of  marked  mental  charac- 
teristics. He  was  born  to  be  a  lawyer.  His 
breadth  of  intellect,  his  strong,  determined 
will,  his  sound,  impartial  judgment,  his  remark- 
able reasoning  powers,  his  gift  of  nice  and  cor- 
rect discrimination,  made  up  a  mental  organi- 
zation distinctively  legal,  while,  at  the  same 
time,  his  large  and  well  proportioned  head, 
with  its  high,  expansive  forehead,  set  firmly 
on  his  broad,  square  shoulders,  gave  him  a 
personal  appearance  in  keeping  with  his  mental 
characteristics. 

He  was  a  strong  and  pure  type  of  that  class 
of  American  lawyers,  who,  eschewing  outside 
schemes  for  the  promotion  of  wealth  or  per- 
sonal aggrandizement,  devote  to  their  profes- 
sion the  full  measure  of  their  powers,  and  seek 
happiness  in  the  conscientious  discharge  of 
their   professional,    domestic  and  civic  duties. 


He  died  suddenly  on  the  evening  of  Febru- 
ary 14,  1888,  while  still  in  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession,  leaving  his  widow,  two  sons, 
and  one  daughter,  Mary  (since  deceased), 
surviving:. 


BOBERT  I.  CUMMIN,  one  of  the  solid 
and  successful  business  men  of  Day- 
ton, was  born  in  Liverpool,  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  July  7,  1845,  and  seven- 
teen years  later  came  to  this  state,  locating  at 
Marion,  where  he  spent  three  years  in  the  dry- 
goods  store  of  Johnson,  Uhler  &  Company. 
After  leaving  that  establishment,  he  secured  a 
clerkship  in  the  old  store  of  Prugh  &  Rike,  who 
were  extensively  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  busi- 
ness in  Dayton.  Two  years  were  passed  in  this 
way,  when  his  connection  with  the  firm  ter- 
minated by  the  formation  of  the  house  of  D.  L. 
Rike  &  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Cummin  and 
S.  E.  Kumler  were  members.  This  firm  carried 
on  a  most  successful  business  for  nearly  thirty 
years,  when  the  death  of  D.  L.  Rike  caused  a 
vacancy,  which  was  soon  afterward  filled  by 
his  son,  Frederick  H.  Rike.  The  firm  of  D. 
L.  Rike  &  Company  inaugurated  a  business 
career  that  has  had  a  wonderful  growth.  At 
first  they  required  the  assistance  of  but  two 
clerks;  but  their  patronage  has  continually 
urged  every  advance  that  they  have  made,  and 
has  poured  into  their  new  and  extensive  estab- 
lishment in  so  marvelous  a  way  that  they  are 
now  giving  employment  to  one  hundred  and 
forty  clerks.  During  all  these  years  Mr.  Cum- 
min has  been  an  indefatigable  worker,  alert  to 
grasp  every  new  and  practical  idea,  and  quick 
to  utilize  every  scheme  that  promised  to  pro- 
mote his  business  or  the  public  interests.  He 
was  the  originator  of  the  design  on  which  the 
Rike  Dry  Goods  company's  new  store  building 
was  erected,  it  being  1 50  x  80  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, and  arranged  with  every  convenience  for 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


239 


the  expeditious  transaction  of  business,  and 
being  a  model  in  its  attractiveness  and  comfort 
to  patrons. 

Mr.  Cummin,  while  thus  attending  to  the 
promotion  of  the  business  interests  of  his  firm, 
has  not  been  unmindful  of  his  duty  to  the  pub- 
lic as  a  citizen.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
company  which  constructed  the  Fifth  street 
railroad  in  Dayton,  and  was  for  many  years 
one  of  its  directors  and  a  factor  in  bringing 
about  its  success;  he  was  also  largely  instru- 
mental in  effecting  the  legislation  which  has 
made  all  the  pikes  of  the  county  free  to  the 
use  of  the  public  without  the  imposition  of 
tolls,  and  still  finds  time  and  energy  to  devote 
to  the  duties  of  chairman  of  the  good  roads 
committee. 

Dr.  William  Cummin,  father  of  Robert  I. 
Cummin,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  his 
mother,  Mary  (Hart)  Cummin,  a  native  of 
Tuscarora  valley,  Pa.,  was  also  of  Irish  de- 
scent. The  father  was  a  physician  of  consid- 
erable ability  and  reputation.  He  acquired 
his  medical  learning  in  the  schools  of  Edin- 
burg,  Scotland  ;  Belfast  institute,  Ireland,  and 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  practiced  his  profes- 
sion in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  1846,  at  the 
early  age  of  forty-two.  His  widow  long  sur- 
vived him,  dying  in  Williamsport,  Pa. ,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-six. 

Robert  I.  Cummin  had  the  benefit  of  a 
common-school  education  that  terminated 
when  only  sixteen  years  of  age.  But  he 
made  the  most  of  it,  and  has  achieved  a  signal 
success  in  life.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  church,  and  affiliates  with 
the  republican  party  in  his  political  activities. 
He  was  married  June  15,  1881,  to  Miss  Ellen 
P.  Church,  daughter  of  Judge  Gaylord  Church, 
of  Meadville,  Pa.  Four  children,  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  have  been  born  to  them,  of 
whom  all  are  now  living  :  Gaylord,  Edith, 
Hart  and  Pearson. 


aHARLES  WESLEY  DUSTIN,  judge 
of  the  common  pleas  court  of  the 
second  judicial  district  of  Ohio,  and  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Dayton 
bar,  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
son  of  the  late  Rev.  M.  and  Mary  B.  (Danna) 
Dustin.  Rev.  Dustin  was  a  native  of  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Hannah  Dustin,  who  during  the  Indian  war 
killed  ten  Indians  with  a  tomahawk  in  order 
to  preserve  the  lives  of  herself  and  child,  after 
two  children  had  already  been  killed  by  the 
savages.  A  monument  has  been  erected  to 
her  memory  on  an  island  in  the  Merrimac  river, 
the  scene  of  the  incident.  The  parents  of  Rev. 
Dustin  came  to  Ohio  during  his  youth  and  set- 
tled in  Washington  county,  and  it  was  there 
he  was  reared.  He  attended  Marietta  college, 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and 
for  fifty  years  was  in  active  work,  first  in  the 
Ohio  and  then  in  the  Cincinnati  conference. 
He  was  especially  prominent  during  the  anti- 
slavery  movement.  In  1890  he  retired  from 
the  ministry,  and  in  1893  removed  to  Dayton, 
and  died  in  this  city  during  the  winter  of  1896. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ohio 
(a  full  account  of  her  family  appearing  in  Mun- 
sey's  Magazine  for  November,  1896).  Her  fa- 
ther was  William  Danna,  a  son  of  Capt.  Will- 
iam Danna,  who  was  a  pioneer  of  Ohio  and  an 
intimate  friend  of  the  Blennerhassetts,  of  Blen- 
nerhassett  island  fame,  Capt.  Danna  having 
lived  opposite  that  island.  Five  children  were 
born  to  Rev.  Dustin  and  wife,  three  of  whom 
lived  to  reach  maturity,  all  now  being  dead 
except  the  judge,  and  the  mother  having  died 
during  his  youth. 

The  early  education  of  Judge  Dustin  was 
secured  in  the  public  schools.  He  attended 
Wesleyan  university  at  Delaware  and  was 
graduated  there  at  an  early  age.  Following 
this  he  went  west  and  taught  in  the  Quincy, 
111.,  and  Brookville,    Ind.,    colleges.      He  read 


240 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


law  with  the  firm  of  Boltin  &  Shauck,  of  Day- 
ton, the  junior  member  of  which  firm  is  now 
on  the  supreme  bench  of  Ohio.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  engaged  in  practice  in 
Dayton  and  continued  until  he  was  elected  to 
the  bench  in  November,  1895.  During  his 
early  years  Judge  Dustin  did  considerable 
writing  for  the  press.  He  was  for  some  time 
an  editorial  writer  for  the  Daily  Journal  of  Day- 
ton. He  also  contributed  to  the  Cincinnati 
Commercial  Gazette,  and  during  the  existence 
of  the  Cincinnati  Graphic,  he  was  on  that 
paper's  editorial  staff.  He  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively, having  been  to  Europe  on  two  differ- 
ent occasions  and  visiting  all  the  countries 
reached  by  the  great  body  of  tourists.  He  has 
also  visited  Russia  and  Finland  in  Europe,  old 
Mexico  and  Canada,  and  nearly  every  section 
of  the  United  States. 

Judge  Dustin  served  six  or  seven  years  as  a 
member  of  the  Dayton  board  of  education,  in 
whose  work  he  took  a  deep  interest.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Garfield  republican 
club  of  Dayton,  and  was  the  first  to  sign  the 
constitution  of  that  organization.  He  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  formation  of  the  Ohio 
republican  league,  serving  on  the  committee  to 
draft  a  constitution  for  the  same,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  held  in  New  York 
city,  which  organized  the  national  republican 
league.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  different 
Masonic  bodies  and  of  the  Dayton  club.  Early 
in  his  career  Judge  Dustin  was  married  to  Miss 
Alpha  Hull  Newkirk,  of  Connersville,  Ind., 
who  lived  only  a  few  years,  dying  without  issue. 


y^^UGENE  J.  BARNEY,  president  of 
m         I      the   Barney   &   Smith    Manufacturing 

V_>4,  company  of  Dayton,  was  born  in  that 
city  on  February  12,  1839.  His  ed- 
ucation was  secured  in  the  public  schools  and 
at  Rochester  university.      In  1866  Mr.  Barney 


purchased  the  interest  of  S.  F.  Woodsum  in  the 
Barney  &  Smith  Car  works.  In  a  few  years 
he  became  superintendent  of  the  works,  and 
upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Smith  was  made 
vice-president  and  superintendent,  and  in  1880, 
upon  the  death  of  his  father,  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  company.  Mr.  Barney  is  also  pres- 
ident of  the  Dayton  Manufacturing  company, 
and  president  of  the  Cooper  Hydraulic  com- 
pany; and  is  also  a  director  in  the  following: 
The  Fourth  National  bank,  the  Union  Safe 
Deposit  and  Trust  company,  the  National  Im- 
provement company,  Dayton  Street  Railway 
company,  Wisconsin  Central  Railroad  com- 
pany, New  York,  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Rail- 
road company,  Davis  Sewing  Machine  com- 
pany, and  other  minor  local  institutions. 

Mr.  Barney  was  married  on  February  12, 
1862,  to  Miss  M.  Belle  Huffman,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  W.  P.  Huffman,  of  Dayton,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Mrs.  Anna  B.  Gorman,  Julia  Barney  (deceased), 
Mrs.  Mary  Elizabeth  Reynolds,  and  Eugene 
E.  Barney  (deceased). 

Mr.  Barney  is  essentially  a  man  of  business 
affairs,  and  chiefly  absorbed  in  the  direction  of 
the  great  manufacturing  enterprise  of  which  he 
is  the  head.  His  exceptional  business  qualifi- 
cations, largely  inherited  from  his  father,  the 
late  Eliam  E.  Barney,  place  him  among  the 
leaders  in  the  financial  and  industrial  life  of  the 
city  of  Dayton. 


S^%.  EORGE  W.  HEATHMAN,  one  of  the 

■  ^\  prominent  business  men  of  Dayton, 
^L^J  was  born  in  Dayton  January  13,  1850. 
He  is  a  son  of  Elias  Heathman,  who 
was  a  native  of  Findlay,  Ohio,  and  removed 
to  Dayton  in  1844.  Elias  Heathman  was  a 
cabinetmaker  by  trade  and  followed  that  trade 
for  many  years.  For  some  time  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  carriage  business  in  Dayton,    and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


241 


•  from  about  1S51  to  1885  he  was  engaged  in  the 
livery  business.  Mr.  Heathman  was  a  man  of 
integrity  and  highly  respected.  His  death 
occurred  in  1885. 

George  W.  Heathman  was  reared  in  Day- 
ton and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  store  of 
Van  Ausdal,  Harman  &  Co.,  where  he  remained 
from  1866  to  November,  1869.  In  that  year 
Charles  W.  Nickurn,  George  W.  and  Elias 
Heathman  formed  a  firm  then  known  as 
Nickum,  Heathman  &Co.,  with  its  location  on 
Main  street,  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
crackers,  biscuits,  etc.  In  the  spring  of  1870 
this  firm  removed  to  Second  street,  where  they 
remained  until  1872,  when  the  style  was 
changed  to  G.  W.  Heathman  &  Co.,  Mr. 
Nickum  retiring.  In  1875  the  firm  purchased 
a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Second  and  St.  Clair 
streets,  upon  which  they  erected  a  three-story 
and  basement  brick  building,  68  x  100  feet  in 
size,  which  is  equipped  with  a  fifty-horse  power 
engine  and  all  machinery  necessary  to  the  car- 
rying on  of  a  first-class  business.  The  firm 
name  of  G.  W.  Heathman  &  Co.  was  used 
until  the  spring  of  1890,  when  the  business 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  United  States 
Baking  company,  of  which  Mr.  Heathman  was 
one  of  the  organizers.  He  is  also  manager  of 
the  Dayton  business. 

Mr.  Heathman  was  married  in  1872  to  Ida 
M.  Anderson,  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.,  of 
Dayton.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union,  as  follows  :  Edward  M.,  Frank  B., 
Effie  S.  and  Luella. 


(D 


ORRIS  WOODHULL,  proprietor  of 
the    Dayton    Buggy    and    Carriage- 
works,   and  one  of  the  representa- 
tive   men    of     Dayton,    Ohio,    was 
born  in  New  York  city  on  December  1,  1842, 
and   is  a   son   of  James   and    Hannah    (Long- 


streth)  Woodhull,  the  former  a  native  of  Long 
Island,  N.  Y.,  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey. 
The  Woodhulls  originally  came  from  England, 
the  first  family  of  the  name  landing  on  Long 
Island  in  1648,  where  they  laid  out  the  town 
of  Setauket,  purchasing  the  land  from  the  In- 
dians, and  for  three  generations  a  Woodhull 
was  the  king's  magistrate  on  that  island.  One 
of  the  family,  a  cousin  to  James  Woodhull, 
was  mayor  of  New  York  city,  and  William 
Woodhull,  grandfather  of  Morris,  was  a  lead- 
ing merchant  of  that  city  in  1800.  The  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  James  Woodhull  was  Gov. 
Lambert,  of  New  Jersey. 

Morris  Woodhull  was  reared  and  educated 
in  New  York  city,  and  after  graduating  from 
the  city  schools  entered  the  university  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  He  came  to  Dayton  in 
185S  and  took  a  position  in  his  elder  brother's 
seed  and  implement  store,  where  he  remained 
as  clerk  until  1869,  when  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  L.  &  M.  Woodhull.  This 
firm  conducted  the  seed  and  implement  busi- 
ness until  1878,  when  they  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  carriages,  the  partnership  last- 
ing continuously  for  twenty-one  years.  In 
1890  Morris  Woodhull  purchased  the  entire 
interest  of  his  brother  Lambert,  the  firm  was 
dissolved,  and  he  became  sole  proprietor  of 
the  business.  In  1878  Mr.  Woodhull  was  one 
of  the  first  to  introduce  into  Ohio  the  manu- 
facture of  carriages  in  a  wholesale  way,  out- 
side of  Columbus  and  Cincinnati,  and  the  first 
to  start  in  that  line  in  Dayton  and  vicinity. 
The  original  shops  were  located  on  Kenton 
street,  and  were  a  part  of  the  old  Beaver  & 
Butt  buildings.  The  business  was  begun  in  a 
small  way,  the  intention  being  to  make  a  trial 
of  300  carriages  for  the  first  year. 

The  demand  for  the  firm's  work  was,  how- 
ever, so  great  during  the  first  year  that  700 
instead  of  300  vehicles  were  completed,  to 
meet    the    orders.       The   shops    remained    on 


242 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Kenton  street  for  two  years,  and  were  then  re- 
moved to  the  Dayton  &  Western  shops,  on 
West  Fifth  street,  where  they  were  continued 
until  1888,  when  the  present  large  shops  were 
completed  at  the  junction  of  Fifth  street  and 
Home  avenue.  Here  the  class  of  work  turned 
out  is  strictly  high  grade;  but  Mr.  Woodhull, 
early  recognizing  that  grade  alone  was  insuf- 
ficient to  insure  large  success,  has,  since  the 
beginning,  made  a  specialty  of  attractive  and 
meritorious  novelties.  He  successfully  mark- 
eted the  Woodhull  side  bar  spring,  which  had 
a  ready  sale  all  over  the  United  States,  not 
only  in  the  finished  vehicle  but  in  parts.  Mr. 
Woodhull  also  invented,  in  1890,  the  Perfec- 
tion jump  seat  surry,  which  was  very  success- 
ful and  so  popular  that  in  the  same  year  the 
sale  amounted  to  1,030.  Each  year  he  adds 
something  new  to  his  line.  The  year  1895 
was  noteworthy  in  the  Woodhull  establish- 
ment, from  the  fact  that  he  then  introduced 
and  marketed  a  new  style  of  pleasure  vehicle 
known  as  the  trap.  Mr.  Woodhull's  plant  is 
one  of  the  finest  and  most  complete  for  man- 
ufacturing buggies  and  carriages  in  the  state  of 
Ohio,  and  is  by  far  the  largest  in  the  city  of 
Dayton.  A  bit  of  interesting  history  is  at- 
tached to  the  ground  upon  which  the  plant  is 
situated.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Woodhull's 
wife,  David  Stout,  an  old  Dayton  merchant, 
owned  160  acres  of  land,  some  fifty  years  ago, 
a  part  of  which  was  the  ground  above  men- 
tioned. Desiring  to  sell  the  farm,  Mr.  Stout 
was  compelled  to  cut  it  up  into  ten-acre  tracts 
in  order  to  realize  the  value  of  $19  per  acre. 
In  March,  1894,  Mr.  Woodhull  sold  to  the 
City  Railway  company  a  piece  of  ground  upon 
which  the  company's  power  plant  now  stands, 
containing  less  than  one-third  of  an  acre,  which 
was  a  part  of  the  original  160  acres,'  for  $15,- 
OOO  cash — quite  an  increase  in  valuation  in 
fifty  years. 

Mr.  Woodhull  is  vice-president  for  Ohio  of 


the  National  Carriage  Builders'  association, 
chairman  of  the  electric  light  committee  of 
the  board  of  trade,  is  a  member  of  the  Day- 
ton club  and  of  the  Present  Day  club.  He  is 
a  ready  writer  and  has  contributed  many  in- 
teresting articles  to  the  papers  and  delivered 
numerous  addresses  and  short  talks  before  va- 
rious conventions  and  bodies.  Mr.  Woodhull 
was  married,  May  23,  1872,  to  Mary  Stout, 
daughter  of  Elias  Stout,  of  Dayton,  and  to 
their  marriage  three  sons  have  been  born,  as 
follows:  Morris  G.,  manager  for  his  father  of 
the  New  York  repository  of  the  Dayton  Buggy 
works,  at  No.  366  Canal  street,  New  York  city; 
Roger  S.,  a  graduate  of  Yale  college,  and 
James  R. ,  a  student  at  the  Dayton  high  school. 


**/^\  OBERT  MURPHY  NEVIN,  a  well- 
I  /«^  known  member  of  the  Dayton  bar 
W  and  senior  member  of  the  legal  firm  of 
Nevin  &  Kumler,  was  born  in  High- 
land county,  Ohio,  May  5,  1850.  His  ancestry 
on  his  father's  side  of  the  family  came  originally 
from  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Giant's  Causeway,  which,  according  to  a  myth- 
ical legend,  was  the  commencement  of  a  road 
to  be  constructed  by  giants  across  the  channel 
to  Scotland,  projecting  as  it  does  from  the 
northern  coast  of  Antrim  into  the  North  chan- 
nel. The  first  of  the  name  of  Nevin  to  come 
to  America  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
in  which  locality  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  Nevin 
was  born;  and  whence  he  removed  to  Ohio  at 
an  early  date. 

Robert  Nevin,  the  father  of  Robert  M., 
was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio.  He  married 
Frances  E.  Eakin,  who  was  born  in  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  the  daughter  of  John 
Eakin,  a  native  of  Ireland,  whose  wife  was 
Nancy  Ross,  a  native  of  Manchester,  Eng- 
land. Both  parents  of  Mr.  Nevin  are  now 
deceased.       The   postoffice    called    Nevin,    in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


243 


Highland  county,  was  named  after  Mr.  Nevin's 
father,  who  was  the  first  postmaster  there. 

Robert  Murphy  Nevin  was  reared  in  Hills- 
boro,  in  his  native  county,  and  secured  a  good 
English  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
county  and  in  the  high  school  at  Hillsboro. 
In  the  fall  of  1864  he  entered  the  freshman 
class  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  pursued  a  four-years'  course,  and 
graduated  there  in  the  summer  of  1868.  Im- 
mediately afterward  he  located  in  Dayton,  and 
began  reading  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  O. 
Lowe,  who  was  soon  afterward  nominated  and 
elected  judge  of  the  superior  court  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  Mr.  Nevin  then  entered  the 
office  of  Conover  &  Craighead,  where  he  fin- 
ished reading  law,  and  on  May  10,  1871,  five 
days  after  becoming  of  age,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar. 

Mr.  Nevin  remained  in  the  office  of  Con- 
over  &  Craighead  until  the  spring  of  1876, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Alvin  W. 
Kumler,  which  partnership  was  terminated  by 
the  election  of  Mr.  Kumler  to  the  bench,  and 
was  the  oldest  continuous  law  partnership  in 
Dayton  at  its  dissolution. 

Mr.  Nevin  entered  politics  as  a  republican 
about  twenty-five  years  ago,  and  has  since  then 
been  both  active  and  prominent  in  the  councils 
of  the  party.  During  the  past  fifteen  years  he 
has  attended  as  a  delegate  every  republican 
state  convention  in  Ohio,  save  one.  He  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Montgomery 
county  in  the  fall  of  1S87,  holding  the  office 
for  one  term  of  three  years,  and  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  republican  county  committee  of 
Montgomery  county  during  many  campaigns. 
Mr.  Nevin  was  nominated  for  congress  by  the 
republican  party  in  1896,  and  after  a  heated 
campaign  was  defeated  by  a  majority  of  10 1 
votes.  Mr.  Nevin  is  an  able  lawyer  and  a 
sound  politician.  He  is  a  Mason,  Knight 
Templar  and  Scottish  rite;  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 


Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  member  of  the  society 
of  Elks.  He  was  married  November  7,  1871, 
to  Emma  Reasoner,  of  Dresden,  Ohio,  and  to 
this  marriage  there  have  been  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Moile  B.,  Robert  R. ,  Frances 
M.  and  Lurton  Kumler. 

Mr.  Nevin  is  strongly  attached  to  his  pro- 
fession, knowing  that  the  law,  as  he  has  so 
often  said,  is  a  jealous  mistress.  His  reputa- 
tion as  an  orator  is  recognized  beyond  the  con- 
fines of  his  native  state,  while  as  a  criminal 
lawyer,  his  thorough  knowledge  of  that  branch 
of  practice,  his  marked  ability  in  the  trial  of 
causes,  and  his  eloquence  as  an  advocate  have 
earned  for  him  a  most  prominent  place  at  the 
Ohio  bar. 


^^•AMUEL  D.   BEAR,    member  of   the 
*^^KT    Dayton  city  council  from  the  Fourth 

K.  J  ward,  was  born  in  Cumberland  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  May  27,  1840.  Reared  and 
educated  in  Cumberland  county  and  receiving 
a  good  common-school  education,  he  engaged 
in  the  nursery  business  in  i860  and  so  contin- 
ued until  1866,  when  he  made  a  tour  through 
the  western  states.  He  located  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  1867,  with  the  view  of  carrying  on 
here  the  nursery  business,  and  has  ever  since 
resided  in  this  city.  From  the  time  of  his 
arrival  in  Dayton  until  1873  he  was  employed 
with  the  Heikes  nurseries,  and  in  this  latter 
year  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  com- 
pany bearing  that  name,  of  which  he  has 
served  as  president  since  1878.  Mr.  Bear 
has  always  been  a  successful  business  man, 
and  has  won  and  retains  the  confidence  of  the 
business  community. 

In  1869  he  was  married  to  Anna  Rung,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  Alice  A.  and  Nor- 
man R.,  both  of  whom  are  living  at  home. 
Mrs.  Bear  died  in  1887.  Norman  R.  Bear  is 
draughtsman  with  the  Stillwell  &  Bierce  Co. 


L>44 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Bear  was  first  elected  to  the  city  coun- 
cil in  1876,  from  the  Tenth  ward,  and  in  1891 
he  was  elected  from  the  Fourth  ward,  and  was 
re-elected  from  the  same  ward  in  1895,  his 
present  term  expiring  in  1897.  Politically  he 
is  a  republican.  Mr.  Bear  is  a  man  of  strict 
business  integrity,  well  known  for  his  many 
excellent  traits  of  genuine  American  citizen- 
ship, and  has  given  both  faithful  and  intelligent 
service  to  the  city  as  its  official  servant. 


f\  EORGE  R.  YOUNG,  senior  member 
■  Cj\  of  the  legal  firm  of  Young  &  Young, 
X^_^  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  Dayton  bar,  was  born  in 
this  city  on  October  2,  1857,  and  is  the  son  of 
the  late  Edmond  Stafford  Young  and  Sarah 
(Dechert)  Young. 

Mr.  Young  was  educated  in  the  Dayton 
public  schools,  graduating  with  honors  from 
the  Central  high  school  in  1875.  He  was 
valedictorian  of  his  class,  and  also  received  the 
gold  medal  for  best  scholarship.  After  taking 
an  additional  course  from  private  tutors,  he  read 
law  in  the  office  of  his  father,  until  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  in  April,  1S78.  He  was  ad- 
mitted by  the  court  (after  passing  on  the  ques- 
tion of  his  eligibility)  some  months  before  he 
reached  his  majority,  and  was  probably  at  the 
time  the  youngest  attorney  in  the  state. 

Immediately  after  his  admission  to  the  bar, 
he  was  taken  in  as  a  member  of  his  father's 
firm,  which  thereupon  became  Young,  Gott- 
schall  &  Young,  and  subsequently  Young  & 
Young,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  sketch  of  E. 
S.  Young.  While  absent  in  the  east  in  1 88 1 ,  Mr. 
Young  was,  without  his  solicitation  or  knowl- 
edge, nominated  by  the  republican  party  for 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Montgomery  county. 
He  made  the  race  against  a  strong  and  popular 
candidate,  and  an  adverse  majority  of  over  a 
thousand,  but  was  defeated  by  only  a  few  hun- 


dred votes.  In  1885  he  received  the  repub- 
lican nomination  for  city  solicitor,  but  the  city 
then  being  largely  democratic,  he  was  again 
defeated  by  a  small  majority.  Since  this  time 
he  has  never  been  a  candidate  for  political 
office,  attending  strictly  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  giving  it  all  his  time  and  atten- 
tion, and  he  has  met  with  marked  and  well 
merited  success.  He  has  taken  a  leading  part 
in  the  trial  of  many  important  cases,  and  is 
recognized  by  the  profession  both  as  a  sound 
and  able  lawyer,  and  as  an  advocate  of  superior 
ability. 

In  the  fall  of  1894,  Mr.  Young's  name  was 
suggested  to  the  governor  as  a  successor  to 
Judge  John  A.  Shauck,  about  to  leave  the  cir- 
cuit for  the  supreme  bench,  and  a  petition  for 
his  appointment  was  circulated.  This  petition 
was  signed  by  every  member  of  the  Dayton  bar, 
save  one,  who,  having  already  recommended 
another  aspirant,  wrote  a  personal  letter  with- 
drawing his  support  and  endorsing  Mr.  Young. 
Owing  to  want  of  time,  incase  of  appointment, 
to  close  up  his  private  practice,  Mr.  Young  sub- 
sequently withdrew  from  the  contest. 

Mr.  Young  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Day- 
ton club.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Dayton  Literary  union,  which  flourished  for 
many  years,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the 
present  High  School  Alumni  association. 

He  has  been  for  years  a  trustee,  and  is  now 
vice-president  of  the  Dayton  Law  Library  asso- 
ciation, and  is  a  member  of  the  Ohio  State  and 
American  Bar  associations. 


St 


March  2 
mond  S.  and 
cated    in    the 


ILLIAM  H.  YOUNG,  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Young  &  Young, 
and  a  well-known  member  of  the 
Dayton  bar,  was  born  in  Dayton  on 
i860,  and  is  the  son  of  the  late  Ed- 
Sarah  D.  Young.  He  was  edu- 
Dayton   public  schools.      After 


vdkJh^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


249 


leaving  the  high  school,  he  read  law  in  the 
office  of  his  father  and  brother.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1884,  and  upon  the  death 
of  his  father,  in  1888,  became  a  member  of  the 
present  firm  of  Young  &  Young. 

Mr.  Young  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
has  usually  taken  an  active  part  in  campaign 
work.  Although  he  has  never  held  or  sought 
political  office,  his  name  has  frequently  been 
mentioned  in  connection  with  the  congres- 
sional nomination  and  with  other  honorable 
positions.  He  has  attained  quite  a  reputation 
for  eloquence  as  a  speaker,  is  an  effective 
stumper  and  jury  advocate,  and  holds  an  en- 
viable position  at  the  bar  as  an  able  and  suc- 
cessful lawyer. 


aHARLES  FREDERICK  SNYDER, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Beaver 
Soap  company,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Dayton,  December  21,  1848. 
He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Frederick  and  Martha  Wil- 
son (Henderson)  Snyder,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  The  former  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  and  was  the  son  of  George 
Snyder,  who  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Dayton 
in  1 8 19.  Rev.  Frederick  Snyder  was  educated 
in  Columbia  college,  N.  Y. ,  a  non-sectarian 
institution  of  learning  established  in  1754,  and 
•one  of  the  best  in  the  country.  After  leaving 
college  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  from  1843  to  1850  was  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  in  Dayton.  He  was 
also  pastor  of  a  church  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
and  of  a  church  at  Williamsburg,  N.  Y. ,  where 
he  died  in  1852.  His  life  was  given  entirely 
to  the  ministry,  and  to  thoroughly  prepare 
himself  for  his  work  he  took  a  course  of  study, 
after  his  marriage,  at  Rochester  Theological 
seminary.  His  wife  died  in  1884,  at  the  age 
•of  sixty-three.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren,   two    of   whom    died    in    infancy.       The 


others  are  Elizabeth  A.,  wife  of  E.  R.  Stillwell, 
of  Dayton;  Harriet  A.,  wife  of  R.  N.  King,  of 
Dayton,  and  Charles  Frederick,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

Charles  Frederick  Snyder  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  of  Dayton  in  1867.  He  was  then  em- 
ployed in  the  Payne  &  Holden  book  store  for 
eighteen  months,  afterward  entering  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Stillwell  &  Bierce  Manufacturing 
company  as  a  mechanic.  Promotion  followed, 
and  he  entered  the  office  of  the  company  as 
bookkeeper,  continuing  in  fhis  capacity  for  five 
years,  during  which  time  he  also  traveled  in 
the  interest  of  his  employers.  He  became  en- 
gaged for  himself,  in  1874,  in  the  manufacture 
of  extension  table  slides,  upon  a  small  scale, 
on  the  lower  hydraulic,  between  Third  and 
Fourth  streets,  removing  in  1881  to  the  Wood- 
sum  Machine  company's  building,  and  in  1884 
to  a  three-story  brick  building  on  Monument 
avenue  and  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton 
railroad,  where  he  continued  in  the  business 
until  the  fall  of  1893,  when  he  sold  out  to  the 
Dayton  Table  Slide  company.  He  had  been 
unusually  successful  in  this  enterprise,  having 
built  it  up  from  almost  nothing  to  an  industry 
employing  from  thirty-five  to  forty  hands,  and 
which  required  his  whole  attention. 

Having  sold  his  table  slide  manufacturing 
business,  Mr.  Snyder  became  associated  with 
the  Beaver  Soap  Manufacturing  company  as 
its  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  to  the  duties  of 
this  position  he  now  devotes  his  entire  time 
and  energies. 

Mr.  Snyder  was  married  April  23,  1885,  to 
Miss  Mary  L.  Cooper,  daughter  of  David 
Cooper,  a  native  of  Springfield.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  two  children,  Lou- 
ise and  Leslie.  Mr.  Snyder  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  of  Dayton,  and  one 
of  its  trustees. 

In  the  social,  church   and  business   life  of 


250 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Dayton  no  citizen  has  won  a  surer  place  in  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  community  than 
that  achieved  by  Mr.  Snyder.  Upright  and 
sincere  in  his  business  methods,  and  of  a  warm 
and  genial  nature,  he  has  the  faculty  of  making 
fast   friends  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. 


>-ji  M.  APPLETON,  of  Nos.  20  and  22 
M  East  Third  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is 
(9  J  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  skilled 
artists  in  the  state,  and  merits  classifi- 
cation among  the  representative  photographers 
of  the  Union.  Mr.  Appleton  is  a  native  son 
of  Ohio,  with  whose  history  that  of  his  family 
has  been  linked  from  the  early  pioneer  days, 
while  his  lineage  also  goes  back  in  American 
annals  to  the  Revolutionary  epoch  and  thence 
to  stanch  English  and  Scotch  origin.  He  was 
born  at  Millersburg,  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  on 
the  3d  of  September,  1848,  being  the  son  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Morris)  Appleton.  The 
original  American  ancestor  of  the  Appleton 
family  emigrated  hither  from  England  early  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  and  records  extant 
show  that  he  bore  the  name  of  Samuel  and 
that  he  located  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts, 
in  which  and  in  others  of  the  eastern  states  the 
family  has  become  a  numerous  one,  its  repre- 
sentatives having  been  principally  identified 
with  business  pursuits  of  commercial  character. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  became  residents  of 
Ohio  in  an  early  day,  and  their  marriage  was 
consummated  at  Millersburg,  Holmes  county. 
The  maternal  ancestry  of  Mr.  Appleton  traces 
back  to  pure  Scotch  extraction,  the  line  of  de- 
scent being  clearly  defined  in  its  connection 
with  the  royalty  of  Scotland.  The  Morris 
family  has  been  long  and  closely  identified  with 
the  history  of  New  England. 

J.  M.  Appleton  passed  his  boyhood  days  in 
the  town  where  he  was  born,  receiving  his 
early  education  in  the  public  and  select  schools 


of  that  place.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  local  drug  store,  and  after 
acquiring  quite  a  full  knowledge  of  this  busi- 
ness he  severed  his  connection  therewith  and 
learned  the  painter's  trade,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  for  some  time.  Prior  to  his  majority 
he  entered  a  photographic  studio  at  Akron, 
Ohio,  and  there  remained  for  a  brief  time, 
within  which  he  had  so  thoroughly  familiarized 
himself  with  the  processes  and  details  of  the 
work  that  he  returned  to  Millersburg  and  there 
opened  a  studio  of  his  own,  continuing  the  en- 
terprise successfully  until  the  year  1876.  In 
the  centennial  year  he  closed  out  his  business 
in  Millersburg  and  removed  to  Columbus, Ohio, 
becoming  one  of  the  leading  photographers  of 
the  capital  city  and  there  successfully  conduct- 
ing a  studio  until  1880,  when  he  came  to  Day- 
ton, where  he  has  ever  since  been  located, 
conducting  the  leading  studio  of  the  city  and 
doing  all  classes  of  photographic  work,  both 
in  portraiture  and  commercial  productions. 
He  is  a  member  of  both  the  National  and  the 
Photographers'  associations  and  has  held  the 
office  of  president  of  the  national  organization. 
A  similar  honor  was  tendered  him  by  the  state 
association,  but  he  declined  the  position. 

Mr.  Appleton  was  the  projector  and  prime 
factor  in  the  establishment  of  the  Photographic 
Salon  of  Ohio,  whose  object  is  the  advance- 
ment of  photographic  art  and  the  education  of 
those  concerned  therein.  The  productions  of 
Mr.  Appleton's  finely  equipped  studio  have 
been  exhibited,  on  various  occasions,  in  compe- 
tition with  the  work  of  the  leading  artists  of 
the  country,  and  the  high  artistic  and  technical 
merit  of  his  work  has  gained  him  many  medals 
at  these  exhibitions.  He  devotes  his  attention 
to  high-grade  work  almost  exclusively,  and 
has  been  a  persistent  advocate  of  the  profes- 
sional wisdom  of  maintaining  a  high  standard  of 
art  rather  than  of  establishing  cheapness  of 
price  at  the  sacrifice  of  fine  and  effective  work. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


251 


He  is  progressive  in  his  art  and  in  his  business 
methods,  keeping  in  close  touch  with  every  ad- 
vance made  in  the  field  of  photography,  which 
is  both  a  science  and  an  art.  His  studio  is 
supplied  with  the  most  approved  mechanical 
appliances  and  accessories,  while  in  the  chem- 
ical manipulations  every  portion  of  the  work 
is  entrusted  to  competent  hands. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Appleton  was  solem- 
nized in  the  year  1869,  at  Millersburg,  when 
he  was  united  to  Miss  Oellaw  E.  Courtney, 
daughter  of  William  J.  Courtney.  Her  family 
in  the  paternal  line  is  of  English  descent,  her 
grandfather  having  emigrated  from  the  British 
Isles  to  America.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Appleton  are 
the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows: 
Theresa,  wife  of  Theodore  Heinig,  of  Dayton; 
Katherine,  wife  of  Harold  C.  Maltby,  of  this 
city;  Margaret  L. ,  at  home;  and  William  Court- 
ney, a  graduate  of  the  Dayton  high-school, 
who  is  now  preparing  himself  as  a  scientific 
and  practical  electrician  at  Rose  Polytechnic 
school,  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ap- 
pleton are  members  of  the  Central  church  of 
Christ,  where  Mr.  Appleton  renders  efficient 
service  on  its  official  board. 


aHARLES  A.  LUCIUS,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Bailey  Soap  com- 
pany, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  April  12,  1S49,  and 
is  a  son  of  Charles  A.  and  Mary  F.  (Moser) 
Lucius,  natives  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  prior  to  their  marriage, 
which  took  place  in  Philadelphia  in  1848. 
The  father  is  now  a  resident  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  in  which  city  the  mother  died  in  1895, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  three 
reached  the  years  of  maturity,  viz:  Charles 
A. ;  Emma,  Mrs.  Eben,  now  residing  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. ,  and  Henry  A.,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Charles  A.  Lucius,  Sr. ,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, learned  the  trade  of  jeweler  in  his  native 
land,  and  on  coming  to  America  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in  Philadelphia 
for  about  ten  years;  he  then  went  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  he  filled  the  position  of  fore- 
man in  the  jewelry  factory  of  Duhme  &  Co., 
until  his  enlistment,  at  the  second  call  for  vol- 
unteers, in  company  F,  Twenty-eighth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  of  which  he  was  at  once 
elected  lieutenant,  and  in  which  he  served  un- 
til after  the  battle  of  Cannifax  Ferry,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  because  of  disease 
contracted  while  in  the  service.  He  then  re- 
sumed his  position  with  Duhme  &  Co.,  but  in 
1 869  went  to  New  York,  where  he  was  engaged 
at  his  trade  until  1880,  when  he  went  to  Kan- 
sas City,  where  he  is  still  working  at  the  man- 
ufacture of  jewelry. 

Charles  A.  Lucius,  the  younger,  whose 
name  introduces  this  biographical  record,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia 
and  Cincinnati,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
years  with  Duhme  &  Co.,  of  the  latter  city;  in 
1868  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railroad  company  as  mes- 
senger, and  passed  through  the  intermediate  po- 
sitions to  that  of  chief  clerk  of  the  local  freight 
department  at  Cincinnati  in  1881.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  commission  business,  and  in  1883 
came  to  Dayton  as  line  agent  for  the  Canada 
Southern  fast  freight-line,  remaining  in  that 
employ  for  about  two  years,  when  he  returned 
to  the  C,  H.  &  D.,  and  served  as  assistant 
agent  at  Dayton  until  1886.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  the  weighing  and  in- 
spection bureau,  in  connection  with  which  he 
was  made  the  first  superintendent  of  the  car 
service  bureau.  In  May,  1893,  he  resigned  his 
connection  with  the  railroad  and  took  an  active 
part  in  organizing  the  Bailey  Soap  company, 
of  which  he  was  elected  secretary  and  treas- 


252 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


urer,  and  since  then  he  has  devoted  his  atten- 
tion solely  to  its  interests  and  has  been  largely 
instrumental  in  advancing  its  prosperity. 

Mr.  Lucius  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1872, 
with  Miss  Emma  B.  Huff,  a  native  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  daughter  of  John  Huff.  Since  1873 
Mr.  Lucius  has  been  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  is  now  a  trustee  and 
steward  of  the  Riverdale  congregation,  of 
which  Mrs.  Lucius  is  also  a  member.  In  pol- 
itics Mr.  Lucius  is  a  stalwart  republican,  and 
as  a  business  man  he  is  recognized  as  among 
the  most  enterprising  in  Dayton.  He  has  a 
pleasant  home  at  No.  62 1  North  Main  street, 
and  he  and  his  wife  move  in  the  highest  circles 
of  Dayton  society. 


BOBERT  R.  DICKEY,  president  of 
the  Dayton  Gas  Light  &  Coke  com- 
pany, has  been  a  citizen  of  the  Gem 
City  for  over  half  a  century,  and  for 
the  greater  part  of  that  time  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Dickey  was  born  near  Middletown.  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  on  October  26,  18 16,  and  is  the 
son  of  Adam  and  Mary  (McKee)  Dickey.  Adam 
Dickey  was  a  native  cf  county  Antrim,  Ireland, 
where  he  was  born  in  1768.  He  came  to 
America  in  about  [784,  and  located  near  Mc- 
Connellstown,  Pa.,  where  in  the  year  1790  he 
married  Mary  McKee,  who  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  second  cousin  to  George 
Washington.  In  1799  Adam  Dickey,  with  his 
wife  and  three  children,  and  in  company  with 
an  uncle,  whose  name  was  Doyle,  came  to 
Ohio  and  settled  at  Cincinnati,  then  Fort 
Washington.  They  made  the  trip  down  the 
Ohio  river  in  two  flat  boats  built  by  Mr.  Dickey, 
on  which  he  brought  two  four-horse  teams 
and  two  wagons.  He  lived  in  Cincinnati  for 
four  years  and  while  there  was  joined  by  two 
brothers,  who  came  over  from  Ireland.    While 


in  that  place  he  was  engaged  in  making  brick, 
and  the  first  brick  house  erected  in  Cincin- 
nati was  built  from  brick  made  by  Mr. 
Dickey.  In  1803  he  removed  to  Butler  coun- 
ty, and  settled  near  Middletown,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  milling  and  distilling, 
building  his  own  flat  boats  and  shipping  his 
produce  to  New  Orleans  markets.  His  death 
occurred  in  1828,  his  wife  surviving  him  until 
1844. 

Robert  R.  Dickey  was  but  eleven  years  of 
age  when  his  father  died.  Although  a  success- 
ful man,  his  father,  toward  the  close  of  his 
life,  met  with  reverses  through  fires  and  other 
misfortunes,  and  left  his  family  in  poor  circum- 
stances. Thus  it  was  that  at  the  above  tender 
age  the  son  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
and  was  compelled  to  begin  the  struggles  of  life 
at  a  time  when  he  should  have  been  at  school. 
However,  his  lack  of  early  schooling  was  com- 
pensated for  by  an  experience  with  the  world 
and  with  people,  that  stood  him  in  good  stead 
in  afterlife.  Following  the  death  of  his  father 
young  Dickey  was  employed  in  a  brick  yard, 
where  he  worked  an  average  of  fourteen  hours 
a  day,  receiving  the  sum  of  $4.87  per  month 
for  his  labor.  Afterward  he  worked  upon  a  farm 
for  $5  per  month.  In  1830  he  was  employed 
upon  the  public  works  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  by 
his  brothers,  who  were  contractors,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  was  made  superintendent  of  a 
large  gang  of  men.  In  1842  he  located  in  Day- 
ton, and  in  connection  with  his  two  elder 
brothers — John  and  William — was  engaged  in 
quarrying  stone  until  1S53.  In  1847  he  was 
connected  with  the  firm  of  Dickey,  Doyle  & 
Dickey  in  placing  a  line  of  packet  boats  on  the 
Wabash  &  Erie  canal,  and  later,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Doyle  &  Dickey,  he  built  the 
locks  at  St.  Mary's  and  at  Delphos.  In  1845 
Mr.  Dickey  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Dayton  bank,  and  was  for  several  years  one  of 
its  directors.      In  1852  he  became  a  partner  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


255- 


the  Exchange  bank  with  Messrs.  Jonathan 
Harshman,  Valentine  Winters  and  J.  R. 
Young.  In  1853  he  became  one  of  the  largest 
stockholders  in  the  Dayton  Gas  Light  &  Coke 
company,  of  which  he  was  elected  president  in 
1855.  Three  years  later,  ill  health  compelled 
his  retirement  from  the  presidency  of  the  com- 
pany, though  he  continued  as  a  director.  At 
the  annual  election  in  1880,  however,  Mr. 
Dickey  was  again  chosen  president  of  the  com- 
pany and  has  held  that  office  continuously  up 
to  and  including  the  present  time.  During  the 
years  1854-55-56  Mr.  Dickey  was  president  of 
the  Dayton  &  Western  Railroad  company.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of  the 
Dayton  National  bank  in  1865,  and  has  been 
one  of  the  directors  of  that  concern  since  1868. 
Since  January  1,  1894,  Mr.  Dickey  has  been 
president  of  the  Dayton  Globe  Iron  works, 
one  of  the  leading  manufacturing  institutions 
of  the  city. 

On  June  17,  1850,  Mr.  Dickey  was  married 
to  Martha  J.  Winters,  who  was  born  in  Dayton 
and  is  descended  from  one  of  the  leading  pio- 
neer families  of  the  city.  Her  father  was  Val- 
entine Winters,  who  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  and  successful  financiers  of 
the  community  during  his  life,  and  her  grand- 
father was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Winters,  a  pio- 
neer minister  of  the  Miami  valley.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickey  three  sons  have 
been  born,  as  follows:  William  W.  Dickey, 
born  in  1852,  died  on  July  15,  1S96;  Val- 
entine Winters,  born  in  1855,  died  March  30, 
1890;  Robert  R.  Dickey,  Jr.,  the  only  survi- 
vor, is  one  of  the  prominent  young  business 
men  of  Dayton. 

Both  in  point  of  residence  and  in  age  Mr. 
Dickey  is  one  of  Dayton's  oldest  citizens.  He 
is  likewise  one  of  the  most  prominent  repre- 
sentative men  of  the  city.  During  his  resi- 
dence of  fifty-five  years  he  has  witnessed  the 
growth  of  the  Gem  City  from  a  small  place  of 


about  6,000  people  into  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  prosperous  and  beautiful  cities  in  Ohio, 
and  towards  this  growth  and  development  he 
has  contributed  his  full  share.  His  life  has. 
been  a  most  active  and  successful  one,  and  his 
efforts  have  all  been  made  along  lines  that 
have  proved  of  material  benefit  to  the  entire 
community,  so  that  success  to  him  has  meant 
something  to  the  city.  His  business  career 
has  been  a  most  remarkable  one  and  points  a 
moral,  demonstrating  what  can  be  accom- 
plished by  man's  efforts,  energy  and  persever- 
ance when  supported  by  native  ability.  Be- 
ginning life's  battle  at  the  age  of  eleven  years, 
with  no  capital  save  his  energy,  pluck  and 
determination  to  get  on  in  life  and  better  his 
condition,  Mr.  Dickey  has  succeeded  in  gain- 
ing a  place  in  the  very  front  rank  among  the 
leading  and  successful  citizens  of  Dayton.  All 
of  this  has  been  accomplished  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts.  As  a  financier,  Mr.  Dickey  is 
considered  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  saga- 
cious in  the  city.  Shrewd  and  courageous,  yet 
careful  and  conservative,  his  management  of 
the  affairs  of  the  concerns  of  which  he  has 
been  the  head  has  been  both  strong  and  wise. 
As  a  citizen  he  has  always  discharged  to  the 
fullest  extent  the  duties  incumbent  upon  all 
good  citizens.  As  a  man  he  is  kind  and  con- 
siderate, genial  in  disposition,  with  a  desire  to 
do  justice  to  all  men,  and  his  many  sterling 
traits  of  character  have  won  for  him  a  large 
circle  of  warm  friends. 


t^\  EV.  EDGAR  WHITTAKER  WORK, 

I  <*^     D.    D.,    pastor    of    the    Third    street 

P     Presbyterian  church  of  Dayton,  was 

born  in  Logan,  Hocking  county,  Ohio, 

November  20,   1862,  and   is   one  of   the  most 

able  young  ecclesiastics  of  his  denomination  in 

the   state.      His   parents,    John    W.    and   Ann 


256 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Elizabeth  (Fielding)  Work,  were  born  respect- 
ively in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  in  1823,  and  West 
Chester,  Pa. ,  in  183 1,  were  married  in  Lancaster 
in  1847,  and  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  still  living,  Edgar  W. 
being  the  youngest.  John  W.  Work  was  a  mer- 
chant of  Logan,  where  he  passed  all  his  life, 
and  died  in  1887,  and  where  his  widow  still 
makes  her  home. 

Joseph  Work,  paternal  grandfather  of  Rev. 
Edward  W.,  was  a  native  of  county  Donegal, 
Ireland,  born  about  the  year  1800,  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  parentage,  and  in  18 19  came  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  in  Lancaster, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Robert 
Fielding,  the  maternal  grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  was  a  hatter  and  mer- 
chant, and  passed  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in 
Lancaster,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Edgar  Whittaker  Work  received  his 
elementary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Logan,  and  in  1879  graduated  from  the  high 
school  of  that  city;  he  next  passed  a  year  in 
the  pursuit  of  business  and  in  private  study, 
and  in  1880  entered  the  university  of  Woos- 
ter,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  a  philosophical 
course,  and  was  graduated  in  1884.  Immedi- 
ately thereafter  he  entered  Lane  Theological 
seminary  at  Cincinnati,  completed  a  full  course, 
and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  May, 
1887;  on  June  7,  1S87,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  at  the 
same  time  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Van  Wert,  Ohio;  in  the 
fall  of  1890  he  severed  his  connection  with  his 
congregation  to  accept  a  call  to  return  to  the 
university  of  Wooster  and  become  professor 
of  biblical  instruction  and  apologetics,  and,  in 
conjunction  therewith,  to  officiate  as  the  pas- 
tor of  the  college  church.  In  these  capacities 
he  acted  until  March  16,  1895,  when  he  en- 
tered upon  the  pastorate  of  the  Third  street 


Presbyterian  church  of  Dayton,  his  installment 
taking  place  April  23.  This  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  about  500  of  the  most  enlightened 
people  of  the  city,  and  the  edifice  has  a  seat- 
ing capacity  for  between  800  and  900  persons. 
It  is  a  fine  stone  building,  erected  at  a  primary 
cost  of  $100,000,  which  has  been  largely  in- 
creased by  the  addition  of  a  chapel,  auditorium, 
etc.,  and  has  always  been  considered  to  be  the 
handsomest  church  structure  in  western  Ohio. 
The  marriage  of  Rev.  Dr.  Work  took  place 
June  23,  1887,  at  Grafton,  W.  Va.,  to  Miss 
Ellen  Blair  Wilson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Henry  Stewart  and 
Anna  (Ennis)  Wilson,  who  were  also  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
but  who  are  at  present  residing  at  Parkersburg, 
W.  Va.  Hon.  Henry  Stewart  Wilson  was  a 
lumberman  in  early  life,  and  is  now  a  very 
prominent  man  in  democratic  politics.  Mrs. 
Work  is  a  highly  educated  lady  and  a  meet 
companion  for  her  husband.  Her  early  edu- 
cation was  acquired  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  sup- 
plemented by  an  attendance  at  the  public 
schools  of  Grafton,  W.  Va.,  and  completed  at 
the  university  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  she 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  her  husband. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Work,  the  eldest  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  two  survivors,  Edgar  Wilson  and  John 
Stewart,  are  the  pride  and  comfort  of  their 
parents.  In  politics  Mr.  Work  is  a  republican, 
but  is  never  hampered  by  party  rule.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Sigma  Chi  society 
of  his  alma  mater,  to  which  he  has  given 
many  contributions  that  have  embellished  lit- 
erature. He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Present 
Day  club,  of  Dayton,  a  literary  society  of  the 
highest  character,  and  is  an  alumnus  of  the 
university  of  Wooster,  and  has,  beside,  the 
distinguished  honor  of  being  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Lane  Theological 
seminary  and  of  the  university  of  Wooster. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


257 


EON.  JOHN  L.  H.  FRANK,  ex-judge 
of  the  probate  court,  Dayton. — This 
well-known  attorney  was  born  March 
31,  1837,  in  Nordhousene,  county  of 
Brackenheim,  kingdom  of  Wuitemburg,  Ger- 
many, and  was  the  second  in  a  family  of  five 
children,  all  of  whom  are  now  residents  of  this 
country.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Kalten- 
westen,  on  the  Necker,  Wurtemburg,  but  at 
the  time  of  their  marriage,  in  1835,  moved  to 
Nordhousene,  in  the  same  county,  where  the 
judge's  father  became  proprietor  of  the  Wald- 
horn  hotel.  Subsequently  they  moved  to  Heil- 
bronn,  on  the  Necker.  Young  Frank  had  an 
uncle  and  an  aunt  living  in  Leroy,  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  who  requested  him  to  come  to 
America,  and  in  March,  1852,  when  not  yet 
fifteen  years  old,  he  started  by  steamboat 
down  the  Necker  to  the  Rhine,  thence  through 
France  by  railroad  to  Havre  de  Grace,  a  sea- 
port in  France,  where  he  took  passage  for 
America.  Travel  in  those  days  was  not  made 
easy  as  it  is  now,  and  the  boy  of  fifteen  had 
neither  friend  nor  acquaintance  on  this  long 
and  strange  journey;  but  he  possessed  a  deter- 
mination to  fight  his  own  way  through  life, 
and  this  quality,  thus  early  manifested,  and 
joined  with  constant  industry  and  rigid  integ- 
rity, helped  him  in  later  years'to  win  success. 
Upon  reaching  his  destination,  young  Frank 
soon  became  employed  in  the  cultivation  of 
fruit  trees  in  his  uncle's  nursery,  where  he 
worked  faithfully  until  1855,  when  he  removed 
to  Rochester,  continuing  the  same  business  at 
the  Mount  Hope  nursery.  The  following  year 
a  branch  of  the  Mount  Hope  nursery  was  es- 
tablished at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  here  he 
prosecuted  his  labors,  attending  at  intervals 
Antioch  college,  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  until 
the  summer  of  1859.  He  being  then  in  limited 
circumstances,  a  kind  friend  offered  to  lend 
him  money  to  complete  his  studies,  but,  declin- 
ing the  generous  offer  through  fear  of  debt,  he 


went  to  Missouri  to  work  in  the  Herman  nur- 
sery, where  he  was  employed  until  the  spring 
of   1861. 

At  the  first  call  for  volunteers,  he  enlisted 
in  company  B,  Fourth  Missouri  volunteer  infan- 
try, in  the  three-months'  service,  but  severe 
exposure  brought  on  an  attack  of  typhoid 
fever,  and  he  was  discharged  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  He  soon  after  re-enlisted  in  the 
Tenth  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and  although 
not  perfectly  recuperated,  he  stood  the  hard- 
ships of  one  campaign  until  the  fall  of  1862, 
when  he  was  again  discharged  on  account  of 
physical  disability.  Judge  Frank  was  soon  after 
given  a  position  in  the  quartermaster's  office 
at  Saint  Louis,  where  he  remained  until  1864, 
using  his  spare  moments  in  reading  Black- 
stone  and  other  elementary  works  furnished  him 
by  Judge  Eaton.  About  a  year  after  he  had  left 
Germany,  his  father  died,  and  in  a  few  years, 
he  sent  for  his  mother  and  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily, the  former  dying  in  Dayton,  April  27, 
1877;  two  of  his  brothers  and  one  sister  reside 
in  Dayton  and  one  sister  in  Mattoon,  111.  In 
1864  Judge  Frank  came  to  Dayton,  where  he 
continued  his  law  studies  under  the  tutorship 
of  Craighead  &  Munger,  making  rapid  prog- 
ress, and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  Septem- 
ber 2,  1867,  when  he  at  once  opened  an  office 
and  practiced  his  profession  successfully  for 
several  years.  He  was  married  August  11, 
1873,  to  Mary  Lutz,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  childhood  with  her 
parents  and  grew  to  maturity  in  Dayton.  Nine 
children  have  been  the  fruits  of  this  union,  five 
sons  and  four  daughters,  all  but  two  of  whom 
are  living. 

Politically,  the  judge  has  always  been  a  re- 
publican, and  in  the  fall  of  1875  was  nominated 
and  elected  to  the  office  of  probate  judge, 
commencing  the  duties  of  his  office  February 
14,  1876.  In  1878  he  was  re-elected  to 
that    responsible   position,    which  was  one  of 


258 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  strongest  possible  indorsements  of  his 
official  worth  and  integrity,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  Montgomery  county  was  then  largely 
democratic.  Since  leaving  the  bench,  Judge 
Frank  has  devoted  himself  to  his  profession, 
his  business  being  largely  an  office  practice, 
and  his  clients  coming,  in  the  main,  from 
those  of  German  descent.  He  ranks  high 
among  the  safe  and  honorable  practitioners 
of  Dayton,  and  well  deserves  the  confidence 
that  is  reposed  in  him. 


eLLIS  JENNINGS,  M.  D.,  of  Dayton, 
was  born  in  Wilmington,  Ohio,  on 
the  29th  of  December,  1833,  being 
the  son  of  Alexander  and  Ruth  (Tay- 
lor) Jennings,  his  lineage  being  traced  through 
Scotch,  Irish  and  English  lines.  He  was  born 
on  a  farm,  and  his  preliminary  education  was 
secured  in  the  district  schools,  after  which  he 
continued  his  studies  in  the  high  school  at  Troy, 
Ohio,  and  subsequently  in  Antioch  college,  at 
Yellow  Springs,  this  state.  In  his  early  youth 
he  had  given  clear  definition  to  the  course 
which  he  would  pursue  in  life,  deciding  to 
adopt  the  medical  profession,  and  with  this 
end  in  view  began  his  technical  reading  at  an 
early  age,  continuing  his  studies  for  some  time 
under  the  effective  guidance  of  Dr.  John  D. 
Kemp,  of  Vandalia,  Ohio.  Later  he  matricu- 
lated in  the  Medical  college  of  Ohio,  where 
he  graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1862, 
having  secured  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medi- 
cine, and  thus  equipped  himself  for  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession.  Not  to  this  peace- 
ful work,  however,  was  the  young  man  to  de- 
vote himself  at  the  start,  for  a  more  impera- 
tive duty  called,  and  the  loyalty  of  his  nature 
could  not  but  heed  the  summons. 

In  October,  1862,  Dr.  Jennings  identified 
himself  with  the  medical  corps  of  the  Union 
army,    and    continued   in    active  service    until 


June,  1865.  He  was  first  assigned  to  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Fifth  Iowa  in- 
fantry, in  which  capacity  he  served  until  De- 
cember of  the  same  year,  when  he  was  assigned 
to  duty  in  hospital  No.  2,  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
retaining  this  place  until  March,  1S65,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  post  surgeon  in  turn  on  the  staffs  of 
Gen.  Noyes,  Col.  Warner  and  Col.  Andrews, 
and  in  the  exacting  and  onerous  duties  which 
fell  to  his  lot  he  was  found  always  at  his  post, 
ever  faithful  in  rendering  aid  to  the  brave  men 
who  suffered  from  the  injuries  and  diseases 
incident  to  war. 

Dr.  Jennings  came  to  Dayton  soon  after 
his  discharge  from  the  service,  locating  in  this 
city  in  September,  1865,  and  entering  vigor- 
ously upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
gained  a  distinctive  prestige  through  his  ability, 
his  integrity  of  character  and  his  deep  sympa- 
thy with  those  in  affliction,  and  his  practice 
constantly  broadened  in  scope;  but  he  was  not 
yet  satisfied  with  his  professional  acquirements, 
and  accordingly,  in  1871,  he  went  to  Europe. 
During  the  winter  passed  abroad  he  gave  his 
attention  to  the  serious  study  of  subjects  per- 
tinent to  medical  science,  securing  the  unex- 
celled advantages  offered  in  the  foreign  hos- 
pitals and  colleges.  He  then  returned  to  Day- 
ton, which  has  ever  since  been  his  home  and 
the  scene  of  his  earnest  and  fruitful  professional 
endeavors.  From  1870  until  1873  he  was  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  Thomas  L.  Neal,  their 
practice  being  of  a  general  character,  and  since 
the  dissolution  of  this  association  Dr.  Jennings 
has  devoted  himself  to  the  general  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  state  Medical  society  and  of 
the  Montgomery  county  Medical  society. 

In  politics  the  doctor  is  a  republican  of  the 
uncompromising  sort.  In  his  fraternal  rela- 
tions he  is  identified  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  being 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


261 


a  member  of  Montgomery  lodge  No.  5,  while 
he  is  also  medical  director  of  the  National  Ben- 
eficial association  of  this  order,  of  Dayton. 
The  doctor  is  thoroughly  cosmopolitan  in  his 
tastes,  and  has  been  able  to  indulge  these, 
having  made  a  second  trip  to  Europe  in  1890, 
visiting  the  principal  cities  of  the  continent  and 
divers  other  points  of  historical  and  local  in- 
terest. In  1896  Dr.  Jennings  made  his  third 
trip  abroad  and  spent  two  and  a  half  months 
in  visiting  the  Mediterranean  ports,  Egypt  and 
the  holy  land.  If  the  doctor  has  a  hobby,  it 
is  the  love  of  travel,  and  it  is  his  intention,  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  present  century,  to  start 
on  a  trip  around  the  world. 

Dr.  Jennings  has  ever  been  a  thorough  and 
systematic  student,  and  his  intellectual  horizon 
has  been  broadened  to  include  far  more  than  a 
knowledge  of  the  literature  of  his  profession, 
for  he  has  been  an  indefatigable  reader  in 
general  fields  of  knowledge  and  possesses  a 
fund  of  information  which  cannot  but  be  a 
source  of  constant  satisfaction  to  him,  as  it  is 
to  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  in 
either  a  business  or  a  social  way. 


BRANK  J.  KUNKLE,  general  manager 
of  the  Dayton  Ice  Manufacturing  & 
Cold  Storage  company,  was  born  in 
Chambersburg,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  October  26,  1859.  His  father,  John 
Kunkle,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  being  among  its  pioneer  fam- 
ilies. The  father  of  John  Kunkle  was  Jacob 
Kunkle,  and  as  one  of  the  early  residents  of 
this  county  he  was  well  known  and  esteemed. 
Frank  J.  Kunkle  passed  his  boyhood  on  the 
farm  in  Butler  township,  and  received  hisearly 
education  in  the  public  schools  at  Vandalia. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  entered  Wit- 
tenberg college  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  remaining 


a  student  there  for  three  years.  After  taking 
a  commercial  course  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he 
located  at  Dayton  in  1881,  and  accepted  a  po- 
sition as  bookkeeper  with  the  firm  of  C.  Wight 
&  Son,  lumber  manufacturers,  and  remained 
with  that  firm  until  August,  1892.  He  then 
accepted  the  position  of  general  manager  of 
the  Dayton  Ice  Manufacturing  &  Cold  Stor- 
age company,  which  he  still  retains,  having  en- 
tire charge  of  that  company's  business  affairs 
and  property. 

Mr.  Kunkle  was  married  in  October,  1886, 
in  Johnsville,  Montgomery  county,  to  Miss 
Susie  Furry  of  that  place,  and  a  daughter  of 
David  Furry.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  two  sons,  John  D.  and  Robert  H. 
Mr.  Kunkle  is  a  member  of  Riverdale  lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  vice-president  and 
director  in  the  Pioneer  Tar  Soap  company, 
and  director  in  the  National  Plant  company, 
and  is  interested  in  real  estate,  having  been 
active  in  building  and  selling  houses,  princi- 
pally in  Riverdale.  When  he  located  in  Day- 
ton he  was  without  capital,  but  by  careful  and 
industrious  management  he  has  been  success- 
ful in  accumulating  a  competency,  and  ranks 
among  the  young  business  men  of  the  city 
who  have  wrought  out  success  through  years 
of  earnest  endeavor. 


OREN  BRITT  BROWN,  attorney  at 
law,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  the 
Empire  state,  having  been  born  at 
Jeddo,  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
22d  of  June,  1853,  a  son  of  Col.  E.  F.  Brown, 
who  held  the  commission  as  colonel  of  the 
Twenty-eighth  New  York  regiment  during  the 
late  war  of  the  Rebellion,  rendering  valiant 
service  in  upholding  the  Union  arms  and  pre- 
serving the  integrity  of  the  nation.  Col.  Brown 
removed  to  Dayton  a  few  years  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  made  the  first  governor  of 


262 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  soldiers'  home,  which  important  office  he 
held  from  1868  until  1S80.  enjoying  the  respect 
and  affection  of  the  veterans  over  whose  inter- 
ests he  was  thus  placed  in  charge,  and  proving 
a  most  able  and  conscientious  executive  in 
directing  the  affairs  of  this  great  national  insti- 
tution. That  his  services  were  held  in  high 
appreciation  by  the  national  government  is 
manifest  from  the  fact  that  he  is  now  an  in- 
spector general  of  the  national  soldiers'  homes 
of  the  Union,  maintaining  his  headquarters  at 
Hartford,  Conn.  The  maiden  name  of  our 
subject's  mother  was  Elizabeth  Britt. 

Oren  Britt  Brown  was  born  on  a  farm,  and 
his  early  education  was  secured  in  the  public 
schools  at  Medina,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  remained 
until  the  time  of  his  parents'  removal  to  Day- 
ton, in  April,  1869.  Here  he  was  a  student 
in  the  high  school  until  1871,  when  he  entered 
Dennison  university,  at  Granville,  Ohio,  where 
he  continued  his  studies  until  January,  1874. 
He  then  entered  Princeton  college,  N.  J., 
graduating  from  this  celebrated  institution  as 
a  member  of  the  class  of  the  Centennial  year, 
1876,  having  completed  a  thorough  classical 
course.  Thus  fortified  in  a  theoretical  way  for 
the  duties  of  life,  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Dayton  and  began  the  work  of  practical  and 
technical  preparation.  In  September  of  the 
year  mentioned  he  entered  the  office  of 
Gunckel  &  Rowe,  prominent  attorneys  of  this 
city,  and  under  their  effective  guidance  con- 
tinued the  reading  of  law  for  two  years,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1878. 
He  remained  with  his  preceptors  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  established  an  individual  prac- 
tice, conducting  a  successful  business  until 
1 88 1,  when,  as  the  candidate  of  the  republican 
party,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
clerk  of  Montgomery  county,  assuming  the 
duties  of  this  position  in  February,  1882.  He 
served  for  one  term  of  three  years,  having 
proved  a  most  acceptable  and  efficient   incum- 


bent, and  then  declined  to  become  a  candidate 
for  re-election,  having  determined  to  resume 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  was 
already  enjoying  a  marked  prestige.  On  the 
9th  of  February,  1885,  he  entered  into  a  pro- 
fessional alliance  with  Oscar  M.  Gottschall, 
under  the  firm  title  of  Gottschall  &  Brown,  and 
this    association    continued    until    January    1, 

1895,  when  the  firm  was  changed  by  the  ad- 
mission of  Ira  Crawford,  Jr.,  to  partnership, 
whereupon  the  title  of  Gottschall,  Brown  & 
Crawford  was  adopted.  This  firm  holds  a 
prominent  place  among  the  leading  legal  prac- 
titioners of  the  county,  having  been  retained  in 
much  of  the  important  litigation  that  has  come 
before  the  courts  of  this  and  adjoining  counties, 
as  well  as  in  the  state  courts. 

Mr.  Brown  is  uncompromising  in  his  advo- 
cacy of  the  principles  and  policies  advanced  by 
the  republican  party,  and  he  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  councils  of  the  same  in  Montgom- 
ery county.  He  was  a  delegate  from  the  Day- 
ton district  to  the  national  republican  con- 
vention at  Chicago  in  1888,  when  Harrison 
was  nominated  for  the  presidency.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Dayton  board  of  elections,  hav- 
ing been  one  of  the  republican  representatives 
thereon  from  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the 
board  until  he  went  upon  the  bench.  He  vvas 
nominated  for  judge  of  the  third  subdivision, 
Second  district,  in  the  spring  of  1896,  and  after 
the  death  of  Judge  Henderson  Elliott,  in  July, 

1896,  he  was  appointed  his  successor,  having 
already  been  nominated  by  his  party.  He  was 
elected  in  the  fall  of  1896,  and  entered  upon 
his  term  of  five  years  on  the  third  Monday  of 
November,   1897. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1883,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Judge  Brown  to  Miss  Jeannette 
Gebhart,  daughter  of  Simon  Gebhart,  one  of 
the  old  and  honored  citizens  of  Dayton.  In 
his  fraternal  relations  Judge  Brown  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  Masonic  order,  being 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


263 


a  Knight  Templar  and  having  attained  the 
thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  rite.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Dayton  club,  enjoying 
a  marked  popularity  in  professional,  business 
and  social  circles. 


>-j'ACOB  LINXWEILER,  Jr.,  who  has 
■  long  been  active  in  a  field  of  enterprise 
/•  J  which  contributes  in  a  large  degree  to 
the  prosperity  of  any  community  or 
section — that  corporate  use  of  capital  whose 
object  is  to  furnish  indemnity  against  loss  by 
fire — occupies  a  distinctly  representative  posi- 
tion among  the  business  men  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  for  this  reason,  as  well  as  that  of  his  char- 
acter as  an  enterprising  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  it  is  eminently  fitting  that  he  be  ac- 
corded due  recognition  in  a  biographical  rec- 
ord of  this  community.  Mr.  Linxweiler  is 
secretary  of  that  stanch  organization,  the  Teu- 
tonic Fire  Insurance  company,  and  holds  offi- 
cial position  in  connection  with  municipal 
affairs,  being  at  this  time  the  mayor  of  the  city 
of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Linxweiler  is  a  native  -of  the  city  in 
which  he  has  won  his  way  to  success  and 
honor.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  January  22, 
1843,  his  parents  being  Jacob  and  Caroline 
(Heinz)  Linxweiler,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  Rhenish  Bavaria,  and  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  Dayton.  Jacob  Linxweiler,  Sr. , 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the  summer 
of  1840,  and  for  a  few  weeks  after  his  arrival 
here  was  employed  on  a  farm  near  Niagara 
Falls,  Canada.  In  August  of  the  same  year  he 
came  to  Dayton,  which  has  ever  since  been  his 
home  and  where  he  is  held  in  highest  esteem 
as  one  of  the  honored  patriarchs  of  the  city. 
Animated  by  a  strong  will,  industrious  and  re- 
sourceful, Mr.  Linxweiler  was  not  slow  in 
proving  his  power  to  attain   a  due   measure  of 


success  in  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  was 
for  a  time  engaged  in  the  bakery  and  grocery 
trade  in  Dayton,  and  later  became  actively  in- 
terested in  horticultural  enterprises  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  gaining  a  wide  reputation  in 
that  important  field.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing members  of  the  horticultural  society,  and 
a  generally  recognized  authority  in  this  direc- 
tion. He  retired  from  active  business  in  1869. 
His  cherished  and  devoted  wife  died  in  1868. 
She  had  been  an  earnest  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church,  and  her  character  was 
one  of  signal  purity  and  beauty. 

Jacob  Linxweiler,  Jr.,  was  reared  in  Day- 
ton, receiving  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion and  profiting  by  the  influences  of  a  refined 
and  pleasant  home.  After  leaving  school  he 
secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  wholesale  no- 
tion house  in  Dayton,  and  in  1863  he  enlisted 
in  the  100-days'  service  as  a  member  of  Col. 
John  G.  Lowe's  regiment,  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  serv- 
ing his  term  and  being  on  garrison  duty  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  during  the  greater  portion  of 
the  time.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  entered  Greer's  com- 
mercial college,  where  he  completed  a  course 
of  study,  after  which  he  accepted  the  position 
of  bookkeeper  for  T.  Parrott  &  Sons,  manu- 
facturers of  linseed  oil,  remaining  in  their 
employ  until  May,  1867.  Mr.  Linxweiler  was 
then  elected  secretary  of  the  Teutonic  Fire  In- 
surance company,  which  office  he  has  since 
continuously  retained,  his  well-directed  efforts 
and  marked  executive  abilitv  having  been 
large  factors  in  so  shaping  the  policy  of  the 
company  that  it  to-day  stands  as  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  popular  insurance  organi- 
zations in  the  entire  west. 

Mr.  Linxweiler  has  been  prominent  in 
Dayton's  municipal  affairs  for  a  number  of 
years,  having  ever  stood  ready  to  do  all  in  his 
power  to  further  its  prosperity  and  substantial 


264 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


upbuilding.  In  1874  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education,  as  representative  of 
the  Sixth  ward,  being  the  candidate  on  the 
democratic  ticket  and  receiving  a  majority  of 
140  votes  in  a  ward  distinctively  republican  in 
its  political  complexion — the  average  repub- 
lican majority  therein  having  been  120  in  the 
same  election.  He  served  in  this  capacity  for 
one  term  of  two  years,  when  he  declined  again 
to  become  a  candidate  for  the  office.  He  was 
the  second  member  of  the  finance  committee 
and  its  acting  chairman  during  his  term.  When 
the  fire  department  of  Dayton  was  reorganized 
in  1 88 1,  Mr.  Linxweiler  was  appointed  a  mem- 
ber of  the  fire  board,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  reorganization  of  the  department,  doing 
much  to  bring  it  to  its  present  high  standard  of 
efficiency.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  for 
about  three  years.  In  18S4  he  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  Hoadly  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  southern  Ohio  asylum  for  the 
insane,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  five 
years.  In  1891  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  city  board  of  waterworks  trustees,  being 
his  own  successor  in  1893,  m  which  year  he 
served  as  president.  In  his  first  election  to 
this  board  he  ran  nearly  700  votes  ahead  of 
his  ticket — a  fact  which  furnished  marked  evi- 
dence of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  and  of 
his  great  popularity.  At  the  time  of  his  re- 
election the  remainder  of  the  ticket,  with  the 
exception  of  Mayor  McMillen,  was  defeated, 
the  republican  majority  ranging  between  fifty 
and  100,  while  Mr.  Linxweiler's  majority  was 
over  400  votes.  He  has  been  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  democratic  party,  and  has  done 
much  to  advance  its  local  interests.  In  his 
fraternal  relations  he  is  identified  with  Steuben 
lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  is  a  charter 
member,  and  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, being  also  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Old  Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.  He 
has  also  been,  for  many  years  past,  an  influen- 


tial member  and  an  an  officer  of  the  Dayton 
Turngemeinde,  an  organization  for  physical- 
culture. 

In  February,  1867,  Mr.  Linxweiler  was- 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bertha  Zimmer- 
mann,  of  Cincinnati,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  five  children,  namely:  Elmer,  who  is- 
now  engaged  in  horticultural  pursuits  in  south- 
ern Georgia;  George,  who  is  a  clerk  in  the  office 
of  the  Teutonic  Fire  Insurance  company;  Ed- 
mund, a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Seybold 
Machine  company;  and  Cora  and  Otto,  both. 
now  living  at  the  parental  home. 

Mr.  Linxweiler  was  elected  mayor  of  the 
city  of  Dayton  in  the  spring  of  1896,  for  a  term 
of  two  years,  by  a  plurality  of  nine  votes  over 
his  republican  opponent.  He  and  Ben.  B. 
Childs,  democratic  candidate  for  trustee  of 
the  water  works,  were  the  only  democrats 
elected,  the  republican  candidates  for  the  other 
offices  being  elected  by  majorities  of  from  four 
hundred  to  five  hundred  votes.  Mr.  Linx- 
weiler resigned  the  office  of  water  works  trus- 
tee at  the  request  of  many  citizens,  who  de- 
sired that  his  superior  executive  ability, 
strength  of  will  and  sound  judgment  should  be 
utilized  in  the  discharge  of  the  more  important 
duties  of  the  mayoralty.  In  that  responsible 
office  he  has  already  given  evidence  of  peculiar 
qualities  of  fitness  for  the  exercise  of  the  ap- 
pointive power  which  the  existing  form  of  city 
government  vests  in  the  mayor,  and  has  gained 
friends  among  all  classes  and  in  all  parties  by 
his  faithful  and  conscientious  administration 
of  an  honorable  and  responsible  civic  trust. 


X-^EORGE  GOODHUE,  M.  D.,  one  of 
■  (j\    the  leading  physicians   and   surgeons 

\^^J    of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born   in   West 

Westminster,    Vt.,    May     24,     1853. 

Reared  upon  the  farm  he  attended  the  district 

school  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


265 


entered  the  preparatory  department  of  Carle- 
ton  college,  at  Northfield,  Minn.,  and  there 
took  a  three-years'  course,  with  the  view  of 
entering  Dartmouth  college,  in  which  he  took 
a  four-years'  course,  graduating  in  the  class  of 
1876.  After  this  he  taught  school  for  two 
years  as  professor  of  Greek  and  physics  in 
Miami  college,  Oxford,  Ohio.  Having  deter- 
mined to  follow  the  profession  of  medicine  he 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  John  Davis,  of  Day- 
ton, now  deceased.  His  first  course  of  lectures 
was  taken  at  the  college  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  of  New  York  city,  and  his  second  at 
the  medical  department  of  Dartmouth  college, 
graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1879. 
He  then  entered  the  university  of  New  York, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  March, 
1880.  Having  previously  secured  a  position  in 
the  Brooklyn  city  hospital,  he  held  this  posi- 
tion for  one  year,  and  thereafter  spent  three 
months  in  the  Manhattan  Eye  and  Ear  hospi- 
tal. Being  thus  thoroughly  equipped  for  suc- 
cessful work  in  medicine  and  surgery,  he  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  former  preceptor,  Dr.  John  Davis, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  until  the  death 
of  Dr.  Davis,  which  occurred  June  10,  1883. 
Since  that  time  he  has  carried  on  his  practice 
alone,  with  the  exception  of  some  two  and  a 
half  years,  when  he  was  associated  with  a 
nephew  of  Dr.  Davis.  While  his  practice  is 
general,  yet  Dr.  Goodhue  gives  considerable 
attention  to  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear,  and 
also  to  surgery,  the  latter  being  his  preference. 

Dr.  Goodhue  is  a  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  Medical  society,  and  also  of  the 
Ohio  state  Medical  association.  He  is  ac- 
knowledged as  one  of  the  progressive  physicians 
■of  the  city,  ranking  among  the  foremost  in 
both  skill  and  success,  and  his  practice  is,  as  a 
consequence,  unusually  extensive. 

Dr.  Goodhue  has,  however,  in  the  past, 
given  some  attention  to  the  business  interests 


of  Dayton,  has  aided  many  enterprises,  and  is 
a  stockholder  in  several  of  the  prosperous  con- 
cerns of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of  Dayton 
lodge  No.  147,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  thirty-second  de- 
gree Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  was  married  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind. , 
to  Miss  Rose  E.  Kendall,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  attend  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

Dr.  Goodhue  is  of  English  ancestry,  being 
the  seventh  in  direct  descent  from  William 
Goodhue.  He  is  a  son  of  Horace  and  Clarissa 
(Braley)  Goodhue,  both  of  whom  died  in  Ver- 
mont. They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, the  doctor  being  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  and  the  only  one  living  in  Ohio.  He 
has  two  brothers  and  one  sister  living,  viz: 
Horace,  professor  of  Greek  in  Carleton  college, 
Minn.  ;  Harlan,  a  farmer  of  Vermont,  and 
Electa,  also  living  in  Vermont. 

Dr.  Goodhue  is,  at  the  present  time,  sur- 
geon of  the  Panhandle  railroad  company  at 
Dayton,  and  at  different  times  has  held  the 
same  position  with  all  the  railroads  entering 
Dayton.  He  has  also  been  surgeon  of  the 
Deaconess  hospital  ever  since  its  foundation, 
and  in  1890  was  president  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Medical  society. 


^yy»ILLIAM    WEBSTER,    M.    D.,   de- 
M  M  ceased,  who  for  many  years  was  one 

III  ofthi  leading  citi  ens  and  physicians 
of  Dayton,  was  born  in  Butler  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  January  12,  1827,  and  was  of  Welsh 
descent.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  Butler  county,  in  the  rich  Miami  val- 
ley. In  his  fourteenth  year  he  entered  the 
Monroe  academy  for  the  purpose  of  preparing 
for  admission  to  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university 
at  Delaware,  Ohio,  where  he  studied  during 
the  years  1845  and  1846.  He  then  entered 
Farmers  college,  near  Cincinnati,  graduat- 
ing in  1848  with  honor.       Inheriting  from  his 


260 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


father  a  taste  for  medical  studies,  he  devoted 
his  senior  year's  leisure  moments  to  reading 
medical  works,  with  a  view  to  entering  a  med- 
ical college,  and  did  enter  the  Eclectic  Medical 
institute  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  185 1. 

Prior  to  his  graduation,  on  account  of  the 
spread  of  cholera  in  this  country,  he  opened 
an  office  in  Middletown,  Ohio,  and  at  once 
entered  upon  a  busy  practice,  but  upon  the  dis- 
appearance of  the  epidemic  he  closed  his  office, 
returned  to  college  and  graduated  as  above 
narrated.  At  first  he  practiced  according  to 
the  principles  of  the  regular  school  of  medicine, 
or  what  is  generally  called  allopathic  treat- 
ment; but  during  his  last  term  of  attendance 
at  the  Eclectic  college  the  faculty  employed  Dr. 
Storm  Ross,  of  Painesville,  Ohio,  to  deliver  a 
course  of  lectures  on  homeopathy,  a  new  the- 
ory of  medicine  at  that  time  in  Ohio,  the  re- 
sult being  the  conversion  of  nearly  all  the  fac- 
ulty and  class  to  the  new  system.  Dr.  Web- 
ster made  a  trial  of  this  new  system  of  medi- 
cine, and  after  a  year  or  two  of  practice  of 
allopathy,  and  of  investigation  and  experiment- 
ing with  homeopathy,  he  finally  dropped  the 
former  system  and  from  that  time  on  followed 
the  principles  of  homeopathy  during  his  entire 
professional  life.  After  seven  years  of  practice 
in  Middletown,  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  remained  a  citizen  of  Day- 
ton until  his  death,  which  event  occurred  May 
19,   1894. 

Immediately  after  locating  in  Dayton  he 
male  himself  felt  in  the  medical  world,  being 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Miami  valley 
Homeopathic  society,  and  was  officially  con- 
nected therewith  for  many  years.  He  served 
as  secretary  and  president  of  the  Ohio  state 
Homeopathic  Medical  society  for  many  years, 
and  was  also  connected  with  the  American  In- 
stitute of  Homeopathy,  beside  being  well 
known  as  a  contributor  to  the  leading  homeo- 


pathic journals.  He  carefully  avoided  all  of- 
ficial positions,  excepting  such  as  mentioned 
above,  devoting  himself  closely  to  his  profes- 
sional  labors  and  studies,  with  the  result  that 
he  attained  a  position  of  prominence  in  the 
medical  world  which  he  could  not  otherwise 
have  reached.  For  fifty-five  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  for  many  years  was  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity. 

Dr.  Webster  was  married  three  times;  first 
to  Mrs.  Catherine  Martin,  who  was  born  in 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  July  1,  1827,  and  died 
July  29,  185  1,  after  about  one  year  of  married 
life.  His  second  wife,  whom  he  married  May 
28,  1853,  was  Miss  Sarah  Harkrader,  who 
bore  him  one  son,  Frank,  and  was  soon  after- 
ward taken  from  him  by  death.  She  died 
August  9,  1854,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  of 
cholera.  She  was  the  daughter  of  David  and 
Nancy  (Gallagher)  Harkrader,  who  were  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
and  whose  families  were  of  great  longevity, 
some  of  the  Gallaghers  living  to  be  upward  of 
ninety  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Webster  was  married,  the  third  time,  to 
Miss  Rosalinda  Brashear,  who  still  survives. 
She  bore  him  two  sons,  Edward  and  William 
H.  Edward  is  a  traveling  salesman  from  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  representing  the  Pittsburg  Consoli- 
dated Wire  &  Nail  company  in  the  state  of 
Ohio.  He  married  Miss  Mollie  Miller,  of 
Grand  Forks,  N.  Dak.  The  second  son, 
William  Herr  Webster,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton,  and  attended  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at  Delaware,  for 
four  years,  reading  medicine  while  there  with 
Dr.  M.  P.  Hunt,  and  subsequently  with  his 
father,  and  in  1891  entering  Pulte  Medical 
college  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  From  this  insti- 
tution he  graduated  in  1894,  subsequently  lo- 
cating in  Dayton,  and  forming  a  medical  part- 
nership with  his  half-brother,  Dr.  Frank  Web- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


267 


ster,  whose  biography  will  appear  below  in 
connection  with  this  sketch.  William  H. 
Webster  also  took  a  post-graduate  course  at 
the  Chicago  Homeopathic  college.  While  he 
is  giving  special  attention  to  surgery,  he  is 
also  engaged  in  general  practice.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  medical  staff  of  the  Deaconess 
hospital,  of  Dayton,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  state  Homeopathic  Medical  society, 
of  the  Miami  valley  Homeopathic  Medical  so- 
ciety, and  is  highly  regarded  as  a  citizen  and 
as  a  physician.  He  was  married  January  12, 
1895,  to  Miss  Mary  Isabel  Ferneau,  a  native 
of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  who  was  born  near 
Chillicothe.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Having  recited  the  family  history  of  Dr. 
William  Webster,  deceased,  it  is  now  proper 
to  present  some  of  his  personal  characteristics, 
and  to  deal  briefly  with  the  ancestry  of  the 
family.  The  deceased  practitioner  was  a  phy- 
sician always  welcome  in  the  sick  room,  be- 
cause of  his  known  professional  skill  and  of  his 
genial  disposition  and  cheerful,  hopeful  pres- 
ence. He  made  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends, 
was  affable  and  courteous,  and  his  personality 
was  almost  as  valuable  as  any  medical  treat- 
ment, especially  to  those  who  were  susceptible 
to  such  personal  influences.  In  his  practice  he 
amassed  a  handsome  fortune,  which  he  used  in 
great  part  for  the  benefit  of  humanity.  He  was 
devoted  to  the  success  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  association,  acting  as  an  official  of 
the  association  and  contributing  of  his  means 
to  its  prosperity.  He  was  a  liberal  supporter 
of  all  worthy  public  enterprises,  and  to  his 
friends  was  liberal  to  a  fault,  but  more  espe- 
cially to  the  poor. 

The  ancestry  of  Dr.  William  Webster  is 
said  to  be  of  Welsh  origin.  John  Webster,  of 
whom  the  doctor  was  a  direct  descendant, 
emigrated  to  New  Jersey  in  1691.  The  grand- 
father of  Dr.  Webster  was  also  named  William 


Webster.  He  was  a  native  of  Essex  county, 
N.  J.,  born  in  1771,  removed  to  Pennsylvania 
about  1803,  became  a  pioneer  in  the  Miami 
valley  in  1806,  settling  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
and  died  in  1844.  His  son,  Dr.  Elias  Webster, 
the  father  of  Dr.  William  Webster,  was  one  of 
a  family  of  nine  children.  He  was  born  Oc- 
tober 31,  1805,  and  became  a  physician  of  the 
allopathic  school  when  quite  young,  but  after 
about  fifteen  years'  practice  embraced  the 
doctrines  and  principles  of  homeopathy,  a  sys- 
tem then  comparatively  new,  especially  in  this 
country,  as  it  was  established  and  announced 
by  the  celebrated  Hahnemann  during  the  clos- 
ing years  of  the  eighteenth  century.  In  1866 
he  removed  to  Connersville,  Ind. ,  where  he  re- 
mained in  practice  until  he  retired,  dying  there 
in  1 89 1,  when  he  was  eighty-six  years  old. 

He  married  Mary  Kain,  of  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
who  died  in  1867.  By  her  he  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ; 
Samuel,  Hugh,  James  K. ,  M.  D.,  deceased; 
Joseph  R. ,  a  farmer,  of  Connersville,  Ind.; 
Taylor,  Daniel,  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Tevis,  of  Kansas,  and  Mary  J.,  all  but  two  of 
whom  are  now  dead. 

Dr.  Elias  Webster  took  a  deep  interest  in 
religious  matters.  In  politics  he  was  a  pro- 
nounced democrat.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
force  of  character  and  much  esteemed  for  his 
honesty  and  integrity.  A  wide  reader  and  a 
deep  thinker,  he  was  also  a  close  and  diligent 
student  of  the  bible,  and  was  always  welcome 
among  the  young,  who  revered  him  for  his 
many  excellent  traits  of  character,  all  of  which 
he  strove,  with  much  success,  to  impart  to  his 
children. 

His  brother,  Hon.  Taylor  Webster,  was, 
for  nearly  half  a  century,  identified  with  the 
democratic  press  of  Butler  county,  Ohio;  served 
in  1829  as  clerk  of  the  general  assembly  of 
Ohio,  and  in  1830  was  a  representative  from 
Butler  county  in  the  lower   house   of   the  gen- 


26S 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


eral  assembly  and  was  chosen  its  speaker. 
From  1832  to  1838  he  was  a  representative 
from  the  counties  of  Butler,  Preble  and  Darke 
in  the  congress  of  the  United  States  and  was 
subsequently  clerk  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  of  Butler  county,  and  afterward  of  the 
supreme  court  of  Ohio.  His  services  in  Ohio 
politics  were  exceedingly  efficient  during  the 
administrations  of  Presidents  Jackson  and  Van 
Buren.  He  was  modest  in  manner  and  indus- 
trious by  habit.  He  died,  generally  lamented, 
in  New  Orleans,  La.,  April  27,  1876,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one  years. 

Frank  Webster,  M.  D.,  was,  as  will  have 
been  noted,  the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  William 
Webster,  and  the  son  of  his  second  wife.  He 
was  born  in  Middletown,  Ohio,  April  6,  1854, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1874.  Afterward  he  graduated  from  the  Miami 
Commercial  college  in  Dayton,  and  was  for 
some  three  years  engaged  in  the  music  business 
in  that  city.  He  then  engaged  in  the  study  of 
medicine  with  his  father,  and  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1882  from  Pulte  Medical  college. 
Becoming  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
practice  of  medicine,  he  so  remained  until  his 
father's  death,  and  has  since  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  younger  half-brother,  William 
H.,  referred  to  above.  He  has  confined  his  at- 
tention to  the  general  practice  of  medicine  and 
has  made  himself  prominent  in  his  profession 
and  school,  standing  to-day  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  best  informed  physicians  of  Dayton. 
He  served  as  secretary  of  the  Miami  valley 
Homeopathic  Medical  association  for  thirteen 
years,  and  is  now  its  president,  and  has  been 
president  of  the  Dayton  city  Homeopathic 
Medical  society.  He  has  also  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  censors  of  Pulte  Med- 
ical college.  Dr.  Webster  is  a  member  of 
Dayton  lodge  No.  147,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was 
married  January   30,     1879,    to   Miss  Anna  A. 


Turner,  a  daughter  of  Hamilton  M.  Turner,  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Mrs.  Webster  be- 
ing a  native  of  that  county.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Webster  have  three  children,  Howard  H., 
Rome  M.,  and  Margaret  K.  Both  parents  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


BIELDING  LOURY,  deceased,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 9,  1824,  and  became  one  of  the 
most  prominent  business  men  as  well 
as  one  of  its  most  representative  citizens.  His 
genealogy  will  be  fully  traced  throughout  the 
details  of  this  memoir,  as  opportunity  suitably 
presents  itself.  For  the  present  it  may  be  said 
simply,  that  he  was  the  only  son  of  Gen. 
Fielding  Loury,  who  was  a  native  of  Spottsyl- 
vania  county,  Ya.,  and  a  civil  engineer  and 
surveyor,  the  mother  of  our  subject  being  the 
second  wife  of  the  general,  and,  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage  with  him,  the  widow  of  Daniel 
C.  Cooper.  She  died  in  Dayton,  in  1826. 
The  first  wife  of  Gen.  Loury  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Smith,  the  first  United  States  senator 
from  Ohio. 

Fielding  Loury  was  educated  in  Woodward 
high  school,  Cincinnati,  and  Kenyon  college, 
Gambier,  Ohio,  and,  having  inherited  a  for- 
tune from  his  mother,  his  earlier  manhood  was 
spent  in  comparative  leisure.  He  wedded  in 
Dayton,  in  1847,  Miss  Elizabeth  Richards  Mor- 
rison, a  native  of  Dayton  and  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Harriet  (Backus)  Morrison,  who 
were  born  in  Kaskaskia,  111.,  and  there  mar- 
ried. 

Col.  William  Morrison,  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Loury,  was  a  soldier  of  the  old  French-Indian 
wars,  and  was  extensively  connected  with  the 
North  American  Fur  company,  so  famous  in 
its  day,  was  very  prominent  as  a  pioneer,  and 
died  at  the  old  French  military  post,  known  as 
Kaskaskia. 


JH 


(^UtAA^es 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


271 


Joseph  Morrison,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Loury, 
was  a  graduate  of  an  eastern  university  and  of 
the  Philadelphia  law  school,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  senate  of  Illinois;  but  his  brill- 
iant career  was  brought  to  an  untimely  end, 
as  he  died  when  Mrs.  Loury  was  still  a  child. 
Harriet  Backus,  his  wife,  also  a  native  of 
Kaskaskia,  died  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Loury,  in 
'Dayton,  in  June,  1890.  Mrs.  Loury  is  the 
only  survivor  of  a  family  of  three  daughters — 
her  sisters  having  been  Mrs.  Lucretia  DuBois 
(who  died  in  early  life,  leaving  one  son,  now 
deceased),  and  Mrs.  Eloise  Bowen,  who  died 
in  middle  age.  leaving  a  son  and  daughter,  who 
are  still  living.  The  result  of  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Loury  with  Miss  Morrison,  which  was  sol- 
emnized by  Rev.  Mr.  Arnott  of  Christ's  Epis- 
copal church,  was  three  daughters  and  one 
son,  viz:  Harriet  Sophia;  Eloise  Peirce;  Anne 
Howard,  wife  of  Edward  Dana,  who  resides  in 
Cincinnati  and  is  extensively  interested  in  coal 
mining  in  Virginia;  and  Charles  Greene,  em- 
ployed in  the  office  of  the  National  Cash  Reg- 
ister company,  in  Dayton. 

Fielding  Loury  entered  the  army  in  1861, 
as  an  aid  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Schenck,  with 
the  rank  of  captain,  and  took  part  in  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  served,  also,  on  the 
staffs  of  Gens.  Hooker,  Milroy  and  Rosecrans, 
and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville.  After  his  recovery  he  was  sent  to  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. ,  where  he  was  at  the  head  of  the 
bureau  for  the  purchase  of  cavalry  supplies — 
receiving  and  disbursing  an  average  of  $1,- 
000,000  monthly.  After  a  service  of  about 
five  years  and  a  half  in  the  army,  he  resigned 
his  commission,  having  reached  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  returned  to  Dayton. 
Here  he  was  commissioned  postmaster,  and 
served  eight  years.  His  many  years  of  ardu- 
ous labor,  civil  and  military,  at  last  made 
deep  inroads  on  his  health,  and  death  came  to 
him,  as  a  welcome  relief,  November  13,  1882. 


No  more  fitting  words  can  be  used,  as  to  his 
demise,  than  those  of  his  pastor:  "  A  brave 
soldier,  a  public-spirited  citizen,  a  loving  hus- 
band, a  devoted  father — early  consecrated  to 
the  Lord  in  holy  baptism — we  leave  him  in 
the  hands  of  that  God,  who  will  find  in  his 
life  all  that  was  virtuous,  and  will  mete  out  the 
tenderest  judgment."  Mrs.  Loury  has  been  a 
member  from  early  life  of  Christ  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  faith  her  husband  died,  and 
her  grandchildren  are  of  the  fourth  generation 
reared  in  that  church. 

Both  the  Loury  and  Morrison  families 
trace  their  genealogy  to  Scotch-Irish  origin. 
Both  have  long  been  established  in  America, 
and  many  have  attained  positions  of  great 
prominence,  one  being  remembered  as  chief- 
justice  of  California.  The  present  inter-state 
commerce  commissioner,  Hon.  William  Mor- 
rison, of  Illinois,  is  a  second  cousin  of  Mrs. 
Loury;  a  sister  of  Joseph  Morrison  married 
Chief-Justice  Breese,  of  Illinois,  who  was  also 
United  States  senator  from  that  state;  Mrs. 
Loury's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  a  Revo- 
lutionary officer,  and  her  only  sister  wedded 
Judge  Nathaniel  Pope,  a  United  States  senator 
and  father  of  Maj.-Gen.  John  Pope,  of  Civil 
war  fame. 

Gen.  Fielding  Loury  came  to  Cincinnati  in 
1803,  and  reached  Dayton  in  1806,  where  he 
found  a  solitary  log  cabin  at  the  intersection 
of  what  are  now  known  as  Fifth  and  Main 
streets,  and  inquired  of  the  occupant  the  dis- 
tance to  Dayton.  He  continued  his  duties  as 
a  surveyor,  in  the  discharge  of  which  he  en- 
countered all  the  dangers  of  existence  on  the 
frontier  of  the  entire  northwest  country,  but, 
possessed  to  a  distinguished  degree  of  all  the 
manly  qualities  which  marked  the  typical  pio- 
neer of  the  west,  he  surmounted  every  obstacle 
in  his  way.  In  his  intercourse  with  the  In- 
dians, thousands  of  whom  still  remained  in  the 
country  and  viewed  with  jealous  alarm  the  en- 


27 '2 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


croachments  of  the  whites,  he  manifested  a 
character  for  firmness,  tempered  with  sym- 
pathy, which  he  maintained  to  the  closing  hour 
of  his  life.  About  1808  he  occupied  a  seat  in 
the  Ohio  legislature;  in  1S11  he  married  Mrs. 
Cooper,  as  previously  recorded;  in  18 12  he 
was  actively  employed  in  various  duties  con- 
nected with  the  army;  in  1816,  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  state  legislature,  and  in  1835 
was  elected  for  the  third  time. 

To  a  personal  character  of  unblemished  in- 
tegrity, Gen.  Loury  united,  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree, the  dignity  and  refined  manners  of  a 
gentleman  of  the  old  school,  and  possessed 
that  nice  sense  of  honor  and  generous  hospi- 
tality for  which  the  natives  of  the  state  of  his 
birth  are  so  distinguished.  A  more  affection- 
ate and  indulgent  husband  and  father  never 
blessed  a  home  circle.  In  his  politics  he  was 
a  pronounced  democrat,  and  was  an  able  and 
fearless  exponent  of  the  principles  of  his  party. 
His  death  occurred  in  Dayton,  October  7, 
1848,  and  his  remains  lie  interred  in  beautiful 
Woodland  cemetery,  the  burial  spot  having 
been  selected  by  himself. 


eMERSON  L.  HORNER,  member  of 
the  Dayton  board  of  education,  and 
principal  of  the  Eighth  district  school 
in  Harrison  township,  Montgomery 
county,  was  born  at  West  Baltimore,  March 
29,  1 86 1.  His  parents  were  James  and  Re- 
becca (Harp)  Horner,  the  former  of  whom  was 
of  English  descent  and  was  born  at  Thorntown, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  while  the  latter  was  born 
in  Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
They  were  married  in  Indiana,  and  came  to 
Ohio  in  i860,  locating  on  a  farm  near  West 
Baltimore,  Montgomery  county,  where  they 
continued  to  reside  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Horner,  which  occurred  in  1882.  They  were 
the  parents  of   four   children,  all   of  whom  are 


living,  viz:  Mrs.  Mary  Gaskell,  of  West  Bal- 
timore ;  Mrs.  Emma  Ewing,  of  Farmersville  ; 
Edward  and  Emerson  L.,  of  Dayton. 

Emerson  L.  Horner  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  re- 
ceived a  certificate  to  teach  school,  and  taught 
for  one  year.  For  six  years  following  he  at- 
tended the  Northwestern  Ohio  normal  school 
at  Ada,  Ohio  ;  the  National  normal  university 
at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
in  the  summer  season  and  taught  school  in  the 
winter  season.  He  became  principal  of  the 
Eighth  district  school  of  Harrison  township  in 
1886,  and  has  ever  since  retained  that  position, 
enjoying  a  record  for  faithful,  efficient  and 
continuous  service  unexcelled  by  that  of  any 
teacher  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Horner  has  had  unusual  success  as  a 
teacher,  being  a  thoroughly  progressive  educa- 
tor, and  standing  among  the  leaders  of  his 
profession  in  this  county.  He  has  been  pres- 
ident and  vice-president  of  the  Montgomery 
county  teachers'  association,  and  is  at  present 
a  member  of  its  executive  committee.  In 
April,  1896,  he  was  elected  by  the  people  of 
the  Fifth  ward  to  the  board  of  education  of 
Dayton.  In  this  body  he  soon  took  rank 
among  its  most  active  and  efficient  members, 
and  has  rendered  valuable  and  intelligent  serv- 
ice to  the  cause  of  education. 

He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  but  his  per- 
formance of  the  duties  of  public  trust  has  been 
so  free  from  mere  partisan  bias  as  to  win  for 
him  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  constitu- 
ents of  all  parties. 

Mr.  Horner  is  prominent  in  Odd  Fellow 
circles,  being  a  past  grand  of  Fraternal  lodge  ; 
a  past  chief  patriarch  of  Fraternal  encamp- 
ment, and  a  member  of  Galilee  Rebekah  lodge. 
He  is  a  member  of  Summit  street  U.  B.  church, 
which,  since  its  organization  in  1871,  has  been 
a  great  power  for  good.      In  all  of  the  relations 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


273 


of  life  Mr.  Horner  has  been  prompt  and  faith- 
ful in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  individual, 
social  and  professional,  and  has  earned  an  as- 
sured place  in  the  regard  of  the  entire  com- 
munity in  which  he  resides. 


ST 


ILLIAM  CRAIGHEAD,  one  of  the 
prominent  attorneys  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  that  city  on  Sep- 
tember i,  1835.  His  fatherwas  the 
late  Dr.  John  B.  Craighead,  who  for  many 
years  was  a  leading  physician  of  Dayton. 

Dr.  Craighead  was.born  near  Carlisle,  Cum- 
berland county,  Pa.,  on  April  22,  1800,  and 
was  the  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca 
(Weakley)  Craighead.  He  received  a  thorough 
classical  education  at  Dickinson  college,  and, 
choosing  medicine  as  his  profession,  he  became 
a  student  at  the  university  of  Pennsylvania,  at 
Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he  gradu- 
ated in  1826.  In  the  winter  of  1827  he  made 
a  visit  to  the  west  for  the  purpose  of  selecting 
a  place  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
located  at  Mansfield,  Ohio.  He  returned  to 
Philadelphia  and  spent  the  winters  of  1827-8  in 
attending  medical  lectures  in  that  city.  Hav- 
ing returned  to  Mansfield  he  married  Mary 
Wallace  Purdy,  of  that  place,  and  in  1830  re- 
moved from  Mansfield  to  Dayton,  where  he 
soon  took  a  prominent  position  in  the  medical 
profession.  He  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Montgomery  county  Medical 
society.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  died  on  December  29,  1839,  leaving  two 
young  sons — John  P.  Craighead,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  New  York  city,  and  William.  His 
second  wife  was  Rebecca  Dodds,  whom  he 
married  in  May,  1841.  Joseph  B.  Craighead, 
of  Richmond,  Ind.,  and  Mary  E.  Soper,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  are  the  surviving  children  of  the 
second  marriage.  Dr.  Craighead  was  a  fine 
classical   scholar,    and   the   preparation  of  his 


sons  for  college,  which  was  accomplished  prin- 
cipally under  his  supervision,  afforded  him  an 
excellent  opportunity  to  review  his  favorite 
authors.  He  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church.  His  death  occurred 
on  September  8,   1868. 

William  Craighead  attended  the  public 
school  on  Perry  street  in  this  city  until  he  be- 
gan his  preparation  for  college,  when  he  en- 
tered the  Dayton  Literary  institute,  which  was 
under  the  management  of  W.  N.  Edwards  and 
Robert  Stevenson.  In  September,  1852,  he 
matriculated  at  Miami  university,  where  he  en- 
tered the  sophomore  class  and  graduated  June 
30,  1855.  In  the  following  fall,  in  connection 
with  Robert  Stevenson,  his  former  teacher, 
he  opened  a  private  school  in  Miami  City, 
where  he  taught  for  two  years.  While  teach- 
ing, his  leisure  reading  was  in  the  direction  of 
law,  and  after  giving  up  teaching  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  Conover  &  Craighead  as  a 
student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1859, 
and  opened  an  office  with  Luther  Bruen.  After 
several  years  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Warren  Munger,  thus  organizing  the  firm  of 
Craighead  &  Munger.  At  about  this  time  Mr. 
Craighead  was  elected  city  solicitor  of  Dayton, 
and  served  the  city  in  that  capacity  for  four 
years.  It  was  during  his  administration  of  that 
office  that  the  riots  of  the  Civil  war  occurred  in 
the  city,  during  which  much'  valuable  property 
on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  was  burned,  and 
a  number  of  suits  for  heavy  damages  were 
brought  by  the  sufferers  against  the  city.  Mr. 
Craighead  represented  the  city  in  this  litigation, 
and  was  successful  in  preventing  recovery  by 
the  complainants. 

Mr.  Craighead  continued  practicing  law  in 
the  firm  of  Craighead  &  Munger  until  1876, 
when  that  firm  was  dissolved,  and  the  firm  of 
Conover  &  Craighead  being  dissolved  at  about 
the  same  time  by  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Cono- 
ver on  account  of- failing  health,  Samuel  Craig- 


274 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


head  and  William  Craighead  became  partners 
in  the  practice  of  law,  and  so  continued  until 
the  death  of  Samuel  Craighead.  In  1891 
Mr.  Craighead  was  chosen,  by  the  board  of 
•city  affairs,  city  solicitor,  which  position  he 
filled  with  marked  ability  until  the  spring  of 
1894.  Since  the  death  of  Samuel  Craighead, 
William  and  Charles  A.  Craighead,  sons  of 
Samuel,  have  constituted  the  law  firm  of  Craig- 
head &  Craighead. 

On  December  27,  1865,  Mr.  Craighead 
was  married  to  Margaret  S.  Wright,  daughter 
t>f  Francis  M.  and  Sophia  Corwin  Wright,  of 
Urbana,  Ohio.  They  have  but  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Sophia. 

Mr.  Craighead  is  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful practitioners  at  the  Dayton  bar.  He  is 
essentially  and  by  personal  preference  an  office 
lawyer,  although  he  is  also  an  able  and  ag- 
gressive trial  advocate.  Thorough  and  ex- 
haustive research  and  examination  regarding 
legal  principles  and  judicial  decisions  charac- 
terize his  treatment  of  every  important  ques- 
tion arising  in  his  practice.  The  habit  of 
painstaking  investigation,  aided  by  a  tenacious 
memory,  has  made  Mr.  Craighead  one  of  the 
best  "case  lawyers"  ever  at  the  local  bar. 
His  knowledge  of  the  law  of  pleading  is  exact, 
his  patience  and  persistence  are  a  byword  in 
the  profession,  and  his  opinions  as  a  lawyer 
have  the  weight  and  respect  to  which  these 
qualities  justly  entitle  them. 


HBRAM  DARST  WILT,  one  of  the 
prominent  and  representative  citizens 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  principal  and 
proprietor  of  the  Miami  Commercial 
college,  the  leading  college  of  the  kind  in  the 
city,  was  born  in  Dayton,  on  September  21, 
1842.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Darsti  Wilt,  early  citizens  of  Dayton.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  and 


was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  Wilt.  The  mother  was 
born  in  Dayton,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Abram  Darst,  a  pioneer  citizen  of  Dayton. 
Jacob  Wilt  came  to  Dayton  in  1832,  and  for 
many  years  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  rifle  barrels.  He  died  in  1882,  his  wife's 
death  having  occurred  in  1875. 

Abram  Wilt  was  educated  in  Dayton,  and 
taught  school  for  a  time.  Following  this  he 
engaged  in  merchandizing  for  several  years. 
In  1 86 1  he  took  charge  of  the  Miami  Commer- 
cial college,  just  established,  of  which  he  be- 
came the  principal  and  proprietor  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  In  1863  he  was  connected  with  E. 
D.  Babbitt,  of  Dayton,  in  the  publication  of  the 
"Babbittonian  System  of  Penmanship,"  and 
so  continued  for  several  years,  during  which 
time  that  system  was  introduced  both  in  this 
country  and  in  England.  In  1882  Mr.  Wilt 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Dayton,  which 
position  he  held  from  February  2 1  of  that 
year  until  September  1,  1886.  For  five  years 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Dayton  board  of 
education,  during  which  time  he  aided  in  the 
establishment  of  night  drawing  schools,  and 
was  also  an  active  member  of  the  library  com- 
mittee. He  served  as  a  member  of  the  city 
board  of  school  examiners  for  five  years,  at  a 
time  when  Robert  Steele  and  John  Hancock 
were  also  members  of  that  body.  In  1883  he 
was  president  of  the  National  Business  Edu- 
cators' association,  which  met  that  year  in 
Washington  city,  and  for  several  years  was  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  that 
association.  He  has  also  served  as  a  member 
of  the  city  republican  committee. 

On  March  19,  1872,  Mr.  Wilt  was  married 
to  Miss  Ella,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza 
Bickham,  of  Riverside,  Cincinnati,  and  sister 
to  the  late  Maj.  William  D.  Bickham,  propri- 
etor of  the  Dayton  Daily  Journal.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilt  the  following  children  have  been 
born:      Mary  Dennison,  now  the   wife  of  Dr. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


27T 


Jerome  B.  Thomas,  Jr.,'  a  prominent  young 
physician  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Emily  B.  and 
Abram  D.,  Jr. 

Mr.  Wilt's  name  is  prominently  associated 
with  the  educational  and  moral  interests  of  the 
city.  He  has  been  active  in  every  movement 
aiming  at  the  enlargement  of  the  intellectual 
life  of  Dayton.  A  ready  and  versatile  writer, 
his  pen  has  contributed  many  articles,  both 
through  the  press  and  otherwise,  to  the  store 
of  public  knowledge. 


SOBEST  CUMMING  SCHENCK  is 
president  of  the  Dayton  Malleable 
Iron  company  and  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Dayton.  He  was  born 
at  Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  October 
2,  1845,  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Franklin,  and  was  graduated 
from  Miami  university  in  1864.  He  served  on 
a  gunboat  during  the  Kirby  Smith  raid  and  in 
the  militia  during  the  John  Morgan  raid,  and 
in  May,  1864,  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-sixth  regiment,  O.  N.  G.,  and 
served  with  that  regiment  through  the  cam- 
paign in  the  mountains  of  West  Virginia. 

In  1S66-67,  Mr.  Schenck  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Davies  &  Lowe,  Dayton,  Ohio.  In 
1868  he  formed  a  partnership  with  S.  W. 
Davies  in  the  lumber  business,  from  which  he 
retired  in  1870.  After  spending  a  considerable 
time  in  Europe,  Mr.  Schenck,  with  a  number 
of  other  gentlemen,  established  the  American 
District  Telegraph  company,  which  company 
also  put  up  the  first  telephones  in  Dayton. 
From  1880  until  1882,  Mr.  Schenck  was  in 
the  U.  S.  government  service,  being  chief  dep- 
uty and  cashier  of  the  third  internal  revenue 
district  of  Ohio.  In  1880,  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Charles  Wuichet  in  the  National 
Cornice-works,  of  which  firm  he  is  still  a  mem- 
ber.    In  August,  1882,  he  became,  and  has  ever 


since  been,  the  president  of  the  Dayton  Malle- 
able Iron  company,  one  of  Dayton's  largest 
and  most  important  manufacturing  concerns. 
He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Dayton  National 
bank,  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton 
Railway  company,  the  Columbia  Insurance 
company,  the  Dayton  Asphalt  Paving  and 
Roofing  company,  a  trustee  of  the  Woodland 
Cemetery  association,  and  is  identified  with  a 
number  of  other  important  enterprises  in  Day- 
ton and  elsewhere. 

In  1868  Mr.  Schenck. was  married  to  Julia 
Crane  Davies,  second  daughter  of  Edward  W. 
Davies,  of  Dayton.  To  this  marriage  four 
children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Mary 
D. ,  who  married  J.  Sprigg  McMahon,  of  the 
legal  firm  of  McMahon  &  McMahon;  Graham 
C,  who  died  in  1874;  Pierce  D.  and  Ren- 
nelche  W.,  all  of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Schenck  is  recognized  as  one  of  Day- 
ton's most  successful  and  representative  citi- 
zens. His  enterprise  and  progressive  spirit 
are  well  known  and  fully  appreciated  by  the 
public,  while  his  many  fine  traits  of  character 
and  social  nature  have  won  him  a  large  circle 
of  warm  friends. 


HRTHUR  MELVILLE  KITTREDGE, 
general  superintendent  of  the  Barney 
&  Smith  Car  company  and  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city  January  9,  1854. 
He  is  a  son  of  Oliver  and  Julia  (Estabrook) 
Kittredge,  who  came  to  Dayton  from  Massa- 
chusetts in  1838,  and  both  of  whom  are  still 
living,  the  father  being  in  his  eighty-first  year 
and  the  mother  in  her  seventy-sixth  year.  Oli- 
ver Kittredge  was  the  first  agent  of  the  first 
express  company  in  Dayton.  He  was  also  a 
clerk  in  the  post-office  at  a  very  early  date.  In 
politics  he  was  a  whig. 

Arthur  M.  Kittredge  received  his  education 


278 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  the  Dayton  city  schools,  leaving  them  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years,  after  having  passed 
successfully  the  high  school  entrance  examina- 
tion. He  began  life  for  himself  by  serving  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  galvanized  iron  and  cor- 
nice-working trade,  which  trade  he  followed, 
having  in  time  been  made  by  promotion  fore- 
man of  the  shop,  then  superintendent,  until 
1877,  and  being  out  of  the  city  from  1 87 1  to 
1877.  Following  this  he  was  bookkeeper  for 
a  wholesale  house,  and  subsequently  was  trav- 
eling salesman  for  four  years  for  the  H.  W. 
Merriam  Shoe  company,  of  New  Jersey.  In 
January,  1884,  he  became  connected  with  the 
Barney  &  Smith  Car  company,  and  was  soon 
made  general  superintendent  of  the  entire  plant, 
which  is  the  largest  car- works  in  the  west,  and 
one  of  the  largest  manufacturing  plants  in  the 
state  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Kittredge  is  a  director  in 
the  Miami  Building  association  of  the  East  End, 
and  is  also  director  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  an  act- 
ive member  of  Memorial  Presbyterian  church. 
He  was  married  in  this  city  in  1875  to  Mary  J. 
Broadwell,  of  the  old  and  well-known  family 
of  that  name  in  Dayton.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kittredge,  as  fol- 
lows: Harry  C,  Arthur  L.,  Mary  J.  and 
Helen  L. 

Mr.  Kittredge,  while  closely  devoted  to  the 
duties  entailed  upon  him  by  a  responsible  posi- 
tion, is  interested  in  public  questions  and 
movements,  and  especially  in  the  educational 
and  religious  fields. 


/'"^V*  H.  CARR,  a  prominent  citizen  and 
*\^^T    attorney  of   Dayton,    Ohio,    was  born 

Av_#  in  central  Ohio.  He  traces  his  pa- 
ternal ancestry  back  to  Welsh  and 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  his  maternal  ances- 
try back  to  the  old  families  of  Virginia.  Mr. 
Carr  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ohio 
and  Michigan,  and  graduated  in   the  scientific 


course  in  the  National  university  in  1874.  He 
was  for  two  years  principal  of  the  German- 
town,  Ohio,  high  school,  and  in  1876  came  to 
Dayton  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Boltin  & 
Shauck  as  a  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1878.  While  reading  law  Mr.  Carr  was 
for  one  year  principal  of  the  Vandalia,  Ohio, 
schools,  teaching  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  He 
began  practicing  soon  after  his  admission  to 
the  bar,  and  soon  took  rank  with  the  leading 
and  successful  attorneys  of  Dayton.  In  his 
practice  he  has  aimed  at  that  character  of  busi- 
ness which  is  most  remunerative,  paying  little 
or  no  attention  to  criminal  cases.  He  is  now 
the  senior  member  of  the  legal  firm  of  Carr, 
Allaman  &  Kennedy,  one  of  the  strongest  in 
the  city.  Mr.  Carr  is  also  identified  with  sev- 
eral industrial  and  other  enterprises  in  the  city, 
being  a  director  in  the  Third  National  bank, 
the  Davis  Sewing  Machine  company,  the  Still- 
well-Bierce  &  Smith-Vaile  company,  the  Na- 
tional Improvement  company,  the  Cast  Steel 
Plow  company,  Dayton  Church  &  Opera  Chair 
company,  the  National  Plant  company,  and 
the  Boda  House  company. 


EARRY  E.  FEICHT,  manager  of  the 
Grand  opera  house  and  Park  theater, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this 
city  during  the  late  war,  and  is  the 
son  of  J.  Fred  and  Eliza  (Thomas)  Feicht. 
The  father  is  one  of  Dayton's  oldest  citizens, 
having  resided  here  for  over  sixty-five  years. 
He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  was  a  contractor 
and  builder  by  vocation,  and  now  lives  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  city.  His  wife  was  born  in 
this  country,  and  is  still  living. 

Harry  E.  Feicht  was  reared  in  Dayton  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  high  school  and  the 
Miami  Commercial  college,  graduating  from  the 
latter.  His  first  business  position  was  that  of 
secretary  of  the   Dayton  Transportation  com- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


279 


pany,  which  he  held  for  about  two  years.  He 
next  took  a  position  with  the  Cincinnati,  Ham- 
ilton &  Dayton  Railroad  company,  he  having 
charge  of  the  through  business.  Later  he  was 
promoted  to  be  agent  of  the  Dayton,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  railroad,  and  next  was  made 
contracting  agent  of  the  O,  H.  <K:  D.  Railroad 
company,  with  headquarters  at  Dayton.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1 89 1  to  take  the  man- 
agement of  the  Grand  opera  house  and  Park 
theater.  As  a  theatrical  manager  and  pro- 
moter of  amateur  amusements  Mr.  Feicht  has 
made  a  brilliant  reputation.  He  put  on  the 
first  "  Wild  West  "  show  produced  in  America, 
eight  years  prior  to  Buffalo  Bill's  show.  He 
was  the  originator  of  the  "charity  circus," 
which  was  produced  for  the  first  time  in  Day- 
ton, and  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most  suc- 
cessful amateur  amusement  schemes  ever  at- 
tempted. The  performances  —  two  in  num- 
ber, afternoon  and  night  —  were  given  under 
a  large  tent,  and  were  preceded  by  the  usual 
parade  of  performers,  animals,  etc.,  etc.  The 
receipts  of  the  two  performances  amounted  to 
$7,336.25.  The  circus  was  extensively  writ- 
ten up  by  the  leading  papers  and  periodicals 
of  the  country,  Harper's  Weekly  and  Frank 
Leslie's  devoting  half  a  page  each  to  the  illus- 
trations. During  Dayton's  centennial  cele- 
bration in  1896,  Mr.  Feicht  was  the  originator 
of  the  "Noise"  committee,  which  inaugurated 
the  centennial.  He  also  had  full  charge  of  the 
preparation  and  production  of  the  amateur 
play,  "  Daytonia,"  which  was  one  of  the  lar- 
gest amateur  performances,  if  not  the  largest, 
ever  held  in  an  opera  house.  The  play  ran  a 
full  week  to  crowded  houses,  and  the  receipts 
reached  the  amount  of  $6,300.  On  the  two 
charity  circuses  and  "  Daytonia  "  Mr.  Feicht 
cleared  a  total  of  nearly  $9,000,  all  of  which 
was  equally  divided  between  the  Deaconess' 
and  St.  Elizabeth's  hospitals,  Dayton  institu- 
tions.     Mr.  Feicht  was  also   the    originator  of 


the  carnival  of  mimics  parade  held  during  the 
centennial. 

Mr.  Feicht  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P. 
and  B.  P.  O.  E.  fraternities.  On  January  8, 
1894,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Noree  Leah 
Cory,  of  Fairfield,  Ind. 

Mr.  Feicht 's  characteristics  of  originality, 
inventive  and  imaginative  genius  and  abundant 
energy  have  given  him  a  unique  place  in  Day- 
ton. No  large  amateur  undertaking  in  any 
field  of  amusement  is  had  without  invoking  his 
assistance,  which  is  never  refused.  His  most 
devoted  labor  is  given  to  enterprises  whose  aim 
is  to  assist  charitable  and  benevolent  agencies. 
Mr.  Feicht  has  the  faculty  of  enlisting  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  others  in  his  original 
plans,  which  he  carries  to  success  by  his  en- 
thusiasm and  the  force  of  his  executive  ability. 


£""V  AMUEL  B.  SMITH,  president  of  the 
*^^^kT    city  council   of  Dayton,  was  born   in 

h^_y  Troy,  Ohio,  September  4,  1836,  and 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  S.  and  Jane 
(Bacon)  Smith,  the  former  a  native  of  Mary- 
land and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  Henry  Bacon,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Ohio,  was  a  leading  lawyer,  and 
a  man  of  great  prominence  in  public  affairs. 
Thomas  J.  S.  Smith  was  for  many  years  an  em- 
inent lawyer  of  Dayton,  and  died  in  1868. 
He  removed  to  Dayton  from  Troy  when  his 
son,  Samuel  B.\  was  quite  young. 

The  greater  part  of  the  life  of  Samuel  B. 
Smith  has  been  spent  in  Dayton.  He  read 
law  in  the  office  of  his  father,  and  in  i860  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
late  war  he  entered  the  Federal  service  as  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Eleventh  regiment,  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  later  was  promoted 
captain,  and  finally  major,  of  the  Ninety-third 
Ohio,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.      After  being  mustered  out  of 


I'M  I 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


service  Mr.  Smith  returned  to  Dayton,  and  in 
1866  entered  regularly  upon  the  practice  of 
the  law,  in  which  he  continued  until  he  was 
appointed  assistant  adjutant-general  of  Ohio 
on  January  12,  1880,  a  position  he  held  until 
March  2,  1881,  when  he  was  promoted  adju- 
tant-general, and  as  such  served  until  January, 
1884.  After  retiring  from  the  adjutant-gen- 
eral's office,  Gen.  Smith  removed  to  Miami 
county,  and  there  spent  a  number  of  years  en- 
gaged in  the  stone-quarry  business,  returning 
to  Dayton  in  1S92.  For  many  years  Gen. 
Smith  was  interested  in  the  construction  and 
extension  of  railroads.  He  was  at  different 
periods  president  and  vice-president  of  the 
Dayton,  Covington  &  Toledo  Railroad  com- 
pany. A  number  of  years  ago  he  represented 
his  ward  in  the  Dayton  city  council,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1895  he  was  again  elected  to 
that  body,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was 
chosen  president  of  the  same.  Mr.  Smith  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  and  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  being  a  char- 
ter member  of  the  Ohio  commandery  of  the 
latter.  On  June  13,  1871,  he  was  married  to 
Eliza  J.  Stoddard,  only  daughter  of  the  late 
Henry  Stoddard,  of  Dayton.  To  this  union 
two  sons  have  been  born — J.  McLain  Smith 
and  Fowler  Stoddard  Smith. 


^^-w'lLLIAM    J.    BLAKENEY.—  Among 
at  the  representative  business  men  and 

VjLjl      turers  of  Dayton  is  William 

J.  Blakeney,  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Crawford,  McGregor  &  Canby company, 
manufacturers  of  lasts.  Mr.  Blakeney  is  a 
native  of  Canada,  having  been  born  in  Toron- 
to, Ontario,  February  9,  1851,  in  which  city 
his  parents  were  temporarily  residing,  his  fa- 
ther at  that  time  being  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Mason,  Cook  &  Blakeney,  iron  founders,  who 
had  gone  from    Springfield,    Ohio,  to  establish 


their  business  in  Toronto.  In  1853  or  1854 
the  parents  returned  to  Springfield,  Ohio, 
where  the  James  Blakeney  Foundry  company 
was  a  well-known  establishment,  and  it  was  in 
that  city  that  William  J.  Blakeney  was  reared 
and  partially  educated,  he  attending  both  pri- 
vate and  public  schools. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  Mr.  Blakeney  left 
school  and  went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  joining 
an  uncle  in  business  in  that  city.  Subsequent- 
ly he  became  a  partner  in  the  business  and 
finally  purchased  the  interest  of  his  uncle  and 
became  sole  proprietor.  He  met  with  success, 
and,  but  for  a  strong  desire  to  be  nearer  his 
parents  and  his  old  home,  that  would  probably 
have  been  his  life  work.  Mr.  Blakeney  re- 
mained in  business  in  Rochester  until  the  fall 
of  1878,  and  then  disposing  of  his  interest  he 
returned  to  Ohio.  Locating  in  Columbus  he 
embarked  in  business,  but  a  year  later  left  that 
city  and  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  formed  a 
partnership  for  the  sale  of  church  supplies.  In 
1886  he  removed  to  Dayton  and  accepted  a 
position  with  the  company  then  doing  business 
as  Crawford,  McGregor  &  Canby.  Mr.  Blake- 
ney's  first  efforts  with  this  company  were  de- 
voted to  the  planning  and  putting  into  effect  of 
an  entirely  new  system  of  records.  He  short- 
ly after  became  the  financial  and  credit  mana- 
ger of  this  concern,  and  upon  its  incorporation, 
in  1884,  was  made  a  director  and  secretary 
and  treasurer,  which  position  he  has  since 
held.  To  Mr.  Blakeney  .is  due,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  admirable  system  which  is  found 
in  the  numerous  records  and  general  methods 
in  use  by  his  company.  The  system  of  ac- 
counting, with  its  vast  number  of  statistics  ever 
ready  at  hand  in  the  general  offices  at  Dayton, 
is  also  the  system  in  use  at  the  mills  of  the 
company  in  Michigan,  where  there  is  a  large 
interest,  and  is  original.  The  entire  business 
is  made  historical,  and  comparisons  with  for- 
mer years,  months  or  days,  are  easily  effected. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


283 


This  concern  is  one  of  the  principal  industries 
of  Dayton,  and  one  of  the  largest  of  its  line  in 
the  world,  and  Mr.  Blakeney,  as  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  same,  has  demonstrated  that 
he  is  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  adminis- 
trative talent.  He  is  progressive,  energetic 
and  enterprising,  both  as  a  business  man  and 
as  a  citizen,  and  in  both  capacities  he  takes 
rank  with  the  influential  and  representative 
men  of  Dayton,  where  he  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Present  Day  club,  in  the  meetings  of 
which  he  takes  a  deep  interest. 

Mr.  Blakeney  was  married,  in  1879,  to 
Margaret  A.,  the  daughter  of  Virginia  A.  San- 
ford,  of  Dayton.  To  this  marriage  two  chil- 
dren have    been   born — Virginia  and  Sanford. 


aOL.  JEROME  B.  THOMAS,  who  at 
present  occupies  the  distinguished  po- 
sition of  governor  of  the  central 
branch  of  the  National  Home  for  Dis- 
abled Volunteer  Soldiers,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pa.,  March  26,  1835, 
and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Lydia  A.  (Beers) 
Thomas,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  January,  1809,  and  the  latter  in  Wash- 
ington county,  N.  Y. ,  in  18 16.  These  par- 
ents, after  a  married  life  of  over  sixty  years, 
died  in  Wyoming,  Stark  county.,  111.,  in  1895, 
having  removed  there  from  the  Keystone  state 
in  1844. 

Isaac  Thomas  was  of  Welsh  extraction  and 
descended  from  a  family  who  established  a 
colony  in  New  England  in  the  early  colonial 
days.  His  early  life  was  passed  on  a  farm, 
but  his  maturer  years  were  devoted  to  mer- 
chandizing. To  his  marriage  were  born  five 
sons  and  four  daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom  is 
our  subject;  Charles  C.  and  Lewis  W.  were 
gallant  soldiers  in  the  late  Civil  war,  and   now 

reside  in   Illinois   and    Colorado,  respectively; 
p 


William  D.  is  a  resident  of  Missouri;  Allen  E. 
is  president  of  the  Ohio  Rake  company,  with 
his  home  in  Dayton,  Ohio;  Mary  W.  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  M.  Pierce,  an  ex-surgeon  of 
the  late  war  and  a  practicing  physician  of  Wy- 
oming, 111.;  Fanny  W.  is  married  to  Rev. 
W.  W.  Woolley,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  Rock  Island,  111.,  district;  Olive  E. 
resides  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Kate  A.  lives  in 
Wyoming,  111.  —  the  last  two  named  being 
unmarried. 

Col.  Jerome  B.  Thomas  is  an  educated 
physician,  having  first  studied  medicine  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  William  Chamberlain,  of  Toulon, 
111. ;  he  afterward  graduated  from  the  Jefferson 
Medical  college,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  in 
the  same  year,  1858,  entered  upon  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Wyoming,  111., 
where  success  attended  him  until,  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Civil  war,  he  was,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1862,  appointed  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  regiment,  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  in  the  army  of  the  Ohio 
and  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  throughout 
the  war.  After  the  first  year  he  was  detached 
from  his  regiment  to  serve  in  the  responsible 
position  of  surgeon  in  charge  of  government 
hospitals  in  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  and  in  Galla- 
tin, Tenn. ,  where  he  also  served  as  acting 
medical  director  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Paine; 
later,  he  was  appointed  chief  executive  officer 
of  the  Cumberland  United  States  army  general 
hospital,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  At  the  close  of 
hostilities  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Wyandotte,  Kas.,  until  the  fall 
of  1867,  when  he  was  appointed  treasurer  of 
the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Sol- 
diers, at  Dayton,  Ohio,  which  position  he 
held  until  the  death  of  Gen.  M.  R.  Patrick, 
governor,  in  July,  1888,  when  he  succeeded  to 
his  present  important  office  of  governor  of  that 
institution. 

Col.  Thomas  was  most  happily  married,  in 


284 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Illinois,  in  i860,  to  Miss  Harriet  N.  R.  Tasker, 
a  native  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  this 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children, 
viz:  Jerome  B.,  jr.,  a  physician  of  New  York- 
city;  Alice  and  Carlotta  W.,  both  at  home 
and  both  liberally  educated.  The  son  received 
his  literary  education  in  the  university  of  Mich- 
igan, from  which  famous  institution  of  learning 
he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. ;  his  pro- 
fessional education  was  acquired  at  Long 
Island  (N.  Y.)  College  hospital,  where  he  be- 
came so  proficient  that  he  is  still  retained  as  an 
instructor  therein. 

Col.  Thomas  stands  high  in  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  attained  the  thirty-second 
degree,  beyond  which  very  few  Masons  ad- 
vance; he  is  also  a  member  of  the  military 
order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  of  the  United 
States,  and  a  charter  member  of  post  No.  5, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  the  home. 
In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
add  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  this  noble  in- 
stitution. The  central  branch  national  home 
for  D.  V.  S.  was  first  located  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  March,  1867,  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  was  removed  to  the  present  location 
near  Dayton.  It  was  the  second  home  estab- 
lished under  the  provisions  of  the  revised 
statutes,  section  4830,  approved  March  21, 
1866.  Previous  to  its  becoming  a  national 
home,  it  was  operated  for  a  short  time  at 
Columbus  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  state  of 
Ohio,  as  a  state  soldiers'  home.  We  believe 
the  only  officer  now  connected  with  the  home 
who  assisted  in  the  original  organization  and 
who  was  transferred  to  Dayton  with  it,  is  Mrs. 
E.  L.  Miller,  the  matron,  who  has  spent  the 
greater  part  of  her  life  in  ministering  to  the 
wants  of  the  disabled  soldiers,  having  been 
during  the  entire  war,  1 861-5,  connected  with 
hospital  and  sanitary  commission  work. 

In  1867  the  home  grounds  comprised  3 5 5. 2 5 
acres — costing   $45,700.      In    1869,    30    acres 


were  added,  at  a  cost  of  $3,600;  in  1873, 
101.07  acres  were  added  at  a  cost  of  $19, 190; 
in  1879,  44.45  acres  were  added,  at  a  cost  of 
$8,000;  in  1880,  31.94  acres  were  added  at  a 
cost  of  $4,791;  in  1 88 1,  13.41  acres  were 
added  at  a  cost  of  $3,084. 30;  and  in  1886,  1.35 
acres  were  added,  at  a  cost  of  $1,080. 

The  citizens  of  Dayton  contributed  $20,000 
as  part  payment  for  land,  which  money  was 
applied  to  general  purposes.  The  total  cost  to 
the  United  States,  of  577-47  acres,  was  $85,- 
445.30.  The  buildings  are  valued  at  $1,339,- 
862.17.  The  average  cost  per  capita,  for 
maintenance  in  the  various  branches,  for  the 
year  ending  June  30,   1894,  was  $127.45. 

The  present  official  staff  of  the  central 
branch  is  as  follows:  Governor,  Col.  J.  B. 
Thomas;  treasurer,  Maj.  Milton  McCoy;  quar- 
termaster, Capt.  James  C.  Michie;  commissary 
of  subsistence,  Maj.  Alvin  S.  Galbreath;  assist- 
ant adjutant-general,  Maj.  Carl  Berlin;  in- 
spector, Col.  John  W.  Byron;  surgeon,  Dr.  D. 
C. Huffman;  matron,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Miller;  Prot- 
estant chaplain,  Rev.  Ezekiel  Light,  D.  D. ; 
Catholic  chaplain,  Rev.  C.  S.  Kemper,  D.  D. 

The  former  governors  of  the  central  branch 
were  as  follows:  Maj.  E.  E.  Tracy,  first  gov- 
ernor, appointed  April  12,  1867;  Gen.  Timothy 
Ingraham,  appointed  December  6,  1867;  Col. 
E.  F.  Brown,  appointed  Octobers,  1868,  now 
inspector-general  of  the  national  homes  forD. 
V.  S.;  Gen.  M.  R.  Patrick,  appointed  Septem- 
ber 23,  1880,  and  died  in  office,  in  1888;  Col. 
Jerome  B.  Thomas  now  being  in  command  as 
his  successor. 


*w    *  ERBERT    A.  CRANDALL,   business 
l^\    manager  of  the  Brownell  &  Company, 
r    and  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion of  the  city  of  Dayton,  was  born 
in  western  New  York,  July  3,  1844.      He  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Marcella  (Putnam)  Crandall, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


285 


the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  the  state 
of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  The 
Crandall  family  were  originally  from  England, 
the  first  of  the  name  to  come  to  America  reach- 
ing here  late  in  the  seventeenth  century  and 
locating  in  Rhode  Island.  One  branch  of  the 
family  went  from  Rhode  Island  into  New  York 
and  another  into  New  Jersey.  The  branch  to 
which  Herbert  A.  belongs  were  manufacturers 
and  merchants. 

The  early  years  of  Joseph  Crandall  were 
spent  in  the  woolen  manufacturing  business, 
but  later  in  life  he  embarked  in  merchandizing, 
continuing  to  reside  in  the  state  of  New  York 
all  his  life,  and  dying  in  that  state  in  1872. 
His  wife,  Marcella  Putnam,  was  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  Gen.  Putnam  of  Revolutionary 
fame.  Her  ancestors  went  from  Vermont  to 
New  York.  She  is  still  living,  and  at  this 
time,  April,  1896,  is  visiting  her  son,  Herbert, 
in  Dayton. 

Herbert  A.  Crandall  first  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  afterward  received  a  collegiate 
education.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  in  1866, 
he  left  his  home  in  the  state  of  New  York  and 
went  to  Illinois,  where  he  spent  two  years  in 
the  newspaper  business.  Returning  to  New 
York,  he  remained  in  that  state  for  about  four 
years,  part  of  the  time  being  employed  in 
teaching  school,  and  the  remainder  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits.  Locating  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
1872,  he  there  engaged  in  railroading  and  con- 
tinued thus  engaged  for  five  years,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  manufacturing. 
For  fourteen  years  he  was  with  the  Stoddard 
Manufacturing  company,  and  in  October,  1895, 
became  business  manager  of  the  Brownell  & 
Co.,  and  a  stockholder  and  director  of  that 
corporation. 

Mr.  Crandall  was  appointed  to  the  board  of 
education  in  October,  1895,  to  fill  a  vacancy, 
and  was  elected  to  the  same  place  in  1896. 
He  is  a  member  of  the   Present  Day  club  and 


I  of  the  Garfield  club,  the  latter  an  association 
of  republicans.  He  was  married,  in  1869,  to 
Miss  Alice  J.  Phillips,  of  New  York.  To  their 
marriage  there  have  been  born  two  daughters, 
Ella  and  Jessie.  Mr.  Crandall  is  interested 
with  several  other  gentlemen  in  growing  coffee 
in  Mexico,  they  together  owning  a  plantation 
of  about  100,000  trees,  which  began  bearing  in 
the  season  of  1896.  Mr.  Crandall  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Third,  formerly  the 
Park,  Presbyterian  church,  and  stand  high  not 
only  in  religious  but  also  in  social  circles. 

Mr.  Crandall  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  progressive  and  thoroughly  qualified  mem- 
bers of  the  board  of  education.  His  services 
on  behalf  of  the  Dayton  schools  have  been  la- 
borious and  fruitful  of  good  results,  and  their 
value  is  appreciated  by  all  citizens  concerned 
in  the  advancement  of  the  educational  inter- 
ests of  the  community. 


>-V  OHN  S.  BECK,  M.  D. ,  one  of  the  promi- 

fl  nent  physicians  of  Dayton,  was  born 
/•  1  May  19,  1842,  on  a  farm  three  miles 
west  of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  of  German, 
parentage.  His  father,  Jacob  Beck,  was  but 
eighteen  months  old  when  he  was  brought  to 
this  country  by  his  parents.  He  was  born  in 
1804,  and  is  still  living,  at  the  great  age  of 
ninety-three.  In  his  early  life  he  was  a  black- 
smith, and  served  two  terms  as  treasurer  of 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio.  After  retiring  from 
this  position  he  engaged  in  farming  three  miles 
west  of  Lancaster,  where  he  has  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life,  and  where  he  has  become  the  owner 
of  700  acres  of  land  in  one  body.  He  has  al- 
ways been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  honest 
and  capable  men  of  his  county,  and  has  been 
called  on  to  act  as  administrator  in  the  settle- 
ment of  many  estates. 

Jacob  Beck   married  Miss  Susan  Kerns,   a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Kerns,  an  old  settler  of  the 


286 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


county,  and  to  this  marriage  there  were  born 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Zebulon  Peters,  who  lives  two  miles  west  of 
Lancaster;  George  W. ,  farmer,  living  three 
miles  west  of  Lancaster;  Jacob  K.,  a  farmer, 
living  three  miles  west  of  Lancaster;  Henry  S., 
president  of  Pierce  National  bank,  of  Pierce, 
Neb. ;  Joseph,  a  Lutheran  minister  of  Rich- 
mond, Ind. ;  John  S. ;  and  Clara,  deceased  wife 
of  William  Huges,  who  lives  three  miles  west 
of  Lancaster,  Ohio. 

John  S.  Beck,  M.  D.,  worked  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  the  summer  time  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  and  parts  of  the  fall  and 
spring  seasons,  attending  school  in  the  winter 
months.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  his  father 
sent  him,  with  his  brother,  Joseph,  now  Rev. 
Joseph  Beck,  of  Richmond,  Ind.,  to  the  Cap- 
ital university  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
became  a  member  of  the  freshman  class.  Re- 
maining in  the  university  in  regular  attendance 
in  his  classes,  he  was  in  the  senior  class  in 
1862,  when  the  war  fever  so  took  possession 
of  him  that  he  left  school,  returned  to  his  fa- 
ther's home  at  Lancaster,  and  there,  on  the 
20th  of  August,  enlisted  in  company  D,  Nine- 
tieth Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  then  being  or- 
ganized at  Circleville,  Ohio.  This  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  in  this  department  of  the  service  it  re- 
mained throughout  the  war,  participating  in  all 
the  battles  that  were  fought  by  that  organiza- 
tion from  August,  1862,  to  June,  1S65,  from 
Louisville,  Ky. ,  to  Atlanta,  Ga.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  13,  1S65, 
having  in  the  meantime  been  promoted  to  the 
position  of  first  lieutenant. 

Returning  to  peaceful  pursuits,  he  studied 
medicine,  beginning  in  August,  1S65,  and 
graduating  from  the  medical  department  of 
the  university  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  spring  of 
1868,  and  locating  in  Miamisburg,  Montgom- 
ery county,  in  the  spring  of  1869.      Not  being 


satisfied  with  his  location  in  Miamisburg,  he 
removed  to  Dayton  in  December,  1870,  and 
has  now  practiced  his  profession  there  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  his  office 
during  all  that  period  being  on  Fifth  street, 
somewhere  between  Jefferson  and  Ludlow 
streets.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  United  States  pension  sur- 
geons, serving  through  President  Cleveland's 
first  term  by  the  endorsement  and  courtesy  of 
the  influential  democrats  of  the  county.  He 
has  served  a  term  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
health,  has  twice  been  chosen  physician  to  the 
county  jail,  is  a  member  of  the  county  Medi- 
cal society,  and  has  been  twice  elected  to  the 
presidency  of  that  body.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  state  Medical  association,  of  the 
Mississippi  valley  Medical  society,  and  was  a 
delegate  from  Montgomery  county  to  the  ninth 
international  medical  convention,  which  met 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1887.  For  five  years 
he  served  as  visiting  physician  to  Saint  Eliza- 
beth hospital,  but  resigned  this  position  on  ac- 
count of  his  own  very  large  private  practice. 
After  this  he  was  given  a  position  on  the  consult- 
ing staff.  Dr.  Beck  was  one  of  the  building  com- 
mittee in  the  erection  of  the  Deaconess  hos- 
pital of  Dayton,  and  has  put  forth  every  energy 
in  forwarding  the  success  of  the  institution, 
which  is  one  of  the  great  benevolences  of  the 
city  in  which  the  entire  community  takes  pride. 
To  Dr.  Beck  much  credit  is  due  for  its  being 
now  in  existence.  He  is  at  present  the  chief 
of  staff  of  this  hospital,  and  is  also  supreme 
medical  director  of  the  supreme  council  of  the 
Fraternal  Censer  of  Dayton. 

Dr.  Beck  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Work,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Webb) 
Work,  of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  she  being  of  Eng- 
lish and  Irish  descent.  Dr.  Beck  and  his  wife 
are  the  parents  of  two  daughters,  Clara  Lusetta 
and  Mary.  His  family  is  one  among  the  best 
in  Dayton,  its  members  moving  in   the  refined 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


287 


and  cultivated  circles  of  society.  They  are 
highly  esteemed  and  respected  for  their  per- 
sonal and  social  qualities,  and  have  many  warm 
friends  among  all  classes  of  people. 


at 


TLLARD  D.  CHAMBERLIN,  vice- 
president  of  the  Beaver  Soap  com- 
pany, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  at 
Ketchumville,  Tioga  county,  N.  Y., 
August  13,  1S5S.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Car- 
oline (Swan)  Chamberlin,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  1827,  and  lived  at  Vestal  Center, 
Broome  county,  N.  Y. ,  for  some  thirty  years. 
He  was  an  academic  scholar,  and  taught  school 
for  twenty-one  terms,  two  or  three  years  of 
which  time  was  in  the  Titus  district  at  Middle- 
town,  Ohio,  after  which  he  returned  to  the 
east.  He  was  otherwise  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  in  politics  a  prominent  republican, 
especially  in  local  affairs.  He  was  asked  to 
become  a  candidate  for  the  general  assembly 
of  the  state,  but  declined.  For  some  thirty 
years  he  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church, 
and  died  in  1892. 

The  family,  as  the  name  may  indicate,  is  of 
English  origin,  and  is,  beside,  one  of  the  oldest 
in  this  country,  the  great-great-grandfather, 
William  Chamberlin,  coming  from  England 
previous  to  and  being  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  The  mother  of  Willard  D.  is 
now  living  in  Waverly,  Iowa,  with  a  daughter. 
She  and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of  four 
children,  as  follows:  YVillard  D. ,  AlmaM., 
wife  of  Dr.  Osment,  of  Waverly,  Iowa;  Samuel 
S.,  a  manufacturer  of  table  slides,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio;  and  Carrie  L.,  the  latter  dying  in  early 
childhood. 

Willard  D.  Chamberlin  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and 
afterward  attended  the  high  schools  of  Bing- 
hamton,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  received  a  liberal 
education,    being   also  assisted  by  his  father, 


who  was  not  only  well  educated  himself,  but 
strongly  believed  in  educating  the  young.  After 
his  school  days  were  over  he  removed  west  in 
1877,  and  located  in  Dayton,  taking  a  clerk- 
ship in  the  office  of  the  Great  Western  Dis- 
patch, where  he  remained  until  1881,  when 
he  accepted  a  position  as  traveling  salesman  for 
Thresher  &  Co.  This  position  he  retained  until 
1 885,  when  he  became  associated  with  Mr.  Beav- 
er in  the  manufacture  of  soap,  the  name  adopted 
by  the  company  being  Beaver  &  Co.  Mr. 
Chamberlin  took  charge  of  the  office  business 
and  also  acted  as  traveling  salesman.  In  1893 
this  firm  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
the  Beaver  Soap  company,  and  Mr.  Chamber- 
lin became  the  vice-president  of  the  company, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  He  has  shown 
himself  to  be  one  of  the  most  progressive 
young  business  men  of  Dayton,  and  in  politics 
is  a  stanch  republican,  though  never  a  seeker 
after  office. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  was  married  September  5, 
1 888,  to  Miss  Mary  Hinkley  Sumner,  daughter 
of  Dr.  E.  G.  Sumner,  of  Mansfield  Center, 
Tolland  county,  Conn.,  and  to  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  two  children,  viz:  Mary 
Louise,  born  September  14,  1889,  and  Edwin 
Sumner,  born  November  1,  1894.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Chamberlin  are  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Dayton,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  1829,  and  he  is  one  of  its  deacons.  Mr. 
Chamberlin's  residence  is  at  No.  110  Central 
avenue,  Dayton,  where  he  and  his  family  are 
surrounded  by  a  great  number  of  friends,  all 
of  whom  entertain  for  them  the  highest  regard. 


H  LINCOLN  BOWERSOX,  art  pho- 
tographer, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  with  his 
studio  in  the  Canby  building,  was 
born  in  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  March 
28,  1 86 1.      He  is  a   son   of   Isaac   and    Mary 


288 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Anna  (Yeisley)  Bowersox,  both  of  whom  were 
of  German  descent.  His  great-grandfather, 
George  Adam  Bowersox,  came  from  Saxony 
to  this  country,  locating  in  Snyder  county,  Pa., 
where  the  family  has  since  lived,  following  ag- 
riculture in  the  main,  although  some  of  them 
have  adopted  the  learned  professions,  as  the 
ministry,  school-teaching  and  the  law.  Isaac 
and  Mary  A.  Bowersox  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follows  :  Sabilla,  wife  of 
William  Knapp,  of  Centerville,  Snyder  county, 
Pa. ;  Serenus,  a  merchant  of  Centerville  ;  A. 
Lincoln,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  Jennie, 
wife  of  Kiefer  Trautman,  of  Mifflinburg,  Union 
county,  Pa. ;  Henrietta,  wife  of  James  Spang- 
ler,  a  teacher,  of  New  Berlin,  Pa. ;  Emma 
Charilla,  wife  of  John  Bolig,  of  Shamokin,  Pa., 
and  Clara  Verdilla,  wife  of  G.  Edward  Mohn, 
telegraph  operator  at  Muncy  Valley,  Pa. 

A.  Lincoln  Bowersox  was  reared  to  farm 
life  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  attended  the  public  schools. 
At  fifteen  he  entered  the  boarding  school  at 
Selin's  Grove,  Pa.,  remained  there  one  year, 
and  then  attended  high  school  one  year  at  Cen- 
terville. When  seventeen  years  old  he  came 
to  Ohio,  locating  at  Fremont,  and  there  learned 
photography.  After  thus  spending  some  eight- 
een months,  he  visited  various  cities  in  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania,  as  well  as  in  the  eastern 
states.  He  then  spent  some  time  in  Europe, 
gaining  knowledge  pertaining  to  his  profession, 
and  in  1884  located  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  opening 
a  studio  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Second 
streets,  where  he  remained  until  1S94,  when 
he  removed  to  his  present  location.  His  studio 
occupies  the  entire  sixth  floor  of  the  Canby 
building,  and  is  one  of  the  most  complete  any- 
where to  be  found. 

Mr.  Bowersox  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Ohio  Fruit  Land  company,  located  in  Ft. 
Valley,  Ga.,  the  farm  containing  1,850  acres 
and  being  the  largest  orchard  in  the  country  at 


the  time  the  company  was  formed.  He  is  also 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Dayton  Canning 
and  Packing  company,  having  been  one  of  the 
organizers  of  this  concern.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Dayton  Building  and  Loan  association. 
In  1894  Mr.  Bowersox  served  as  secretary  of 
the  Photographers'  association  of  Ohio,  in 
1895  was  its  president,  and  is  at  present  sec- 
retary of  the  Photographers'  association  of 
America.  He  is  in  possession  of  medals  earned 
in  competing  with  others  in  photography,  one 
given  in  Germany  in  1894,  also  one  in  1896, 
and  had  medals  awarded  him  at  the  semi-cen- 
tennial of  photography  held  in  Boston  in  1889. 
He  also  has  a  prize  medal  won  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  1894,  and  another  awarded  at  Saint 
Louis,  Mo.,  by  the  National  association.  He 
is  recognized  as  among  the  leading  artists  of 
America,  his  work  being  reproduced  in  journals 
and  periodicals  throughout  the  United  States 
and  Europe,  as  specimens  of  master-pieces  in 
the  photographic  art. 

Since  1884  Mr.  Bowersox  has  given  much 
attention  to  music,  both  vocal  and  instrumen- 
tal. He  is  a  member  of  the  Philharmonic 
society,  and  as  such  attended  the  world's  fair 
at  Chicago  in  1893.  Fraternally  he  is  a  past 
chancellor  of  Iola  lodge  No.  83,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arca- 
num, of  which  he  has  lately  been  honored  with 
the  collectorship.  He  has  served  in  the  Fourth 
regiment,  O.  N.  G.,  Hamilton  light  artillery. 
He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  maintains  him- 
self in  good  standing  in  all  the  societies  and 
organizations  to  which  he  belongs. 

Mr.  Bowersox  was  married  April  19,  1893, 
to  Miss  Lizzie  Gazell  Stern,  daughter  of  Sum- 
ner S.  Stern,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church, 
of  Dayton.  For  a  period  of  two  years  he  was 
president  of  the  Berean  bible  class,  and  has 
served  as  superintendent  of  the  Browntown 
Sunday-school,  and  also  of  a  Sunday-school  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


289 


North  Dayton.  In  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
association  he  is  a  most  active  worker,  being 
on  the  committee  of  the  junior  department. 


Km    *  ORACE  A.    IRVIN,   secretary  of  the 

|f\    Lowe    Bros,    company,    of     Dayton, 

F    Ohio,  was  born  in   Morrow,  Warren 

county,  February  17,  1855,  and  is  a 

son  ofjames  B.  and  Ellen  (Monfort)  Irvin. 

Andrew  Irvin,  grandfather  of  Horace  A., 
came  from  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  settled 
in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married 
a  lady  of  German  descent,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  thirteen  children.  By  calling  he 
was  in  his  early  years  a  farmer,  but  in  later 
life  established  an  inn,  or  hotel,  in  which 
enterprise  he  prospered.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  did  good  and  faithful  serv- 
ice, and  eventually  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Ross  county,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-nine  years,  his  wife  living  to  be 
over  ninety  years  old. 

James  B.  Irvin,  father  of  Horace  A.,  was 
born  in  Kingston,  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  April, 
1827,  and  there  grew  to  manhood;  but,  as  his 
earlier  years  were  passed  in  hard  toil  on  the 
home  farm,  his  education  was  somewhat  neg- 
lected until  after  he  had  reached  his  majority, 
when  he  attended  subscription  schools  and 
academies,  and  qualified  himself  for  school- 
teaching,  having  earned  the  requisite  means 
for  the  payment  of  his  instruction  fees  through 
his  daily  labor.  He  began  to  follow  this  pro- 
fession at  Morrow,  Ohio,  and  taught  also  at 
other  points  in  the  state  until  1856,  when  he 
came  to  Dayton,  and  for  six  years  was  princi- 
pal of  one  of  the  city  schools.  He  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Winthrop  B.  Smith  & 
Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  as  general  agent  for  the 
sale  of  their  school  books  in  Ohio,  and  with 
this  firm  he  remained,  throughout  its  various 
changes,  until    his    death,    which  occurred  in 


February,  1885.  Mr.  Irvin  had  filled  during 
his  very  useful  life  the  office  of  county  school- 
examiner  of  applicants  for  the  position  of 
school-teacher,  having  been  appointed,  year 
after  year,  by  both  the  republican  and  dem- 
ocratic county  officials.  He  was  a  knight 
templar  in  the  Masonic  order,  was  a  member 
of  Saint  John's  lodge  (third  degree),  and  also 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  His  wife,  Ellen 
(Monfort)  Irvin,  died  in  1875,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years,  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  B.  Irvin 
were  born  four  children,  viz:  Julia,  wife  of 
William  T.  Wuichet,  of  Dayton;  Horace  A.; 
Obed  W.,  probate  judge  of  Montgomery,  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  James  M.,  traveling  salesman  for 
the  Lowe  Bros,  company. 

Horace  A.  Irvin  graduated  from  the  Day- 
ton high  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
and  entered  Miami  university,  at  Oxford,  Ohio, 
with  the  sophomore  class;  he  then  taught 
school  for  a  short  time,  and  in  the  fall  of  1873 
went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed  as 
bookkeeper  for  Charles  A.  Gump  &  Co. ;  in 
the  spring  of  1874  he  returned  to  Dayton  and 
entered  the  service  of  Lowe  Bros,  as  assistant 
bookkeeper,  passed  through  various  stages  of 
employment  as  general  bookkeeper,  traveling 
salesman,  special  partner,  and,  December  15, 
1887,  became  a  general  partner,  attending  to 
the  correspondence  of  the  firm,  its  advertising, 
etc.  On  the  incorporation  of  the  company,  in 
1893,  he  was  elected  and  has  ever  since  been 
its  secretary.  In  1896  he  was  appointed  by 
Gov.  Bushnell  as  a  trustee  of  Miami  university. 

In  his  fraternal  relations,  Mr.  Irvin,  in 
1878,  was  made  a  member  of  Mystic  lodge 
No.  405,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Unity  chapter  No.  16, 
Reese  council  No.  9,  and  in  January,  1879,  he 
became  a  member  of  Reedcommandery,  K.  T., 
No.  6;  the  same  year  he  took  all  the  Scottish 
rite  degrees  at  Cincinnati,  and  is  a  charter 
member  of  all  Scottish  rite  bodies  in  Dayton. 


290 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  is  now  thrice  potent  grand  master  of  Ga- 
briel lodge  of  Perfection,  and  at  Buffalo,  N. 
Y. ,  in  September,  1895,  was  elected  inspector- 
general,  thirty-third  degree  (the  highest),  by 
the  supreme  council  of  northern  jurisdiction. 
Mr.  Irvin  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
marriage  having  taken  place,  in  1878,  to  Miss 
Ella  K.  Jewell,  who  died  in  April,  1880,  the 
mother  of  one  child — Ella  Marian.  His  sec- 
ond marriage,  which  occurred  in  1883,  was 
with  Miss  Carrie  K.  Kneisley,  and  this  union 
also  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child 
—  Martha  Monfort.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irvin  are 
members  of  the  Third  street  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  have 
their  home  at  No  213  North  boulevard. 


a 


HARLES  EDWARD  PEASE,  presi- 
dent of  the  Buckeye  Iron  and  Brass 
works,  of  Dayton,  was  born  at  Car- 
rollton,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
on  August  20,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  the  late 
Horace  and  Sarah  L.  (Belville)  Pease.  Horace 
Pease  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1 79 1 ,  and 
came  to  Ohio  in  1S16,  locating  first  at  Cincin- 
nati. In  1823  he  came  to  Montgomery  county, 
locating  on  Hole's  creek,  where  he  established 
a  fruit  distillery,  making  peach  and  apple 
brandy.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Carroll- 
ton,  where  he  carried  on  the  distillery  and 
milling  business  for  a  number  of  years,  and  in 
1838  he  came  to  Dayton.  Upon  locating  in 
the  city  he  built  the  Pease  mill  on  the  corner 
of  Third  and  Canal  streets,  which  is  now 
owned  by  Joseph  R.  Gebhart,  and  for  about 
thirty  years  the  firm  of  H.  &  P.  Pease,  of  which 
he  was  the  head,  conducted  the  largest  distillery 
and  milling  business  in  Ohio.  He  was  one  of 
the  prominent  business  men  of  Dayton  during 
his  time,  and  was  connected  with  a  number  of 
enterprises,  among   them    being  the  old   State 


bank,  of  which  he  was  a  director  from  the 
time  of  its  organization  until  it  was  merged  in- 
to the  Dayton  National  bank,  and  of  the  latter 
he  was  a  director  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
Horace  Pease  took  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs,  both  of  the  county  and  state,  and  rep- 
resented Montgomery  county  in  the  Ohio  legis- 
lature for  a  term  of  years.  He  also  served  on 
the  board  of  county  commissioners,  and  was  a 
member  of  that  board  when  the  old  stone  court 
house  was  erected,  the  designs  for  which  he 
made,  and  in  the  building  of  which  he  took  a 
deep  interest.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Old 
School  Presbyterian  church.  He  retired  from 
active  business  in  about  1854,  and  died  at  his 
residence  in  this  city  in  1875.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  at  St.  George's,  Del.,  in  18 10,  was 
the  daughter  of  a  Presbyterian  minister.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1862.  Six  children  were 
born  to  the  parents  as  follows:  Walter  B. 
Pease,  deceased,  who  served  during  the  Civil 
war  and  was  a  captain  in  the  regular  army; 
Charles  Edward;  Frank,  who  died  young;  Jo- 
sephine, who  married  James  Stockstill,  of  Day- 
ton; Nannie,  who  married  Horace  Phillips,  of 
Dayton,  and  Hattie,  deceased,  who  married 
Charles  B.  Clegg,  of  Dayton. 

Charles  E.  Pease  grew  up  in  Dayton,  his 
parents  having  removed  here  when  he  was  but 
two  years  of  age.  His  boyhood  days  were 
spent  in  a  manner  common  to  youths  of  his 
time  and  station  of  life.  He  attended  the 
private  schools  of  the  late  E.  E.  Barney  and 
was  also  a  pupil  of  the  Second  district  public 
school,  when  that  school  was  taught  by 
Thomas  Hood,  and  of  the  high  school  when 
James  Campbell  was  principal  and  John  W. 
Hall,  assistant  principal.  During  the  years 
1S55  and  1856  he  attended  the  university  of 
Wisconsin  at  Madison,  leaving  college,  how- 
ever, in  his  senior  year.  During  the  years 
1853-54  and  part  of  1855,  young  Pease  worked 
in  the   machine   shops  at  the   trade   of  a  ma- 


<X-^C-> 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


293 


chinist,  leaving  the  shopsfor  college.  In  1857 
he  made  his  first  venture  in  a  business  way  by 
engaging  in  milling  at  Fulton,  on  Rock  river, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  continued  with  varying 
success  for  two  years,  coming  thence  to  Day- 
ton to  pursue  a  similar  business.  In  1861  he 
entered  the  firm  of  W.  B.  Pease  &  Co.  (of 
which  the  Buckeye  Iron  and  Brass  works  are 
the  successors),  and  took  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness of  that  firm  when  his  brother,  Wal- 
ter B.,  reported  with  his  company  to  Co- 
lumbus at  the  beginning  of  the  late  Civil 
war.  The  following  year,  however,  he  him- 
self entered  the  service  of  his  country  and 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  quartermaster  de- 
partment at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  under  Capt. 
Charles  T.  Wing,  with  whom  he  remained  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war.  In  1865  Mr.  Pease 
located  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  grocery  business,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  three  years.  In  1868  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  as  gauger  in  the  United 
States  revenue  department,  with  headquarters 
at  Cincinnati.  He  remained  in  the  govern- 
ment service  for  about  two  years,  and  in  1870, 
returned  to  Dayton  and  purchased  the  interest 
of  S.  D.  Graffiin  in  the  firm  of  Hoglen  & 
Grafflin,  the  firm  becoming  Hoglen  &  Pease, 
builders  of  machinery,  especially  of  tobacco  ma- 
chinery. In  June,  1876,  Mr.  Pease  purchased 
the  business  interests  of  his  partner  and  organ- 
ized the  Buckeye  Iron  and  Brass  works,  which 
company  was  incorporated  with  himself  as 
president.  The  other  officers  of  the  company 
at  the  present  time  are  Edward  G.  Pease,  vice- 
president,  and  William  B.  Anderson,  secre- 
tary. The  business  operations  of  the  com- 
pany are  in  the  line  of  the  manufacture  of 
brass  goods  for  engine  builders  and  steam  fit- 
ters, tobacco  cutting  machinery  and  linseed  oil 
and  cotton  seed  oil  machinery,  all  of  which 
are  manufactured  under  patents  controlled  by 
the  company.      The  Buckeye  Iron  and  Brass 


works  rank  among  the  largest  and  most  pros- 
perous industries  of  Dayton,  and  of  the  enter- 
prise Mr.  Pease  has  become  an  important  com- 
ponent part.  Under  his  skillful  management 
and  guiding  hand,  the  works  have  grown  and 
expanded  from  year  to  year  from  a  small  and 
unpretentious  machine  shop  into  one  of  the  lar- 
gest and  most  successful  manufacturing  plants 
in  a  city  noted  for  its  manufacturing  and 
industrial  interests.  Mr.  Pease  is  also  a  di- 
rector and  stockholder  in  the  Dayton  Natural 
Gas  company,  and  has  other  business  interests 
of  importance. 

Mr.  Pease  was  married  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
on  October  3,  1855,  to  Laura  G.,  daughter  of 
John  Erwin,  one  of  the  pioneer  citizens  of  the 
Forest  city,  and  to  this  union  two  sons  have 
been  born — Calvin  E.  and  Edward  G.  . 

In  1882  Mr.  Pease  was  elected  to  the  city 
council  of  Dayton,  and  was  again  elected  to 
that  body  in  1896.  Mr.  Pease  is  a  Mason  and 
is  quite  prominent  in  Masonic  circles.  He  is  a 
Master  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar,  a  Scottish 
Rite  and  a  Mystic  Shriner. 

The  life  of  Mr.  Pease  has  been  an  active 
one,  and  merited  success  has  crowned  his 
efforts.  Early  in  life  he  manifested  those 
traits  of  character  which  have  colored  his 
whole  career — perseverance,  sagacity,  foresight 
and  pluck — and  he  has  steadily  progressed 
along  those  lines  of  business  which  have  not 
only  brought  to  him  success,  but  have  also 
aided  materially  in  advancing  the  interests  of 
the  community.  His  concern  in  the  welfare, 
growth  and  prosperity  of  Dayton,  his  generous 
contributions  of  both  time  and  money  in  be- 
half of  all  movements  looking  toward  the  ben- 
efit of  the  city,  have  placed  him  in  the  front 
rank  of  her  representative  and  progressive  cit- 
izens, while  his  liberal  views,  broad  minded- 
ness,  genial  personality  and  sterling  character- 
istics have  won  for  him  a  wide  circle  of  warm 
and  admiring  friends. 


294 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


SEV.  JAMES  ROWLAND  HUGHES, 
the  venerable  pastor  of  the  Memorial 
Presbyterian  church  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
is  a  native  of  Darlington,  Beaver 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  born  March  17,  18 19. 
His  father,  Rev.  Thomas  Edgar  Hughes,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pa.,  April  7, 
1769,  and  on  May  2,  1799,  married  Mary 
Donahey,  also  a  native  of  that  county,  born 
August  22,  1770,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
The  Hughes  family  was  probably  established 
in  America  by  William  Hughes,  who  was  born 
in  Wales  in  1728,  was  an  early  settler  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  died  at  the  patriarchal  age  of 
100  years.  His  son,  Rowland,  grandfather  of 
Rev.  James  R.,  was  a  tanner  by  occupation, 
and  passed  nearly  his  whole  life  in  York  coun- 
ty, Pa.  The  children  born  to  Rev.  Thomas 
E.  Hughes  and  wife  were  ten  in  number,  of 
whom  a  brief  mention  is  made  as  follows: 
John  D. ,  the  eldest,  born  July  27,  1S00,  was 
a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  north- 
ern Ohio,  where  he  passed  his  life  and  died 
March  3,  1870;  William,  born  May  28,  1802, 
was  also  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  died 
July  1,  1880;  Watson,  born  September  7, 
1804,  was  likewise  reared  to  the  ministry  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  died  March  25, 
1870;  Anne,  born  October  8,  1806,  became 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  A.  McLean,  a  Presby- 
terian minister,  and  died  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
leaving  a  large  family;  Eliza  was  born  Septem- 
ber 16,  1 80S,  was  married  to  William  McKee, 
a  merchant,  and  died  at  mature  years  in  Mount 
Pleasant,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio;  Joseph,  born 
August  16,  1 8 10,  was  called  away  at  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  years;  Mary  Barr,  born  August 
13,  1812,  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Wells, 
and  at  her  death  left  several  children;  Robert 
Smiley,  born  December  29,  18 14,  was  a  farm- 
er of  Iowa,  in  which  state  he  died,  after  mid- 
dle life;  Thomas,  born  July  14,  1816,  also  a 
farmer,  died  in  Fairfield,  Iowa,  June  28,  1879; 


Rev.  James  R.,  the  youngest,  it  will  be  per- 
ceived, being  the  only  survivor  of  this  large 
family.  The  father  of  these  children  was  called 
to  his  final  rest  May  2,  1838,  his  widow  sur- 
viving him  until  February  23,   1852. 

Rev.  James  Rowland  Hughes  received  his 
elementary  education  in  his  native  town  of 
Darlington,  and  later  became  a  student  in  Wash- 
ington (now  Washington  and  Jefferson)  col- 
lege, at  Washington,  Pa. ,  where  he  attended 
a  full  course  in  the  classics.  Having  in  the 
beginning  determined  to  make  the  ministry  his 
life  work,  he  immediately  after  his  graduation 
entered  Western  Theological  seminary,  at  Al- 
legheny City,  Pa.,  completing  the  course  in 
1848,  when  he  began  his  career  as  a  minister 
of  the  gospel.  The  first  eighteen  months  of 
his  ministerial  life  he  served  as  a  representative 
of  the  Presbyterian  board  of  education,  and 
traveled  in  central  and  western  Pennsylvania  in 
the  interest  of  the  board;  in  1850  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  Rehobeth  church  near 
Belle  Vernon,  Pa. ,  of  which  he  had  charge  for 
fully  fifteen  years.  Toward  the  end  of  his  pas- 
torate he  became  principal,  in  1864,  of  a  young 
ladies'  seminary  at  Blairsville,  Pa.,  where  he 
taught  the  senior  class,  in  conjunction  with  his 
ministerial  duties,  for  nearly  three  years,  when 
he  was  reluctantly  compelled  to  sever  his  rela- 
tions with  the  seminary  by  reason  of  the  pro- 
tracted illness  and  death  of  his  wife.  In  1869 
Mr.  Hughes  came  to  Ohio,  and  was  in  the 
same  year  installed  pastor  of  the  East  Presby- 
terian church  of  Dayton.  The  name  of  this 
church  has  since  been  changed  to  the  Me- 
morial, of  which  he  is  still  the  pastor;  and  that 
he  has  been  a  vigorous,  capable  and  efficient 
pastor  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  during  this 
long  period  he  has  not  lost  more  than  seven 
weeks  of  service,  through  sickness  or  any  other 
bodily  or  mental  disability. 

The  marriage  of  Rev.  James  Rowland 
Hughes  took  place  October  16,    1851,   to  Miss 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


295 


Ann  Caroline  Stewart,  a  native  of  Huntingdon 
county,  Pa.,  born  March  8,  1828,  and  whose 
death  occurred  at  Blairsville,  Pa.,  May  16, 
1869.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hughes  are  Mary  Wilson,  who  married  James 
Caldwell,  and  now  resides  in  Urbana,  Ohio; 
Catherine  Walker,  who  died  in  infancy;  Eliza- 
beth Walker,  who  is  now  the  companion  of  her 
father;  Sarah  Stewart,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  J.  McKee,  of  Dayton;  Fannie  Speer, 
born  April  6,  1S63,  and  who  died  July  5,  1866; 
and  James  Rowland,  who  married  Miss  Eva  Ke- 
naga,of  Urbana,  where  he  now  resides.  These 
children  were  all  born  in  the  parsonage  of  the 
Rehobeth  church,  near  Belle  Vernon,  Pa. 

Rev.  Thomas  E.  Hughes,  father  of  James 
R.,  was  the  founder  of  Greersburg  academy, 
one  of  the  earliest  educational  institutions  of 
western  Pennsylvania.  In  this  academy  some 
afterward  very  distinguished  men  received  their 
early  training,  and  among  these  may  be  noted 
the  names  of  Rev.  Robert  Dilworih,  D.  D., 
the  eminent  minister  and  reformer;  Gen.  John 
W.  Geary,  ex-governor  of  Pennsylvania  and 
renowned  as  a  Union  soldier;  William  H.  Mc- 
Guffey,  D.  D.,  of  school-book  fame,  and  one 
of  Ohio's  most  successful  educators,  and  also 
John  Brown  (Ossawatomie),  the  anti-slavery 
agitator,  of  Harper's  Ferry  fame,  who  was  a 
recognized  member  of  the  Hughes  family  for 
several  years. 

The  long  residence  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Hughes 
in  Dayton  has  made  his  name  a  household 
word,  and  he  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the 
religious  and  educational  interests  of  the  city. 
In  politics  he  was  formerly  a  whig,  as  was  his 
father,  but  since  the  organization  of  the  repub- 
lican party  he  has  sustained  it  with  unabated 
zeal.  He  is  also  a  strong  and  earnest  advocate 
of  prohibition  as  the  principal  auxiliary  of  tem- 
perance, and  has  devoted  all  his  long  life  to  the 
promotion  of  morality  by  every  means  within 
his  power. 


<*/^\  ANIEL  W.  ALLAMAN,  practicing 
I  attorney  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
/^^_J  in  Butler  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio, August  5,  1861.  Heisa 
sonof  David  and  Catherine  (Zimmerman)  Alla- 
man,  who  removed  from  Franklin  county,  Pa., 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  the  early  'for- 
ties. They  settled  in  the  vicinity  in  which 
Daniel  was  born,  where  his  mother  died  in 
January,  1863,  when  he  was  eighteen  months 
old,  and  the  father  resided  there  until  Decem- 
ber, 1889,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five.  David  Allaman  was  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, held  many  of  the  minor  township  offices, 
and  was  one  of  the  oldest  Masons  in  Mont- 
gomery county. 

After  his  mother's  death  Daniel  W.  Alla- 
man was  taken  into  the  home  of  an  uncle  who 
lived  on  a  farm  near  Brookville,  Montgomery 
county.  He  received  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  afterward  attended 
the  National  normal  school  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
and  still  later  the  college  at  Oberlin,  in  the 
meantime  teaching  schools  a  number  of  terms, 
and  being  principal  of  the  schools  at  Johns- 
ville,  and  at  Trotwood,  Ohio.  In  1886  he  be- 
gan reading  law  in  the  office  of  S.  H.  Carr, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  March,  1888, 
since  which  time  he  has  practiced  law  with 
Mr.  Carr,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  he  was  in  partnership  with  F.  M. 
Compton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Compton 
&  Allaman.  In  1892  he  formed  his  present 
partnership  with  Mr.  Carr  and  Mr.  Kennedy, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Carr,  Allaman  &. 
Kennedy. 

Mr.  Allaman  has  always  been  a  republican 
in  politics,  and  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of 
the  Garfield  club,  in  which  he  served  as  a 
director  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1891  he 
was  elected  as  a  representative  in  the  legisla- 
ture X)i  Ohio,  being  the  first  republican  mem- 
ber of  that  body  from   Montgomery  county  in 


296 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


fifteen  years,  with  one  exception.  In  this 
office  he  served  two  years,  was  secretary  of 
the  committee  on  finance,  and  also  served  on 
the  committee  on  public  works. 

Mr.  Allaman  is  a  Mason  and  still  a  member 
of  the  Garfield  club.  He  was  married,  in  1885, 
to  Miss  Iva  Cupp,  a  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Kate  H.  Cupp,  the  former  of  whom  is  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allaman  have  two  chil- 
dren, Mary  Katherine,  aged  eleven  years,  and 
Mildred  Louise,  aged  three  vears. 


OSCAR  M.  GOTTSCHALL  is  head  of 
the  firm  of  Gottschall,  Brown  &  Craw- 
ford. He  was  born  at  Newark,  Ohio, 
on  the  14th  day  of  August,  1843,  but 
was  brought  up  in  Dayton,  to  which  city  his 
parents  removed  when  he  was  but  two  years 
old.  His  parents  were  John  and  Abigail  Jane 
(Conklin)  Gottschall,  the  former  of  German 
and  the  latter  of  Dutch  descent.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  in  the  early  part  of  this  cen- 
tury and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His  father 
removed  in  early  manhood  to  Ohio,  and  has 
since  continued  to  live  in  that  state.  Mr. 
Gottschall's  mother  is  descended  from  Dutch 
stock  which  settled  in  New  York  state  in  colo- 
nial times.  Her  grandfather  took  an  honorable 
part  in  the  war  for  independence,  fighting  in 
the  continental  army  during  that  memorable 
struggle. 

Oscar  M.  Gottschall's  early  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  where 
he  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  the  class 
of  1 86 1.  He  at  once  commenced  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Edmond  S.  Young, 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  members  of  the 
Dayton  bar,  with  whom  he  continued  for  about 
one  year.  In  August,  1862,  he  laid  aside 
his  text-books  and  his  personal  aspirations  to 
take  up  arms  in   the   defense  of   his  country. 


He  enlisted  in  company  K,  Ninety-third  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry.  Shortly  afterward  he  was 
promoted  to  quartermaster-sergeant  of  his 
company.  In  January,  1863,  he  was  made 
sergeant-major  of  his  regiment,  and  in  1864 
was  raised  to  the  position  of  adjutant,  which 
place  he  held  until  his  muster-out,  June  25, 
1865.  His  regiment  was  first  attached  to  Gen. 
Gilbert's  brigade  in  Kentucky,  and  later  to 
McCook's  corps  in  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. He  participated  with  his  regiment  in 
all  the  hard  fighting  of  that  army,  from  Stone 
river  to  Atlanta,  and  later,  under  Gen.  Thomas, 
in  the  final  defeat  of  Hood  in  Tennessee.  He 
was  twice  wounded,  first  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  and  again  at  the  battle  of  Mission 
Ridge.  His  promotion  to  the  adjutancy  of 
his  regiment  was  the  result  of  the  recommen- 
dation of  his  superior  officer  for  gallantry  and 
meritorious  conduct  on  the  battlefield  of  Chick- 
am  auga. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Gottschall 
resumed  his  studies  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Young 
at  Dayton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on 
May  12,  1866.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  law  in  partnership  with  his  pre- 
ceptor, under  the  firm  name  of  Young  &  Gott- 
schall. In  the  year  1878  George  R.  Young  was 
admitted  into  the  firm,  which  became  Young, 
Gottschall  &  Young,  and  continued  until  1879, 
when  Mr.  Gottschall  withdrew.  He  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  R.  D.  Marshall, 
the  firm  being  Marshall  &  Gottschall.  This 
association  continued  until  September,  1883, 
when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Gottschall 
continuing  in  practice  alone  until  February, 
1885,  when  the  firm  of  Gottschall  &  Brown 
was  formed  by  the  admission  of  O.  B.  Brown. 
In  1893  Ira  Crawford  was  admitted  to  the 
firm,  which  became  and  is  now  Gottschall, 
Brown  &  Crawford. 

Mr.  Gottschall,  by  untiring  industry  and 
constant  application  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 


^s 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


299 


fession,  has  become  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  widely-known  members  of  the  Day- 
ton bar.  His  special  field  of  work  embraces 
commercial  and  corporation  law,  and  in  these 
he  has  gained  a  large  and  important  clientage. 
His  success  has  been  achieved  through  emi- 
nent personal  fitness  for  the  exacting  duties  of 
his  profession,  and  he  has  brought  to  the  care 
of  the  weighty  and  varied  interests  entrusted 
to  him  the  qualities  of  clear  judgment  and 
practical  common  sense  as  well  as  strong  intel- 
lectual endowment. 


HLVIN  W.  KUMLER,  judge  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas  of  Montgomery 
county,  and  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Dayton  bar,  was  born  near 
Trenton,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  on  January  20, 
1 85  1,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Kum- 
ler.  The  early  education  of  Judge  Kumler 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county.  In  1870,  he  entered  the  An- 
tioch  college,  at  Yellow  Springs,  where  he  was 
a  student  for  two  years.  His  general  educa- 
tion was  completed  by  one  year's  attendence 
at  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at  Delaware. 
Following  this,  he  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  university  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1875. 
The  same  year  he  located  in  Dayton  and  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
in  1S77  he  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  M. 
Nevin,  which  association  continued  until  the 
election  of  Mr.  Kumler  to  the  bench  of  the 
common  pleas  court  in  1896,  the  firm  at  that 
time  being  the  oldest  legal  firm  in  the  city  in 
point  of  years  of  partnership.  In  1879,  Judge 
Kumler  was  elected  city  solicitor  of  Dayton, 
at  a  time  when  the  political  complexion  of  the 
city  was  strongly  democratic,  and  in  1881  was 
re-elected.  In  the  spring  of  1896  he  was 
nominated   by    the    republican    party    for  the 


office  of  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court  for 
the  third  sub-division  of  the  second  judicial 
district  of  Ohio,  and  in  November  following  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  taking  his  seat  on 
the  bench  in  the  same  month.  As  a  lawyer 
Judge  Kumler  took  rank  among  the  leading 
and  successful  members  of  the  Dayton  bar, 
and  as  a  judge,  while  having  been  on  the  bench 
but  a  short  time,  has  given  evidence  of  ability 
and  promise  of  a  useful  career. 


^-VOSEPH  W.  KENNEDY,  secretary  and 
S  treasurer  of  the  Dayton  Cast  Steel 
(%  1  Plow  company,  is  a  native  of  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  on  a 
farm  four  miles  north  of  Dayton,  September 
22,  1869,  a  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Dorst) 
Kennedy.  The  excellently  equipped  plant  of 
the  Cast  Steel  Plow  company  is  located  at  122 
North  Front  street.  The  business  dates  its 
inception  back  to  1885,  when  it  was  founded 
with  the  following  named  gentlemen  as  inter- 
ested principals:  Stephen  J.  Allen,  John  Ken- 
nedy, Joseph  Kennedy,  L.  S.  Aughe,  Joseph 
W.  Kennedy,  and  Grafton  C.  Kennedy.  The 
enterprise  was  established  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  cast-steel  plows  of  special  de- 
sign and  of  many  points  of  recognized  superi- 
ority, and  the  success  of  the  venture  is  the 
best  evidence  of  the  character  of  the  products 
turned  out.  The  original  executive  corps  of 
the  company  comprised  Mr.  Allen  as  president, 
Mr.  Aughe  as  superintendent,  and  Joseph  W. 
Kennedy  as  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  cap- 
ital stock  is  $18,000,  while  the  surplus  has  now 
reached  an  aggregate  of  about  $9,000.  The 
works  afford  employment  to  a  body  of  from 
twenty  to  twenty-five  skilled  operatives,  and 
the  most  punctilious  care  is  accorded  to  every 
detail  of  manufacture.  The  present  members 
of  the  company  areS.  H.  Carr,  president;  J.  F. 
Allen,  vice.-president;  Joseph  \V.  Kennedy,  sec- 


300 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


retary  and  treasurer;  and  L.  S.  Aughe,  super- 
intendent. Joseph  Kennedy,  Sr. ,  and  Grafton 
C.  Kennedy  have  retired  from  the  concern, 
and  S.  J.  Allen  is  now  deceased.  The  princi- 
pal trade  territory  covered  by  the  company 
comprises  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Kentucky,  and 
the  business  is  gradually  extending  its  range  of 
operations  as  the  merits  of  its  products  become 
known. 

Joseph  W.  Kennedy  received  his  educa- 
tional discipline  in  the  public  schools  of  Day- 
ton, though  he  continued  to  reside  on  the  old 
homestead  until  1883,  when  he  came  to  Day- 
ton and  accepted  a  position  as  clerk  in  the 
establishment  of  C.  Wight  &  Son,  with  whom 
he  remained  a  few  weeks,  after  which  he  be- 
came bookkeeper  for  the  Parrott  Manufactur- 
ing company,  manufacturers  of  plows,  contin- 
uing in  their  employ  for  two  years.  He  then 
became  personally  interested  in  the  enterprise 
with  which  he  is  at  present  identified,  and  has 
done  much  to  insure  the  marked  success  which 
has  attended  the  prosecution  of  the  business. 
He  is  recognized  as  a  representative  of  that 
progressive  young  element  in  the  business  cir- 
cles of  Dayton  which  is  carrying  the  city  for- 
ward to  an  even  more  conspicuous  place  in 
the  industrial  world  than  she  has  yet  attained. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a 
member  of  Miami  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, and  he  is  also  identified  with  the  Garfield 
club,  a  republican  organization.  His  marriage 
was  solemnized  in  July,  1887,  when  he  wedded 
Miss  Daisy  A.  Macy,  a  daughter  of  Davis 
Macy,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county.  Two  children  were 
born  of  this  union,  but  the  parents  were  called 
upon  to  bear  a  double  bereavement  in  the 
death  of  both  in  the  month  of  January,  1896 — 
Lawrence  being  seven  years  of  age  and  How- 
ard M.  five.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  whose  af- 
fairs they  maintain  an  active  interest. 


m. 


L.  BLUMENSCHEIN.—  The  sub- 
ject of  this  biographical  review  was 
born  in  Brensbach,  Germany,  De- 
cember 16,  1849.  He  lived  for 
many  years  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  but  has  been  a 
Buckeye  resident  since  the  fall  of  1876.  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  was  his  first  point  of  operations, 
whither  he  was  called  to  direct  the  Harmonic 
society.  The  Ironton  choral  union  was  also 
under  his  direction  for  a  season.  In  the  summer 
of  187S  the  Dayton,  Ohio,  Philharmonic  society 
extended  a  call  to  him,  which  was  accepted, 
Otto  Singer,  so  recently  deceased,  being  his 
predecessor.  Since  then  the  Philharmonic 
society  has  been  continuously  under  his  direc- 
tion, and  has  won  for  itself  and  director  a  far 
more  than  local  reputation.  Indeed,  the  rep- 
ertory of  choral  works  performed  in  Dayton 
will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  any  of  the 
prominent  choral  organizations  of  the  country. 
The  directorship  of  the  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
Lyra  society  (male  chorus  and  orchestra)  was 
intrusted  to  him  for  a  season,  also  the  Spring- 
field Orpheus  mixed  chorus,  and,  incidentally, 
two  Ohio  saengerfests  in  Dayton  and  Spring- 
field, respectively.  The  Cincinnati  May  festi- 
val chorus  was  given  under  his  direction,  su- 
perintended by  Theodore  Thomas,  from  1891 
to  1895. 

Dayton's  present  musical  status  is  largely 
to  be  attributed  to  Mr.  Blumenschein's  persist- 
ent efforts  in  the  direction  of  classical  culture. 
His  pupils  in  piano-playing  and  singing  have 
won  for  him  a  standing  as  teacher  such  as  any 
musician  and  artist  may  be  proud  of.  The 
surrounding  towns  have  also  contributed  much 
of  their  best  talent  to  his  tutorship.  The  Third 
street  Presbyterian  church  has  claimed  his 
services  as  organist  and  choir-director  since 
October,  1878. 

As  composer  for  piano  and  voice  Mr.  Blu- 
menschein  hac  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  re- 
warded by  favorable  criticism  in  all  the  prom- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


301 


inent  musical  journals  ot  the  country.  Sev- 
eral of  his  anthems  have  been  reprinted  in 
England,  and  quite  recently  a  Leipsic,  Ger- 
many, musical  journal  has  published  a  sketch 
of  his  life  and  work,  illustrated  by  his  portrait. 
Considering  that  his  residence  has  mostly  been 
confined  to  an  inland  town,  it  is  surely  a  credit 
to  his  ability  thus  to  be  a  subject  of  consider- 
ation in  other  countries. 

What  the  future  may  bring  to  Mr.  Blumen- 
schein  is  a  matter  of  conjecture,  of  course,  but 
as  he  is  just  in  the  prime  of  life  and  activity, 
it  is  reasonable  to  predict  a  continuance  of  the 
good  work  of  the  past,  coupled  with  a  fair 
measure  of  success. 


SEV.  GEORGE  M.  MATHEWS,  D.  D. , 
pastor  of   the   First   United  Brethren 
church  of  Dayton,  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton county,  Ohio,  August  22,   1848, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Milchi  Ann  (Maddux) 
Mathews. 

John  Mathews,  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
county,  Pa.,  of  German  descent,  was  born  in 
1805  and  in  181 1  came  to  Ohio,  coming  down 
the  Ohio  river  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  land- 
ing in  Cincinnati.  He  later  bought  from  Gen. 
Taylor  a  farm  which  was  a  portion  of  the  tract 
granted  to  the  latter  in  recognition  of  earlier 
military  service,  and  died  on  this  farm,  in 
Hamilton  county,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years.  Mrs.  Milchi  Ann  Mathews,  of  English 
descent,  was  born  near  Frederick,  Md. ,  in 
1 8 10,  and  was  a  daughter  of  a  slave-holding 
father,  who,  however,  liberated  his  living  chat- 
tels before  coming  to  Ohio  for  his  place  of 
residence.  John  Mathews  and  wife  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children:  James,  a  farmer, 
died  in  mature  life;  Mary  was  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Markley,  and  died  in  Hamilton  coun- 
ty,   Ohio;    Talitha  is  the    widow    of  William 


Ayer,  and  Joseph  is  a  farmer,  both  being  resi- 
dents of  Hamilton  county;  William  H.  is  a 
lawyer  of  Cincinnati;  Charles  is  a  farmer  of 
Hamilton  county;  Martha  is  the  wife  of 
F.  M.  Prickett,  a  contractor  at  Bethel,  Ohio; 
George  M.  is  next  in  order  of  birth,  and  Eliza- 
beth is  married  to  P.  McQuain,  a  contractor 
of  Cincinnati. 

George  M.  Mathews  was  primarily  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  entered  Otterbein  university,  from 
the  scientific  department  of  which  famous  in- 
stitution of  learning  he  graduated  in  1870.  He 
then  was  employed  for  several  years  as  princi- 
pal of  the  graded  schools  in  Hamilton  county, 
and  also  studied  law,  but  never  practiced.  In 
1878  he  entered  Lane  Theological  seminary, 
studied  two  years,  and  next  entered  Union 
Biblical  seminary  of  Dayton,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  188 1.  At  this  time  he  began  his 
ministerial  labors  and  organized  the  High 
street  United  Brethren  church  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  served  as  its  pastor  for.  three  years;  for 
the  next  five  years  he  had  charge  of  the  Sum- 
mit street  church  of  this  city,  and  was  then 
elected  presiding  elder  of  the  Miami  confer- 
ence, in  which  capacity  he  served  for  five 
years.  On  retiring  from  the  eldership  he  was 
appointed  pastor  of  the  First  United  Brethren 
church,  of- this  city,  and  in  this  capacity  is  now 
serving  his  third  year.  In  1894  he  also  be- 
came editor  of  the  Quarterly  Review  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  a  religious  organ  of 
high  standard. 

Dr.  Mathews  is  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  United  Brethren  Publishing 
house;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Union  Biblical  seminary  and  a 
member  of  its  executive  committee;  he  is  like- 
wise an  alumnal  trustee  of  Otterbein  university. 
He  has  twice  been  a  member  of  the  general 
conference  of  his  church,  and  was  secretary  of 
the  committee  that  made  the  report  which  re- 


302 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


suited  in  the  elimination  of  the  so-called  secrecy 
law  in  the  church  discipline. 

Dr.  Mathews  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Clara  Belle  Hopper,  a  native  of  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Abram  Hop- 
per. One  son,  Milton  H.,  the  offspring  of  this 
union,  is  now  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  is 
a  student  in  the  senior  class  at  Otterbein  uni- 
versity. In  his  politics  Dr.  Mathews  is  a  pro- 
hibitionist, but  usually  affiliates  with  the  re- 
publican party  on  national  questions.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Present  Day  club  of 
Dayton,  which  is  composed  of  the  leading  pro- 
fessional and  business  men  of  the  city. 


>-j»OHN  HENRY  VAILE,  manufacturer 
g  and  inventor,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
A  J  born  in  Piqua,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  on 
March  31,  1844.  He  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Lucy  (Sherman)  Vaile,  deceased,  natives 
of  Vermont  and  Massachusetts  respectively. 
John  Vaile  came  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  and 
for  some  time  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits in  Piqua,  subsequently  becoming  princi- 
pal of  the  Piqua  high  school,  a  position  he  was 
holding  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  September, 
1844.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  the 
widow  returned  to  her  former  home  in  Lowell, 
Mass.,  where  she  died  in  1873. 

J.  H.  Vaile  was  reared  in  Lowell,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  After  passing 
through  the  high  school  he  learned  the  trade 
of  machinist  and  engineer.  In  1862  he  re- 
ceived an  appointment  as  engineer  in  the 
United  States  navy.  He  served  in  the  navy 
three  years,  a  portion  of  which  time  was  spent 
in  the  Monitor  service  and  the  remainder  on 
vessels  in  different  squadrons.  He  was  prob- 
ably  the  youngest  engineer  in  the  United 
States  navy,  having  received  his  appointment 
before  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was 
second  assistant    engineer     when    he    left  the 


service.  After  leaving  the  navy  Mr.  Vaile  be-  ■ 
came  associated  with  a  glass  manufacturer  of 
Philadelphia,  and  gained  his  mercantile  experi- 
ence while  thus  associated  by  selling  and  con- 
tracting on  the  road.  In  1868  Mr.  Vaile  came 
to  Dayton  and  entered  the  Barney-Smith  Car 
works  as  a  mechanical  engineer.  While  thus 
engaged  he  came  in  contact  with  Mr.  Holly,  of 
the  noted  Holly  Manufacturing  company,  and 
by  that  gentleman  was  employed  as  a  mechan- 
ical engineer  in  Columbus,  Covington  and  In- 
dianapolis. At  the  latter  city  he  was  retained 
as  mechanical  engineer  and  later  as  mechan- 
ical engineer  and  superintendent  of  streets  for 
the  Indianapolis  Water  Works  company.  In 
September,  1874,  Mr.  Vaile  returned  to  Day- 
ton, and  in  connection  with  the  late  Preserved 
Smith  and  Walter  W\  Smith  established  the 
Smith-Vaile  Pump  manufactory,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Smith,  Vaile  &  Co.,  with  which 
he  has  since  been  identified.  This  enterprise 
was  begun  on  a  very  small  scale,  only  six  men 
being  employed  at  the  start.  The  business 
grew  from  year  to  year  until,  in  1893,  the  works 
employed  450  men.  During  this  time  Mr.  Vaile 
took  out  fifteen  patents,  upon  which  the  busi- 
ness of  Smith,  Vaile  &  Co.  has  been  developed. 
In  1 893  Smith,  Vaile  &  Co.  and  the  Stillwell 
&  Bierce  Manufacturing  company  were  consoli- 
dated under  the  name  of  the  Stillwell-Bierce 
&  Smith-Vaile  Manufacturing  company,  of 
which  Mr.  Vaile  is  a  director,  and  is  also  man- 
ager of  the  east  shops  of  the  company.  The 
Stillwell-Bierce  &  Smith-Vaile  company  is 
now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  important 
manufacturing  corporations  in  the  west,  its 
business  extending  all  over  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  and  having  an  established  agency 
in  London  and  a  growing  trade  in  all  foreign 
countries.  Mr.  Vaile  is  also  identified  with 
other  enterprises.  He  is  president  of  the 
American  Carbon  company,  which  has  its  fac- 
tories at  Noblesville,  Ind.,    and   in  which  com- 


7r^x^yC^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


305 


pany  are  interested  such  leading  Dayton  citi- 
zens as  John  W.  Stoddard,  E.  Morgan  Wood, 
Sylvester  H.  Carr,  George  W.  Shaw  and  Wal- 
ter W.  Smith. 

He  is  a  director  in  the  Merchants' National 
bank  of  Dayton,  a  stockholder  in  the  Dayton 
street  railway,  is  a  member  and  stockholder 
in  the  Dayton  club  and  a  stockholder  in  the 
Miami  club.  He  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  being  a  knight  templar  in  that  order. 

Mr.  Vaile  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss 
Alvina,  daughter  of  Hugh  Wiggim,  of  Dayton. 
He  is  considered  one  of  Dayton's  representa- 
tive citizens  and  successful  manufacturers.  He 
has  established  a  reputation  as  a  careful,  con- 
servative and  thoroughly  reliable  business  man, 
yet  aggressive  and  enterprising  to  a  marked  de- 
gree. As  a  citizen  he  has  always  exhibited  a 
commendable  public  spirit  in  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  growth  and  development  of  the  city 
and  its  enterprises. 


>-j*  ELLIOT  PEIRCE,  president  of  the 
■  Peirce  &  Coleman  company,  of  Dayton, 
/•  1  Ohio,  is  a  nati*e  of  this  city,  was  born 
April  17,  1 861,  the  son  of  Jeremiah  H. 
and  Elizabeth  (Forrer)  Peirce,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  late  Cooper  academy. 

Jeremiah  H.  Peirce,  father  of  J.  Elliot 
Peirce,  and  his  wife  were  also  born  in  Dayton 
— the  father  in  September,  1818.  His  father, 
Joseph  Peirce,  with  his  wife,  was  of  the  Mari- 
etta party,  who  effected  the  first  settlement  in 
the  Buckeye  state,  the  Peirce  family  settling 
in  Dayton  near  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century.  The  grandfather  of  J.  Elliot  Peirce 
was  a  banker  in  the  early  days  of  this  city,  in 
which  he  passed  his  later  years  as  one  of  its 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens.  Jere- 
miah H.  was  early  connected  with  the  Miami 
Lard  Oil  company  and  maintained  this  con- 
nection until  1876,  when  he  became  interested  I 


in  the  business  with  which  his  son,  J.  Elliot, 
is  now  identified,  the  title  of  the  original  firm 
being  Peirce  &  Coleman. 

The  Peirce  &  Coleman  company  was  in- 
corporated in  1 89 1,  Mr.  Peirce  being  then 
elected  to  his  present  office,  which  he  has  since 
so  capably  filled,  adding  each  year,  through 
his  business  talent,  to  the  prosperity  and  pro- 
gressiveness  of  the  concern.  The  company- 
does  a  general  contracting  and  building  busi- 
ness, including  mill  work  and  dealing  exten- 
sively in  hardwood  lumber  and  finishings,  and 
usually  employing  150  men,  although  for  the 
past  two  years  the  number  has  been  some- 
what less. 

Mr.  Peirce  was  married,  in  1885,  to  Miss 
Fannie  Harsh,  a  native  of  Findlay,  Ohio, 
where  her  parents  passed  the  greater  part  of 
their  lives,  but  are  now  deceased,  leaving  Mrs. 
Peirce  the  sole  survivor  of  the  Harsh  family. 
She  is  now  the  mother  of  three  daughters, 
named,  in  the  order  of  birth,  Elizabeth  For- 
rer, Virginia  O'Neil  and  Mary  Frances.  In 
politics  Mr.  Peirce  is  a  republican.  He  is  a 
scholarly  gentleman  and  a  business  man  of  the 
strictest  integrity;  is  public-spirited  and  ever 
ready  to  aid  all  undertakings  designed  for  the 
public  good,  or  calculated  to  advance  the  prog- 
ress of  his  native  city  and  county. 


a  APT.  JOHN  A.'  MILLER,  cashier  of 
the  Pasteur  Chamberland  Filter  com- 
pany, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  at 
Annville,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 4,  1839.  His.  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Lydia  (Hershey)  Miller,  both  natives  of  Leb- 
anon county.  The  husband  and  father  was 
an  elder  in  the  Church  of  God,  and  spent  his 
life  largely  in  doing  missionary  work  for  that 
religious  body.  He  was  venerated  by  those 
best  acquainted  with  him  for  his  genuinely 
religious    feeling,    and    much    regarded   for   his 


306 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


kind  and  neighborly  qualities.  The  family  is 
of  Scottish  origin,  the  grandfather  of  Capt. 
Miller  coming  directly  from  Scotland. 

Capt.  Miller  was  the  second  child  in  a 
family  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  seven  are  now  living.  His  boyhood 
was  spent  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
secured  a  very  good  common-school  education. 
While  still  a  lad,  he  came  to  Dayton,  in  1856, 
but  remained  here  only  a  brief  time,  accepting 
a  good  position  in  a  store  at  Miamisburg,  where 
he  worked  as  a  clerk  until  1862.  He  found 
himself  by  that  time  both  unable  and  unwill- 
ing to  resist  any  longer  the  flood  of  patriotic 
devotion  that  was  sweeping  Ohio's  best  and 
bravest  young  men  into  the  great  crusade  for 
union  and  freedom,  and  he  enlisted  on  the  9th 
day  of  October  in  that  year,  and  was  assigned 
for  duty  to  company  E,  First  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry.  The  gallant  First  was  a  fight- 
ing regiment,  and  made  itself  felt  on  many  a 
desperate  and  bloody  field  of  battle.  It  was 
attached  to  the  command  of  Gen.  Rosecrans, 
and  its  history  is  part  of  that  of  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland.  At  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga  Capt.  Miller  was  taken  prisoner  on  the 
evening  of  September  19,  1863,  and  was  held 
by  the  enemy  for  fourteen  months.  He  was 
in  the  rebel  prisons  at  Belle  Isle,  Danville, 
Andersonville,  Savannah  and  Millen,  Ga.,  and 
suffered  during  these  long  and  dreary  months 
untold  hardships.  Even  though  offered  sev- 
eral details  for  duty  outside,  he  persistently 
refused  to  accept,  believing  that  such  service 
was  inconsistent  with  the  duty  he  owed  to  the 
Union.  But  all  things  end,  and  his  release 
from  suffering  and  destitution  came  at  last  in 
the  form  of  a  parole.  He  was  given  a  fur- 
lough, but  soon  returned  to  the  front,  and,  his 
regiment  having  been  mustered  out,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry.  He  was  with  this  regiment  when 
his  discharge  from  the  service  occurred,  Octo- 


ber 9,  1865.  He  was  an  efficient  and  capable 
soldier,  and  had  already  won  promotion  when 
the  regiment  was  retired  to  civil  life.  He  was 
appointed  sergeant-major  of  the  regiment,  and 
had  received  his  commission  as  second  lieuten- 
ant of  company  E. 

His  active  military  experiences  in  actual 
war  at  an  end,  Capt.  Miller  made  his  way 
back  to  Dayton,  and  took  a  position  as  sales- 
man in  a  wholesale  queensware  establishment, 
and  in  1867  was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk 
under  Fred  Fox.  This  position  he  held  for 
only  four  months,  when  he  resigned  it  to  return 
to  the  office  of  his  former  employers,  in  the 
capacity  of  bookkeeper,  and  continued  with 
them  for  more  than  ten  years.  The  Ohio  Fair 
association  called  for  his  services  as  secretary, 
and  offered  him  such  inducements  that  he  did 
not  think  it  wise  to  remain  longer  at  the  book- 
keeper's desk.  At  this  time  he  was  also  sec- 
retary of  the  Home  Avenue  railroad,  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Southern  Ohio  stock  yards,  and, 
though  a  busy  man,  he  found  it  possible  to  take 
on  a  little  more  work.  He  was  active  in  the 
organization  of  the  Dayton  zouaves,  the  first 
military  company  organized  in  Dayton  since 
the  war.  In  recognition  of  his  valuable  serv- 
ices in  its  behalf,  as  well  as  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  executive  ability,  he  was  made  its 
captain  in  May,  1873.  Later  this  organiza- 
tion was  designated  as  company  A,  Fourth  reg- 
iment, O.  N.  G.  This  office  he  resigned  in 
1 88 1,  and  seven  years  later  recruited  company 
C,  Thirteenth  O.  N.  G.,  of  which  he  was  also 
elected  captain.  His  first  company  was  called 
out  to  avert  a  threatened  lynching,  by  guard- 
ing the  Dayton  jail.  It  was  also  out  two  weeks 
during  the  great  railroad  strikes  in  1877,  and 
guarded  the  first  freight  train  out  when  the 
strikes  were  declared  at  an  end.  He  com- 
manded this  company  during  a  competitive 
drill  in  Saint  Louis  in  1879,  when  its  perfect 
drill  and   soldierly  appearance  attracted  gen- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


307 


eral  admiration.  With  his  present  company 
Capt.  Miller  was  called  again  to  guard  the  jail 
at  Dayton  to  prevent  another  lynching;  and  in 
1892,  during  the  great  coal  strikes,  was  on 
duty  eleven  days. 

Capt.  Miller  continued  as  secretary  of  the 
Ohio  Fair  association  for  about  four  year's, 
when  he  resigned  this  as  well  as  other  posi- 
tions, to  return  for  the  third  time  to  the  em- 
ployment of  the  old  firm,  George  A.  Black 
being  now  the  principal  member  of  it.  Here 
he  was  busy  at  the  bookkeeper's  desk  for  a 
year  or  more,  when  he  set  up  business  for  him- 
self and  so  continued  for  a  year.  He  then  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Mr.  Barger,  and 
the  two  carried  on  a  very  successful  wholesale 
queensware  business  for  seven  years.  In  1890 
he  secured  his  present  position,  where  his  faith- 
ful services  are  thoroughly  appreciated  by  the 
corporation. 

Capt.  Miller  married  Miss  Amanda  E. 
Chambers,  a  native  of  Dayton,  whose  father, 
R.  M.  Chambers,  is  a  prominent  contractor, 
and  is  widely  known  among  the  city's  repre- 
sentative business  men.  They  have  one  child, 
a  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Frank  A.  Groves,  of  this 
city.  Capt.  Miller  is  prominent  in  Masonic 
circles,  having  received  the  thirty-second  de- 
gree in  the  A.  A.  S.  R.  of  that  order.  The 
various  Masonic  bodies  with  which  he  is  con- 
nected are  all  in  Dayton,  except  the  consis- 
tory, which  is  in  Cincinnati.  He  is  past  mas- 
ter of  Mystic  lodge  No.  405,  Dayton  ;  past 
high  priest.  Unity  chapter  No.  16,  R.  A.  M., 
and  past  thrice  illustrious  master  of  Reese 
council  No.  9,  R.  &  S.  M.  He  has  served 
several  years  as  captain-general  of  Reed  com- 
mandery  No.  6,  and  commanded  this  organi- 
zation at  the  prize  drill  of  the  triennial  en- 
campment at  the  grand  commandery  in  Chi- 
cago in  1 88 1.  He  was  grand  master  of  cere- 
monies in  the  lodge  of  Perfection,  Scottish 
rite,  for  a  number  of  years,  and  has  also  taken 


a  deep  interest  in  kindred  societies,  such  as 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  member  of 
Iola  lodge  No.  83  of  this  order,  and  was  cap- 
tain of  Iola  division  when  it  was  instituted, 
serving  about  four  years.  As  might  well  be 
imagined,  the  Grand  Army  has  received  from 
him  a  service  of  love.  He  is  a  member  of  Old 
Guard  post  No.  23,  of  this  city,  and  holds  the 
position  of  P.  P.  C.  He  served  a  term  as  as- 
sistant inspector-general,  department  of  Ohio, 
and  a  term  as  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  the 
department  commander.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  military  service  institution  of  the  United 
States,  an  organization  composed  of  officers  of 
the  United  States  army  and  officers  of  the  na- 
tional guard.  In  his  political  relations,  Capt. 
Miller  affiliates  actively  and  earnestly  with  the 
republican  party.  While  at  Miamisburg  he 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  but  since  his  residence  in  this  city  he 
has  become  a  member  of  the  First  English 
Lutheran  church. 


HNDREW  FERRIS  SMART,  a  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  Dayton,  deal- 
ing in  fuel,  lime,  cement,  etc.,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  within  a  short 
distance  of  his  present  location,  on  the  14th 
of  July,  1853.  His  father  was  Alexander  M. 
Smart,  a  ship  builder  of  Connecticut,  where 
his  birth  occurred  May  10,  1807.  Alexander 
M.  Smart  married  Mary  J.  Slaght,  came  to 
Dayton  about  the  year  1835,  and  remained  in 
this  city  until  his  death,  January  25,  1881; 
Mrs.  Smart  died  November  21,  1875.  Alex- 
ander and  Mary  J.  Smart  were  both  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent;  they  reared  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, viz:  Maggie,  who  died  September  6, 
1872;  Geddes,  who  died  when  young;  George, 
who  is  secretary  of  the  Dayton  Gas  Light  & 
Coke  company;  Andrew  F.  and  Harry  S. — the 


.'?ns 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


last  named  employed  as  clerk  in  the  office  of 
his  next  older  brother. 

Andrew  Ferris  Smart  graduated  from  the 
Central  high  school  of  Dayton  in  the  class  of 
1 87 1,  and  commenced  business  in  partnership 
with  C.  A.  Starr,  Esq.,  handling  fuel,  lime 
and  cement,  in  which  branch  of  trade  he  has 
since  continued.  The  firm  of  C.  A.  Starr  & 
Co.  existed  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time,  in  1S85,  Mr.  Smart  with- 
drew and  engaged  in  business  upon  his  own 
responsibility  at  his  present  location,  Nos. 
524-6  South  Wayne  avenue,  where  he  now 
deals  in  all  kinds  of  coal  and  wood,  cement, 
sewer  pipe,  lime,  etc.  He  has  a  well-estab- 
lished business,  and  his  trade,  profitable  from 
the  beginning,  has  constantly  increased  until, 
at  this  time,  his  establishment  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  successful  of  the  kind  in 
the  city. 

Mr.  Smart  and  Miss  Harriet  S.  Jones,  of 
Dayton,  were  united  in  marriage  December 
15,  1 88  1 ;  they  have  had  three  children — Alex- 
ander, Emma  E.  and  Roy  A.  The  last  named 
died  at  the  age  of  five  months.  Mrs.  Smart 
was  born  at  Fair  Haven,  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
and  received  a  liberal  education  in  the  city 
schools  of  Hamilton.  Mr.  Smart  is  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
belonging  to  Saint  John's  lodge  No.  13;  Unity 
chapter  No.  16,  R.  A.  M. ;  Reese  council  No. 
9,  R.  &  S.  M. ;  Reed  commandery  No.  6,  K. 
T. ;  Gabriel  lodge  of  Perfection,  Scottish 
rite;  Miami  council,  P.  of  J. ;  Dayton  chapter 
of  Rose  Croix;  Ohio  consistory,  S.  P.  S.  He 
is  also  identified  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  being  a 
member  of  the  encampment  branch  of  the  or- 
der; the  subordinate  lodge  to  which  he  belongs 
is  Wayne  No.  10,  and  his  name  appears  upon 
the  rolls  of  Dayton  encampment  No.  2.  In 
addition  to  the  above  orders  Mr.  Smart  belongs 
to  lodge  No.  32,  K.  of  P.,  which  he  has  repre- 
sented for  the  past  five  years  in  the  grand  lodge 


of  the  state.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dayton 
division  No.  5,  uniform  rank,  K.  of  P.,  is  iden- 
tified with  the  American  Legion  of  Honor,  and 
belongs  to  May  Flower  council,  O.  U.  A.  M., 
No.  33.  In  state  and  national  affairs  Mr. 
Smart  is  a  democrat,  but  in  local  matters  he 
refuses  to  be  bound  by  party  ties,  casting  his 
ballot  for  the  person  whom  he  thinks  best  qual- 
ified for  official  position. 


aHARLES  J.  McKEE,  a  prominent 
and  active  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  bar,  was  born  at  Hillsboro, 
Highland  county,  Ohio,  January  23, 
1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
Crawford  (Cox)  McKee.  In  April,  1861,  the 
family  moved  to  Dayton,  and  in  September  of 
the  following  year  Charles  J.  entered  the  Perry 
street  district  school.  For  thirteen  years  he 
successfully  pursued  his  studies  in  the  Dayton 
schools,  graduating  from  the  Central  high 
school  June  16,   1875. 

His  early  inclinations  led  him  to  choose  the 
legal  profession  for  his  life  work,  and  in  July, 
1875,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  the  firm 
of  Young  &  Gottschall,  teaching  a  country 
school  at  Liberty,  Ohio,  during  the  winter  of 
1877-78.  April  23,  1878,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Montgomery  county  bar,  but  feeling  in 
need  of  further  preparation  before  beginning 
practice,  continued  the  study  of  law  for  a  year 
and  a  half  longer,  at  the  same  time  teaching 
in  the  Mumma  district  in  Harrison  township. 
He  opened  an  office  in  Dayton  September  1  1, 
1 879, .and  on  November  1,  1881,  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Walter  D.  Jones,  a  member 
of  the  Dayton  bar.  The  partnership  continued 
up  to  January  1,  1888,  since  which  time  Mr. 
McKee  has  pursued  his  legal  practice  alone, 
confining  himself  almost  exclusively  to  civil 
practice. 

Though   professional   duties   have   claimed 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


309 


his  constant  attention,  he  has  given  some  con- 
sideration to  other  business  matters,  having  to 
a  considerable  extent  been  identified  with 
building  association  interests,  and  is  at  present 
secretary  and  attorney  for  one  of  the  leading 
associations  of  the  city.  He  was  attorney  for 
the  board  of  education  in  1888-89-90,  this 
being  the  only  public  office  he  has  ever  held. 
On  April  23,  1889,  Mr.  McKee  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  Stewart  Hughes,  daughter 
of  Rev.  J.  R.  Hughes,  and  three  children  have 
been  born  to  them.  As  a  lawyer  Mr.  McKee 
holds  a  high  rank  at  the  Montgomery  county 
bar,  with  a  reputation  for  ability,  learning  and 
successful  management  of  legal  business.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  interested  in  public  affairs,  and 
especially  in  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of 
good  government  and  municipal  progress. 


*y-*  OWARD    F.    PEIRCE,    a    native    of 

|r\    Dayton,  Ohio,   and  one  of  the  most 

F    popular  musicians  of  the  city,  deserves 

especial   mention   in    this    work,   and 

before  tracing  his  genealogy,  mention  will  here 

be  made  of  his   career  as  an   artist  in  music, 

preceded  by  a  brief  sketch  touching  his  early 

training. 

Howard  F.  Peirce  was  endowed  by  nature 
with  large  musical  gifts  and  this  inborn  faculty 
has  been  carefully  cultivated  since  his  child- 
hood days.  His  studies  of  the  piano  and  har- 
mony under  his  earliest  teachers  (notably, 
Prof.  Huesman,  of  Dayton)  developed  so  great 
a  genius  for  the  art  that  he  was  placed  under 
the  guidance  of  the  accomplished  Prof.  Blu- 
menschein,  also  of  Dayton,  and  in  18S6,  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  was  sent  to  Europe, 
that  he  might  improve  his  already  excellent 
practice  as  a  pianist.  He  spent  about  three 
years  in  Munich,  under  the  tuition  of  Giehrl  on 
the  piano,  and  that  of  Rheinberger  in  theory. 
At    Florence,    Italy,    he    passed   eight  months 


under  the  culminating  instruction  of  the  great 
pianist,  Giuseppe  Buonamici,  and  on  his  return 
to  Dayton  his  proficiency  was  at  once  recog- 
nized and  he  was  awarded  a  high  rank  among 
musical  artists.  Since  then,  his  work  as  a 
pianist  has  been  made  a  prominent  feature,  at 
various  times,  in  leading  concerts  in  Boston, 
Cincinnati,  Detroit,  Cleveland,  and  other  of  the 
principal  cities  of  the  United  States,  and  has 
always  secured  the  highest  praise  from  musical 
critics,  the  press  and  the  public. 

Mr.  Peirce  has  the  happy  faculty  of  being 
able  always  to  fall  into  sympathy  with  the  score 
set  before  him,  and,  with  a  vigorous  or  delicate 
touch,  give  forth  all  the  fine  shades  of  mean- 
ings indicated  by  the  composition.  He  is  ever 
conscientious  and  true  to  the  author,  and  never 
seeks,  by  a  meretricious  display  of  his  own 
power  and  skill,  to  substitute  himself  for  the 
maestro;  he  is  content  with  a  correct  interpre- 
tation of  the  composer's  thought,  and  this 
quality  has,  no  doubt,  won  for  him  his  fame 
with  true  lovers  of  music. 

Mr.  Peirce,  for  the  past  ten  years,  has 
been  organist  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Dayton,  and  also  has  regular  en- 
gagements as  an  accompanist  to  noted  singers, 
who  make  stated  tours. 

Howard  F.  Peirce  was  born  May  4,  1865, 
the  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Elizabeth  (Forrer) 
Peirce,  whose  parents  were  early  settlers  of 
Dayton.  Isaac  Peirce,  father  of  Jeremiah, 
was  a  banker  and  a  prominent  leader  in  public 
affairs  from  the  time  of  his  coming  to  this 
place  until  his  demise.  Jeremiah  Peirce  was 
born  in  Dayton,  was  a  solid  business  man  and 
a  substantial  citizen,  did  a  great  deal  of  work 
towards  advancing  the  material  and  moral  wel- 
fare of  the  community,  and  died  in  his  native 
city  in  1889,  honored  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him.      Mrs.  Peirce  died  in  1874. 

Samuel  Forrer,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  Howard  F.    Peirce,  was    one    of  Dayton's 


310 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


earliest  settlers,  was  a  civil  engineer,  and  the 
superintendent  of  the  construction  of  the 
Miami  canal.  To  the  marriage  of  Jeremiah 
and  Elizabeth  Peirce  there  were  born,  beside 
Howard  F.,  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  Samuel,  the  eldest,  died  when  about 
seven  years  of  age;  Henrietta,  the  wife  of 
Eugene  Parrott,  resides  in  Dayton;  Edward 
died  when  he  was  about  seventeen  years  old; 
Sarah  H.,  who  organized  the  first  kindergarten 
in  Dayton,  is  now  conducting  the  principal 
school  of  that  character  in  the  city;  Mary  died 
in  young  womanhood;  Elizabeth,  a  trained 
nurse,  was  educated  in  this  profession  in  the 
Massachusetts  general  hospital  of  Boston;  J. 
Elliot  is  successor  to  the  business  of  his  father. 


>y'OHN  CHARLES  CLINE,  superintend- 
■  ent  of  Woodland  cemetery,  Dayton, 
(•  J  Ohio,  was  born  in  Switzerland  February 
i,  1844,  and  in  1851  came  to  America 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Dayton. 
These  parents  were  John  P.  and  Theresa  (Leub- 
ing)  Cline,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Edelfingen,  ober  amt  Mergentheim,  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  died  of 
cholera,  in  Dayton,  in  1S54;  the  mother,  who 
was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  died  at  the  same 
time  and  place.  They  had  two  children,  John 
Charles,  and  Catherine,  who  died  in  infancy. 
John  C.  Cline,  being  thus  early  bereft  of 
his  parents,  was  in  1856  adopted  into  the  fam- 
ily of  William  W.  Lane,  then  superintendent 
of  Woodland  cemetery,  and  in  this  family  was 
reared  to  manhood,  receiving  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  September  22, 
1 861,  he  enlisted  in  company  C,  First  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  then  commanded  by  Capt. 
(afterward  Gen.)  Gates  P.  Thurston,  and 
served  three  years  with  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, nniler  Gens.  Rosecrans,  Thomas, 
Rousseau,  and  other  commanding  officers.      He 


took  part  in  all  the  general  engagements  of  his 
corps,  was  off  duty  sixteen  days  only  during  the 
three  years,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Chattanooga  September  16,  1864.  He  then 
returned  to  Dayton  and  resumed  his  labors  un- 
der Mr.  Lane,  as  assistant  superintendent  of 
Woodland,  and,  on  a  change  of  management 
in  1S69,  was  appointed  superintendent.  Dur- 
ing this  period  of  twenty-seven  years  there  have 
been  14,  570  interments,  the  total  number  being 
20,548  from  the  time  of  the  founding  of  the 
cemetery  until  the  date  of  this  sketch,  June  9, 
1896.  Few  cities  in  the  Union  have  a  more 
beautiful  resting  place  for  their  dead  than 
Woodland.  It  comprises  100  acres  and  thirty 
men  are  constantly  employed  in  its  care,  all 
under  the  general  superintendence  of  Mr.  Cline, 
who  gives  to  it  the  most  constant  and  intelli- 
gent attention. 

October  4,  1866,  J.  C.  Cline  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Hanover,  Jackson  county,  Mich., 
with  Miss  Fannie  E.  Dew,  a  native  of  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of 
four  children,  viz:  Walter,  who  is  a  student 
in  the  Ohio  university;  Carl,  a  graduate  of  the 
Dayton  high  school;  Luther,  still  a  student  in 
that  institution,  and  Haidee,  deceased.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Cline  was  reared  a  republican 
by  his  foster  parents,  and  on  attaining  his  man- 
hood he  readily  dropped  into  the  ranks  of  that 
party. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Cline  is  a  member  of 
Wayne  lodge  No.  10,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  of  which 
he  is  a  past  grand;  also  of  Miami  lodge  No. 
32,  K.  of  P.;  of  Old  Guard  post,  No.  23, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  of  Gem  City  lodge.  As  a 
republican,  Mr.  Cline  has  held  various  offices 
of  trust  and  responsibility;  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council  one  year,  having 
been  elected  from  a  strongly  democratic  ward, 
and  while  in  this  position  voted  for  an  ordi- 
nance which  obliterated  his  own  ward,  thus  vo- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


311 


ting  himself  out  of  office.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  police  commissioners  for 
four  years,  having  received  this  appointment 
from  the  governor  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Cline  and  his  children  are  the  only 
representatives  of  his  family  in  America.  When 
he  speaks  of  the  early  experience  of  his  parents 
in  the  new  world,  with  no  friends  nor  even  a 
knowledge  of  the  prevailing  tongue,  his  words 
recall  the  early  trials  endured  by  the  pioneers 
of  the  country.  His  father's  untimely  death, 
and  that  of  his  mother  immediately  afterward, 
were  sad  blows  to  him,  thus  left  to  the  care  of 
strangers;  but  he  has  so  lived  as  to  prove  him- 
self to  be  worthy  of  the  kindness  bestowed  upon 
him  by  Mr.  Lane  in  his  childhood,  and  is  to-day 
one  of  the  trusted  and  respected  citizens  of  the 
community  in  which  he  resides.  Mr.  Cline 
ever  speaks  of  the  Lane  family  with  feelings 
of  profound  respect  and  gratitude,  as,  when  in 
need,  they  were  his  best  friends,  and  did  their 
whole  duty  by  him  as  their  adopted  son. 


^j*  HALE  PARDONNER,  vice-president 
m  and  manager  of  tha  John  Rouzer  Con- 
st 1  tracting  &  Building  company  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  is  a  native  of  this  city  and 
was  born  March  22,  1849,  a  son  of  John  A. 
and  Jane  (Van  Sandt)  Pardonner,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  the  latter 
of  Kentucky.  The  father  came  to  America  in 
middle  life,  was  engaged  in  the  shoe  business 
in  Cincinnati  and  Dayton,  and  died  in  Cler- 
mont county  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years,  his  widow  still  residing  in  Clermont 
county.  It  is  stated  that  John  Van  Sandt, 
father  of  Mrs.  Pardonner,  was  the  man  who 
harbored  Eliza,  the  well-known  character  in 
Mrs.  Stowe's  famous  novel,  "Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin,"  and  that  he  appears  in  the  story  under 
the  name  of  John  Van  Tromp. 

John    A.    Pardonner   and  family   were    the 


parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  six  are 
still  living,  J.  Hale,  the  second,  being  the 
subject  of  this  memoir.  Hale,  as  he  is  best 
known,  received  his  elementary  education  in 
Dayton,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  en- 
listed for  six  months  in  the  Fourth  battalion, 
Ohio  volunteer  cavalry,  being  probably  next  to 
the  youngest,  if  not  the  youngest,  lad  in  Ohio  to 
take  up  arms  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He 
served  in  Tennessee,  with  headquarters  at 
Cumberland  Gap,  and  had  many  skirmishes 
with  guerrillas  in  guarding  government  stores. 
After  fully  seven  months  in  this  service,  he  re- 
enlisted,  but  this  time  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-first  Ohio  infantry,  for  the  100-day  serv- 
ice, and  was  stationed  at  Baltimore,  Md. 
In  each  case  our  subject  received  an  honorable 
discharge. 

In  1867  Mr.  Pardonner  married  Miss  Sarah 
Sophia  Hinsey,  a  native  of  Dayton  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  Hinsey,  an  old  resident,  well  known 
as  Esquire  Hinsey.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pardonner  are  William  S.,  John  H.,  and 
Bertha.  Of  these  the  eldest,  William  S.,  is 
the  assistant  manager  of  the  Norfolk  Beet 
Sugar  company,  at  Norfolk,  Nebr. ;  John  H.  is 
a  draftsman  for  an  architect  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  Bertha  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 

J.  Hale  Pardonner, the  subject,  is  a  Free  Ma- 
son, a  past  grand  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  Old  Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.,  Dayton,  arid 
is,  beside,  a  member  of  several  other  social  and 
beneficial  orders  of  the  same  city.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican,  and  in  religion  he  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  First  Reformed  church. 
The  business  relations  of  Mr.  Pardonner  with 
the  Rouzer  company  began  in  1 869,  and  he  has 
passed  through  every  department  of  the  con- 
cern until  reaching  his  present  responsible  posi- 
tion, although  he  began  as  journeyman  with 
John  Rouzer,  and  held  that  relation  for  several 
years.  He  then  became  a  partner  in  the  busi- 
ness until  the  incorporation.    On  the  formation 


312 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


of  the  present  company,  in  1890,  he  became 
manager,  and  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Rouzer  was 
elected  vice-president  and  general  manager. 
The  capital  stock  of  the  company  is  $100,000, 
and  it  employs  from  seventy-five  to  125  hands, 
turning  out  every  variety  of  mill  work. 

William  S.  Pardonner,  eldest  son  of  J.  Hale 
and  Sarah  Sophia  Pardonner,  married  Bessie, 
the  daughter  of  Hon.  George  Wilson,  deputy 
commissioner  of  internal  revenue,  appointed 
under  President  Harrison,  and  still  retaining 
the  office. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of  J.  Hale  Par- 
donner, who  still  survive  from  a  family  of 
twelve,  are  Clemma,  who  is  unmarried  and  has 
her  home  with  her  mother  in  Bethel,  Clermont 
county,  Ohio;  Mrs.  George  Hughes,  who  re- 
sides in  Dayton;  Mrs.  McLeod,  who  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Cincinnati;  William  and  Albert,  who 
are  partners  in  a  mercantile  business  in  Mid- 
dletown,  Ohio. 


HDOLPH  NEWSALT,  the  leading  jew- 
eler, of  Dayton,  Ohio,    and  owner  of 
one  of  the  finest  establishments  of  the 
kind  in  the  state   of  Ohio,    if   not    in 
the  entire  west,  was  born  in   Prussia,   Decem- 
ber 25,  1848. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Newsalt  died  in  Ger- 
many, and  in  1857,  with  his  mother,  Adolph 
came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York.  For  a  time  after  reaching  this  country 
he  attended  school  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  then  went  to  La  Crosse,  Wis.,  situated  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  there 
in  i860  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
jeweler's  trade,  serving  four  years.  In  1S64 
he  came  to  Dayton,  his  mother  having,  in 
i860,  removed  to  this  city  from  Saint  Louis. 
Up  .  reaching  Dayton  he  went  to  work  in  the 
jewelry  store  of  Henry  Kline,  under  the  Phillips 
house.      He  remained  with  Mr.    Kline   for  one 


year,  at  the  end  of  which  period  he  went  to 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  there  worked  for  A. 
Aaron,  a  jeweler,  for  somewhat  more  than  a 
year.  He  had  now  accumulated  a  little  over 
$300,  and  returning  to  Dayton  he  at  once  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  jewelry  business  on  a 
very  small  scale  on  Fifth  street.  His  business 
was  at  first  so  small  that  he  was  able  to  do  all 
of  his  work  himself,  and  this  was  the  case  for 
about  two  years;  but  it  was  a  frequent  expe- 
rience for  him  to  be  at  work  at  his  bench  as  late 
as  one  or  two  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

By  degrees  his  business  so  increased  that 
he  was  at  length  compelled  to  move  into  larger 
quarters.  This  necessity  was  forced  upon  him 
at  several  different  times,  his  business  extending 
year  by  year,  until  at  length  he  prevailed  upon 
Mr.  John  Bosler  to  tear  down  his  little  house 
on  Fifth  street  and  erect  for  him  upon  its  site 
a  large  store  room  in  which  he  remained  for 
fifteen  years.  Upon  the  completion  of  the 
Davies  building  at  Fourth  and  Main  streets, 
Mr.  Newsalt  removed  into  his  present  quarters, 
which  were  designed  especially  for  his  business, 
he  having  leased  the  room  in  which  he  is  now 
located  prior  to  the.  completion  of  the  building. 

The  establishment  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
plete and  best  designed  in  the  country,  and  it 
is  no  uncommon  thing  for  parties  to  come  from 
great  distances,  as  from  Saint  Louis  and  other 
points,  to  pattern  after  it  in  their  respective 
homes.  It  covers  a  space  32  X75  feet  in  size, 
with  a  basement  of  the  same  dimensions  un- 
derneath. The  entire  fronts,  on  both  Main 
and  Fourth  streets,  are  of  glass,  thus  making 
it  one  of  the  finest  show  rooms  to  be  found. 
Mr.  Newsalt  employs  twenty  men  the  year 
round,  and  in  business  seasons  adds  to  his  force 
as  occasion  requires. 

Mr.  Newsalt  was  married  in  Dayton,  No- 
vember 10,  1870,  to  Sarah  Wise,  formerly 
from  Paducah,  Ky.  One  son  has  been  born  to 
this  marriage,   T.  A.    Newsalt,   who  was  edu- 


I 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


315 


cated  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  and  who  is  now 
in  his  father's  establishment  as  salesman,  an 
excellent  position  in  which  to  gain  a  full  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  and  of  the  trade  of  jew- 
eler. Mr.  Newsalt  is,  in  point  of  fact  and  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  word,  a  self-made  man, 
and  his  career  should  be  the  means  of  encour- 
aging the  young  men  of  this  day  to  be  satisfied 
with  small  beginnings. 


^y^VHILIP    A.    KEMPER,    importer    and 
1      ■    wholesale  dealer  in   materials  for  art 
embroidery,  etc.,   Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  at  Wallhausen,  not  far  from  the 
beautiful   city  of  Bingen  on   the   Rhine,  Ger- 
many, in  1835.      In  his  fifteenth  year  he  came 
to  America,  landing  in   Philadelphia,  and  after 
attending  school  in  that  city  for  eight  months 
in  order  to   familiarize  himself  to  some  extent 
with  the  English  language,  he  entered  the  store 
of  an  uncle,  as  an  errand  boy,  and  for  eleven 
years  faithfully  did   his  duty  to  his  employer, 
advancing  by  successive  promotions  to  the  po- 
sition of  first  book-keeper. 

In  August,  1859,  at  his  request  the  mother 
of  Mr.  Kemper,  with  her  six  remaining  chil- 
dren, came  to  America.  In  1861  he  came 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  to  establish  himself  in  busi- 
ness, and,  having  perfected  his  plans,  he  re- 
turned to  Philadelphia,  whence  he  came  back 
in  August  with  his  family.  In  a  short  time 
after  his  arrival  in  the  Gem  City,  Mr.  Kemper 
established  a  dress-trimmings  and  fancy  goods 
store  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Second  and 
Main  streets,  under  the  firm  name  of  Philip  A. 
Kemper  &  Sisters.  Success  attended  this  firm 
for  the  period  of  nine  years,  when  Mr.  Kem- 
per rented  the  old  Franklin  house,  on  the  op- 
posite corner,  and  remodeled  the  building  for 
store  purposes.  This  store  was  occupied  by 
him  until  1880,  when  he  removed  to  his  own 
premises,  Nos.  19  and  21  West  Second  street, 


his  present  location.  His  businessconsists  prin- 
cipally in  furnishing  convent  schools  through- 
out the  country  with  materials  for  fancy  needle 
and  embroidery  work,  as  well  as  supplying 
these  articles  at  wholesale  to  other  dealers. 
His  trade,  which  is  altogether  wholesale,  fills 
a  peculiar  want  in  the  market,  his  shipments 
going  to  all  parts  of  the  Union  and  to  Mexico. 

The  youngest  brother  of  Mr.  Kemper  is  the 
Rev.  Charles  S.  Kemper,  Catholic  chaplain  of 
the  national  military  home,  near  Dayton,  of 
whom  brief  mention  is  made  elsewhere. 

Philip  A.  Kemper  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  public-spirited  and  useful  citizens  of  Day- 
ton, and  is  especially  active  in  forwarding  the 
educational  and  charitable  work  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church. 


@EORGE  W.  BUVINGER,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  G.  W.  &  E.  E. 
Buvinger,  proprietors  of  the  Dayton 
Cornice  works,  corner  of  East  Third 
and  Canal  streets,  is  one  of  the  well-known 
business  men  and  prominent  citizens  of  Day- 
ton. Mr.  Buvinger  was  born  in  this  city, 
within  three  blocks  of  his  present  place  of  busi- 
ness, on  December  26,  1837,  and  is  the  eldest 
child  born  to  Henry  and  Cassandra  (Everest) 
Buvinger,  of  whom  fuller  mention  is  made  in 
connection  with  the  sketch  of  E.  E.  Buvinger. 
With  the  exception  of  his  time  of  service  in  the 
army,  Mr.  Buvinger  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Dayton,  and  few  men  are  more  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  in  the  community.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  acquired  a  fair 
knowledge  of  the  common  English  branches, 
which,  supplemented  by  habits  of  reading,  study 
and  observation,  has  made  him  a  broad- 
minded  and  intelligent  man,  liberally  educated 
in  that  knowledge  of  men  and  affairs  which 
schools  and  colleges  alone  cannot  impart.  His 
early    life  was  spent  in  various  employments 


316 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


until  the  war  cloud  darkened  the  national  hori- 
zon, when  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country, 
enlisting  in  April,  1S61,  shortly  after  President 
Lincoln  made  his  call  for  75,000  men.  The 
quota  being  filled  before  his  regiment  was 
formed,  Mr.  Buvinger  was  not  permitted  at 
that  time  to  go  to  the  front.  In  1862  he  re- 
sponded to  the  call  of  the  governor  of  the  state 
during  the  Kirby  Smith  raid,  and  served  in 
what  was  known  as  the  "Squirrel  Hunters" 
brigade  in  and  about  Cincinnati.  After  that 
the  National  Guard  was  organized,  and  he  be- 
came a  member  of  company  A,  of  Dayton,  and 
continued  a  member  until  the  final  discharge 
in  1S65.  In  June,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  Independent  battalion  of  Ohio  volun- 
teer cavalry.  This  regiment  did  duty  in  south- 
ern Ohio,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Virginia. 
On  being  discharged  from  this  service  on  ac- 
count of  termination  of  term  of  enlistment,  in 
February,  1864,  Mr.  Buvinger  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  remained  in  Dayton  until  the  follow- 
ing May,  when  company  A,  O.  N.  G.,  was 
called  out  by  the  governor  and  mustered  into 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry  for  100  days,  though  it  remained 
a  longer  period,  doing  garrison  duty  principally 
in  Maryland  and  Virginia. 

Since  the  war  Mr.  Buvinger  has  been  act- 
ively engaged  in  business  in  Dayton.  The 
Dayton  Cornice  works,  with  which  he  has 
so  long  been  identified,  has  been  in  existence 
for  thirty  years  at  its  present  locality, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  important 
enterprises  of  the  Gem  City.  The  business 
consists  in  the  manufacturing  of  galvanized  iron 
cornices,  tin,  slate,  iron,  and  copper  roofing, 
and  all  kinds  of  sheet  metal  work.  The  fol- 
lowing are  a  few  of  the  prominent  buildings 
in  the  city  on  which  they  had  contracts:  City 
buildings,  new  court  house,  Firemen's  build- 
ing, Kuhn's  building,  Deaconess  hospital, 
Ohmer    building,    Third    street     Presbyterian 


church,  Beckel  bank  building,  and  Reibold's 
Jefferson  block. 

Mr.  Buvinger  occupies  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  business  and  social  affairs  of  the 
city.  He  is  enterprising,  progressive  and  lib- 
eral-minded in  his  views,  and  is  fully  alive  to 
all  that  tends  to  the  advancement  of  the  pub- 
lic interest,  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  with  whom  he  is  in  any  way  associated. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Buvinger  is  an  ardent 
republican.  In  1891-92  he  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dayton  city  council,  was  vice-presi- 
dent of  that  body  in  1892,  and  was  largely 
instrumental  in  promoting  much  important 
municipal  legislation.  In  social  and  fraternal 
circles  Mr.  Buvinger  is  quite  prominent.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Knights  Tem- 
plar, I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
National  Union,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  G.  A.  R. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Dayton  board  of 
trade.  Both  himself  and  family  are  members 
of  Christ  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Buvinger  was  married,  in  1867,  to  Miss 
Jane  Smith,  a  native  of  Ecton,  Northampton- 
shire, England.  Mrs.  Buvinger's  native  village 
has  some  American  significance  in  that  it  is 
the  birthplace  of  the  ancestors  of  Washington 
and  Franklin.  Mrs.  Buvinger  came  to  Day- 
ton with  her  parents  in  1850,  and  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she 
was  for  some  time  assistant  principal  of  the 
Fourth  district  school.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buv- 
inger the  following  children  have  been  born: 
Bertha,  Emma,  George  A.,  and  Minnie  Ever- 
est, the  last  named  having  died  in  infancy. 
Miss  Bertha  is  a  graduate  of  both  the  Dayton 
high  and  normal  schools,  and  has  spent  two 
years  in  traveling;  George  A.  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Dayton  high  school,  and  also  a  graduate  in 
mechanical  engineering  of  Lehigh  university, 
at  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  and  is  a  young  man  of 
much  promise  and  bright  prospects  for  future 
advancement. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


317 


BREDERICK   W.    NEWCOMER,   ca- 
terer and  confectioner,  at  the  corner 
of  Third  and  Ludlow  streets,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Connellsville,  Pa., 
May    1 8,    i860,    and  is  a  son  of  Joseph    and 
Margaret    (Gebhart)    Newcomer,    who    are    of 
German  descent. 

Joseph  Newcomer  was  born  in  Fayette 
county.  Pa.,  February  14,  1825,  a  son  of  John 
and  Barbara  (Snyder)  Newcomer.  His  great- 
grandfather Newcomer  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  come  from  Germany  and  he  settled  in 
Pennsylvania.  Henry  Snyder,  maternal  grand- 
father of  Joseph  Newcomer,  served  eight  years 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Joseph  was  one 
of  a  family  of  nine  children,  born  in  the  fol- 
lowing order:  Lydia,  Jacob,  Samuel,  John, 
Joseph,  Polly,  Catherine,  Barbara  and  Sarah, 
of  whom  two  sons  and  one  daughter  are  liv- 
ing at  this  writing. 

Joseph  Newcomer  was  reared  a  farmer,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  on  his  own  account  in  Bentleysville, 
Washington  county,  Pa.,  but  eighteen  months 
later  removed  to  Connellsville,  Fayette  county, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
seventeen  years.  He  then  moved  to  Pittsburg, 
was  in  the  wholesale  grocery  trade  ten  years, 
and  in  1875  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  here 
conducted  a  retail  grocer)'  for  five  years.  Dur- 
ing the  next  five  years  he  held  a  partnership  in 
the  bookbinding  and  printing  house  known  as 
the  Holden  Manufacturing  company,  and  since 
then  has  lived  in  retirement,  excepting  two 
years,  when  he  filled  the  position  of  truant  of- 
ficer in  the  public  schools.  In  politics  he  is 
a  republican,  and  served  two  years  as  ward 
assessor. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  October  1,  1857, 
with  Miss  Margaret  E.  Gebhart,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Catherine  (Walter)  Gebhart,  one 
of  the  oldest  families  of  Somerset  county,  Pa., 


where  Mrs.  Newcomer  was  born  April  17, 
1827.  To  this  marriage  have  been  born  six 
children,  viz:  Kate,  wife  of  Edward  F.  Cooper, 
of  Dayton;  Frederick  W.,  whose  name  opens 
this  biography;  Mary,  deceased;  Charles  G., 
who  is  foreman  of  a  bookbindery  in  Savannah, 
Ga. ;  Annie,  wife  of  George  M.  Lee,  of  Down- 
er's Grove,  a  suburb  of  Chicago,  111.,  and 
Bessie,  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newcomer 
are  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
reside  at  No.  122  East  Second  street,  where 
they  are  surrounded  by  a  large  circle  of 
warm  friends. 

Frederick  W.  Newcomer  was  reared  in 
Pennsylvania  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  In  1875 
he  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  with  his  parents, 
and  for  a  time  was  employed  as  clerk  in  his 
father's  grocery,  and  later  by  C.  C.  Moses  in 
the  same  capacity,  for  five  years.  For  the 
next  five  years  he  held  the  position  of  foreman 
of  the  jobbing  department  of  the  Holden 
Manufacturing  company,  and  was  then  again 
employed  by  C.  C.  Moses  as  clerk  in  his  gro- 
cery. In  1890  he  started  in  business  for  him- 
self, as  caterer  and  confectioner,  at  No.  7  East 
Second  street,  and  there  maintained  a  success- 
ful trade  until  June  15,  1S96,  when  he  removed 
to  the  building  especially  erected  for  his  busi- 
ness at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Ludlow  streets, 
where  he  has  greatly  enlarged  his  business,  the 
added  features  being  the  serving  of  luncheons 
and  the  novelty  of  a  modern  roof  garden.  He 
is  the  leading  caterer  of  Dayton,  and  his  busi- 
ness extends  to  adjacent  or  neighboring  towns 
and  villages.  His  establishment  is  neatly  and 
handsomely  furnished,  and  the  service  rivals 
that  to  be  found  in  large  cities.  Miss  Anna 
Shoup  is  associated  with  Mr.  Newcomer  as 
mistress  of  the  tea-room,  looking  after  the 
comfort  of  the  guests;  the  firm  name,  since 
occupying  the  present  quarters,  being  that  of 
The  Newcomer. 


318 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Newcomer  is  married  to  Miss  Jennie 
Moses,  daughter  of  C.  C.  and  Margaret  Moses, 
of  Dayton,  and  the  two  children  born  to  this 
union  are  named  Mabel  and  Leila. 

Mr.  Newcomer  is  very  popular,  not  only 
in  his  business,  which  necessarily  brings  him  in 
contact  with  hundreds  of  the  best  people  in 
Dayton,  but  in  social  circles  as  well. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  have  a  most  pleasant  home 
at  No.  330  West  First  street. 


EARMAN  ROGGE  was  born  near 
Hanover,  Germany,  September  2, 
1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Harman  and 
Angel  (Mayrose)  Rogge,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  farmer,  but  is  now  deceased, 
while  the  mother  still  survives.  Their  children 
numbered  eight,  of  whom  Harman  was  the 
second.  He  was  educated  in  the  excellent 
public  schools  of  his  native  country  and  under 
private  tutors  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  this  country  with  an  uncle,  who 
was  a  citizen  of  Dayton.  After  his  arrival  at 
Dayton  he  obtained  employment  at  the 
Blanchard  &  Brown  Wheel  works,  now  the  S. 
N.  Brown  Co.  After  several  years  of  steady 
employment  by  this  firm  he  entered  the  service 
of  the  Barney  &  Smith  Car  works.  After 
about  fifteen  years  of  hard  work,  he  started  on 
his  own  account  in  the  retail  grocery  business. 
In  this  he  was  very  successful  and  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  grocery  trade  for  a  few 
years.  In  1887  he  first  became  a  stockholder 
in  the  Zwick  &  Greenwald  Wheel  company,  of 
which  he  is  now  president  and  general  mana- 
ger. Since  his  connection  with  this  company, 
it  has  been  crowned  with  success  and  its  finan- 
cial strength  has  increased  threefold. 

Harman  Rogge  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
1S72,  with  Miss  Augusta  Kropp,  a  native  of 
Dayton  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  Kropp.   This 


union  has  been  blessed  with  eleven  children, 
of  whom,  eight  are  still  living.  In  religion  the 
family  are  of  the  German  Lutheran  faith,  and 
of  the  church  of  which  they  are  members,  Mr. 
Rogge  has  for  years  been  a  trustee  and  is  at 
present  a  member  of  the  official  board  of  man- 
agement. In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  as 
such  served  one  term  as  a  member  of  the  Day- 
ton city  council.  Mr.  Rogge  has  done  much 
toward  advancing  the  material  prosperity  of 
Dayton,  having  erected  upward  of  twenty 
dwellings,  and  having,  by  industry  and  thrift, 
become  one  of  the  substantial  German-Ameri- 
can citizens  to  whom  the  city  is  indebted  for 
much  of  her  prominence  and  high  standing  in 
the  commercial  and  manufacturing  world. 


eDWARD  EVEREST  BUYTNGER, 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  G.  W. 
and  E.  E.  Buvinger,  proprietors  of  the 
Dayton  Cornice  works,  and  a  well- 
known  and  popular  business  man  of  the  city, 
was  born  in  Dayton  on  May  12,  1844,  ar>d  is 
the  son  of  Henry  Buvinger,  deceased.  After 
attending  the  public  schools  of  Dayton  for  sev- 
eral years,  young  Buvinger  entered  upon  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  tinner's  trade.  This  he 
mastered  and  followed  until  1866,  when  the 
firm  of  G.  W.  &  E.  E.  Buvinger  was  formed, 
and  the  Dayton  Cornice  works  established. 
This  firm  has  had  an  uninterrupted  and  suc- 
cessful existence  of  over  thirty  years.  It  is 
engaged  principally  in  the  manufacture  of  met- 
allic cornices,  in  addition  to  which  a  general 
tinner's  business  is  conducted,  and  the  Cling- 
man  gas  machine,  a  device  for  lighting  and 
heating,  is  manufactured.  In  evidence  of  the 
success  with  which  this  firm  has  met  it  is  nec- 
essary only  to  refer  to  the  number  of  years  it 
has  been  in  business  and  the  name  and  charac- 
ter it  enjoys  in  the  industrial  world. 

During  the  late  Civil   war    Mr.    Buvinger, 


&YVt>OZ^ 


<P  ??^' 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


321 


though  little  more  than  a  boy,  saw  service  in 
the  cause  of  his  country.  He  was  with  what 
were  known  as  the  "  Squirrel  Hunters  "  during 
the  Kirby  Smith  raid,  this  organization  having 
been  called  out  in  1862  by  the  governor  of 
Ohio.  His  next  service  began  in  1863,  when, 
as  a  member  of  company  B,  Fourth  Independ- 
ent battalion,  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry,  he 
served  for  nine  months  in  Kentucky,  Tennes- 
see and  Virginia,  or  until  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  enlistment  in  February,  1864,  when 
he  returned  to  Dayton.  In  May,  1864,  when 
the  Ohio  national  guard  was  called  out  and 
mustered  into  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
first  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  Mr. 
Buvinger  went  with  it  as  a  member  of  com- 
pany A,  and  as  such  did  garrison  duty  for  100 
days  in  Maryland  and  Virginia. 

Mr.  Buvinger  on  September  1,  1870,  was 
married  to  Miss  Emily  Francis  Fisk,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  who  was  born  at  Centerville,  Ohio, 
in  1848.  She  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Dayton,  and  has  passed  the  greater 
part  of  her  life  in  this  city,  having  come  here 
when  a  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buvinger's  only 
child  —  Hurd  Edward  - —  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buvinger  are  mem- 
bers of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Buvinger  is  a  strong  adherent 
of  the  republican  party.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  Royal 
Arcanum,  National  Union  and  G.  A.  R. 

As  a  citizen  and  business  man  Mr.  Buvin- 
ger occupies  a  prominent  place  in  the  Gem 
City.  Enterprising,  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, he  has  contributed  his  share  to  the 
building  up  and  development  of  the  city  and 
of  her  enterprises  and  institutions. 

Henry  Buvinger,  deceased  father  of  E.  E. 
Buvinger,  and  one  of  the  early  citizens  of 
Dayton,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Pa.,  in  1807. 
The  ancestry  of  Mr.  Buvinger  is  traceable  to 
Bavaria,  Germany.       The  founder  of  the  fam- 


ily in  America  was  Killian  Buvinger,  great- 
grandfather of  Edward  E.,  who  was  a  Bava- 
rian of  French  Huguenot  extraction.  He 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
in  the  year  1749.  His  son,  Leonard,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  did  gal- 
lant service  for  his  country  at  Brandywine  and 
elsewhere  throughout  the  great  struggle  for  in- 
dependence. George  Buvinger,  son  of  Leon- 
ard, and  grandfather  of  Edward  E.,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1781,  and  took  part  in  the 
war  of  18 12,  commanding  a  company  of  Penn- 
sylvania militia  at  the  battle  of  North  Point. 

Henry  Buvinger  came  to  Dayton  in  1835, 
but  in  January,  1837,  he  returned  east  and  at 
Baltimore  was  married  to  Cassandra  Everest. 
The  same  year,  however,  he  and  his  wife  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  resided  here  continu- 
ously until  their  deaths.  Mr.  Buvinger  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  which  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed in  Dayton  for  many  years,  and  was  one 
of  the  best  known  in  that  line  of  business  in 
the  city.  He  was  the  oldest  Odd  Fellow  in 
Dayton  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  original  lodge  of  this  order  in 
Baltimore,  and  from  1835  to  1888  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Montgomery  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  of  Day- 
ton. For  over  forty  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was 
a  democrat  up  to  the  time  of  the  firing  on 
Fort  Sumter,  in  1861,  when  he  became  a  re- 
publican. During  the  war  Mr.  Buvinger  was 
a  volunteer,  serving  at  different  times,  and  was 
at  Pittsburg  Landing  for  the  purpose  of  bear- 
ing wounded  soldiers  off  the  field.  His  death 
occurred  in  1888,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  1885. 
The  Everest  family  is  of  English  origin,  and 
the  first  mention  of  the  name  in  the  United 
States,  so  far  as  known,  is  made  in  the  annals 
of  Maryland  about  the  year  1737.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Buvinger  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  George  W. ;  Francis  Leon- 
ard, deceased;  Hester  Ann,  deceased;  Edward 


322 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


Everest;  Eliza  B.,  who  became  the  wife  of 
James  M.  Chancellor,  of  Dayton;  and  Amanda 
C,  wife  of  S.  Byron  Williams,  of  Dayton. 


*y    ■*  ENRY  WEBBERT,    the   well-known 

f~\    contractor    and     builder,     of    Fourth 

F    street  and   Broadway,  Dayton,  Ohio, 

was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa., 

May  15,  1834,  and  when  a  child  of  four  years 

was  brought  by  his  parents  to   Dayton,  Ohio, 

of  which  city  he  has  now  been   a  resident   for 

fifty-eight  years,  living  during  this  entire  period 

within  one  square  of  his  present  residence. 

Melchor  and  Ann  (Bosler)  Webbert,  the  par- 
ents of  Henry  Webbert,  were  also  natives  of 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  where  the  father  was 
a  contractor  and  builder,  but  died  at  the  early 
age  of  forty  years  near  Noblesville,  Ind.,  where 
his  remains  lie  interred;  the  mother  died  in 
Dayton  in  her  ninetieth  year 'and  was  interred 
in  Woodland  cemetery.  Of  the  children  born  to 
Melchor  and  Ann  Webbert,  Henry  is  the  only 
son,  and  Mrs.  Rachel  Wagner,  of  Dayton,  is 
the  only  daughter.  Mrs.  Ann  Webbert,  had, 
however,  prior  to  her  union  with  Melchor 
Webbert,  borne  to  her  former  husband  one 
daughter,  now  Mrs.  Catherine  Long,  of  Dayton. 

Henry  Webbert  was  educated  in  Dayton, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  became  an 
apprentice  to  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which 
he  served  until  he  became  fully  competent  to 
superintend  the  construction  of  buildings,  and 
when  twenty  years  old  began  his  life  work, 
which  has  consisted  chiefly  in  contracting  and 
building  in  Dayton  and  neighboring  cities  and 
towns.  For  eight  years  past  he  has  been  en- 
gaged with  his  son  in  the  plumbing  business. 
For  seven  years  he  has  been  a  director  in  the 
West  Side  Building  &  Loan  association. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Webbert  took  place, 
in  1854,  with  Miss  Cornelia  Brooks,  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  but,  at  the  time  of  marriage,  a 


resident  of  Dayton,  her  parents  having  settled 
in  this  city  more  than  half  a  century  ago.  To 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webbert  have  been 
born  three  children — Charles  is  a  plumber  and 
gas-fitter  of  Dayton,  and  is  married;  Lucy  A. 
is  the  wife  of  A.  G.  Feight,  auditor  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio;  and  William,  a  brick- 
work contractor,  of  Dayton,  is  unmarried. 

Mr.  Webbert  has  been  an  eye-witness  of 
the  strong  and  healthy  growth  of  his  adopted 
city  within  the  past  half-century,  and  in  this 
substantial  growth  he  has  himself  been  no 
small  factor.  Being  a  republican  in  politics, 
he  has  served  for  four  years  as  a  member  of  the 
city  council,  and  has  been  a  judge  of  election  in 
his  precinct  for  the  past  sixteen  years;  he  was  a 
charter  member  of  Miami  lodge  No.  32,  K.  of  P., 
and  also  charter  member  of  Fraternal  lodge  No. 
510,  I.  O.O.  F.  Of  the  latter  he  is  a  past  grand, 
and  he  is  likewise  a  member  of  Gem  City  lodge 
No.  34,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  In  this 
fraternal  work  Mr.  Webbert  has  been  active 
and  efficient  in  the  performance  of  his  duties. 
Mrs.  Webbert  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  while  Mr.  Webbert  is 
liberal  in  his  religious  views  and  does  not  affil- 
iate with  any  particular  congregation.  He 
has,  nevertheless,  always  led  a  correct  and 
upright  life,  and  his  name  is  without  stain  or 
blemish,  either  as  a  business  man  or  a  citizen. 


eDWIN  S.  FAIR  is  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  police  force,  ranking  as  ser- 
geant, and  has  charge  of  the  West 
Side  precinct.  He  is  a  native  of  this 
city,  born  March  9,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Annie  (Frederick)  Fair,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of 
New  Jersey.  The  father  came  to  Dayton  in 
1833,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  following  that  occupation 
here  for  many  years.       He  put   character  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


323 


honesty  into  his  building,  and  the  old  residents 
bear  testimony  as  to  his  genuine  worth  and 
good  qualities.  He  died  February  3,  1894,  in 
his  seventy-eighth  year.  He  had  won  Masonic 
honors,  and  stood  well  in  the  estimation  of  his 
fellow  craftsmen.  His  wife  died  August  7, 
1889,  leaving  behind  her  a  fragrant  memory. 

Mr.  Fair,  the  subject  of  this  writing,  was 
reared  in  Dayton  until  he  was  six  years  of  age, 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Huntington,  Ind. 
Two  years  later  they  returned  to  Ohio  and 
settled  at  Middletown,  but  the  year  1869  saw 
them  once  more  in  this  city.  Mr.  Fair  was 
educated  mainly  in  the  schools  at  Middletown, 
and  when  his  parents  came  back  to  Dayton 
the  boy  of  sixteen  thought  it  was  time  to  care 
for  himself.  Accordingly  he  sought  for  em- 
ployment, finding  it  with  S.  N.  Brown  &  Co., 
with  whom  he  remained  for  six  years.  In  1875 
he  secured  a  more  desirable  and  profitable  sit- 
uation with  the  firm  of  Pinneo  &  Daniels,  with 
whom  he  continued  until  his  appointment  on 
the  police  force  of  the  city,  in  the  month  of 
February,  1877.  Here  he  found  a  field  that 
affords  room  for  the  exercise  of  those  qualities 
of  activity  and  courage  that  are  so  pronounced 
in  his  make-up.  As  an  officer  of  the  police  he 
has  displayed  great  administrative  abilities. 
These  were  recognized  by  his  promotion  to  a 
sergeancy  in  1886,  and  by  his  detail  to  the 
charge  of  the  various  precincts  of  the  city  in 
succession.  He  has  been  in  control  of  every 
precinct  except  the  first.  In  1894  he  was 
placed  in  his  present  position  in  charge  of  the 
West  Side  precinct. 

Officer  Fair  was  married  March  9,  1875,  to 
Clarabell  Arnold,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary 
Arnold,  old  residents  of  this  city.  By  this  mar- 
riage he  became  the  father  of  five  children. 
The  three  elder  children  are  boys,  Edwin  A., 
LeRoy,  and  Arthur  B. ;  the  two  younger  being 
girls,  Bessie  and  Katie. 

Officer  Fair  has  been  a  faithful  worker  in 


several  of  the  secret  organizations  of  the  city, 
being  prominent  in  the  Odd  Fellows,  which 
order  he  joined  in  1882,  and  having  been  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  for  twelve 
years,  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  for  eight 
years.  He  is  also  a  recent  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen.  In  church  relations  he 
and  his  family  are  associated  with  the  United 
Brethren  denomination. 


eDWIN  P.  MATTHEWS,  attorney-at- 
law,    of   Dayton,   Ohio,   was  born  in 
this  city  March  22,  1858,  and  is  a  son 
of  Judge  Fitzjames  Matthews,  of  the 
superior  court  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  his  mother 
is   Frances  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Parrott, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Dayton. 

Edwin  P.  Matthews  was  reared  in  Dayton, 
and  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  and  afterward  attended 
Kenyon  college,  being  a  member  of  the  class 
of  1879.  Later  he  read  law  in  the  office  of 
Warren  Munger,  of  Dayton,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  May  5,  1880.  He  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  George  O.  Warrington,  the 
firm  continuing  for  about  five  years,  since 
which  time  Mr.  Matthews  has  practiced  alone. 
In  1888  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city 
council  from  the  First  ward,  was  re-elected  in 
1890,  and  during  the  years  1889  and  1890  was 
president  of  the  council.  In  1892  he  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  deputy  supervisors  of 
elections  of  Montgomery  county,  and  was 
appointed  city  solicitor  May  1,  1895.  Since 
October,  1894,  he  has  been  United  States 
commissioner. 

Mr.  Matthews  was  married  October  12, 
1883,  to  Miss  Edna  M.  Mills,  a  daughter  of 
William  M.  Mills,  of  Dayton.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  four  children, 
named  as  follows:  William  Mills,  Margaret 
A.,  Fitch  James,  and  Edwin  P.,  Jr. 


324 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


*y  ^  ENRY  ZWICK,  prominent  among  the 
l'^  representative  and  progressive  citizens 
P  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  secretary  and 
vice-president  of  the  Zwick  &  Green- 
wald  Wheel  company,  of  which  concern  ex- 
tended mention  is  elsewhere  made.  Mr.  Zwick 
was  born  in  Dayton  on  July  5,  1855,  and  is  the 
eldest  son  of  the  late  Ernst  and  Sophia  (Wilke) 
Zwick,  of  whom  a  biography  will  be  found  in 
this  volume.  The  education  of  Henry  Zwick 
was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city,  in  the  Miami  Commercial  college,  of  Day- 
ton, and  at  the  German  Baptist  college  at 
Monee,  111.  During  the  intervals  of  attending 
school  and  finishing  his  education  Mr.  Zwick 
worked  in  the  factory,  assisting  his  father,  so 
as  to  become  entirely  acquainted  with  the  busi- 
ness, not  only  in  the  manufacture  of  wheels 
and  wheel  stock,  but  also  in  the  purchasing  of 
timber,  and  later  in  selling  the  product  on  the 
road  all  over  this  country.  After  his  father 
sold  his  interest  in  the  Zwick,  Pinneo  & 
Daniels  Wheel  company  and  founded  the 
Zwick  &  Greenwald  Wheel  company  in  1881, 
Henry  became  a  charter  member  of  that  com- 
pany, and  was  elected  its  secretary,  which  posi- 
tion he  has  held  ever  since,  and  in  1896  was 
elected  vice-president. 

The  Zwick  &  Greenwald  Wheel  company 
is  one  of  the  leading  wheel  manufactories  of 
the  country.  Its  business,  founded  on  a  solid 
footing  by  the  elder  Mr.  Zwick,  has  continued 
to  growand  expand  from  year  to  year  until  it  has 
reached  mammoth  proportions.  While  great 
credit  is  due  and  cheerfully  given  to  the  elder 
Mr.  Zwick,  for  his  sagacious  management  of  the 
concern  during  its  early  years,  yet  much  credit 
is  also  due  to  the  excellent  business  qualifica- 
tions brought  to  bear  upon  the  conduct  of  the 
business  of  the  present  time  by  its  able  secre- 
tary and  vice-president. 

Mr.  Zwick  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  Ger- 
man   Baptist  church,    and  is  president  of  the 


board  of  trustees  of  the  Second  German  Bap- 
tist church  (of  the  Regular  Baptist  denomina- 
tion), of  Dayton.  He  is  also  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  German  Baptist  Pub- 
lication society  with  headquarters  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  is,  as  was  his  father  before  him,  well 
and  favorably  known  among  the  congregation 
at  large. 

On  December  26,  1876,  Mr.  Zwick  was 
married  to  Miss  Bertha,  eldest  daughter  of 
Louis  and  Elizabeth  Faul,  of  Dayton.  Mrs. 
Zwick  was  born  in  Dayton,  and  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools,  in  which  she  was  also  a 
teacher  for  five  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zwick 
the  following  children  have  been  born:  Sophie 
E. ,  named  for  her  grandmothers;  Henry  L.  E., 
named  for  his  father  and  grandfathers;  Will- 
iam S.  J.,  named  for  all  his  uncles;  and  Mary 
B.,  named  for  her  mother  and  aunt. 


SEV.  LEANDER  S.  KEYSER,  A.  M., 
B.  D.,  managing  editor  of  the  Lu- 
theran Evangelist,  published  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
county,  March  13,  1856,  and  is  the  eldest  son 
of  Prof.  David  and  Barbara  A.  (Biddle)  Key- 
ser,  also  natives  of  Tuscarawas  county,  and 
both  of  German  descent.  His  maternal  great- 
grandfather came  directly  from  Germany,  and 
settled  in  Chambersburg,  Pa.  His  grandpar- 
ents came  early  in  life  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Tuscarawas  county. 

Prof.  David  Keyser  was  educated  in  his 
native  county,  and  for  a  number  of  years  fol- 
lowed the  vocation  of  teaching,  combined  with 
farming.  Prior  to  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
he  moved  to  Daviess  county,  Ind. ,  and  there 
enlisted  in  the  Ninety-first  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  dying  from  rheumatic  fever  in  1863, 
while  still  in  the  service.  His  widow  re-mar- 
ried, now  bears  the  name  of  Wook,  and  is  a 
resident  of  Elkhart  county,  Ind.      Of  the  four 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


327 


children  born  to  Prof.  Keyser  and  wife  —  two 
sons  and  two  daughters — the  latter  two  died 
in  infancy  ;  the  survivors  are  Leander  S.  and 
his  brother,  Albert  Keyser,  who  is  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  Elkhart,  Ind. 

Rev.  Mr.  Keyser  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
in  a  select  school  in  Shanesville,  Ohio.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  teaching  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home,  doing  this  chiefly 
that  he  might  acquire  means  more  thoroughly 
to  educate  himself.  He  was  a  student  at  the 
Ohio  Normal  university,  Ada,  Ohio  ;  at  the 
Indiana  university,  of  Bloomington,  and  at  the 
theological  seminary  connected  with  Witten- 
berg college,  Springfield,  Ohio,  completing 
here  a  thorough  and  ample  preparation  for  the 
Christian  ministry.  From  that  time  he  was 
engaged  in  ecclesiastical  labors,  until  he  was 
selected  lor  the  position  of  managing  editor  of 
the  Lutheran  Evangelist  in  1894.  His  first 
pastorate  was  at  La  Grange,  Ind.,  where  he 
remained  two  years  ;  he  was  then  minister  at 
Elkhart,  Ind.,  for  six  years,  and  at  Springfield, 
Ohio,  for  six  years.  The  Lutheran  Evangel- 
ist is  one  of  the  three  principal  publications  of 
the  Lutheran  church  of  the  general  synod. 
This  publication  was  established  in  1876,  and 
is  published  from  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  Wash- 
ington, D.  O,  the  senior  editor  of  the  journal, 
Rev.  J.  G.  Butler,  D.  D.,  being  a  resident  of 
the  latter  city.  Mr.  Keyser  has  general  con- 
trol of  the  interests  of  the  Evangelist. 

Mr.  Keyser  has  always  been  allied  with  the 
republican  party,  although  never  aggressive  in 
his  political  views.  In  this  he  has  followed  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  honored  father,  who  was 
with  that  party  from  the  date  of  its  organiza- 
tion. He  is  a  prohibitionist  from  settled  con- 
viction, though  he  has  never  thought  it  wise 
to  affiliate  with  the  political  movement  of  that 
name.      He  has  been  from  a  boy  earnest  and 


strenuous  in  advocating  temperance  and  so- 
briety, and  his  voice  and  pen  are  still  active  in 
supporting  his  views.  He  received  the  degree 
of  bachelor  of  divinity  from  his  alma  mater, 
Wittenberg  seminary,  and  that  of  master  of 
arts  was  conferred  by  both  the  Ohio  Normal 
university  and  Wittenberg  college.  Mr.  Key- 
ser is  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  public 
press,  and  his  articles  are  both  timely  and  in- 
teresting. He  is  the  author  of  three  books  that 
have  been  widely  read.  One  is  a  theolog- 
ical novel,  entitled  "The  Only  Way  Out," 
which  first  appeared  in  1890.  The  second  is 
called  "  Bird-Dom,"  and  came  from  the  press 
of  the  D.  Lothrop  company,  Boston,  and  a 
third,  "  In  Bird  Land,"  was  published  in  1894 
by  A.  C.  McClurg  &  Co..  at  Chicago.  This 
volume  has  recently  been  adopted  as  the  natural 
history  text -book  by  the  Ohio  Teachers'  Read- 
ing Circle,  an  organization  formed  among  the 
teachers  of  the  state. 

Rev.  L.  S.  Keyser  was  married  at  Elkhart, 
Ind.,  November  18,  1879,  to  Miss  Mary  C. 
Foltz,  a  native  of  that  city.  She  is  a  woman 
of  character  and  ability.  To  this  happy  union 
have  been  born  three  sons  —  Ort  A.,  Dor- 
ner  L.,  and  Teddie  S. 


aARL  FREIGAU  is  one  of  the  broad- 
minded  and  progressive  German- 
American  citizens  of  Dayton ,  who 
have  done  so  much  to  make  south- 
western Ohio  rich  and  prosperous.  This  sec- 
tion of  the  country  owes  lasting  and  deep  obli- 
gations to  this  enterprising  and  honorable  class, 
and  no  small  share  of  its  debt  in  certain  re- 
gards is  due  to  Mr.  Freigau,  who  is  secretary 
of  the  Poland  China  Record,  and  editor  of  the 
Chester  White,  a  periodical  published  annu- 
ally. He  is  a  native  of  the  province  of  Bran- 
denburg, Germany,  was  born  June  17,  1848, 
and  was  educated  at  the  agricultural  college  at 


!28 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Wittenberg,  in  the  thoroughly  practical  and 
efficient  methods  characteristic  of  German  in- 
struction. 

Mr.  Freigau  came  to  this  country  in 
and  devoted  some  time  to  travel  throughout 
the  United  States,  seeking  to  know  the  land 
and  to  familiarize  himself  with  its  habits  and 
customs  before  entering  into  business.  He 
somewhat  accidentally  drifted  into  his  present 
business,  that  of  sketching  live  stock  and  pre- 
paring pedigrees,  and  in  [876  established  the 
business  of  recording  thoroughbred  hogs.  This 
at  first  included  the  records  of  Europe,  especi- 
ally of  Germany.  This  part  of  the  business 
was,  however,  discontinued  when  a  record  was 
established  across  the  water.  Mr.  Freigau  lo- 
cated in  this  city  in  1881,  previously  spending 
his  time  traveling  among  the  breeders  of  thor- 
oughbred stock  in  different  sections  of  the 
country.  The  Record  was  established  in  1876, 
and  the  work  of  gathering  data  was  commenced. 
This  work  occupied  two  years  and  the  first 
record  appeared  in  1878,  since  which  time  one 
book  has  appeared  each  year.  The  Chester 
White  Record  was  established  in  1885,  and  a 
volume  has  appeared  biennially  since  that  date. 
In  the  compilation  and  publication  of  this  ex- 
tensive and  valuable  work  Mr.  Freigau  has 
taken  the  initiative,  and  has  no  doubt  accom- 
plished more  toward  the  establishment  of  re- 
liable pedigrees  of  stock  than  any  other  man 
in  America.  Competent  assistants  are  em- 
ployed, and  the  publication  of  these  volumes  is 
had  by  contract  in  periods  of  five  years  or  less. 

Mr.  Freigau  was  married  in  this  city,  in 
1876,  to  Miss  Alice  Woodman,  a  member  of 
one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Montgomery 
county,  where  she  was  born.  They  are  the 
parents  of  five  children,  all  living  at  home. 
John,  the  first-born  son,  is  in  his  father's  busi- 
ness, while  Earnest,  the  second  son,  is  an  ap- 
prenl  il  a  mechanical  trade;  Charles  is  at 
wi  irk  in  a  grocery,  and  Roy  and  Ivy  are  still  at 


school.  Mr.  Freigau  is  liberal  in  his  religious 
views,  and  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith. 
He  holds  himself  independent  in  his  political 
associations,  and  asks  for  the  best  men  and 
measures,  irrespective  of  party  stamp.  His 
parents  never  crossed  the  ocean,  but  lived  al- 
ways in  Germany,  where  his  father  was  a  pros- 
perous dairyman,  and  lived  to  round  out  his 
seventy-fourth  year.  Mother  Freigau  survives 
at  a  ripe  old  age,  full  of  years  and  honor.  Her 
son,  our  subject,  is  the  only  representative  of 
his  family  that  has  ever  come  to  this  country, 
two  brothers  and  two  sisters  still  living  in  the 
fatherland. 


aHARLES  EUGENE  ROWE,  secre- 
tary of  the  Dayton  board  of  water 
works  trustees,  was  born  on  a  farm 
just  west  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  May 
12,  1857,  being  the  son  of  William  H.  and 
Clarissa  S.  (Norris)  Rowe,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  they  were 
reared  to  mature  years.  After  their  marriage, 
in  their-  native  city,  they  turned  their  faces 
westward,  taking  up  their  abode  in  Cincinnati 
about  the  year  1845.  There  the  father,  who 
was  a  man  of  signal  business  ability  and  unim- 
peachable integrity,  engaged  in  the  pork  pack- 
ing business,  which  he  continued  until  the 
memorable  gold  excitement,  which  drew  so 
many  to  California  in  1S49,  so  affected  him 
that  he  became  one  of  the  argonauts  of  that 
year,  spending  some  time  in  the  gold  fields  of 
the  far  western  state.  His  first  trip  was  made 
overland,  and  was  attended  with  the  vicissi- 
tudes and  dangers  incidental  to  the  long  and 
wearisome  journeys  over  mountain  and  plain 
in  those  early  days.  He  subsequently  made  a 
second  trip  by  land,  and  his  third  trip  to  the 
Golden  state  was  made  by  water,  via  Cape 
Horn.  For  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  street 
contracting  in  San  Francisco,  but  finally  longed 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


329 


to  return  to  the  scenes  of  an  older  civilization, 
and  accordingly  retraced  his  steps  to  Ohio. 
He  located  on  a  farm  near  Dayton,  devoting 
his  attention  to  its  cultivation  until  1869,  when 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  this  city,  where  he 
was  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  in  business. 
While  still  residing  on  his  farm,  he  was  called 
upon  to  serve  in  the  capacity  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  he  was  also  incumbent  as  infirmary 
director  of  Montgomery  count}'  for  two  terms. 
His  patriotism  was  manifested  at  the  time  of 
the  Mexican  war,  in  which  he  rendered  loyal 
and  effective  service.  The  death  of  William 
H.  Rowe  occurred  in  Dayton  on  New  Year's 
eve  of  the  year  1S86,  at  which  time  he  was  in 
his  sixty-fourth  year.  His  life  had  been  one 
of  close  application  and  much  usefulness,  and 
in  his  demise  the  community  mourned  the  loss 
of  a  good  man  and  valued  citizen.  His  widow 
still  survives,  retaining  her  residence  in  the 
city  of  Dayton. 

Charles  E.  Rowe  passed  his  childhood  days 
in  the  parental  home  near  Dayton,  until  the 
age  of  twelve  years,  when  his  parents  removed 
to  the  city.  Here  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  in  1876  supplemented  this  train- 
ing by  a  special  course  of  study  in  the  Miami 
Commercial  college  located  here.  Prior  to 
this  he  had  assumed  practical  responsibilities, 
having,  in  1872,  secured  a  position  as  errand 
boy  in  the  dry-goods  establishment  of  Prugh, 
Spielman  &  Prugh,  on  Third  street.  In  1874, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Webbert,  Jones  & 
Co.,  coal  dealers,  and  held  a  clerical  position 
at  their  yards,  located  at  the  corner  of  Third 
and  Montgomery  streets.  He  remained  with 
this  firm  about  three  and  one-half  years,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  period  the  business  was 
purchased  by  E.  O.  Yaile,  who  was  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Cincinnati.  The  pro- 
prietor entrusted  the  business  to  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Rowe,  who,  in  1880,  associated  himself 
with  C.  E.  Lighthall  and  effected  the  purchase 


of  the  enterprise  with  which  he  had  so  long 
been  identified.  This  association  continued 
until  1882,  when  Mr.  Lighthall  purchased  his 
partner's  interest,  after  which  Mr.  Rowe  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  Bradstreet  Mercantile 
agency  about  six  months.  Subsequently  he 
again  became  identified  with  the  coal  business, 
associating  himself  with  John  A.  Murphy,  with 
whom  he  continued  until  May  1,  1887,  when 
he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  of  the  city 
water  department  of  Dayton.  This  place  he 
retained  until  April  19,  1S90,  when  he  received 
deserved  promotion,  being  chosen  as  secretary 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
C.  A.  Herbig,  who  was  then  appointed  city 
auditor  and  who  is  at  the  present  time  city 
comptroller.  On  May  1,  1896,  Mr.  Rowe  is 
now  serving  his  tenth  year  as  assistant  and 
secretary  of  this- department  of  municipal  af- 
sairs,  and  within  this  period  the  earnings  of 
the  department  have  heen  increased  from  $56,- 
000  to  $305,000,  while  the  pipe  mileage  has 
been  extended  from  thirty-seven  to  100  miles. 
Mr.  Rowe  is  a  member  of  the  American  Water 
Works  association,  and  of  the  American  So- 
ciety of  Municipal  Improvements. 

Mr.  Rowe  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the 
democratic  party,  and  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause.  He  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  both  the  city  and  count}'  executive  com- 
mittees of  his  party,  having  held  these  two 
places  simultaneously,  while  he  is  also  promi- 
nently identified  with  several  political  clubs.  In 
his  fraternal  relations  he  is  a  member  of  Lin- 
den lodge  No.  412,  K.  of  P.,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  organizers,  and  in  which  he  has 
passed  all  the  chairs,  having  held  the  offices  of 
past  chancellor,  representative  and  district  dep- 
uty grand  chancellor  at  the  same  time,  and  be- 
ing now  master  of  exchequer  of  the  lodge.  He 
was  originally  a  member  of  Iola  lodge  No.  83. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Gem  City  lodge  No. 
795,    I.   O.   O.  F.,   of  court  No.    1000,    Inde- 


330 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


pendent  Order  of  Foresters,  and  of  Columbia 
lodge  No.  1280,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor. 

Mr.  Rowe  was  married  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1879,  to  Miss  Jennie  K.  Taylor,  daughter  of  C. 
W.  Taylor,  of  Xenia,  Ohio.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased 
—Harry  E.  and  Helen  E.  having  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  surviving  children  are  Hazel 
Aletha  and  Mildred  Catherine.  Mildred  re- 
ceived her  name  under  somewhat  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances. The  water  board  of  Dayton  was 
assembled  in  the  tower  on  the  American  side  at 
Niagara  Falls,  and  here  decided  by  vote  what 
should  be  the  name  borne  by  the  little  daughter 
of  their  popular  secretary,  the  result  being  as 
noted. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowe  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  church,  having  been  identified  with 
the  First  Reformed  church  from  about  1881 
until  1895,  when  they  became  members  of  the 
Memorial  Reformed  church,  upon  presentation 
of  their  letters  from  the  former  organization. 
Mr.  Rowe  was  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee of  the  Memorial  church  edifice,  having 
acted  as  treasurer  of  the  committee  while  the 
building  was  in  progress  of  erection,  and  being 
at  present  the  treasurer  of  the  church  society. 
He  and  his  wife  enjoy  a  deserved  popularity  in 
the  social  circles  of  Dayton,  having  a  wide 
acquaintance  and  dispensing  a  most  cordial 
and  gracious  hospitality  at  their  attractive 
home. 


sr 


'ILLIAM  KEIFER  CALLAHAN, 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  W.  P. 
Callahan  &  Co.,  and  one  of  the 
well-known  young  manufacturers  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city  on  Janu- 
ary 8,  1864,  and  is  the  son  of  William  P.  Cal- 
lahan, of  whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Mr.  Callahan  was  educated  in 
the  Dayton  public  schools  and  at  the    Massa- 


chusetts Institute  of  Technology  at  Boston, 
taking  a  course  in  mechanical  engineering  at 
the  latter.  He  entered  the  shops  of  W.  P. 
Callahan  &  Co.  as  an  apprentice  in  1884,  and 
the  following  year,  upon  attaining  his  majority, 
he  was  taken  into  the  firm.  Notwithstanding 
his  admission  to  the  firm,  he  continued  and 
completed  his  apprenticeship,  and  then  entered 
the  office.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Gem 
City  Building  association.  In  1891  Mr.  Calla- 
han was  married  to  Miss  Lida  Ohmer,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Ohmer,  of  Dayton,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  one  daughter — Charlotte. 
Mr.  Callahan  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  including  the  Knights  Templar  and 
Thirty-second  degree  Scottish  rite  and  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a  charter  member 
of  the  Elks  society. 


>-j»AMES  B.  HUNTER,  county  commis- 
■  sioner  of  Montgomery  county,  was  born 
m  1  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  September  23, 
1 84 1.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Matilda  (Boyer)  Hunter,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  who,  in 
1852,  brought  their  family  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  county.  They 
are  now  both  deceased.  Their  lives  were 
marked  by  industry  and  economy,  virtues 
which  were  encouraged  and  stimulated  by  the 
surroundings  of  those  days. 

James  B.  Hunter  was  eleven  years  old  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Montgomery 
county.  Here  he  grew  upon  his  father's  farm 
in  Jefferson  township,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  Remaining  on 
the  farm  until  1861  he  then  enlisted  in  com- 
pany D,  Thirty-ninth  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  in  that  organization  for 
three  years  in  the  south  and  west,  being  at- 
tached to  the  army  of  the  Tennessee  most 
of  the  time.      His  term   of  enlistment  expiring 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


331 


in  1864,  he  was  honorably  discharged.  Dur- 
ing his  war  experience  he  was  twice  wounded, 
once  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  in  the  foot,  and  again  be- 
fore Atlanta,  where  he  received  a  gun-shot 
wound  in  the  right  arm. 

After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Hunter  spent  a 
little  over  a  year  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where 
he  war.  connected  with  the  railroad  commissary 
department.  Immediately  after  the  war  closed 
he  spent  two  years  in  Louisiana,  engaged  in 
the  work  of  constructing  levees  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  Returning  then  to  Montgomery 
county  he  was  engaged  for  eighteen  years  in 
teaching  school  and  in  farming.  In  1887  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners,  and  served  for  three  years.  In 
1 89 1  he  was  again  elected  for  a  similar  term, 
and  in  1984  he  was  again  re-elected,  his  pres- 
term  of  office  expiring  in  1897. 

Mr.  Hunter  owns  a  farm  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship. He  was  married  in  1868  to  Catherine 
Johnson,  who  died  in  1874,  leaving  one  son, 
Leslie.  Mr.  Hunter  was  married  the  second 
time,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Beachley,  by 
whom  he  has  had  two  children,  Edgar  and 
Vernon.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic. Mr.  Hunter  has  lived  in  Montgomery 
county  practically  the  whole  of  his  life,  is  well- 
known  by  most  of  its  citizens,  and  being  hon- 
ored as  he  has  been  by  repeated  election  to  re- 
sponsible positions,  it  is  clear  that  the  people 
fully  appreciate  his  integrity  and  honesty  of 
character. 


>-j*OHN  McGREGOR,  vice-president  of 
M  the  Crawford,  McGregor  &  Canby  com- 
/•  1  pany,  manufacturers  of  lasts,  was  born 
three  miles  east  of  Dayton,  November 
4,  1836.  His  father,  Thomas  McGregor,  came 
from  Scotland,  in  1828,  landing  in  Nova  Scotia 
and  remaining  there   two  years,  and  in  1830 


came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Little 
Beaver,  Pa.,  where  he  gained  employment  in 
a  paper-mill,  he  being  a  papermaker  by  the  old 
hand  process.  While  in  this  position  he 
learned  that  he  could  secure  a  place  as  fore- 
man for  Phillips  &  Alexander,  whose  mill  was 
one-half  mile  west  of  Harries  station,  and  ac- 
cordingly he  left  Little  Beaver  in  1834,  re- 
moving to  Montgomery  county.  After  eight 
years  of  service  with  Phillips  &  Alexander,  he 
operated  a  woolen  mill  at  a  point  two  miles 
from  Tippecanoe,  Miami  county,  for  two  years, 
and  returning  to  Montgomery  county  pur- 
chased the  Phillips  &  Alexander  mill,  of  which 
he  had  been  foreman,  and  moved  it  to  Dayton 
in  1848.  Mr.  McGregor  died  in  Dayton  in 
1866,  in  his  seventieth  year. 

His  wife  was  Janet  Watson,  of  Scotland, 
their  marriage  taking  place  in  1818.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1874,  in  her  seventy-seventh 
year.  One  of  their  sons,  Thomas  McGregor, 
together  with  Joseph  Parrott,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Parrott  &  MeGregor,  originated  what 
is  now  the  W.  P.  Callahan  Co.,  manufactur- 
ers of  cotton  seed  oil  machinery,  steam  engines, 
etc.,  Mr.  McGregor  selling  his  interest  in  the 
firm  in  1868.      He  died  in  1893. 

John  McGregor  grew  to  manhood  in  Day- 
ton and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  city.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  class 
in  the  Central  high  school,  which  was  estab- 
lished under  a  resolution  adopted  by  the  board 
of  education,  April  5.  1850,  and  was  opened 
on  April  15,  in  the  northeastern  district  school- 
house,  with  James  Campbell  as  its  principal. 
Leaving  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
young  McGregor  went  to  work  in  his  father's 
mill,  where  he  remained  for  four  years,  and 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  at  pattern  mak- 
ing with  the  firm  of  Thompson,  McGregor  & 
Co.  (now  W.  P.  Callahan  &  Co.).  Following 
his  apprenticeship  he  secured  a  position  in  the 
spring  of   1859  with  the  firm  of  Crawford  & 


332 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Stilwell,  proprietors  of  the  factory  established 
by  A.  &  Z.  Crawford.  Remaining  in  the  em- 
ploy of  this  company  as  a  workman  until  1870, 
when  Mr.  Stilwell  retired  from  the  linn.  Mr. 
McGregor  was  made  foreman  of  the  factory, 
and  in  1874  was  made  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Crawford,  Coffman  &  Co. 

In  1886  Edward  Canby  became  a  member 
of  the  company,  purchasing  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Coffman,  and  the  title  of  the  firm' then  became 
Crawford,  McGregor  &  Canby,  and  so  con- 
tinued until  March,  1896,  when  the  company 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Craw- 
ford, McGregor  &  Canby  company,  with  Mr. 
McGregor  as  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager. In  all  of  the  positions  which  Mr.  Mc- 
Gregor has  held,  he  has  proved  his  skill  as  a 
mechanic  and  his  ability  and  sound  judgment 
as  a  man  of  business. 

Mr.  McGregor  was  married  in  1861  to  Sa- 
rah Doyle,  who  was  born  in  Shelby,  Ohio,  in 
1 84 1,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Lucy  Doyle. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  two 
children — Mary  and  John  Watson.  Mr.  Mc- 
Gregor is  a  member  of  the  Memorial  Presby- 
terian church,  which  was  organized  in  1868  as 
a  New  School  body  of  that  denomination. 
Since  1857  Mr.  McGregor  has  been  an  Odd 
Fellow,  and  is  now  a  member  of  Wayne  lodge 
No.  10,  which  was  chartered  in  1840.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  untiring  industry,  and  his 
integrity  of  character  and  good  citizenship 
have  earned  for  him  a  high  place  in  the  esteem 
of  the  entire  community. 


lS~\  ENJAMIN  F.  HERSHEV,  a  promi- 
1<^^  nent  attorney  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
JK^J  born  in  Medway,  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
August  ii,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Christiana  (Hocker)  Hershey,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  and   came   to  Ohio  with   his  par- 


ents, Jacob  Hershey  and  wife,  in  1835,  and 
located  in  Clarke  county.  The  latter  was  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  came  to 
(  »lii' 1  with  her  parents,  John  Horker  and  wife, 
and  located  in  Randolph  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  being  among  the  early  settlers. 
There  being  no  railroad,  they  were  compelled 
to  come  in  wagons,  being  twenty-three  days 
upon  the  journey. 

When  Benjamin  F.  Hershey  was  two  years 
old,  his  parents  removed  to  Randolph  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
had  been  married,  they  having  lived  in  Clarke 
county  from  their  marriage  to  that  time.  At 
present  they  are  residing  on  a  farm  on  the 
Dayton  and  Covington  turnpike,  near  the  town 
of  Union,  purchased  by  John  Hershey  in  1866. 
John  Hershey  in  his  early  days  was  a  miller 
by  occupation,  but  in  his  later  years,  since 
purchasing  the  above  farm,  has  been  one  of 
the  successful  farmers  of  Randolph  township. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  strong  repub- 
lican. John  Hocker  and  Catharine,  his  wife, 
parents  of  Christiana,  were  influential  citizens 
of  Randolph  township,  noted  for  their  industry 
and  thrift,  and  for  their  high  moral  and  chris- 
tian characters. 

Benjamin  F.  Hershey  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  school  at  Union, 
Montgomery  county,  and  began  teaching  school 
when  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  successfully 
followed  the  profession  of  teaching  for  eighl 
years.  He  then  attended  the  Ohio  State  uni- 
versity at  Columbus  and  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
university  at  Delaware;  began  reading  law  in 
1  S8j  with  Craighead  &  Craighead  in  Dayton, 
passed  the  junior  examination  in  the  Cincin- 
nati Law  school  at  Cincinnati,  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  18S4.  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  Soon  afterward  he  began  the  p 
tice  of  law  in  Dayton,  and  continued  for  one 
year,  when  he  received  the  appointment  of 
chief  deputy  under  Sheriff  Weis,  and  remained 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


333 


in  that  position  until  January  I,  1S86.  Since 
then  he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law,  and  has  built  up  a  lucrative 
practice  in  his  profession. 

Mr.  Hershey  was  married  in  April,  1892, 
to  Minnie  E.,  oneof  the  daughters  of  Chap- 
lain William  Earnshaw,  D.  D.,  who  was 
chaplain  of  the  National  Military  home  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  from  September,  1867,  until 
his  death.  Mr.  Hershey  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Dayton,  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the   Royal  Arcanum. 


@EORGE  O.  WARRINGTON,  a  prom- 
inent young  member  of  the  Dayton 
bar,  was  born  at  South  Charleston, 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  March  3,  1855, 
and  is  a  son  of  Francis  Warrington.  The 
Warrington  family  came  originally  from  Man- 
chester, England,  near  which  city  is  a  manu- 
facturing town  by  the  name  of  Warrington, 
about  half  way  between  Manchester  and  Liver- 
pool, and  it  is  possible  at  least  that  there  is 
some  connection  between  the  name  of  the  fam- 
ily of  which  Mr.  Warrington  is  a  member,  and 
the  town  of  the  same  name.  Oswald  War- 
rington was  the  first  of  the  name  to  emigrate 
to  the  United  States,  coming  to  this  country 
about  1 8 19. 

George  O.  Warrington  was  reared  in  South 
Charleston,  and  there,  in  the  public  schools, 
received  his  preliminary  educational  training. 
After  completing  his  studies  there  he  entered 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university  at  Delaware, 
Ohio,  in  1872,  and  was  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1876.  During  the  first  part  of 
January,  1877,  he  located  in  Dayton  and  be- 
gan reading  law  in  the  office  of  Warren  Munger, 
now  deceased,  but  then  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  Dayton.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar    in     1879,    remaining,  however,  with    Mr. 


Munger  until  1S80,  when  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Edwin  P.  Matthews,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Warrington  &  Matthews.  This  firm 
continued  in  existence  until  1885,  when  it  was 
dissolved,  and  since  then  Mr.  Warrington  has 
practiced  alone,  with  gratifying  success. 

Mr.  Warrington  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity.  He  was  married  in  August, 
1879,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Work,  of  Lancaster, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Work.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  born  four  children, 
only  one  of  whom,  a  daughter  named  Louise, 
now  survives. 

Mr.  Warrington  is  a  lawyer  of  ability  and 
safe  judgment.  His  professional  standing  is  of 
the  highest,  and  his  personal  character  beyond 
reproach.  His  colleagues  at  the  bar  regard 
Mr.  Warrington  with  a  large  degree  of  trust 
and  confidence. 


aHARLES  WHEALEN,  Ohio  division 
manager,  and  manager  of  the  Dayton 
mills,  of  the  American  Strawboard 
company,  was  born  in  Franklin  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  September  17,  1844,  a  son  of  Bernard 
and  Catherine  Whealen,  and  was  but  twelve 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Huffersville, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Here,  in  the 
spring  of  1857,  he  entered  the  service  of  Clark 
&  Hawes,  who  established  the  first  strawboard 
mill  erected  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  nine  months,  Mr. 
Whalen  has  ever  since  been  with  this  concern, 
the  firm  name  having  several  times  been 
changed.  He  began  at  a  compensation  of 
$2.50  per  week,  and  worked  his  way  upward 
until  he  became  one-third  owner,  the  business 
being  then  carried  on  under  the  title  of  the 
C.  L.  Hawes  company,  which  was  later  merged 
into  the  American  Strawboard  company,  of 
which  organization  he  became  a  member  in 
July,   is;- 


334 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Mr.  Whealen  is  one  of  the  most  active  and 
enterprising  business  men  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Dayton 
Ice  Manufacturing  &  Cold  Storage  company, 
of  which  he  is  president,  and  also  of  the  Crys- 
tal Ice  Manufacturing  &  Cold  Storage  com- 
pany, of  Columbus,  of  which  he  is  vice-presi- 
dent and  director.  He  assisted  in  organizing 
the  Dayton  Brewing  company,  and  is  its  pres- 
ident; aided  in  the  organization  of  the  Ameri- 
can Casket  company,  of  Cincinnati,  and  is  its 
president;  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Siebold  Ma- 
chine company,  of  Dayton;  is  president  of  and 
stockholder  in  the  Heikes  Hand  Protective 
company,  of  Dayton,  and  a  director  in  the 
Teutonia  National  bank,  of  the  same  city. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Montgomery 
lodge  No.  5,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  the  B.  &  P.  O.  E., 
and  of  the  Social  Aid  society. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Whealen  was  solem- 
nized in  Dayton,  January  2,  1 872,  with  Miss  Liz- 
zie Corson,  daughter  of  James  Corson.  Their 
family  consists  of  four  daughters — Blanche, 
Glenn,  Elizabeth  and  Rhoda.  Mr.  Whealen, 
as  will  have  been  seen,  is  the  "architect  of  his 
own  fortune;"  he  is  public-spirited  and  liberal, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  business 
men  of  the  Gem  City. 


S^\  RAFTON  CLAGETT  KENNEDY,  a 
■  ^\    prominent  attorney  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 

\^^J  was  born  in  Harrison  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  on  the  farm  where 
his  grandfather,  Joseph  Kennedy,  settled  in 
1807.  The  Kennedy  family  came  originally 
from  Scotland,  and  settled  in  South  Carolina; 
from  that  state  they  removed  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  it  was  from  near  Shippensburg,  Cumber- 
land county,  that  state,  that  Joseph  Kennedy, 
the  grandfather  of  Grafton  C,  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  on  a    farm   of  300  acres,   four    miles 


north  of  Dayton,  which  he  had  purchased 
from  a  cousin,  the  original  owner  of  the  land. 
There  Joseph  Kennedy  remained  the  rest 
of  his  life,  dying  about  1854,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  His  wife  was  Nancy  Kerr,  who, 
like  himself,  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  who 
died  in  1 86 1 .  To  them  there  were  born  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  the  daughter  dying 
about  1855.  The  eldest  son,  Gilbert  Kennedy, 
was  a  very  prominent  lawyer  of  Dayton  and 
Cincinnati,  and  died  sometime  during  the 
eighties.  The  surviving  sons  are  John  and 
Joseph,  both  farmers,  the  latter  being  the  fa- 
ther of  Grafton  C. 

Joseph  Kennedy  was  instrumental  in  raising 
a  company  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
second  regiment  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
drilled  his  company  for  some  time  on  the  fair 
grounds.  The  understanding  was  that  the  one 
reporting  to  camp  the  largest  number  of  en- 
listed men,  should  receive  the  colonelcy  of  the 
regiment.  Mr.  Kennedy  reported  the  largest 
number  of  men  present,  and  was  thus,  as  he 
thought,  entitled  to  the  commission;  but  an- 
other reported  a  larger  number  of  men  enrolled 
for  his  company,  though  not  all  enrolled  were 
present  in  person,  and  this  man  received  the 
commission.  The  failure  of  Mr.  Kennedy  to 
become  commander  of  the  regiment  was  a  great 
disappointment  to  him  as  well  as  to  the  men  he 
had  raised  for  his  company,  but-notwithstand- 
ing  this  he  was  willing  to  serve  in  any  other 
capacity  and  to  go  to  the  front  with  the  regi- 
ment; but  the  governor  of  the  state,  becoming 
aware  of  the  true  state  of  the  case,  thought  it 
best  that  he  be  given  an  honorable  discharge, 
and  be  permitted  to  return  home,  and  this 
was  done. 

Joseph  Kennedy  married  Catharine  Clag- 
ett,  a  native  of  Maryland,  whose  father, 
Grafton  A.  Clagett,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
state.  Her  death  occurred  in  1866,  she  leav- 
ing three  children  as  follows:     Grafton  Clag- 


-&. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


337 


ett,    Gilbert,     now     deceased,    and    Caroline, 
now  Mrs.  Edward  Martin,  of  Milwaukee. 

Grafton  Clagett  Kennedy  was  born  March 
ii,  1859,  and  received  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools,  which  he  attended  dur- 
ing their  regular  sessions  and  occupied  himself 
during  vacations  with  work  upon  the  farm. 
When  he  reached  his  thirteenth  year  he  entered 
the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  and  studied  in 
them  two  years.  In  his  fifteenth  year  he 
entered  the  preparatory  department  of  Wit- 
tenberg college,  in  which  institution  he  spent 
five  years,  and  where  he  was  graduated  in 
June,  1879,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
arts.  From  this  college  he  subsequently  re- 
ceived the  honorary  degree  of  master  of  arts. 
In  September,  1879,  he  entered  as  a  student 
the  law  office  of  Conover  &  Conover.  Here 
he  remained  one  year,  and  then  read  law  two 
years  in  the  office  of  Warren  Munger,  now 
deceased.  In  May,  1882,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  in  February,  1883,  he  opened  an 
office  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  March,  1883,  he  was  appointed  United 
States  commissioner  at  Dayton  for  the  south- 
ern district  of  Ohio,  and  held  this  position 
until  October,  1894,  when  he  resigned. 

Mr.  Kennedy  practiced  law  alone  until  May, 
1888,  when  a  partnership  was  formed  between 
himself  and  Warren  Munger,  his  former  pre- 
ceptor, under  the  firm  name  of  Munger  & 
Kennedy.  On  January  1,  1893,  the  firm  be- 
came Munger,  Kennedy  &  Munger,  Harry 
L.  Munger,  son  of  Warren  Munger,  being 
admitted  to  the  firm.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued until  about  June  1,  1894,  when  War- 
ren Munger  died,  and  since  that  time  the 
firm  has  been  Kennedy  &  Munger.  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy is  an  elder  in  the  Third  street  Presby- 
terian church.  He  was  married  April  30, 1889, 
to  Miss  Louise  Achey,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
John  J.  Achey.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been    born    one    daughter    and    one  son,    viz: 


Catherine  Louise,  and  Grafton  Sherwood.  Mr. 
Kennedy  has  not  yet  reached  the  prime  of  his 
manhood  and  his  strength,  and  while  his  suc- 
cess in  the  difficult  profession  of  the  law  has 
been  most  satisfactory  to  himself  and  gratify- 
ing to  his  friends,  it  is  probable  that  even 
greater  success  awaits  him  in  the  future. 


eDWARD  B.  WESTON,  president  of 
the  Weston  Paper  Manufacturing 
company  of  Dayion,  Ohio,  and  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Weston 
Paper  company,  of  the  same  city,  was  born  in 
Bloomington,  111.,  October  6,  1863.  His 
father,  John  G.  Weston,  was  born  at  Calais, 
Washington,  county,  Me.,  and  was  a  son  of 
Irish  parents.'  Removing  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
the  early  'sixties,  he  was  here  married  to  Miss 
Louise  M.  Aull,  a  native  of  Dayton,  and  a 
daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Julia  A.  G.  Aull, 
pioneer  citizens  of  Dayton.  From  this  city 
John  G.  Weston  and  his  wife  removed  to 
Bloomington,  111.,  not  many  months  before 
Edward  B.  was  born.  Mr.  Weston  was  a 
printer  by  trade,  and  while  in  Dayton  was 
connected  with  the  city's  newspapers.  He  is 
well  remembered  by  the  local  profession.  Fol- 
lowing the  newspaper  business  in  Bloomington 
until  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  he 
then  returned  to  Dayton  and  died  there  in 
1867,  his  widow  still  residing  in  Dayton. 

Edward  B.  Weston  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  attending  the 
Sixth  district  school  and  afterward  the  inter- 
mediate school.  When  he  was  eleven  years  of 
age  he  went  to  work  in  the  notion  house  of 
Ewald  &Wiggim,  and  remained  in  the  employ 
of  the  successor  of  this  firm,  T.  C.  Wiggim. 
His  employer  becoming  insolvent,  Mr.  Weston 
then  went  to  work  for  the  Augustus  Sharp  dry- 
goods  store,  with  which  he  remained  about  six 
months,  when  he  left  to  go  with  T.  C.  Wiggim 


338 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


to  Emporia,  Kan.,  where  Mr.  Wiggim  was  the 
manager  for  E.  C.  Nichols.  With  this  firm  Mr. 
Weston  remained  about  two  years,  a  part  of 
the  time  in  Emporia,  a  part  of  the  time  in 
Wichita,  and  at  the  end  of  this  period  the  con- 
cern was  closed  out.  For  a  year  or  so  he  re- 
mained in  the  west,  in  Kansas,  in  Texas,  and 
in  the  territories,  still  in  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Wiggim,  who  was  conducting  a  general  mer- 
chandise business  at  various  points. 

Returning  to  Dayton  in  1876,  Mr.  Weston 
entered  the  employ  of  R.  A.  Rogers  &  Co., 
proprietors  of  a  paper  store,  and  while  there 
began  to  learn  the  business.  After  remaining 
with  Mr.  Rogers  for  about  eight  months,  he 
went  to  Hoglen  Bros.,  in  the  hard  wood  lum- 
ber, saw-mill  and  timber  business,  to  take 
charge  of  their  wood  department  and  teams, 
and  remained  with  them  two  years.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  he  retired  from  their  employ 
and  went  on  a  farm  for  one  season,  and  during 
the  same  fall  followed  a  threshing  machine. 
Returning  to  1  Jayton  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  John  W.  Stoddard  Manufacturing  com- 
pany, and  remained  there  for  about  two  years. 
Then,  going  on  the  road  as  salesman  of 
specialities  and  general  paper  lines  for  R.  A. 
Rogers  &.Co.,  he  continued  thus  engaged  un- 
til 1S82,  when  he  became  connected  with  Anil 
Bros. ,  paper  dealers,  and  remained  on  the 
road  for  them  until  Ma)1,  1887.  At  this  time 
Mr.  Weston  entered  upon  the  wholesale  paper 
business  at  No.  136  East  Second  street,  under 
the  firm  name  of  E.  B.  Weston  &  Co.,  the 
company  being  nominal,  and  here  he  carried  on 
business  until  1889,  when  he  removed  to  No. 
104  North  Main  street  and  continued  there  in 

vholesale  paper  business  and  in  the  manu- 
facture of  patented  paper  specialities. 

In  1893  Mr.  Weston  organized  the  Weston 

Paper  company,  and  erected  a  straw  wrapping 

r  null   at  Greenfield,  Ind.,  in   the   Indiana 

In   1  Sn  1    he  secured  the  incorpora- 


tion of  the  Weston  Paper  &  Manufacturing 
company,  taking  in  a  number  of  his  old  em- 
ployees as  members  of  the  company,  and  these 
two  companies  are  still  in  active  operation  and 
conducting  a  successful  business. 

Mr.  Weston  was  married  in  1886  to 
Blanche  Phillips,  daughter  of  Theodore  A. 
Phillips,  of  Dayton.  Two  daughters  have  been 
born  to  this  marriage,  Irma  Delight  and  Mar- 
guerite Louise.  Mr.  Weston  is  a  member  of 
Hope  lodge.  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  also  ma- 
jor of  the  uniform  rank,  in  the  same  order. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Elks  No. 
58,  of  the  Dayton  club,  arid  of  the  Dayton 
Bicycle  club.  Mr.  Weston  served  five  years 
in  the  old  Harris  Guards,  of  Dayton,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  company  A.  In  religion  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

As  a  republican  Mr.  Weston  has  been  and 
is  quite  active  in  politics,  but  he  has  never  held 
nor  sought  office.  A  successful  business  man 
of  irreproachable  character,  he  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all. 


EDWARD    E.     EUCHENHOFER,    a 

member  of  the  firm  of  Weinman  & 
Euchenhofer,  machinists,  at  20  and 
22  North  Canal  street,  was  born  in 
Dayton  October  3,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Fred- 
erick H.  and  Caroline  (Disher)  Euchenhofer. 
In  1888,  E.  E.  Euchenhofer,  in  partner- 
ship with  C.  ] .  Weinman,  founded  the  Novelty 
Machine  works,  on  St.  Clair  street,  Dayton, 
and  under  that  name  the  business  was  con- 
ducted seven  years,  when  it  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Dayton  Gas  &  Gaso- 
line Engine  company,  but  a  year  later  was 
changed  to  tin:  Dayton  Gas  Engine  &  Manu- 
facturing company,  the  concern  being  con- 
verted into  a  joint  stock  company,  with  a 
capital  of  $40,000,  and  officered  with  E.  E. 
Euchenhofer  as  president.      The   present  firm 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


;;a«i 


of  Weinman  &  Euchenhofer  was  formed  in 
May,   1896. 

Frederick  H.  Euchenhofer,  father  of  Ed- 
ward E. ,  was  born  in  Switzerland  about  the 
year  1812,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years 
came  to  America;  for  a  few  years  he  lived  in 
one  of  the  eastern  states,  and  in  1S36  came  to 
Ohio,  established  a  bakery  and  confectionery 
in  Miamisburg,  Montgomery  county,  carried 
on  a  successful  trade  until  1848,  and  then  set- 
tled in  Dayton.  Here  he  purchased  the  old 
Columbus  house,  and  carried  on  a  hotel  until 
1863,  at  the  same  time  operating  the  Third 
street  brewery,  which  he  sold  in  1867;  for  the 
next  five  years  he  operated  the  old  Tate  mill, 
and  then  re-purchased  the  Third  street  brew- 
ery, which  he  operated  until  within  a  few 
months  of  his  death.  He  was  a  thorough 
business  man,  and  always  ready  to  lend  his  aid 
to  enterprises  that  might  benefit  not  himself 
only,  but  his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  one  of 
the  charter  members  of,  and  a  director  in,  the 
Teutonia  Insurance  company  of  Dayton,  which 
is  one  of  the  most  successful,  yet  conservative, 
financial  institutions  of  the  city,  having  been 
brought  to  its  present  strength  through  the 
sound  judgment  and  business  sagacity  of  Mr. 
Euchenhofer  and  his  associates. 

Fraternally,  Frederick  H.  Euchenhofer 
was  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  member  of  the 
Harugari;  in  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran,  and 
in  politics  he  was  a  republican.  He  had  been 
twice  married,  and  to  his  first  union  was  born 
one  child — Albert — who  died  in  February, 
1892.  His  second  marriage  took  place  in 
Dayton  with  Miss  Caroline  Disher,  who  was 
born  in  Germany,  but  was  only  three  years  of 
age  when  brought  to  Fort  Jennings,  Putnam 
county,  Ohio,  by  her  parents.  To  this  union 
were  born  ten  children,  in  the  following  order: 
Rudolph,  deceased:  Edward  E.,  whose  name 
opens  this  memoir;  Sabina,  deceased;  Otto,  a 
brewer,    of     Dayton;    Julia,    wife    of    Russell 


Bates,  also  of  Dayton;  Katie,  married  to 
Henry  Godle,  of  Peoria,  111. ;  Ida,  Hugo  and 
Frederick,  all  three  deceased,  and  Alexander. 
The  mother  of  the  family  still  survives,  but 
the  father  died  in  Dayton  February  7,  1892, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  honored 
by  all  with  whom  he  had  come  in  contact, 
whether  in  business  or  in  fraternal  and  social 
relations. 

Edward  E.  Euchenhofer  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Dayton  until  fourteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Mueller,  first  as  errand  boy,  and  afterward 
as  clerk,  until  seventeen  years  old,  when  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  with  Brownell  & 
Kielmeier,  manufacturers  of  engines.  With 
this  firm  he  remained  five  years,  acquiring  a 
full  knowledge  of  machinery  and  becoming  an 
expert  in  the  manufacture  and  construction  of 
steam  engines  in  every  detail.  His  next  step 
was  to  enter  into  business  on  his  own  account, 
but  at  the  end  of  two  years  he  abandoned  this 
to  engage  in  the  dry  goods  and  notion  trade. 
After  a  year  thus  spent,  he  returned  to  his 
former  employers,  for  whom  he  did  faithful 
service  for  several  years;  was  next  appointed 
assistant  engineer  of  the  city  water-works,  and 
nine  months  later  was  appointed  chief  engi- 
neer, holding  this  responsible  position  for  five 
years.  While  serving  in  this  capacity,  Mr. 
Euchenhofer  invented  and  patented  an  auto- 
matic device  for  boilers,  for  feeding  boiler  scale 
solvents,  and  this  patent  has,  by  reason  of  its 
acknowledged  efficiency,  met  an  extensive  sale 
throughout  the  country.  His  next  step  in 
business  was  the  formation  of  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Weinman  in  the  enterprises  above 
mentioned.  Messrs.  Euchenhofer  &  \\ 
man  are  the  inventors  and  patentees  of  many 
valuable  devices  in  connection  with  engines 
and   machinery. 

In  politics  Mr.  Euchenhofer  is  a  republican, 
and  in  societary  relations    he    is   a    member  of 


340 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  Order  of  Chosen  Friends.  His  marriage 
took  place  November  9,  1877,  to  Miss  Dora 
Makley,  daughter  of  Frank  Makley,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  five  children,  Adolph, 
Carl,  Walter,  Clara  and  Edna.  The  parents 
and  children  are  all  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


>*j*  RUSSELL  JOHNSTON,  representa- 
■  tive  merchant  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
(•  1  member  of  the  large  dry-goods  house  of 
Elder  &  Johnston,  was  born  in  the  year 
1854,  in  the  town  of  Ayton,  Berwickshire, 
Scotland.  He  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
dry-goods  business  as  a  clerk  in  a  local  store. 
He  served  as  an  apprentice  for  a  term  of  five 
years,  and  continued  for  eighteen  months 
afterward  in  the  same  establishment.  He  then 
came  to  the  United  States  and  entered  the  dry- 
goods  store  of  Brown,  Thompson  &  Co.,  of 
Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  continued  for  ten 
years.  In  18S3,  Mr.  Johnston  came  to  Day- 
ton, and  in  March  of  that  year  the  present  dry- 
goods  establishment  of  Elder  &  Johnston  was 
founded.  Their  first  location  was  at  Nos.  1 14 
and  1 16  East  Third  street,  where  they  opened 
with  a  comparatively  small  stock,  the  firm's 
capital  being  limited.  Two  and  a  half  years 
later  the  business  had  grown  to  such  an  extent 
that  larger  quarters  were  necessary,  and  the 
firm  removed  to  Nos.  24  and  26  East  Third 
street,  where  they  conducted  both  a  wholesale 
and  retail  business,  employing  eighty  people 
in  the  establishment.  The  firm  continued  at 
the  above  stand  until  November,  1896,  when 
they  removed  to  the  new  Reibold  building,  on 
South  Main  street,  where  they  occupy  two 
floors  and  the  basement  with  probably  the 
largest  stock  of  dry  goods  in  the  city.  The  in- 
tention of  the  firm  is  ultimately  to  develop 
their  business  into  a  department  store,  in  which 
event  it  will  be  the  first  of  the  kind  in  Dayton. 


Mr.  Johnston's  success  in  life  has  been  remark- 
able. He  began  his  life  work  as  a  boy  of  four- 
teen years  of  age,  as  an  apprentice,  and  now, 
as  a  man  of  only  forty-two  years,  he  has 
reached  a  position  as  equal  partner  in  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  successful  dry-goods  es- 
tablishments in  western  Ohio.  This  he  has 
accomplished  solely  by  his  own  efforts,  having 
made  his  way  in  life  unaided,  relying  entirely 
upon  his  industry  and  business  ability.  His 
life  has  been  a  most  active  one,  and  his  labors 
in  every  capacity  from  that  of  apprentice  to 
that  of  proprietor  have  met  with  deserved  suc- 
cess. As  an  apprentice  he  was  industrious, 
ambitious  to  learn  and  faithful  to  his  employ- 
er's interests  ;  as  a  salesman  he  was  thorough, 
painstaking  and  conscientious,  striving  always 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  employers  and  at 
the  same  time  to  advance  his  own.  Since 
coming  to  Dayton  and  entering  a  mercantile 
career  upon  his  own  responsibility,  Mr.  John- 
ston has  given  all  his  time  and  attention  to  the 
upbuilding  of  his  business,  and  the  success  that 
he  has  achieved  is  the  natural  result  of  energy, 
enterprise  and  splendid  qualifications.  Mr. 
Johnston  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representa- 
tive and  progressive  citizens  of  Dayton.  His 
usefulness  as  a  citizen  has  not  been  hampered 
by  his  devotion  to  business  cares,  and  he  has 
always  stood  ready  to  lend  his  aid  and  influ- 
ence to  all  movements  having  for  their  object 
the  growth,  development  and  advancement  of 
his  adopted  city. 

He  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  being  past 
master  of  Mystic  lodge  No.  405  ;  belongs  to 
Unity  chapter;  is  past  eminent  commander  of 
Reed  commandery,  Knights  Templar,  and  has 
attained  the  thirty-second  degree  in  Scottish 
rite  masonry. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  married  in  1877,  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  to  Miss  Lizzie  C.  Purvis,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Edith,  Mae  and  Russell  Purvis. 


rrUiJrc-rL 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


343 


u 


'ILLIAM  G.  ZWICK,  assistant  sec- 
retary of  the  Zwick  &  Greenwald 
Wheel  company,  is  a  native  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  May  20,  1863, 
and  is  a  son  of  Ernst  and  Sophie  (Wilke) 
Zwick,  the  former  of  whom  was  the  founder  of 
the  above  named  company.  The  Zwick  & 
Greenwald  Wheel  company,  at  the  corner  of 
Huffman  and  Linden  avenues,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  established,  in  1859,  by  Ernst  Zwick  (now 
deceased),  at  the  corner  of  Wayne  and  Third 
streets,  where  it  transacted  business  until  1890, 
when  it  was  removed  to  its  present  location — 
the  name  the  company  now  bears  having  been 
assumed  in  October,  1881.  In  1892,  a  joint 
stock  company  was  formed  for  the  conduct  of 
the  business,  although  the  company  did  not 
change  its  title,  and  the  officers  elected  at  that 
time  were  the  following:  Harman  Rogge,  presi- 
dent; Henry  Zwick,  secretary ;  Frederick  Rogge, 
treasurer — the  stockholders  being  Henry  Zwick, 
Jacob  Greenwald,  Harman  Rogge,  F.  Kam- 
men,  Samuel  Zwick,  Joseph  Zwick  and  Fred 
Rogge.  No  change  has  since  taken  place 
among  these  stockholders,  excepting  that  oc- 
casioned by  the  death  of  Jacob  Greenwald. 

The  Zwick  &  Greenwald  Wheel  company 
plant  covers  three  acres  of  ground  and  employs 
from  140  to  150  people,  the  president  of  the 
company,  Harman  Rogge,  being  also  the  man- 
ager. The  business  has  grown  from  the  man- 
ufacture of  ten  sets  of  wheels  per  day  to  that 
of  1  50  sets  per  day.  The  wheels  are  known 
as  the  best  made  in  the  United  States,  and  are 
sold  all  over  the  Union,  as  well  as  in  other 
countries. 

The  elementary  education  of  William  G. 
Zwick  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  an 
attendance  at  the  Baptist  college,  of  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y. ,  and  at  the  Miami  Commercial  col- 
lege, of  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  first  entered  the 
wheel    factory  as   an    apprentice,    thoroughly 


learned  the  trade  and  became  familiar  with  the 
workings  of  the  immense  concern  in  all  its  de- 
tails, became  a  stockholder  in  the  company  in 
1888,  and  eventually  reached  his  present  re- 
sponsible position,  which  he  has  since  filled 
with  marked   ability. 

July  18,  1888,  Mr.  Zwick  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Louise  A.  Bartel,  the  ac- 
complished daughter  of  Herman  Bartel,  of 
Dayton,  and  this  union  has  been  followed  by 
the  birth  of  three  children:  Walter  William, 
born  May  15,  1889;  Helen  Louisa,  June  3, 1892, 
and  Lawrence,  October  6,  1893.  The  parents 
are  faithful  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church  of  Dayton,  of  which  Mr.  Zwick  is  a 
trustee  and  assistant  clerk. 


m 


AJ.  ALVAN  STUART  GAL- 
BRAITH,  commissary  of  subsist- 
ence of  the  central  branch  of  the 
National  Military  Home  for  Disabled 
Volunteer  Soldiers  (a  brief  sketch  of  which  in- 
stitution will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  Col. 
J.  B.  Thomas),  was  born  near  Salem,  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio,  November  15,  1840,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood. 

Soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  late  Civil 
war,  Mr.  Galbraith  volunteered  in  a  battalion 
of  cavalry,  known  as  Fremont's  body  guard,  and 
served  from  July,  1861,  until  December  of  the 
same  year.  His  experience,  although  short, 
served  to  increase  his  patriotic  ardor,  and 
thereafter  he  became  a  vigorous,  valiant  and 
efficient  soldier  in  the  defense  of  his  country's 
flag,  and  was  eventually  promoted  from  private 
to  brevet  major  for  meritorious  conduct  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy,  and  for  valuable  services 
rendered  in  other  capacities,  brief  mention  of 
which  is  here  given:  In  April,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  the  Eighty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, was  elected  first  sergeant  of  company 
G,  and  saw  service  in  Maryland  and   Virginia, 


344 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


and  with  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  in  September,  1862;  his  next  enlist- 
ment was  in  company  G,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fourth  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, entering  the  company  as  first  sergeant, 
which  rank  was  granted  him  as  a  recognition  of 
his  past  services  as  a  soldier;  with  this  non- 
commissioned, but  honorable  title,  hs  served 
until  March,  1863,  when  his  commendable  con- 
duct as  a  soldier  was  rewarded  by  a  commis- 
sion as  first  lieutenant  of  company  I,  of  the 
same  regiment.  While  holding  this  rank  Lieut. 
Galbraith  was  detailed  as  a  provost-marshal  of 
his  brigade  and  was  also  appointed  assistant 
inspector-general  on  the  staffs  of  Gen.  William 
B.  Hazen  ind  Gen.  P.  Sidney  Post.  In  Aug- 
ust, 1864,  he  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of 
company  I,  and  his  higher  rank  was  reached 
in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States,  of 
which  mention  will  be  made  in  a  following  par- 
agraph. 

While  in  the  volunteer  service  Capt.  Gal- 
braith took  an  active  part  as  sergeant,  lieuten- 
ant and  captain,  in  many  severe  and  sangui- 
nary battles  of  the  Civil  war,  among  which 
may  be  named,  outside  of  his  service  in  Mis- 
souri, those  of  Spring  Hill  and  Triune,  Tenn.  ; 
Chickamauga,  Ga. ;  Brown's  Ferry,  Tenn., 
where  he  was  severely  wounded  and  in  conse- 
quence was  confined  in  hospital  several  months. 

He  went  through  the  Atlanta  campaign  and 
was  under  fire  at  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy;  was 
at  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  and  in  the  battles  at 
Franklin  and  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  also  served 
in  the  campaigns  through  Kentucky,  North 
Carolina,  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  in  other 
states,  until  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  July  19,  1865.  He  then  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  and    on    May    11,   1866,  was   appointed 

nd  lieutenant  in  the  Eighteenth  United 
States  regular)  infantry;  in  1867  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the   rank  of   first   lieutenant,  and   in 


1868  to  that  of  captain  and  major  by  brevet — 
these  rapid  promotions  being  awarded  him 
chiefly  for  his  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct 
at  the  battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Brown's 
Ferry,  while  in  the  volunteer  service. 

While  in  the  regular  army  the  work  en- 
trusted to  Maj.  Galbraith  was  arduous,  varied, 
and  comprehensive.  He  was  at  different  peri- 
ods of  his  service  placed  on  duty  at  Newport 
(Ky.)  barracks;  at  Governor's,  Bedloe's  and 
David's  islands,  New  York  harbor;  at  Fort 
McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  at  Washington,  D. 
C. ;  at  Fort  Casper  and  Fort  Fetterman,  then 
in  Dakota  territory,  but  now  within  the  bound- 
aries of  Wyoming;  at  North  Platte  station, 
Neb. ;  at  Fort  Sedgwick,  Colo. ;  Fort  Omaha, 
Neb. :  and  at  Huntsville,  Ala. ;  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.;  Lancaster,  Ky.,  and  Atlanta,  Ga.,  dur- 
ing the  reconstruction  period.  Also,  while 
still  first  lieutenant,  with  brevet  major  rank  in 
the  regular  army,  he  acted  as  Indian  agent  for 
the  United  States  government,  in  charge  of 
the  interests  of  the  Confederated  Flathead  na- 
tion in  Montana. 

December  18,  1S73,  Maj.  Galbraith  re- 
signed his  position  in  the  regular  army,  rejoined 
his  mother  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  for  three 
years  enjoyed  a  rest,  in  the  meanwhile  recu- 
perating his  shattered  health.  In  the  early- 
part  of  1882,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
the  National  Military  home,  near  Dayton,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  1892,  when  he 
resigned  in  order  to  accept  his  present  posi- 
tion, wherein  he  has  charge  of  the  entire  sub- 
sistence department  of  the  home. 

Nathan  and  Sarah  (Hoover)  Galbraith, 
parents  of  the  major,  had  a  family  of  three 
children,  of  whom  Marius  Robinson  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Cincinnati,  and  Celia,  unmarried,  is  a 
resident  of  Johnstown,  Pa. 

Nathan  Galbraith,  a  native  of  Ohio,  died 
at  the  early  age  of  thirty  years,  while  his 
widow,  a   native  of  Pennsylvania,  lived  to   be 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


345 


nty-four  years  old.  In  religion  they  were 
respectively  members  of  the  Quaker  and  Bap- 
tist churches. 

The  marriage  of  Mai.  Galbraith  took  place 
in  1884,  to  Mrs.  Myra  (Fonda)  Taylor,  a  native 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  this  union  resulting  in  the 
birth  of  one  child,  Stuart,  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Galbraith  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  by  right  of 
lineal  descent  from  Asa  Priest,  her  maternal 
great-grandfather,  who  was  a  soldier  from 
Massachusetts,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
glorious  struggle.  Maj.  Galbraith  is  a  member 
of  Perry  lodge,  No.  185,  F.  cS:  A.  M.,  as  well 
as  of  the  Loyal  Legion  and  the  G.  A.  R.  In 
politics  he  has  been  a  life-long  abolitionist  and 
republican. 


^|-»  EWIS  HENRY  WEBBER,  a  well- 
j  known  cut-stone  contractor  of  Day- 
Ji  ton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Salem,  N.  J., 
December  15,  1845,  ar>d  is  a  son  °f 
Thomas  and  Louisa  (Green)  Webber,  also  na- 
tives of  Salem. 

The  Webber  family,  of  English  origin,  was 
established  in  New  Jersey  over  200  years  ago, 
but  its  genealogy  cannot  be  fully  traced.  Suf- 
fice it  to  say  that  John  Webber,  great-grand- 
father of  Lewis,  was  a  sailor,  hailing  from  the 
Sharp  Backs  state,  and  was  killed  by  lightning. 
John's  son,  Henry,  served  as  a  musician 
through  the  war  of  181 2,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years.  Thomas,  the  son  of 
Henry,  and  father  of  Lewis,  was  a  contrac- 
tor in  early  life,  but  later  engaged  in  merchan- 
dizing, and  in  this  occupation  died  in  Chris- 
tiana, New  Castle  county,  Del.,  in  1876,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-five  years. 

The  Green  family,  equally  as  old  in  Amer- 
ica as  the  Webber  family,  and  also  of  English 
origin,  belonged   to  the   religious  organization 


known  as  Quakers.  Great-grandfather  Green 
was  a  farmer,  and  resided  in  the  vicinity  of 
Salem,  N.  J.,  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
As  is  well  known,  the  Society  of  Friends 
(Quakers)  are  people  of  peace,  whose  tenets 
forbid  the  bearing  of  arms  in  war  or  the  aiding 
or  abetting  of  war.  Nevertheless,  feeling  that 
the  struggle  of  the  colonists  was  patriotic  and 
just,  his  sympathies  were  all  with  their  cause, 
and  the  following  incident  is  related  of  him, 
touching  his  latent  but  ardent  patriotism.  On 
a  certain  occasion,  when  the  Continental  army 
was  in  great  distress  for  want  of  corn,  with 
which  his  cribs  were  well  filled,  he  was  impor- 
tuned by  the  officers  to  sell  an  evident  surplus 
of  the  grain  on  hand.  He  declined  to  do  so, 
because,  as  he  said,  "That  would  be  encour- 
aging war;  but  I  shall  go  away  from  home,  and 
if  the  corn  be  missing  when  I  return,  I  shall 
not  inquire  concerning  it."  History  records 
that  the  corn  was  missing. 

Of  the  five  sons  born  to  Thomas  and  Lou- 
isa Webber,  Lewis  H.  is  the  eldest,  and  Albert, 
his  next  younger  brother,  is  foreman  in  his  ex- 
tensive works;  Arthur  G.  and  Henry  L.  are  in 
the  grain  and  coal  trade  at  Christiana,  Del., 
and  John  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 

The  early  life  of  Lewis  H.  Webber  was 
spent  in  the  states  of  New  Jersey  and  Dela- 
ware, his  education  being  acquired  in  the  New- 
ark (Del.)  academy  and  Delaware  college.  In 
1869  he  came  to  Dayton  and  entered  into  the 
employ  of  the  Webber  &  Lehman  Stone  & 
Marble  company,  of  which  company  John 
Webber,  his  uncle,  was  president.  Of  this 
company  Lewis  H.  was  at  first  bookkeeper,  and 
was  then  made  assistant  secretary.  After 
three  years  well  spent  in  this  concern,  Mr. 
Webber  united  in  partnership  with  S.  T. 
Bryce  and  with  him  continued  in  business  for 
five  years,  when  Mr.  Webber  bought  out  his 
partner's  interest  and  has  since  carried  on  a 
most  successful  business  on  his  own  account, 


346 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  contracting  for  the  construction  of  stone 
buildings  and  for  the  stone  work  of  others  not 
composed  entirely  of  stone.  His  plant,  which 
is  planned  for  the  reduction  of  all  kinds  of 
quarried  stone  to  a  condition  for  practical  use  in 
building  foundations  and  walls  as  well,  and  for 
the  smoothing  and  polishing  of  rough  ashlars, 
is  most  complete  in  its  appliances,  containing 
machinery  which  is  alone  estimated  at  a  value 
of  $40,000,  including  ftone  saws,  planers,  and 
all  other  means  necessary  for  the  production  of 
solid  exterior  as  well  as  decorative  exterior  and 
interior  work,  and  giving  employment,  on  an 
average,  to  100  men.  One  of  the  first  struc- 
tures that  attracted  attention  as  the  work  of 
Mr.  Webber  was  the  Montgomery  county 
court  house,  the  stone  work  of  which  was  sup- 
plied, as  one  of  his  earliest  contracts,  from  his 
own  shops,  at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  in  1878. 
Since  that  date  Mr.  Webber  has  furnished  the 
material  and  assisted  in  the  construction  of 
nearly  all  the  substantial  stone  buildings  in  the 
city  of  Dayton,  among  which  may  be  cited  the 
costly  Burney  and  King  residences,  the  U.  P. 
and  Sacred  Heart  churches,  and  the  Steele 
high  school  building. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Webber  took  place  in 
Christiana,  Del.,  in  1875,  to  Miss  Florence 
Southgate,  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md. ,  and  of 
English  descent.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  three  children — Emma  E., 
Florence  L.,  and  Willard — the  first  two  of 
whom  are  now  attending  the  Steele  high  school. 
The  family  are  connected  with  the  Third  street 
Presbyterian  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Webber 
is  a  stanch  republican,  although  he  has  never 
sought  public  office.  He  is  a  Freemason,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Dayton  club,  a  social 
organization,  and  of  the  political  body  known 
as  the  Garfield  club.  Mr.  Webber's  energy, 
skill  and  industry  have  earned  him  a  place  in 
the  front  rank  of  the  successful  business  men 
o(  Dayton. 


HOMAS  ELDER,  a  leading  merchant 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  senior  member 
and  founder  of  the  extensive  dry-goods 
house  of  Elder  &  Johnston,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1845.  His 
parents  were  Robert  R.  and  Elizabeth  G.  El- 
der, both  of  whom  were  of  Scotch  descent. 
The  boyhood  of  young  Elder  was  spent  in  a 
manner  common  to  boys  of  his  station  in  life. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg, 
securing  a  good  English  education.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  he  resolved  to  leave  his 
native  place  and  try  his  fortune  in  the  broader 
field  of  a  large  city.  Accordingly,  in  1862,  he 
set  out  for  Philadelphia,  which  city  he  reached 
with  but  few  possessions  and  little  money,  but 
with  sound  health,  good  habits,  ambition  and 
a  determination  to  get  on  in  the  world.  He 
was  willing  to  turn  his  attention  to  anything 
he  could  do  and  soon  found  employment.  He 
remained  in  Philadelphia  eight  or  nine  years, 
engaged  in  different  capacities  in  various  lines 
of  business,  and  in  1872  he  went  to  Boston, 
Mass.  In  Boston  he  secured  a  position  with 
the  blanket  house  of  Thomas  Kelley  &  Co.,  as 
a  traveling  salesman.  After  remaining  with 
the  above  firm  three  years,  in  1875  he  entered 
the  service  of  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co. ,  of  Bos- 
ton, one  of  the  largest  dry-goods  houses  in  the 
world,  as  general  traveling  salesman,  where  he 
remained  until  1883.  At  this  time  ne  decided 
to  embark  in  business  on  his  own  responsibil- 
ity, and  the  same  year  he  came  to  Dayton  and, 
associating  himself  with  Messrs.  Johnston  & 
Hunter,  founded  the  present  business  of  Elder 
&  Johnston,  which  is  now  the  leading  dry-goods 
establishment  in  Dayton  and  one  of  the  largest 
in  western  Ohio.  Mr.  Hunter  retiree1  from  the 
firm  in  1886.  The. business  was  begun  origi- 
nally upon  a  very  modest  basis  and  with  a  lim- 
ited capital,  at  Nos.  114  and  116  East  Third 
street.  In  about  two  and  a  half  years,  how- 
ever, it    had   grown    to  such  proportions  that 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


349 


larger  quarters  were  necessary,  and  they  re- 
moved to  Nos.  24  and  26  East  Third  street, 
where  the  business  was  established  on  a  much 
larger  scale.  From  year  to  year  it  grew  and 
spread,  and  a  wholesale  department  was  added, 
together  with  other  features,  until  again  it  be- 
came necessary  to  find  more  commodious  quar- 
ters, and  in  November,  1896,  they  removed 
to  the  new  Reibold  building  on  South  Main 
street,  where  they  now  occupy  two  floors  and 
the  basement.  They  carry  a  complete  stock 
of  dry  goods,  cloaks,  etc.,  doing  both  a  whole- 
sale and  retail  business,  and  employing  over 
100  people.  Their  store  rooms  are  the  largest 
and  handsomest  in  the  city,  and  their  trade, 
while  already  the  leading  one,  is  constantly  in- 
creasing, ft  is  the  firm's  intention  eventually 
to  convert  their  business  into  a  modern  depart- 
ment store,  there  being  no  enterprise  of  that 
character  in  Dayton. 

fn  1872  Mr.  Elder  was  married  to  Miss 
Tacie  E.  Jarrett,  who  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, of  Quaker  parents.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elder  the  following  children  have  been  born: 
Mary  M.,  Robert,  Elsie,  Helen,  and  two  de- 
ceased in  infancy.  Mr.  Elder  is  a  member  of 
the  Third  street  Presbyterian  church  and  pres- 
ident of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  In  the  Sabbath- 
school  he  has  also  been  an  earnest  worker, 
taking  great  interest  in  all  of  its  useful  ac- 
tivities. 

Mr.  Elder's  life  has  been  a  busy  one,  and 
success  has  come  to  him  through  his  own  ef- 
forts. He  may  well  be  termed  a  self-made 
man,  as  he  began  at  the  bottom,  starting  in 
life  with  no  capital  save  that  of  energy,  indus- 
try and  ambition,  and  relying  entirely  upon  his 
own  ability  and  natural  resources.  Still  a  man 
in  his  prime,  he  has  risen  from  an  humble 
clerical  position  to  that  of  senior  member  of 
one  of  the  largest  mercantile  houses  in  a  great 
state,  and  his  prosperity  has  been  well  de- 
served.     His  position  in  the  business  world  has 


not  overshadowed  his  position  in  life  as  a  citi- 
zen, friend  and  neighbor.  He  has  always  been 
found  ready  to  lend  his  aid  and  influence  to 
all  worthy  movements  designed  to  benefit  the 
community  at  large.  He  is  regarded  as  a 
broad-minded  and  public-spirited  citizen,  rec- 
ognizing and  discharging  faithfully  all  the  du- 
ties incumbent  upon  him. 


^y^VROF.  CLAUDE  MICHELON,  in- 
1  m  structor  in  the  French,  Italian  and 
M  Spanish  languages,  with  his  residence 

at    the    corner  of    Third    and    Perry 
streets,  Dayton,  was  born   in   Chambery,  near 
Lyons,  France,    December  8,   1869.      He  was 
a   student    in    the  college    Louis  le   Grand,  at 
Paris,  and  at  the  Lyceum  of  Lyons,  where  he 
was    educated    in    literature    and    philosophy. 
On  October  1,  1894,  he  came  to  America;  on 
the  1 2th  day  of  the  same  month  he  was  dis- 
patched  by   Prof.    Berlitz,    of    New   York,    to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  become  an  instructor  in  a 
French  school,    and    on    June    12,     1895,    he 
came  to  Dayton  and  opened  his  present  poly- 
glot school  of  instruction,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  success.      His  classes  comprise  about  180 
pupils,    drawn    from    the    most  cultured    and 
intellectual     circles    of    the     city,    and     these 
pupils  are  taught  in  so  simple  a  manner  that, 
at  the   conclusion   of    forty   lessons,   they  are 
prepared   to    conduct   a   reasonably  intelligent 
conversation  in  the  special  language  acquired. 
Beside  his  home  class,  he  teaches  in  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  school,  also  in  Miss  Thomas's  academy 
for  young  ladies,  and  has  a  large  class  at  the 
Soldiers'  home. 

Prof.  Michelon  has,  in  his  comparatively 
brief  residence  in  Dayton,  awakened  a  new 
interest  in  language  study,  and  is  now  recog- 
nized as  the  most  skillful  and  accomplished 
teacher  of  French  that  has  ever  conducted 
classes  in  this  city. 


350 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


(D 


ICHAEL  WALTER,  funeral  direc- 
tor and  a  leading  business  man  of 
Dayton,  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  December  17,  1840,  in  the 
kingdom  of  Bavaria.  His  parents,  Martin  and 
Barbara  (Schnabel)  Walter,  were  both  natives 
of  the  above  country,  where  the  father,  for 
many  years,  carried  on  the  cabinetmaking 
business,  and  where  his  death  occurred  in  1856, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three;  the  mother  having 
died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 
Their  son,  Michael,  is  the  youngest  of  ten  chil- 
dren. Three  sisters  and  one  brother  died  in 
America,  and  one  brother  and  two  sisters  still 
live  in  Germany;  the  only  member  of  the 
family  in  the  United  States,  with  the  exception 
of  Michael,  is  Henry,  who  makes  his  home  at 
Celina,  Ohio. 

Michael  Walter  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  country  and  there  learned  cabi- 
netmaking, which  he  followed,  in  connection 
with  the  undertaking  business,  until  1863,  at 
which  time,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  for  a  period  of 
seven  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  his 
brother  Martin,  one  of  the  leading  undertakers 
of  the  city.  In  1870,  Mr.  Walter  embarked 
in  the  undertaking  business  upon  his  own  re- 
sponsibility on  Franklin  street  and  has  since 
continued  the  same  with  most  gratifying  suc- 
cess, being  at  this  time  the  head  of  one  of  the 
largest  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the  city. 
From  a  rather  limited  beginning  he  has  gone 
forward  year  by  year,  building  up  a  constantly 
increasing  trade,  and,  at  this  time,  he  enjoys 
much  more  than  a  local  reputation  in  business 
circles.  He  has  spared  no  reasonable  effort  to 
make  himself  thoroughly  familiar  with  every 
detail  of  his  trade  and  in  1883  graduated  from 
the  Cincinnati  school  of  embalming,  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  thorough  institutions  of  the 
kind  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Walter's  place 
.'1    business  on  Franklin  street  is  fully  equiped 


and  supplied  with  all  that  pertains  to  the  suc- 
cessful prosecution  of  undertaking  and  the  nec- 
essary equipment  and  stock  of  caskets,  etc., 
represent  a  capital  of  about  $10,000.  Mr. 
Walter  is  a  member  of  an  undertaking  associa- 
tion of  Ohio,  of  which  he  has  served  as  treas- 
urer during  the  past  ten  years.  He  is  a  man 
well  known  in  the  community  where  he  has 
lived  so  long  and  sustains  a  reputation  for  in- 
tegrity and  honesty  surpassed  by  none.  Per- 
sonally Mr.  Walter  is  very  popular,  a  genial 
companion  and  a  good  citizen. 

In  1 868  Mr.  Walter  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Philomena  Steile,  a  native  of  Cin- 
cinnati, but  born  of  German  parentage;  three 
sons  and  three  daughters  have  been  born  of 
this  union — Joseph  C,  who  is  employed  in  his 
father's  business  house;  Clara,  Leo,  Flora, 
Amelia  and  Edward.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Emanuel  Roman  Catholic  church, 
of  Dayton,  and  Mr.  Walter  affiliates  with  the 
following  societies:  Catholic  Knights  of  Amer- 
ica; Catholic  Knights  of  Ohio;  Knights  of  St. 
George;  St.  Charles  Benevolent  society;  Gesel- 
len  society;  St.  Joseph's  Orphan  society;  the 
Bavarian  society  and  the  Cincinnati  Life  asso- 
ciation.     Politically  Mr.  Walter  is  a  democrat. 


<>^\  ABBI  MAX  WERTHEIMER,  Ph.D., 
I  /<^    pastor    of    B'nai    Yeshurun    temple, 
W     Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Buffalo, 
N.    Y. ,    and  was   born    December  6, 
1864.      He  was  primarily  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  city  of  his  birth,  and   later 
studied  for   eight    years   in   the  Cincinnati  uni- 
versity,  from   which  institution   he  graduated 
June  14,   1887,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
letters,  and  two  years  later  he  was   graduated 
from  the  Hebrew  Union  college,  of  the  same 
city,    which    conferred    upon   him   the   title   of 
rabbi.      In   March,   1889,  he   was  unanimously 
elected    by    the  congregation  or  synagogue  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


351 


B'nai  Yeshurun  to  his  present  eminent  posi- 
tion, and  September  6,  1SS9,  he  delivered  his 
inaugural  sermon  or  lecture,  which  was  recog- 
nized as  the  result  of  deep  thought  and  ripe 
scholarship,  and  of  great  power  and  beauty  of 
expression. 

Since  assuming  his  pastorate,  Rabbi  Wert- 
heimer  has  taken  a  post-graduate  course  at 
Martyn  college  of  philosophy,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  June,  1895,  with  the  ad- 
vanced degree  of  Ph.  D.  The  doctor  has  also 
traveled  quite  extensively  since  first  locating  in 
Dayton,  lecturing  before  many  learned  socie- 
ties, as  well  as  to  popular  gatherings,  in  many 
cities  of  the  west. 

The  marriage  of  Rev.  Dr.  Wertheimer  took 
place  in  Peru,  Ind.,  December  27,  1893,  to 
Miss  Hannah  Affelder,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Louis  Affelder. 

Mrs.  Wertheimer  is  a  lady  of  rare  accom- 
plishments, and  is  especially  talented  in  instru- 
mental music.  She  has  borne  her  husband 
one  child,  Lester  Henry,  who  was  born  Janu- 
ary 5,  189s. 

Rabbi  Wertheimer  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  was  for  two  years 
chaplain  of  his  lodge;  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  B'nai  Brith,  or  Sons  of  the  Covenant,  and 
was  formerly  president  of  the  Kersher  Shel- 
barzel,  a  Jewish  society  of  Dayton,  as  well  as 
an  active  member  of  the  Present  Day  club. 
He  is  a  scholar  of  unusual  literary  attainments, 
is  a  forcible  and  eloquent  speaker,  is  possessed 
of  indomitable  energy,  and  his  philanthropic 
disposition  has  won  for  him  the  esteem  of  all 
who  know  him. 


\S~\  EV.  EDWARD  LORENZ,  of  Dayton, 
I  /^     Ohio,    German   editor  for  the  United 
P     Brethern  Publishing  house,  was  born 
in   Hessen  Darmstadt,  Germany,  No- 
vember 26,  1827.      He  received  his  preliminary 


education  in  the  excellent  public  schools  of  his 
native  land,  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemak- 
ing,  made  illustrious  by  the  many  great  men 
who  began  life  in  this  calling.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  came  to  America.  Sev- 
eral years  later  he  married  Mrs.  Adam  Geil, 
formerly  Miss  Barbara  Gueth,  whom  he  had 
but  passingly  known  in  the  fatherland.  His 
wife  had  come  to  America  several  years  earlier 
with  her  first  husband,  who  died  soon  after 
their  arrival,  leaving  her  a  widow  with  two 
small  children,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  at 
the  age  of  twenty.  With  characteristic  cour- 
age and  fortitude  she  faced  the  situation,  and 
despite  the  loss  of  her  inheritance  in  Germany 
by  the  bad  management  of  friends,  supported 
herself  and  her  little  ones  until  her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Lorenz.  But  she  has  borne  the 
marks  of  this  trying  experience  in  the  pro- 
tracted invalidism  of  nearly  half  a  century  due 
to  a  broken  nervous  system.  Mrs.  Lorenz  is  a 
woman  of  unusual  force  and  straightforward- 
ness of  character,  somewhat  rese.rved  in  man- 
ner and  of  few  words,  but  with  a  kind  heart 
and  full  of  practical  helpfulness,  fn  this  she 
resembles  her  father,  whose  young  manhood 
was  spent  in  Spain  in  the  army  of  Napoleon. 
Taken  captive  by  the  English  he  was  sent  to 
England.  Released  on  parole  and  sent  home 
with  400  comrades,  their  ship  was  wrecked  on 
the  coast  of  Holland  and  only  twenty-six  of 
them  were  saved.  He  subsequently  wrote  a 
graphic  narrative  of  this  terrible  experience, 
the  original  manuscript  being  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  E.  S.  Lorenz. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lorenz  were  born  three 
children,  viz:  Edmund  Simon,  Daniel  Ed- 
ward, and  Justina.  Of  these  a  full  biographical 
sketch  of  Edmund  S.  follows  this  memoir; 
Daniel  Edward  is  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  on  Sixty-sixth 
street,  New  York  city,  and  Justina  is  professor 
of  the  German  language  in  the  Norwich  (Conn. , 


352 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Free  academy.  Rev.  Daniel  Edward  Lorenz 
received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  Day- 
ton high  school,  graduated  from  Otterbein  uni- 
versity in  1884,  became  assistant  secretary  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  association  of  New 
York  city,  attended  Union  Theological  semi- 
nary, of  that  city,  and  married  Miss  Etta, 
daughter  of  Bishop  J.  W.  Hott.  Justina  Lor- 
enz married  J.  O.  Stephens,  August  14,  1883, 
but  her  husband  died  October  18  following  of 
typhoid  fever,  and  since  his  death  she  has  de- 
voted herself  exclusively  to  teaching.  Since 
she  accepted  her  present  position  she  has  been 
invited  to  fill  important  situations  in  other  in- 
stitutions, but  has  steadily  declined  to  consider 
or  accept  them. 

Edward  Lorenz  was  converted  the  year 
after  his  reaching  America  (1849).  He  united 
with  the  United  Brethren  church  in  Canal  Ful- 
ton, Stark  county,  Ohio,  in  1859,  and  at  once 
began  preaching  in  the  same  town.  After 
many  years  spent  in  the  pastorate,  preaching 
in  most  of  the  important  cities  of  Ohio,  he 
was  appointed  in  May,  1889,  by  the  United 
Brethren  missionary  board,  as  general  mana- 
ger of  its  missions  in  Germany,  and  was  lo- 
cated at  Berlin  for  four  years,  where  his 
daughter,  Justina,  improved  the  opportunity  in 
completing  her  advanced  studies  in  the  Ger- 
man language.  During  these  years  Mr.  Lorenz 
traveled  in  all  parts  of  the  German  empire, 
superintending  the  extensive  missionary  efforts 
of  his  church.  On  his  return  to  the  United 
States,  in  1893,  he  was  chosen  pastor  of  the 
Otterbein  (German)  church  on  Xenia  avenue, 
Dayton,  and  held  the  charge  for  two  years,  or 
until  1895,  during  the  last  year  of  his  pastorate 
filling  also  the  important  position  he  at  present 
occupies.  He  has  exclusive  editorial  charge 
of  all  the  publications  issued  in  the  German 
language  by  the  United  Brethren  Publishing 
house,  which  include  the  Froehliche  Botschaf- 
ter,    weekly;     Jugend    Pilger,    semi-monthly; 


Lektionshefte,  quarterly.  Beside  editing  these, 
he  reads  the  proofs  of  all  German  publications 
issued  from  the  United  Brethren  Publishing 
house  and  also  attends  to  all  the  German  busi- 
ness correspondence  of  the  house. 

Rev.  Mr.  Lorenz  has  been  a  man  of  won- 
derful vitality,  and  now,  though  past  sixty-nine 
years  of  age,  is  hale  and  hearty,  being  remark- 
ably well  preserved  and  still  as  affable,  digni- 
fied and  courteous  as  when  he  was  in  his 
prime.  He  attends  to  all  his  manifold  and 
taxing  duties  without  fatigue,  and,  it  may  be 
added,  has  lost  but  one  day  from  illness  during 
his  forty  years  of  active  labor. 


C/^V  HILIP  E.  GILBERT,  the  prominent 
1  ■  contractor  and  builder  of  Dayton,  was 
fl  born    in    Miltonville,    Butler    county, 

Ohio,  November  21,  1845,  ms  father 
and  mother  having  been  respectively  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland  parentage.  In  1848 
the  family  settled  in  Miamisburg,  Montgomery 
county,  where  Philip  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic and  select  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen began  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years  at 
carpentering,  serving  at  the  trade  during  the 
intervals  between  school  sessions.  The  con- 
clusion of  his  apprenticeship  brought  hirn  up 
to  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  national  guard, 
under  command  of  Col.  John  G.  Lowe,  and  at 
the  conclusion  of  his  term  of  enlistment  was 
honorably  mustered  out.  In  1865  he  moved 
to  West  Sonora,  Preble  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  saw-milling  and  carpentering  for 
several  years,  and  during  his  residence  there 
was  united  in  marriage,  June  14,  1866,  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Scharf,  of  Franklin,  Warren 
county.  In  the  spring  of  1868  Mr.  Gilbert, 
with  no  considerable  means,  ventured  upon  a 
removal  with  his  wife  and  child  to  Dayton,  for 
the  purpose  of  improving  his  worldly  condition. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


353 


Here,  soon    after   his    arrival,    he    became  ac- 
quainted with  the  late  William  P.  Huffman,  in 
whom   he   found    a    sincere    friend,    and  from 
whom  he  received  many  kindnesses.     Through 
him    Mr.    Gilbert   was    enabled   to  enter  into 
contracting   and  building,    and  this,   with  the 
manufacture  of  builders'  supplies,  has  been  his 
business    up    to    the    present  time.     That   he 
made  a  success  of  his  enterprise  may  be  shown 
by  the  fact  that,  in  the  spring  of  1878,  he  be- 
gan the  year  in  March  with  125  contracts  to 
build    houses,  and   by  the  close  of  the  season 
had  erected  165.     Among  the  heavier  contracts 
handled   by   Mr.    Gilbert    may    be    mentioned 
those  for  the  construction  of  the  Ninth  district 
school-house,  Sacred  Heart  church,   the  Cen- 
tral Baptist  church,  the  Fourth  National  bank, 
the  Ohmer  Canby  block;  the  Barney  block  on 
Third    and    Wayne    streets    and    the    Barney 
blocks  on  Fifth  street;  the  Lowe  brothers  and 
Ware  Coffee  company's  blocks  on  First  street; 
the    J.   P.  Wolf  and    J.   S.   Antrim  blocks  on 
First  street;  the  residences  of  E.  J.  Barney,  J. 
P.    Wolf,    Col.    F.    T.    Huffman,    George   P. 
Huffman  and  W.  H.  Crawford,  and  also  many 
of    the    largest    manufacturing    plants    in    the 
city,    including   those    of    the    Davis    Sewing 
Machine   company,    the  Zwick  &    Greenwald 
Wheel    company,  the    Dayton  Manufacturing 
company,    the    Woodhull    Carriage   company, 
the  Dayton   Last  company,  the  Crume  &  Sef- 
ton    factories,    the    Dayton     Spice-mills,    and 
scores  of  other  large  and  substantial  buildings. 
In  politics  Mr.  Gilbert  is  a  strong  republican 
ond  takes  an  active  interest  in  his  party's  wel- 
fare, having  served  as  its  delegate  to  its  county, 
state  and  national  conventions;   he  has  served 
two  terms  of  two  years  each  on    the  board  of 
education  from  his  ward,  was  appointed  on  the 
board  of  city  affairs  for  a  term   of    four  years 
by  the  tax  commissioners  in  1892,  and  was  re- 
appointed for  four  years  by  Mayor  C.  G.  Mc- 
Millen  in  1896.      He  has    been    a    member  of 


the  Garfield  club  since  its  organization;  is  a 
member  of  the  Dayton  club,  of  the  Old  Guard 
post,  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Dayton  lodge,  F.  &  A.  M., 
is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  also  a  member  of 
Iola  lodge,  K.  of  P.  In  religion  he  is  a  Bap- 
tist and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Linden  ave- 
nue church  since  its  organization  and  its  Sun- 
day-school superintendent  for  eleven  years. 
Mr.  Gilbert  has  always  been  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  devoted  to  the  material  interests  of  his 
adopted  city.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  his 
marriage,  the  following-named  still  survive: 
Erminie  P.,  now  Mrs.  Ira  Crawford;  Florence 
E.,  wife  of  J.  Frank  Kiefaber;  Hattie  B. ; 
William  P.,  book-keeper  for  the  Huffman 
Stone  Co.;  Edwin  D.,  a  student,  and  Helen  E. 


>-y'OHN  CHARLES  PATTERSON,  son  of 
■  Prof.  William  J.  and  Anna  (Ford)  Patter- 
(9  1  son,  whose  biography  is  elsewhere  giv- 
en, is  a  native  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  born  July  26,  1862.  Hepassedhis 
youthful  days  on  a  farm,  performing  the  severe 
physical  labor  incident  to  such  a  life,  but  by  no 
means  neglected  the  cultivation  of  his  mental 
powers.  Aided  by  his  father  and  other  com- 
petent teachers  he  was  able,  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  to  assume  the  duties  of  a  school- 
master, and  for  three  years  followed  this  pro- 
fession as  a  vocation.  He  then  entered  the 
law  office  of  Boltin  &  Shauck,  of  which  firm 
the  junior  member  is  now  a  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  of  Ohio.  Through  diligent  study  young 
Patterson  was  soon  prepared  for  the  bar,  to 
which  he  was  admitted  in  1887,  when  he  im- 
mediately entered  upon  the  active  practice  of 
his  profession.  His  abilities  were  promptly 
recognized,  and  in  1890  he  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Montgomery  county,  upon 
the  democratic  ticket,  and  his  performance  of 
the  duties  of  that  office  served  to  add  to  his 
reputation  as  a  lawyer.    He  now  holds  a  prom- 


354 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


inent  position  among  the  members  of  the  Day- 
ton bar,  being  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
Patterson  &  Murphy. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  united  in  marriage, 
June  19,  1883,  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Douglass,  of 
Oxford,  Ohio,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  son,  John   M.,  born  August  2,    1885. 


eZRA  F.  KIMMEL,  manager  of  the 
National  Improvement  company,  and 
among  the  best  known  young  business 
men  of  Dayton,  was  born  in  this  city 
October  20,  1863.  His  father,  Christian  Kim- 
mel,  was  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Dayton, 
having  come  here  from  Germany  in  1846.  He 
resided  in  this  city  the  rest  of  his  life,  being 
killed  in  September,  1893,  in  a  railroad  wreck 
while  on  his  way  home  from  the  world's  fair. 
For  thirty-five  years  Mr.  Kimmel  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  machine  shops  of  the  Buckeye 
Iron  &  Brass  works.  His  widow,  who  still 
lives  in  Dayton,  was  a  native  of  Ashland  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Ecki.  She 
was  also  in  the  wreck  in  which  her  husband 
was  killed,  and  sustained  severe  injuries.  To 
them  there  were  born  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  and  residing  in  Dayton,  as  fol- 
lows: William  H. ,  secretary  of  the  Mutual 
Home  &  Savings  association;  Mrs.  Louise 
Bard,  wife  of  O.  J.  Bard,  attorney  at  law; 
Mrs.  Anna  Freehofer,  wife  of  A.  O.  Freehofer, 
bookkeeper  for  the  John  Dodds  Manufacturing 
company;  Gnstave  B.,  a  student  in  college  at 
Napierville,  111.,  and  Ezra  F. 

Ezra  F.  Kimmel  was  reared  in  Dayton  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city, 
including  the  high  school,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1879.  In  May,  1880,  he  began 
working  for  R.  C.  Anderson,  manufacturer  of 
plows,  as  bookkeeper,  in  which  position  he  re- 
mained for  four  years.  In  March,  1884,  he 
entered    the   office   of    the    Mutual   Home    & 


Savings  association,  having  charge  of  that  as- 
sociation's books  for  four  years,  and  being  its 
auditor  for  three  years  and  a  half.  On  July 
15,  1891,  he  organized  the  John  Dodds  Manu- 
facturing company,  of  which  he  became  vice- 
president  and  superintendent,  in  which  capa- 
cities he  acted  until  December  1,  1896,  when 
he  accepted  the  position  of  manager  for  the 
National  Improvement  company  and  agent  for 
E.  J.  Barney.  At  the  time  he  left  the  Mutual 
Home  &  Savings  association,  he  >was  made  a 
director  and  a  member  of  the  finance  commit- 
tee of  the  institution,  positions  which  he  still 
retains.  He  aided  in  organizing  the  Walker 
Lithographic  &  Printing  company,  and  was 
a  director  of  that  company  until  the  latter  part 
of  1895,  when  he  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business. 

Mr.  Kimmel  was  married  in  November, 
1885,  to  Miss  Ida  M.  Steffey,  daughter  of  Rev. 
M.  W.  Steffey,  a  minister  of  the  Evangelical 
association,  formerly  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  but 
now  of  South  Bend,  Ind.  To  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmel  there  have  been  born 
two    children,    Florence   M.  and  Russell  Ezra. 

Mr.  Kimmel  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  of  the  church  of  the  Evangelical 
association,  and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  that  church.  In  both  fraternity  and 
church  he  enjoys  a  high  slanding  and  is  held  in 
sincere  esteem  by  his  many  friends  in  the 
community. 


EENRY  W.  KAISER,  one  of  the  com- 
missioners of  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June 
21,  1850.  As  the  name  indicates,  he 
is  of  German  antecedents.  He  was  reared  in 
Cincinnati  and  was  there  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  learning  both  German  and  English, 
and  being  confirmed  in  German.  After  leav- 
ing school  he  learned  the  trade  of  saddle  cov- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


355 


ering  and  worked  at  this  occupation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Since  November  I,  1875,  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  Dayton,  to  which  city 
he  removed  for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of 
the  business  of  the  Fleischmann  Yeast  company, 
as  general  agent,  which  position  he  has  held 
ever  since,  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years. 
Mr.  Kaiser  was  elected  county  commissioner 
in  the  fall  of  1893,  the  term  being  for  three 
years  and  expiring  in  the  spring  of  1897.  He 
is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  a  popular  man 
in  Montgomery  county.  He  was  married, 
September  17,  1874,  in  Cincinnati,  to  Miss 
Emma  Rheinhardt,  who  was  born  in  that  city 
October  17,  1855,  and  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Frederick  Rheinhardt.  She  became  the 
mother  of  three  children,  as  follows:  Harry 
F. ;  Maude  N.,  and  J.  Edward,  and  died  De- 
cember 22,  1895.  Mr.  Kaiser  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Ancient  Or- 
der of  United  Workmen,  holding  at  the  pres- 
ent time  the  presidency  of  the  Grand  trustee 
board  of  Ohio  of  that  order.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Maccabees.  He  is 
a  member  of  St.  John's  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church,  in  good  standing,  and  is  one 
of  the  useful  and  esteemed  citizens  of  Dayton. 


y^yLIAS  LEWIS  ACTON,  draftsman, 
H        1     and   supervising    architect,    with    his 

V«_>A.  office  in  the  Callahan  Bank  building, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  London, 
Madison  county,  Ohio,  May  21,  185  1,  and  is  a 
son  of  Richard  and  Minerva  (Lewis)  Acton. 
The  father,  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
was  a  carriage  builder  by  occupation,  and  died 
in  London  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years;  the 
mother  still  resides  in  that  city,  and  is  passing 
the  closing  years  of  her  life  in  religious  work 
in  the  interest  of  the  Universalist  church. 
These  parents  had  born  to  them  four  children, 
viz:      Lina    and    Elias    L. ,    who  are    twins — 


Lina  being  now  the  wife  of  G.  P.  Cross,  of 
Minneapolis;  Peyton  H.,  who  was  a  journalist 
at  Sioux  Falls,  Dak.,  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  died  in  that  city  at  the  age  of  thirty-five; 
and  Maggie  who  is  still  the  companion  of  her 
mother. 

Elias  L.  Acton  left  his  native  city  in  1869, 
and  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  for  about  seven 
years,  he  made  his  home  with  his  uncle,  Bolly 
Lewis,  and  entered  upon  his  business  life  as  a 
clerk  or  salesman,  in  a  carpet  store,  in  the 
meantime  taking  lessons  in  isometric  and  or- 
nametal  drawing,  thus  laying  the  foundation  of 
his  after  skill  as  an  architect;  he  next  spent 
two  years  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  in  a  carpet 
store,  and  also  continued  the  study  of  drafting. 
In  1878  Mr.  Acton  returned  to  his  native  city, 
where  he  was  engaged,  in  association  with  his 
brother,  Peyton  H.,  in  the  publication  of  the 
Madison  County  Times.  In  1881  Mr.  Acton 
came  to  Dayton,  re-engaged  in  the  carpet 
business,  and  was  also  employed  as  a  designer 
of  ceiling  decorations.  About  1888  he  turned 
his  attention  to  architectural  work  exclusively, 
and  for  several  months  was  employed  by  Will- 
iams, Otter  &  Dexter  as  draftsman  and  de- 
signer. He  then  embarked  in  business  as  an 
architect  on  his  own  account,  and  during  the 
past  eight  years  has  designed  and  constructed 
many  fine  edifices  in  Dayton  and  elsewhere, 
notably,  the  Hotel  Atlas,  the  Armory,  and  the 
Gem  Shirt  company's  building,  besides  many  of 
the  better  class  of  private  residences.  He  is 
at  present  engaged  in  the  construction,  on  Fifth 
street,  of  the  Ridgway  apartment  building, 
which  comprises  seven  distinct  structures  under 
one  roof.  Mr.  Acton  is  also  superintending 
the  erection  of  an  architecturally  beautiful 
double  stone  front  building  for  George  Fair, 
costing  $16,000,  which  will  be  an  additional 
evidence  of  the  skill  of  its  designer  and  an  or- 
nament to  the  city. 

Mr.   Acton  was  married  in   Dayton,   Sep- 


356 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tember  27,  1879,  to  Miss  Anna  Nolan,  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  a  native  of  Madison  county. 
Mrs.  Acton  bore  her  husband  three  children, 
but  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-six  years  was 
laid  to  eternal  rest,  dying  in  Dayton,  February 
13,  1895.  The  three  children  are:  Richard, 
who,  now  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  is  an  as- 
sistant in  his  father's  office,  but  is  also  attend- 
ing school;  Thomas,  aged  twelve  years,  and 
Minerva,  aged  nine,  are  still  the  companions 
of  their  father,  and  are  also  attending  school. 
Mrs.  Acton  was  a  conscientious  Catholic  in  her 
religious  faith,  and  her  children  have  been 
baptized  in  that  church.  Mr.  Acton  was 
formerly  a  democrat,  but  became  a  republican 
at  about  the  time  of  the  resumption  of  specie 
payment  by  the  government. 


EERBERT  HENRY  WEAKLEY,  pres- 
ident and  general  manager  of  the 
Herald  Publishing  company,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  February  1, 1837, 
on  the  Weakley  farm,  in  the  vicinity  of  Day- 
ton, and  is  the  son  of  Edward  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (Gunckel)  Weakley.  The  Weakley 
family  is  of  English  origin,  the  first  to  come  to 
America  having  been  five  well-to-do  brothers, 
who  emigrated  together  prior  to  the  coming  of 
William  Penn.  Three  of  them  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, while  the  other  two  went  south. 
The  latter  became  the  progenitors  of  large  fam- 
ilies. Weakley  county,  Tenn.,  was  named  for 
one  of  them.  The  grandfather  of  Herbert  H. 
was  Thomas  Weakley,  who  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Pa..,  and  whose  wife  was  Ann 
Alexander;  her  father  was  a  staff  officer  of 
Gen.  Washington. 

Edward  Thomas  Weakley,  their  only  son, 
was  also  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,    in    1828.       The    original    family    resi- 


dence, located  on  the  old  Weakley  homestead, 
near  the  soldier's  home,  was  built  by  Thomas 
Weakley,  and  still  stands.  In  its  time  it  was 
the  finest  farm  residence  in  Montgomery  county. 
At  Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1834,  Edward  Thomas  Weakley  was  mar- 
ried to  Catherine  Gunckel.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Michael  Gunckel, 
and  sister  to  William,  Henry  S.,  George 
W. ,  and  Lewis  B.  When  Herbert  H.  was 
a  child,  his  parents  removed  to  New  Carlisle, 
Clark  county,  Ohio,  and  there  his  father  em- 
barked in  the  tanning  and  leather  business, 
which  he  carried  on  successfully  for  a  number 
of  years.  His  death  occurred  in  New  Carlisle, 
in  1890,  that  of  his  widow  occurring  about  two 
years  later.  To  Edward  Thomas  Weakley  and 
wife  children  were  born  as  follows :  Her- 
bert Henry,  Mrs.  Dr.  William  W.  Crane,  of 
Tippecanoe  City,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Dr.  G.  A.  Billow, 
of  New  Carlisle;  Mrs.  Charles  Neff,  of  Colum- 
bus, Ohio;  Capt.  T.  J.  and  George  Willis,  oi 
Dayton. 

Henry  Herbert  Weakley  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  New  Carlisle  until  he  reached  his 
fifteenth  year,  when  he  was  sent  to  a  grammar 
school  at  Springfield,  Ohio.  He  next  entered 
Antioch  college  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  one  year,  and  then  entered  Miami 
university,  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  where  he  took 
the  regular  collegiate  course,  and  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1858.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  came  to  Dayton  and  entered  the  law 
office  of  Gunckel  &  Strong,  where  he  spent  two 
years  studying  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  i860  and  spent  several  years  in  prac- 
tice in  the  office  of  his  preceptors. 

In  1863  Mr.  Weakley  organized  a  local  fire 
insurance  company  with  R.  B.  Harshman  as 
president  ;  as  secretary  and  manager  Mr. 
Weakley  conducted  that  business,  the  company 
taking  and  holding  high  position  through 
his    efforts,     at    the     same    time    carrying  on 


j^fr/ir^^^^r 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


359 


the   practice    of    law    and    the    collection    of 
claims   against   the    government   until  the  fall 
of    1 87 1,    when    he    resigned     his    position   to 
accept     that    of    land     commissioner    of    the 
West     Wisconsin     Railroad     company     ( now 
the  St.  Paul  line  of  the  C.   &  N.-W.  R.  R.J, 
with  headquarters  at  Hudson,  Wis.    Mr.  Weak- 
ley was  one  of   the  most  efficient  officers  of  the 
company  and   during  his  connection  with  the 
railroad  sold  over  750,000  acres  of  land.     In  the 
fall  of  1  878  he  resigned  this  position,  and,  with 
his  wife,  made  a  general  tour  of   the  United 
States,    including    the    territories.     Following 
this  he  located  at  Troy,  Ohio,  and  established 
the  Miami  county  bank,    succeeding  the  bank- 
ing firm  of  W.  H.  H.  Dye  &  Son.    As  president 
and  owner  Mr.  Weakley  coducted  very  success- 
fully this  banking  house  for  seven  years,  be- 
coming,   in   the    meantime,    a    partner  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  fism  of  Weakley,  Worman 
&  Co.,  of  Dayton.      Selling  his  banking  inter- 
ests in   Troy,  in  1879,    Mr.  Weakley,   accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  daughter,  spent  nearly 
two  years  in  traveling  in  central  Europe.    Upon 
his  return  he  located  permanently  in  Dayton, 
and  has  continued  to  reside  here.      After  having 
been  a  citizen  of  Dayton  for  about  eight  months 
Mr.  Weakley  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Dayton  board  of  trade,    and  for  two  years  was 
president  and  manager  of  the   board,   during 
which  time   he  gave  to  that  organization  an 
impetus  which  made  it  an  assured  success,  and 
when  he  severed  his  official  connection  with  it 
he  had  won  the  highest  respect  and  esteem  of 
the  business  men   of   Dayton.      From  time  to 
time  Mr.  Weakley  has  been  interested  in  dif- 
ferent enterprises  in   Dayton,  and  still  retains 
a  number  of  important  connections  in  business 
affairs;  but  it  is  to  the  Herald    Publishing  com- 
pany that  he  gives  his  time  and  attention,  and 
in  which  he  takes  a  just  pride   and  pleasure. 
It  was  in  September,   1889,  that   he  purchased 
the    controlling   interest   in   the    Herald  com- 


pany. The  Evening  Herald  was  then  a  four- 
page  paper  with  a  weekly  edition  of  the  same 
size.  Mr.  Weakley  purchased  the  building  now 
known  as  the  Herald  building,  corner  of  Sec- 
ond and  Jefferson  streets,  and  there  developed 
the  business,  enlarging  the  daily  and  weekly 
editions  to  eight-page  papers.  Under  his  act- 
ive direction  as  president,  general  manager  and 
principal  owner,  the  paper  has  proved  to  be 
one  of  the  most  successful  in  the  city,  and 
justly  lays  claim  to  being  the  largest  and  enjoy- 
ing the  greatest  circulation  of  the  several  pa- 
pers published  in  Dayton.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Dayton  club  since  its  organiza- 
tion, and  is  connected  with  other  social  organ- 
izations. 

On  September  21,  1861,  Mr.  Weakley 
married  Miss  Sarah  Culbertson,  of  Troy,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  H.  H.  Culbertson,  one  of  the 
old  families  of  Miami  county.  A  daughter 
was  born  to  them — an  only  child — who  mar- 
ried Charles  Van  Ausdal,  on  January  31st, 
1888.  Mrs.  Van  Ausdal  received  a  fine  edu- 
cation, completing  her  studies  with  Mrs. 
Reed,  of  New  York,  after  which  she  accom- 
panied her  parents  on  a  lengthened  tour  in 
Europe. 

Mr.  Weakley  has  been  successful  in  every 
business  enterprise  with  which  he  was  person- 
ally identified.  He  has  never  had  any  politic- 
al ambition,  and  although  preferment  of  that 
character  has  been  offered  him,  he  has  invar- 
iably declined.  Decided  in  character,  warm 
in  friendship,  he  has  always  enjoyed  much 
personal  popularity.  He  has  always  had 
charge  and  control  of  large  transactions  and 
his  business  capacity  is  of  a  very  high  order. 
His  education  and  literary  tastes  have  fitted 
him  for  any  walk  in  life.  Age  is  coming  along 
apace,  and  with  an  ample  fortune,  a  handsome 
home  and  a  fine  library,  enjoying  the  highest 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  people,  he  can 
pleasantly  look  back  upon  a  successful  life. 


360 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


'HE  DAYTON  COLLEGE  OF  MUSIC 

had  its  origin  in  the  school  known  as 
the  Boulevard  Conservatory  of  Music. 
The  founders  of  this  school,  the  Misses 
Lillie  C,  Louie  M. ,  and  Viola  M.Butz,  seeing 
the  success  attending  their  new  enterprise, 
concluded  that  a  college  organization  should  be 
perfected  and  duly  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  state  of  Ohio,  which  was  accordingly 
effected  October  17,  1S92.  The  hopes  of  the 
founders  have  been  more  than  realized.  The 
press,  the  standing  of  the  college,  the  rating  of 
its  pupils,  the  hearty  endorsement  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Dayton,  Ohio,  have  shown  that  the 
conception  and  developement  of  the  plan  for 
musical  education  in  the  minds  of  its  founders 
was  no  mere  theory,  but  a  clear  discernment 
of  the  needs  of  the  city  and  surrounding 
territory,  in  the  sphere  of  musical  culture. 
With  the  ample  facilities  and  acknowledged 
strength  of  the  faculty  a  thorough  collegiate 
education  is  afforded  to  students  of  the  insti- 
tution. 

In  establishing  the  College  of  Music,  the 
Misses  Butz  associated  with  themselves  their 
brother,  Clarence  A.  Butz,  Anthony  J.  Schath, 
and  Miss  Josephine  H.  Holbrook.  The  faculty 
engaged  in  the  institution  are  not  only  success- 
ful teachers  but  concert  artists  of  confirmed 
ability,  having  appeared  with  great  success  on 
the  concert  stage  of  Europe  as  well  as  America. 
The  principals  of  the  various  departments  are 
Lillie  C.  Butz,  Louie  M.  Butz,  Viola  M.  Butz, 
Clarence  A.  Butz,  Anthony  J.  Schath,  and 
Josephine  H.  Holbrook,  whose  extensive 
studies  have  given  them  a  perfect  understand- 
ing of  the  best  methods  existing,  and  who  are 
gifted  with  the  faculty  of  successfully  impart- 
ing this  knowledge  to  their  pupils.  The  most 
approved  European  methods  are  used  at  this 
college,  which  professes  to  be  a  true  model  in 
teaching  the  same  method  to  all  grades  of  its 
pupils    and   uniting   all   of  its  teachers  in    one 


scientific  plan  for  the  development  of  the  best 
musical  results.  There  is  an  inspiration  in  as- 
sociation with  others  engaged  in  the  same 
work.  The  college  has  for  its  object  the  foun- 
dation and  diffusion  of  a  high  musical  educa- 
tion, which,  based  on  the  study  of  the  classic 
masters,  embraces  whatever  is  good  in  modern 
art.  The  curriculum  comprises  the  art  of  sing- 
ing, instruction  of  piano,  violin,  pipe  organ, 
harp,  viola,  violoncello,  flute,  oboe,  clarinet, 
French-horn,  cornet,  trombone,  and  full  in- 
duction in  theory,  harmony  and  ensemble. 
The  voice  method  strictly  observed,  is  the  pure 
Italian  method  of  singing.  The  Stuttgart  and 
Leipsic  piano  methods  are  used,  embracing 
thorough  study  through  preparatory,  academic 
and  collegiate  courses,  carrying  the  student 
from  the  first  elements  of  musical  education  to 
the  highest  proficiency.  The  violin  course 
comprises  the  study  of  Hermann,  Spohe, 
Schubert,  Schroeder  and  David's  Hoch-schule 
methods.  For  all  the  other  instruments  the 
best  European  methods  extant  are  used. 

The  Misses  Lillie,  Louie  and  Viola  Butz 
and  Clarence  Butz  are  descended  from  musical 
parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Butz,  Jr., 
who,  from  a  life  of  study  and  constant  associa- 
tion with  music,  together  with  fine  talents, 
have  always  occupied  and  still  enjoy. a  promi- 
nent place  among  the  leading  musicians  of 
Dayton,  and  have  earned  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion in  many  cities  in  which  they  have  appeared 
in  concert.  Lawrence  Butz  is  bass  soloist  in 
Holy  Trinity  Catholic  church,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
which  position  he  has  held  for  many  years. 
His  wife,  Mrs.  Lawrence  Butz,  is  the  capable 
organist  of  the  church,  having  successfully 
filled  that  place  for  the  past  twelve  years,  pre- 
v'ous  to  which  time  she  had  been  the  leading 
soprano  for  a  number  of  years.  Having  so 
assiduously  brought  out  and  cultivated  their 
own  musical  tendencies,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butz 
spared    neither   pains    nor    money  properly  to 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


361 


direct  the  qualifications  of  their  children.  At 
the  age  of  five,  respectively,  the  three  daugh- 
ters were  placed  under  the  best  local  teachers 
until  they  had  reached  twelve  years.  They 
were  then  sent  to  Mount  Notre  Dame,  an  ex- 
cellent academy  near  Cincinnati,  where  for  a 
period  of  five  years  they  pursued  a  thorough 
theoretical  and  practical  study  of  music — voice, 
piano  and  pipe  organ — following  also  a  col- 
legiate course  of  art,  science,  mathematics, 
history  and  languages,  taught  at  this  school. 
After  receiving  each  a  gold  medal  and  diploma, 
their  study  continued  under  eminent  teachers 
in  New  York,  and  after  several  years  they 
placed  themselves  under  the  best  masters  in 
Europe. 

Clarence  Butz,  like  his  sisters,  is  possessed 
of  a  fine  voice  which  has  been  highly  cultiva- 
ted, and  has  studied  piano  and  pipe  organ  to  a 
creditable  extent,  yet  his  favorite  instrument 
is  the  violin,  of  which  he  is  a  most  successful 
teacher  and  at  the  same  time  a  soloist  on 
the  concert  stage.  This  young  man's  talent 
showed  itself  at  a  very  early  time  in  life.  He 
began  the  study  of  the  piano  as  a  preparation 
for  the  violin,  beginning  on  the  latter  instru- 
ment at  the  age  of  nine  years.  He,  too,  was 
placed  under  the  best  local  instructors  for  the 
first  years,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  began 
study  in  Cincinnati  under  Prof.  A.  J.  Schath, 
who  afterward  became  one  of  the  faculty  in 
the  Dayton  College  of  Music.  Mr.  Butz  rose 
to  eminent  proficiency  under  Mr.  Schath,  with 
whom  he  studied  assiduously  for  years,  when 
he  placed  himself  under  the  instruction  of 
Max  Bendix,  of  Chicago,  whose  capable  ped- 
agogic worth  is  universally  acknowledged. 

Mr.  Butz  is  the  teacher  of  a  large  class  of 
students  at  the  College  of  Music,  whose  prog- 
ress ably  attests  his  qualifications  as  a  first- 
class  teacher  of  violin. 

The  Misses  Butz  and  Clarence  Butz  have 
distinguished  themselves  with  success  wherever 


they  have  appeared  in  concert.  Among  the 
musical  celebrities  with  whom  these  young 
artists  have  been  associated  are  Sig.  Albino 
Gorno  and  John  S.  Van  Cleve,  critic  and  lec- 
turer both  of  the  College  of  Music,  Cincin- 
nati; Mile.  Verlet,  of  the  Opera  Comique, 
Paris;  Mme.  Moriani,  Mile.  Poisson  and  Mon- 
sieur Van  Doren,  of  Brussels;  William  H. 
Sherwood,  of  Chicago;  and  Victor  Thrane, 
the  impressario,  of  New  York. 

The  College  of  Music  is  eentrally  located, 
occupying  the  fifth  floor  of  the  Louis  block, 
southwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  Jefferson  streets. 
The  scholastic  term  opens  each  year  with 
Septemebri,  continuing  until  June  30.  From 
July  1,  to  September  1,  the  college  summer 
term  is  in  session.  Every  facility  for  practice 
and  study  is  given  the  pupils  at  the  college. 
Beside  the  students'  concerts  that  are  given  at 
stated  periods  during  the  scholastic  term,  a 
number  of  artist  concerts  are  given  by  the 
faculty  and  eminent  people  of  the  concert 
world,  for  the  purpose  of  educating  the  public 
to  a  love  of  the  divine  art.  The  Dayton  Col- 
lege of  Music  is  one  of  the  most  refining  of 
the  educational  institutions  of  the  city  and 
well  deserves  the  extended  patronage  it  enjoys. 


BRANK  ANDERSON,  engineer  of  the 
Steele  High  School  building,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city  May  25, 
1854,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Maria 
(Wall)  Anderson,  of  whom  the  former  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  reared  to  manhood  in  Cen- 
terville;  the  latter  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  their  marriage  took  place  in  Dayton. 

Benjamin  Anderson  was  a  merchant  tailor 
in  the  Gem  City  from  1840  until  about  1867, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  produce  commission 
business,  in  which  he  continued  a  few  years 
only,  and  was  living  retired  at  his  death,  when 


362 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


fifty-four  years  of  age,  in  1882.  His  widow- 
survived  until  1893,  when  she  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years,  leaving  six  children,  viz.: 
Mrs.  Hattie  Thompson;  Charles,  who,  though 
a  mere  boy  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  en- 
listed at  Dayton  in  1865,  served  100  days,  is 
now  married,  and  is  a  clerk  in  his  native  city 
of  Dayton;  Addie  and  Josephine,  who  are 
twins,  the  former  being  now  Mrs.  George  W. 
Heathman  and  the  latter  the  widow  of  P.  E. 
Morton,  both  sisters  being  residents  of  Dayton; 
and  William,  who  is  a  carpenter  of  the  same 
city,  Frank  being  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Frank  Anderson  was  educated  in  the  Day- 
ton public  schools,  and  early  learned  the  trade 
of  steam  and  gas  fitting,  at  which  he  worked 
for  about  fifteen  years,  and  then  began  general 
engineering.  In  1S95  he  was  chosen  engineer 
of  the  Steele  High  School  building,  a  position 
of  great  responsibility  and  requiring  a  sound 
knowledge  of  machinery,  and  in  which  he  has 
given  the  most  faithful  and  efficient  service  up 
to  the  present  time. 

In  1889  Mr.  Anderson  married  Mrs.  Sallie 
Clarke,  a  native  of  Preble  county,  Ohio,  but 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Anderson  a 
resident  of  Dayton.  She  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Kirtland,  and  by  her  first  marriage  is 
the  mother  of  one  son — Delbert  Clarke — now 
sixteen  years  of  age  and  a  member  of  Mr.  An- 
derson's household. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  Junior 
Order  of  American  Mechanics,  and,  with  his 
wife,  of  the  Daughters  of  Liberty.  They  be- 
long to  the  congregation  worshiping  at  the 
Central  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Anderson  is  a  sound  republican  of  the  Mc- 
Kinley  school.  He  has  led  a  quiet,  industrious 
life,  confining  himself  to  his  own  affairs,  and 
has  made  many  warm  friends  in  Dayton,  where 
those  who  best  know  him  honor  him  the  most. 
He  and  his  family  hold  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  their  neighbors  to  a  marked  degree. 


kS~\  EV.  JOHN  KERFOOT  LEWIS,  chap- 
I  f^l  lain  in  the  United  States  navy,  with 
1  P  his  residence  at  No.  304  South  Jeffer- 
son street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
York,  Pa.,  March  18,  1835,  a  son  of  Thomas 
M.  and  Ann  Jane  (Kerfoot;  Lewis. 

Thomas  M.  Lewis  was  a  native  of  Bucks 
county,  Pa.,  from  January  17,  1808,  and  on 
September  11,  1832,  married  Miss  Ann  Jane 
Kerfoot,  in  Lancaster,  Pa.  In  October,  1838, 
he  brought  his  family  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
engaged  in  the  clothing  business,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  shortly  before  his  death,  which 
was  caused  by  a  railroad  accident  and  took 
place  in  Dayton,  July  14,  1884. 

His  widow,  the  mother  of  John  K.  Lewis, 
still  resides  in  Dayton.  She  was  born  in  Dub- 
lin, Ireland,  October  5,  1S10,  and  came  to 
America  with  her  parents  in  1818.  She  is  the 
second  child  who  grew  to  maturity  of  Richard 
Kerfoot,  of  Castle  Blarney,  county  Monaghan, 
Ireland,  of  the  baronial  family  of  Kerfoot,  of 
Berwick  manor,  in  the  south  part  of  Scotland, 
on  the  border  of  England,  a  branch  of  which 
family  settled  in  Ireland  in  the  time  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  of  England.  Her  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Hugh  Cumming,  an  attorney  of 
Armagh,  Ireland,  who  was,  according  to  tradi- 
tion, confirmed  by  the  coat  of  arms  borne  by 
his  ancestor,  Alexander  Cumming.  The  broth- 
ers of  Mrs.  Lewis  were  persons  in  high  official 
station,  in  both  England  and  Ireland,  but  the 
only  one  now  living  is  a  leading  real  estate 
dealer  in  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  settled  in 
1848. 

William  D.  Lewis,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  Rev.  John  K.  Lewis,  was  born  in  Bucks 
county,  Pa.,  of  Welsh  parentage.  To  the 
marriage  of  his  son,  Thomas  M.,  with  Ann 
Jane  Kerfoot,  were  born,  beside  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  four  children,  viz.:  Samuel  S., 
who  for  many  years  was  a  farmer  in  Kansas, 
but  is  now  a  resident  of  California;   Martha  J., 


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OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


365 


who  died  in  1863  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years;  Mary  A.,  who  was  married  _to  George 
H.  Lane,  an  attorney  of  Dayton,  and  about 
1856  removed  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  she 
died,  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years; 
and  Emily  M.,  who  died  in  Dayton,  in  1887, 
aged  forty-one  years. 

The  education  of  John  K.  Lewis  was  be- 
gun in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Dayton,  where 
he  was  under  the  instruction  of  Mr.  Gaylor 
and  Mr.  Chipman,  and  also,  in  his  early  days, 
was  a  pupil  under  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Wal- 
ters, of  Sixth  street.  At  the  age  of  about  eleven 
years  he  left  the  public  school  and  became  a 
student  under  Milo  G.  Williams,  in  the  old 
academy,  which  afterward  became  the  first 
high  school  of  the  city,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  James  H.  Campbell  and  Dr.  Crook, 
and  later  under  that  of  John  W.  Hall.  At 
the  age  of  nearly  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Lewis  en- 
tered the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  but  was 
dissatisfied  with  its  curriculum  and  returned 
to  Dayton,  where  for  three  years  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  in  a  book  store.  He  then 
entered  Saint  James  college,  an  Episcopal  in- 
stitution, near  Hagerstown,  Md.  In  passing, 
it  may  be  said  that  the  president  of  this  col- 
lege was  a  brother  of  his  mother;  that  the 
college  was  discontinued  during  the  Civil  war 
and  was  never  rehabilitated,  and  that  its  pres- 
ident later  became  president  of  Trinity  college, 
Hartford,  Conn. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Lewis 
was  graduated  from  Saint  James  and  was  at 
once  installed  as  head  master  of  the  grammar 
school  of  the  same — a  position  he  held  for 
four  years,  or  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebel- 
lron.  In  1858,  while  still  in  the  institution,  he 
was  ordained  a  deacon  in  the  Episcopal  church, 
and  in  i860  was  invested  with  full  orders.  In 
1 86 1  he  entered  upon  his  ministerial  duties 
as  assistant  to  the  pastor  of  the  Episcopal 
church    at    Elizabeth,    N.  J.,  and  in  1862  was 


placed  in  charge  of  Saint  Luke's  Episcopal 
church  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  officiated 
four  years.  He  next  established  Saint  Mark's 
school,  at  Southborough,  Mass.,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  church,  and  this  school  is  still 
in  existence  and  in  a  most  flourishing  condition. 
A  year  later  he  was  given  charge  of  a  mission 
in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  after  four  years  of 
labor  succeeded  in  building  a  church  edifice — 
now  the  second  Episcopal  church  of  that  city. 

In  November,  1869,  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  was 
appointed  a  chaplain  in  the  United  States  navy, 
and  although  his  time  since  then  has  chiefly 
been  passed  in  shore  duty,  he  has  nevertheless 
seen  seven  or  eight  years  of  sea  service,  during 
which  period  he  has  visited  Europe,  Asia, 
Africa  and  the  South  Sea  islands,  according  to 
sailing  orders  issued  by  the  navy  department 
to  the  commander  of  the  man-of-war  or  fleet 
to  which  he  happened  to  be  detailed.  While 
performing  shore  duty  as  United  States  naval 
chaplain,  he  often  conducted  religious  services, 
not  only  for  his  crew,  but  for  the  landsmen, 
among  whom  he  may  have  happened  at  the 
time  to  be  stationed.  For  the  past  ten  years 
he  has  considered  Dayton  to  be  his  permanent 
home,  and,  if  he  live  until  March,  1897,  he 
will  be  placed  on  the  retired  list  of  United 
States  officers. 

The  first  marriage  of  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  was 
solemnized  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  in  1862,  with 
Miss  Susan  W.  Moore,  a  native  of  that  city. 
This  union  resalted  in  the  birth  of  five  daugh- 
ters, in  the  following  order:  Catherine  E., 
Martha,  Mary,  Margaret  and  Florence.  Of 
these  Catherine  E.,  is  the  wife  of  William  E. 
Abbey,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Martha  is  married 
to  Mr.  Hill,  of  Newport,  R.  I.  The  second 
marriage  of  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  was  with  Miss 
Anne  E.  Keble,  of  Dayton,  daughter  of  Walter 
and  Elizabeth  Keble — the  parents  being  of 
English  birth. 

Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  is  a  Thirty-second  degree 


3(56 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Scottish  rite  Mason.  In  politics  he  is  inde- 
pendent, but  is  an  advocate  of  the  single  tax 
theory.  In  early  times  his  father  was  one  of 
the  foremost  of  Ohio  abolitionists,  and,  with 
Dr.  Hibbard  Jewett  and  John  A.  Sprague,  had 
the  courage  to  maintain  his  convictions  of  right 
in  the  face  of  the  strong  pro-slavery  element 
the  day.  He  was  well  understood  as  one  of 
the  managers  of  "the  underground  railroad," 
and  assisted  many  a  fugitive  slave  to  freedom, 
and  rejoiced  that  he  lived  to  see  America  free 
in  fact  as  well  as  in  name. 


a  APT.  THOMAS  G.  ADKINS,  band- 
master at  the  National  Military  home, 
near  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  one  of  the 
most  accomplished  musicians  and 
band  leaders  in  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
London,  England,  March  4,  1823,  and,  vet- 
eran as  he  is,  still  stands  at  the  head  of  his 
profession.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (Robinson)  Adkins,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  soldier  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
"foot"  regiment  in  the  British  army. 

When  a  child  of  two  years  of  age,  the  son 
was  taken  through  Ireland  by  his  parents,  his 
father  following  the  fortunes  of  his  regiment 
in  that  island,  and  his  wife  accompanying 
him.  At  the  age  of  six  years  young  Adkins 
first  saw  America,  the  regiment  to  which  his 
father  was  attached  being  ordered  to  Quebec, 
Canada,  where  the  father  died  in  1833 — and 
the  mother  and  son  were  returned  to  England 
by  the  government.  At  the  age  of  nine  years, 
Thomas  was  placed  in  the  Royal  Military 
school  in  London,  where  he  received  a  mili- 
tary and  musical  education,  and,  having  devel- 
oped a  decided  taste  and  talent  for  musical 
art,  was  entered,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years, 
as  musician,  in  the  Second  regiment  of  life 
guards — the  bodyguard  of  the  sovereign.  After 
nig  ten  years  in  this  regiment,  Mr.  Adkins 


came  to  the  United  States,  and  made  his  first 
engagement  as  a  musician  as  master  of  the 
Washington  band  of  New  York  city;  he  was 
also  a  member  of  the  orchestra  which  played 
at  the  concerts  of  the  Swedish  nightingale, 
Jenny  Lind,  in  her  earliest  concerts  in  this 
country,  he  playing  cornet  solo,  and  still 
has  a  program  of  the  third  concert  given  by 
that  famous  showman,  Phineas  T.  Barnum  — 
possibly  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York.  Dur- 
ing this  time  Mr.  Adkins  still  retained  his  po- 
sition as  leader  of  the  Washington  band,  which 
was  attached  to  or  employed  by  the  aristo- 
cratic and  "crack"  regiment,  known  as  the 
Seventh  New  York  militia,  but  four  or  five 
years  later  the  band  dissolved  its  connection 
with  the  Seventh  and  attached  itself  to  the 
Eighth  New  York  militia.  In  a  short  time,  how- 
ever, Mr.  Adkins  withdrew  from  this  connec- 
tion and  went  to  New  Orleans,  La.,  and  for  a 
while  was  solo  cornetist  in  a  theater  orchestra 
during  the  winter  of  1855-56.  In  the  spring 
of  the  latter  year  he  organized  a  band  of 
twenty-five  men  to  accompany  the  "gray- 
eyed  man  of  destiny,"  Gen.  William  Walker, 
who  departed,  with  a  body  of  "fishermen," 
to  aid  in  the  liberation  of  'Nicaragua,  but  he 
was  not  long  a  band-master  with  that  little 
army,  as  it  soon  became  necessary  to  shoulder 
a  musket  and  fight  in  person.  Penned  up  in 
the  little  city  of  Rivas,  the  patriot  army  de- 
fended itself  against  a  siege  of  three  months, 
living  on  horseflesh,  dogs,  lizards  and  what- 
not, and  in  the  meantime  slaughtering  about 
1,000  of  the  besiegers,  but  at  last  compro- 
mised, marched  out,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
250  fighting  men  were  deported  for  New  York. 
Mr.  Adkins,  however,  wandered  to  the  Pacific 
coast  and  at  Point  d'Arenus  formed  a  troupe 
of  minstrels — the  first  heard  in  the  country — 
composed  of  seven  musicians.  The  British 
consul  at  the  Point  was  a  cornet  player,  had 
several     instruments,    which    he     loaned     the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


367 


troupe,  and  banjos,  etc.,  were  constructed 
through  the  ingenuity  of  the  band.  Through 
this  means  the  performers  were  enabled  to 
travel  several  hundred  miles  afoot  and  make  a 
livelihood. 

While  on  this  memorable  trip  Mr.  Adkins 
was  engaged  by  a  local  priest  to  play  at  a  cel- 
ebration over  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Walker,  and, 
though  this  engagement  was  not  to  his  taste, 
playing  dance  and  other  profane  music  at  the 
head  of  the  military  procession  on  Sunday, 
while  the  cannon  were  booming,  yet  it  netted 
him  considerable  "dinero"  and  he  was  well 
treated.  Mr.  Adkins  was  also  offered  a  posi- 
tion as  leader  of  a  fine  band  at  Walla  Walla, 
but  declined.  He  received,  however,  a  purse 
of  $30  and  a  liberal  supply  of  provisions  from 
the  friendly  priest — Padre  Cabaisa — and  went 
on  his  way  rejoicing.  On  reaching  Aspinwall 
he  boarded  a  vessel  for  New  York,  but  found 
that  he  had  only  $25  in  his  possession,  while 
the  passage  rate  was  fixed  at  $60;  but  by  a 
Masonic  arrangement  he  was  permitted  to 
embark  for  the  voyage.  When  the  vessel 
stopped  at  the  way  port  of  Havana,  Cuba, 
Mr.  Adkins  was  seized  with  the  Chagres  fever, 
a  disease  known  only  to  Central  America,  but 
continuing  the  voyage,  he  arrived  in  New  York 
July  4,  1857,  where  he  was  confined  in  bed 
during  the  three  months  following.  He  was 
then  able  to  resume  his  place  as  master  of  the 
Washington  band,  and  in  the  latter  part  of 
1857  was  offered  by  Col.  Colt  (the  inventor  of 
the  revolving  firearm),  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  a 
liberal  compensation  as  leader  of  his  band  in 
that  city,  which  was  accepted  and  filled  until 
1S61. 

Mr.  Adkins  then  organized  a  band  of  twen- 
ty-four musicians  for  the  Fourteenth  United 
States  infantry,  and  for  five  years  and  eleven 
months  was  connected  with  this  regiment,  serv- 
ing through  the  Civil  war,  the  greater  part  of 
the  time   at  headquarters,  but  nevertheless  in 


the  field  through  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  the  widow  of  Col.  Colt 
recalled  Capt.  Adkins  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and 
placed  him  once  more  in  charge  of  the  Colt 
factory  band,  which  position  he  retained  until 
1 88 1.  This  was  an  especial  recognition  of  his 
merits  as  a  musician  and  band  leader,  as  he 
was  thus  employed,  save  during  the  war,  from 
1857  until  1 88 1.  During  the  last  engagement 
of  Capt.  Adkins  at  the  Colt  firearms  factory, 
Gen.  Franklin  was  its  superintendent,  and  it 
was  through  his  influence  that  the  captain  was 
admitted  to  the  National  Military  home  at 
Dayton. 

In  May,  18S1,  Capt.  Adkins  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  Home  band,  and  a  recent  re- 
port rendered  by  the  United  States  inspector, 
Gen.  Breckinridge,  shows  this  to  be  one  of  the 
best  military  bands  in  the  country  —  it  being 
composed  of  thirty-three  pieces. 

Capt  Adkins  was  first  married,  in  England, 
to  Miss  Mary  Walker,  who  there  died,  leaving 
one  son,  who  sacrificed  his  life  in  our  late  Civil 
war.  His  present  wife,  whom  he  married  in 
Portland,  Oregon,  in  1866,  was  Miss  Jane  Mil- 
lard, a  native  of  Ireland.  To  this  union  eight 
children  have  been  born,  viz. :  Catherine, 
Alice,  Frederick  William,  Thomas,  Alfred, 
Maud,  Mabel  and  Edward.  Of  the  sons, 
Alfred  served  three  years  in  the  United  States 
cavalry  service,  receiving  his  discharge  in 
1895  ;  the  daughters,  inheriting  the  musical, 
talent  of  their  father,  have  developed  as  most 
excellent  performers  on  the  piano. 

There  is  one  fact  in  regard  to  the  family  of 
Capt.  Adkins  which  ought  to  be  mentioned, 
and  that  is  that,  although  he  is  an  Englishman 
born,  his  relative,  Nathan  Adkins,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Second  regulars  of  Virginia  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  aided  in  attaining  the 
independence  of  the  country  in  which  the  cap- 
tain has  now  found  a  home. 

Capt.  Adkins  was  made  a  Freemason,  in 


368 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


New  York  city,  in  1852,  in  Worth  lodge  ;  he 
was  dimitted  thence  to  Mystic  lodge,  No.  405, 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  has  attained  to  the 
Thirty-second  degree  —  a  very  exalted  position 
in  the  order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  in  religion 
he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Episco- 
palian church.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  he  and  his  sons  furnish  four  straight 
votes  annually  for  that  party. 


(D 


AJ.  CARL  BERLIN,  assistant  ad- 
jutant general  of  the  Central  branch 
of  the  National  Home  for  Disabled 
Volunteer  Soldiers  near  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  near  Ystad,  in  the  northern 
part  of  Sweden,  May  17,  1834,  was  graduated 
from  a  university  and  the  military  academy, 
entered  the  Swedish  atmy  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  as  a  non-commissioned  officer,  received 
his  commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  1856, 
and  as  first  lieutenant  in  1862,  serving  in  all 
nine  years.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  was  at  once  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  of  company  C,  Eighth  New 
York  volunteer  cavalry,  and  faithfully  served 
against  the  rebels  until  mustered  out  with  his 
regiment  in  December,  1864.  The  day  of  his 
muster  out  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant 
of  the  First  New  York  light  artillery,  and  served 
with  this  rank  until  the  close  of  the  internecine 
struggle.  He  took  part  in  all  the  engagements 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  during  the  years 
he  was  in  the  service,  doing  duty  as  aid-de- 
camp to  the  chief  of  artillery.  Gen.  Henry  J. 
Hunt,  and  as  inspector  of  the  artillery  brigade, 
Fifth  army  corps.  He  was  brevetted  captain 
and  major  for  brave  and  meritorious  conduct 
at  Spottsylvania  Court  House  and  Petersburg. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  engaged  in  plant- 
ing and  in  mercantile  business  in  South  Caro- 
lina, but  his  experience  in  these  lines  was  not 


altogether  gratifying,  and  he  relinquished  them 
in  1884.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  adjutant 
and  inspector  of  the  Central  branch  of  the 
National  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Sol- 
diers. He  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  a 
Knight  of  the  Royal  Order  of  the  Sword, 
which  decoration  was  conferred  on  him  by  the 
king  of  Sweden. 

Maj.  Berlin  is  not  only  one  of  the  most 
popular  officers  connected  with  the  govern- 
ment of  the  home,  but  he  numbers  among  his 
friends  very  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  Day- 
ton. 


HDAM  ADELBERGER,  ex-member  of 
the  Dayton  city  council  from  the  Sec- 
ond ward,  and  who  was  a  well-known 
butcher,  residing  at  No.  315  and  317 
Xenia  avenue,  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany,  December  31,  1848.  Having  re- 
ceived his  education  in  his  native  country,  he 
left  home  on  June  17,  1866,  and  came  to  the 
United  States,  landing  in  New  York  and  com- 
ing thence  direct  to  Dayton,  which  place  he 
reached  July  22,  1866.  His  trade  of  butcher 
he  acquired  in  Dayton,  working  for  Leonard 
Stockert,  one  of  the  oldest  butchers  of  the 
city,  where  he  still  resides.  For  some  four 
years  after  retiring  from  the  service  of  Mr. 
Stockert,  Mr.  Adelberger  worked  for  various 
employers,  and  then  engaged  in  business  for 
himself.  For  one  year  he  was  in  business  on 
Webster  street,  and  then  removed  to  Mad 
River  township;  but  in  May,  1885,  he  returned 
to  Dayton  and  opened  a  place  of  business  on 
Xenia  avenue,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death. 

On  April  28,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Eliz- 
abeth Wassum,  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  in  May, 
1868.      To  them   were  born   ten  children,  five 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


371 


of  whom,  all  daughters,  are  still  living.  Mr. 
Adelberger  was,  and  his  family  are,  members 
of  St.  John's  German  Evangelical  church,  of 
which  Mr.  Adelberger  was  a  trustee  at  his 
death,  and  of  which  he  had  formerly  served  as 
trustee  for  four  years.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellow  fraternity,  A.  O.  U.  W. 
and  of  the  order  of  Chosen  Friends,  besides 
several  other  beneficiary  organizations.  He 
was  elected  to  the  council  of  Dayton  in  June, 
1894,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Mr.  Kro- 
nauge,  and  in  April,  1895,  he  was  re-elected, 
his  term  to  expire  in  1897. 

In  1888  Mr.  Adelberger  paid  a  visit  to  his 
native  country,  remaining  abroad  three  months 
with  his  relatives  and  friends.  There  his  fa- 
ther and  mother,  three  brothers  and  one  sister 
are  still  living.  Mr.  Adelberger  was  one  of  the 
successful  business  men  of  Dayton,  and  his 
judgment  in  business,  as  well  as  in  political 
matters,  was  frequently  sought. 

Mr.  Adelberger  met  with  a  sudden  and  mel- 
ancholy death  August  18,  1896,  by  being 
thrown  from  a  wagon,  and  his  untimely  end 
was  sincerely  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 


>Y»OHN  NEWTON  ALLABACK  has  long 

■      been  associated   with   the    commercial 

/•  1      and  laboring  interests  of  Dayton,  and 

for  the  past  ten  years  has  been  a  most 

efficient  and  useful  member  of  the  police  force 

of  the  city.     Capt.  Allaback  was  born  in  the 

village  of  West  Point,  Morrow  county,  Ohio, 

November     15,    1857.     The    removal    of    his 

parents  to  Dayton  brought   him  to  this  city, 

which  has  been  his  home  for  twenty  years  or 

more. 

His  father,  John  Alfaback,  is  also  a  native 

of  this  state,  and  has  done  his  part  in  life  as  a 

citizen  and   soldier.      When    the   war    of   the 

Rebellion    called   out   the    brave    men  of    the 

nation  to  her  defense,  he  was  among  the  first 
10 


to  respond.  He  enlisted  in  a  company  that 
went  out  from  Galion  early  in  the  summer  of 
1 86 1,  served  throughout  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  as  captain  of  company  K, 
Eighty-first  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry. 
After  the  return  of  peace,  he  returned  to 
Galion,  where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a 
contracting  plasterer  for  several  years,  until 
his  removal  for  a  second  time  to  this  city, 
which  has  since  continued  to  be  his  home. 
Despite  his  long  and  arduous  services  as  a 
soldier,  he  is  still  active  and  vigorous,  and  car- 
ries on  an  extensive  business. 

John  N.  Allaback  remained  with  his  father, 
working  with  him  in  his  business,  until  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  At  this 
time  he  also  determined  to  try  military  life, 
and  accordingly  enlisted  in  Cincinnati,  March 
26,  1879,  in  the  cavalry  service  of  the  United 
States.  His  first  assignment  was  to  Jefferson 
barracks,  where  he  made  a  stay  of  some  two 
months,  undergoing  a  preliminary  drill  and 
general  training  for  the  service.  When  thought 
ready  for  the  field,  he  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  United  States  cavalry,  troop  M,  with 
headquarters  at  Fort  Custer,  Mont.  The 
first  three  years  of  his  stay  with  the  troopers 
were  principally  occupied  in  scouting  and  field 
service,  many  of  the  northwestern  Indians 
being  openly  hostile.  He  participated  in  two 
engagements  of  proportions  sufficient  to  war- 
rant them  a  place  in  history,  one  on  the  Milk 
river  with  the  Sioux,  and  the  other  on  the 
Rosebud  with  the  Ogallas,  both  battle  fields 
being  in  what  is  now  the  state  of  Montana. 
The  Indians  were  active  and  aggressive,  and 
the  soldiery  qualities  of  the  Second  were  often 
severely  tried.  But  it  was  a  gallant  company 
of  brave  men,  and  won  a  great  reputation  as 
Indian  fighters.  And  our  young  soldier  was 
well  to  the  front  in  every  time  of  danger.  He 
won  promotion  from  the  ranks  by  his  gallant 
behavior,  was  made  corporal,  and  at  the  time 


372 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  his  discharge,    March   26,    1884,    was   first 
duty  sergeant  of  the  troop. 

Ex-Cavalryman  Allaback  returned  to  Day- 
ton after  leaving  the  service,  and  at  once  re- 
sumed the  business  he  had  put  aside  five  years 
before.  But  the  precision  of  his  habits  and 
the  strength  of  his  character,  which  he  had 
gained  from  military  life,  were  recognized,  and 
he  was  called  to  the  police  department  of  the 
city,  being  appointed  on  the  force  June  16, 
1886,  and  in  this  service  he  is  still  engaged. 
As  a  police  officer  he  has  acted  in  almost  every 
capacity,  and  wherever  he  has  been  assigned 
to  duty  he  has  acquitted  himself  with  high 
credit.  He  has  followed  the  line  of  promo- 
tion; was  first  roundsman,  then  sergeant,  and 
his  commission  as  police  captain  bears  date 
March  8,  1893.  Capt.  Allaback  was  married, 
on  September  16.  1884,  to  Miss  Alice  Francis, 
a  native  of  Dayton.  Her  father,  Amon 
Francis,  has  been  for  many  years  one  of  Day- 
ton's best  millwrights.  To  this  happy  union 
there  have  been  born  three  sons  and  one 
daughter:  John  Clifford,  Wilbur  Newton, 
Helen  Catherine,  and  an  infant,  deceased. 
Capt.  Allaback  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Foresters,  and  of  the  Police  Benevolent  asso- 
ciation. He  is  still  a  young  man,  but  has 
already  won  an  honorable  place  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  community,  to  whose  interests  he 
has  been  faithful  in  a  place  of  responsibility 
and  trust. 


K^\  OBERT  MORRIS  ALLEN,  who  holds 

I  /^     the  position  of  joint  weighmaster  and 

P     inspector  of  all  railway  lines  centering 

in    Dayton,   is   a  native  of  this  city, 

and  was   born   March    30,   1847.      His  parents 

were   Robert   and    Elizabeth  (Simpson)  Allen. 

The  father  came  to  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania  in 

1 83 1,    and   at  once   located  in  this   city,  and 

here  he   lived    until   his  death,  which  occurred 


in  1872,  after  he  had  passed  his  seventy-first 
birthday.  During  his  youth  he  learned  the 
cooper  and  stone-cutting  trades,  and  after  com- 
ing here  he  worked  at  the  cooperage  business 
until  1856.  He  was  then  appointed  to  the  po- 
sition of  city  wood  measurer,  and,  following 
that,  was  elected  to  the  same  office,  which  he 
continued  to  hold  until  the  spring  of  1864. 
From  that  time  on  he  ceased  active  employ- 
ment. His  wife  was  born  in  Dayton,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Moses  and  Eliza  (Baker) 
Simpson.  Her  father  and  her  grandfather 
(Aaron  Baker)  were  early  citizens  of  Dayton, 
and  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  history  of 
the  growing  town.  They  came  from  New  Jer- 
sey, and  found  much  delight  in  the  soil  and 
climate  of  southwestern  Ohio.  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  Allen  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  three  are  now  living,  Rob- 
ert M. ,  and  two  younger  sisters,  of  whom 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William  Sellman,  of  Day- 
ton, and  Annie  resides  with  her  brother. 

Robert  Morris  Allen  was  reared  in  this  city, 
attended  its  schools  until  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  fourteen,  when  he  felt  called  upon  to 
care  for  himself,  and  began  at  that  early  age  a 
business  career  that  has  been  long  and  success- ( 
ful.  His  first  employment  was  in  the  ware- 
house of  Robert  Chambers.  Later  he  became 
a  house  and  carriage-painter  of  acknowledged 
skill.  In  1866  the  railway  service  attracted 
him,  and  he  became  a  brakeman  on  the 
old  Dayton  &  Michigan  railway.  This  po- 
sition he  held  until  1S71,  when  he  received 
station  work  from  the  Atlantic  &  Great  West- 
ern (now  the  N.  Y.,  P.  &  O.).  He  entered 
the  revenue  service  of  the  United  States  in 
September,  1885,  and  was  first  appointed  as 
deputy  collector  in  the  Sixth  Ohio  district, 
making  his  headquarters  at  Dayton  until  the 
consolidation  of  this  district  and  the  First.  He 
was  then  stationed  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years.      He  then  came  back  to 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


373 


this  city  to  take  charge  of  the  position  of 
stamp  deputy.  This  place  Mr.  Allen  held  un- 
til a  change  of  national  administration  called 
for  his  resignation  from  the  service,  to  give 
office  to  a  republican.  The  railway  officials 
were  quick  to  recognize  the  value  of  his  ready 
and  accurate  mind,  and  he  was  offered  the 
the  chief  clerkship  in  the  Dayton  car  service 
bureau.  This  he  accepted  and  held  until 
1892,  when  this  bureau  was  consolidated  with 
a  similar  organization  at  Cincinnati.  Mr.  Allen 
was  then  put  in  charge  of  the  weighing  and  in- 
spection of  all  lines  at  Dayton,  and  here  he  is 
now  engaged.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the 
Freight  Agents'  association  and  of  the  Dayton 
freight  committee. 

As  a  citizen  Mr.  Allen  has  been  both  active 
and  public  spirited.  He  was  first  elected  to 
the  board  of  education  in  1873,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years,  has  held  a  contin- 
uous membership  to  the  present  time.  For 
three  years  he  was  president  of  the  board,  and 
has  always  exerted  great  influence  in  the  edu- 
cational affairs  of  the  city.  He  was  president 
of  the  board  at  the  time  the  plans  for  the  city 
library  were  perfected,  and  was  instrumental 
in  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  city  council  to 
the  location  of  the  library  building  in  the  city 
park.  He  was  on  the  board  of  education  un- 
til about  the  time  of  the  completion  of  the 
library,  when  the  legislature  passed  a  law 
creating  a  board  of  library  trustees.  Of  this 
board  he  was  made  a  member,  with  much 
unanimity  of  feeling,  as  a  deserved  tribute  to 
a  hard  worker  in  the  cause  of  public  education. 
He  was  afterward  returned  to  the  board  of 
education,  and  continues  in  both  bodies.  Mr. 
Allen  is  much  engaged  in  fraternity  work,  and 
is  a  member  of  several  of  the  leading  brother- 
hoods of  the  city.  He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Honor,  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Elks,  and  of  the  Chosen  Friends, 
and  is  much  esteemed  in  all  these  relations. 


^-j*  AMES  M.  ALLAN,  infirmary  director  of 

m      Dayton  and  superintendent  of  the  W. 

(•  J      P.    Levis    &  Co.   paper-mill,    was  born 

in  Dayton,  February  20,   1856,  and  is  a 

son  of  John  and  Jessie  (Cooper)  Allan,  natives 

of  Kirkintilloch,  Scotland. 

John  Allan,  the  father,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1848,  and  at  once  settled  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  where  he  found  work  at  his  trade  in  the 
old  McGregor  paper-mill.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  education,  and  for  some  years  taught 
school  in  Montgomery  county.  In  1S51  Miss 
Jessie  Cooper  came  to  America  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Allan  in  the  same  year.  She 
died  in  1874,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  on  February  15,  1896,  her  hus- 
band, who  was  an  attendant  of  the  same 
church,  also  passed  away  in  the  seventy-second 
year  of  his  age.  Of  their  six  children,  four  are 
still  living,  viz:  Jennet,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Lehman;  James  M.,  Thomas  C.  and  Annie  M., 
all  residents  of  Dayton. 

James  M.  Allan  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city  until  eleven  years  of  age. 
On  March  4,  1867,  he  was  employed  by  the 
paper-making  firm  of  W.  P.  Levis  &  Co., 
learned  the  trade,  and  by  this  firm  he  has  ever 
since  been  retained,  reaching  his  present  re- 
sponsible position,  by  well-merited  promotions, 
in  September,  1892.  At  the  April  election  of 
1896  he  was  elected,  on  the  republican  ticket, 
director  of  the  city  infirmary  of  Dayton,  an  of- 
fice also  of  great  responsibility,  and  which  he 
has  filled  to  the  approval  of  the  public  and 
with  credit  to  himself. 

November  21,  1879,  Mr.  Allan  was  happily 
married  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Shiftier,  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  Shiftier,  old  residents  of 
Dayton.  To  this  union  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren— Charles  E.,  William  E.,  Jessie  E.,  and 
Mabel  E.  In  their  religious  connection  Mrs.  Al- 
lan and  her  eldest  son  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  while  Mr.  Allan  is  a  Presbyterian. 


374 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


In  his  fraternal  relations,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Senior  Order  of  American  Mechanics  and  of 
the  American  Insurance  Union. 


^y^V  IUS  P.  ALTHOFF,  senior  member  of 
"II  the  well  known  firm  of  P.  P.  Althoff 
&  Son,  coal  dealers  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Emmittsburg,  Md.,  De- 
cember 8,  1 82 1,  of  German  parentage.  Until 
1847  he  worked  at  farming  and  lumbering  in 
his  native  state.  In  1849  he  came  overland 
by  teams  to  Ohio  and  since  that  date  has  been 
a  resident  of  Montgomery  county.  After  mov- 
ing to  Dayton  he  engaged  in  contracting,  and 
building  the  narrow-gauge  railroad,  and  was 
an  excavating  contractor  for  many  years.  In 
1884  he  engaged  in  the  coal  trade  at  Dayton, 
which  was  discontinued  during  the  absence  of 
his  son,  Henry  F.,  in  the  west,  and  resumed 
on  his  return. 

Mr.  Althoff  married,  in  Maryland,  April  26, 
1846,  Miss  Kate  Welty,  a  resident  of  Mary- 
land but  a  native  of  Karlsruhe,  Germany,  born 
June  20,  1 82  1.  To  this  union  were  born  eleven 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living,  viz: 
Mary,  Henry  F.,  Carrie,  George,  Kate,  Charles, 
Emma,  Rose  and  Lillie, — all  married,  except- 
ing Henry  F.,  Carrie  and  Kate;  the  two  de- 
ceased were  named  Harry  and  Willie.  Mary 
is  the  wife  of  Redmond  P.  Sage,  and  lives  in 
Dayton;  George  is  a  resident  of  Butte,  Mont. ; 
Henry  F.  and  Charles  are  in  Dayton;  Rose  is 
married  to  Frank  Saxteller,  also  of  Dayton; 
Lillie,  now  Mrs.  Arnold  Greiner,  resides  in 
Miamisburg,    Ohio. 

Although  not  a  pioneer,  Pius  P.  Althoff 
was  an  early  settler  in  Montgomery  county  and 
came  here  a  poor  man.  Of  the  sixteen  com- 
panions who  accompanied  him  over  the  Na- 
tional pike  in  1849  but  four  are  now  living, 
while  he  and  his  wife  have  lived  to  celebrate 
their  golden  wedding,  at  which  festival  twenty- 


four  children  and  grandchildren  were  present. 
Although  now  a  solid  citizen,  the  first  year's 
experience  in  Montgomery  county  was,  never- 
theless, discouraging — the  prospect  being  only 
for  hard  work  and  poor  compensation,  while, 
to  add  to  the  troubles  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Althoff, 
a  child  sickened  and  died,  and  serious  thoughts 
were  entertained  of  going  back  to  Maryland. 
But  Mr.  Althoff  had  a  strong  will  and  an  in- 
dustrious disposition,  and  after  working  on  the 
railroad,  as  already  mentioned,  he  began  to 
buy  wood  in  the  timber  and  to  haul  it  to  town 
for  the  difference  in  price,  which  was  very 
small;  then  worked  on  a  farm  for  a  year,  saved 
his  earnings  and  moved  to  Dayton.  He  next 
traded  for  a  farm,  on  which  the  family  lived  for 
three  years.  He  then  exchanged  his  farm  for 
city  property,  and  engaged  in  contract  work, 
as  noted,  and  thus,  by  steady  and  persistent 
effort,  he  wrought  out  success  and  ultimate 
propensity. 

Mr.  Althoff  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  is  to-day  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Sacred  Heart  congregation  of  Day- 
ton, of  which  his  wife  and  children  are  also 
members.  He  is,  beside,  a  director  of  the 
Calvary  cemetery.  In  politics  he  has  been  a 
life-long  democrat,  but  has  never  been  an 
office-seeker. 

The  parents  of  Pius  P.  Althoff  were  Henry 
and  Catherine  (Diffendall)  Althoff,  natives  of 
Germany,  but  who  died  in  Maryland,  aged  re- 
spectively seventy-two  and  sixty-three  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  viz: 
John,  now  over  eighty  years  of  age  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Houston,  Tex. ;  Ann,  widow  of  Dr. 
Flatt,  and  residing  in  Reedsburg,  Wis. ;  Henry, 
a  plasterer,  who  died  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  in 
his  twenty-first  year;  Pius  P.;  Francis,  a 
painter  by  trade,  who  died  of  a  fever  in  Alton, 
111.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness; Ambrose,  a  retired  mechanic,  who  lives 
near  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge  mountains,  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


375 


Frederick  county,  Md. ;  Aloysius,  who  is  a 
mechanic  of  Dayton;  and  Felix,  also  of  Day- 
ton, who  is  a  painter  and  decorator,  and  an- 
other deceased. 

Henry  F.  Althoff,  son  of  Pius  P.  Althoff, 
was  born  in  Liberty,  Ohio,  August  29,  1850, 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  school.  Until 
1882  he  worked  with  his  father  and  lived  at 
home;  then  went  west,  but  shortly  afterward 
returned.  March  17,  1884,  he  went  to  Mon- 
tana, worked  at  silver  mining  in  the  Parrott 
and  Anaconda  mines,  then  went  to  Idaho  and 
worked  in  the  Bunker  Hill  and  Tiger  mines; 
was  for  two  years  a  cowboy,  and  in  1892  re- 
turned with  his  savings  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father,  handling  coal,  wood,  lime, 
cement,  etc.,  and  doing  a  prosperous  trade. 
He  is  still  unmarried  and  resides  with  his  par- 
ents at  No.  226  South  Warren  street,  Dayton. 
In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 


'^'j'OSEPH  W.  ALLISON,  manufacturer 
m  of  wood  and  metal  patterns  and  mod- 
/•  1  els,  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Canal 
streets,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Shelby  county  June  4,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  C.  and  Jane  (Graham)  Allison,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  doubtless  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent. 

James  C.  Allison  was  in  early  life  a  shoe- 
maker, but  later  became  a  teamster,  and  in 
1853  came  to  Dayton  with  his  family,  and 
here  his  wife  died  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-six years,  and  he  in  1885,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-six  years — both  having 
lived  in  the  faith  of  the  New  Light  church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  three  are  now  living  in  Dayton,  one  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  one  in  Carlisle,  Ohio. 

Joseph  W.  Allison  was  well  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  in 
those   of  Dayton,   and   in   his  early  manhood 


learned  the  trade  of  carriage  making,  at  which 
he  worked  until  his  enlistment  in  October, 
1 86 1,  in  company  G,  Fourteenth  Missouri 
volunteer  infantry,  in  which  he  gallantly  served 
until  honorably  discharged,  in  July,  1862,  on 
account  of  disability.  By  advice  of  his  phy- 
sicians he  then  relinquished  carriage  making 
and  devoted  his  attention  to  pattern  making, 
in  which  business  he  began,  in  a  small  way,  in 
Dayton,  but  has  made  an  increasing  and 
deserved  success.  He  is  an  expert,  and  em- 
ploys none  but  the  bes  t  artists  as  his  assist- 
ants, and  has  thus  achieved  a  reputation  sec- 
ond to  that  of  no  other  designer  in  the  state. 
In  1893  he  associated  his  son  with  himself  in 
the  business,  and  assumed  for  the  firm  the 
style  of  the  Allison  Pattern  works,  under 
which  name  it  has  since  greatly  prospered. 
Mr.  Allison  is  also  a  director  in  the  West  Side 
Building  &  Loan  assocciation,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Hiram  Strong  post,  No.  79,  G.  A. 
R.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  and  has 
served  two  terms  in  the  Dayton  city  council, 
being  for  one  year  its  president. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Allison  took  place 
May  12,  1859,  with  Miss  Isabella  Kiler,  a  na- 
tive of  Dayton  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  W. 
Kiler.  This  union  was  blessed  with  three 
children,  viz:  Charles  L. ,  now  a  pattern- 
maker, with  Stilwell,  Bierce  &  Co.,  and  mar- 
ried to  Cora  Romaine;  Daniel  K.,  who  is  his 
father's  partner  in  business  and  is  married  to 
Miss  May  E.  Bryce,  daughter  of  S.  T.  Bryce; 
Russell  W.,  patternmaker,  in  the  employ  of 
the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass  works,  and  married 
to  Miss  Jennie  Atchison,  The  mother  of  this 
family  became  somewhat  frail  in  health  in 
1893-94,  and  was  taken  by  her  husband  on  a 
tour  through  the  west,  and  passed  several 
months  in  California,  Mexico,  etc.,  but  in  May, 
1895,  sne  died  in  Dayton,  a  member  of  the 
Disciples'  church,  of  which,  for  thirty  years, 
Mr.  Allison  has  also  been  an  active  member. 


376 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Of  their  descendants,  five  grandchildren  are 
now  living  and  one  deceased. 

Daniel  K.  Allison,  second  son  of  Joseph 
W.  and  Isabella  (Kiler)  Allison,  and  now  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  business,  received  his 
preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  later  attended  Bethany  college;  he  then 
read  law  with  Hon.  Samuel  Craighead,  was 
admitted  to  practice  March  iS,  1888,  but  fol- 
lowed his  profession  for  twelve  months  only, 
preferring  to  devote  his  attention  to  mechan- 
ical industries. 

Joseph  W.  Allison  is  one  of  Dayton's  reli- 
able business  men  and  has  always  kept  in  view 
the  material  progress  of  the  city,  contributing 
freely  to  all  projects  designed  for  the  promo- 
tion of  the  public  good.  He  was  for  ten  years 
at  the  head  of  the  pattern  department  of  the 
Dayton  Malleable  Iron  works  and  one  year 
with  the  Farmers'  Friend  Manufacturing 
company. 


>VOHN  AMAN,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
M  Dayton,  was  born  in  Koenigheim,  in 
A  J  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden,  German, 
October  16,  1  836,  and  is  a  son  of  Frank 
and  Sophia  Aman,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
Emigrating  to  the  United  States  the  family 
landed  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  October  4,  1852, 
going  from  there  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where 
they  located  permanently,  and  where  Frank 
Aman  followed  his  trade,  that  of  tailor,  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1855. 
Mrs.  Aman  died  there  in  1865,  and  both  are 
buried  in  Washington.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  as  follows:  Andrew, 
now  a  resident  of  Hyattsville,  Prince  George's 
county,  Md.,  and  who  has  been  in  the  railroad 
service  for  more  than  forty  years;  Martin,  who 
was  accidently  shot  at  Wabash,  Ind.,  in  1861, 
died  from  the  effects  of  the  wound  and  is 
buried   in    Dayton;  John,   the  subject   of  this 


sketch,  and  Sebastian,  who  was  a  well-known 
restaurant  keeper  of  Washington,  and  died 
February  20,   1895. 

John  Aman  received  most  of  his  education 
in  his  native  town  in  Baden,  but  attended 
night  school  during  one  winter  in  Dayton. 
While  in  Washington  he  learned  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade,  working  for  one  employer  for 
five  consecutive  years.  In  1857  he  removed 
to  Dayton,  and  there  entered  the  service  of  the 
Dutton  Agricultural  works,  and  after  six 
months'  employment  in  connection  with  this 
firm,  became  an  employe  of  the  Barney  & 
Smith  Manufacturing  company.  In  185S  he 
went  to  Richmond,  Ind.,  where  during  the 
summer  of  that  year  he  worked  at  house  car- 
pentering. In  December,  1858,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Goellner,  who  was  born  in  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  the  marriage  taking  place  in 
Dayton.  After  spending  the  succeeding  winter 
in  Richmond  he  returned  to  Dayton-  and  re- 
sumed his  position  in  the  car  works  of  Barney 
&  Smith,  remaining  with  them  until  Novem- 
ber, 1 88 1,  and  having  been  foreman  during 
the  last  nine  years  of  his  service  there. 

In  1882  he  purchased  a  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Johnston  and  Perrine  streets,  and  built  his 
present  place  of  business,  where  he  has  ever 
since  carried  on  business  as  a  retail  grocer. 
Politically  Mr.  Aman  has  always  been  a  strong 
democrat  and  as  such  has  been  both  active 
and  prominent  in  city  politics  for  many  years. 
In  1S67  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council 
from  the  Sixth  ward,  and  served  two  years. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  board  of  educa- 
tion from  the  Eleventh  ward,  the  boundaries 
having  been  so  changed  as  to  throw  his  resi- 
dence into  this  ward.  In  1872  he  was  re- 
elected to  that  office  for  a  second  term  of  two 
years.  In  1882  he  was  elected  assessor  of  the 
Eleventh  ward,  serving  one  year.  In  1885  he 
was  elected  from  the  Seventh  ward  to  the  city 
board  of  education,  and  was  twice  re-elected. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


377 


thus  serving  six  years  consecutively  at  this 
time,  or  ten  years  in  all.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  infirmary  director  and  was  re-elected 
in  1893.  In  all  of  these  offices  Mr.  Aman  has 
proved  himself  efficient  and  alive  to  duty,  la- 
boring for  the  good  of  those  whom  he  repre- 
sented, rather  for  his  own  aggrandizement. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Aman  and  his  wife 
there  have  been  born  eight  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Annie,  wife  of  Joseph  Unger,  of  Day- 
ton; Carrie,  wife  of  Dennis  J.  Madden,  of 
Dayton;  Louisa,  widow,  of  William  Roney; 
John,  Jr.,  cornice  worker  of  Dayton;  Emma, 
wife  of  William  Staffen,  of  Dayton;  Josephine, 
wife  of  Eugene  Chapin,  of  Dayton;  William, 
an  employee. of  the  National  Cash  Register 
company,  of  Dayton,  and  Charles,  also  with 
the  Cash  Register  company.  Mr.  Aman  is  a 
member  of  Humboldt  lodge,  No.  58,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  of  Dayton  lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 
He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Baden  society  of  Dayton,  and  in  all  of  these 
societies  is  not  only  in  good  standing  but  is  a 
man  of  usefulness  and  influence.  He  was  sec- 
retary of  the  Miami,  the  Union  and  the  Mont- 
gomery Building  &  Loan  Associations,  all  of 
which  have  now  gone  out  of  existence  through 
the  terms  of  their  organization. 


^yy»ILLIAM  J.   AMBROSE  is  the  man- 

M  m  ager  for  the  C.  F.  Adams  company, 

VJLyJ  ni  Dayton,  dealers,  on  the  install- 
ment plan,  in  household  goods.  He 
was  born  in  Urbana,  Ohio,  May  II,  1852,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  M.  and  Susan  (McCandless) 
Ambrose. 

William  M.  Ambrose  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  of  German  descent,  and  although 
reared  on  a  farm,  was  in  his  early  manhood 
engaged  in  merchant-tailoring  and  in  mercan- 
tile business.  He  first  married  Susan  McCand- 
less, who  became  the  mother  of   five  children, 


viz:  William  J. ;  Flora,  wife  of  C.  A.  Meek,  of 
Davenport,  Iowa;  Walter,  deceased;  Charles, 
a  traveling  salesman  for  the  Simmons  Hard- 
ware company,  of  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  and  re- 
siding in  Lincoln,  Neb.;  and  Edward  C. ,  a 
traveling  salesman  of  Oakland,  Cal.  The 
mother  of  these  children  was  called  away  in 
1861,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-seven  years, 
and  the  father,  who  is  now  farming  east  of 
Urbana,  was  again  married,  and  became  by 
this  second  union  the  father  of  three  children, 
viz:  Nettie,  Judson  W.  and  one  that  died  un- 
named. 

William  J.  Ambrose,  after  passing  through 
the  public  schools,  for  two  terms  attended  the 
Swedenborg  college  at  Urbana.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  he  began  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and  came  to  Dayton  in  1871,  when 
he  accepted  a  position  as  salesman  for  the  C. 
F.  Adams  company,  and  for  six  months  acted 
as  such  in  the  Dayton  store;  he  was  then  sent 
to  Springfield.  Ohio,  as  manager  of  the  com- 
pany's establishment  in  that  city,  where  he  was 
so  efficient  that  the  company,  at  the  end  of  six 
months,  recalled  him  to  Dayton,  which  afforded 
a  broader  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  superior 
executive  ability,  and  in  his  present  position 
he  has  ever  since  been  employed,  widening 
and  broadening  the  trade  of  the  Adams  com- 
pany from  year  to  year.  Mr.  Ambrose  now 
employs  in  the  Dayton  establishment  from  fif- 
teen to  twenty  salespeople. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ambrose  is  a  republican. 
In  fraternal  matters  he  united  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in'  1774,  has 
passed  all  the  chairs  of  the  subordinate  lodge, 
is  a  member  of  the  Gem  City  encampment, 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Gem 
City  lodge,  and  is,  beside,  secretary  of  the 
Montgomery  County  Aid  association  of  I.  O. 
O.  F.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  Crown 
council,  No.  35,  Junior  O.  U.  A.  M.,  also  of 
Mayflower  council,  No.  33,  O.  U.  A.  M. 


378 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Mr.  Ambrose  was  married  December  4, 
1874,  to  Miss  Elnicia  G.  Fitch,  a  native  of 
Newberry,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  three  children,  Annabel,  Bernice  V.  and 
Estella  G.  The  eldest  daughter,  Annabel,  is 
an  accomplished  vocalist,  and  is  now  the  lead- 
ing soprano  in  Saint  Paul's  Methodist  church, 
is  a  member  of  the  Philharmonic  society,  and 
also  of  the  East  End  Choral  society.  The 
family  are  all  members  of  Saint  Paul's  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  Mr.  Ambrose  being  a 
class  leader  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  and  taking  an  active  part  in  both 
church  and  Sunday-school  work. 


kV^\  EV.  CHARLES  S.  KEMPER,  D.  D., 

I  /^  chaplain  of  Central  Branch  National 
P  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Sol- 
diers, at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Wallhausen,  Prussia,  July  6,  1851,  a  son  of 
John  and  Catherine  Kemper,  the  former  of 
whom  died  in  Prussia  and  the  latter  is  now  a 
resident  of  Dayton,  in  her  eighty-fourth  year. 
At  the  age  of  eight  years  Charles  S.  Kemper 
was  brought  to  America  by  his  mother,  passed 
two  years  in  school  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and 
at  ten  years  of  age  was  brought  to  Dayton. 
At  thirteen  years  he  went  Bardstown,  Ky., 
and  passed  two  years  in  Saint  Thomas' college; 
from  there  he  went  to  Mount  Saint  Mary's 
seminary,  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained 
for  five  years.  He  then  went  to  Europe  and 
studied  theology  three  years  at  Innspruck, 
Austrian  Tyrol,  following  this  with  one  year's 
study  in  the  German-Hungarian  college  in 
Rome,  Italy,  where  he  received  the  degree  of 
doctor  of  divinity.  In  September,  1875,  Dr. 
Kemper  returned  to  America,  and  for  two 
years  was  instructor  in  classics  at  Mount  Saint 
Mary's,  Cincinnati,  and  then  took  charge  of 
the  parish  at  Greenville,  Ohio.  In  May,  1880, 
he    was    appointed    Catholic    chaplain  of   the 


Central  branch,  as  noted  above,  where  his 
duties  are  similar  to  those  in  parish  work, 
except  that  there  is  greater  demand  for  his 
presence  with  the  sick  and  dying. 

Father  Kemper  has  been  a  priest  of  vast 
usefulness  among  the  soldiers  of  the  Central 
Branch,  and  is  honored  and  revered  by  all 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  regardless  of 
religious  faith.  Of  the  5,000  or  more  inmates 
of  the  home  nearly  one-third  are  of  Catholic 
creed,  and  their  spiritual  care  is  found  to  be 
no  easy  task. 

Father  Kemper  has  two  brothers  and  three 
sisters,  all  in  America.  Of  these,  Philip  A. 
Kemper  is  a  wholesale  merchant  and  importer, 
of  Dayton  ;  Jacob  is  a  merchant  in  Philadel- 
phia ;  one  of  the  sisters  is  wedded  to  a  Mr. 
Rotterman,  and  the  remaining  two  are  still 
unmarried. 


aHARLES  ANDERTON,  Sr.,  sheriff 
of  Montgomery  county,  and  a  well- 
known  and  honored  citizen  of  Day- 
ton, was  born  in  this  city  on  October 
1 1,  1844,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Frances 
(Wilbey)  Anderton.  The  parents  were  natives 
of  England,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
early  in  life.  They  were  among  the  old  and 
well-known  people  of  Dayton.  The  death  of 
the  father  occurred  in  1850,  and  that  of  the 
mother  in  1890.  Sheriff  Anderton  obtained 
his  education  in  the  Dayton  public  schools, 
and  early  entered  upon  the  practical  duties  of 
life,  beginning  as  a  clerk  in  a  city  store.  In 
April,  1862,  he  began  business  for  himself  by 
opening  a  fruit  store  in  Dayton,  but  in  August 
of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in  company  A, 
Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  regiment,  with 
which  he  served  until  May  17,  1865,  when  he 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  by  general  or- 
der of  the  war  department.  At  the  battle  of 
Missionary    Ridge    he    was    wounded,    and  at 


^wu  L  W*.^. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


381 


Dandridge,  Term.,  he  was  again  wounded,  on 
January  17,  1864.  Returning  to  his  home  in 
Dayton,  after  having  been  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  service,  Mr.  Anderton  bought 
a  news  stand  located  in  the  old  Post  Office 
building,  then  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Jef- 
ferson streets,  now  occupied  by  the  Third 
National  Bank,  and  continued  in  business  un- 
til 1893.  In  November,  1894,  he  received 
the  nomination  for  sheriff  of  Montgomery 
county  at  the  hands  of  the  republican  party, 
and  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  and 
in  1896  he  was  re-nominated  and  re-elected 
by  an  increased  majority,  being  the  first  repub- 
lican sheriff  who  has  succeeded  himself  in 
Montgomery  county  since  i860.  For  five 
years  Sheriff  Anderton  served  as  a  member  of 
the  city  board  of  equalization.  For  years  he 
has  been  an  active  and  prominent  member  of 
the  republican  party,  and  served  during  one 
campaign  as  chairman  of  the  county  central 
committee.  Mr.  Anderton  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  G.  A.  R.,  Union  Vet- 
eran Legion,  Legion  of  Honor,  and  the  A.  E. 
O.  He  was  married  in  April,  1867,  to  Miss 
Lucy  Henderson,  who  was  born  in  Dayton, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  -the  late  Ebenezer  Hen- 
derson, once  sheriff  of  Montgomery  county. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderton  two  children  have 
been  born,  only  one  of  whom — Charles,  Jr. — 
is  still  living.  The  one  deceased  was  Emma, 
who  died  in  May,  1891,    aged  nineteen  years. 


aHARLES  FORSMAN  ANDERSON 
is  to  be  classified  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative business  men  of  the  city  of 
Dayton,  being  a  member  of  the  pho- 
tographic firm  of  Anderson  &  Hartshorn.  He 
is  an  artist  of  much  technical  skill  and  dis- 
criminating taste,  having  made  a  thorough  and 
systematic  study  of  photography  in  all  its 
branches. 


A  son  of  Benjamin  Dickey  Anderson  and 
Sarah  (Forsman)  Anderson,  our  subject  was 
born  in  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
16th  of  June,  1855,  tracing  his  lineage  through 
Scotch,  Irish  and  English  strains.  The  father 
also  was  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Adams  county.  He  became 
well  known  throughout  the  state  as  a  breeder 
and  driver  of  fine  standard-bred  track  horses, 
and  was  a  man  of  inflexible  honor  and  marked 
individuality.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Xenia,  and 
for  many  years  acted  as  chorister  of  the  same. 
He  was  possessed  of  exceptional  musical  abil- 
ity, and  in  his  early  manhood  had  devoted  his 
attention  for  some  time  to  the  teaching  of  vo- 
cal music.  He  lived  a  long  and  useful  life, 
secure  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low-men, and  his  death  occurred  in  1883,  at 
which  time  he  had  attained  the  venerable  age 
of  seventy-one  years.  He  had  been  twice 
married,  and  the  one  child  of  the  first  union  is 
now  deceased.  By  his  marriage  to  Sarah 
Forsman  he  became  the  father  of  four  chil- 
dren: James  W.,  who  is  a  traveling  sales- 
man, living  in  Dayton;  Charles  F.;  Ella,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Bigelow,  of  Boston,  Mass;  and 
Carrie,  wife  of  Henry  Henderson,  of  Los 
Angeles,  Cal. 

Charles  F.  Anderson  passed  his  youthful 
years  in  Xenia,  securing  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city  and  remaining  at 
the  parental  home  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  In  the  year  1878  he  came  to  Day- 
ton for  the  purpose  of  devoting  himself  to  the 
study  of  crayon  portraiture  and  photography, 
for  which  he  had  a  natural  inclination.  He 
continued  his  technical  study  with  interest  and 
careful  application  for  some  three  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  he  had  become  a  capa- 
ble artist.  He  first  went  to  Indianapolis,  Ind. , 
where  he  opened  a  studio  for  the  execution  of 
crayon  work,  continuing  there  for   nearly  two 


382 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Dayton  and 
entered  the  establishment  of  Appleton  &  Hol- 
linger,  photographers,  where  he  acted  in  the 
capacity  of  crayon  artist  and  finisher  of  photo- 
graphic work.  He  remained  in  the  employ  of 
this  firm  for  several  years,  and  then  engaged 
in  business  on  his  own  responsibility  by  open- 
ing a  studio  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Wayne 
streets,  conducting  the  same  successfully  for  a 
period  of  nearly  two  years.  He  was  then 
offered  such  inducements  that  he  entered  the 
studio  of  Hollinger  as  crayon  artist  and  fin- 
isher, also  spending  considerable  time  in  out- 
door photographic  work.  In  February,  1894, 
he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  Mr. 
Hartshorn.  The  establishment  has  acquired 
particular  prestige  in  the  line  of  crayon  and 
pastel  portraits,  this  work  being  executed  by 
Mr.  Anderson,  who  has  established  an  excel- 
lent reputation  as  a  free-hand  artist.  Our 
subject  is  progressive  in  his  methods  and  aims 
to  take  advantage  of  every  new  discovery  and 
accessory  which  will  facilitate  the  production 
of  high-class  work  and  insure  satisfaction  to 
patrons.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Photog- 
rapher's association,  in  whose  work  he  main- 
tains much  interest.  In  his  political  faith  he 
renders  allegiance  to  the  republican  party. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1881,  Mr.  An- 
derson was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lizzie 
Hamill,  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Leah  C. 
Hamill,  honored  residents  of  Dayton.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Gaylord.  They  are  consistent  members 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  also  renders  effective  service  as  a 
member  of  the  choir.  At  the  attractive  family 
home,  322  Jones  street,  a  cordial  welcome  is 
always  assured  to  the  large  coterie  of  friends 
whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  have  drawn 
about  them,  and  both  are  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  in  the  community. 


^"VMLAS     S.     AUGHE    (deceased),    for- 
•\^^kT    merly  the  leading  plow  manufacturer 

K^_J    °f  Dayton,  was  born  in  Miamisburg, 
Montgomery  county,    Ohio,    Novem- 
ber 17,  1831,  a  son  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Tafflemire)  Aughe. 

William  Aughe,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Rockingham  county,  Va. ,  born  November  20, 
1794,  and  at  the  age  of  two  or  three  years  was 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  Jacob  and 
Lydia  (Jeffers)  Aughe,  who  settled  in  Warren 
county.  Jacob  Aughe  was  a  millwright  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  at  one  time  owned  a  mill  on  the  site 
of  the  famous  battle  field  of  Bull  Run.  The 
family  was  of  combined  German  and  English 
stock,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  Old 
Dominion.  Jacob  Aughe  was  the  pioneer  miller 
on  the  Hocking  river,  where  he  first  built  a 
small  corn-cracker  at  the  falls,  near  Logan, 
1796,  then  moved  to  Springboro,  near  Clear 
Creek,  in  Warren  county,  later  to  the  site  of 
what  is  now  known  as  Vandere's  mill,  where 
he  erected  the  first  mill  between  Cincinnati 
and  Piqua,  and  finally  returned  to  Springboro, 
where  he  ended  his  days,  the  father  of  eleven 
children,  all  of  whom  reached  maturity. 
William  Aughe  was  a  brickmaker  and  followed 
this  business  chiefly  in  Warren  and  Mont- 
gomery counties.  He  was  a  man  of  domestic 
habits,  was  honest  and  industrious,  and  for 
some  years  lived  in  Miamisburg,  but  finally 
moved  to  Carrollton,  where  he  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years,  in  the  faith  of  the  Method- 
ist church.  To  his  marriage  were  born  seven 
children,  viz.  :  Hiram,  an  edge-tool  maker, 
who  died  in  Dayton  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years;  Susannah,  deceased  wife  of  John  Yea- 
zell,  a  farmer;  Jefferson,  who  died  in  1871, 
aged  forty-nine  years;  William,  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  and  superintendent  of  a  railroad 
shop  in  Logansport,  Ind. ;  Silas  S. ;  Mary  J., 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Samantha,  deceased 
wife    of    Andrew    Clark,    a    farmer    of    Darke 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


383 


county.  Jefferson  Aughe,  mentioned  above, 
was  a  blacksmith  and  general  forger,  and  about 
1852  or  1853  invented  the  Aughe  plow,  in  the 
manufacture  of  which  he  was  engaged  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

Mrs.  Catherine  (Tafflemire)  Aughe  was  a 
native  of  Canada,  although  her  parents  were 
born  in  Virginia,  whence  they  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky and  located  near  Boonsboro.  There 
Mr  and  Mrs.  Tafflemire  were  captured  by  In- 
dians during  a  raid  and  carried  off  to  Canada, 
where  the  husband  and  wife  were  separated. 
Some  little  while  afterward  the  husband  made 
his  escape,  and  in  revenge  the  wife  was  made 
to  "run  the  gantlet,"  in  which  cruel  proceed- 
ing she  was  unmercifully  clubbed,  had  her  col- 
lar-bone broken,  and  sustained  other  severe 
injuries.  She  recovered,  however,  and  shortly 
afterward  her  husband,  assisted  by  two  others, 
effected  her  rescue.  The  couple  then  settled 
in  Canada,  where  the  husband  worked  as  a 
miller  and  ship-carpenter  until  his  death,  the 
wife  also  dying  in  that  country. 

Silas  S.  Aughe,  after  receiving  a  good  pub- 
lic-school education,  learned  the  trade  of  black- 
smithing  and  plowshare  forging  under  his 
brother  Jefferson,  and,  about  1866,  was  made 
foreman  of  his  brother's  works.  He  was  later 
made  a  sharer  in  the  profits  of  the  business 
and  given  the  superintendence7,  and  this  posi- 
tion he  held  until  his  brother's  death  (in  1871), 
when  a  Mr.  Parrott  bought  the  plant,  retain- 
ing Silas  S.  Aughe  in  his  former  capacity  and 
on  the  same  terms.  This  arrangement  con- 
tinued until  1885,  when  the  Cast  Steel  Plow 
company  was  organized,  in  which  company 
Mr.  Aughe  held  a  controlling  interest.  Upon 
the  original  plow  Mr.  Aughe  made  a  number 
of  improvements  and  secured  patents  for  at- 
tachments not  only  to  this  particular  plow,  but 
to  plows  of  other  makes,  to  which  these  attach- 
ments are  valuable  adjuncts. 

Mr.  Aughe  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Day- 


ton, February  14,  1856,  with  Miss  Mary 
Kittinger,  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pa. ,  and 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lucy  Kittinger. 
To  this  union  were  born  two  children,  ziz: 
John,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Dayton 
Fan  &  Motor  company,  and  Laurina,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Aughe  possessed  a  deep  and  re- 
flective mind,  and  was  an  active  and  ener- 
getic business  man.  He  was  thoroughly  prac- 
tical in  all  things,  and  as  a  business  man  had 
but  few  superiors  in  the  city  of  Dayton.  His 
death  occurred  February  8,  1897. 


kJ^\  ENJAMIN  F.  ARNOLD,  contractor, 
If^  builder  and  manufacturer,  of  Dayton, 
J^9  Ohio,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  November  14,  1842.  Heisason 
of  John  W.  and  Eliza  J.  (Kelly)  Arnold,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
all  still  living,  as  follows:  Mary,  widow  of  Jacob 
Arnold;  Lizzie;  Benjamin  F. ;  Sarah,  widow  of 
John  Frederick;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Alsup  Dann; 
John  D.,  and  Clara,    wife  of  Edwin  Fair. 

John  W.  Arnold,  the  father  of  this  family, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  came  to  Ohio 
in  1833,  locating  in  Dayton.  He  followed 
farming  near  Dayton  until  1S65,  in  the  mean- 
time serving  as  the  first  superintendent  of  the 
poor  house,  when  its  only  building  was  con- 
structed of  logs.  His  death  occurred  when  he 
was  fifty-nine  years  of  age.  Two  years  later 
his  wife  died.  Both  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Arnold  was  a 
soldier  in  the  late  Civil  war,  as  a  member  of 
company  G,  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry. The  father  of  John  W.  Arnold  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  was  of  English  and 
Welsh  descent.  He  was  married  twice  and 
was  the  father  of  thirteen  children,  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation   and  lived   to  be   a  very 


384 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


old  man.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  Arnold  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 

Benjamin  F.  Arnold  was  reared  on  the 
farm  near  Dayton  until  he  was  fourteen  years 
of  age,  receiving  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools.  At  that  time  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Dayton,  and  he  then  began  learning 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  for  some  time  was  a 
journeyman  carpenter,  until  1868.  During 
the  late  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  company  C, 
Thirty-fifth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  at  Hamil- 
ton, Ohio,  and  served  eighteen  months.  Re- 
turning to  Dayton  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourth 
Ohio  cavalry,  in  which  he  served  nearly  nine 
months.  The  battles  in  which  he  took  part 
were  those  of  Mill  Springs,  Ky. ;  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  Perryville,  and  a  number  of 
minor  engagements  and  skirmishes.  After  the 
war  he  returned  to  Dayton  and  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1868,  when  he  began  to  do  contract 
work  on  his  own  account,  and  has  continued 
thus  engaged  ever  since.  He  erected  several 
of  the  buildings  at  the  soldiers'  home,  the 
Western  engine  house,  and  also  a  large  num- 
ber of  residences  in  Dayton.  For  the  last  ten 
years  he  has  manufactured  the  Ladies'  Friend 
washing  machine,  and  in  the  busy  season  gives 
employment  to  quite  a  number  of  men. 

On  January  6,  1869,  Mr.  Arnold  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Julia  A.  Powell,  daughter  of  Jos- 
eph and  Mary  E.  (May)  Powell.  To  this  mar- 
riage have  been  born  eight  children,  five  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Those  living  are  as  fol- 
lows: Stella  M.,  Irving  P.,  Joseph  J.,  Jessie, 
Clayton,  Carroll  and  Lula.  Stella  M.  married 
Luther  Rumbarger,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child,  Arnold  Rumbarger.  Irving  P.  married 
Lulu  Hines,  by  whom  he  has  two  children; 
Joseph  J.  married  Josie  Belle  Fisher. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  Mr.  Arnold  having  been  a  dea- 
con in  his  church  for  several  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Armstrong  post,  No.  79,  G.  A.  R., 


and  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics. 
As  a  republican  he  was  elected  to  the  Dayton 
board  of  education,  and  served  one  term. 
Having  lived  in  Montgomery  county  and  Day- 
ton for  more  than  half  a  century,  he  is  well- 
known  throughout  the  country  as  a  good  work- 
man, as  a  capable  and  successful  business 
man,  and  as  a  useful  citizen. 


HE  AULL  BROTHERS  PAPER  & 
BOX  COMPANY,  whose  thoroughly 
equipped  establishment  is  located  at 
Nos.  220  to  224  West  Fifth  street, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  is  to  be  numbered  among  the 
progressive  and  important  manufacturing  con- 
cerns of  the  city.  In  the  year  1882  the  busi- 
ness had  its  inception,  F.  N.  Aull  having  at 
that  time  begun  operations  upon  a  very  small 
scale,  buying  his  stock  in  limited  quantities 
and  selling  the  goods  from  a  wagon.  This  he 
he  continued  for  one  year,  after  which  the 
business  was  conducted  under  the  firm  title  of 
W.  J.  Aull  &  Brother.  They  secured  a  small 
stock  of  goods,  and  their  method  of  working 
was  to  go  out  and  personally  secure  orders  and 
then  return  to  their  headquarters  and  fill  the 
same.  Their  establishment  was  located  on 
Hanna's  alley,  between  Jefferson  and  St.  Clair 
streets,  and  these  quarters  were  retained  for 
about  four  years,  when  the  growing  demands 
made  upon  the  firm  rendered  it  essential 
that  they  secure  accommodations  of  a  better 
order.  Accordingly  they  removed  to  No.  39 
East  Second  street,  and  eventually  found  use 
for  the  adjoining  store,  No.  37.  Upon  the 
erection  of  the  M.  J.  Gibbons  building,  136 
East  Second  street,  they  took  possession  of  it, 
the  building  having  been  designed  and  built 
particularly  for  their  use.  Here,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Aull  Brothers  Paper  Company, 
they  continued  operations  for  five  years,  when 
again  there  arose  the  necessity  for  more  com- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


385 


modious  quarters,  and  they  then  prepared  for 
the  erection  of  a  building  of  their  own  and  one 
which  should  offer  all  the  conveniences  essen- 
tial to  carrying  on  with  the  greatest  facility  the 
details  of  the  now  very  extensive  business. 
This  building  was  completed  in  due  time  and 
the  firm  took  possession  of  the  same  in  Janu- 
ary, 1895.  The  structure  is  of  brick,  is  50X 
125  feet  in  dimensions,  five  stories  in  height 
and  of  approved  modern  architectural  design. 
Special  shipping  facilities  are  secured  through 
the  provision  of  a  side-track  connecting  di- 
rectly with  the  establishment.  When  operat- 
ing to  full  capacity,  the  manufactory  affords 
employment  to  a  corps  of  150  persons,  the 
output  comprising  folding  and  made-up  paper 
boxes  of  all  kinds,  paper  pails  for  ice  cream, 
oysters,  berries,  etc.,  together  with  paper  bags 
of  all  sizes.  The  business  is  continued  as  a 
wholesale  jobbing  enterprise,  and  the  products 
of  the  establishment  find  sale  in  the  most  di- 
verse sections  of  the  Union. 

In  March,  1895,  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm,  W.  J.  Aull,  started  on  a  trip  south,  by 
river,  for  the  improvement  of  his  health,  taking 
passage  on  the  steamer  "Longfellow,"  which 
encountered  a  fog  at  Cincinnati  on  the  7th  of 
March,  resulting  in  a  most  painful  fatality, 
since  the  boat  went  down  with  all  on  board, 
Mr.  Aull  and  his  wife  both  being  drowned. 
He  was  but  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  and  his 
untimely  death  by  so  pitiable  an  accident 
caused  the  deepest  sorrow  to  all  who  had 
known  him  in  either  a  business  or  social 
way.  After  his  death  the  business  in  which  he 
he  had  been  so  conspicuously  concerned  was 
reorganized  and  incorporated,  with  officers  as 
follows:  F.  N.  Aull,  president;  J.  W.  Aull, 
secretary,  and  A.  H.  Baer,  treasurer,  the  enter- 
prise being  capitalized  for  $75,000. 

The  Aull  family  have  been  continuously  res- 
idents of  Dayton  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
the  family  having  come  to  this  place  in  1840, 


subsequently  removing  to  Bloomington,  111., 
where  he  remained  until  1865,  when  he  again 
returned  with  his  family  to  Dayton,  where  they 
have  ever  since  maintained  their  abode. 

The  venerable  father  is  still  living,  having 
attained  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He 
left  Dayton  in  1895  Ior  tne  purpose  of  making 
his  home  with  his  daughter,  who  resides  on 
Lookout  Mountain.  He  had  been  prominently 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business  for  many  years, 
and  had  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  among 
whom  he  was  singularly  popular.  He  has  been 
a  stalwart  democrat  all  his  life  and  an  active 
worker  in  the  party  ranks.  He  is  a  native  of 
Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  whence  he  came  to 
America  when  a  lad  of  ten  years.  Upon  at- 
taining his  majority  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Julia  Gigler,  a  native  of  Hagerstown. 
Her  death  occurred  January  8,  1891.  They 
became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  two  of 
whom,  Edward  and  Elizabeth,  died  in  infancy. 
Of  the  others,  Louisa  is  the  widow  of  John 
Weston,  of  Dayton;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of 
W.  F.  Heath,  of  Ottawa,  111. ;  Eva  is  the  wife 
of  Colonel  H.  F.  Collins,  of  Dayton;  William 
J.  is  deceased;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  O.  L. 
Hurlburt,  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn. ;  Frank 
N.  is  president  of  the  Aull  Brothers  Paper  & 
Box  company;  John  W.  is  a  member  of  the 
same  company;  Julia  is  the  wife  of  T.  V.  Meyer, 
of  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Frank  N.  Aull  was  born  August  27,  1862, 
at  Bloomington,  111.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  fourteen  years  of  age  be- 
came identified  with  the  line  of  industry  with 
which  he  is  still  concerned.  He  has  developed 
a  marked  business  sagacity  and  executive  abil- 
ity, is  known  as  one  of  the  most  capable  young 
business  men  of  Dayton,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trade.  His  marriage  to  Miss 
Ella  Wetzel  was  celebrated  October  2,  1889, 
and  they  have  three  children — Charles  F. , 
Harold  W.  and  Edgar  C.      The  family  home  is 


:;si; 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


located  at  313  Superior  avenue,  and  both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Aull  are  members  of  Grace  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church. 

John  W.  Aull,  secretary  of  the  company, 
is  a  native  of  Dayton,  where  he  was  born  on 
the  27th  of  March,  1866.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  became  associated  with  the 
practical  duties  of  life,  becoming  then  con- 
cerned in  the  paper  business  with  R.  A.  Rog- 
ers, with  whom  he  continued  to  be  associated 
until  1885,  when  he  became  traveling  sales- 
man for  the  Aull  Brothers'  establishment,  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  firm  in  1890.  In 
1892  he  gave  up  work  as  traveling  representa- 
tive and  assumed  charge  of  the  manufacturing 
department  of  the  business,  becoming  secre- 
tary at  the  time  of  its  incorporation.  His 
standing  in  commercial  circles  is  on  a  parity 
with  that  of  his  brother,  and  both  are  unmis- 
takably popular  by  reason  of  their  correct  and 
honorable  methods  and  sterling  personal  at- 
tributes. In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Aull  is 
a  member  of  the  Benevolent  &  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  in,  whose  affairs  he  has  an  abid- 
ing interest. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1891,  John  W.  Aull 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mamie  Harries, 
daughter  of  John  Harries,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  Dayton.  They  reside  at  No.  217 
North  Jefferson  street. 


•  HADEUS  JOSEPH  BACKUS,  super- 
intendent of  streets  of  Dayton,   was 
born  April  3,  1852,  in  this  city,  where 
he  has  always  resided.      He  is  a  son  of 
Washington    and    Lucy    (Stuckmier)   Backus, 
both  of  German  extraction. 

Washington  Backus  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  possessed  a  large  measure  of 
Yankee  thrift  and  energy,  which  he  devoted  to 
commerce,  spending  his  life  in  mercantile  pur- 


suits. He  was  a  large  dealer  in  notions,  doing 
a  wholesale  and  retail  business  which  made  his 
name  widely  known.  He  died  when  his  son 
Thadeus  Joseph  was  but  four  years  old,  leav- 
ing a  widow,  this  son  and  two  daughters,  who 
are  now  Mrs.  Susanna  Lachelle,  residing  in 
Denver,  Colo.,  and  Mrs.  Emma  Houser,  of 
this  city.  The  widow  afterward  married  Will- 
iam E.  Martin,  now  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  who 
brought  into  the  household  his  son  by  a  former 
marriage,  William  A.,  who  is  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  Farm  and  Fireside,  a  literary  and 
household  journal  published  at  Springfield.  To 
the  union  of  Mr.  Martin  and  Mrs.  Backus 
were  born  three  children:  George,  who  is  now 
a  druggist  at  Miami  City;  Levi,  who  is  super- 
intendent of  the  Barb  Wire  Fence  Manu- 
facturing company,  at  Lawrence,  Kan.,  and 
Jennie,  who  resides  at  Dayton.  The  mother 
died  at  her  home  in  Dayton  in  1873. 

Mr.  Backus  early  learned  the  business  of 
making  galvanized-iron  cornice  and  slate  roof- 
ing, which  he  successfully  followed  for  about 
twenty  years.  His  methods  attracted  the  at- 
tention and  commanded  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  the  people,  and  in  1893  he  was 
appointed,  by  the  board  of  city  affairs,  to  his 
present  position  of  responsibility  and  trust, 
the  duties  of  which  office  he  is  performing  in 
an  eminently  satisfactory  manner.  The  varied 
and  important  character  of  these  duties  ren- 
ders his  position  far  other  than  a  sinecure, 
and,  with  the  construction  of  sewers,  the 
cleaning  of  streets  and  destruction  of  garbage, 
Mr.  Backus  is  kept  a  very  busy  man. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1877,  Mr.  Backus  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Katie  C.  Barnes,  a 
native  of  Dayton,  and  daughter  of  Lawrence 
and  Margaret  Barnes,  the  former  now  deceased. 
Of  a  family  of  five  children  Mrs.  Backus  is  the 
eldest.  The  other  children  are:  Robert,  the 
proprietor  of  a  box  factory  in  Dayton;  Mary, 
wife  of   Joseph  Ferneding,   one    of    Dayton's 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


387 


shoe  merchants;  Maggie,  who  resides  with  her 
mother  in  this  city;  and  Julia,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  L.  Sacksteder,  of  Dayton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Backus  have  a  family  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  live  with  their  parents. 
They  are:  May,  Lulu,  William,  George,  Julia, 
Charles  and  Christopher.  Miss  May  is  a  sten- 
ographer and  typewriter,  employed  in  the  pen- 
sion department  at  the  National  Military  Home, 
Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers.  The  other  chil- 
dren are  still  in  school. 

Politically,  Mr.  Backus  is  a  democrat  and 
stands  high  among  the  local  counselors  of  his 
party.  He  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks. 
Mrs.  Backus  is  an  adherent  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  faith,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  the  Sacred  Heart. 


>^ESSE  H.  BATES,  one  of  the  old  and 
A  highly  respected  citizens  of  Dayton, 
/»  1  was  born  January  6,  1834,  ten  miles 
south  of  Lebanon,  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  a  son  of  Acel  C.  and  Meca  (Bobo)  Bates, 
who,  about  18 12,  came  to  Ohio  from  Con- 
necticut and  Virginia  respectively.  The  father 
was  a  carpenter  b}' trade,  and  later  an  auction- 
eer at  Cincinnati,  but,  when  Jesse  was  born, 
was  keeping  hotel  in  Warren  county. 

Jesse  H.  Bates  was  the  seventh  born  in  a 
family  of  ten  children,  was  reared  in  Warren 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  began 
to  study  bridge  building.  In  due  time  he  as- 
sisted in  constructing  the  bridges  on  the  Day- 
ton &  Richmond  and  Indiana  Central  railroads, 
and  followed  the  trade  for  several  years  there- 
after. In  1858  he  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  located  at  Germantown,  and  purchased 
a  hack  line  running  from  Germantown  to  Car- 
lisle Station,  which  he  ran  for  one  year,  and 
then  for  a  time   conducted  a  livery  barn  and 


traded  in  horses.  In  1866  he  came  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  was  first  engaged  as  foreman  by  D. 
H.  Morrison,  a  prominent  bridge  builder,  and 
later,  for  twelve  years,  was  employed  on  the 
Pan  Handle  railroad  as  foreman  of  the  bridge 
department,  since  when  he  has  practically 
lived  a  retired  life. 

Jesse  H.  Bates  was  married  in  German- 
town,  Montgomery  county,  in  1858,  to  Miss 
Melazina  Schaeffer,  daughter  of  Michael  N.  and 
Mary  (Katron)  Schaeffer,  the  union  result- 
ing in  the  birth  of  four  children,  in  the  follow- 
ing order:  Mollie,  wife  of  DeWitt  C.  Arnold, 
shoe  dealer  of  Dayton;  Oliver  E.,  the  popular 
caterer  of  Dayton,  of  whom  fuller  mention  will 
be  made  in  a  later  paragraph;  Harriet  B.  and 
J.  Stewart.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bates  are  members 
of  the  Third  street  Presbyterian  church,  and 
in  politics  Mr.  Bates  is  a  stanch  republican. 
They  have  their  residence  at  No.  341  West 
Fourth  street,  where  their  hospitable  doors  are 
always  open  to  the  visits  of  a  large  number  of 
sincere  friends. 

Oliver  E.  Bates,  son  of  Jesse  H.  and  Mela- 
zina (Schaeffer)  Bates,  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  March  30,  1862,  and  was 
but  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to 
reside  in  Dayton.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  city,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years  entered  the  employ  of  Lowe 
Bros,  as  assistant  bookkeeper,  and  later  be- 
came a  traveling  salesman  for  the  same  firm, 
having  charge  of  their  artists'  material  depart- 
ment. He  remained  with  this  firm  for  five 
years,  and  then  traveled  for  a  short  time  for  a 
Chicago  firm  in  the  same  business.  Returning 
to  Dayton,  he  was  for  two  years  in  the  employ 
of  the  Globe  Iron  works  as  shipping  and  cor- 
responding clerk,  and  in  1889  embarked  in  a 
bakery  business  on  his  own  account,  at  No. 
524  East  Fifth  street,  confining  himself  to 
bread  and  cake  baking.  In  189 1  he  purchased 
his  present  business,  succeeding  F.  J.  Holden, 


388 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


at  No.  14  North  Main  street.  Here  he  caters 
to  the  best  social  circles  of  the  city,  manufac- 
turing all  his  confectionery  and  ice  cream,  of 
which  he  makes  a  specialty.  His  parlors  are 
complete  and  inviting  in  every  respect,  and 
the  attendance  perfect. 

Mr.  Bates  is  a  member  of  Dayton  lodge, 
No.  147,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  passed 
all  the  chairs;  is  also  a  member  of  Unity  chap- 
ter, No.  16;  Reese  council,  No.  9;  Reedcom- 
mandery,  No.  6;  Gabriel  grand  lodge  of  Per- 
fection; Miami  grand  council;  Dayton  grand 
chapter,  and  Rose  Croix,  Cincinnati  consist- 
ory; he  was  also  a  charter  member  of  the 
Vingt-et-un  club  of  Dayton — a  social  and  ben- 
eficial organization.  Mr.  Bates  was  united  in 
marriage  March  22,  1887,  to  Miss  Carrie  E. 
Gebhart,  daughter  of  S.  T.  Gebhart,  and  this 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children — 
Elwood  G.  and  J.  Robert.  The  family  have 
their  home  at  No.  334  West  Fourth  street. 


WOHN  R.  BROWNELL,  president  of 
■  the  Brownell  company,  one  of  the 
A  J  largest  manufacturing  concerns  of  Day- 
ton, is  a  native  of  Fulton  county,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  was  born  on  July  7,  1839.  His 
parents  were  Frederick  and  Ann  (Dolly) 
Brownell,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the 
county  already  named.  The  father  was  a 
tanner  and  a  currier  by  trade.  He  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  being  stationed 
at  Sackett's  Harbor  with  Gen.  Brown;  six 
uncles  of  his  wife  also  served  in  the  war.  In 
1842  Frederick  Brownell  came  to  Ohio  with 
his  family  and  located  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
near  Fremont,  and  from  there  removed  to 
Perrysburg,  Wood  county,  and  thence  to 
Green  Springs,  Sandusky  county,  and  finally 
to  a  farm  three  miles  from  Fremont,  where  he 
died  in  185 1.  His  widow  died  in  1882,  in 
Dayton. 


John  R.  Brownell  was  the  youngest  of 
eleven  children  born  to  his  parents.  After  the 
family  came  to  Ohio  he  attended  school  dur- 
ing the  winter  time  for  several  years.  The 
first  winter  after  his  father's  death  he  worked 
at  Green  Springs  for  his  board,  at  the  same 
time  attending  school.  Further  educational 
advantages  were  denied  him,  and  from  that 
time  on  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
and  compelled  to  make  his  way  in  life  by  his 
own  efforts.  During  the  year  1853  he  served 
as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  W.  T.  &  A.  K.  West 
at  Sandusky  City,  and  the  following  two  years 
he  spent  on  the  steamer  Northern  Indiana,  on 
Lake  Erie.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  entered  the  employ  of  his  brother, 
Elijah  H.  Brownell,  at  boilermaking,  at 
which  he  continued  until  the  fall  of  1857, 
when  he  went  to  California.  After  working  at 
his  trade  in  San  Francisco  for  a  time  he  went  to 
the  gold  mines  and  remained  there  until  Janu- 
ary, 1 86 1,  when  he  returned  to  Dayton.  The 
following  August  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  was 
sent  to  Saint  Louis,  and  mustered  into  the  Thir- 
teenth Missouri  regiment  (which  at  Corinth  was 
changed  to  the  Twenty-second  Ohio  volunteer 
regiment)  as  a  sergeant,  and  served  as  such  until 
1863,  when  he  was  commissioned  second  lieu- 
tenant of  company  K,  of  the  above  regiment, 
which  company  he  commanded  most  of  the 
time.  He  was  mustered  out  as  second  lieu- 
tenant, having  served  all  through  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  Returning  to  Dayton,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brownell  &  Com- 
pany, manufacturers  of  machinery,  boilers  and 
general  foundry  work.  This  firm  was  origi- 
nally composed  of  John  R.  Brownell,  James 
H.  Brownell,  E.  H.  Brownell,  George  J.  Rob- 
erts and  Josiah  Lee,  and  their  place  of  busi- 
ness was  at  No.  437  East  First  street.  May 
8,  1865,  F.  J.  Brownell  was  admitted  to  the 
firm,  and  on  November  I,  1867,  it  was  organ- 
ized under  the  name  of  Brownell,  Roberts  & 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


391 


Company.      In   February,   1S71,  the  Brownell 
&  Kielmeier  Manufacturing  company  was  in- 
corporated, with  C.  H.  Kielmeier  as  president; 
John  R.  Brownell  as  vice-president  and  general 
superintendent,  and  James  Anderson  as  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.      On  account  of  the  panic 
of  1873  the  company  made  an  assignment.      At 
the  sale  John  R.  Brownell   bought  two-thirds 
and  Martin  Schneble  one-third  of  the  property, 
and    continued  the    business    until    February, 
1884,  in  which  year  Mr.  Brownell  bought  out 
the  interest  of    Mr.    Schneble,  and,  under  the 
name  of  Brownell  &  Co.,  ran  the  business  by 
himself  until  January,   1888,  when  the  Brow- 
nell    company    was     incorporated,    with    Mr. 
Brownell  as  president  and  superintendent,  D. 
H.    Dryden,  vice-president,  and  E.  A.  Vance, 
secretary    and    treasurer.       The    business    re- 
mained at  its  original  location  until  September 
12,     1888,    when    a    fire    occurred,    destroying 
buildings  and   machinery.      The  business  was 
then   moved   to   Findlay  street,    just  north  of 
First,  where  a  portion  of  the  boiler  plant  had 
been  since  1883.      The   plant  at   the  above  lo- 
cation, as  it  stands  to-day,  consists  of  a  two- 
story  brick  machine  shop,  200  x  60  feet,  with  a 
three-story    office  building,    30  feet  square;   a 
foundry  building,  200x60   feet,  with  an    "L" 
50  x  30  feet;  a  boiler  shop,  200  x  50  feet,  with 
.two    "Ls"  50  feet  square;   and  a  recent  addi- 
tion to  the  boiler  shop  of  70  x  227  feet.      Mr. 
Brownell  owns  the  principal  stock   (ninety  per 
cent)  at   present.      Officers:     J.    R.  Brownell, 
president;  Joseph  Burns,  vice-president;  C.  J. 
Brownell,    secretary  and  treasurer,   and  Alice 
Hartnett,  assistant  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Mr.  Brownell  has  been  twice  married;  first, 
in  June,  1866,  to  Melvira  J.,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Humphreys,  of  Urbana,  Ohio.  To 
the  union  one  daughter,  Anna,  was  born.  The 
mother  and  daughter  both  died  in  the  year 
1872.      In  the   fall  of  1875  Mr.  Brownell   was 

married    to    Miss 
11 


Harriet     Alice    Smith,    the 


daughter  of  Abraham  Smith,  of  Maryland. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  the  following  children: 
Carrie  J.,  Alice  J.,  Mary  J.  and  John  R.,  Jr. 
In  1874  Mr.  Brownell  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  Montgomery 
county,  serving  three  years;  during  the  years 
1881-82  he  was  a  member  of  the  Dayton  city 
council.  In  1882  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
state  senate,  serving  one  term.  He  is  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Loyal  Legion 
and  Union  Veteran  League. 


WAMES  H.  BAGGOTT,  ex-judge  of  the 
A      probate  court  of   Montgomery  county, 
f»   I      was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  eldest  child  of  Col.  William  Bag- 
gott,  who  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in 
1823.      Just    previous    to   leaving    Virginia  he 
was  married  to   Miss    Hannah    Quick.      After 
living   in    this  state  about  sixteen  years   they 
moved  into   Montgomery  county  in    1839,  set- 
tling upon  a  farm  nine  miles  north  of  Dayton 
on  the   National    road.      Here    James  worked 
upon  the  farm  in  summer,  and  attended  school 
in  the  winter  season,  receiving  the  best  edu- 
cation the  country  schools  afforded  at  that  time. 
So  well  did  he  progress  in   learning  that  at  an 
unusually  early  age  he  himself  began  teaching 
school,  being  barely  seventeen  years  old  when 
he  first  essayed  this  responsible  duty.      In  1846 
and    1847    he    attended    the    old    academy   in 
Dayton,  a  remarkable  institution  in  several  re- 
spects.     In  1848  he  began  reading  law  in  the 
office  of   the   Hon.  Peter  Odlin,  at  one  time  a 
partner  of  Gen.  Robert  C.  Schenck,  under  the 
firm   name  of  Odlin  &   Schenck,  and   was  ad- 
fnitted  to.the  bar  in  June,   1850.      In  Septem- 
ber,  1S51,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  by 
the    democratic    convention    for    the   office   of 
prosecuting  attorney,  and  was  elected  by  a  ma- 
jority of    one  vote  over  Hon.    Samuel    Craig- 
head, the  whig  candidate,  who  was  running  for 


3V>2 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  third  term,  and  who,  having  been  an  able 
and  most  efficient  official,  was  very  popular 
with  his  own  party.  In  1853  young  Baggott 
was  again  unanimously  nominated  for  the  sec- 
ond term,  his  competitor  being  the  Hon. 
Hiram  Strong,  who,  as  colonel  of  the  Ninety- 
third  regiment  of  Ohio  troops,  was  afterward 
fatally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 
The  result  of  the  contest  was  the  re-election 
of  Mr.  Baggott  by  a  majority  of  more  than 
300.  In  1857  Judge  Baggott  was  nominated 
without  opposition  for  the  office  of  probate 
judge  and  was  elected,  serving  one  term  of 
three  years.  After  retiring  from  the  office  of 
probate  judge  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  the 
law,  and  has  since  continued  thus  engaged. 

In  politics  Judge  Baggott  is  and  always  has 
been  a  democrat,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
numerous  state  conventions.  He  was  married 
in  1862  to  Fannie  Williams,  of  Kentucky,  a 
daughter  of  George  Williams.  Mr.  Baggott  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  is  a 
Knight  Templar.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  since  1872.  He  is  a 
man  of  great  strength  of  characcer,  devoted  to 
his  profession,  and  well  qualified  to  fill  any  po- 
sition of  public  trust.  It  may  be  said  of  his 
work  as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Montgomery 
county,  that  he  distinguished  himself,  while  in 
that  office,  by  the  prosecution  and  conviction 
of  Frank  Dick  for  murder,  as  a  result  of  which 
Dick  was  executed.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  notable  criminal  trials  in  the  annals  of 
Montgomery  county. 


a  APT.    ALLEN    M.    BAKER,    of    the 
National  Military  Home  for  Disabled 
Volunteer     Soldiers,     near     Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Aroostook  county, 
Me.,  August  9,  1833,   and  is  a  son  of  George 
and     Mary    (Lawrence)     Baker,     natives    of 
New    Brunswick,   where    their  marriage    took 


place.  George  Baker  was  a  mechanic,  but 
died  when  his  son  Allen  was  but  a  child. 
Of  his  five  sons  three  were  soldiers  in  the  late 
Civil  war,  and  one  was  for  seven  months  a 
prisoner  at  Andersonville,  S.  C. 

Allen  M.  Baker  was  quite  well  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  state  of  Maine  ; 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  later  be- 
came a  steamboatman,  and  in  this  latter  em- 
ployment he  was  engaged  when  he  enlisted, 
December  20,  1863,  in  Company  I,  Thirty- 
ninth  New  York  volunteer  infantry.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  Second  army  corps,  under  Gen. 
Winfield  Scott  Hancock  ;  and  in  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  Va.,  under  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant, 
was  wounded,  May  6,  1864,  and  sent  to 
hospital.  There  he  was  confined  until  August 
15  following,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at 
City  Point,  Va.,  and  took  part  in  all  its 
marches,  skirmishes  and  engagements  until 
the  war  closed.  Among  the  battles  of  note  in 
which  he  participated  were  those  of  Deep  Bot- 
tom, Reams  Station,  Petersburg,  and  Hatcher's 
Run,  and  all  engagements  of  his  company  ;  he 
was  in  the  grand  review  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
in  May,  1865,  and  was  finally  mustered  out  of 
the  service,  in  that  city,  July  1,  of  the  same 
year.  He  returned  to  his  native  state  for  a 
brief  visit,  then  came  west  and  for  a  number 
of  years  was  employed  in  farming  and  lumber- 
ing in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  but  at  last 
succumbed  to  the  effects  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  army,  and  in  October,  1884,  sought  a 
refuge  in  the  soldiers'  home  near  Dayton.  For 
a  long  time  after  entering  this  institution  he 
was  unable  to  perform  any  active  labor,  and 
was,  until  the  five  years  last  past,  constantly 
under  medical  treatment,  but  was  then  ap- 
pointed captain  of  company  Eleven,  his  bar- 
racks affording  accommodation  for  217  men. 

Capt.  Baker  has  never  been  married  and 
has  lived  apart  from  his  family  relatives  since 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


393 


the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  He  has  never  been 
a  member  of  any  secret  society  and  in  religious 
matters  he  thinks  for  himself.  In  politics  he 
is  bound  by  no  party  ties,  but  exercises  his 
franchise  in  favor  of  the  candidate  he  considers 
to  be  a  friend  of  the  soldiers.  His  military 
titles  were  awarded  him  for  marked  bravery 
on  the  battle  field  and  meritorious  conduct  in 
face  of  the  enemy  and  in  the  performance 
of  duty  on  all  occasions.  He  was  first  pro- 
moted to  be  sergeant  of  his  company,  then 
commissioned  second  lieutenant,  and  then  cap- 
tain, with  which  rank  he  was  mustered  out. 


eDWIN  RUTHYEN  BAKER,  M.  D., 
practicing  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Dayton,  with  office  at  No.  221  East 
Third  street,  was  born  in  Phillips- 
burg,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  June  6,  1851. 
He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  H.  and  Hannah  C. 
(Thomas)  Baker,  both  of  whom  are  living  at 
Phillipsburg. 

Edwin  Ruthven  Baker  was  reared  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  mason,  at  which 
he  worked  for  some  eight  or  ten  years  during 
the  summer  season,  at  the  same  time  pursuing 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Tedrow, 
now  deceased.  After  completing  his  studies 
in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  he  attended 
the  Ohio  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  and 
graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1876. 
After  this  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr. 
Hawkins  at  Union,  Montgomery  county,  with 
whom  he  was  associated  for  two  years.  He 
then  located  at  West  Milton,  Miami  county, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  an  active  and  suc- 
cessful practice  for  twelve  years.  At  the  end 
of  this  time  he  came  to  Dayton,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  successfully  in  the 
general  practice  of   his   profession   and  in  sur- 


gery. He  is  a  member  of  Gem  City  lodge, 
No.  795,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  belonged  to  this 
order  for  twenty-four  years.  In  politics  he  is 
a  republican,  and  has  been  elected  to  the  of- 
fice of  township  treasurer. 

Dr.  Baker  was  married  at  Union,  Mont- 
gomery county,  November  23,  1876,  to  Miss 
Fannie  E.  Hawthorne,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Nancy  Hawthorne,  who  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Ohio.  Mrs.  Baker  was  born  in 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  is  of  German  and  Irish 
ancestry.  Dr.  Baker  is  one  of  the  progressive 
citizens  of  Dayton,  is  public  spirited,  and 
takes  an  interest  in  every  movement  calculated 
to  promote  the  prosperty  of  his  chosen  home. 


>-j'OHN  L-  BAKER,  member  of  the  board 
■  of  city  affairs,  of  Dayton,  was  born 
A  1  in  New  Carlisle,  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
December  10,  1848.  His  father,  Will- 
iam Baker,  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1821, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Baker,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  and 
one  of  the  first  carpenters  and  contractors  to 
locate  there.  John  Baker  assisted  in  building 
the  old  Third  street  bridge.  William  Baker 
was  reared  in  Dayton,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  carriagemaking.  In  1840  he  re- 
moved to  New  Carlisle,  Clarke  county,  where 
he  was  married  to  Mary  McNeal,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  who  died  about 
1850.  Mr.  Baker  died  in  1870.  Until  the 
beginning  of  the  war  he  carried  on  the  manu- 
facture of  carriages  at  New  Carlisle.  He  and 
his  wife  were  the  parents  of  two  sons,  John 
L. ,  and  William  A.,  his  elder  brother,  who  is 
now  a  resident  of  Muncie,  Ind. 

John  L.  Baker  was  reared  in  New  Carlisle, 
and  was  educated  at  the  academy  in  that  place. 
After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  carriage- 
maker's  trade.  In  1864  he  established  him- 
self in  the   carriage  manufacturing  business  in 


394 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


New  Carlisle,  continuing  until  January  2,  1872, 
when  he  moved  to  Dayton  and  entered  upon 
the  same  business  there,  having  been  thus  en- 
gaged ever  since.  His  present  factory  is  situ- 
ated at  Nos.  22,  24  and  26  West  Fifth  street. 
In  March,  1889,  Mr.  Baker  also  embarked  in 
the  livery  business  with  a  stable  on  Ludlow 
street,  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets,  and 
has  now  one  of  the  largest  establishments  in 
the  city.  On  January  29,  1894,  he  purchased 
the  Dayton  Transfer  company's  property  and 
business,  and  now  operates  that  as  well  as  his 
carriage  manufactory  and  livery  stable.  In 
April,  1S95,  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Mc- 
Miilen  to  a  position  on  the  board  of  city  af- 
fairs, of  which  office  he  took  possession  on  the 
19th  of  that  month.  Mr.  Baker  has  always 
been  a  democrat,  and  as  such  holds  his  pres- 
ent office.  He  was  married  in  1S75  to  Miss 
Josie  Brower,  of  New  Carlisle,  and  to  their 
marriage  there  ha?  been  born  one  daughter, 
Blanche  Louise. 


BREDERICK  D.  BARRER,  M.  D., 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  with  office  at  No.  29  North 
Perry  street,  was  born  at  McConnels- 
ville,  July  13,  i860.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles 
L.  and  Rachael  (Maxwell)  Barker,  both  of 
whom  are  of  Scotch  descent  and  now  living  at 
McConnelsville.  The  family  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and 
experienced  all  the  trials,  hardships  and  dan- 
gers of  pioneer  days.  They  have  been  for 
years  prominent  in  their  part  of  the  state  in 
political  and  religious  matters  as  well  as  in 
philanthropic  movements,  and  there  are  many 
of  the  name  in  southeastern  Ohio. 

The  grandfather  of  Dr.  Barker  was  Luther 
1).  Barker,  who,  in  company  with  two  of  his 
brothers,  located   early   in  the  Muskingum  val- 


ley. They  were  interested  in  flatboating  down 
the  river,  and  were  otherwise  employed  in 
business  of  various  kinds,  and  also  in  farming. 
Some  members  of  the  family  became  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  while  Frederick  D.  is  the  only 
one  who  has  turned  his  attention  to  medicine. 
The  family  are  mostly  republicans,  and  with 
few  exceptions  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church. 

Frederick  D.  Barker  is  one  of  a  family  of 
five  children,  and  is  the  only  son.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  town,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1878,  having,  however,  previously 
taken  a  course  of  study  in  the  Southeastern 
Ohio  Normal  school.  After  graduating  from 
the  public  schools  of  McConnelsville,  he  en- 
tered Denison  university  at  Granville,  Ohio, 
graduating  from  this  institution  in  1S82,  with 
the  degree  of  bachelor  of  philosophy.  In 
1 891  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  master 
of  philosophy. 

After  graduating  from  Denison  university 
he  engaged  in  business  with  his  father  in  Mc- 
Connelsville, dealing  in  provisions  and  wool, 
and  continued   thus   engaged  until    1888.      In 

1884  he  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  visiting  the 
British  Isles  and  the  entire  continent,  with  the 
double  purpose  of  pleasure  and   study,  and  in 

1885  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  R. 
Harvey  Reed,  surgeon-in-chief  of  the  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  railroad,  and  took  his  first  course 
of  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  college  in  Cin- 
cinnati. The  second  course  of  lectures  he 
took  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1890.  In  a 
competitive  examination  among  twenty-five 
applicants,  for  the  position  of  house  physician 
and  surgeon  in  the  Presbyterian  hospital  in 
Philadelphia,  Dr.  Barker  took  first  place,  and 
as  a  consequence  served  as  resident  physician 
for  one  year,  leaving  there  in  1891,  and  com- 
ing direct  to   his  present  location  in   Dayton, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


395 


and   a  daughter  of   Marshall   O.  Rice, 


manu- 


facturer of  that  city. 


(/^V  L.  BATES  &  BRO,  machinists, 
I  manufacturers  and  nickel  platers,  at 
/^^J  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  St.  Clair 
streets,  Dayton,  Ohio,  still  carry  on 
a  business  which  was  founded  in  1866  by  their 
father,  Hamilton   Bates,    on  the  hydraulic,  in 


Ohio.      Here  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  medicine  ever  since. 

Dr.  Barker  is  a  member  of  the  Beta  Theta 
Pi  college  fraternity,  of  the  Stille  Medical  so- 
ciety, of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Railway  Surgeons.  He  is  the 
physician  to  the  Widows'  home  in  Dayton, 
is  the  city  police  surgeon,  is  head  surgeon  of 
the  Dayton  district  of  the  D.  &  M.  railway, 
and  of  the  C,  D.  &  I.  and  C,  H.  &  D.  rail- 
ways. He  is  also  surgeon  on  the  staff  of  the 
Deaconess  hospital,  and  teaches  anatomy  and 
physiology  in  the  Dayton  Summer  school  for 
teachers.  He  lectures  on  medical  subjects 
before  the  Young  Men's  Christian  association 
in  Dayton,  and  also  in  Xenia,  and  is  active  in 
the  general  work  of  that  association. 

In  1894  Dr.  Barker  made  a  second  trip 
abroad,  spending  most  of  his  time  in  the  hos- 
pitals of  London  and  Vienna.  In  the  follow- 
ing spring  he  made  a  trip  through  Italy  and 
down  into  Egypt,  through  Palestine,  to  Athens 
and  Constantinople,  returning  through  Bul- 
garia, Syria  and  Hungary  to  Vienna.  Through- 
out his  entire  career  he  has  been  self-reliant, 
and  an  independent  student  and  investigator,  j 
He  paid  his  own  way  through  the  medical 
schools,  met  without  assistance  his  expenses 
upon  the  three  trips  to  Europe,  and,  in  short, 
what  he  has  thus  far  accomplished  has  been 
wholly  through  his  own  unaided  efforts. 

Dr.  Barker  was  married  in  Boston,  June  3, 
1896,    to   Helen   R.  Rice,  a    native  of  Boston 


the  rear  of  Gebhart's  mill,  chiefly  for  the 
manufacture  of  wool  machinery. 

Hamilton  Bates  was  born  at  Ellicott's 
Mills,  Md.,  in  18 19,  and  when  a  young  man, 
somewhere  about  1841,  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
but  learned  the  machinist's  trade  at  Wheeling, 
W.  Va. ,  returned  to  Dayton,  and  became 
foreman,  first  for  McMillan  &  Co.,  and  then 
for  Broadrup  &  Co.,  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen-mill  machinery.  In  1866,  as  noted 
above,  he  founded  the  present  business  in 
company  with  his  eldest  son,  Daniel  L. ,  and 
this  was  conducted,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bates  &  Son,  until  the  death  of  the  father,  in 
1884.  Hamilton  Bates  was  a  devout  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  having 
been  converted  in  his  early  youth;  he  was  one 
of  the  earlier  members  of  Wayne  lodge,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  was  its 
representative  in  the  grand  lodge.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  Lemon,  a  daughter  of  John 
Lemon,  a  highly  respected  resident  of  Day- 
ton. She  was  born  in  this  city  about  1840, 
and  died  in  1876,  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren, viz:  Daniel  L.,  now  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  D.  L.  Bates  &  Bro. ;  Russell 
H.,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm,  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  Lewis  Tischer,  of  Dayton. 

Daniel  L.  Bates  was  born  August  16,  1847, 
at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Brown  streets,  Day- 
ton, was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  entered  upon  his  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  machinist's  trade,  and  this 
has  ever  since  been  his  constant  employment. 
From  1866  until  1884  he  was  a  partner  of  his 
father,  and  since  the  latter  date  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother,  Russell  H.,  in  the  pres- 
ent business.  In  November,  1870,  he  married 
Miss  Susan  Umphries,  who  was  born  in  Alex- 
anderville,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Boler  Umphries, 
and  to  this  union  have  been  born  four  children, 
viz:  Harry  L. ,  a  graduate  of  the  Dayton  Com- 
mercial college,  a  practical  machinist  and  book- 


396 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


keeper  for  his  father,  and  married,  in  1894,  to 
Miss  Laura  Kimmel,  a  daughter  of  William 
Kimmel,  of  Dayton;  Maud  M.,  a  graduate  of 
the  city  high  school,  and  for  the  past  five  years 
a  teacher  in  the  city  schools  of  Dayton;  Edith 
V.,  and  Zelma  G.,  still  under  parental  care. 
The  father  is  a  member  of  Wayne  lodge,  No. 
10,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  has  his  residence  in  Dayton 
View,  at  435  River  street,  is  surrounded  by  a 
host  of  true  friends,  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  best  business  men  of  the  Gem  City. 

Russell  H.  Bates,  the  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  D.  L.  Bates  &  Bro.,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 1,  1 861,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city  of  Dayton,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years,  like  his  elder  brother,  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  machinist's  trade  un- 
der his  father's  instruction.  He  learned  the 
trade  in  all  its  details,  and  in  1884,  at  the  death 
of  his  father,  became  the  associate  of  his 
brother,  Daniel  L. ,  in  the  present  lucrative 
business,  in  the  success  of  which  he  has  been 
no  unimportant  factor.  The  marriage  of  Rus- 
sell H.  Bates  was  celebrated  September  2, 
1884,  with  Miss  Julia  Euchenhofer,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Dayton  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Frederick  Euchenhofer,  one  of  the  best 
known  citizens  of  the  Gem  City.  Two  children 
have  blessed  this  union  and  are  named  Ralph 
and  Edmond.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  H.  Bates 
reside  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  June  streets, 
and  are,  with  their  little  family,  part  of  a  circle 
of  close  acquaintances  and  neighbors.  In  poli- 
tics, both  brothers  are  republicans. 


\S~\    OTTO  BAUMANN,  oneof  theyoung- 
I  •^     er  members   of  the   Dayton   bar,  and 
P    secretary  of    the   city  board   of  elec- 
tions, was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  June 
30,  1870,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  C.  L.  Baumann, 
who  is  included   by  Hon.  George  W.  Houk,  in 
his    history  of  the  Dayton   bar,  in   the    list  of 


lawyers  admitted  to  practice  soon  after  i860. 
R.  Otto  Baumann  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  Dayton  public  schools.  After- 
ward he  took  a  course  of  study  in  the  Miami 
Commercial  college,  graduating  from  that  in- 
stitution in  his  seventeenth  year.  After  being 
engaged  in  bookkeeping  for  one  year  he  was 
appointed  to  the  position  of  librarian  of  the 
Dayton  law  library,  which  place  he  held  for 
four  years.  During  this  time  he  began  the 
study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
December,  1891.  For  about  eight  months 
after  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was  in  the 
office  of  John  M.  Sprigg,  and  in  1893  began 
the  practice  of  the  law  on  his  own  account. 
In  May,  1S94,  Mr.  Baumann  was  appointed 
clerk  of  the  city  board  of  elections,  a  position 
which  he  still  retains.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

Mr.  Baumann,  while  young  both  in  years 
and  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  has  the 
capacity  and  the  industry  which  are  certain  to 
bring  success.  His  intellectual  endowments 
are  generous,  and  his  social  qualities  are  such 
as  to  have  made  for  him  a  host  of  friends. 


aHARLES  BECK  is  one  of  the  most 
artistic  landscape  gardeners  in  the 
United  States,  having  had  charge  of 
the  garden  and  grounds  of  the  na- 
tional soldiers'  home  at  Dayton,  since  1876. 
Mr.  Beck  is  a  native  of  German}-,  born  in 
Frankfort-on-the-Main,  January  2,  1827,  the 
son  of  William  and  Louise  (Kroeber)  Beck. 
The  father  was  a  tax  collector  in  his  native 
province,  a  position  of  trust  and  responsibility, 
and  both  parents  died  in  the  fatherland. 
Frederick  Beck,  a  brother  of  Charles,  lives  in 
Germany.  He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
daring  all  his  active  life,  and  is  now  a  pen- 
sioner of  the  government;  two  sisters,  Emma 
and  Matilda,  died    in    Germany,  and  the   only 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


397 


members  of  the  family  that  came  to  America 
were  Charles  and  Caroline;  the  latter  married 
a  Mr.  Myer  and  died  near  Cincinnati. 

Charles  Beck  was  educated  in  the  land  of 
his  nativity  and  at  an  early  age  learned  garden- 
ing, an  occupation  which  receives  much  more 
attention  in  the  old  world  than  in  the  United 
States.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  came 
to  America,  locating  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. , 
where  for  two  years  he  worked  for  a  nursery 
firm.  He  then  went  to  Cincinnati  and  en- 
gaged in  operating  floral  gardens  and  doing 
floral  decorating  until  his  removal  in  i860  to 
Dayton.  He  engaged  in  the  same  business  in 
this  city  upon  his  own  responsibility  until  em- 
ployed by  the  government  to  take  charge  of  the 
entire  floral,  landscape  and  vegetable  gardens 
at  the  national  soldiers'  home,  the  duties  of 
which  position  he  has  since  most  successfully 
discharged.  During  his  twenty  years  of  service 
Mr.  Beck  has  superintended  the  planting  and 
laying  out  of  all  the  grounds  of  the  home,  hav- 
ing under  him  seventy-five  men  to  assist  him 
in  the  various  kinds  of  decorative  work  required. 
The  conservatories  and  decorations,  and,  in- 
deed, every  thing  connected  with  the  grounds, 
are  artistic  in  the  highest  degree  and  a  tangible 
tribute  to  the  taste  and  skill  of  the  manager, 
whose  knowledge  of  the  profession  has  been 
gained  only  after  many  years  of  careful  and 
painstaking  study. 

Mr.  Beck  was  married  in  1 S56  to  Miss 
Louisa  Schnike,  a  native  of  Saxony,  where  she 
was  born  in  1836.  Mrs.  Beck  came  with  her 
parents  to  America  when  fourteen  years  of 
age,  locating  at  Cincinnati,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood.  Her  daughter,  Louise,  is  assist- 
ant principal  of  the  Dayton  Steele  high  school, 
having  charge  of  the  German  department.  She 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Central  high  school,  and 
for  some  time  pursued  her  studies  in  Munich, 
Germany;  the  brother,  Otto  Walter,  also  edu- 
cated   in    Munich,    is'  a    teacher     in     the    art 


museum  in  Cincinnati;  Matilda  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools  of  Dayton.  Mrs.  Beck  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church,  but  is  now  a  member  of  the  English 
branch  of  that  denomination.  Mr.  Beck  takes 
an  active  interest  in  political  matters,  support- 
ing the  republican  party  upon  state  and  na- 
tional issues,  while  in  local  matters  he  is  en- 
tirely independent. 


a  APT.  JOHN  NELSON  BELL,  sec- 
retary of  the  Ohio  Fire  Insurance 
company,  and  general  fire  insurance 
agent,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
this  city  December  18,  1838,  a  son  of  John  S. 
and  Zipporah  (Cock)  Bell.  He  graduated  from 
the  Central  high  school  of  his  native  city,  and 
immediately  afterward  went  west  and  taught 
school  for  a  time  on  the  prairies  of  Minnesota; 
he  then  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  employed  as  a  local  reporter  on 
the  "  Hawkeye."  and  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  war  enlisted  for  ninety  days.  After 
serving  out  his  term  of  enlistment  he  returned 
to  Burlington  and  raised  a  company  of  volun- 
teers, and  in  1862  was  commissioned  captain 
of  company  E,  Twenty-fifth  Iowa  volunteer 
infantry,  and  as  such  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  participated  in  all  the  campaigns 
in  the  southwest  under  Gens.  Grant  and  Sher- 
man, and  also  in  the  south  and  southeast,  in- 
cluding the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  storming  of 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  the 
campaign  of  Atlanta,  the  march  through  Geor- 
gia and  the  Carolinas,  and  the  grand  review  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  During  his  term  of  serv- 
ice Capt.  Bell  was  appointed  assistant  adju- 
tant-general and  assistant  inspector-general  on 
the  staffs  of  Gen.  James  A.  Williamson  and 
Gen.  George  A.  Stone,  in  Sherman's  Fifteenth 
corps,  and  received  the  commendation  of  his 
commanders  in   general  orders  for  his  faithful 


398 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


discharge  of  duty.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  Iowa,  and  for  several  years  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  business,  but  finally  returned  to 
Dayton,  filling  a  position  as  bookkeeper  until 
1885,  when  he  accepted  his  present  office. 

Capt.  Bell  was  made  a  master  Mason  in 
Des  Moines  lodge,  No.  1,  Burlington,  Iowa, 
October  12,  1868;  was  exalted  a  royal  arch 
Mason  October  2,  1869,  in  Iowa  Royal  Arch 
chapter,  No.  1 ;  created  a  Knight  Templar  in 
St.  Omer  commander}',  No.  15,  February  22, 
1 87 1.  He  has  affiliated  with  the  various  York 
rite  bodies  in  Dayton  since  1872,  and  has  re- 
ceived the  various  degrees  of  the  Scottish  rite, 
from  the  fourth  to  the  thirty-second  degree, 
in  the  valley  of  Dayton,  and  in  the  Ohio  con- 
sistory, at  Cincinnati;  in  1880  was  crowned  a 
sovereign  grand  inspector -general,  thirty- 
third  degree,  and  made  an  honorary  member 
of  the  supreme  council,  N.  M.  J.,  of  the 
United  States,  at  Boston,  September  18,  1888. 
He  has  served  as  recorder  of  Reed  command- 
ery,  No.  6,  of  Dayton,  nine  years;  eminent 
commander  of  the  same  commandery  in  1886; 
grand  recorder  of  the  grand  commandery  of 
Ohio  in  1886,  and  to  this  office  he  has  been 
annually  elected  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
is  a  past  master  of  Gabriel  lodge  of  Perfec- 
tion, A.  A.  rite,  and  is  the  present  grand 
master  of  Miami  council,  P.  of  J.,  in  which 
position  he  has  served  continuously  since  1887. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  a 
past  commander  of  Old  Guard  post,  G.   A.  R. 

Capt.  Bell  was  united  in  marriage  in  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  November  3,  1S61,  with  Miss 
Annie  E.  Acres,  daughter  of  Stephen  T.  Acres, 
of  Gibraltar,  and  has  a  family  of  six  children, 
viz:  Charles  W. ,  secretary  and  manager  of 
the  United  States  Board  &  Paper  company, 
of  Cincinnati;  William  A.,  traveling  sales- 
man for  the  American  Strawboard  company, 
of  Cincinnati;  George  H.,  state  agent  for  the 
North   British   &   Mercantile    Insurance  com- 


pany, at  Dayton;  Walter  H.,  grocers'  broker, 
Dayton;  Mary  V.  and  Nelson  J.,  at  home. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  politics  Capt.  Bell  is  a  repub- 
lican. He  descends  from  very  old  American 
families,  his  maternal  ancestors  being  traced 
to  the  Mayflower,  while  his  paternal  fore- 
fathers, who  came  from  England,  can  be  traced 
equally  far  back  to  the  early  settlements  on 
the  shores  of  Maryland.  His  grandparents 
were  residents  of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  as 
early  as  the  opening  of  the  present  century, 
his  grandfather,  John  Bell,  having  been 
drowned  in  the  Little  Miami  river  in  18 10. 
His  parents  were  residents  of  Dayton  as  early 
as  1830,  and  the  name  has  been  prominently 
associated  with  the  history  of  the  city  and 
county  up  to  the  present  day. 


<V^V  s  DOREN  BATES,  a  representative 
fi  merchant  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  senior 
r  member  of  the  well-known  dry-goods 
house  of  Bates,  Engel  &  Co.,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  a  descendant  of  two  old  pio- 
neer families  of  the  Buckeye  state.  Mr.  Bates 
was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  July  7,  1843, 
and  is  the  son  of  Lewis  Cass  and  Nellie 
Schenck  (Shepherd)  Bates.  The  Bates  family 
came  originally  from  England,  settling  in  Con- 
necticut during  colonial  days.  From  Connecti- 
cut they  came  west,  Asael  Bates,  grandfather 
of  Ns  D.,  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
Ohio,  having  settled  at  Cincinnati  when  the 
Queen  City  was  a  small  place.  For  many 
years  he  was  wharfmaster  and  an  auctioneer 
at  Cincinnati,  and  then  removed  to  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  tavern- 
keeping. 

Lewis  Cass  Bates  was  born  in  Ohio  in  No- 
vember, 18 18.  He  has  followed  farming  all 
his  life,  and  now  resides  at  Gano,  Butler 
county.      Nellie    Schenck   Shepherd  was  born 


<£ 


(j-ya^^-' 


f£tJ^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


401 


in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  on  September  21, 
1822.  Her  parents  were  Thomas  and  Sarah 
(Preston)  Shepherd.  The  Shepherds  came 
originally  from  England.  Thomas  Shepherd 
came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  in  1S16,  the 
family  settling  at  Lockland,  Hamilton  county. 
For  six  years  after  the  birth  of  Ns  D.  his  par- 
ents resided  in  Butler  county,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Lockland,  where  the  next  six  years 
of  his  life  were  spent  on  the  old  farm  of  his 
great-grandfather  Shepherd.  His  parents  then 
went  to  live  in  Jackson  county,  Ind.  Before 
leaving  Ohio  young  Bates  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  after  removing  to  Indiana 
he  attended  school  during  the  winter  months, 
thus  securing  a  fair  English  education.  Be- 
tween the  ages  of  twelve  and  nineteen  he 
worked  on  the  farm,  attended  school,  taught 
school,  clerked  in  a  store  and  carried  the 
United  States  mail. 

On  August  18,  1862,  when  only  a  month 
past  his  nineteenth  year,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Federal  army  from  Jackson  county,  Ind.,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Madison, 
Ind.,  two  days  later,  as  a  private  in  Capt. 
Nelson  Crabb's  company  G,  Sixty-seventh 
regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  Col. 
Frank  Emerson,  commanding,  his  enlistment 
being  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  was  dis- 
charged on  December  10,  1864,  at  Baton  Rouge, 
La. ,  on  account  of  consolidation,  and  re-en- 
listed in  company  G,  Twenty-fourth  regiment 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt.  Jacob 
Smith  and  Col.  W.  G.  Spicely,  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  war.  He  served  in  the  First 
brigade,  Second  division,  Thirteenth  corps, 
army  of  West  Mississippi,  and  participated  in 
the  following  engagements:  Munfordsville, 
Ky.,  on  September  14  and  17,  1862;  Chick- 
asaw Bayou,  Miss.,  on  December  27  and 
31,  1862;  Arkansas  Post,  Ark.,  on  January 
11,  1863;  Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  on  May  1,  1863, 
Champion  Hill,  Miss.,  on  May  16,  1863;  Black 


River,  Miss.,  on  May  17,  1863;  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  Miss.,  from  May  19  to  July  4,  1863; 
Jackson,  Miss.,  on  July  10  and  18,  1863;  Car- 
rion Crow,  La.,  on  November  3,  1863;  Forts 
Gaines  and  Morgan,  from  August  6  to23,  1864; 
siege  and  charge  of  Blakeley,  Ala.,  on  April 
29,  1865,  where  he  was  slightly  wounded. 
Mr.  Bates  was  captured  at  Munfordsville,  Ky. , 
upon  the  surrender  of  the  entire  garrison  on 
September  17,  1862,  and  was  again  captured 
at  Carrion  Crow,  La.,  on  Nevember  3,  1863, 
and  confined  in  prison  at  Alexandria,  La.,  for 
fifty-three  days,  being  paroled  on  December 
25,  1863,  and  exchanged  about  June  1,  1864. 
He  was  detailed  for  special  duty  in  regimental 
quartermaster's  department  for  a  few  months 
in  1863,  and  was  again  detailed  for  similar 
duty  at  quartermaster's  department  at  Parole 
Camp,  New  Orleans,  La.,  from  January  1  to 
July  1,  1864.  He.  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service  at  Galveston,  Tex.,  on  July 
19,  1865,  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war, 
after  having  served  for  a  period  of  almost 
three  years. 

Upon  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Bates 
came  to  Xenia,  Ohio,  where  he  secured  a  sub- 
ordinate position  in  a  store,  and  there  remained 
for  several  years,  working  his  way  up  to  the 
position  of  bookkeeper  and  salesman.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Dayton  and  took  a  position 
as  bookkeeper  in  a  wholesale  liquor  house, 
which  place  he  has  held  for  about  eighteen 
months.  Following  this  he  was  made  assistant 
secretary  of  the  Farmers  cS:  Merchants  Insur- 
ance company,  of  Dayton,  with  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  business  of  the  company  was 
wound  up  and  closed  out.  Through  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Hon.  Lewis  B.  Gunckel,  then 
a  member  of  congress  from  the  Dayton  dis- 
trict, Mr.  Bates  was  appointed  to  a  position 
in  the  government  postal  service  in  1874,  and 
for  six  years  he  was  in  the  United  States  railway 
mail   service,   running   first   from    Pittsburg  to 


402 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Cincinnati,  then  from  Pittsburg  to  Indianapolis, 
and  next  from  Indianapolis  to  Saint  Louis. 
So  efficient  did  he  become  in  his  duties  as  mail 
clerk,  that  during  the  two  last  years  of  his 
service  with  the  government  he  was  placed  as 
head  clerk  in  charge  of  the  mail  car  and  crew 
of  his  run.  In  January,  1880,  Mr.  Bates  re- 
signed his  position  in  the  government  service 
in  order  to  return  to  Dayton  and  take  charge 
of  the  books  of  the  dry-goods  house  of  Augustus 
Sharp,  and  his  employer  soon  afterwards 
taking  charge  of  a  store  in  Louisville,  Ky., 
Mr.  Bates  was  left  in  charge  of  the  office  and 
financial  departments  of  the  Dayton  establish- 
ment. Mr.  Sharp  later  disposed  of  his  store 
in  the  city  to  Messrs.  Lambert  &  Clock,  and 
with  this  firm  Mr.  Bates  remained  as  book- 
keeper for  about  one  year.  On  February  1 , 
1882,  the  dry-goods  firm  of  Orr,  Bates  & 
Roesch  was  formed-  with  Mr.  Bates  as  a  mem- 
ber. This  firm  began  business  on  East  Third 
and  Jefferson  streets,  at  the  present  stand  of 
Bates,  Engel  &  Co.  The  firm  of  Orr,  Bates 
&  Roesch  was  succeeded  by  that  of  Bates  & 
Roesch,  Mr.  Orr  retiring,  and  on  May  4,  1895, 
following  the  death  of  Mr.  Roesch,  the  firm  of 
Bates,  Engel  &  Co.  was  formed,  the  members 
being  Ns  Doren  Bates,  C.  W.  Engel,  H.  J. 
Rock  and  G.  A.  Heintz.  The  firm  is  one  of 
the  leaders  among  the  dry-goods  houses  of  the 
city,  and  by  splendid  business  methods,  aided 
by  the  personal  popularity  of  its  members,  is 
growing  in  strength  each  day.  It  carries  a 
complete  line  of  dry  goods,  cloaks,  etc.,  has 
large  and  commodious  storerooms,  and  em- 
ploys a  force  of  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
people. 

Mr.  Bates  is  recognized  as  one  of  Dayton's 
representative  business  men  and  citizens.  He 
is  a  genuine  Buckeye,  patriotic  and  progressive, 
having  always  a  good  word  and  open  hand  for 
movements  calculated  to  improve,  develop  and 
build  up  the  institutions  of  his  native  state  and 


adopted  city.  Among  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances he  is  regarded  with  admiration,  his 
many  sterling  traits  of  character  being  fully 
appreciated.  Mr.  Bates  is  quite  prominent  in 
various  ways.  For  almost  twenty-five  years 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, having  joined  the  order  1S72.  He  is  a 
member  of  Mystic  lodge,  No.  405.  He  was 
made  a  Knight  Templar  in  1885,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Reed  commandery,  No.  6,  of  which  he 
is  prelate  at  the  present  time.  He  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree  in  Scottish  rite  Ma- 
sonry in  1 886.  In  1882  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Old  Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  held 
most  of  the  chairs  of  the  same,  being  trustee 
of  the  post  for  over  ten  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Garfield  and  Present  Day  clubs, 
and  of  the  first  Reformed  church.  He  was 
elected  in  April,  1896,  to  a  place  on  the  Day- 
ton board  of  education,  of  which  board  he  is 
an  active  and  valued  member. 

Mr.  Bates  was  married  in  1871  to  Miss 
Florence  E.  Walden,  of  Dayton,  daughter  of 
Dr.  A.  G.  Walden.  Two  sons  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bates:  Albert  Irvin 
Bates,  who  was  born  in  Dayton,  passed  through 
the  public  schools,  was  graduated  from  the 
Ohio  Medical  college,  and  is  now  a  promising 
young  member  of  the  Dayton  medical  profes- 
sion; and  Lewis  Wilbur,  who  is  at  present  a 
student  in  a  well-known  military  college. 


<^\'R-  HENRY  J.  BECKER,  D.D.,the 
1  well-known  divine  and  lecturer  of 
/^^_J  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Massillon, 
Ohio,  on  June  19,  1846.  His  early 
life  was  spent  in  the  coal  mines  of  Ohio,  and, 
aside  from  his  primary  education,  he  had  train- 
ing at  Heidelberg  college,  Ohio.  He  served 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-eighth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
after  the  war  became   a  convert  to  the  Chris- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


403 


tian  religion,  and  studied  theology  under  Rev. 
J.  M.  Spangler  and  Dr.  Winters  of  the  Re- 
formed church.  On  December  18,  1S69,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  in  which  field  he 
has  continued  to  labor  until  the  present  time. 
In  August,  1875,  he  went  to  California  as  mis- 
sionary for  the  United  Brethren  Missionary 
society,  and  there  remained  for  ten  years. 
During  that  period  he  edited  and  published 
the  Pacific  Telescope  in  the  interest  of  the 
Pacific  conferences  for  two  years,  and  then, 
combining  that  periodical  with  the  Philomath 
(Ore.)  Crucible,  he  continued  it  one  year 
more  as  the  Philomath  Crucible.  Dr.  Becker 
served  as  presiding  elder  in  California  for  three 
terms,  and  in  1889  was  elected  bishop  of  the 
Pacific  district  by  the  conservatives,  at  the 
time  of  the  division  of  the  church.  He  was 
re-elected  bishop  in  1893,  but  resigned,  not 
wishing  longer  to  engage  in  work  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  and  was  then  elected  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  Home  Frontier  &  Foreign 
Missionary  society,  in  which  capacity  he  is 
still  laboring.  In  the  spring  of  1888  Dr. 
Becker  made  an  extensive  tour  of  the  old 
world,  visiting  Egypt,  Arabia,  Palestine,  Syria, 
the  Isles  of  Greece,  Corinth,  Smyrna,  Ephe- 
sus,  Brindisi,  Pompeii,  Naples,  Rome  and 
Florence,  touching  other  prominent  countries 
and  cities  along  the  line  of  travel.  The  honor- 
ary title  of  doctor  of  divinity  was  conferred 
upon  Dr.  Becker  by  Hartsville  (Ind.)  college 
in  1 89 1.  As  a  lecturer  Dr.  Becker  has  at- 
tained wide  celebrity,  and  his  services  are  in 
demand  in  different  parts  of  the  country  dur- 
ing the  lecture  season. 

Dr.  Becker  has  just  completed  the  mech- 
anism for  a  life-saving  device  to  be  used  in 
rescuing  miners  from  imprisonment  in  case  of 
accident  by  the  giving  way  or  caving  in  of 
roofs,  which  will  no  doubt  prove  of  great  and 
lasting   benefit  to  humanity.      He  has  also  in- 


vented and  patented  an  automatic  water  filter, 
a  description  of  which  will  be  found  in  the 
American  Inventive  Progress.  He  is  also  the 
author  of  several  booklets,  and  has  written 
sheet  music  with  .original  words. 

Dr.  Becker  was  married  August,  18,  1870, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Houk,  of  Canal  Fulton, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  Samuel  Houk.  To  this 
union  two  daughters  were  born — Myrtle,  May 
23,  1871,  who  died  July  14,  1871,  and  Alta 
Jewel,  who  was  born  May  19,   1885. 


^y-j»ILLIAM  DENISON  BICKHAM,  de- 

M  a  ceased,    late   editor   and   proprietor 

^JL^  of  the  Dayton  Journal,  was  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  March  30, 
1827.  He  was  prepared  for  college  in  private 
and  public  schools,  and  was  a  student  in  Cin- 
cinnati and  Bethany  (W.  Va. )  colleges.  After 
the  death  of  his  father  he  entered  the  news- 
room of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  and  acquired  a 
technical  knowledge  of  the  work  during  a  two- 
years'  apprenticeship.  Subsequently,  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  he  became  city  and  commercial 
editor  of  the  Louisville  (Ky.)  Daily  Courier. 
In  1848  he  went  to  New  Orleans  on  business 
connected  with  his  father's  estate,  making  the 
trip  down  the  river  on  flatboats.  In  1849  he 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  Cincin- 
nati, but  the  following  year  he  went  to  the 
California  gold  fields,  where  he  spent  over  a 
year  at  hard  labor  in  the  mines  on  the  North 
Fork  and  Middle  Fork  of  the  American  river 
at  Grass  Valley,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Nevada. 
In  1852  Mr.  Bickham  represented  El  Do- 
rado county  as  a  delegate  in  the  first  whig 
convention  held  in  California.  He  settled  in 
San  Francisco  and  there  obtained  a  place  in 
the  customs  service,  and  was  actively  engaged 
in  politics  for  some  time.  Later  he  was  em- 
ployed as  city  editor  of  the  San  Francisco 
Picayune,  then  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 


4(14 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


San  Francisco  Evening  Journal,  and  then  as 
city  editor  of  the  San  Francisco  Evening  Times 
and  the  Morning  Ledger.  In  April,  1854, 
Mr.  Bickham  returned  home,  after  an  absence 
of  four  years,  without  money,  and,  for  want  of 
some  better  employment,  accepted  a  position  as 
brakeman  on  the  morning  express  train  of  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad  be- 
tween Cincinnati  and  Dayton.  Within  a  few 
weeks  he  was  promoted  to  baggage-master. 
Later  he  took  a  position  as  traveling  corre- 
spondent and  agent  of  the  Cincinnati  Daily- 
Columbian.  Next  he  was  engaged  on  the  city 
staff  of  the  Cincinnati  Evening  Times,  and  a 
few  months  later  became  traveling  correspond- 
ent for  that  paper,  and  while  correspondent 
in  the  legislature,  early  in  1856,  accepted  the 
position  of  city  editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Com- 
mercial, remaining  in  that  office  as  city  editor, 
and  in  Washington  and  Columbus  as  general 
correspondent,  until  the  beginning  of  the  late 
war.  He  was  then  assigned  to  duty  as  war 
correspondent  of  the  Commercial  with  the 
army  of  West  Virginia,  being  also  appointed 
volunteer  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  in  which 
capacity  he  discharged  all  the  duties  of  an  offi- 
cer of  his  rank. 

After  the  battle  of  Carnifax  Ferry,  Maj. 
Bickham  was  transferred  to  other  military 
fields,  being  war  correspondent  with  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  until  after  the  seven  days'  bat- 
tles on  the  Chickahominy  and  at  Malvern  Hill; 
then  in  Kentucky  until  the  Cumberland  Gap 
expedition,  afterward  in  Mississippi,  and  finally 
with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  ending  with 
the  occupation  of  Murfreesboro,  when  Gen. 
Rosecrans  conferred  upon  him  the  title  of  major 
for  services  in  that  engagement  as  aid-de- 
1  amp.  In  May,  1863,  immediately  after  the 
destruction  of  the  Dayton  Journal  office,  Maj. 
Bickham  was  asked  to  take  control  of  the  news- 
paper field  in  Dayton,  and   immediately  came 


to  this  city,  where  he  continued  to  reside  and 
to  conduct  the  above  newspaper  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  27,   1894. 

In  1855  Maj.  Bickham  was  married  to  Miss 
Maria  Strickle,  of  Wilmington,  Ohio,  who, 
with  the  following  children,  survives  him: 
William,  Abe  S. ,  Daniel  D.  and  Charles  G. 

Maj.  Bickham  attained  high  reputation  and 
a  wide  influence  as  a  newspaper  man.  As  an 
editor  for  many  years  of  the  leading  repub- 
lican paper  in  this  section  of  Ohio,  he  became 
noted  for  the  vigor,  aggressiveness  and  strength 
of  his  editorial  utterances.  He  was  promi- 
nent as  a  leader  in  his  party  and  always  active 
in  the  management  of  its  county  and  also  its 
state  organization. 


a  APT.  FRANCIS  M.  BILLINGS,  one 
of  Ohio's  gallant  ex-soldiers,  and  now 
proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Knecht,  Nos. 
24  and  26  East  Second  street,  Day- 
ton, was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  April  21,  1844,  and  is  a  son 
of  Thompson  and  Sarah  (Wyatt)  Billings,  the 
former  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  of 
New  England  families,  of  whom  mention  will 
again  be  made  at  the  close  of  this  memoir. 

Thompson  Billings  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  his  wife  of  east  Tennessee.  Im- 
mediately after  their  marriage  in  Rutledge, 
Grainger  county,  Tenn.,  they  came  to  Ohio 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Wayne  township, 
Montgomery  county,  where  the  father  died  of 
cholera,  in  1852,  having  sacrificed  his  life 
through  his  attendance  upon  a  neighbor's  fam- 
ily who  were  suffering  from  the  same  fell  mal- 
ady. His  widow  died  in  Piqua,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  of 
the  eleven  children  born  to  their  marriage 
George  is  a  carpenter  and  stair-builder  and 
resides  in  Piqua;   Emily  is  the  widow  of  Lewis 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


405 


Rain  and  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Jasper, 
formerly  of  Dayton,  is  a  bricklayer  of  Toledo; 
Calvin  is  a  wagon  hub  manufacturer,  of  Paul- 
ding Center,  Ohio,  and  was  a  three-years'  sol- 
dier in  the  Fifty-second  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry; John  served  three  years  in  the  Nine- 
teenth Illinois  infantry,  in  which  he  was 
quartermaster-sergeant,  and  is  now  living  in 
retirement  in  Richmond,  111.  ;  Samuel  served 
as  lieutenant  in  the  Forty-fourth  Ohio  infantry, 
afterward  recruited  a  company  for  the  One 
Hundred  and  Tenth,  of  which  he  was  captain, 
and  is  now  living  in  retirement  in  Wichita, 
Kans. ;  Angelina  and  Susannah  are  deceased; 
Francis  M.  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir;  David 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
and  died  the  day  he  was  brought  home;  and 
Elizabeth  died  the  wife  of  Hon.  W.  W.  Rum- 
sey,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Francis  Marion  Billings,  at  the  death  of 
his  father,  was  bound  over  to  a  neighbor,  who 
treated  him  with  great  severity.  At  the  end 
of  two  years  of  this  life  of  misery  an  elder 
brother  called  the  attention  of  a  prominent 
attorney  of  Dayton,  Wilbur  Conover,  to  the 
case,  and  this  gentleman,  becoming  interested, 
soon  secured  the  liberation  of  the  boy  from 
his  bondage.  After  this  Francis  lived  with 
various  families  in  Montgomery  county  until 
he  had  attained  the  age  of  seventeen  years, 
when,  on  August  5,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany C,  Forty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
under  Capt.  W.  W.  Woodward.  He  veter- 
anized January  5,  1864,  and  was  transferred 
to  company  C,  Eighth  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry, 
in  which  he  served  until  July  29,  1865,  when 
he  was  mustered  out  as  lieutenant,  command- 
ing his  company.  His  entire  service  covered 
a  period  of  forty-seven  months,  and  some  of 
the  actions  in  which  he  was  engaged  during 
this  long  period  may  here  be  enumerated. 

He  fought  at  Lewisburg,  Va.,  where  one 
of     Montgomery's     most      honored      soldiers, 


George  B.  Crook,  won  the  star  of  general;  he 
was  engaged  in  numerous  fights  and  skirmishes 
in  the  mountains  of  West  Virginia  during  the 
summer  of  1862,  until  driven  out  of  the  Kana- 
wha valley  by  the  rebels;  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Fayetteville  and  Charlestown,  W. 
Va.,  followed  the  rebel,  Gen.  Kirby  Smith,  in 
a  running  fight  of  1 50  miles  through  Kentucky, 
and  in  the  summer  of  1863  fought  at  Dutton 
Hill,  Lancaster,  Mount  Vernon,  Richmond, 
Crab  Orchard,  Loudoun  andBarboursville;  was 
next  on  the  raid  with  Gen.  Saunders  through 
eastern  Tennessee,  destroying  railroads  from 
Maiden  to  Greenville,  making  a  demonstration 
against  Knoxville,  and  destroying  the  railroad 
bridge  at  Strawberry  Plains.  The  troops 
then  fought  back  to  Kentucky,  crossing  the 
Cumberland  mountains  at  a  point  where  pos- 
sibly no  human  being  ever  before  had  placed 
foot,  and  losing  three-fifths  of  their  horses  in 
the  ascent.  Capt.  Billings'  next  service  was 
with  Burnside  in  the  east  Tennessee  expedi- 
tion; he  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cum- 
berland Gap;  participated  in  the  siege  of  Knox- 
ville; took  part  in  the  battle  of  Rutledge, 
which  was  fought  on  his  grandparents'  farm, 
and  was  then  assigned  or  detailed  to  the  re- 
cruiting service. 

As  recruiting  officer,  Capt.  Billings  spent 
forty  days  in  Dayton  and  enlisted  1 17  men,  of 
whom  twenty-one  were  transferred  to  other 
companies.  On  the  re-organization  of  the 
regiment,  the  captain  immediately  joined  the 
forces  under  Gen.  Hunter  in  the  advance  upon 
Lynchburg,  Va.  He  fought  at  Staunton;  was 
at  the  capture  of  Lexington;  was  in  the  battle 
at  Lynchburg,  where  he  commanded  the  ad- 
vance guard,  took  part,  on  the  following  day, 
in  the  general  engagement  and  was  in  the  rear 
guard  on  the  retreat;  led  his  men  in  the  battle 
of  Liberty,  where  he  lost  forty  per  cent  of  his 
command;  next  was  in  Sheridan's  campaign 
through  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  was  finally 


km; 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mustered  out  at  Clarksburg,  W.  Ya.,  and  re- 
turned to  Dayton. 

March  5,  1865,  while  at  home  on  furlough, 
Capt.  Billings  married  Miss  Mary  B.  Swain,  a 
native  of  Dayton,  a  daughter  of  Josiah  A. 
Swain,  and  a  niece  of  Judge  Charles  G.  Swain. 
This  happy  marriage  has  been  blessed  with 
seven  children,  viz:  Alice  Maud,  Katie  Hale, 
Mamie  S.,  Charles  W.  D.,  Carrie  B. ,  Thomas 
B.  and  Nannie.  Of  these,  Carrie  B.  is  the 
wife  of  William  Brandt,  a  resident  of  Dayton; 
the  others  are  all  still  under  the  parental  roof. 
After  his  return  from  the  war,  Capt.  Billings 
was  employed  as  a  salesman  and  an  interior 
decorator  until  1894,  when  he  embarked  in  his 
present  enterprise  as  proprietor  of  the  Hotel 
Knecht.  The  captain  is  a  member  of  Dister 
post,  No.  446,  G.  A.  R.,  of  encampment  No. 
145,  U.  V.  L.,  and  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 
Politically,  he  has  been  a  life-long  republican, 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

The  Billings  family,  as  intimated  at  the 
opening  of  this  biography,  have  been  repre- 
sented in  America  ever  since  the  landing  of  the 
Mayflower — the  youngster  named  Billingsley, 
who  fired  the  ship  while  the  men  were  away 
hunting,  being  the  founder  of  the  American 
branch  of  the  family.  The  Swain  family  also 
descends  from  an  early  New  England  ancestry, 
Mrs.  Billings  being  a  direct  descendant  of  Sir 
John  Swain,  the  original  purchaser  of  Nan- 
tucket Island,  off  the  coast   of  Massachusetts. 


^-j*0^  BLUM,  manager  of  the  Reformed 
m  Publishing  company,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is 
m  1  a  native  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and  was  born 
March  3,  1842,  a  son  of  John  F.  and 
Barbara  (Weber)  Blum,  natives  of  Rhenish  Ba- 
varia. The  father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
was  first  married  in  his  native  country,  and 
came  to  America  in  1835.      He  located  in  Can- 


ton, Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for 
many  years,  his  first  wife  dying  here  in  1853, 
at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  his  own  death 
occurring  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years.  To  the  first  marriage  of  John  F.  Blum 
there  were  born  nine  children,  John,  the  sub- 
ject, being  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  and  five  of 
the  family  are  still  living;  to  the  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Blum  were  born  eight  children,  of 
whom  but  two  survive. 

John  Blum,  whose  name  opens  this  bio- 
graphical memoir,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city,  and  in  1857  there 
began  learning  the  printer's  trade;  in  this  he 
was  engaged  up  to  the  time  of  his  enlistment, 
September  19,  1 861,  in  company  I,  Nineteenth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  His  brother,  Fred- 
erick, also  enlisted  in  the  same  company,  sus- 
tained a  disabling  wound  at  the  battle  of  Love- 
joy's  Station,  in  September,  1864,  and  was  in 
consequence  honorably  discharged.  He  is  now 
conducting  a  drug  store  in  Canton.  The  Nine- 
teenth Ohio  was  first  assigned  to  Gen.  O.  M. 
Mitchell's  division  at  Louisville,  Ky. ,  but  re- 
mained there  one  month  only.  The  winter  of 
1861-2  was  spent  in  Columbia,  Ky. ,  until  Jan- 
uary of  the  latter  year,  when  the  regiment  went 
down  the  Cumberland  river  to  cut  off  the  rebel 
general,  Zollicoffer,  in  his  retreat  from  Mill 
Spring  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  thus  resulted 
in  the  battle  of  Mill  Spring,  in  which  Zollicoffer 
was  killed.  The  Nineteenth,  a  part  of  Gen. 
Boyle's  brigade,  was  afterward  concentrated 
with  Maj.-Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Nashville. 

At  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Mr.  Blum  was 
prostrated  by  sickness  and  was  thus  prevented 
from  sharing  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  this  being 
the  only  important  engagement  he  missed 
among  all  those  in  which  his  regiment  took 
part.  He  rejoined  his  command,  however,  on 
the  battle  field  of  Shiloh,  April  27,  1862,  took 
part  in  Corinth,  and  in  all  the  skirmishes  and 
battles  eastward  through  Mississippi  and  Ala- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


407 


bama,  to  Battle  Creek,  near  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  thence  followed  Bragg  through  Ten- 
nessee and  Kentucky, cutting  him  off  and  bring- 
ing on  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky. ,  after 
which  battle  Buell  was  succeeded  in  his  com- 
mand by  Rosecrans.  The  troops  then  moved 
on  to  Nashville  and  found  Bragg  between  that 
city  and  Murfreesboro,  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  being  the  immediate  result.  The  six 
months  following  this  were  spent  in  fortifying 
Murfreesboro,  and  then  the  forces  moved  out 
on  the  Tullahoma  campaign  in  June,  1S63, 
Bragg  retreating  to  Chattanooga.  The  next 
important  battle  was  fought  at  Chickamauga, 
September  19  and  20,  1863,  and  after  this 
desperate  conflict  Gen.  Thomas  succeeded 
Rosecrans.  The  siege  of  Chattanooga  fol- 
lowed, and  here  the  Union  forces  were  penned 
in  from  September  22  until  November  23, 
1 863,  most  of  the  time  living  on  quarter  rations 
and  suffering  great  privations.  Orchard  Knob, 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge  fol- 
lowed, and  then  the  army  moved  on  a  forced 
march  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Burnside,  who  was 
besieged  at  Knoxville;  the  next  movement  was 
to  Flat  Creek,  where  the  entire  regiment  re- 
enlisted,  to  "  see  the  end,"  and  were  permitted 
to  go  home  on  veteran  furlough  for  thirty  days. 
Mr.  Blum  rejoined  the  army  at  Knoxville, 
and  thence  marched  150  miles  to  McDonald's 
Station,  in  Tennessee,  where  the  troops  were 
being  concentrated  for  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
In  this  campaign  Mr.  Blum  shared  in  every 
engagement  in  which  his  regiment  took  part, 
excepting  Resaca  (May  14-15,  1864),  and 
after  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  September  2.  1864, 
he  returned  with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland 
to  look  after  Hood  in  Tennessee,  the  two 
days'  fight  at  Nashville  being  the  result,  to- 
gether with  the  annihilation  of  Hood's  army  by 
Gen.  Thomas.  Mr.  Blum  then  spent  two 
months  in  Huntsville,  Ala.,  in  the  winter  of 
1864-5,    went    into    east    Tennessee,    and   to 


Greenville  and  Jonesboro,  where  his  brigade 
served  as  provost  guards  ;  thence  to  Nashville, 
whence,  on  June  15,  1865,  they  started  for 
Texas,  via  the  Cumberland,  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi rivers,  with  a  view  of  relieving  the  people 
of  their  troubles  with  Maximilian,  and  marched 
nearly  across  the  state  in  the  heat  of  July  and 
August.  At  San  Antonio  Mr.  Blum  served  in 
the  paymaster's  department  under  Capt.  Kelly 
for  a  short  time,  was  then  ordered  to  return  to 
his  regiment,  which  marched  to  Alleyton,  a 
third  of  the  width  of  the  state,  went  by  rail  to 
Galveston,  thence  to  New  Orleans  by  steamer, 
thence  by  river  to  Cairo,  and  thence  in  box- 
cars to  Columbus,  and  was  mustered  out  No- 
vember 25,  1865.  After  a  long  rest  at  Mount 
Union,  Ohio,  recuperating  his  shattered  health, 
Mr.  Blum  returned  to  Canton,  where  for  sev- 
eral years  "he  was  employed  as  foreman  of  the 
Stark  County  Republican  —  afterward  consol- 
idated with  the  Canton  Repository.  Quitting 
this  employment  in  March,  1882,  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Reformed  Publishing  company,  with  which  he 
has  since  been  connected  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  and  as  the  manager  of  the  mechanical 
department. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Blum  took  place  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1864,  while  he  was  at  home  on  vet- 
eran furlough,  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Miller,  a  native 
of  Mount  Union,  Stark  county,  Ohio.  To 
this  marriage  have  been  born  five  children, 
viz:  Olive  J.,  who  died  in  infancy;  William 
A.,  who  is  an  architect  by  profession,  but  is 
now  connected  with  the  Reformed  Publishing 
company,  is  married  to  Miss  Sallie  J.  Prugh, 
and  is  the  father  of  one  child,  Harold  P. ;  Orrin, 
who  also  died  in  infancy;  Frank  W. ,  who  is 
foreman  of  the  Reformed  Publishing  com- 
pany's press  room,  and  is  married  to  Miss 
Jennie  Mowrer  ;  and  Albertus  Owen,  who  is  a 
compositor,  under  his  father. 

Mr.  Blum  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  lodge, 


408 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


No.  13,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Old  Guard  post. 
No.  23,  G.  A.  R.  He  and  all  the  family  are 
members  of  Trinity  Reformed  church,  and 
politically  he  is  a  republican,  but  has  never 
sought  nor  held  official  position.  He  is,  nev- 
ertheless, a  wide-awake,  progressive  and  pub- 
lic-spirited citizen,  ready  at  all  times  substan- 
tially to  aid  any  project  designed  for  the  pub- 
lic good,  and  socially  holds  the  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  conies  in  contact. 


^Y^     OUIS  H.    POOCK,  one  of  the  leading 

C  German  citizens  of  Dayton,  and  who 
\  has  for  many  years  been  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  financial  history  of  the 
city,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  born  on 
March  19,  1839,  at  Wahrendahl,  amt  Hameln, 
Hanover.  He  is  the  son  of  Frederick  Lud- 
wig  and  Fredericka  (Katz)  Poock,  both  natives 
of  Hanover.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  and 
inspector  of  buildings  in  the  old  country.  His 
death  occurred  in  1  842,  and,  in  1854,  his  widow 
and  three  sons  came  to  America,  two  sons  and 
one  daughter  having  previously  emigrated. 
Mrs.  Poock  came  direct  to  Dayton,  and  here 
resided  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1873. 

Louis  H.  Poock  was  but  three  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  but  fifteen  years  old 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  He  re- 
ceived hie  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  country,  but  did  not  learn  a  trade. 
Upon  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  Dayton  he 
worked  for  some  time  at  any  thing  he  could 
find  to  do,  and  subsequently  entered  the  fac- 
tory of  Blanchard  &  Brown  as  an  apprentice, 
but  in  the  winter  of  1857  he  met  with  an  ac- 
cident, crippling  his  left  hand  in  so  serious  a 
manner  as  to  unfit  him  for  manual  labor. 
This  accident  changed  the  whole  course  of  his 
life,  and  gave  to  Dayton  a  clear-headed  finan- 
cier of  abilitv,    instead  probably  of  a  good  me- 


chanic. While  suffering  from  his  wound  he 
resumed  his  studies,  attending  the  city  public 
schools  and  high  school  in  order  to  acquire  a 
better  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  and 
followed  this  up  with  a  thorough  course  in 
Greer's  Commercial  college. 

Upon  leaving  the  commercial  college  he 
filled  for  a  time  a  position  as  deputy  in  the 
county  auditor's  office,  and  next  became  book- 
keeper in  the  counting-room  of  the  Dayton 
Empire  newspaper  establishment.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1 862,  he  was  appointed  teacher  of  Ger- 
man in  the  Fifth  district  school,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  seven  years.  He  then  was 
appointed  instructor  of  German  in  the  Sixth 
district  school  and  there  taught  for  six  years; 
while  thus  engaged  he  also  organized  a  night 
school,  teaching  a  number  of  young  men  who 
came  to  his  house  in  winter  evenings,  and 
later  taught  in  the  public  night  school  in  the 
Pacific  engine  house,  which  served  at  that 
time  as  a  school-room  in  the  Fifth  district. 
He  resigned  his  position  in  the  public  schools 
in  December,  1874,  and  subsequently  engaged 
for  about  one  year  in  business  with  one  of  his 
brothers,  they  operating  what  was  then  known 
as  the  Stone  mills,  now  the  Banner  mills. 

In  January,  1868,  Mr.  Poock  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Dayton  Building  association, 
No.  1,  the  first  institution  of  the  kind  estab- 
lished in  the  city.  This  position  he  held  until 
the  association  wound  up  its  affairs  in  August, 
1873.  In  January,  1869,  he  was  elected  sec- 
retary of  the  Concordia  Building  &  Loan  as- 
sociation, holding  the  position  until  April, 
1875,  when  the  corporation  liquidated  and 
wound  up  its  affairs.  In  April,  1873,  he, 
with  others,  organized  the  Germania  Build- 
ing association  on  the  permanent  plan,  and 
of  this  association  he  was  made  secretary 
and  treasurer,  and  was  made  general  manager 
in  January,  1895.  This  position  he  resigned 
on  July  23,   1890.      In  April,   1875,   Mr.   Poock 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


411 


was  elected  a  member  of  the  Dayton  board  of 
education,  was  re-elected  in  April,  187S,  and 
chosen  vice-president  of  the  board  in  1879. 
He  was  next  appointed  deputy  treasurer  by 
County  Treasurer  H.  H.  Laubach,  holding 
that  position  for  five  years  under  that  gentle- 
man and  for  four  years  under  his  successor, 
Stephen  J.  Allen.  In  the  fall  of  1883  he  was 
himself  elected  county  treasurer,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1885,  serving  two  terms  and  going 
out  of  office  in  September,   1888. 

In  February,  1883,  Mr.  Poock  became  con- 
nected with  the  Dayton  Savings  bank  as  a 
stockholder  and  director,  and  on  January  7, 
1885,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  bank. 
He  continued  as  president  until  the  spring  of 
1889,  when  the  affairs  of  the  bank  were  wound 
up.  The  same  year,  he,  with  others,  estab- 
lished the  Teutonia  National  bank,  of  which 
he  was  elected  cashier,  March  29,   1889. 

Mr.  Poock  is  a  member  of  several  benefi- 
ciary associations  as  well  as  of  various  social, 
musical  and  military  societies.  He  served  as 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  German  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  Saint  Paul's  society  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  is  at  present  its  treasurer. 
Mr.  Poock  is  a  trustee  and  the  treasurer  of  the 
German  American  Central  league.  He  served 
for  a  number  of  years  as  trustee  and  treasurer 
of  the  Deaconess  hospital,  resigning  in  the 
fall  of  1895,  but  his  resignation  was  not  ac- 
cepted until  the  close  of  the  year. 

On  March  26,  1862,  Mr.  Poock  was  mar- 
ried to  Minnie,  the  daughter  of  Frederick 
Lucking,  of  Dayton.  To  the  union  thirteen 
children  have  been  born,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Ida  D.,  Bertha  C,  Oscar  M.,  Minnie  M., 
Ella  A.,  and  Anna  F.,  all  of  whom  are  living 
at  home  except  Ida  D.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
George  L.  Ahlers,  of  Allegheny  City,  Pa. 
Oscar  M.  is  now  in  the  Teutonia  National 
bank  and    Bertha   C.    is  stenographer   in    the 

Germania  Building  association. 
12 


^y^V  ANIEL    BOONE,     manufacturer     of 

I    pumps,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is   a  native  of 

(^^_J    this  city  and   was  born   October  21, 

1847,    a    son    of  Daniel    and    Susan 

(Repp)  Boone. 

Daniel  Boone,  the  father,  was  born  in  Front 
Royal,  Va.,  in  18 19,  is  a  near   relative  of  the 
famous    Kentucky    frontiersman    of  the    same 
name,  and  is  now  living  near  Troy,  Miami  coun- 
ty, Ohio.      Susan  Repp  was  a  native  of  Dayton, 
was  here  married   to   Mr.  Boone   in  1 841,  and 
died  in    1894.      Of  the    five   children   born    to 
Mr.  and    Mrs.  Boone,    Albert,    the   eldest,  is  a 
railroad    contractor    at    Zanesville,    where    he 
constructed   the    "belt"  line,  also    building  a 
similar  line  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.;   Daniel  is  the 
second  child;   the  third  is  John,  a  business  man 
of  Troy,  Ohio;   Dr.  Alonzo,    the  fourth  child, 
is  a  practicing  physician  in    Harrisburg,  Ohio, 
and  Mrs.  Alma    Black,  the   youngest    child,  is 
the  wife  of  one  of  Dayton's  best  known  drug- 
gists.     Of  the  four  brothers,  all  but  one  served 
in  the  late  Civil  war.      The  three  who  enlisted 
did  so  when  quite   young — one   at    the    age  of 
fifteen  years,  and  two    when    seventeen    years 
old.      Albert,  the  eldest,  entered  the   army  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  and    for  meritorious 
conduct   and   gallantry   in    the    field,    was   ad- 
vanced to  the  rank  of  colonel. 

Daniel  Boone,  whose  name  opens  this  me- 
moir, learned  his  trade  from  his  father,  who 
was  also  a  pumpmaker.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-ninth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  served  from  January,  1865,  until 
October  of  the  same  year,  when  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged,  the  war  having  been  brought 
to  an  end.  He  was  stationed  at  Huntsville, 
Ala.,  took  part  in  several  skirmishes,  but  was 
in  no  general  engagement.  In  1868,  Mr. 
Boone  went  to  Tennessee,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed by  his  eider  brother,  Col.  Albert  Boone 
in  the  lumber  trade  until   the    spring  of   1869, 


412 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  in  the  fall  of  1868  he  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  U.  S.  Grant.  Returning  to 
Dayton  in  the  fall  of  1869,  he  opened  a  shop 
at  the  corner  of  First  and  Madison  streets  for 
the  manufacture  of  pumps,  etc.,  and  occupied 
the  premises  for  nearly  thirteen  years.  For 
about  two  years  thereafter  he  carried  on  the 
same  business  on  Water  street,  and  then,  in 
1883,  established  his  plant  at  his  present  loca- 
tion, No.  312  South  Wayne  avenue.  Here 
he  gives  employment  to  an  average  of  four 
men  in  driving  wells  and  manufacturing  pumps, 
etc.,  and  enjoys  a  lucrative  trade. 

In  1872  Mr.  Boone  married  Miss  Josephine 
Andrews,  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
and  daughter  of  Frank  Andrews,  a  mill  owner 
and  operator.  To  this  marriage  have  been 
born  seven  children,  in  the  following  order: 
Luella  May,  Daniel,  Jr.,  Albert  E.,  Gracie, 
Harry  C. ,  Susan  and  Josephine.  Of  these 
Miss  Luella  Ma)'  is  a  teacher  in  the  Dayton 
schools,  Daniel,  Jr.,  is  a  stenographer  in  the 
office  of  the  National  Cash  Register  company, 
and  the  others  are  attending  school. 

Mr.  Boone  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard  post, 
No.  23,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and 
also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen  and  the  American  Union. 
The  church  relations  of  the  family  are  with  the 
United  Brethren,  and  they  hold  membership 
with  the  High  street  mission.  In  politics  Mr. 
Boone  has  been  a  republican  since  his  first 
vote.  He  and  his  family  enjoy  the  warm 
friendship  of  their  neighbors,  and  Mr.  Boone 
has  an  excellent  reputation,  both  in  private  life 
and  as  a  business  man  of  the  strictest  integrity. 


>j*()HN     W.     BOREN,     contractor     and 

J      builder,   is    a   native  of    Dayton,  Ohio, 

(%  1      born  on  the  25th  day  of  January,  1852. 

His  father,  Wesley  Boren,  was  born  in 

Jonesboro,  Term.,  about   the  year  1816,   and 


became  a  resident  of  Dayton  in  1832,  where 
for  many  years  he  was  a  leading  manufacturer 
of  brick  and  a  builder.  He  retired  from  act- 
ive life  after  acquiring  a  competence,  and  is 
still  living  in  the  city  of  his  adoption.  Lydia 
E.  Coblentz,  wife  of  Wesley  Boren,  was  born 
in  1 814,  in  Frederick,  Md.,  and  is  passing  the 
remaining  years  of  her  life  at  her  home  in 
Dayton.  She  is  the  mother  of  five  sons  and 
three  daughters,  John  W.  being  the  only  son 
living,  the  others  having  died  in  infancy;  the 
daughters  are  Amanda,  wife  of  William  H. 
Pritz,  superintendent  of  the  Stoddard  Manu- 
facturing company,  of  Dayton;  Mary,  wife  of 
George  W.  Folkerth,  also  a  resident  of  Day- 
ton; and  Alice,  who  is  under  the  parental  roof. 
After  receiving  a  practical  English  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  which  he 
attended  for  some  time  during  both  day  and 
evening  sessions,  John  W.  Boren,  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship 
under  his  father  to  learn  the  trade  of  brick 
laying,  in  which  he  soon  acquired  much  more 
than  ordinary  proficiency.  He  has  followed 
his  chosen  calling  all  his  life,  not  as  a  layer  of 
brick  merely,  but  as  a  contractor  upon  a  large 
scale,  having  contracted  for  and  personally 
superintended  the  erection  of  many  of  the 
largest  public  buildings  in  Dayton  and  other 
cities,  beside  numerous  private  residences  here 
and  elsewhere.  Among  the  structures  built 
by  Mr.  Boren  are  the  city  building  and  mar- 
ket house,  the  Montgomery  county  court  house, 
St.  Elizabeth's  hospital,  Fourth  National  bank, 
the  Callahan  bank  building  and  many  others, 
beside  large  contracts  at  the  national  soldiers' 
home.  Mr.  Boren  is  a  very  competent  builder 
and  a  careful  calculator,  and  has  met  with 
financial  success  most  encouraging  during  his 
business  career  in  Dayton.  He  gives  steady 
employment  to  from  ten  to  twenty  workmen, 
and,  at  this  writing  (1896),  is  engaged  on  the 
Ridgway   apartment   house,    Fifth   street   and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


413 


Boulevard,  a  building  70  x  162  feet,  two  stories 
in  height,  designed  for  residence  flats,  to  cost 
$25,000.  In  addition  to  his  business  of  con- 
tracting, Mr.  Boren,  as  already  stated,  is  quite 
extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick 
just  outside  the  city  limits,  employing  about 
twenty-five  men  during  the  season;  the  output 
of  his  yards  is  common  building  brick,  and 
what  he  himself  does  not  use  is  chiefly  sold  in 
the  city. 

Mr.  Boren  was  married  in  1876  to  Miss 
Addie  L.  Emerick,  a  native  of  Winchester, 
Ohio,  but  who,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage, 
was  residing  with  her  parents  in  Dayton. 
Mrs.  Boren  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Cath- 
erine Emerick,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  and  has 
borne  her  husband  four  children,  namely: 
Walter  E.,  Wesley,  Helen  C.  and  Frank  G. 
Politically  Mr.  Boren  is  a  supporter  of  the  re- 
publican party;  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
I.  O.  O.  F. ,  Wayne  lodge,  No.  210,  of  Day- 
ton. He  is  active  in  church  work,  belonging 
to  the  Saint  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  con- 
gregation, of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  ever 
since  its  organization;  his  wife  and  family  are 
also  members  of  the  same  church. 


eDMOND  E.  BOHLENDER,  M.  D., 
one  of  the  promising  young  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  Dayton,  is  a  native 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  March  14,  1868,  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Anna  B.  (Elmore)  Bohlender,  now  residents 
of  Miami  county,  where  they  settled  in  the 
spring  of  1881. 

Peter  Bohlender  was  born  near  Strasbourg, 
Germany,  and  when  ten  years  of  age  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  who  settled 
on  a  farm  north  of  Dayton.  The  boy,.  Peter, 
however,  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  worked 
in  a  tobacco  house  one  winter,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 


Heikes  nursery,  with  which  he  remained  for 
about  thirteen  or  fourteen  years,  becoming  a 
thorough  horticulturist  and  nurseryman.  He 
saved  a  large  part  of  his  earnings,  at  the  same 
time  supporting  his  aged  parents,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five  years  married  Anna  B.  El- 
more. At  this  time,  also,  he  associated  him- 
self with  others  in  the  nursery  business,  but 
shortly  afterward  sold  his  interest  in  the  firm, 
continuing  in  its  employ  for  one  year  as  over- 
seer. He  then  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract 
of  land  northwest  of  Dayton,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  business  as  nurseryman,  and  on 
March  28,  1868,  engrafted  the  first  wild-goose 
plum  in  this  part  of  the  country.  For  several 
years  later  he  was  a  partner  of  W.  H.  Smith- 
man,  in  the  same  business,  at  the  end  of  which 
connection  he  sold  his  land  and  purchased  a 
farm  at  the  junction  of  Dogleg  and  Fredericks- 
burg pikes.  Two  years  later  he  sold  out  and 
bought  a  place  six  miles  north  of  Dayton,  on 
the  Covington  pike,  where  he  resided  for 
seven  years  and  was  active  in  the  affairs  of 
the  nursery  firm  of  Bohlender  &  Quimby. 
Upon  the  dissolution  of  this  partnership,  Mr. 
Bohlender  purchased  eighty  acres  ten  miles 
north  of  Dayton,  on  the  old  Troy  pike,  in 
Miami  county,  to  which,  two  years  later,  he 
added  ten  acres,  where  he  still  continues  the  in- 
dustry of  fruit  raising,  in  which  he  has  won  a 
widespread  and  well  deserved  reputation.  Be- 
side his  home  horticultural  interests,  Mr.  Boh- 
lender is  a  stockholder  in  and  director  of  the 
Albaugh  Nursery  &  Orchard  company  of  Day- 
ton and  Tadnor,  and  is  also  largely  interested 
in  Georgia  fruit  and  land  companies. 

To  the  marriage  of  Peter  and  Anna  B.  (El- 
more) Bohlender  have  been  born  six  children, 
viz:  Thomas  L. ,  overseer  of  Bidwell's  nur- 
sery, at  Chico,  and  commissioner  of  horticul- 
ture, Butte  county,  Cal. ;  Dr.  Edmond  E. ; 
HowardJ.,  a  jeweler  of  Osborn,  Ohio;  William 
Fletcher,    in    the    nursery    business    with    his 


414 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


father;  and  S.  Lyvirgie  and  Iva  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

Dr.  Edmond  E.  Bohlender,  having  fully 
prepared  himself  in  the  public  and  high  schools 
of  Miami  county,  passed  six  months  in  the 
Ada  normal  college,  and  then  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  Bohlender  of  Cincinnati,  studied 
medicine  under  his  preceptorship  for  one  year 
and  next  placed  himself  under  the  tuition  of 
Dr.  W.  J.  Thomson  of  Union,  Montgomery 
county.  Following  his  course  of  instruction 
under  this  able  physician,  he  entered  the  Ohio 
Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1894.  He  also  took  a  special 
course  in  ophthalmic  treatment,  and  after 
practicing  for  six  months  in  Piqua,  Ohio,  final- 
ly located,  February  1,  1895,  in  Dayton,  at 
the  old  stand  of  Dr.  Albaugh,  now  deceased, 
and  where  he  has  already  achieved  a  deserved 
success  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Bohlender  was  united  in  marriage, 
February  21,  1895,  with  Miss  Clara  B.  Dins- 
more,  daughter  of  William  Dinsmore,  of 
Bethel  township,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  by 
whom  he  has  one  child,  William  Elmore,  born 
September  25,  1896.  Since  his  settlement  in 
Dayton  Dr.  Bohlender  has  won  a  host  of 
friends  both  in  his  social  relations  and  in  his 
professional  practice. 


aOL  JOHN  BOTHAST,  of  No.  520 
Richard  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  this  city  and  was  born  Oc- 
tober 22,  1845.  He  was  fairly  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  when  about 
fifteen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  company  B, 
Second  battalion,  Eighteenth  United  States 
infantry,  but,  in  order  to  secure  enrollment  in 
this  service,  it  was  necessary  to  overstate  his 
age,  and  consequently  the  records  show  him 
to  have  been  nineteen  years  old.  His  was 
the  first  regiment  to  occupy  Camp  Thomas,  at 


Columbus,  Ohio,  at  which  point  it  remained 
about  three  months,  guarding  the  Ohio  peni- 
tentiary, Mr.  Bothast  being  posted  at  the  main 
entrance.  From  Columbus  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Kentucky,  where  it  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Mill  Spring,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  soon 
after  which  Mr.  Bothast  was  taken  sick  and 
was  sent  to  hospital  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  where 
his  disease,  typhoid  fever,  came  very  near 
proving  fatal,  and  he  attributes  his  conva- 
lescence wholly  to  the  tender  care  and  skillful 
nursing  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  May  9, 
1862,  he  was  discharged  from  the  service  by 
reason  of  disability,  and  on  returning  to  Day- 
ton was  some  months  under  treatment  in  this 
city.  October  28,  1863,  Mr.  Bothast  enlisted 
in  company  I,  Sixty-first  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  now  his  actual  war  service  began. 
He  was  assigned  to  the  Eleventh  army  corps, 
which  afterward  was  merged  into  the  Twen- 
tieth. He  was  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
until  the  transfer  of  Gen.  Joe  Hooker  to  the 
southwest,  his  first  engagements  under  this  en- 
listment being  at  Missionary  Ridge  and  Look- 
out Mountain,  the  top  of  the  mountain  being 
scaled  by  the  Sixty-first  Ohio.  Mr.  Bothast 
was  also  all  through  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Buzzard  Roost, 
Kingston  (Ga. ),  Resaca,  Dallas,  Ringgold. 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and 
the  siege  of  Atlanta.  At  the  latter  point  Mr. 
Bothast  was  left  on  garrison  duty  while  Sher- 
man returned  with  his  army  to  confront  Hood 
at  Nashville.  In  the  spring  of  1864,  Mr. 
Bothast  took  up  the  line  of  march  under 
Sherman  for  Savannah,  Ga. ,  and  thence  on  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  the  last  fight  taking  place 
at  Bentonville,  N.  C.  Passing  through  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  the  regiment  reached  the  capital 
city,  and,  after  taking  part  in  the  grand  review 
in  May,  1865,  was  then  sent  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  was  there  mustered  out  July  29,  1865, 
after  nearly  four  years'  service. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


415 


On  returning  to  Dayton,  Col.  Bothast  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  horse-collars, 
which  has  been  his  principal  business  since  the 
close  of  the  war,  although  he  receives  a  fair 
pension  from  the  government,  in  recognition 
of  the  disabilities  he  sustained  while  in  the 
service. 

The  marriage  of  Col.  Bothast  took  place  in 
Dayton,  May  14,  1868,  to  Miss  Anna  Adams, 
a  native  of  Germany,  but  a  resident  of  Dayton 
since  two  years  of  age.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  this  happy  marriage,  of  whom 
John  died  in  early  infancy;  Ida  Christina  is  the 
wife  of  Albert  Tiffany,  a  machinist,  residing  in 
Dayton;  Frederick  Lewis  and  Catherine  are 
still  under  the  parental  roof,  andTillie  died  in 
her  twelfth  year. 

Col.  Bothast  is  very  active  in  ex-soldier  or- 
ganizations. He  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  John  A.  Logan 
command,  No.  7,  Union  Veteran  Union,  of 
which  he  is  the  present  colonel.  The  condi- 
tions on  which  membership  in  the  association 
is  based  are  enlistment,  actual  participation  in 
battle  and  honorable  discharge  from  the  army 
or  navy.  Col.  Bothast  is  also  a  prominent 
member  of  the  order  known  as  the  Knights  of 
Honor.  In  his  politics  Col.  Bothast  is  an  un- 
compromising republican.  In  matters  relig- 
ious, he  and  his  wife  are  ardent  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  Col.  Bothast 
was  one  of  the  original  volunteer  firemen  of 
Dayton,  having  been  for  six  years  a  member 
of  Independent  company,  No.  1. 


\S~\  ANIEL    G.     BREIDENBACH     is    a 

I  native  of  Germany,  and  was  born 
£^^J  July  6,  1826.  When  twenty  years 
old  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune 
in  America,  and  on  May  13,  1846,  landed  at 
Philadelphia.  After  remaining  two  months  in 
that  city,  he  came  to  Dayton   and  engaged  in 


the  trade  of  shoemaking,  afterward  opening  a 
retail  shoe  store,  in  which  business  he  contin- 
ued and  was  well  known  for  many  years.  In 
June,  1848,  in  Dayton,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  E.  Trieschman,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children, 
as  follows:  Elias,  prominently  known  in  Day- 
ton as  the  president  of  the  Trades  &  Labor 
assembly;  Conrad,  an  organ  builder  of  Piqua, 
Ohio;  Catherine,  wife  of  J.  W.  Fouts,  of 
Eaton,  Ohio;  Mary,  who  married  Lawrence 
Kirschner,  and  died  in  March,  1894;  J.  W. , 
a  printer,  of  Dayton;  Emma  (Mrs.  P.  M. 
Weaver),  of  Dayton;  C.  H.;  Anna  (Mrs. 
Samuel  Monneman),  of  Dayton,  and  three 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Breidenbach  served 
his  adopted  country  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  for  the  hundred  days'  service, 
and  being  stationed  at  Baltimore.  Politically 
he  is  a  democrat,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  board  of  education  from  1875  to  1881. 
He  has  served  as  assessor  of  his  ward  since 
1883,  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Pioneer  society.  His  wife 
died  in  1892.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  German  Evangelical  association,  with 
which  Mr.  Breidenbach  is  still  prominently 
identified.  A  host  has  risen  up  to  bless  his 
latter  days,  he  having  twenty-six  living  grand- 
children. 

C.  H.  Breidenbach,  the  youngest  son,  is 
one  of  Dayton's  best  known  and  most  enter- 
prising young  business  men.  He  was  educated 
in  the  excellent  public  schools  of  his  native 
city,  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness under  Dr.  J.  C.  Reeve,  Jr.,  and  graduated 
from  the  Philadelphia  college  of  pharmacy  in 
1888.  He  is  at  present  pursuing  the  study  of 
medicine  at  the  Miami  Medical  college  of  Cin- 
cinnati, from  which  institution  he  will  graduate 
in  April,  1898,  when  he    expects  to  abandon 


416 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  drug  business  for  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  chemistry.  In  1890  he  established  his 
present  prosperous  business  at  the  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Jefferson  streets.  He  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  mpst  efficient  chemists  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  and  is  not  infrequently 
called  upon  as  an  expert  scientific  witness,  to 
give  the  courts  the  benefit  of  his  extensive 
research. 

On  April  3,  1893,  Mr.  Breidenbach  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Danner,  a  favorite 
teacher  in  the  Fifth  District  school,  in  which 
capacity  she  served  most  acceptably  for  seven 
years.  She  is  the  daughter  of  George  Danner, 
of  Dayton.  One  child,  Isabel,  has  been  born 
to  this  union.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Breiden- 
bach are  members  of  the  Miami  street  Lutheran 
church,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of 
the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.  He  is  an  ardent  republican 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  local  politics. 


«-|-»  UTHER  MORAL  BRYANT,  super- 
r  intendent  of  the  Montgomery  county 
^^  infirmary,  is  a  native  of  Portland, 
Me.,  born  March  22,  1850.  His 
father,  William  Bryant,  was  a  native  of  Maine, 
of  English  and  Scotch  parentage,  and  a  cousin 
of  William  Cullen  Bryant.  His  wife,  Elizabeth 
Bates,  was  a  daughter  of  a  sea  captain,  and  of 
Scotch  descent.  William  Bryant  and  his  fam- 
ily removed  from  Portland,  Me.,  to  Urbana, 
Ohio,  in  1853,  and  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  the  fall 
of  1858.  In  the  fall  of  1861  Mr.  Bryant  en- 
listed in  company  H,  Fourth  Ohio  cavalry,  in 
which  he  served  about  one  year,  when  he  was 
discharged  from  the  service  on  account  of 
having  broken  his  ankle.  In  1864  he  re-en- 
tered the  service,  as  a  member  of  the  Second 
Ohio  heavy  artillery,  and  in  this  organization 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Dayton,  and  resided  there  until  the 


fall  of  1869,  when  he  removed  to  Brookville, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  but  returned  to 
Dayton  in  1872  and  there  died  in  1S75.  His 
widow  still  resides  in  Dayton. 

William  Bryant  and  his  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living,  three  of  these  being  triplets.  The  trip- 
lets are  Luther  Moral,  Laraby  and  Mrs. 
Henry  Showalter,  all  of  Dayton.  The  other 
children  living  are  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Reiszer,  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  and 
Mrs.  Henry  Gillespie,  now  of  North  Baltimore, 
Ohio.  The  latter  was  a  teacher  in  the  Day- 
ton public  schools  for  twenty-two  years,  was 
for  five  years  assistant  principal  and  was 
offered  the  position  of  principal,  which  she 
declined. 

Luther  Moral  Bryant  was  reared  princi- 
pally in  Dayton,  and  was  educated  there  in  the 
public  schools.  On  account  of  his  father 
having  enlisted  in  the  army  he  was  compelled 
to  leave  school  at  an  early  age  and  to  con- 
tribute his  share  to  the  support  of  the  family 
and  to  the  education  of  the  other  children. 
One  year  was  spent  in  learning  the  molder's 
trade,  and  ten  years  at  the  cooper's  trade. 
From  the  end  of  this  time  to  1894  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  was  then  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Montgomery  county  in- 
firmary, was  re-appointed  in  1895  and  again 
in  January,  1896.  This  responsible  position 
he  has  filled  with  general  satisfaction,  not  only 
to  the  inmates  but  also  to  the  people  at  large. 

Mr.  Bryant  was  married  in  1870  to  Minerva 
Baker,  who  was  born  in  Clay  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  in  1855.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Baker,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
township  in  18 10,  his  father,  Michael  Baker, 
having  come  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Montgomery  county  in  the  beginning 
of  the  century.  It  was  his  intention  to  locate 
where  Dayton  now  stands,  but  by  reason  of  the 
swampy  character  of   the  land    he  changed  his 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


417 


plans  and  settled  in  Clay  township.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Bryant  was  Frances  Neiswon- 
ger,  who  was  born  in  Clay  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  her  parents  having  been 
natives  of  Virginia.  Both  are  now  deceased, 
the  mother  dying  April  n,  1890,  and  the  father 
in  March,  1891 ,  the  former  in  her  seventy- 
seventh  year,  the  latter  in  his  seventy-eighth. 
Mrs.  Bryant  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation and  now  holds  the  position  of  matron  of 
the  infirmary,  taking  great  interest  in  the  work. 
At  the  convention  of  the  infirmary  officials  and 
superintendents,  held  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in 
January,  1896,  Mrs.  Bryant  read  a  paper  on 
the  Matron  in  the  Infirmary,  which  received 
marked  expressions  of  approval.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bryant  there  have  been  born  three  sons, 
as  follows:  Scott  Elliott,  who  died  Septem- 
ber 30,  1895,  in  his  twenty-fourth  year;  Forest 
Baker,  nineteen  years  old,  and  a  graduate  of 
Brookville  high  school,  and  now  attending  col- 
lege, and  Willian  Benjamin.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bryant  have  been  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  for  nineteen  years,  and  Mr. 
Bryant  is  a  member  of  the  Garfield  club,  which 
is  a  sufficient  indication  of  his  politics. 


eDWIN  F.  BURKERT,  M.  D.,  of 
Dayton,  traces  his  lineage  back  to 
German  origin.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
old  Keystone  state,  having  been  born 
at  Rebersburg,  Pa.,  on  the  27th  of  February, 
1856,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Bur- 
kert,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  cabinet- 
maker by  trade.  In  the  Burkert  family  there 
were  eleven  children,  as  follows:  George  died 
while  in  the  service  during  the  late  war  of  the 
rebellion;  Rev.  Cyrus  J.  is  presiding  elder  of 
the  Miami  conference  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  Cincinnati  district,  and  maintains  his 
home  at  Germantown,  Montgomery  county; 
Milton  is  a  resident    of   Germantown;  John  C. 


resides  at  Oskaloosa,  Kan. ,  being  probate 
judge  of  Jefferson  county;  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
George  B.  Haines,  of  Pennsylvania;  Effinger 
is  deceased,  as  is  also  Charles;  Edwin  F.  is  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Clayton  is  a 
resident  of  Valley  Falls,  and  two  children  died 
in  infancy.  The  parents  were  consistent  and 
devoted  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  being  industrious,  intelligent  and  God- 
fearing people,  who  ordered  their  lives  accord- 
ing to  the  highest  principles. 

Edwin  F.  Burkert  pursued  his  studies  in 
the  district  and  subscription  schools  of  his  na- 
tive state,  and  after  thus  acquiring  a  funda- 
mental education  he  entered  the  normal  college 
in  his  native  county,  and  there  completed  two 
distinct  courses,  after  which  he  put  his  acquire- 
ments to  practical  test  by  engaging  in  school- 
teaching  for  two  terms  in  Pennsylvania.  He 
then  came  west,  in  1874,  and  located  at  Ger- 
mantown, Ohio,  where  he  attended  the  Twin 
Valley  college,  later  supplementing  this  dis- 
cipline by  a  course  of  study  in  the  Southwest- 
ern Ohio  normal  school,  thus  thoroughly  forti- 
fying himself  for  successful  pedagogic  labors. 
He  thereafter  devoted  his  attention  to  teach- 
ing for  the  period  of  six  years.  During  the 
last  three  years  of  his  school  work  he  had  de- 
voted his  leisure  to  the  reading  of  medicine, 
having  determined  to  adopt  that  profession  as 
his  vocation  in  life.  His  preceptor  was  Dr. 
J.  W.  Cline,  now  of  Dayton,  and  under  his 
effective  direction  Mr.  Burkert  continued  his 
studies  for  some  time,  after  which  he  entered 
the  Ohio  Medical  college,  at  Cincinnati,  where 
he  graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1884. 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Tren- 
ton, Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
for  a  time,  after  which  he  located  at  Collins- 
ville,  where  he  was  in  successful  practice  for 
three  years.  He  then  came  to  Dayton,  in  the 
year  1887,  and  has  since  been  established  in 
practice  here,  his  thorough  learning  in  his  pro- 


•418 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


fession  and  his  devotion  and  industry  in  its 
pursuit  having  gained  for  him  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  the  public  and  a  full  measure  of 
professional  success. 

In  the  year  1878  the  doctor  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Carney,  daughter 
of  A.  D.  Carney,  who  is  a  well-known  resident 
in  the  vicinity  of  Sunbury,  Delaware  county, 
this  state.  They  became  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Bertie  C,  Stanley  L. ,  and  Edna, 
the  last  named  being  deceased.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Burkert  are  consistent  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


0 


LBERT  H.  POOCK,  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  prom- 
ising of  Dayton's  young  business  men. 
He  was  born  in  Dayton,  June  27, 
1863,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Louis  H. 
Poock,  one  of  Dayton's  leading  citizens,  of 
whom  a  biographical  sketch  appears  above. 
Albert  H.  Poock  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Dayton.  He  was  assistant  cashier  of  the  Day- 
ton Savings  bank,  of  which  institution  his 
father  was  president.  He  held  the  position 
of  secretary  of  the  New  Franklin  Building  as- 
sociation, and  was  also  identified  with  the 
Germania  Building  association.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  uniform  rank,  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, of  the  Dayton  Gymnastic  club,  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Saint  Paul's  Beneficiary  society, 
and  of  several  musical  clubs,  in  all  of  which 
he  was  prominent  and  active.  His  untimely 
death  occurred  on  January  13,   1889. 

He  was  a  young  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability  and  of  fine  traits  of  character, 
which,  had  he  been  permitted  to  live  to  de- 
velop them,  would  have  made  him  a  useful 
and  valuable  citizen.  He  was  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  occupations  in  which  he  was 
engaged  during  his  brief  business  career,  and 
would  no  doubt  have  achieved  a  merited  suc- 


cess. Of  strong  moral  characteristics,  lovable 
disposition,  kind  and  generous  to  a  fault,  he 
was  devoted  to  his  parents  and  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  to  his  large  circle  of  warm  friends. 


BRANK  S.  BREENE,  member  of  the 
Dayton  bar,  was  born  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  on  November  20,  i860,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  G.  and  Margaret 
Breene,  old  and  well-known  citizens  of  Dayton. 
Frank  S.  Breene  was  educated  in  the  Dayton 
public  schools,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Central  high  school  in  1879.  He  read  law  in 
the  office  of  the  firm  of  Marshall  &  Gottschall, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  18S3. 
Mr.  Breene  has  been  practicing  alone  for  a 
number  of  years,  during  which  time  he  has 
demonstrated  his  talents  and  fitness  for  his 
chosen  profession.  His  success  has  been  grat- 
ifying both  to  himself  and  to  his  many  friends, 
and  bids  fair  to  grow  to  larger  proportions  in 
the  future. 


a  APT.  NEWTON  R.  BUNKER,  the 
well-known  grocer  of  No.  451  North 
Main  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Hollidaysburg,  Blair  county,  Pa., 
February  25,  1843,  ar>d  is  a  son  °f  Isaiah  and 
Isabella  (Maize)  Bunker.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  Wales  and  his  grand- 
mother a  native  of  Scotland,  and  both  came 
to  America  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Isaiah  Bunker  was  a  native  of  Delaware 
and  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  died 
in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  in  October,  1884;  his 
wife,  Isabella  (Maize)  Bunker,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  and  died  in  Altoona, 
Pa.,  January  8,  1853.  To  these  parents  were 
born  six  children:  William  B.,  the  eldest, 
was  formerly  a  general  merchant,  served  nine 


4~Ji-^^-^L{L 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


421 


months  in  the  Union  army,  is  now  a  traveling 
salesman,  and  resides  in  Philadelphia;  Capt. 
N.  R.  is  the  second-born ;  Henry  L.  served  three 
years  with  the  Eighty-fourth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  died  in  January,  1897; 
Benjamin  M.  is  a  contractor  and  builder  in 
Altoona,  Pa.  ;  Julia  and  Isabella  died  in  infancy. 
Newton  R.  Bunker  lived  in  his  native  town 
until  1857,  when  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and 
became  an  apprentice  to  a  blacksmith.  While 
thus  employed  he  enlisted,  December  17,  1861, 
in  company  D,  Fifty-eighth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  had  been  but  two  weeks 
in  the  service  when  he  was  promoted  sergeant. 
He  was  first  sent  to  Camp  Roxboro  and  then 
to  Camp  Curtin  for  drill  and  equipment,  re- 
mained in  Philadelphia  until  March,  1862,  and 
then  went  to  Fortress  Monroe,  under  command 
of  Gen.  Wool.  His  first  war  experience  was 
in  the  capture  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  then,  in  the  fall 
of  1862,  New  Berne,  where  he  was  on  outpost 
duty  about  nine  months;  next,  for  a  year,  was 
at  Little  Washington,  N.  C. ,  where  he  fought 
guerrillas  and  other  rebel  soldiers  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  recruit  for  the  Confederate  army. 
In  the  winter  of  1863-64  the  regiment  veteran- 
ized, and  an  effort  was  made  to  hold  it  in  con- 
tinuous service;  but  it  was  finally  decided  that 
the  enlistment  would  be  void  unless  its  terms 
were  fully  concurred  in.  This  included  a  thirty- 
days'  furlough,  but  this  was  not  granted  until 
nearly  six  months  later,  when  the  veterans 
were  allowed  to  leave  the  trenches  in  front  of 
Petersburg  and  to  return  home  in  July  for  the 
stipulated  term  of  thirty  days.  In  the  meantime, 
however,  after  veteranizing,  the  regiment  had 
been  ordered  back  from  North  Carolina  to  Vir- 
ginia in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  placed  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Butler  ai  Bermuda  Hun- 
dred; it  took  part  in  various  battles  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  in 
June,  1864,  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
and   for  fourteen    days  was  engaged   at  Cold 


Harbor.  It  was  then  at  Petersburg  until  July. 
1864,  when  it  was  ordered  on  furlough  by  the 
secretary  of  war. 

Returning  from  furlough,  the  regiment 
joined  the  army  of  the  James,  but  Sergeant 
Bunker,  who  had  been  detailed  on  recruiting 
service,  did  not  rejoin  his  regiment  until  Octo- 
ber, 1864,  when  he  found  his  command  at  Chap- 
in'sfarm,  or  Deep  Bottom.  Although  ranking 
as  sergeant,  he  had  been  placed  in  command 
of  his  company  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor 
(June,  1864),  and  held  command  until  his  final 
muster-out — being  commissioned  first  lieuten- 
ant December  24,  1864,  and  captain  January 
24,  1865.  His  regiment  formed  a  part  of  the 
first  brigade  to  enter  Richmond  (April  3,  1865), 
and  for  the  five  months  following  lay  at  Man- 
chester, on  the  opposite  side  of  the  James 
river.  It  was  then  transferred  to  Staunton, 
Va.,  and  apportioned  among  fourteen  counties, 
for  the  purpose  of  relieving  troops  in  various 
localities.  Capt.  Bunker  was  placed  in  charge 
in  Rockbridge  county,  with  headquarters  at 
Lexington,  and  then  in  Fluvanna  county,  with 
headquarters  at  Columbia,  being  chiefly  con- 
nected with  the  Freedmen's  bureau,  or  provost 
duty.  He  was  finally  mustered  out  at  City 
Point,  Va.,  January  24,  1866,  having  served 
at  the  front  four  years  and  six  weeks,  when  he 
returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  thence  came  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  March  1 ,  1 866.  Here  he  worked 
at  his  trade  until  1893,  when  failing  health 
warned  him  that  the  time  had  come  when  he 
must  relinquish  mechanical  pursuits.  He  rested 
nearly  three  years,  and  then,  in  April,  1896, 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  and  now  owns 
one  of  the  leading  grocery  stores  in  Riverdale. 

The  marriage  of  Capt.  Bunker  took  place 
in  Dayton,  May  12,  1S70,  to  Miss  Laura  Wol- 
laston,  a  native  of  this  city  and  a  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Wollaston,  who  was  also  born  in 
Dayton.  To  the  captain  and  his  wife  has  been 
born  one  daughter — Estelle — who  is  a  teacher 


422 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  music  and  has  her  home  with  her  parents. 
The  family  are  all  members  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  of  Dayton  and  enjoy  the  esteem  of 
a  large  circle  of  devoted  friends. 

Capt.  Bunker  is  prominent  as  a  Grand  Army 
man  and  has  been  senior  vice-commander  of 
Old  Guard  post,  No.  23.  July  4,  1867,  he 
became  a  member  of  Wayne  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
a  year  later  became  a  member  of  the  encamp- 
ment, and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  both 
branches  of  this  order.  In  politics  he  is  an 
uncompromising  republican  and  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864. 
In  every  position  in  life  that  the  captain  has 
held  he  has  performed  his  duty  with  unswerv- 
ing faithfulness,  and  well  deserves  the  high  re- 
spect in  which  he  is  universally  held. 


BRANK  J.  BURKHARDT,  secretary 
of  the  Burkhardt  Furniture  company 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this 
city  April  1 ,  1 860,  a  son  of  Frank 
Joseph  and  Gertrude  Burkhardt,  natives  of  Gis- 
sigheim,  Germany,  who  both  came  to  America 
shortly  before  1S50,  and  were  married  in  Day- 
ton, February  2,  1857. 

F.  J.  Burkhardt,  the  father  of  Frank  J., 
was  an  orphan  and  was  bound  as  an  appren- 
tice to  the  cabinetmaking  trade  in  his  native 
land.  On  arriving  in  Dayton  he  was  first  em- 
ployed by  a  Mr.  Doup,  a  sash  and  blind  man- 
facturer,  and  later  by  Beaver  &  Butt,  remain- 
ing with  the  latter  for  some  thirty  years  as 
foreman  of  the  sash-making  department,  and 
while  in  this  employment  his  death  took  place 
May  5,  1883.  He  was  a  quiet,  unassuming 
man,  and  a  devout  member  of  Emanuel 
Catholic  church.  To  him  and  his  wife  were 
born  five  children,  viz:  Mary  H.,  wife  of 
Charles  E.  Rotterman,  of  Dayton;  Frank  J. ; 
Theresa,  who  died  at  two  years  of  age;  Louisa 
M.,  now  residing  with  her   mother;   and  Rich- 


ard Vincent,  president  of  the  Burkhardt  Fur- 
niture company. 

Frank  J.  Burkhardt,  after  having  received 
a  good  common-school  education,  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Barney  &  Smith  Car  company,  in  whose 
shops  he  worked  for  fourteen  years  as  cabinet- 
maker; he  was  next  employed  for  upward  of 
four  years  by  John  Stengel  &  Co.,  furniture 
manufacturers,  when  the  Burkhardt  Furniture 
Manufacturing  company  was  formed,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  incorporators.  In  politics 
Mr.  Burkhardt  is  a  democrat,  and  for  one  year 
served  as  assistant  deputy  recorder  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  Knight 
of  Saint  John.  He  was  married  May  9,  1886, 
to  Miss  Emma  J.  Hochwalt,  daughter  of 
George  Hochwalt,  of  Dayton,  and  to  this 
union  have  been  born  two  children:  Clarence 
E.  and  Marguerite.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Emanuel  Catholic  church,  and  have 
their  home  at  No.  703    South    Ludlow  street. 

Richard  V.  Burkhardt  was  born  in  Dayton 
April  5,  1 868,  was  educated  in  the  Emanuel 
parochial  school  and  at  Saint  Mary's  institute, 
and  then,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  was  em- 
ployed by  Stengel  &  Co.  as  packer;  he  was 
then  made  shipping  clerk  and  later  promoted 
to  be  bookkeeper,  and  finally,  when  about 
nineteen  years  old,  was  employed  as  traveling 
salesman.  After  having  served  this  company  for 
about  ten  years  he  resigned  to  become  an  incor- 
porator of  the  Burkhardt  Furniture  company, 
of  which  he  is  the  president  and  also  traveling 
salesman.  He  is  still  unmarried.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Burkhardt  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  the  American  Sons  of  Co- 
lumbus, the  Catholic  Gesellen  Verein,  the  Day- 
ton Gymnastic  club,  and  of  the  Saint  Joseph's 
Orphan  society.  In  religion  he  is  a  Roman 
Catholic. 

The  Burkhardt  Furniture  company,  at  Nos. 
415  to  423  East  First   street,  Dayton,  was  in- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


423 


corporated  March  13,  1893,  by  R.  P.  Burk- 
hardt,  Sr.,  F.  J.  Burkhardt,  R.  P.  Burkhardt, 
Henry  Hambrecht  and  Aug.  Zwiesler,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  R.  P.  Burkhardt,  who 
withdrew  soon  after  the  incorporation,  these 
gentlemen  still  constitute  the  company.  The 
present  officers  are  R.  V.  Burkhardt,  president 
and  treasurer;  H.  Hambrecht,  vice-president; 
F.  J.  Burkhardt,  secretary,  and  Aug.  Zwiesler, 
superintendent.  The  capital  stock  of  the  com- 
pany is  $50,000,  and  employment  is  given  to 
over  thirty  men.  Its  output  is  distributed 
throughout  Pennyslvania,  Ohio,  Virginia,  West 
Virginia,  Maryland,  Kentucky,  Indiana  and 
New  York  and  the  East  generally.  The  com- 
pany makes  a  specialty  of  parlor  and  library 
tables,  and  its  members  are  all  practical  me- 
chanics and  furniture  men.  Although  the  con- 
cern was  established  at  the  time  when  business 
in  general  was  at  almost  a  standstill,  it  has 
prospered  wonderfully  and  is  now  one  of  the 
strongest  in  its  line  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  and 
this  result  is  owing  to  the  practical  ability, 
skill  and  sound  business  tact  and  integrity  of 
its  individual  members. 


kJ^\  IGNAL  R.    BUTT,    prominent    as    a 

I  /<^    contractor  and  builder,  of  the  city  of 

P    Dayton,  and  a   son  of  John  W.  and 

Lydia  Ann  (  Carlisle )  Butt,  was  born 

in   Dayton,    Ohio,    September   3,    1848.     His 

father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his  mother 

of   Maryland.      They  were  the  parents  of  five 

children  —  three   of    whom   are  still   living,  as 

follows  :    Volney  H. ,  Rignal  R.  and  Hettie  K. , 

the  wife  of  John  Hacking. 

John  W.  Butt  was  about  nine  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  Dayton  by  his  parents.  Here 
he  was  educated,  grew  to  manhood  and  learned 
his  trade,  that  of  a  carpenter  and  contractor. 
Here  he  became  a  most  useful  and  well-known 
citizen,    and  was  honored    by  election  to  the 


city  council,  as  a  member  of  which  he  served 
several  terms.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  water  works  for  sev- 
eral years,  holding  this  office  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  His  wife  died  April  24,  1855, 
when  she  was  but  thirty-two  years  old,  and 
for  his  second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Kittie 
Ann  Fair,  widow  of  John  F.  Fair.  By  this 
second  marriage  he  had  two  children,  viz: 
Lydia,  the  wife  of  Charles  \V.  Gillis,  and 
Walter  L.  Mrs.  Fair  by  her  first  marriage 
had  two  children,  Charles  B.,  and  Kittie  V., 
the  wife  of  Albert  Smith. 

Rignal  Butt,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Rignal  R.,  located  in  Dayton  about  1S30.  He 
lived  in  Dayton  until  near  the  close  of  his  life, 
his  death  occurring  in  Indiana  while  he  was  on 
a  visit  to  that  state.  The  maternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  Maryland,  descended 
from  Scotch  ancestry,  and  located  in  Dayton 
in  the  early  days,  dying  there  in  1873  when 
upward  of  eighty  years  of  age,  a  well-known 
and  highly  respected  citizen. 

Rignal  R.  Butt  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Dayton,  and  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age 
began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty  years 
old  and  followed  his  trade  until  1872,  when 
he  began  taking  contracts  on  his  own  account. 
Many  of  the  substantial  residences  and  other 
buildings  in  Dayton  were  erected  by  him.  In 
his  business  he  has  been  unusually  successful, 
and  he  maintains  an  excellent  standing  in  the 
business  community.  On  the  14th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1 87 1,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Matilda 
Ray,  a  daughter  of  John  Ray.  By  this  mar- 
riage he  had  two  children,  viz:  Lydia  A.  and 
Glenna,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy.  Lydia  A. 
married  John  Utzinger,  of  Dayton.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  188 1,  an  ex- 
cellent woman  and  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church.  Mr.  Butt  married  for  his  second  wife 
Mrs.  Emma  £.  Deubner,  the  marriage  taking 


424 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


place  July  21,  1883.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  John  C.  and  Catherine  (Zerbe)  Deubner, 
the  former  of  Germany,  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mrs.  Butt,  by  her  first  husband,  Albert 
Patton,  had  one  daughter,  Birdie,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  Osgood.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Osgood  have  one  son,  named  Bail.  Mrs. 
Butt  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  Mr.  Butt  is  a  member  of  Dayton 
lodge.  No.  273,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Dayton,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Daughters  of  Re- 
bekah,  as  is  also  his  wife.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican,  but  cares  nothing  for  office.  Mr. 
Butt  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  of  Dayton  and  a  useful  mem- 
ber of  the  community. 


aM.  HASSLER,  clerk  of  the  courts 
of  Montgomery  county,  and  a  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Dayton,  was  born 
on  December  6,  1 84 1 ,  in  St.  Thomas, 
Franklin  county,  Pa.  The  boyhood  days  of 
Mr.  Hassler  were  spent  in  Mercersburg,  Frank- 
lin county,  Pa.,  where  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools.  While  yet  a  boy  he  entered  a 
general  store  in  Mercersburg  as  a  clerk,  and  in 
this  and  similar  establishments  in  Chambers- 
burg  and  Carlisle  he  was  employed  until  1861, 
when  he  returned  to  St.  Thomas  and  there  en- 
listed in  the  Thirty-fifth  Pennsylvania  regi- 
ment, known  as  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  re- 
serve volunteer  corps.  He  served  gallantly  in 
the  ranks,  and  at  Fredericksburgh  was  recom- 
mended for  promotion  and  commissioned  to  a 
second-lieutenancy  in  recognition  of  his  serv- 
ices. But  this  promotion  he  declined,  pre- 
ferring to  serve  his  country  as  an  enlisted  man. 
Mr.  Hassler  was  mustered  out  of  service  on 
June  14th,  1864,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  on 
the  first  of  the  following  month  re-enlisted  in 
the  regular  army,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  in 
the  office  of  the  adjutant-general  in  the   war 


department  at  Washington,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years,  being  honorably  discharged  on 
July  31,   1866,  at  his  own  request. 

Leaving  the  service,  Mr.  Hassler  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  Pennsylvania  and  was 
thus  engaged  until  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he 
came  to  Dayton  and  engaged  in  the  dry-goods 
business,  being  connected  with  the  firms  of 
A.  C.  Van  Doren  &  Co.,  G.  G.  Prugh  &  Co., 
and  M.  B.  Parmely  for  a  period  of  over  twelve 
years.  Following  this  he  became  register  and 
money-order  clerk  in  the  Dayton  post-office 
under  the  late  Fielding  Loury,  and  in  this  ca- 
pacity he  served  for  nine  years,  when  he  re- 
signed to  become  bookkeeper  for  the  firm  of 
Reynolds  &  Reynolds,  of  Dayton.  In  the  lat- 
ter position  he  remained  until  March,  1889, 
and  in  September,  1889,  became  assistant 
postmaster  of  Dayton,  and  continued  in  that 
capacity  through  two  administrations,  going 
out  of  office  with  the  incoming  of  the  demo- 
cratic administration  at  Washington.  In  1893 
Mr.  Hassler  was  nominated  by  the  republican 
party  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  courts  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  at  the  general  elec- 
tion of  that  year  was  elected  by  the  handsome 
majority  of  1,143  votes.  In  1896  he  wps  re- 
nominated and  re-elected,  his  majority  being 
more  than  double  that  of  the  previous  elec- 
tion, reaching  2,314  votes.  When  the  pre- 
vious democratic  majority  obtaining  in  the 
county,  amounting  to  1,400,  is  considered,  it 
will  be  understood  that  the  triumph  of  Mr. 
Hassler,  and  of  his  associates  upon  the  ticket, 
was  one  that  they  and  the  party  in  general 
may  well  contemplate  with  pride,  and  the  large 
increase  of  Mr.  Hassler's  second  over  his  first 
majority  stands  as  a  strong  endorsement  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  has  administered  the  af- 
fairs of  his  office. 

Mr.  Hassler  was  married  in  1866  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  E.  McKinney,  a  native  of  New  York, 
whose    maiden    name   was   Aldrich.     The   fra- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


425 


ternal  associations  of  Mr.  Hassler  are  with  the 
F.  &  A.  M.,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  A.  E.  O. 
and  the  G.  A.  R. 


>-j*AMES  J.  BUTTLER,  superintendent  of 
A  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  com- 
ft  1  pany,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  August  16,  1864.  He 
is  a  son  of  Columbus  and  Ann  (Troy)  Buttler, 
the  former  of  whom  is  now  deceased.  They 
were  respectively  of  English  and  Irish  ancestry. 
The  father  was  engaged  in  the  shoe  business 
for  a  number  of  years,  having  previously, 
however,  been  a  contractor  on  railroad  work, 
and  engaged  principally  on  the  Louisville  & 
Nashville  railroad.  He  died  in  1S89,  leaving 
a  widow  and  five  children,  as  follows:  John, 
a  resident  of  Cincinnati  and  a  commercial 
traveler  for  a  shoe  manufacturing  firm;  Mary, 
a  resident  of  Brown  county,  Ohio;  Elizabeth, 
a  resident  of  Cincinnati;  James  J.,  and  Joseph, 
a  bookkeeper  of  Cincinnati. 

James  J.  Buttler  grew  to  manhood  in  Cin- 
cinnati, and  there  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  in  1881.  He  was  then  engaged  as  a 
cutter  in  a  shoe  manufactory  for  a  short  time, 
and  in  1885  accepted  a  position  with  the  Met- 
ropolitan Life  Insurance  company  as  agent  in 
Covington,  Ky. ,  remaining  there  some  two  and 
a  half  years.  Afterward  he  took  an  agency  at 
Covington,  Ky.,  holding  this  position  two 
years,  was  then  transferred  to  Akron,  Ohio, 
then  to  Canton,  Ohio,  and  finally,  in  1893,  to 
Dayton.  Here  he  has  been,  since  1893, 
superintendent  of  the  office  of  the  company, 
which  is  located  in  rooms  40  and  41,  Lewis 
block.  While  in  the  service  of  this  company 
he  has  built  up  a  comparatively  small  business 
to  an  extensive  and  paying  one,  so  that  it  now 
stands  far  in  advance  of  that  of  any  other  com- 
pany writing  the  same  lines  within   the  city  <>f 


Dayton.  The  Metropolitan  writes  industrial 
insurance  from  $15  up  to  $1,000,  at  ages  from 
one  year  up  to  seventy,  ordinary,  or  old  lines, 
from  $1,000  up  to  $50,000,  and  from  twenty 
to  sixty-five  years  of  age.  To  give  a  synopsis 
of  the  company's  business  and  an  idea  of  its 
magnitude,  it  may  be  stated  that  it  pays  in 
death  claims  at  the  rate  of  $15  per  minute 
of  banking  hours,  for  each  day  in  the  year.  It 
has  assets  amounting  to  $30,000,000,  and  has 
5,000,000  policies  in  force.  The  company  has 
been  operating  in  Dayton  for  fourteen  years, 
and  has  paid  out  to  its  policy-holders  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars.  Mr.  Buttler  has  in- 
creased the  working  force  connected  with  the 
Dayton  office,  and  now  has  sixty  men  soliciting 
in  the  field.  There  are  more  than  20,000 
policy-holders  in  the  city  of  Dayton  alone. 

Mr.  Buttler  was  married  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  Decembers,  1857,  to  Miss  Anna  Jones, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Seider) 
Jones.  She  was  born  in  Newport,  Ky.,  and 
is  the  mother  of  three  children,  viz:  Clifford, 
Mabel  and  Virginia.  Mr.  Buttler  is  a  young 
man  of  energy  and  of  devotion  to  the  business 
whose  present  proportions  are  so  largely  due 
to  his  well-directed  efforts. 


aOL.  JOHN  WHITEHEAD  BYRON, 
inspector  of  the  Central  branch,  N. 
H.  D.  V.  S.,  was  born  on  the  23rd 
of  November,  1840,  in  the  historic 
town  of  Cahir,  situated  in  the  "  Golden  Vale,  " 
county  of  Tipperary,  Ireland.  The  greater 
part  of  his  boyhood  was  spent  at  the  home  of 
his  paternal  grandfather,  John  Byron,  in  the 
country,  about  two  miles  from  Cahir.  Here 
he  remained  until  in  his  fifteenth  year,  when 
he  joined  his  parents  in  New  York  city, 
whither  they  had  preceded  him  and  settled 
over  a  decade  before.  At  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Rebellion  he  was  a  law  student   in  the  of- 


426 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


fice  of  Charles  H.  Smith,  a  prominent  lawyer 
of  New  York  city.  Possessing  in  large  degree 
the  martial  and  patriotic  spirit  for  which  the 
Celtic  race  is  so  justly  famed,  he  promptly  re- 
sponded to  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for 
troops  and  enlisted  in  company  K,'  Sixty- 
ninth  regiment  of  New  York  state  militia,  be- 
known  as  "  Meagher's  Zouaves,"  after  its  elo- 
quent and  heroic  commander,  Thomas  Fran- 
cis Meagher.  Having  served  the  three  months' 
term  of  this  first  enlistment,  during  which  he 
took  part  in  the  fights  at  Blackburn's  Ford  and 
Bull  Run,  he  was  mustered  out  with  his  com- 
pany in  New  York  city  on  the  3rd  of  August, 
1 86 1.  Within  a  week  thereafter  he  was  ten- 
dered— but  declined — authority  to  recruit  a 
company  for  the  Eighty-eighth  New  York  vol- 
unteers, which  was  being  organized  by  his 
whilom  captain,  Thomas  Francis  Meagher. 
He,  however,  accepted  a  lieutenancy,  and 
was  one  of  two  detailed  to  visit  various  cities 
and  towns  of  the  state  to  issue  transportation 
to  recruits,  and  to  guarantee  line  officers'  com- 
missions in  any  regiment  of  the  Irish  brigade 
then  being  organized,  to  such  persons  as  would 
recruit  the  required  number  of  men,  and  were 
otherwise  qualified.  The  young  lieutenant 
passed  through  all  the  intermediate  grades  of 
rank  till  he  reached  that  of  lieutenant-colonel 
of  his  regiment,  and  was  twice  brevetted  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  service  during  the  war, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  Gen.  Hancock. 
During  the  terms  of  his  second  and  third  en- 
listments (his  regiment  veteranizing  in  1863) 
he  participated  in  most  of  the  campaigns  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac,  was  present  at  the 
siege  of  Yorktown  and  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks, 
in  which  he  was  wounded,  Antietam,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville,  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  and  South  Anna. 
At  l'etersburg,  Strawberry  Plains,  Deep  Bot- 
tom and  Ream's  Station  he  commanded  the 
remnant  of    the    Irish    brigade,    which    at  the 


time  was  consolidated  into  a  provisional  regi- 
ment. In  the  last  named  battle,  fought  Au- 
gust 25,  1864,  he  was  wounded  and  captured 
by  the  enemy.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  of  war 
for  nearly  six  months  in  Libby  and  Danville, 
Va.,  and  Salisbury,  N.  C.  At  Salisbury  he 
conspired  with  a  number  of  his  fellow-prison- 
ers to  effect  their  escape,  but  the  scheme  was 
frustrated  through  treachery.  Another  attempt 
to  regain  his  liberty  was  made  at  Danville,  but 
this  also  resulted  in  failure  owing  to  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  rebel  guards.  In  this  attempt  Col. 
Ralston,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  New  York  cav- 
alry, was  mortally  wounded.  In  the  latter 
part  of  February,  1865,  Col.  Byron  was  ex- 
changed, sent  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  and  thence 
given  a  thirty  days'  leave  of  absence  to  re- 
cuperate at  his  home  in  New  York  city.  He 
was  finally  mustered  out  July  14,  1865,  after 
giving  to  his  adopted  country  over  four  years 
of  faithful  service  in  the  field.  As  a  private 
soldier  and  commissioned  officer,  Col.  Byron 
always  had  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  su- 
periors, being  an  especial  favorite  with  the 
superb  Hancock,  on  whose  staff  he  served  for 
a  period  as  ordnance  officer.  He  was  fre- 
quently detailed  for  special  duties,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  was  inspector  of  the  First 
division  of  the  famous  Second  corps. 

On  July  21,  1865,  Col.  Byron  set  sail  for 
Ireland  with  a  view  to  aid  in  throwing  off  the 
yoke  of  England  and  establishing  a  free  govern- 
ment on  Irish  soil.  He  was  arrested  there  five 
times,  the  last  time  under  the  suspension  of  the 
writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and  was  kept  in  confine- 
ment fourteen  months.  Shortly  after  his  arrest 
he  was  offered  his  liberty  on  condition  that  he 
would  consent  to  go  under  guard  from  prison  to 
the  ship  and  return  to  America.  He,  however, 
refused  to  accept  freedom  on  such  conditions, 
until  convinced  that  he  could  be  of  no  service 
to  the  Irish  cause  while  in  captivity.  He, 
therefore,  returned  to  New  York  in  May,  1867, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


427 


became  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  Fe- 
nian Brotherhood,  and  subsequently  inspector 
of  that  order.  In  June,  1869,  he  was  appointed 
chief  of  staff  to  Gen.  Guicoria,  the  Cuban  pa- 
triot and  martyr,  and  took  an  active  part  in  fit- 
ting out  the  "  Catherine  Whiting  expedition," 
which  came  to  naught  on  account  of  the  inter- 
vention of  the  United  States  authorities.  In 
July,  1869,  Col.  Byron  was  appointed  assistant 
assessor  of  legacies  and  successions  to  real  es- 
tate for  the  Third  New  York  district,  and, 
after  two-years'  service,  voluntarily  resigned 
upon  the  removal  of  his  chief  from  office. 
Within  a  short  period  thereafter  he  was  ap- 
pointed an  officer  of  customs  and  served  as  such 
for  many  years. 

His  health  having  become  greatly  impaired, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Central  branch 
home  in  July,  1881,  and  within  a  week  after 
admission  was  detailed  as  clerk  in  the  adju- 
tant's office,  promoted  to  chief  clerk,  and  in 
1893  was  appointed  inspector  of  the  branch  by 
the  honorable  board  of  managers  of  the  home, 
much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  officers  and 
men,  with  whom  the  colonel  has  always  been 
deservedly  popular. 

Col.  Byron  is  actively  prominent  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
was  the  junior  vice-department-commander  of 
Ohio  in  1887-8,  and  delegate  to  many  national 
and  department  encampments;  he  is  a  com- 
panion of  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal 
Legion,  and  a  member  of  the  Present  Day 
club,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 


>-j»ACOB  CLEMENS,  a  native  of  the 
m  palatinate  of  Rhenish  Bavaria,  was 
(•  1  born  on  the  19th  of  December,  1828, 
being  the  son  of  Adam  and  Catherine 
Clemens,  who  were  born  in  Germany,  where 
they  passed  their  entire  lives,  being  people  of 
intelligence,  industry  and  honest  worth.    They 


became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Two  of  the  sons,  Peter 
and  Nicholas,  were  the  first  of  the  family  to 
emigrate  to  America.  They  left  their  native 
land  in  the  year  1846,  and  upon  arriving  in 
this  country  came  westward  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Defiance  county,  where  they  still  reside, 
both  being  farmers.  Two  years  later,  in  1848, 
three  other  members  of  the  family  also  came 
from  the  fatherland  to  try  their  fortunes  in 
the  United  States.  These  three  were  Jacob, 
his  brother  Adam  and  his  sister  Caroline,  who 
was  then  the  wife  of  Peter  Leonhardt.  They 
landed  in  New  York  city  on  the  30th  of  May. 
Another  sister,  Philopena,  became  the  wife  of 
John  Schaun,  whom  she  accompanied  to  Bra- 
zil in  1847.  Elizabeth  and  Catherine  never 
severed  the  ties  which  bound  them  to  the  old 
home,  and  both  died  in  Germany. 

Jacob  Clemens  secured  his  educational  dis- 
cipline in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native 
land,  and  also  prepared  himself  for  the  prac- 
tical duties  of  life  by  devoting  his  attention  for 
some  time  to  work  at  the  carpenter  s  trade, 
with  which  he  had  become  quite  familiar  at  the 
time  of  his  emigration  to  America.  Upon  his 
arrival  he  came  direct  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  his  first  stay  was  at  Hole's  Creek, 
six  miles  south  of  Dayton,  where  he  remained 
about  two  months.  He  then  went  to  Miamis- 
burg,  in  the  same  county,  and  there  remained 
until  1849,  when  he  came  to  Dayton,  where 
he  has  e^er  since  resided.  After  his  arrival 
here  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1866,  when 
he  engaged  in  general  contracting.  This  line 
of  enterprise  held  his  attention  for  six  years, 
and  his  careful  business  methods  and  capable 
management  insured  success  to  his  efforts. 
His  next  business  venture  was  the  building  of 
a  planing  mill,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Mad 
River  streets,  and  this  industry  he  prosecuted 
with  excellent  results  for  twelve  years,  when 
he  disposed  of  the  business  to   Philip  E.    Gil- 


428 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


bert,  and  thereupon  retired  from  active  exer- 
tion, content  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  past 
labors. 

Mr.  Clemens,  in  185  i,  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Reisberger,  who,  like  himself,  was  born 
in  the  picturesque  Rhine  district  of  the  prov- 
ince of  Bavaria,  the  year  of  her  birth  having 
been  1S29.  Their  home  life  has  been  one  of 
great  happiness  and  the  marriage  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  twelve  children,  all  save 
four  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  four  surviv- 
ors are:  Martin,  now  a  resident  of  Cincinnati; 
Clara,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Selz,  of  the  Pearl 
laundry,  in  Dayton;  Annie  and  Mary,  twins, 
the  former  of  whom  is  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Schneble  and  the  latter  of  Theodore  Schneble, 
of  Dayton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clemens  have  long 
been  zealous  and  devoted  members  of  Trinity 
Roman  Catholic  church,  in  which  they  have 
been  communicants  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Clemens  has  always  taken  a  lively  and 
public-spirited  interest  in  the  questions  of  the 
hour  and  in  the  political  issues  involved.  He 
has  been  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  demo- 
cratic party  and  a  firm  advocate  of  the  essen- 
tial principles  which  underlie  its  organization. 
In  1S84  he  was  honored  by  the  citizens  of  the 
county  through  election  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Montgomery  county 
infirmary,  which  office  he  retained  for  three 
years,  giving  to  its  duties  that  careful  attention 
and  unflagging  interest  which  had  ever  been 
characteristic  of  his  efforts  in  private  business 
affairs.  In  1S91  he  was  a  member  of  the  de- 
cennial board  of  equalization  of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Clemens  is  a  man  of  marked  individu- 
ality, of  pleasing  address,  and  strong  intel- 
lectual grasp,  and  his  life  has  been  so  lived  as 
to  gain  to  him  the  merited  reward  of  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men.  The  city 
of  his  home  has  ever  called  forth  his  hearty 
interest,  and  he  has  done  all  in  his  power  to 
further  its  progress  and  insure  its  stable  pros- 


perity. He  well  deserves  consideration  in  this 
connection  as  one  of  the  representative  men 
of  the  city  of  Dayton. 


^y^ILBUR  CONOVER,  late  a  member 
mm  of    the    Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 

\J)L/1  bar,  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
May  10,  1 82 1,  and  died  October 
3,   1 88 1. 

He  was  the  son  of  Obadiah  B.  and  Sarah 
(Miller)  Conover,  and  was  of  Dutch  extrac- 
tion, his  paternal  ancestors  having  come  from 
Holland  to  this  country  in  the  seventeenth 
century. 

Mr.  Conover  was  married  in  1849  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Walker  Dickson,  a  daughter  of 
John  W.  and  Lucretia  Dickson,  born  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1828,  and  who  died  at  Dayton 
September  27,  1868.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  were  as  follows  :  Mary,  the  eldest, 
who  in  1883  married  Dr.  W.  H.  Grundy,  of 
Dayton,  and  died  in  1S87,  leaving  one  child, 
a  daughter,  Suzette  K.  Grundy  ;  Frank  ;  John 
Dickson,  who  died  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  two 
years  ;  Hugh  Dickson,  who  died  in  1891  in 
his  thirty-second  year  ;  and  Hiram  Strong,  who 
died  in  186S  in  his  second  year. 

Wilbur  Conover  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  town,  and  in  1S37,  after  a  course  for 
preparation  for  college  under  the  tuition  of 
E.  E.  Barney,  at  the  Dayton  academy,  he 
entered  the  sophomore  class  at  the  Miami 
university,  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1840.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  the  study  of  law  with  the  firm  of  Odlin 
&  Schenck,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1842.  From  1844  to  1850  he  practiced  law 
in  partnership  with  Robert  C.  Schenck,  his 
former  preceptor.  Almost  immediately  upon 
the  termination  of  this  partnership  by  reason 
of  the  entrance  of  General  Schenck  into  public 
life,  Mr.  Conover   formed   a    partnership   with 


WILBUR    CONOVER 

(deceased) 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


431 


Samuel  Craighead  in  1857,  and  this  firm  con- 
tinued until  1877,  when  it  was  dissolved  by 
the  retirement  of  Mr.  Conover,  caused  by 
broken  health. 

The  firm  of  Conover  &  Craighead  was,  at 
the  date  of  its  termination,  the  oldest  law  firm 
in  continuous  existence  in  Ohio.  It  had  be- 
come prominent  at  the  Ohio  bar,  having  estab- 
lished a  large  and  important  practice.  Mr. 
Conover  was  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  labori- 
ous work  of  the  office,  involving  the  prepara- 
tion of  cases  and  the  determination  of  legal 
questions;  while  Mr.  Craighead  was  one  of  the 
most  eloquent  and  successful  trial  advocates 
ever  known  at  the  local  bar.  The  union  of 
the  differing  qualities  and  professional  gifts  of 
the  two  men  resulted  in  a  harmonious  and  suc- 
cessful association. 

Mr.  Conover  was  devoted  to  his  profession, 
steadily  refusing  to  enter  public  office,  except- 
ing that  for  a  number  of  years  he  served  upon 
the  board  of  education  of  Dayton  and  gave 
especial  attention  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  pub- 
lic library,  which  was  during  that  period  under 
the  control  of  the  board.  This  work  had  a 
peculiar  attraction  for  him,  his  interest  in  the 
library  having  been  early  manifested  through 
his  connection  with  the  Dayton  Library  asso- 
ciation, the  forerunner  of  the  public  library, 
and  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
an  active  officer  from  its  inception  until  it  was 
merged  into  the  public  institution. 

Mr.  Conover's  mental  endowments  and  his 
personal  characteristics  cannot  better  be  de- 
scribed than  by  repeating  here  a  part  of  the 
tribute  to  his  name  adopted  by  the  members 
of  his  profession  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The 
memorial  of  the  Dayton  bar  said  in  part: 

"Mr.  Conover  possessed  all  the  qualifica- 
tions of  an  excellent  lawyer,  and  was  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  high  office  of  judge.  He  was 
diligent,  painstaking  and  strictly  conscientious, 
accurate  and  clear   in  his  perceptive  faculties. 

13 


He  was  too  independent  and  candid,  and,  one 
may  add,  too  modest,  to  be  a  successful  aspi- 
rant for  popular  favor.  He  never  concealed 
his  honest  convictions  on  any  subject,  and 
never  sacrificed  or  compromised  them  for  the 
sake  of  popularity.  His  opinions  as  a  lawyer 
were  regarded  w;th  deserved  confidence,  as 
well  by  the  community  as  by  the  profession; 
and  his  business  life  seemed  to  illustrate  the 
lofty  sense  of  duty  united  with  a  sincere  de- 
votion to  his  profession.  So  long  as  he  lived 
he  never  tarnished  the  achievement  of  pro- 
fessional success  by  personal  self-seeking,  or 
that  unworthy  rivalry  that  finds  its  own  ad- 
vancement in  the  depreciation  of  others.  He 
esteemed  that  professional  eminence  only  as 
worthy  of  attainment  which  is  deserved  by  an 
honorable,  judicious,  intelligent,  truthful  de- 
votion to  the  interests  and  cause  of  a  client.'' 

From  the  appreciative  analysis  of  Mr.  Con- 
over's  character  contributed  to  the  press  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  by  his  life-long  friend, 
Robert  \V.  Steele,  we  quote  the  following  as 
an  expression  of  the  estimation  in  which  he 
was  held  by  one  who  knew  him  intimately 
from  early  boyhood  until  his  death.  Mr. 
Steele  says: 

"Mr.  Conover  was  endowed  with  an  un- 
usually clear,  analytical  mind,  which,  with  his 
love  of  study  and  industry,  made  him  the  best 
scholar  in  his  class.  So  great  was  his  profi- 
ciency in  Greek,  that  the  professor  of  that 
language,  in  justice  to  him,  used  to  read  with 
him,  privately,  additional  Greek  authors  which 
the  majority  of  the  class  were  unwilling  or  un- 
able to  master.  Thoroughness  was  his  dis- 
tinguishing quality  as  a  student,  and  he  never 
left  a  subject  until  he  reached  the  bottom  of 
it.  Truthfulness  and  purity  characterized  him 
throughout  his  college  course,  and  in  all  of 
my  intercourse  with  him,  I  never  heard  him 
utter  an  unworthy  or  impure  word. 

"  His  later  life  was  a  fitting  fulfillment  of 


432 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  bright  promise  of  his  college  days.  He 
occupied  no  official  positions,  because  he  never 
sought  nor  would  accept  them.  He  devoted 
himself  wholly  to  his  profession  and  worthily 
won  the  high  position  he  attained  as  a  lawyer." 


BRANCIS  MARION  CLEMANS,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Broadway  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Greene  county,  June  28,  1835, 
a  son  of  William  T.  and  Elizabeth  (Dalby) 
Clemans.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Lou- 
doun county,  Va.,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  born 
in  1 8 10,  and  was  brought  to  Ohio  in  181 3  by 
his  parents,  who  settled  in  Greene  county. 

Hezekiah  Clemans,  father  of  William  T. , 
and  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  a  soldier 
under  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  and  while  in  the 
service  had,  in  1S12,  come  with  the  troops  to 
Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home  immediately 
upon  his  discharge  from  the  army,  and  died  in 
Van  Wert,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years. 
The  father  of  Hezekiah  Clemens  was  one  of 
seven  brothers  who  came  from  Ireland  to 
America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
all  united  with  the  patriot  army,  the  last  battle 
in  which  the  great-grandfather  of  Francis  M. 
took  part  being  that  of  the  Cowpens,  which 
was  a  bayonet,  hand  to-hand  contest  with  the 
Hessians.  The  Dalby  family  was  of  Welsh 
descent,  and  largely  given  to  yrofessional  pur- 
suits—  ministers  predominating.  Both  the 
grandfathers  of  Elizabeth  Dalby  (mother  of 
subject)  were  clergymen;  the  paternal  grand- 
father being  a  Presbyterian,  but  after  coming 
to  America  the  family  became  Methodists. 

The  children  born  to  William  T.  and  Eliza- 
beth Clemans  were  nine  in  number — four  sons 
and  five  daughters — of  whom  four  are  still 
living,  viz:  Francis  M.,  the  eldest  born;  Mrs. 
Lama  J.  Johnston,  now  residing  in  Van  Wert; 


Leroy  S.,  a  minister  of  the  Quaker,  or  Friends' 
church  of  Van  Wert,  and  Mrs.  Charlotte 
Grove,  also  a  resident  of  that  city.  The  de- 
ceased children,  who  all  reached  mature  years, 
were  Mrs.  Angeline  Keys,  a  teacher,  whose 
death  took  place  in  Van  Wert;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Sheley,  who  died  in  Iowa;  Mrs.  Martha  Moor- 
man, who  died  in  Jamestown,  Ohio;  Orange 
Scott,  who  died  in  Van  Wert  in  early  man- 
hood, and  whose  remains  are  interred  beside 
those  of  his  wife  and  two  children.  The  par- 
ents of  Francis  M.  also  died  in  Van  Wert — 
the  mother  at  seventy-seven  and  the  father  at 
eighty-four. 

Francis  Marion  Clemans  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Greene  county,  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  when  about  nineteen  years  old 
engaged  in  teaching,  which  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed for  eleven  years,  studying,  in  the  mean- 
time, the  course  required  in  the  Latin  scientific 
department  of  the  East  Tennessee  Wesleyan 
university — now  known  as  the  Grant  Memorial 
university.  From  this  institution  he  graduated 
in  1880,  then  took  a  post-graduate  course,  and 
completed  this  in  1882,  receiving  the  degree 
of  Ph.  D.,  and  receiving  at  the  same  time  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  from  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  uni- 
versity. He  had  been  converted  to  Christ  in 
his  eighteenth  year,  or  in  1853,  and  immedi- 
ately began  to  shape  his  course  with  a  view  to 
entering  the  ministry.  But  he  was  wholly 
self-dependent,  and  his  struggle  for  an  educa- 
tion was  a  severe  one.  During  the  last  four 
of  the  eleven  years  of  his  career  as  a  teacher 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  union  schools  of 
Jamestown,  Ohio,  and  it  was  while  thus  em- 
ployed that  he  was  recommended  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati conference  by  his  home  church,  and  of 
that  body  he  has  been  a  member  since  Septem- 
ber, 1866;  under  its  jurisdiction  all  his  minis- 
terial work  has  been  performed,  and  during  his 
thirty  years  of  itinerant  service  he  has  never 
missed  more  than  six   appointments  from  any 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


433 


cause — an  evidence  of  robust-  health,  strong 
constitution  and  untiring  zeal. 

The  pastorates  or  charges  of  Dr.  Clemans 
have  been  about  as  follows:  Union  circuit, 
near  Xenia,  three  years;  Fairfield,  three  years; 
Middletown,  three  years;  King's  Creek  circuit, 
two  years;  Mechanicsburg  station,  three  years; 
Miamisburg,  three  years;  Ripley,  two  years; 
Jamestown,  three  years;  Franklin,  five  years 
(the  limit  having  been  changed)  ;  and,  in  the 
fall  of  1893,  the  Broadway  church  in  Dayton. 
While  at  Franklin,  having  completed  a  post- 
graduate course  in  the  National  university  of 
Chicago,  he  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  The 
Broadway  church  has  a  membership  of  800, 
and  the  church  property  and  parsonage  are 
valued  at  $15,000.  The  Sunday-school  com- 
prises 550  scholars,  the  Epworth  league  183, 
and  the  Junior  Epworth  league  140.  Dr.  Cle- 
mans has  been  blessed  in  his  work  as  a  revival- 
ist and  has  made  it  a  point  to  conduct  one  or 
more  revivals  in  each  of  his  charges;  the  one 
in  which  he  is  now  engaged  has  resulted  in  the 
conversion  of  112  souls,  and  during  his  thirty 
years  in  the  ministry  he  has  brought  nearly 
3,000  persons  into  the  church. 

The  first  marriage  of  Dr.  Clemans  was  sol- 
emnized near  Jamestown,  Ohio,  in  1859,  with 
Miss  Sarah  I.  Chaffin,  a  native  of  Fayette 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  teacher  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  this 
union,  William  Leroy  is  a  bank  cashier  at 
Cedarville,  Ohio,  and  is  about  thirty  years  of 
age,  married,  and  the  father  of  two  children; 
Frederick  Marion  is  cashier  of  the  Farmers  & 
Traders'  bank  of  Mechanicsburg,  Ohio,  is  mar- 
ried, and  has  had  born  to  him  three  children, 
two  still  living;  Lillie  Viola  died  in  Jamestown 
at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  Nellie  Grace  died 
at  Mechanicsburg  when  four  years  old.  Mrs. 
Clemans  was  called  from  earth  November  5, 
1885,  under  peculiarly  sad  circumstances.  Be- 
ing president  of  the  missionary  society  of  James- 


town, she  had  just  closed  a  meeting  with  prayer, 
and  the  "Amen"  which  closed  this  supplica- 
tion was  the  last  word  she  ever  uttered,  as 
death  followed  almost  instantly. 

July  25,  1888,  Dr.  Clemans  was  married 
to  Mrs.  Clara  (Chaffin)  Clarke,  widow  of  Max 
Clarke,  and  a  cousin  to  the  first  Mrs.  Clemans. 
This  lady  is  a  graduate  of  Xenia  college,  of 
which  she  was  preceptress  for  some  time  after 
her  first  husband's  death,  and  continued  her 
educational  work  up  to  her  present  marriage. 
She  had  borne  to  her  first  husband  two  sons — 
the  elder  of  whom  died  in  childhood;  the 
younger,  Max  Guy  Clarke,  graduated  from  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  university  at  Delaware,  stand- 
ing at  the  head  of  his  class — having  completed 
the  classical  course  at  the  age  of  nineteen. 
He  began  the  study  of  law,  but  died  at  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  a  thorough  linguist  and  a 
young  man  of  great  promise. 

Dr.  Clemans  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  at  Jamestown,  Ohio,  and  is 
also  an  Odd  Fellow.  As  to  politics,  the 
Clemans  family  have  long  been  noted  as  rad- 
ical abolitionists  and  have  been  identified  with 
the  republican  party  ever  since  its  organiza- 
tion; and  the  doctor,  in  addition  to  his  ad- 
herence to  the  principles  of  the  last-named 
party,  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  prohibition, 
steadily  advocating  this  policy  both  in  public 
and  in  private. 


aLAUDE  NORTH  CHRISMAN,  M. 
D.,  physician  and  surgeon  of  402 
Xenia  avenue,  Dayton,  is  a  native  of 
Kingston,  Ross  county,  Ohio,  born 
December  30,  1869.  When  he  was  two  years 
old  his  father  removed  his  family  to  Tarlton, 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  there  lived  six 
years,  going  thence  to  Delaware,  Ohio,  where 
they  lived  for  three  years.      The  family  then 


434 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  which  has  since  been 
their  residence. 

Claude  N.  Chrisman  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Nancy  (North)  Chrisman,  both  of  whom 
are  still  living,  the  father  being  a  railroad  con- 
tractor. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  edu- 
cated primarily  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the 
high  schools  of  Dayton,  and  finished  his  educa- 
tion by  attending  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  univer- 
sity at  Delaware,  Ohio,  being  a  student  there 
three  years.  In  order  to  qualify  himself  for 
the  practice  of  the  medical  profession,  he  then 
became  a  student  in  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  M. 
Weaver,  of  Dayton,  where  he  studied  for  some 
time,  afterward  entering  the  Miami  Medical 
college,  and  graduating  from  that  institution  in 
1895.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Dayton,  and  is  meeting 
with  most  gratifying  success,  having  already 
become  well  known  as  a  progressive  young 
physician.  Dr.  Chrisman  is  assistant  on  the 
staff  at  Saint  Elizabeth  Medical  &  Surgical 
hospital  of  Dayton.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Phi  Gamma  Delta  society,  and  of  the  Broad- 
way Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Dayton, 
recently  organized.  He  follows  the  general 
practice  of  medicine,  though  he  is  giving 
special  attention  to  surgery,  which  science  is 
sufficiently  broad  to  take  in  all  classes  of  med- 
ical practitioners  and  to  have  no  "schools." 
It  is  surgery  that  Dr.  Chrisman  prefers,  and 
which  he  has  in  view  as  a  special  form  of 
practice. 


eMILE  COBLENTZ,  aged  fifty-eight 
years,  enlisted  April,  1861,  in  the 
Twelfth  New  York  state  militia  for 
three  months,  first  call;  re-enlisted 
for  three  years  in  company  L,  Third  Pennsyl- 
vania heavy  artillery;  and  was  discharged  No- 
vember 8,  1865,  at  expiration  of  service,  the 
war  having  long  before  come  to  a  close. 


BRANK  CONOVER,  attorney,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  that  city  May 
29,  1853.  He  is  the  son  of  Wilbur 
and  Elizabeth  W.  (Dickson)  Con- 
over.  His  father,  of  whom  a  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  was  of  Dutch  an- 
cestry, and  his  mother  of  Irish  extraction. 

Frank  Conover  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  birthplace,  graduating  from  the 
Central  high  school  in  the  year  1872.  He 
then  attended  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology,  in  Boston,  taking  a  special  course 
of  three  years  in  civil  engineering.  Returning 
to  Dayton  in  1875,  he  was  employed  in  the 
engineering  corps  upon  the  construction  of 
the  Dayton  &  South  Eastern  railroad  until  the 
summer  of  1876.  Mr.  Conover  then  deter- 
mined to  begin  the  study  of  the  law,  and 
entered  the  office  of  Conover  &  Craighead,  of 
which  firm  his  father  was  the  senior  member. 
Completing  his  preparatory  course  of  study, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  For 
about  two  years  thereafter  he  remained  in  the 
office  of  Craighead  &  Craighead,  which  firm 
had  succeeded  that  of  Conover  &  Craighead  in 
1877.  He  then  entered  upon  and  has  ever 
since  continued  the  practice  of  law  alone. 

Mr.  Conover  served  as  assistant  city  solici- 
tor of  Dayton  from  the  spring  of  1891  to 
1894.  He  has  for  over  five  years  past  been  a 
member  of  the  Dayton  library  board,  and  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  extension  of  the 
usefulness  of  the  public  library.  He  has  been 
especially  concerned  in  effecting  closer  rela- 
tions between  that  institution  and  the  public 
schools,  having  delivered  a  number  of  public 
addresses  upon  that  subject. 

In  1879  Mr.  Conover  married  Charlotte 
Elizabeth  Reeve,  eldest  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  C. 
and  Emma  G.  Reeve,  of  Dayton.  To  this 
marriage  have  been  born  four  children:  Eliza- 
beth Dickson,  John  Charles  Reeve,  Wilbur 
and  Charlotte  Mary. 


$ULuJkrti 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


437 


BRANK  C.  CLEMENS,  ot  the  firm  of 
McDermont  &  Clemens,  plumbers, 
gas  and  steam  fitters,  etc.,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  is  a  native  of  this  city,  and 
was  born  November  I,  1871.  He  is  the  son 
of  Nicholas  J.  and  Anna  (Brown)  Clemens, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Germany,  but  were 
brought  to  America  when  young  by  their  par- 
ents, who  settled  in  Dayton,  and  there  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Nicholas  J.  and 
his  wife,  Anna,  are  still  living  in  Dayton,  where 
Nicholas  J.  is  now  retired.  Their  family  was 
composed  of  seven  children,  of  whom  one  is 
deceased;  Frank  C.  is  the  eldest  of  the  sur- 
vivors; James  is  a  student  in  France  and  is 
being  prepared  for  the  Catholic  ministry;  Rose 
is  a  sister  in  St.  Francis  order,  of  Dayton,  and 
the  remaining  three,  Joseph,  Harry  and  Mary, 
are  students  in  the  city  schools. 

Frank  C.  Clemens  was  also  educated  in 
Dayton — partly  in  the  public  schools  and 
partly  in  the  Catholic  parochial  schools.  His 
first  independent  effort  in  life  was  in  the  busi- 
ness in  which  he  is  still  engaged ;  he  having  first 
worked  at  this  trade  for  five  years  under  F. 
J.  McCormick,  and  then  becoming  a  partner 
with  S.  B.  McDermont  in  the  present  exten- 
sive business  at  No.  13  East  Second  street. 
This  firm  gives  almost  constant  employment 
to  thirty  men  and  certainly  does  the  largest 
business  in  this  line  in  Dayton,  both  partners 
being  thorough  masters  of  their  trade. 

Besides  being  a  member  of  the  Emanuel 
Roman  Catholic  church,  Mr.  Clemens  is  con- 
nected with  several  religious  and  social  orders, 
among  which  may  be  named  the  Knights  of  St. 
George,  the  American  Sons  of  Columbus,  the 
Catholic  Gesellen  Verein,  the  Catholic  Or- 
phan's society,  and  the  Harmonia  society. 
Mr.  Clemens  is  a  young  man  of  excellent  tact 
and  practical  judgment,  and  has  won  a  place 
of  prominence  among  Dayton's  many  success- 
ful young  business  men. 


>-j*OHN  COLLINS,  official  stenographer 
M  for  the  courts  of  Montgomery  county, 
A  1  Ohio,  and  superintendent  of  the  sten- 
ographic department  of  Beck's  Com- 
mercial college,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  at 
Angelica,  Allegany  county,  N.  Y.,  September 
14,  1849.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Wellsville,  in  the  count)'  of  his  birth,  and  also 
the  academy  at  Angelica,  receiving  additional 
instruction  in  Latin  and  other  branches  from 
his  father. 

Charles  Collins,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Geneva,  Ontario  county,  N.  Y. ,  January  2, 
1813.  He  received  his  education  at  Geneva 
college,  now  Hobart  college,  situated  at 
Geneva,  N.  Y. — a  Protestant  Episcopal  insti- 
tution established  in  1822.  He  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1834,  and  is,  with  one 
exception,  the  oldest  alumnus  of  that  col- 
lege now  living.  Having  afterward  studied 
law,  he  practiced  that  profession  for  some 
time  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  from  which  city  he  re- 
moved to  Angelica,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  parents 
were  then  living,  and  practiced  law  at  Angelica 
and  at  Wellsville,  N.  Y. ,  for  sometime.  His 
father  was  one  of  the  distinguished  men  of  that 
county,  being  county  judge  for  several  years.  In 
1866  Mr.  Collins  removed  to  Northumberland, 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  thereengaged 
in  fruit  farming,  having  retired  from  the  active 
practice  of  the  law.  After  living  at  Northum- 
berland, engaged  as  above  noted,  until  1882,  he 
removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  is  now  residing 
in  that  city  with  his  son.  His  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth Hyde  Cardell,  daughter  of  William  S. 
Cardell,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  the  author  of  sev- 
eral school  books,  among  them  Jack  Hal- 
yard, a  work  well-known  in  the  east.  Will- 
iam S.  Cardell  was  a  half-brother  of  Chancellor 
Walworth,  of  New  York  state.  Mrs.  Collins 
died  in  1873,  at  Northumberland,  Pa. 

John  Collins  learned  from  his  father  the 
characters  used  in  shorthand  before  he  learned 


438 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


the  ordinary  English  letters.  He  remained  on  j 
the  farm  with  his  father  until  1875.  He  then 
went  to  Delaware,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased 
and  operated  a  book  bindery  for  three  years, 
giving  more  or  less  attention  to  shorthand  dur- 
ing that  time.  He  reported  the  proceedings 
of  the  first  convention  of  the  Music  Teachers' 
National  association,  held  at  Delaware  in  that 
year,  and  afterward  did  occasional  work  of  this 
kind  in  Delaware  until  1878,  when  he  went  to 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  there  spent  one  year  with 
the  official  stenographers  at  the  capitol.  In 
the  spring  of  1879  he  removed  to  Dayton  and 
received  the  appointment  as  official  stenogra- 
pher for  the  courts  of  Montgomery  county,  a 
position  he  has  held  continuously  up  to  the 
present  time,  eighteen  years. 

Mr.  Collins  was  married  in  the  spring  of 
1877  to  Sarah  J.  Leighoux,  of  Northumber- 
land, Pa.,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three 
daughters  —  Helen,  Bertha  and  Lucy,  all  of 
whom  are  attending  the  Steele  high  school,  in 
Dayton. 

Mr.  Collins  has  achieved  a  high  reputation 
for  accuracy  and  reliability  in  the  duties  of  his 
official  position,  and  the  excellence  of  his  work 
is  fully  appreciated  by  the  members  of  the 
legal  profession  who  constitute  the  Montgom- 
ery county  bar.  He  is  a  writer  of  no  mean 
literary  attainments,  and  has  produced  a  num- 
ber of  articles,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  of  a 
high  degree  of  merit. 


aHARLES  JUDSON  COFFMAN, 
vice-president  of  the  Gem  Shirt  com- 
pany of  Dayton,  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of 
Montgomery  county.  The  first  of  the  family 
to  locate  in  this  county  was  Jacob  Coffman, 
who,  in  company  with  his  wife  and  one  child, 
came  here  from  Virginia  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century.      He  purchased  a  considerable 


tract  of  land,  a  portion  of  which  is  now  em- 
braced in  the  precincts  of  the  national  sol- 
diers' heme.  This  land  he  reclaimed  and  im- 
proved, making  it  his  residence  until  his  death, 
and,  having  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  his 
farming  interests,  became  a  man  of  prominence 
in  the  community.  He  became  the  father  of 
five  children,  each  of  whom  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age,  their  names  in  order  of  birth  be- 
ing as  follows:  John;  Jacob,  father  of  Charles 
J. ;  Catherine,  better  known  as  Kittie,  who 
married  Jacob  Neibert,  who  lived  to  the  age  of 
nearly  ninety  years;  Rachael,  deceased,  and 
Hannah,  deceased. 

Jacob  Coffman,  the  father  of  Charles  J., 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  near  Dayton  in 
December,  1819,  and  remained  on  the  farm 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  nineteen  years, 
when  he  came  to  Dayton  and  secured  clerical 
employment  in  the  dry-goods  establishment  of 
Daniel  Kiefer,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
some  time.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
what  was  a  very  important  line  of  enterprise  in 
the  pioneer  days,  that  of  peddling  notions  by 
wagon,  thus  traversing  a  large  territory  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Dayton.  He  sold  to  the  re- 
tail dealers  in  the  various  towns,  which  he  vis- 
ited at  regular  intervals,  and  continued  this 
now  almost  forgotten  industry  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1855  ne  established  the  first  whole- 
sale notion  house  in  Dayton,  being  associated 
with  John  Beaver,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Coffman  &  Beaver.  In  about  a  year  Mr. 
Beaver  died,  after  which  Mr.  Coffman  con- 
ducted the  business  individually  for  some  time, 
and  eventually  formed  the  firm  of  Coffman,  Os- 
born  &  Coffman,  which  continued  with  success 
until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Coffman 
then  disposed  of  his  interest  and  purchased  the 
interest  of  Edward  Stilwell  as  a  member  of 
Crawford  &  Stilwell,  who  were  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lasts  and  pegs  for  boots  and 
shoes.      This    industry    was    continued,    under 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


439 


the  firm  name  of  Crawford  &  Coffman,  until 
about  the  year  1885,  when  Mr.  Coffman  sold 
out  his  share  and  purchased  the  business  which 
is  now  conducted  by  his  son,  Charles  J.  Coff- 
man, it  being  then  of  the  same  character  as 
that  with  which  he  had  formerly  been  identified, 
namely,  the  wholesale  notion  business.  The 
father,  however,  practically  retired  from  active 
pursuits  at  the  time  of  purchasing  this  estab- 
lishment, chiefly  by  reason  of  the  deplorable 
infirmity  of  blindness,  which  afflicted  him  for 
a  period  of  about  six  years  prior  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  April,  1892.  The  enter- 
prise noted  was,  in  1887,  merged  into  the  Gem 
Shirt  company,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
this  stock  company,  Jacob  Coffman  became 
vice-president  of  the  corporation  and  was  con- 
nected with  it  until  his  death.  He  was  a  man 
of  unassuming  manners,  of  unbending  integ- 
rity and  honor,  and  of  marked  business  ability. 
He  commanded  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  In  his  re- 
ligious views  he  held  the  faith  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  was  a  zealous  worker  in  its  cause. 
He  was  radical  and  uncompromising  in  his  op- 
position to  the  institution  of  slavery  and  ren- 
dered a  stanch  allegiance  to  the  republican 
party  from  the  time  of  its  organization.  His 
tastes  were  essentialy  domestic  and  in  his  home 
were  centered  the  chief  attractions  and  inter- 
terests  of  his  life. 

Jacob  Coffman  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
December,  1841,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Miller, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Miller,  who 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  Montgomery 
county,  coming  hither  from  Lancaster,  Pa., 
where  the  mother  of  Charles  J.  was  born. 
Her  death  occurred  in  1889,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years.  Jacob  and  Sarah  Ann  Coff- 
man became  the  parents  of  a  large  family  of 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  living. 

Charles  J.  Coffman,  the  fifth  child  of  this 
family,    was    born    July    11,    1850.      He  was 


reared  in  Dayton,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  the  last  and  peg  factory  operated  by 
his  father,  and  there  remained  employed  for 
the  period  of  three  years,  after  which  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  traveling  salesman  for  the 
wholesale  millinery  establishment  of  Fahnley 
&  McCrea,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  somewhat  more  than  three  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Dayton  and  became  com- 
mercial traveler  for  the  wholesale  notion  house 
of  Osborn,  Satcamp  &  Co.  for  five  years,  after 
which  he  established  a  wholesale  business  of 
the  same  character,  under  the  firm  name  of 
C.  J.  Coffman  &  Co.,  conducting  the  same  for 
seven  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  father.  He  then 
became  a  traveling  salesman  in  the  handling 
of  shirts,  and  has  ever  since  been  associated 
with  this  business,  having  been  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Gem  Shirt  company.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  own  private  concerns  he  handled 
his  father's  business  for  six  years  prior  to  the 
latter's  death.  Mr.  Coffman  is  known  as  one 
of  the  progressive  and  thoroughly  representa- 
tive business  men  of  Dayton,  and  has  a  sin- 
cere interest  in  all  that  tends  to  conserve  the 
prosperity  of  the  city.  In  his  political  adher- 
ency  he  is  identified  with  the  republican  party, 
and  fraternally  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  of  the  United  Commercial  Trav- 
elers' association,  in  which  he  holds  official 
preferment  as  senior  counselor. 


aHARLES  F.  CORNS,  member  of  the 
Dayton  city  council  from  the  Sixth 
ward,  and  foreman  of  Kuhns  Bros.' 
foundry,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, December  4,  1835.  Receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  country,  he  came  to  America 
in  company  with  his  mother  in  1849,  a  brother 
and  sister  also  accompanying  them.      At  first 


440 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


they  located  in  Waterloo  county,  Upper  Can- 
ada, where  Mr.  Corns  learned  the  trade  of 
foundryman,  which  trade  he  has  since  followed 
almost  continuously.  In  1852  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1854,  and 
in  1855  returned  to  Canada.  In  1856  he  was 
married  in  Canada  to  Susan  Mclntire,  and  in 
1859  returned  to  the  United  States,  locating 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  re- 
side until  1 86 1.  During  this  latter  year  he 
came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  has  lived 
ever  since. 

During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  Mr.  Corns 
aided  in  recruiting  company  K,  Seventh  regi- 
ment, Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  also  com- 
pany I  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  He  worked  in  the 
government  arsenal  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  for  about 
four  months  during  the  year  1862,  going  there 
from  Dayton.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr. 
Corns  was  employed  as  a  molder  in  the  stove 
foundry  of  Brown  &  Irwin,  of  Dayton,  and 
afterward  was  with  the  firm  of  Greer  &  King 
for  about  ten  years.  He  was  afterward  a  molder 
in  the  employ  of  John  W.  Stoddard  for  about 
three  years,  and  for  about  eleven  years  was 
foreman  of  the  foundry  of  the  Farmers'  Friend 
Manufacturing  company.  He  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  Marley-Craig  Foundry  com- 
pany, being  a  partner  in  the  concern,  from 
which  came  the  Craig-Reynolds  company.  In 
1892  he  became  foreman  at  the  Kuhns  Bros.' 
foundry,  which  position  he  has  since  continu- 
ously held. 

Mr.  Corns  has  long  been  identified  with 
the  republican  party,  and  has  been  prominent 
in  the  public  affairs  of  the  city  of  Dayton.  In 
1886  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council  from 
the  Ninth  ward.  In  1888  he  was  re-elected 
from  the  same  ward,  and  again  in  1890  and 
1892,  thus  serving  eight  successive  years  from 
this  ward.      In    1894   he    was  elected   to  the 


council  from  the  Third  ward,  which  has  since 
been  changed  to  the  Sixth.  Mr.  Corns  is  the 
oldest  member  of  the  city  council,  not  only  in 
point  of  age,  but  also  in  years  of  service. 

Mr.  Corns  is  a  member  of  the  Harugari 
lodge  of  the  German-American  Pioneer  so- 
ciety, and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  To  Mr. 
Corns  and  his  wife  there  have  been  born  four 
children,  as  follows:  Edwin;  Estella,  wife  -of 
Fremont  Dodds,  of  London,  Madison  county, 
Ohio;  Charles  M. ,  dental  student;  and  Mur- 
rel,  wife  of  Vallington  Tippy,  of  Dayton,  as- 
sistant bookkeeper  for  the  dry-goods  house  of 
Elder  &  Johnston.  Mrs.  Corns  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

The  most  marked  characteristic  of  Mr. 
Corns  as  a  city  official  is  his  fearlessness  in 
the  expression  of  his  views  upon  all  matters  of 
public  moment  which  come  before  the  body  in 
which  he  has  rendered  so  long  a  service. 


eLI  FASOLD,  general  agent  for  the 
Singer  Manufacturing  company  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1838,  his  parents  being  also  natives  of 
that  county.  In  1844  the  family  removed  to 
Richmond,  Ind.,  where  Eli  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  learned  the  carriage-ironing 
trade  under  Peter  Crocker  &  Co.  April  20, 
1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  regiment, 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  three  months, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  entered  the  em- 
ployment of  the  Singer  Manufacturing  com- 
pany, and  for  five  years  had  his  headquarters 
at  Indianapolis,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years 
has  been  stationed  at  Dayton.  For  eight 
years  he  has  been  connected  with  the  Troup 
Manufacturing  company  of  Dayton,  as  vice- 
president,  but  is  now  closing  out  the  business 
of  this  concern.  For  five  years  he  was  a  direct- 
or of  the  Southern  Ohio   Fair  association,  and 


£^-J^^> 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


443 


has  been  an  active  and  energetic  business  man 
ever  since  attaining  his  majority. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Fasold  is  eminent  in  Free- 
masonry and  in  the  order  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  having  been  a  member  of  the  former 
for  nearly  thirty  and  of  the  latter  for  twenty- 
seven  years.  He  was  initiated  in  Mystic  lodge, 
No.  405,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Dayton,  June  12,  1869; 
passed  July  24,  1869,  and  raised,  September 
11,  1869;  was  elected  trustee  December  12, 
1879,  and  so  remained  until  1896;  elected 
senior  warden  December  4,  1880;  worshipful 
master,  December  9,  1884,  for  one  year.  In 
Unity  chapter,  No.  16,  R.  A.  M.,  marked 
November  4,  1869;  passed  January  6, 
1870;  received  and  acknowledged  May  5, 
1870;  exalted  June  2,  1870;  was  king  from 
December  19,  1878,  until  December  16, 
1886;  high  priest  from  December  16,  1866, 
to  December  15,  1887.  In  Reese  council, 
No.  9,  he  received  the  royal  and  select 
master's  degree  September  2,  1870.  In  Reed 
commandery,  No.  6,  K.  T. ,  was  dubbed 
and  created  Knight  of  Red  Cross  June  21, 
1870;  K.  T.,  July  19,  1870;  K.  of  M.,  July 
19,  1870;  sword  bearer,  November,  1871,  to 
November,  1873;  senior  warden,  November, 
1873,  to  November,  1875;  captain  general, 
November,  1875,  to  November,  1876;  emi- 
nent commander,  1876  to  1880;  trustee,  1880 
to  1895.  In  tne  grand  commandery  K.  T.  of 
Ohio,  was  grand  senior  warden  in  1877  and 
1878;  grand  senior  warden  in  1879  and  1880; 
grand  generalissimo,  1881  and  1882;  deputy 
grand  commander,  1883,  and  right  eminent 
grand  commander  in  1884;  was  representative 
of  the  grand  commandery  of  Nebraska  in 
1886-89,  1892-95-98.  In  the  ancient  ac- 
cepted Scottish  rite;  he  received  the  ineffable 
degrees  March  14,  1872,  in  Giblum  grand 
lodge  of  Perfection  at  Cincinnati;  received  the 
ancient  traditional  grades  March  15,  1872,  in 
the  Dalcho   grand  council,  P:  J.,  Cincinnati; 


received  philosophical  and  doctrinal  grades  in 
Cincinnati  grand  chapter  of  Rose-Croix,  same 
date  and  place,  and  the  modern  historic  and 
chivalric  grades  March  16,  1872;  in  Ohio 
grand  consistory,  S.  P.  R.  S.,  thirty-second 
degree;  was  created  sovereign  grand  inspector 
general,  thirty-third  degree,  at  Detroit,  Mich., 
September  23,  1884.  Mr.  Fasold  is  a  charter 
member  of  Gabriel  grand  lodge  of  perfection, 
Dayton;  was  appointed  grand  orator  for  1881- 
82,  and  served  as  trustee  from  January,  1881, 
to  1896;  is  a  charter  member  of  Miami  coun- 
cil, and  charter  member  of  Rose-Croix  grand 
chapter,  Dayton;  was  appointed  M.  E.  and 
P.  K.,  S.  W.,  in  April,  1880-81,  and  elected 
M.  W.  and  P.  M.  in  May,   1881-83. 

Mr.  Fasold  has  for  twelve  years  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Scottish  rite  K.  T.  and  Master 
Mason's  Aid  association,  and  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Homestead  Aid  association  for  five 
years,  and  a  director  in  the  same  eight  years; 
he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Freemasons' 
Mutual  Benefit  association,  and  has  been  a 
director  and  treasurer  for  twenty-two  years. 

Mr.  Fasold  was  united  in  marriage,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1861,  with  Miss  Louisa  Smith,  of  Rich- 
mond, Ind.,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
two  children — a  daughter,  Mary  F. ,  and  a 
son,  William  S.,  who  is  now  cashier  of  the 
Big  Four  Railroad  company  at  Dayton.  The 
parents  have  been  members  of  the  Third  street 
Presbyterian  church  for  the  past  thirty  years. 
In  politics  Mr.  Fasold  is  a  republican. 


HLBERT  CLAYTON  CARNEY,  M.D., 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  with  office  at  715  Washington 
street,  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
southwest  of  and  near  Germantown,  Montgom- 
ery county,  December  9,  1868.  He  is  a  son 
of  Walter  and  Catherine  (Garrison)  Carney, 
who  are  still   residing  on  their  home   farm  in 


444 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Butler  county,  where  Mr.  Carney  has  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  for  many  years.  The 
Carney  family  is  of  mixed  nationality,  Walter 
Carney  having  descended  from  Scotch,  Irish 
and  German  ancestry.  He  and  his  wife  are 
parents  of  four  children. 

Albert  C.  Carney  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  thus  inured  to  labor  in  his  early 
days.  His  education  was  received  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  later  he  attended  Otterbein 
university.  However,  while  in  college  he  was 
reading  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Cline,  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  as  his  preceptor,  having  early 
in  life  chosen  medicine  as  his  profession.  He 
afterward  read  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Jones,  of  Wes- 
terville,  Ohio,  and  attended  the  Ohio  Medical 
college  at  Cincinnati,  graduating  from  that  in- 
stitution in  the  class  of  1889.  At  first  he  was 
located  in  Greenville,  Ohio,  practicing  there 
six  months,  and  then  removed  to  Germantown, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  practice  until  1892. 
In  this  year  he  removed  to  Dayton,  where  he 
has  been  ever  since,  and  where  he  has  built 
up  a  good  practice.  He  is  the  most  successful 
of  the  young  physicians  of  the  city,  and  a 
rising  young  man  in  every  way. 

He  is  a  member  of  Friendship  lodge,  No. 
21,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  of  Germantown,  Ohio,  and  of 
the  Germantown  encampment,  No.  77,  Patri- 
archs Militant.  He  was  married  March  1, 
1888,  in  Germantown,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Etta  B. 
Swain,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Swain.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Carney  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Homer  Eugene.  They  are  leading  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church  and  highly  re- 
garded by  all  who  know  them. 


aHARLES  A.  COOPER,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Charles  A.  Cooper 
&  Co.,  wholesale  dealers  in  saddlery 
and  carriage  goods,    Dayton,     Ohio, 
was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  May    13,   1851, 


a    son    of    David    and     Louisa    S.     (Runyon) 
Cooper. 

David  Cooper  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
January  9,  1826,  a  son  of  William  and  Jane 
(Murphy)  Cooper,  and  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
November  11,  1888.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  came  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  the  dry- 
goods  business  at  Springfield,  but  sold  out  in 
1849,  and  established  the  business  which 
Charles  A.  Cooper,  his  son,  now  conducts  in 
Dayton,  and  of  which  further  mention  will  be 
made.  January  9,  1849,  he  was  married  in 
Springfield  to  Miss  Louisa  S.  Runyon,  daughter 
of  William  and  Harriet  (Silvers)  Runyon,  the 
former  of  New  Jersey  and  the  latter  of  Eng- 
land. Mrs.  Louisa  S.  Cooper  was  born  in 
Newburg,  Pa.,  and  was  a  babe  when  taken  to 
Kentucky  by  her  parents.  Her  father  was  a 
railroad  contractor  and  constructed  the  first 
railroad  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and 
constructed  the  first  railroad  at  Lexington,  Ky. , 
which  was  one  of  the  first  in  that  state.  About 
1835  the  Runyon  family  came  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Runyon  was  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  until  1841,  when  he  removed 
to  Springfield,  wherehe  was  engaged  in  the  same 
industry  until  his  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Runyon  were  born  five  children,  of  whom  two 
died  in  infancy;  Louisa  S.  is  the  widow  of 
David  Cooper;  Mary,  now  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Pliny  Newhall,  and  Ellen  is  married  to 
Albert  E.  Shearer,  of  Cleveland.  To  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Cooper  were 
born  six  children,  viz:  George,  now  a  travel- 
ing salesman;  Charles  A. ;  Edward  F. ,  of  Day- 
ton; Hattie  E.,  wife  of  W.  B.  Anderson; 
David  W. ,  and  Mary  L. ,  wife  of  Charles  F. 
Snyder — all  of  Dayton.  The  mother  and  her 
sons,  Charles  A.  and  David  W.,  now  make 
their  home  at  No.  351  West  First  street. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  late  David  Cooper 
established  the  present  business  in  1849,  in 
Springfield,     Ohio,    beginning     as     a     whole- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


445 


sale  and  retail  dealer  in  general  hardware, 
saddlery  and  carriage  materials.  In  1869  he 
came  to  Dayton,  opened  his  store  at  No.  140 
East  Third  street,  and  conducted  a  wholesale 
and  retail  trade  in  the  same  line  as  that  he  had 
carried  on  in  Springfield;  but  in  1876  disposed 
of  his  general  hardware  business  and  confined 
himself  to  the  wholesale  saddlery  and  carriage 
goods  trade,  selling  chiefly  throughout  Ohio 
and  Indiana.  At  his  death,  in  1888,  his  son, 
Charles  A.,  assumed  the  management  of  the 
business  in  conjunction  with  his  brother,  Ed- 
ward F.  Cooper,  under  the  firm  name  of 
David  Cooper's  Sons.  January  1,  1890,  the 
firm  removed  to  the  present  quarters,  No.  123 
East  Third  street,  in  the  Huffman  block,  and 
August  1,  1893,  Charles  A.  purchased  the 
interest  of  his  brother,  Edward  F.,  and  Janu- 
ary 1,  1894,  changed  the  firm  name  to  that  of 
Charles  A.  Cooper  &  Co. — the  firm  being  now 
composed  of  Louisa  S.  Cooper  and  Charles  A. 
Cooper.  Two  men  are  constantly  employed 
by  the  firm  as  salesmen  on  the  road,  and 
they  cover  the  territory  embraced  by  the  states 
of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  throughout  which  states 
the  firm  is  well  known,  it  being  the  largest 
concern  in  its  line  in  western  Ohio. 

Charles  A.  Cooper  was  reared  in  Spring- 
field, and  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  that  city  and  at  Wittenberg  college.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  came  to  Dayton 
to  assist  his  father  in  the  store,  and  in  1873 
went  on  the  road  as  salesman,  representing  the 
house  for  sixteen  years.  He  then  returned  to 
the  store  and  assumed  the  management  of  the 
business,  having  been  admitted  as  a  partner  a 
year  previously. 

Mr.  Cooper  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
management,  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
ablest  of  the  young  business  men  of  Dayton. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Third  street  Presby- 
terian church,  and  in  politics  affiliates  with  the 
republican  party. 


aOL.  ROBERT  COWDEN,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  is  descended  from  an  old 
Scotch  family,  who  came  to  America, 
many  years  ago,  from  Cowden  Knolls, 
twenty-five  miles  north  of  Edinburg.  His  par- 
ents, David  and  Elizabeth  (Kitch)  Cowden, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  early  settlers 
in  Ohio,  where  the  father  died  when  Robert 
was  but  five  years  of  age. 

Robert  Cowden  was  born  May  24,  1833, 
near  Leesville  Cross  Roads,  Ohio,  and  although 
his  opportunities  for  securing  an  education 
were  meager,  he  succeeded,  by  dint  of  close 
application  to  study,  in  acquiring  a  fair  amount 
of  knowledge  and  became  a  school  teacher  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  following  that  call- 
ing in  the  winter  and  working  during  the  sum- 
mer at  any  paying  employment  he  could  find, 
for  several  consecutive  years.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  was  converted  to  Christ  and  at 
once  entered  upon  a  career  of  religious  work 
in  the  interest  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  humanity,  and  to-day,  as  an  organizer  and 
teacher  of  Sunday  schools,  he  probably  has  no 
superior.  Persistent  in  his  studies,  he  early 
developed  himself  as  a  scholar  of  much  learn- 
ing, especially  in  the  field  of  theology,  and  was 
thus  fully  qualified  for  Sabbath-school  work,  and 
for  nearly  thirty  years  he  has  been  closely 
identified  with  that  branch  of  religious  activity 
in  this  country,  and  has  filled  many  positions 
of  honor  in  connection  with  it.  Coupled  with 
his  well-earned  reputation  for  usefulness  in 
civil  life,  Col.  Cowden  has  a  military  record 
for  patriotism  and  valor,  and  the  scars  upon 
his  person  bear  substantial  witness  to  the  fact 
that  he  not  only  loved  his  country  but  helped 
to  fight  her  battles.  Robert  Cowden  enlisted 
September  9,  1861,  in  company  B,  Fifty-sixth 
Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  but  was  transferred 
to  company  H,  and  between  the  date  of  his  en- 
listment and  January  28,  1862,  was  promoted 
to  be  corporal,  was  next  advanced  to  the  posi- 


446 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tion  of  sergeant,  and  still  later  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant  of  company  H.  Because 
of  defective  enlistment  or  organization  of  the 
Fifty-sixth,  that  regiment  was  mustered  out  of 
service  January  28,  1862,  and  on  the  same  day 
Lieut.  Cowden  entered  battery  I,  First  Illinois 
light  artillery,  as  a  private.  During  his  serv- 
ice of  eighteen  months  in  this  body  he  was 
promoted  through  the  intermediate  grades  from 
private  to  second  lieutenant,  receiving  his  com- 
mission for  meritorious  conduct  on  the  battle 
field  of  Shiloh.  July  29,  1863,  Lieut.  Cow- 
den was  discharged  to  receive  promotion,  and 
was  mustered  in  as  major  of  the  Fifty-ninth 
United  States  colored  infantry,  and  May  1, 
1864,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
colonel,  with  which  rank  he  served  until  his 
final  muster  out,  January  31,  1866.  At  this 
time,  to  save  the  men,  who  in  most  cases  had 
been  recruited  from  the  illiterate  plantation 
hands,  from  the  self-constituted  bounty  and 
claim  agents,  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the 
regiment  was  held  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where 
it  was  decided  that  Col.  Ccwden  should  re- 
ceive authority  to  act  for  the  discharged  men. 
As  a  consequence  530  soldiers  entrusted  their 
discharge  papers  to  him,  the  result  being  that 
he  subsequently  collected  all  back  pay,  bounty, 
etc.,  due  to  the  men  and  placed  the  proceeds 
into  the  hands  of  those  to  whom  they  rightfully 
belonged.  The  colonel  was  also  instrumental 
in  establishing  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  unlettered  men  of  his  regiment,  and  in  this 
school  250  colored  men  were  taught  to  read 
and  write. 

Among  the  many  engagements  in  which 
Col.  Cowden  participated  may  be  enumerated 
that  of  Shiloh,  both  days;  the  siege  of  Corinth 
and  the  engagement  at  the  Russell  house, 
lying  between  Pittsburg  Landing  and  Corinth; 
the  siege  and  capture  of  Yicksburg;  the  second 
capture  of  Jackson,  Miss.;  the  engagement  at 
Guntown,  Miss.,  where,  June  10,  1864,  he  re- 


ceived a  severe  wound  in  the  right  hip;  and 
finally  the  battles  of  Tupelo  and  Pontotoc, 
Miss.,  in  July,   1864. 

To  revert  to  the  life  of  Col.  Cowden  as  a 
civilian,  it  may  be  stated  that,  prior  to  the  Civil 
war,  he  resided  in  Kansas  for  three  years  and 
was  there  during  the  "border"  troubles,  and 
was  the  first  county  clerk  elected  in  Franklin 
county.  He  again  resided  in  that  state  from 
1885  until  1891,  in  Cheyenne  county;  in  the 
interim,  however,  he  lived  in  Galion,  Craw- 
ford county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  postmaster 
during  the  administration  of  President  Hayes. 
He  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  military  or- 
der known  as  the  Loyal  Legion,  commandery 
of  Ohio;  for  twenty-six  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  general  board  of  the  Ohio  Sunday- 
school  association,  in  which  he  served  one 
year  as  president,  six  years  as  general  secre- 
tary, and  the  remainder  of  the  period  as  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee;  for  years 
he  has  been  general  secretary  of  the  Sabbath- 
school  board  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ 
and  general  Sabbath-school  missionary  and 
organizer  for  that  denomination;  he  is  also 
secretary  of  the  normal  department  of  the 
Ohio  State  Sabbath-school  association  and  is 
its  statistician;  from  1875  until  1890  he  was  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  In- 
ternational Sabbath-school  association,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  all  its  triennial  conven- 
tions, held  in  London,  and  to  the  first  and  sec- 
ond world's  conventions;  also  the  convention 
held  at  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1893.  He  travels 
about  20,000  miles  annually  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  work.  He  has  contributed  many 
valuable  articles  to  the  religious  press,  and, 
wielding  a  facile  pen,  has  written  a  history  of 
his  regiment. 

The  first  marriage  of  Col.  Cowden  was 
solemnized,  in  1854,  with  Miss  Lydia  T. 
Miller,  which  union  was  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren, viz:     Daniel  Webster,  now  a   wholesale 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


447 


merchant  of  Salina,  Kans. ;  John  C.  Milton,  a 
farmer  of  Cheyenne  county,  in  the  same  state; 
Jacob  K.  R.,  a  farmer  of  Eagle  county,  Colo., 
and  Mrs.  Zoe  E.  M.  Chipperfield,  whose  hus- 
band is  also  a  farmer  of  Cheyenne  county, 
Kans.,  and  descended  from  these  children 
there  are  now  twelve  living  grandchildren  of 
Col.  Cowden.  After  a  happy  union  of  over 
thirty-six  years,  Mrs.  Cowden  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1S90,  and  in  November,  1891,  Col.  Cow- 
den was  united  in  matrimony  with  Mrs.  Joanna 
McGinnis,  of  Wichita,  Kans. 


a  APT.  THOMAS  J.  CROOKS  was 
born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  May  3,  1845. 
His  parents  were  John  C.  and  Sarah 
J.  (Beatty)  Crooks,  the  father  a  na- 
tive of  north  Ireland  and  the  mother  born  in 
the  highlands  of  Scotland:  they  were  married 
in  Ireland,  and,  about  the  year  1842,  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  John  C.  Crooks  was  for  some 
time  a  member  of  the  police  force.  In  his  na- 
tive country  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpet 
weaving,  but  did  not  follow  his  calling  very 
long  after  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States;  he  died  at  Cleveland  in  1878,  aged  sixty 
years.  Mrs.  Crooks  still  lives  in  that  city. 
John  C.  and  Sarah  Crooks  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  four  sons  .and  four  daughters, 
three  of  the  sons  having  served  gallantly  in  the 
late  war  of  the  Rebellion;  Samuel  was  killed  in 
December,  1864,  at  Fort  McAlister;  John  E. 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
Va. ;  he  is  now  a  resident  of  Benicia,  Cal., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness and  of  which  city  he  has  also  served 
as  mayor  at  different  times;  William  L. ,  a 
telegrapher,  resides  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ; 
Elizabeth  married  a  Mr.  Lewis  and  lives  in 
Kansas;  Elizabeth  Callins  makes  her  home  in 
Cleveland,  and  the  two  youngest   members  of 


the  family,  Mary  and  Lillie  A.,  both  unmarried, 
still  reside  with  their  mother  under  the  paren- 
tal roof. 

Thomas  J.  Crooks  grew  to  early  manhood 
in  Cleveland,  where  he  attended  school  until 
his  seventeenth  year,  at  which  time  he  laid 
aside  his  studies  and  entered  the  army,  enlist- 
ing in  what  was  known  as  the  Cleveland 
Grays,  a  company  which  formed  part  of  the 
Eighty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
with  which  he  served  for  a  period  of  four 
months  in  Virginia  under  Gen.  Kelley.  Dur- 
ing his  first  enlistment  Capt.  Crooks  saw  some 
active  service  and  took  part  in  several  engage- 
ments of  minor  importance,  chief  among  which 
was  the  fight  at  New  Creek,  Va.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  period  of  service,  he  re-enlisted, 
October  9,  1862,  for  three  years,  in  company 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  in- 
fantry, receiving  the  rank  of  corporal,  and,  a 
little  later,  was  made  first  sergeant  of  his  com- 
pany. He  was  wounded  September  19,  1863, 
at  Chickamauga,  and  for  six  months  thereafter 
remained  in  a  hospital,  the  nature  of  his  disa- 
bility necessitating  his  retirement  from  active 
service  for  the  greater  part  of  a  year.  On 
being  discharged  from  the  hospital  Capt. 
Crooks  was  transferred,  March,  1864,  to  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  battalion  vet- 
eran reserve  corps,  with  which  he  served  until 
mustered  out  July  26,  1S65,  at  Nashville, 
Teml.  During  this  period  he  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Thompson's  Station,  Tenn., 
where  the  entire  brigade,  with  the  exception 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
was  captured;  Triune,  Tenn.;  Chickamauga; 
two-days'  fight  at  Nashville,  and  other  engage- 
ments, in  all  of  which  his  conduct  was  that  of 
a  faithful  and  gallant  soldier.  Returning  to 
Cleveland  after  the  war,  Capt.  Crooks  accepted 
a  clerical  position  in  the  mayor's  office  of  that 
city  and  was  thus  employed  for  one  year,  when 
he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  conduct- 


448 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ing  the  same  until  1867.  In  the  latter  year 
he  entered  the  United  States  service,  enlisting 
in  the  Twenty-eighth  infantry  for  three  years, 
during  the  greater  part  of  which  time  he  was 
stationed  at  Governor's  Island,  N.  Y. ,  and  for 
over  one  year  was  drillmaster  on  Hart's  Island. 
The  Twenty-eighth  was  consolidated  with  the 
Nineteenth  U.  S.  infantry  in  1869,  from  which 
time  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment Capt.  Crooks  was  stationed  at  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  Baton  Rouge  and  New  Orleans, 
La.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Fort 
Pike,  La.,  June,  1870,  and  in  September  of 
the  same  year  he  re-enlisted  for  a  term  of  five 
years  in  the  Seventeenth  U.  S.  infantry,  com- 
pany I,  of  which  he  was  made  sergeant.  This 
service  was  principally  at  Fort  Sully,  Chey- 
enne agency.  Forts  Rice  and  Stevenson,  and 
he  was  discharged  in  September,  1  875.  In  De- 
cember following  he  again  entered  the  army, 
enlisting  in  company  A,  Twenty-second  U.  S. 
infantry,  with  which  he  served  one  year  at 
Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y.,  three  years  at  Fort 
Wayne,  Mich.,  and  the  last  year  at  Fort  Grif- 
fin, Tex.,  receiving  his  discharge  at  the  last 
named  place,  December,   1880. 

In  April,  1 88 1 ,  Capt.  Crooks  enlisted  for  five 
years  in  company  F,  Fifteenth  U.  S.  infantry, 
of  which  he  was  made  first  sergeant,  and  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  thence 
joined  his  command  later  at  Santa  Fe,  N. 
M.,  from  which  place  the  regiment  was 
used  in  operating  against  the  hostile  Indians  in 
the  southwest.  Three  months  of  1881  were 
spent  in  active  warfare  with  the  Indians  under 
chief  Victoria,  whose  band  was  driven  across 
the  Rio  Grande  into  Mexico,  and  later  Capt. 
Crooks'  company  was  transferred  to  Fort 
Lewis,  Colo. ,  thence  to  Forts  Abe  Lincoln  and 
Stevenson,  Dak. 

After  long  and  continuous  service  of  great 
activity  and  danger,  Capt.  Crooks  was  final- 
ly    discharged     at    his    own    request,    at    Fort 


Buford,  Dak.  He  saw  over  twenty  years 
of  service  while  in  the  regular  army,  shirked 
no  duty,  however  onerous,  and  shrank  from 
none  of  the  many  perils  through  which  he  was 
called  to  pass.  For  years  he  was  exposed  to 
almost  constant  dangers,  and  his  escapes  from 
the  Indians  upon  many  occasions  were  narrow 
and  thrilling.  At  one  time,  with  eighteen 
comrades,  he  was  surrounded  by  the  Indians, 
and  for  six  days  this  intrepid  little  band  kept 
up  an  unequal  contest  with  500  savages, 
being  rescued,  after  untold  sufferings  and 
the  loss  of  several  men,  by  a  detachment  of  U. 
S.  troops  from  Fort  Stevenson.  Many  other 
adventures  could  be  narrated,  and  his  army 
experience,  if  written  in  full,  would  be  replete 
with  romantic  interest. 

After  his  last  discharge,  Capt.  Crooks 
went  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  where  he  spent  one 
year  at  different  occupations,  and  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  on  the  city  police  force, 
which,  however,  he  was  soon  compelled  to  re- 
sign on  account  of  disabilities  incurred  while 
in  the  army.  During  the  succeeding  two  years, 
he  represented  a  wholesale  house  as  a  com- 
mercial traveler,  but  this,  too,  he  was  forced  to 
give  up  by  reason  of  his  enfeebled  condition. 
He  then  became  an  inmate  of  the  National 
Home  for  Disabled  Volunteers  at  Dayton,  his 
admission  to  the  institution  dating  in  Septem- 
ber, 1892.  During  the  greater  part  of  1893, 
he  was  sergeant  of  the  Columbian  guards  at 
the  world's  fair,  and  since  December  of  that 
year  has  been  captain,  first  of  company  Twelve, 
which  he  commanded  until  July  20.  1894, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  company  Twenty, 
which  he  now  commands. 

Capt.  Crooks  is  an  active  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R. ,  a  republican  in  politics,  and  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
In  1876  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lizzie  Bowman,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  who  bore 
him  two  children,  Sadie  and  Daisy,  the  former 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


449 


now  living  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  the  latter 
in  the  city  of  Detroit.  The  captain  is  a  wid- 
ower, having  lost  his  wife  several  years  ago. 


aHARLES  W.  DALE,  judge  of  the 
police  court  of  Dayton,  and  one  of 
the  widely-known  members  of  the 
Dayton  bar,  was  born  in  Germantown, 
Ohio,  on  September  13,  1862.  By  working 
during  the  summer  seasons  he  was  enabled  to 
attend  school  in  the  winter  months,  during  his 
boyhood  days,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  of 
his  native  town.  For  a  period  of  five  years 
Judge  Dale  taught  in  the  public  schools  of 
Germantown  and  Ellerton,  this  county,  and 
then  attended  the  law  school  and  university  of 
Cincinnati,  graduating  from  that  institution  in 
1883.  Locating  in  Dayton,  he  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  and  so  continued 
until  his  election  to  the  bench.  During  the 
term  of  office  of  Mayor  Crawford,  Judge  Dale 
served  as  his  clerk.  In  March,  1892,  he  was 
nominated  by  the  republicans  as  candidate  for 
police  judge,  and  he  was  elected  over  a  strong 
competitor  in  the  person  of  the  democratic 
candidate — Hon.  J.  E.  D.  Ward,  then  mayor 
of  the  city.  He  has  continued  on  the  bench 
ever  since,  giving  entire  satisfaction  to  the 
public,  and  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office 
with  ability  and  judgment.  Judge  Dale  has 
written  extensively  for  some  of  the  leading 
periodicals,  and  is  the  author  and  compiler  of 
Familiar  Laws. 


*-j-»     EWIS  DANCYGER,    senior  member 

j     of  the  dry-goods  firm  of  L.  Dancyger 

A     &  Son,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 

Poland  in  1 83 1.      In    order    to    avoid 

impressment  into  the   Russian  army  he  left  his 

native  land  and   went  to   England.      In    1856 


he,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  came  to 
the  United  States  and  first  located  at  New 
Brighton,  Pa.,  where  he  opened  a  general 
store  and  remained  about  five  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Noblesville,  Ind.,  and  for  three 
years  was  there  a  leading  merchant  and  banker. 
For  two  and  a  half  years  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  and  real-estate  enterprises  in  Indi- 
anapolis, Ind.,  and  in  1865  came  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  opened  a  dry-goods  store  on  the  corner 
of  Third  and  Jefferson  streets,  and,  after  twenty 
years,  moved  to  the  Balsley  building,  where  he 
carried  on  business  for  seven  years.  On  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1887,  he  lost  the  companion  of  his 
life,  who  had  borne  him  two  children  —  Simon 
and  Isaac. 

Simon  Dancyger,  at  present  connected 
with  his  father  in  his  extensive  business,  was 
born  in  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  England,  and 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  infancy. 
He  received  a  fair  education  and  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years  entered  his  father's  store  as  cash- 
boy,  and  at  twenty  years  became  buyer  for  the 
concern.  He  is  of  an  inventive  turn  of  mind, 
and  his  little  leisure  time  he  has  devoted  to 
the  invention  of  labor-saving  devices,  chiefly 
for  the  use  of  merchants  —  such  as  marking 
tags,  pins,  and  other  contrivances  —  now  hold- 
ing nine  patents  granted  by  the  United  States 
government  and  several  issued  by  the  English 
and  German  governments.  These  articles  are 
now  being  sold  all  over  the  Union  by  traveling 
salesmen  and  are  coming  into  general  use. 
For  the  manufacture  of  these  specialties  he 
has  recently  erected  a  handsome  three-story 
brick  building  on  Saint  Mary  street,  running 
back  to  Clegg  street,  and  will  give  employ- 
ment to  forty  or  fifty  persons. 

Isaac  Dancyger,  the  youngest  son  of  Lewis 
Dancyger  and  wife,  when  a  lad  of  six  years 
was  killed  by  a  runaway  team  in  Indianapolis, 
Ind. ,  where  his  remains  were  interred. 

Lewis  Dancyger  is  an    Odd   Fellow  and   a 


450 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men; he  is  a  stockholder  in  the  City  National 
bank,  has  erected  several  fine  residences  in 
Dayton,  and  has  otherwise  contributed  to  make 
the  city  what  it  is  to-day.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  synagogue  on  Jefferson  street,  and  lives  in 
strict  conformity  with  the  teachings  of  the 
faith  in  which  he  was  reared.  Simon  Dancy- 
ger,  in  his  religious  views,  is  quite  liberal. 
Both  father  and  son  are  stanch  republicans  in 
their  politics,  but  simply  act  as  quiet  voters  in 
support  of  their  party. 

Lewis  Dancyger  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful as  a  business  man,  the  nucleus  of 
his  present  fortune  having  been  £$,  which 
he  borrowed  from  his  brother  in  England. 
How  he  handled  that  small  sum  may  easily  be 
imagined.  That  he  has  been  prudent  and 
conservative  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he 
has  passed  safely  through  all  the  financial 
crises  that  have  occurred  since  he  started  busi- 
ness in  America,  without  suspending  even  for 
one  day.  His  son  Simon  deserves  equal  credit 
for  the  usefulness  and  ingenuity  of  the  inven- 
tions suggested  to  him  by  the  demands  of  his 
daily  occupations. 


"^-VOSEPH  LIGHT,  superintendent  of  the 
B  Dayton  Gas  Light  &  Coke  company, 
f»  J  was  born  in  London,  England,  June  16, 
1833.  His  parents,  George  and  Ann 
(Rutherford)  Light,  were  natives  of  England, 
and  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  only 
two  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz:  Mary  Ann, 
widow  of  Edward  Roberts,  and  who  is  living  in 
Dayton,  and  Joseph,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
George  Light,  the  father  of  Joseph,  was  a 
brick  mason  by  trade,  an  Episcopalian  in  re- 
ligion, and  died  in  London  when  seventy-six 
years  of  age,  in  1852.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
Congregationalist  in  religion,  died  in  1866, 
aged  sixty-five  years. 


The  paternal  grandfather  was  also  a  native 
of  England,  and  lived  in  that  country  all  his 
life,  dying  at  the  age  of  101  years.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  John  Rutherford,  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  died  in  the  land  of 
his  birth. 

Joseph  Light  was  reared  and  educated  in 
London,  and  when  twelve  years  of  age  began 
to  learn  the  manufacture  of  gas  machinery  and 
the  art  of  ship  building,  in  that  city.  These 
occupations  he  followed  with  energy  and  inter- 
est until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  came  to  the  United  States.  In  Cincin- 
nati he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
gas  for  three  years,  and,  in  1855,  removed  to 
Dayton,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  Dayton 
Gas  Light  &  Coke  company's  works  as  super- 
intendent, which  position  he  has  held  ever 
since,  a  period  of  forty-two  years.  Mr.  Light 
is  interested  in  the  firm  of  G.  J.  Roberts  &  Co., 
manufacturers  of  steam  pumps  and  general 
machinery.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Piqua 
Gas  Works  company,  and  is  superintendent  of 
the  Urbana  Gas  works. 

Mr.  Light  was  married  in  November,  1854, 
to  Miss  Catherine  Lee,  daughter  of  Richard 
Lee,  of  Cincinnati,  the  maiden  name  of  whose 
wife  was  McGee.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  as  follows:  Catherine,  George, 
Jennie,  Joseph  E.,  Ella  F.,  and  Edward  H. 
George  married  Miss  Lida  Ferguson.  He  is 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Gas  Light  & 
Coke  company.  Jennie  married  Charles  De- 
Armon,  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  and  has  three  children, 
Joseph  Eugene,  Catherine,  and  Charles  Ruth- 
erford. Mrs.  Catherine  Light  died  in  1874. 
She  was  an  excellent  woman,  and  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  At  her  death  she 
was  mourned  by  many  friends  as  well  as  by  her 
relatives,  as  one  whose  place  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  fill. 

Mr.  Light   was    married   the    second   time, 


^€A^\     0(u 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


453 


April  7,  1880,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Westwood, 
daughter  of  John  C.  and  Susannah  Westwood, 
by  whom  he  has  had  no  children.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Light  are  members  of  the  Park  Presby- 
terian church,  which  was  organized  in  1851. 
Mr.  Light  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic, frater- 
nity, and  has  had  conferred  upon  him  the 
thirty-second  degree.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
and  was  a  charter  member  of  Miami  lodge,  No. 
32,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  also  a  Knight  of 
Honor.  Politically,  Mr.  Light  is  an  earnest 
republican. 

Mr.  Light's  connection  of  over  forty  years 
with  the  gaslight  and  coke  company  has  made 
his  name  familiar  throughout  the  community, 
and  he  is  not  only  regarded  in  business  circles 
as  a  man  of  strong,  native  ability  and  judgment, 
but  enjoys  the  sincere  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  Dayton's  citizens.  In  the  several  de- 
partments of  the  gas  company's  plant  over  100 
men  are  employed,  so  that  Mr.  Light's  position 
is  one  of  great   importance  and  responsibility. 

In  1872,  after  being  absent  from  his  native 
country  some  twenty  years,  he  made  a  three- 
months'  visit  to  his  old  home,  this  being  the 
only  time  he  has  been  away  from  Dayton  for 
any  considerable  period.  Mr.  Light  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  his  church,  and  an  industri- 
ous and  worthy  citizen  of  the  state  in  which  he 
has  lived  for  forty-five  years. 


a  APT.  LORENZO  N.  DAVIS  was 
born  in  the  county  of  Wyoming,  N. 
Y. ,  April  7,  1840.  His  father,  Lo- 
renzo D.  Davis,  also  a  native  of  the 
Empire  state,  was  a  man  of  local  prominence 
in  the  community  where  he  resided  and  for 
many  years  held  positions  of  trust  in  Wells- 
ville,  where  he  owned  and  operated  a  manu- 
facturing establishment.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, the  first  time  to  Mary  Dodge,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children,  Daniel  and  Lorenzo  N. ; 

14 


his  death  occurred  at  Wellsville,  N.  Y.,  June, 
1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Capt. 
Davis  spent  the  years  of  early  manhood  in  his 
native  county,  assisting  on  the  home  farm 
when  not  otherwise  engaged,  attending  in  the 
meantime  the  public  schools,  in  which  he  ob- 
tained a  knowledge  of  the  common  branches. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  he 
turned  his  back  upon  home  and  friends,  and 
enlisted  in  company  E,  Fifth  New  York  cav- 
alry, known  as  the  Harry  Harris  Guards, 
with  which  he  served  in  the  army  of  the  Poto- 
mac under  Gens.  Hatch,  Sheridan  and  Kil- 
patrick.  He  was  engaged  in  the  principal  bat- 
tles in  which  the  army  of  the  Potomac  took 
part  and  was  on  the  famous  raid  under  Gen. 
Kilpalrick  after  the  fight  at  Chancellorsville, 
when  prisoners  were  taken  inside  the  fortifica- 
tions around  Richmond.  The  list  of  battles 
in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged  is  a  long 
one,  including  Front  Royal,  Newtown  Cross 
Road,  Winchester,  Orange  C.  H.,  Cedar 
Mountain,  Waterloo  Bridge,  Groveton,  second 
Bull  Run,  Chantilly,  Hanover,  Humberstown, 
Boonsboro,  Culpeper  C.  H.,  Summerville 
Ford,  James  City,  Brandy  Station,  Backland 
Mills,  Raccoon  Ford,  defenses  of  Richmond, 
Parker's  Store,  Wilderness,  Milford  Station, 
Mount  Carmel  church,  Ashland  Station,  Salem 
church,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Nottaway  C.  H., 
Round  Oak  Station,  Mary  Heights,  Stony 
Creek,  Ream's  Station,  Snicker's  Ferry,  Kerns- 
town,  Summit  Point,  Winchester,  Milford, 
Surry  Valley,  Waynesboro,  Tom's  Brook  and 
Cedar  Creek,  a  total  of  forty-five  battles  and 
twelve  minor  engagements,  in  nearly  all  of 
which  Capt.  Davis  was  present  and  did  effect- 
ive service.  He  was  taken  prisoner  while  on 
picket  duty  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  January, 
1863,  but  was  paroled  after  a  confinement  of 
only  twelve  hours,  after  which  he  was  taken 
to  Annapolis,  Md.,  where  he  remained  until 
exchanged. 


454 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  rejoined  his  regiment  after  a  three- 
months'  absence  and  continued  in  active  serv- 
ice until  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in 
New  York.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Mich- 
igan, where  he  was  employed  at  various  occu- 
pations for  eight  years,  and  in  1883  became  an 
inmate  of  the  national  soldiers'  home  at  Day- 
ton, where  he  has  been  honored  with  official 
positions  since  September  of  the  year  follow- 
ing. In  1886  he  was  promoted  captain  and 
placed  in  command  of  company  Twenty-five, 
a  position  of  responsibility,  which  he  still 
holds,  and  the  duties  of  which  he  has  dis- 
charged in  an  eminently  satisfactory  manner. 

Capt.  Davis  was  a  gallant  soldier,  unflinch- 
ing in  the  discharge  of  every  duty  in  most  try- 
ing situations,  and  earned  his  laurels  on  many 
battle  fields.  As  an  official  he  is  popular  alike 
with  his  superiors  and  with  those  under  him, 
possesses  executive  ability  of  no  mean  order, 
and  is  one  of  the  trusted  guardians  of  the  noble 
institution  with  which  he  is  identified. 

Capt.  Davis  never  married.  He  was  made 
an  Odd  Fellow  while  a  resident  of  Michigan, 
and  has  since  been  an  active  and  influential 
member  of  the  fraternity;  he  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Union  Veteran  Legion,  a  military  organ- 
ization. Politically,  Capt.  Davis  has  been  a 
life-long  republican;  he  was  reared  in  the  faith 
of  the  Baptish  church,  but,  while  believing  in 
religion,  is  not  identified  with  any  church 
organization. 


aLAIBORNE    M.    DAVIS,    undertaker 
and  funeral   director,    is    a   native   of 
Clark   county,    Ohio,    where    he    was 
born  July  2,  1850.      His  parents  were 
Hezekiah  and   Druzilla  Davis,  both  natives  of 
Ohio,  and  his  paternal  ancestors  were  Virgin- 
ians of  Scotch  descent.      Owing  to  the  death 


of  his  parents,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
quite  young,  Mr.  Davis  remembers  but  little  of 
the  family  history,  as  he  was  reared  among 
strangers.  Like  many  young  men  who  have 
been  compelled  to  make  their  own  way  in  the 
world  without  social  prestige  or  monetary  influ- 
ence, Mr.  Davis  was  denied  in  a  great  measure 
the  educational  advantages  now  considered 
essential  to  success  in  life,  but  he  made  up  for 
the  lack  of  opportunities  in  youth  by  diligent 
study  after  reaching  the  years  of  manhood. 
By  close  application,  after  his  twenty-first 
year,  he  advanced  sufficiently  in  his  studies  to 
obtain  a  teacher's  license,  after  which  his  time 
was  divided  between  teaching  and  attending 
school,  working  in  the  meanwhile  as  a  farm 
hand,  and  thus  adding  to  his  earnings  and 
enabling  him  to  pursue  a  course  in  the  Ohio 
Southern  Normal  school.  He  began  teaching 
in  1870,  and  remained  in  the  profession  for  a 
period  of  ten  years,  his  work  during  that  time 
being  confined  to  a  single  township  in  his  native 
county,  which  fact  attests  his  ability  as  a  suc- 
cessful instructor. 

Severing  his  connection  with  educational 
work,  Mr.  Davis  embarked  in  the  undertaking 
and  furniture  business  at  Tippecanoe,  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  a  remarka- 
bly successful  trade  for  about  seven  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time,  in  the  fall  of  1887,  he 
located  in  Dayton,  where  he  has  since  operated 
an  extensive  undertaking  business,  his  place, 
Nos.  1 105-7  East  Fifth  street,  being  one  of  the 
best  known  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the 
city.  Mr.  Davis  is  familiar  with  every  detail 
of  his  business,  keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  times 
in  the  matter  of  new  features  and  improve- 
ments in  the  line  of  undertaking,  and  has  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  his  patronage  increase 
year  by  year.  He  is  a  self-made  man  in  all 
the  term  implies,  is  indebted  to  nobody  but 
himself  for  financial  assistance,  and  his  life  is 
a    striking    example    of    what     can    be    done 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


455 


through    a    well-defined    purpose   to    succeed, 
aided  by  sound  judgment  and  industry. 

Mr.  Davis  was  happily  married  to  Miss 
Ella  Mock,  of  Clark  county,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
father  of  two  bright  children,  Oral  E.  and 
Mary  Georgenia,  both  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
belonging  to  the  Linden  avenue  congregation, 
of  which  Mr.  Davis  has  been  a  deacon  for 
seven  years;  he  is  also  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat  and 
fraternally  holds  membership  in  the  Gem  City 
lodge,  No.  795,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Linden  lodge,  No. 
412,  K.  of  P.,  and  Crown  council,  No.  35,  of 
the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechan- 
ics, of  which  he  has  been  treasurer  since  its 
organization  in  1888. 


WOHN  DAVY,  residing  at  No.  679  South 
fl  Main  street,  Dayton,  is  one  of  the  army 
A  1  of  capable  railway  postal  clerks,  who 
are  so  indispensable  to  the  business  of 
this  country.  His  birthplace  was  Bowman- 
ville,  Ontario,  where  he  was  born  February 
28,  1840.  While  still  very  young,  his  father 
brought  him  to  Dayton,  his  mother  having 
died  when  he  was  but  twenty-two  months  old. 
Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  by  which  he  has  greatly 
profited.  William  Davy,  his  father,  was  of 
English  extraction,  and  was  a  native  of  Corn- 
wall, as  was  also  his  mother.  He  was  a  car- 
penter, and  thoroughly  trained  his  son  John 
in  this  business.  His  death  occurred  in  the 
house  now  occupied  by  his  son,  January  21, 
1883,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years  and  seven 
months.  He  was  an  honest,  hard-working 
man,  and  left  his  children  the  priceless  legacy 
of  a  good  name.  Five  of  his  family  are  now 
living,  John  being  the  youngest  of  twelve  chil- 
dren.    Two,  Peter  and   Mrs.   William  Kelley, 


make  their  home  in  Kansas;  Mary  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  S.  F.  Bridges,  and  lives  at  Mason, 
Tex.;  Jane,  the  widow  of  the  late  James  Viele, 
resides  at  Toronto,  Canada;  the  other  chil- 
dren, with  one  exception,  died  in  infancy  or 
childhood. 

John  Davy,  as  noted  above,  worked  at  the 
carpenter  business  until  in  the  early  'sixties, 
when  he  enlisted  June  12,  1861,  in  Dayton,  as 
a  member  of  company  A,  Eleventh  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  serving  over  three  years.  He 
was  in  the  army  of  Gen.  McClellan  during  the 
Maryland  campaign,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  South  Mountain,  Frederick  and  An- 
tietam.  Later,  his  regiment  was  sent  into 
West  Virginia,  where  it  was  attached  to  the 
command  of  Gen.  J.  D.  Cox,  afterward  gov- 
ernor of  Ohio.  His  regiment,  moving  to  the 
West,  was  made  a  part  of  the  famous  Four- 
teenth army  corps,  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  and  was  an  important  portion 
of  Turchin's  brigade,  and  Reynold's  division. 
"Old  Pap"  Thomas  was  in  command,  and 
never  was  a  more  desperate  battle  more  gamely 
fought.  The  gallant  Eleventh  Ohio  was  at 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  did  its  full  share  of 
fighting  in  the  great  battles  around  Resaca, 
Ga.,  that  opened  up  the  way  to  central 
Georgia  and  to  the  great  ocean  beyond.  And 
down  this  wonderful  way  went  the  irresistible 
army  of  Gen.  Sherman,  breaking  the  Confed- 
eracy in  two,  and  hastening  the  final  collapse 
of  treason.  fn  these  scenes  and  experiences 
John  Davy  bore  a  brave  soldier's  part,  and 
never  shirked  his  duty,  nor  failed  at  the  hour 
of  danger.  After  the  stormy  days  that  pre- 
ceded Resaca,  the  garrison  duty  at  that  point, 
to  which  his  regiment  was  assigned,  seemed 
very  tame  and  monotonous.  But  it  was  all  a 
part  of  a  soldier's  life.  The  regiment  con- 
tinued here  at  garrison  duty  until  June,  1864, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  return  to  Camp  Den- 
nison,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  on 


456 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


the  2  ist  of  the  month.  It  is  one  of  the  stand- 
ing wonders  of  our  history,  that  this  great 
host  of  warriors,  more  than  a  million  men  in 
all,  could  be  returned  suddenly  to  peaceful 
life,  and  be  swallowed  up  in  the  great  ocean 
of  arts  and  industries  of  the  nation.  But  the 
million  men  were  like  our  subject,  not  mer- 
cenary soldiers  of  fortune,  but  citizens  taking  up 
arms  for  the  safety  of  the  nation.  And  when 
that  was  assured,  they  were  all  glad  to  return 
quickly  and  quietly  to  the  trades  and  profes- 
sions they  had  before  followed. 

Mr.  Davy,  now  a  veteran  soldier,  came 
back  to  Dayton,  and  resumed  the  carpenter 
work  that  he  had  put  by  for  the  sake  of  his 
country,  and  no  doubt  followed  it  all  the  more 
effectively  for  his  military  experience.  He 
continued  at  the  carpenter's  bench  until  May, 
1868,  when  he  accepted  a  position  on  the  Day- 
ton police  force.  He  was  a  model  police  offi- 
cer for  some  fourteen  years,  serving  success- 
ively as  patrolman,  roundsman,  sergeant  and 
lieutenant,  and  making  a  fine  record  for  careful 
attention  to  duty.  The  seventh  day  of  No- 
vember, 1 88 1,  he  resigned  from  the  force,  and 
resumed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  18S5.  In  this  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  railway  mail  service,  and  was 
a  vigilant  and  successful  postal  clerk,  until  his 
suspension  in  Ma)',  1889,  for  politicial  reasons. 
On  personal  inquiry  of  high  officials,  he  was 
informed  that  there  were  no  charges  of  any 
kind  touching  his  personal  character  or  his  ef- 
ficiency in  the  service,  and  was  explicitly  as- 
sured that  the  only  reasons  for  his  removal 
were  political.  He  regarded  his  suspension 
from  the  service  as  only  temporary,  and  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  this  time  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Dayton  court  house.  He  was 
reinstated  in  the  railway  mail  service  under  the 
civil  service  rules,  though  he  was  reappointed 
without  an  examination,  the  time  of  his  return 
to  duty  being   May  7,  1895.      His    run    is  be- 


tween Delphos  and  Dayton,  making  the  round 
trip  daily,   "  week  on  and  week  off." 

Mr.  Davy  was  married  January  1,  1867,  to 
Miss  Kate  M.  Paullus,  a  native  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  to  them  there  have  been 
born  three  children,  who  are  now  living.  The 
eldest  of  these,  Harry  P.,  is  foreman  of  a 
cigar  factory;  John  W.  is  a  printer  in  the 
United  Brethren  Publishing  House;  Catherine 
Eleanor  is  at  home.  There  have  as  yet  been 
no  weddings  in  the  second  generation.  As 
might  be  imagined,  our  subject  feels  a  justifi- 
able pride  in  his  military  career,  and  is  an 
active  worker  in  the  Union  Veteran  Legion, 
Encampment  No.   145,  at  Dayton. 

Mrs.  Davy  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  as  are  her  children  also. 
Her  parents  were  John  and  Elizabeth  (Laney) 
Paullus.  Her  father  was  a  Virginian,  while 
his  wife  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  His  parents 
came  from  Germany,  while  his  wife's  people 
were  of  Scottish  origin.  They  had  eleven 
children,  of  whom  five  are  alive  at  this  writ- 
ing: Matthew  is  a  resident  of  Greenfield,  Ind., 
he  was  in  the  Civil  war,  and  served  as  captain 
of  company  G,  Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  is  not  now  engaged  in  active 
business;  he  had  also  served  in  the  Mexican  war; 
Peter  L. ,  who  is  now  at  home  in  Chicago,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  same  company  with  his  brother 
and  served  as  lieutenant;  Samuel  is  residing 
in  Preble  county,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Sarah  Grace  is 
a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  one  child,  Emanuel, 
died  in  childhood.  Five  passed  away  after 
they  had  come  into  mature  life — Nancy  Ella, 
Elizabeth,  Hester  Ann,  John  R.  and  Adam. 
This  last  son  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  his  death 
was  the  result  of  wounds  and  disability  in- 
curred while  in  the  service.  Mrs.  Davy  is  the 
youngest  of  this  large  and  interesting  family, 
and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  various  societies 
connected  with  her  church.      Her  parents  died 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


457 


in  Preble    county,  Ohio — her  mother  in  1848, 
and  her  father  two  years  later. 

Mr.  Davy  is  a  man  of  strong  political  pro- 
clivities, and  has  long  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  democratic  party,  following  here  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  father,  who  was  devoted  to 
that  organization.  He  is  a  man  not  afraid  of 
work,  and  while  he  inherited  nothing  but  a 
strong  constitution  and  a  good  example,  by 
industry  and  economy  he  has  secured  a  con- 
venient and  comfortable  home.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber in  good  standing  of  Miami  lodge,  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  of  Iola  lodge,  K.  P.,  and  of  the  uniform 
rank  of  the  same  order. 


t  >^~\  AVID  A.  DEAN,  commissioner  of 
I  Montgomery  county,  and  a  well- 
/^^f  known  citizen  of  the  county,  residing 
at  Beavertown,  was  born  at  that 
place  November  27,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of 
Alexander  Dean,  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Montgomery  county,  who  came  to  this 
county  in  18 12,  from  Pennsylvania,  his  native 
state.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 
his  day,  being  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and 
appointed  postmaster  of  his  town,  serving  in 
each  capacity  for  many  years.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years  in  1882.  His  wife  was 
Susanna  Lemmon,  a  daughter  of  David  Lem- 
mon,  and  a  native  of  Montgomery  county. 
David  Lemmon,  like  Alexander  Dean,  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Montgomery  county. 

David  A.  Dean  was  reared  in  Beavertown, 
and  was  there  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  followed  farming  until  the  war,  and  then 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  with  which  he  served  one 
hundred  days.  After  the  war  he  began  work- 
ing at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  continued  so 
to  labor  for  twenty  years.  His  reputation  for 
sound  judgment  and  fairness  became  so  well 
established  that  he  was  elected   justice   of  the 


peace  in  the  spring  of  1878,  and  by  successive 
re-elections  he  continued  to  hold  that  position 
for  six  terms  of  three  years  each,  or  eighteen 
consecutive  years.  He  also  served  as  town- 
ship clerk  for  one  term. 

In  1895,  Mr.  Dean  was  elected,  as  a  repub- 
lican, to  the  office  of  commissioner  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  taking  possession  of  his  office 
on  the  first  Monday  in  January,  1896.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  of  Beavertown.  Mr.  Dean 
was  married  in  the  fall  of  1S58  to  Cornelia 
Darner,  who-  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Darner,  a 
farmer  of  that  county.  To  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  eight  children,  seven  of  whom, 
two  sons  and  five  daughters,  are  living.  One 
of  the  sons  and  four  of  the  daughters  are  mar- 
ried. Mr.  Dean  is  one  of  the  best  known  men 
in  the  county,  and  in  his  long  term  of  service 
as  a  justice  he  has  not  only  won  the  confidence 
of  every  class  by  his  strong  practical  sense  and 
his  judicial  impartiality,  but  has  given  the  best 
evidence  of  the  value  and  necessity  of  the 
magistrate's  court  in  the  community. 


BM.  COMPTON,  attorney  and  coun- 
selor at  law,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  October  19,  1863,  near  Franklin, 
Warren  county,  Ohio.  He  lived  on 
his  father's  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  attended  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  the  National  normal  university  at  Leba- 
non, Ohio.  From  this  school  he  graduated  in 
1884,  having  in  the  meantime  spent  two  years 
traveling  in  the  interest  of  The  Hall  Safe  & 
Lock  company  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

After  leaving  the  Lebanon  institution  he 
taught  the  school  in  the  village  of  Blue  Ball, 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  which  he  had  attended 
before    going    to     Lebanon.      In    the     fall     of 


458 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1885  he  entered  as  a  law  student  the  office  of 
Craighead  &  Craighead,  in  Dayton,  remaining 
with  them  for  two  years,  and  was  then  admitted 
to  the  bar,  but  continued  with  the  above  firm 
for  one  year  longer.  In  January,  1S89,  he 
opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, in  Dayton,  and  two  years  later  formed  a 
partnership  with  Hon.  D.  W.  Allaman,  which 
was  dissolved  at  the  end  of  one  year,  by  reason 
of  the  election  of  Mr.  Allaman  to  the  legisla- 
ture. Since  then  Mr.  Compton  has  prosecuted 
the  practice  of  the  law  alone.  He  is  now  at- 
torney for  the  American  Loan  &  Savings  as- 
sociation, and  is  generally  recognized  as  a  safe 
and  sound   counselor. 

Mr.  Compton  was  married  in  November, 
1890,  to  Miss  Nellie  Probasco,  daughter  of  the 
late  Firman  Probasco,  of  Middletown,  Ohio, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Mr.  Compton, 
while  not  a  seeker  for  political  preferment,  is 
an  active  adherent  of  the  republican  party. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  ready  and  forcible  speak- 
ers among  the  men  of  his  age  at  the  Mont- 
gomery county  bar. 


>Y*OHN  FRIEND  DeBRA,  M.  D.,  phy- 
m  sician  and  surgeon  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
(%  J  located  at  No.  1902  East  Third  street, 
is  a  grandson  of  Daniel  DeBra,  who 
came  from  Alsace,  then  a  district  of  France, 
as  a  soldier  of  LaFayette,  and  served  as  a 
lieutenant  with  that  friend  of  America  all 
through  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Revo- 
tion  having  come  to  a  close,  he  located  at 
Baltimore,  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Friend, 
by  whom  he  had  r.en  sons  and  three  daughters. 
The  father  of  John  F.  was  also  named  Daniel. 
He  was  reared  in  Maryland  and  learned  the 
trade  of  cabinetmaker.  In  1802  he  came  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Miami  county,  where  he  lived 
the  rest  of  his  life,  and  where  he  was  one  of 
the  leading  characters  in  that  part  of  the  coun- 


try, and  served  as  colonel  of  the  militia.  Early 
in  life  he  was  a  democrat,  but  later  became  a 
free-soiler,  and  was  quite  prominent  in  local 
affairs.  He  was  the  first  to  advocate  temper- 
ance in  his  section  of  the  country,  and  died  in 
1844.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Langston,  a 
daughter  of  Lazarus  Langston,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  Upton,  Preble  county,  Ohio.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  five  children, 
as  follows:  Rebecca,  wife  of  Obed  Macy,  of 
Troy,  Ohio;  Alfred,  a  carpenter  and  builder 
of  Miami  county,  Ohio;  Dr.  John  F. ;  Cynthia, 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  H.  Iddings,  of  Dayton,  Ohio; 
and  Daniel,  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  and  an  ex-soldier  of  the  Union  army, 
who  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness. 

Dr.  John  F.  DeBra  was  born  August  16, 
1837,  and  when  he  was  but  seven  years  of  age 
his  father  died;  since  then  he  has  practically 
taken  care  of  himself.  The  time  from  the 
death  of  his  father  until  he  reached  his  eight- 
eenth year  was  one  of  trial,  trouble  and  hard- 
ship, with  but  little  encouragement  from  any 
source.  Up  to  that  time  he  had  received  no 
education,  but  he  was  then  induced  to  attend 
school,  and  after  receiving  one  winter's  in- 
struction he  became  so  determined  to  inform 
himself  that  he  borrowed  the  funds  necessary 
to  meet  the  expense  of  a  brief  course  of  study 
in  college.  The  next  fall  he  secured  a  certifi- 
cate for  twelve  months  to  teach  school,  and 
from  that  time  he  has  gradually  risen  through 
his  own  exertions  and  unaided  efforts.  He  at- 
tended Antioch  college  at  Yellow  Springs,  tak- 
ing there  an  academic  course;  then,  beginning 
to  read  medicine  with  the  view  of  making  that 
profession  his  life  work,  he  afterward  attended 
the  Ohio  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  where 
he  graduated  in  1870,  having,  however,  been 
engaged  in  practice  previous  to  his  graduation 
for  some  ten  years.  Dr.  DeBra  located  first 
in  Darke   county,  Ohio,  at  Hill  Grove,  where 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


459 


he  remained  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to 
Miamisburg,  Montgomery  count}'.  There  he 
remained  engaged  in  active  practice  until  18S4, 
when  he  was  appointed  physician  to  the  agency 
of  the  Cheyenne  and  Arapahoe  Indians,  at 
Fort  Reno,  I.  T. ,  which  place  he  filled  for  five 
years.  Retiring  from  this  position,  he  located 
in  Dayton,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged in  practice.  In  1893  he  was  county 
physician  of  Montgomery  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Montgomery  county  Medical 
society,  also  of  the  Ohio  state  Medical  asso- 
ciation. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat.  Dr. 
DeBra  was  married  April  23,  1863,  to  Miss 
Susannah  Ohlinger,  a  daughter  of  John  Ohl- 
inger,  of  Center,  Montgomery  county.  To 
this  marriage  there  has  been  born  one  child, 
Charles  E.,  of  Dayton.  Charles  E.  DeBra 
married  Miss  Mittie  Willis,  of  Louisville,  Ky. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Ouida 
and  Lillian. 

Dr.  DeBra  is  a  man  of  wide  knowledge  and 
extensive  experience,  and  has  collected  many 
valuable  curios  which  adorn  his  home.  He 
has  been  successful  in  life,  has  contributed 
many  valuable  articles  to  the  medical  press, 
and  is  in  every  way  a  credit  to  his  profession. 


>nr,OSEPH  J.  DEGER,  proprietor  of  the 
■  Banner  bakery  and  wholesale  dealer  in 
A  j  confections  and  fancy  groceries,  was 
born  in  Martinsburg,  Champion  county, 
Va.  (now  West  Virginia),  May  22,  1857. 
When  he  was  three  years  of  age  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  and  there  his  fa- 
ther, Michael  Deger,  enlisted  in  the  Second 
Missouri  regiment  volunteer  infantry,  under 
Gen.  Rosecrans.  During  the  war  the  family 
remained  in  Saint  Louis,  removing  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  1865.      Michael  Deger  then   engaged 


in  the  bakery  business,  which  he  followed  until 
his  death  in  1893.  His  widow  is  still  carrying 
on  the  business  left  by  her  husband. 

Joseph  J.  Deger  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  parochial  schools,  and  after- 
ward took  a  course  of  instruction  in  the  Miami 
Commercial  college.  He  then  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  bakery  business  under  the 
instruction  of  his  father,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  1885,  having  for  some  years  the 
management  of  the  entire  business.  During 
the  year  last  mentioned  he  erected  a  building 
at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Perry  streets, 
in  which  he  began  business  for  himself,  engag- 
ing in  baking,  and  dealing  in  wholesale  confec- 
tionery and  fancy  groceries.  Since  then  he 
has  been  constantly  thus  engaged  at  the  same 
location.  Mr.  Deger  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Gesellen  society  for  twenty-three 
years.  He  assisted  in  building  the  present 
temple  and  has  held  the  office  of  trustee  for 
four  years.  He  has  also  been  for  nineteen 
years  a  member  of  Commandery  No.  115, 
Catholic  Knights  of  Saint  George.  Of  this  so- 
ciety he  has  been  messenger  two  years,  a  trus- 
tee two  years  and  treasurer  six  years.  He  has 
also  been  treasurer  of  the  uniform  rank,  com- 
mandery No.  115,  Catholic  Knights  of  Saint 
George,  for  fifteen  years.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  colony  No.  4,  American  Sons  of  Colum- 
bus, and  has  been  treasurer  of  the  society  for 
four  years.  The  office  of  senior  major  of  the 
Seventh  battalion  of  the  Knights  of  Saint  John, 
now  the  Third  regiment,  he  has  held  for  seven 
years.  Mr.  Deger  is  a  member  of  Chickasaw 
commandery,  No.  108,  Sons  of  Veterans.  For 
the  past  nineteen  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Orphans'  society,  and  of  commandery 
No.  132,  Knights  of  Saint  John,  division  D.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  branch  No.  58,  C.  M.  B.  A. 
and  of  branch  No.  192,  C.  K.  of  A.  For  the 
past  fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  Bakers'  Beneficial  association,  and  is  a 


460 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


member  of  the  Eclipse  club.  Mr.  Deger  is  a 
member  of  Emanuel  Catholic  church,  which 
was  organized  by  Rev.  Emmanuel  Thienpont 
in  1837.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  he  is  promi- 
nent in  society  activities  and  has  Jield  many 
places  of  trust  and  honor  through  the  confi- 
dence of  his  associates. 

Mr.  Deger  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss 
Ada  M.  Feldmann,  of  Dayton.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  nine  children,  as 
follows:  Marie  C.  ;  Charles  M. ;  Emma,  de- 
ceased; Helen;  Clara,  deceased;  Eddie;  Adella; 
Vincent  and  Lucille. 

Mr.  Deger's  success  in  life  has  been  the  re- 
sult of  industry  and  wisely  applied  business 
principles.  He  is  a  representative  of  the  Ger- 
man thrift  and  sound  judgment  that  have  so 
largely  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  Dayton. 


>HOMAS  PENRYN  EVANS,  chief  en- 
gineer at  the  national  military  home, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Den- 
bigh, Wales,  and  was  born  March  12, 
1852.  He  lived  in  his  birthplace  until  thirteen 
years  of  age,  attending  the  public  schools.  His 
parents,  Peter  and  Jane  Evans,  died  in  Wales 
— the  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  and  the  mother  at  the  age 
of  seventy.  Five  sons  and  five  daughters  con- 
stituted the  family,  and  of  these  Thomas  P. 
and  two  brothers  came  to  America  in  the  year 
1865;  of  these  three  brothers,  John  P.  died 
while  an  employee,  as  engineer,  at  the  home 
waterworks,  and  Peter  D.  is  now  filling  the 
position  thus  made  vacant.  On  coming  to 
America,  Thomas  P.  Evans  passed  two  years 
on  an  uncle's  farm  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio, 
and  also  attended  school  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  then  went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
learned  engineering,  and  then,  having  become 
competent,  was  employed  as  engineer  at  the 
deaf  and  dumb  asylum  for  four  years.     Shortly 


afterward  he  went  to  California  and  erected 
the  first  granite  polishing  machine  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast;  the  year  following  he  was  employed 
as  engineer  at  the  Xenia  (Ohio)  orphans'  home, 
and  then,  for  a  year,  at  the  blind  asylum  in 
Columbus.  For  six  years  thereafter  he  was 
engineer  at  the  imbecile  asylum  in  Columbus, 
and  in  1883  came  to  the  soldiers'  home  in 
Dayton,  where  he  has  since  had  charge  of  all 
the  motive  power  machinery.  Mr.  Evans  is  a 
most  ingenious  mechanic,  and  is  the  inventor 
and  patentee  of  an  economical  device  entitled 
the  Evans  duplex  oil  burner,  which  has  been 
approved  and  endorsed  by  scores  of  manufac- 
turing firms  in  Dayton  and  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Evans  was  married  at  Columbus,  in 
1879,  to  Miss  Carrie  Wieler,  a  native  of  that 
city  and  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Wieler,  a  German 
and  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  Of  the  two 
children  born  to  the  marriage  of  Thomas  P. 
and  Carrie  (Wieler)  Evans,  Eva  Elsie  died  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  months,  and  Edith  Edna, 
now  sixteen  years  old,  is  a  student  in  Miss 
Arnold's  wel-lknown  young  ladies'  academy  at 
Dayton.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Evans  is  passing 
her  declining  days  at  his  home.  In  his  frater- 
nal relations,  Mr.  Evans  has  been  a  member 
of  Columbus  lodge,  No.  9,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  since 
1873,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Buckeye  en- 
campment, No.  148,  and  canton  Ohio,  No.  1, 
of  P.  M.  of  the  same  order,  at  Columbus,  and 
in  this,  as  well  as  in  the  subordinate  lodge,  he 
has  held  various  official  positions;  he  is,  beside, 
a  member  of  Franklin  lodge,  No.  5,  of  Colum- 
bus, K.  of  P.,  and  a  member  of  Dayton  lodge, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  order  of  Knights  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  No.  1 ;  also  of  Ohio  C.  Y. 
C. ,  No.  1,  of  the  World,  and  of  Gem  City 
senate,  No.  11,  K.  A.  E.  O.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Evans,  with  their  daughter,  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

In  politics  Mr.  Evans  is  an  independent  re- 
publican.     In  1890,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov. 


&£* ' fp    i^+Pet^,^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


463 


Campbell,  a  democrat,  as  trustee  of  the  deaf 
and  dumb  asylum  at  Columbus,  and  in  1892 
was  re-appointed  to  the  same  position  by  Gov. 
McKinley,  a  republican,  but  resigned  in  1895. 


at 


TLLIAM  DENISE,  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  May  13,  1826, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Mar- 
garet (Clarke)  Denise. 

John  S.  Denise,  father  of  William,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  a  son  of  William  Denise, 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  father  of 
William  was  also  named  William,  and  came 
from  France  to  America  with  the  Marquis  de 
Lafayette,  served  under  him  through  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and,  at  the  close  of  that  great 
struggle,  settled  in  New  Jersey.  The  maternal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  also  a 
hero  of  the  Revolution.  John  S.  Denise  was 
a  pioneer  of  Darke  county,  Ohio,  having  set- 
tled there  before  the  removal  of  the  Indians, 
and  there  he  and  his  wife  ended  their  days, 
leaving,  beside  William,  the  following  children: 
Aaron,  now  over  seventy-one  years  of  age,  re- 
siding on  the  Darke  county  homestead;  Ellen, 
now  the  widow  Farra,  residing  on  the  same 
farm;  Margaret,  who  is  married  to  Elijah  Mc- 
Connell,  a  business  man  of  Greenville;  Rhoda 
Jane,  who  never  married  and  who  lives  with 
her  brother  Aaron;  Obediah,  unmarried,  who 
also  lives  on  the  old  farm;  Mrs.  Lottie  Van 
Tillburg,  who  reared  a  family,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased. 

William  Denise,  after  the  removal  of  his 
parents  from  Butler  to  Darke  county,  lived 
with  his  paternal  grandfather  until  the  death 
of  the  latter,  when  he  joined  his  parents,  he 
being  then  about  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
learned  his  trade  in  Greenville,  and  later 
worked  with  his  father  at  millwright  and  joiner 
work.  He  has  construeted  many  a  dwelling 
from  the  tree  to  completion,  making  the  sash, 


doors,  etc.  by  hand  and  understanding  wood- 
work thoroughly,  while  his  father  could  make 
anything  of  wood,  from  a  spinning-wheel  to  a 
threshing  machine. 

Mr.  Denise  was  first  married,  in  Greenville, 
to  Miss  Catherine  Jarber,  who  lived  one  year 
only  after  the  union,  and  four  years  after  her 
decease  Mr.  Denise  wedded  Mrs.  Maria 
(Price)  McLean,  this  marriage  also  taking 
place  in  Greenville,  forty-one  years  ago.  Mrs. 
Denise  was  born  in  Dayton  December  25, 
1829,  and  has  borne  to  Mr.  Denise  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  John  Winner,  Estella  and 
Luella  (twins),  of  whom  the  latter  died  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  ;  Catherine  ;  Fannie,  now 
the  wife  of  Gus  Kimerling,  railroad  ticket 
agent  in  Hamilton,  Ohio;  and  George,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Mr.  Denise  settled  in  Dayton  in  1857,  and 
engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman,  handling  farm 
machinery  for  two  years.  He  next  made  an 
engagement  with  J.  C.  Drew,  of  Louisiana, 
and  went  to  Erath  county,  Tex.  Returning 
to  Dayton  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war, 
Mr.  Denise  engaged  for  some  years  in  house 
building  by  contract. 

In  politics  Mr.  Denise  was  formerly  a  whig, 
as  were  his  ancestors,  but  he  is  now  a  strong 
republican.  That  the  patriotic  spirit  of  their 
ancestors  has  not  died  out  in  the  Denise  fam- 
ily is  shown  by  the  fact  that  Aaron,  brother  of 
William,  served  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  the  Civil  war  and  was  in  forty  engage- 
ments ;  Obadiah,  another  brother,  served  four 
years  ;  and  two  cousins  were  killed  at  Chicka- 
mauga.  The  earliest  recollection  that  Mr. 
Denise  retains  of  the  Indians  dates  from  his 
fifth  year,  when  he  saw  1,700  red  men  that 
were  being  transferred  by  the  government  to  a 
reservation  prepared  for  them,  and  later  saw 
about  1,500  wild  Indians  in  Tesch  Point.  In 
clearing  up  the  old  farm  near  Greenville  he 
plowed  up  the  foundation  of  the  block-house 


464 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


built  by  Gen.  Wayne,  and  saw,  at  Fort  Recov- 
ery, skulls  that  were  washed  out  of  their  shal- 
low graves  and  each  bearing  the  marks  of  the 
Indian's  tomahawk. 


>-j*  OSEPH  L.  DEGER,  member  of  the 
m  Dayton  city  council  and  ex-United 
/•  1  States  storekeeper  in  the  revenue  serv- 
ice, was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  March 
13,  1852.  His  father,  Joseph  Deger,  was  a 
native  of  Hohenzollern,  a  province  of  Prussia, 
and  reached  the  United  States  about  1848, 
coming  direct  to  Dayton.  By  trade  he  was  a 
stonecutter,  following  that  occupation  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Febru- 
ary 16,  1864.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Scholastica  Spitznagel,  was  a  native  of  the 
grand  duchy  of  Baden,  and  was  married  to  Mr. 
Deger  in  the  old  country.  She  died  in  March, 
1893.  Joseph  Deger  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  still 
living,  as  follows:  Louisa,  widow  of  Henry 
Kastner,  of  Dayton;  Anna,  wife  of  Frederick 
Seiboldt,  of  Gabon,  Ohio;  Joseph  L. ;  Peter, 
of  Springfield,  Ohio;  J.  William,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  Rosa,  widow  of  Henry  Claude,  of 
Dayton.  Charles  and  Clara  were  the  names 
of  the  two  deceased. 

Joseph  L.  Deger  was  reared  in  Dayton,  and 
was  educated  in  the  parochial  schools.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  years  he  began  life  for  himself, 
working  at  different  occupations  until  he 
reached  his  sixteenth  year,  when  he  began 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  stonecutter's  trade. 
This  trade  he  followed  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  when  he  became  salesman 
for  C.  A.  Trentman,  wholesale  coffee  and  spice 
dealer,  continuing  thus  employed  until  1883. 
He  then  established  himself  in  the  grocery 
business,  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 
His  place  of  business  is  at  the  corner  of  Haynes 
street  and  Van  Cleve  avenue,  east  end. 


Mr.  Deger  was  married  in  1873  to  Mary 
Zimmerman,  who  was  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
many, January  20,  1852,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1854.  Her  parents  were  Cas- 
per and  Katherine  (Zugelder)  Zimmerman,  the 
former  of  whom  died  in  New  York  soon  after 
arriving  in  this  country,  and  the  latter  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  shortly  after  she  reached  this  place. 
The  grandparents  of  Mary  Zimmerman  came 
to  this  country  at  the  same  time  with  her  par- 
ents, and  by  them  she  was  reared  after  the 
death  of  her  father  and   mother. 

To  the  marriage  of  Joseph  L.  Deger  and 
his  wife  there  have  been  born  six  children,  as 
follows:  Joseph  H.,  May  S.,  Carrie  L.,  Ver- 
nie  R. ,  Leo  E.,  and  Urban  J.,  the  last  two  de- 
ceased. In  April,  1894,  Mr.  Deger  was  elected 
to  the  city  council  from  the  Sixth  ward,  but 
since  that  time  the  wards  have  been  so  changed 
that  he  now  represents  the  Eighth.  On  May 
13,  1895,  he  was  appointed,  by  Collector  Dow- 
ling,  storekeeper  in  the  United  States  govern- 
ment revenue  service,  with  headquarters  first 
at  Clifton  Springs,  Cincinnati,  and  later  at 
Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  He 
resigned  from  the  revenue  service  in  April,  1 S96, 
to  take  the  position  of  collector  for  the  Nick 
Thomas  brewery,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Deger  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Saint  George,  commanderies  Nos. 
104  and  131;  of  the  Badenser  Verein;  Elsas 
Lothringen;  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters,  court  Dayton,  No.  1000.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Holy  Trinity 
Catholic  church,  which,  as  an  offshoot  from 
Emanuel  church,  was  organized  in  i860.  For 
about  twenty-three  years  Mr.  Deger  has  been 
quite  prominent  in  the  Knights  of  Saint  George, 
having  served  as  captain  of  commandery  No. 
104,  and  also  as  captain  of  commandery  No. 
131,  for  several  years.  From  October,  1892, 
to  February,  1896,  he  served  as  colonel  of  the 
Seventh  battalion  of  that    order,  resigning  his 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


465 


office  at  the  date  last  mentioned.  In  all  rela- 
tions of  life,  business,  religious  and  official, 
Mr.  Deger  is  thoroughly  reliable,  and  performs 
all  his  duties  with  an  eye  single  to  the  good  of 
his  society,  his  church  and  the  community  at 
large. 


HLBERT  DHEIN,  secretary  of  the 
board  of  health  of  Dayton,  was  born 
at  Saint  Mary's,  Auglaize  county, 
Ohio,  August  30,  1868.  He  is  a  son 
of  Philip  and  Anna  (Laur)  Dhein,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  They  were  married  in  Milwau- 
kee, and  from  that  city  removed  to  Dayton, 
Ohio.  After  living  in  Dayton  a  short  time  they 
removed  to  Saint  Mary's,  subsequently  return- 
ing to  Dayton,  where  they  are  now  residing  at 
No.  415  Oak  street.  By  trade,  Philip  Dhein 
is  a  molder,  and  was  foreman  for  John  Dodds, 
manufacturer  of  hay  rakes,  for  many  years. 
To  Philip  and  Anna  Dhein  there  were  born 
five  sons,  all  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows: 
Leopold  P.,  Rudolph  J.,  Henry  J.,  Charles 
G.,  and  Albert. 

Albert  Dhein  has  lived  in  Dayton  ever  since 
he  was  six  months  old,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation wholly  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city, 
except  that  he  took  a  commercial  course  in 
the  Miami  Commercial  college,  and  afterward 
a  course  in  stenography  in  Beck's  Commercial 
college  in  Dayton.  Previous  to  taking  these 
courses  he  had  worked  in  his  brother's  foun- 
dry in  the  east  end  of  the  city  for  several  years. 
He  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  as 
secretary  of  the  board  of  health,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1894,  to  fill  a  vacancy,  was  re-appointed 
in  June,  1895,  for  one  year,  and  again  in  1896. 
Fraternally,  Mr.  Dhein  is  a  member  of  Gem 
City  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  politically  he  is  and 
always  has  been  a  democrat,  having  taken  an 
active  part  in  city  politics  for  a  number  of 
years.      He  is  devoted  to  the  prosperity  of  the 


city  of  Dayton,  and  is  diligent  and  efficient  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  incident  to  his 
official  position. 


OLIVER  EDGAR  DAVIDSON,  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  city  affairs  of 
Dayton,  was  born  in  German  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  on 
August  24,  1857,  and  is  the  son  of  O.  G.  H. 
and  Charlotta  (Grauser)  Davidson,  both  na- 
tives of  Montgomery  county.  O.  G.  H. 
Davidson  was  born  at  Germantown,  Ohio,  on 
November  28,  1827,  and  was  the  son  of  James 
J.  and  Harriet  (Eichelberger)  Davidson.  He 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  county,  and  held 
various  official  positions.  In  March,  1861,  he 
became  superintendent  of  the  county  infirm- 
ary, and  in  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Montgomery  county,  and  removed 
to  Dayton  in  January  of  the  following  year. 
He  was  re-elected  to  the  sheriff's  office,  serving 
two  full  terms.  Afterwards  he  was  in  the 
French  burr  millstone  business  for  several 
years.  He  also  held  the  office  of  land  ap- 
praiser at  two  different  times,  and  before  his 
death,  on  December  29,  1893,  he  was  engaged 
in  the  real-estate  business  in  Dayton.  His 
widow  survives  and  resides  in  this  city.  To 
the  parents  four  sons  and  four  daughters  were 
born,  of  whom  two  sons  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  was  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fra- 
ternity and  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Oliver  E.  Davidson  was  reared  in  Dayton 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high 
schools.  He  taught  school  in  the  country  for 
a  number  of  years.  In  March,  1887,  he  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  Dayton  police 
board,  which  position  he  held  until  April  19, 
1894,  serving  under  different  administrations, 
and  resigning  to  accept  the  appointment  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  city  affairs.  In  1 897 
he  was    made    president   of  that    board.      Mr. 


466 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Davidson  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  and 
B.  P.  O.  E.  fraternities.  He  was  married,  in 
1880,  to  Miss  Mattie  Hosier,  of  Dayton,  and 
one  son  has  been  born  to  their  union. 


*-|-J  EWIS  P.  EARNSHAW,  M.  D.,  phy- 
r  sician  and  surgeon,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
1^^  with  office  at  No.  1225  West  Fifth 
street,  was  born  February  23,  1872, 
at  the  national  soldiers'  home,  near  Dayton, 
his  father.  Rev.  William  Earnshavv,  being  at 
the  time  chaplain  of  that  institution.  Previ- 
ous to  her  marriage  his  mother's  name  was 
Margaret  Hutchison.  Rev.  William  Earnshaw 
was  appointed  the  first  chaplain  of  the  Cen- 
tral branch  of  the  national  soldiers'  home 
September  5,  1867,  and  served  until  his  death, 
July  17,  1885.  Prior  to  his  appointment  he 
had  served  in  various  places  as  minister  and 
chaplain,  achieving  a  high  reputation  in  his 
profession.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of 
English  and  Irish  parentage.  Before  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  during  the  Rebel- 
lion was  chaplain  of  the  Forty-ninth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers.  Then,  for  a  year  or  two, 
he  had  charge  of  the  national  cemeteries,  and 
finally  was  appointed  chaplain  of  the  Central 
branch,  as  above  stated.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows: 
Minnie  W.,  wife  of  B.  F.  Hershey,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio;  William  B.,  secretary  of  the  Day- 
ton Malleable  Iron  company;  Margaret  H., 
wife  of  R.  H.  Grubbs,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  Fred- 
erick, deceased,  and  Lewis  P.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

Lewis  P.  Earnshaw  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton  and  later  at  the 
Western  university  of  Pennsylvania.  Having 
completed  his  literary  education  he  began 
reading  medicine  with  Dr.  George  Goodhue, 
of  Dayton,  a  biographical  sketch  of  whom  ap- 


pears elsewhere  in  this  volume,  afterward  at- 
tending the  Miami  Medical  college  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1895.  He  at  once 
located  in  Dayton  and  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  He  is  devoting  himself  to  gen- 
eral practice,  and  has  met  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess, being,  as  he  is,  one  of  the  youngest 
members  of  the  profession  in  the  city.  Dr. 
Earnshaw  is  a  member  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Medical  society,  and  of  Grace  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church.  He  is  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive young  men  and  physicians  of  the  city 
of  Dayton,  and  doubtless  has  a  successful  and 
useful  career  in  store  for  him. 


at 


ILLIAM  HAVELOCK  CRAW- 
FORD, president  of  the  Crawford, 
McGregor  &  Canby  company,  man- 
ufacturers of  lasts,  of  Dayton,  was 
born  in  that  city,  November  22,  1863.  He  is 
a  son  of  Charles  H.  and  Sarah  (Thresher) 
Crawford,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a  daughter 
of  Ebenezer  Thresher  and  a  sister  of  E.  M. 
Thresher,  who  is  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Dayton.  Mrs.  Crawford's  death  occurred  in 
1880.  A  full  biographical  sketch  of  Charles 
H.  Crawford  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

William  Havelock  Crawford  was  reared  in 
his  native  city  and  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  Second  district  school,  subse- 
quently attending  the  famous  Cooper  academy 
and  still  later  taking  a  course  of  study  in  Miami 
Commercial  college.  In  1883  he  began  work- 
ing in  the  last  factory  of  Crawford,  Coffman 
&  Co.  During  the  first  four  years  of  his  serv- 
ice in  this  company  he  filled  various  positions, 
beginning  as  shipping  clerk,  and  following 
this  by  working  in  all  the  departments  of  the 
factory,  in  order  to  qualify  himself  for  the  sub- 
sequent management  of  the  business,  in   case 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


467 


that  responsibility  should  in  time  come  to  him. 
Having  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
business  in  all  its  phases  he  was  taken  into  the 
office  of  the  company  as  bookkeeper.  While 
employed  in  this  capacity  he  had  charge  of  the 
sales  of  the  goods  to  a  considerable  extent, 
and  afterward  traveled  in  the  interests  of  the 
firm.  Upon  the  death  of  Charles  H.  Crawford 
in  1887,  William  H.  succeeded  to  his  father's 
interests,  taking  general  charge  of  the  business, 
which  during  the  past  nine  years  has  increased 
some  tenfold,  a  growth  which  is  largely  due  to 
the  ability  of  the  son. 

In  1886  the  firm  of  Crawford,  Coffman  & 
Co.  sold  out  to  the  firm  of  Crawford,  McGregor 
&  Canby,  this  partnership  continuing  until 
March,  1896,  when  the  industry  was  incorpor- 
ated under  the  name  of  the  Crawford,  Mc- 
Gregor &  Canby  Co. ,  consisting  of  the  three 
original  members  and  W.  J.  Blakeney,  O.  A. 
Woodruff,  and  W.  H.  Kempert.  The  officers 
of  this  company  at  its  formation  were,  and 
always  have  been,  W.  H.  Crawford,  president; 
John  McGregor,  vice-president  and  general 
manager;  and  W.  J.  Blakeney,  secretary  and 
treasurer. 

In  1884  Mr.  Crawford  was  instrumental  in 
organizing  the  Last  Makers'  National  associa- 
tion, consisting  of  thirty-seven  members,  and 
of  this  association  Mr.  Crawford  was  the  first 
president  and  has  been  twice  re-elected.  He 
is  now  filling  the  position  of  director  in  the 
Dayton  board  of  trade,  in  the  Computing  Scale 
company  of  Dayton,  and  in  the  Homestead 
Aid  association. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  married  November  4, 
1886,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Cunningham,  daughter 
of  D.  O.  Cunningham,  glass  manufacturer  of 
Pittsburg.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union,  viz:  Marie  Madeline,  Charles 
Henry,  and  William  Havelock.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crawford  are  members  of  the  First  Baptist 
church.     Mr.  Crawford  is  also  a  member  of  the 


Dayton  club  and  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
association.  The  personal  characteristics  of 
Mr.  Crawford,  his  love  of  right  and  duty,  his 
strong  business  capacity,  are  only  referred  to 
in  this  connection,  as  they  are  more  fully  dis- 
cussed and  developed  in  the  biography  of  his 
father,  Charles  H.  Crawford. 


ZENAS  A.  CRAIG,  president  of  the 
Craig-Reynolds  Foundry  company 
of  Dayton,  was  born  in  Richland, 
Miss. , on  the  ist  day  of  April,  1864.  His 
father  was  Robert  Craig,  who  came  to  Day- 
ton in  1866,  and  was  one  of  the  well-known 
men  of  this  city  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  when  about  eighteen  years  of 
age.  He  resided  in  the  east  for  a  time  and 
then  went  south  to  Mississippi,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  and  in  planting, 
conducting  a  large  business  and  owning  one  or 
more  plantations.  He  was  succeeded  in  this 
business  by  his  sons,  Robert  E.,  now  of  New 
Orleans,  where  he  is  president  of  the  New 
Orleans  Water  Works  company  and  identified 
with  several  of  the  Crescent  City's  banks,  and 
W.  C.  and  T.  H.,  now  of  Yazoo  City.  Another 
son  is  John  R. ,  a  member  of  the  Craig- Rey- 
nolds company.  The  father  died  in  Dayton, 
April  1,  1894,  and  his  wife  January  3,  1891. 

Zenas  A.  Craig  was  reared  in  Dayton  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  at  Cooper 
seminary  and  at  Commercial  college.  After 
filling  various  clerical  positions  in  retail  stores, 
he,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  became 
shipping  clerk  at  the  Farmers'  Friend  Manu- 
facturing company,  which  position  he  held  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
the  place  of  bookkeeper  in  addition.  He  re- 
mained with  the  above  concern  for  five  years, 
and  in  1891  organized  the  firm  of  Marlay, 
Craig  &  Co.,  jobbing  foundry  men,  which  firm 


n;s 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  1893  was  merged  into  the  Craig-Reynolds 
Co.,  of  which  Mr.  Craig  was  made  president 
at  the  organization.  He  was  married  June  1, 
1890,  to  Miss  Carrie,  the  daughter  of  Thorn- 
ton Gilbert,  Esq. ,  of  Dayton.  Mr.  Craig  is  a 
member  of  the  Buckeye  Gun  club,  and  of  the 
National  Union  insurance  order. 


<a 


'ILLIAM  DENSMORE,  coal-dealer, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Cincinnati,  on  the  11th  of 
January,  1845.  His  father,  Capt. 
Andrew  Densmore,  was  of  Irish  descent, 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Re- 
becca Simpkins,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in 
1822,  and  died  in  her  sixty-sixth  year.  An- 
drew Densmore,  whose  birth  occurred  at  Co- 
lumbus Grove,  Ohio,  in  18 10,  was  for  many 
years  engaged  in  the  canal  trade,  and  was  cap- 
tain of  a  boat  until  his  death  at  Dayton,  on 
September  13,  1864.  The  family  of  Andrew 
and  Rebecca  Densmore  consisted  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  now  living,  William  being  the  eldest; 
the  names  of  the  others  are,  Andrew,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Dayton;  John,  of  the  same  city; 
Benjamin  and  Harry,  the  last  two  being  also 
engaged  in  business  in  Dayton. 

William  Densmore  was  brought  to  Dayton 
by  his  parents  when  a  child  of  three  years,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  city  schools. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  employed  upon 
the  canal  with  his  father,  upon  whose  death 
William  succeeded  him  as  captain  on  the 
Miami  canal  and  followed  boating  for  about 
fifteen  years,  the  greater  part  of  which  time 
was  spent  in  carrying  stone  from  the  quarries 
to  Dayton  and  Cincinnati.  He  was  thus  en- 
gaged from  1863  until  1884,  at  which  time  he 
embarked  in  his  present  business  in  Dayton. 
Mr.  Densmore  deals  in  all  kinds  of  coal, 
wood,  etc.,  and  has  met  with  encouraging 
success,    being    enterprising    and    wide   awake 


and  thoroughly  familiar  with  every  detail  of 
the  trade. 

Mr.  Densmore  was  married  February  1, 
1887,  to  Miss  Olive  Ogier,  a  native  of  Rich- 
mond, Ind.,  where  her  birth  occurred  Septem- 
ber 29,  1868.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Densmore 
were  Julius  and  Sarah  (Swalem)  Ogier,  natives 
respectively  of  Kentucky  and  Dayton,  Ohio, 
both  born  in  the  year  1841.  They  reared  a 
family  of  four  children,  viz:  Harry,  Olive, 
Wilbur  and  Sylvia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ogier  were 
reared  in  Dayton  and  subsequently  removed 
to  Indiana,  where  they  remained  for  a  limited 
period,  returning  to  Dayton  where  they  still 
reside.  Mr.  Ogier  served  in  the  Eleventh  Ohio 
infantry,  was  one  of  the  first  to  reach  the  top  of 
Lookout  mountain,  and  planted  the  flag  there 
before  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  strong- 
hold. He  received  at  the  same  time  a  severe 
wound  which  disabled  him  for  life.  His  fam- 
ily is  of  French  origin,  his  father  having  been 
born  in  the  city  of  Versailles,  France;  while 
Mrs.  Ogier's  parents  were  Germans. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Densmore  have  one  child, 
Lewis,  who  was  born  October  31,  1889.  Mr. 
Densmore  is  independent  politically  and  votes 
his  sentiments  regardless  of  party  ties.  He  is 
a  successful  business  man,  and  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  city  in  which  he  resides. 


HUGUST  J.  F.  DIERS,  the  popular 
shoe-dealer  of  Dayton,  was  born  in 
this  city  January  17,  1862.  He  is  a 
son  of  Lewis  H.  and  Catherine  Diers, 
natives  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  about  the  year  1850,  and  set- 
tled in  Dayton,  where  Mrs.  Catherine  Diers 
died  in  December,  1891.  Lewis  H.  Diers, 
who  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  is  now  living  in 
retirement. 

Angust  J.    F.    Diers   was    educated    in   the 
public  schools  of  his  native    city   until    twelve 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


469 


years  of  age,  when  he  found  employment  in 
the  leather  store  of  Mr.  Martin  for  one  year, 
and  then  entered  the  Barney  &  Smith  car 
works  as  an  apprentice  in  the  upholstering  de- 
partment, serving  there  for  eighteen  months. 
He  then  entered  the  service  of  D.  C.  Arnold 
as  clerk  in  the  shoe  trade,  and  in  this  employ 
he  remained  for  fifteen  years,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  shoe  business  on  his  own  account, 
uniting  with  Wilson  G.  Tanner,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Diers  &  Tanner,  mention  of  whom  is 
made  in  the  biography  of  Mr.  Tanner.  The 
partnership  is  now  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Diers 
has  succeeded  to  the  business  as  sole  proprietor. 
The  prosperity  that  has  attended  the  firm  in 
the  past  is  the  best  indication  of  Mr.  Diers' 
future  success. 

Mr.  Diers  is  a  member  of  Linden  lodge, 
No.  412,  Knights  of  Pythias.  On  October  9, 
1884,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Hunt,  daughter  of 
Josiah  Hunt,  of  Dayton,  and  one  child  has 
been  born  to  them,  a  son,  Harry.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Diers  are  members  of  the  First  Lutheran 
church.  Mr.  Diers  has  earned  a  reputation 
for  sagacity  and  industry,  and  by  close  and  in- 
telligent attention  to  the  daily  demands  of  a 
business  life,  has  placed  himself  in  the  front 
rank  of  Dayton's  reliable  and  progressive 
young  business  men. 


<*S~\  ROF.  JOHN  MARION  EBERT,  prin- 

1      W    cipal  of  the  Nineteenth  public  school 
j  district  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and   a  very 

popular  educator,  was  born  in  Kosci- 
usko county,  Ind.,  March  12,  1852,  and  is  re- 
motely of  German  ancestry.  His  parents, 
Charles  and  Christina  (Houser)  Ebert,  how- 
ever, were  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state,  and, 
after  marriage,  removed  to  Indiana,  where  the 
father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died 
in  Kosciusko  county  while  still  in  young  man- 
hood.     After   this   sad  event   the   mother   re- 


turned to  her  people  in  Ohio,  with  whom  she 
lived  until  her  decease  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
nine  years.  The  death  of  the  father  also 
caused  a  separation  of  the  children,  of  whom 
there  were  four,  our  subject  being  the  young- 
est, the  others  being  Mary  Ann,  now  the  widow 
of  Daniel  F.  Miller  and  a  resident  of  Gratis, 
Preble  county,  Ohio;  Elizabeth,  a  resident  of 
the  same  place  and  widow  of  John  Etter,  and 
Thomas  William,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  company,  with 
headquarters  at  Garrett,  Ind. 

Owing  to  the  early  death  of  their  father, 
the  children  were  not  abundantly  furnished 
with  the  means  for  securing  an  education,  and 
were  to  a  great  extent  dependent  upon  them- 
selves for  its  acquirement,  and  their  effort  in 
this  direction  happily  met  with  success.  John 
M.  Ebert  learned  his  early  lessons  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
whither  he  had  been  taken  when  a  mere  child, 
and  at  the  age  of  about  twenty  years  was  him- 
self prepared  to  conduct  a  school.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  alternated  between  teaching  and 
attending  the  more  advanced  schools,  and 
about  1885  began  his  career  as  principal  in 
graded  school  work  in  Farmersville,  Montgom- 
ery county,  holding  his  first  appointment  in 
this  responsible  grade  for  four  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Dayton,  and  for  two  years  taught 
a  school  near  the  city  limits,  until  in  Septem- 
ber, 1894,  he  was  elected  to  his  present  posi- 
tion of  principal  of  the  Nineteenth  district. 
This  is  the  latest  organized  of  the  public  school 
districts  of  Dayton,  comprises  twelve  depart- 
ments, with  twelve  teachers  and  350  pupils  in 
attendance,  and  Prof.  Ebert  is  daily  increasing 
its  efficiency  and  usefulness. 

Mr.  Ebert  was  united  in  marriage  at  Farm- 
ersville, Ohio,  September  16,  1881,  with  Miss 
Ella  N.  Riegel,  a  native  of  Montgomery 
county.  Her  parents  are  Franklin  J.  and 
Catherine   Riegel,  the  former  a  retired  farmer, 


470 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  now,  with  his  wife,  residing  at  Farmers- 
ville.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ebert  has 
been  blessed  with  two  sons,  Owen  Leroy  and 
Robert  Laird,  aged  respectively  thirteen  and 
five  years. 

Mr.  Ebert  is  a  member  of  Miamisburg 
lodge,  No.  44,  K.  of  P.  In  religion  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Fourth  Reformed 
church  of  Dayton.  While  not  aggressive  in 
political  matters,  his  affiliations  are  with  the 
democratic  party,  and  under  its  auspices  he 
served  one  term  as  mayor  of  Farmersville, 
which  position  he  resigned  on  his  appointment 
as  principal  of  the  schools  of  that  city.  In 
August,  1892,  he  was  appointed,  by  the  pro- 
bate court  of  Montgomery  county,  a  member 
of  the  county  board  of  examiners,  in  which 
capacity  he  acted  for  three  years,  one-half  of 
this  period  as  president  of  the  board. 

Prof.  Ebert  has  filled  these  several  posi- 
tions with  ability  and  faithfulness,  creditably 
to  himself  and  satisfactorily  to  the  public 
whom   he   has  thus  served. 


(D 


RS.  MARTHA  JANE  ROUZER, 
president  of  the  John  Rouzer  com. 
pany  and  widow  of  John  Rouzer,  the 
founder  thereof,  is  a  native  of  Day- 
ton, was  born  July  24,  1836,  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  higher  educational  in- 
stitutions of  the  city,  receiving  a  training  which 
included  a  study  of  the  classics  as  well  as  of 
the  ordinary  branches  of  knowledge. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Rouzer  were  Henry 
and  Susannah  (Johnson)  Diehl,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  in  1800; 
the  latter  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was 
some  years  her  husband's  junior.  They  were 
married  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Diehl  was 
engaged  extensively  in  chair  making,  and  to 
their  union  were  born  four  daughters,  viz: 
Ann   Eliza,  who   became    Mrs.    William   Horn 


and  died  at  about  forty  years  of  age;  Martha 
Jane,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch;  Marga- 
retta,  widow  of  John  Cannon  and  a  resident  of 
New  York,  and  Susannah,  deceased  wife  of 
Samuel  McNutt.  The  second  of  the  above 
named  children,  Martha  Jane,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years,  was  married  to  John  Rouzer, 
a  carpenter  and  builder  of  Dayton. 

John  Rouzer  was  a  native  of  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  born  June  29,  1822,  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Rouzer.  In  early  life  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  at  va- 
rious places  from  1844  to  1854,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter year  established  himself  in  business  as  a 
contractor  and  builder  in  Dayton,  beginning  in 
a  small  way.  In  1 861,  he  began  the  manufac- 
ture of  building  material.  He  was  then  lo- 
cated in  the  old  Bomberger  flouring  mill,  where 
he  put  in  operation  the  first  iron  frame  mold- 
ing machine  in  the  United  States.  In  1862, 
he  entered  upon  the  erection  of  the  Turner 
opera  house,  which  was  opened  January  1, 
1864.  In  1863,  he  removed  to  the  present  lo- 
cation of  the  John  Rouzer  Planing  Mill  com- 
pany, on  the  Cooper  hydraulic,  opposite  the 
head  of  Fourth  street.  The  building  he  then 
occupied  was  a  small  two-story  brick,  which  a 
year  or  two  afterward  he  enlarged  by  adding 
twenty  feet  to  the  front,  and  raising  it  all  one 
story.  In  1871  he  erected  a  new  building  to 
the  north  of  the  old  one,  three  stories  in  front 
and  four  stories  high  on  the  canal.  He  after- 
ward occupied  the  two  buildings,  which  are 
now  equipped  with  the  finest  machinery  to  be 
found  anywhere  in  the  state.  Mr.  Rouzer  con- 
ducted this  business  alone  for  a  time,  and  did  a 
large  and  constantly  increasing  business,  the 
product  of  his  factory  finding  a  market  in  a 
number  of  states.  His  building  operations 
were  not  confined  to  Dayton,  but  extended  to 
many  other  places,  notably  Columbus,  where 
he  erected  the  court  house,  the  board  of  trade 
building,  and    the   residence   of   the  widow  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


473 


ex-Gov.  Dennison.  In  Dayton  he  supplied 
the  inside  furnishing  and  furniture  for  the  new 
court  house,  and  the  office  furniture  for  the  of- 
fices of  the  Teutonia  Insurance  company. 
He  also  erected  the  Callahan  bank  building, 
the  high  school  building,  and  many  other  sub- 
stantial structures. 

In  February,  1890,  he  organized  the  John 
Rouzer  company,  of  which  he  was  a  principal 
stockholder  and  the  president  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  23,  1893.  This  is  the 
leading  manufactory  of  its  kind  in  Dayton,  em- 
ploys a  large  number  of  men,  turning  out  work 
of  the  highest  class  in  the  way  of  builders'  ma- 
terials and  supplies,  office  furniture  being  one 
of  the  specialties  of  the  company. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rouzer 
were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  five  died 
in  infancy;  of  the  living,  Kate  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Leo  Flotron.  a  native  of  France  and 
a  jeweler  by  trade,  who  died  in  Dayton  about 
1876,  leaving  his  widow  with  one  son,  John 
R.  Flotron,  who  is  now  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  John  Rouzer  company  and  is  the  adopted 
son  of  his  grandmother,  Mrs.  Martha  Jane 
Rouzer.  The  second  marriage  of  Mrs.  Kate 
(Rouzer)  Flotron  was  to  David  W.  Moore,  of 
Xenia,  Ohio,  who  lived  about  two  years  after 
marriage,  and  later  his  widow  became  the  wife 
of  John  N.  Humphrey,  who  is  engaged  in 
keeping  a  restaurant  in  Dayton.  The  second 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rouzer,  named  Mat- 
tie,  is  the  wife  of  Horace  Justice,  a  farmer  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  is  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Horace  and  Mattie. 

John  Rouzer  was  what  is  usually  denomi- 
nated in  business  circles  a  self-made  man;  and 
the  term  may  be  applied,  in  this  case,  in  its 
broadest  scope,  as  he  began  life  in  indigent 
circumstances,  but  through  his  great  ability  as 
a  mechanic  and  his  keen  business  perceptions, 
accumulated    a   handsome  fortune  and  became 

the  head  of  one  of   the  largest  and  most  pros- 
15 


perous  industries  of  his  adopted  city.  He  was 
noted  for  his  kindness  of  heart  and  for  his 
sympathy  with  the  poor  and  distressed,  which 
sympathy  was  manifested  in  a  broad  and  com- 
prehensive liberality;  he  was,  moreover,  a  kind 
and  indulgent  husband  and  father;  and  his 
family  cherish  his  memory  with  deep  affection, 
while  his  loss  is  deplored  as  well  by  an  ex- 
tended group  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  As 
a  Freemason  Mr.  Rouzer  had  attained  the 
thirty-second  degree,  and  in  politics  he  was 
stanch  in  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of  the 
republican  party,  while  in  religion  he  was  a 
devoted  Baptist.  The  Rouzer  family  and  the 
Diehl  family  trace  their  genealogy  to  Germany, 
although  the  father  of  John  Rouzer  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland;  the  Johnson  family  came 
from  England,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Rouzer  having  been  born  in  that  country. 
Mrs.  Rouzer  was  baptized  in  the  faith  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  to  which  faith  she  still  ad- 
heres, being  an  attendant  upon  the  Christ 
Episcopal  church  at  Dayton. 

John  Rouzer  Flotron,  grandson  of  Mrs. 
Rouzer,  was,  on  the  death  of  his  father, 
adopted  into  the  Rouzer  family  and  shared  the 
attention  and  kindness  accorded  the  daughters, 
being  reared  and  educated  with  the  same  care, 
and  at  the  death  of  his  grandfather  shared  in 
the  distribution  of  the  property.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  fine  business  qualifications,  and 
has  largely  supplemented  the  place  of  the  late 
Mr.  Rouzer  in  conducting  the  extensive  mill 
operations.  Mrs.  Rouzer,  upon  the  loss  of  her 
husband,  assumed  the  duties  of  president  of  the 
company,  which  office  she  has  since  filled  with 
excellent  judgment,  exhibiting  strong  business 
ability  and  executive  tact.  She  has  surrounded 
herself  with  capable,  trustworthy  employes, 
has  kept  the  affairs  of  the  company  in  a  har- 
monious and  prosperous  condition,  and  has 
proved  herself  to  be  fully  competent  to  fill  her 
responsible  and  prominent  position. 


474 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


aHARLES  ECKSTEIN,  superintend- 
ent of  the  street  department  of  the 
Dayton  water  works,  was  born  in 
Newport,  Ky.,  June  29,  1864.  His 
parents  were  Peter  J.  and  Minnie  Eckstein, 
both  natives  of  Germany,  but  who  came  to 
the  United  States  when  quite  young.  They 
removed  to  Dayton  from  Newport,  Ky. ,  in 
1868,  and  here  the  former  died  in  1871.  His 
widow  continues  to  reside  in  Dayton,  but  has 
since  re-married. 

Charles  Eckstein  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  After  leaving  school  he 
worked  for  his  step-father  for  several  years, 
engaging  later  with  street  contractors  for  a 
time.  Subsequently  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship with  the  firm  of  Brooks  &  Kemper  at  the 
steam  and  gas  fitting  trade,  continuing  to  work 
at  this  calling  until  May  1,  1891,  when  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position  in  the  water 
works.  In  this  position  Mr.  Eckstein  is  un- 
usually efficient,  and  is  strictly  attentive  to  his 
duties,  the  result  being  that  he  enjoys  the  full 
confidence  of  his  employers.  He  was  ap- 
pointed to  his  position  without  solicitation  on 
his  part,  his  peculiar  fitness  therefor  being 
apparent. 

Mr.  Eckstein  is  a  member  of  Linden  lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Foresters,  and  of  the  Chautauqua  tribe,  No. 
98,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  was 
married  December  1,  1886,  to  Miss  Ella  May 
Williams,  of  Dayton. 


S^X,  EORGE  W.  EDWARDS,  foreman  of 
■  ^\  the  laundry  at  the  national  military 
\^J  home,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of 
London,  England,  was  born  May  16, 
1836,  and  came  to  America  while  still  a  youth. 
He  worked  in  a  machine  shop  in  New  York 
city  until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  company 
B,  Sixth  New  York  cavalry;  he   was  first  sent 


to  Staten  Island,  where  his  regiment  was  or- 
ganized, was  stationed  a  short  time  at  Havre 
de  Grace,  being  then  sent  through  Washing- 
ton and  across  the  Potomac  river,  to  the  Rap- 
pahannock river,  to  guard  the  fords.  His 
principal  battles  were  Fredericksburg,  South 
Mountain,  Antietam,  and  a  running  fight  with 
the  rebels  back  to  the  Rappahannock;  he  was 
in  the  battles  at  Kelly's  Ford  and  Rappahan- 
nock Station,  and  guarded  the  rear  of  the  in- 
fantry while  in  winter  quarters.  In  the  spring 
of  1863  he  went  upon  the  Chancellorsville 
campaign  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  that 
name,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
following  the  retreating  enemy  to  Falling 
Waters,  and  there  crossing  the  Potomac,  went 
with  Sheridan  on  his  famous  raid  in  the  rear 
of  the  rebels,  being  twenty-one  days  separated 
from  the  main  army,  recapturing  trains  and 
prisoners.  In  the  winter  of  1863  he  was  re- 
enlisted  and  returned  to  New  York  on  veteran 
furlough. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  his  leave  of 
absence,  Mr.  Edwards  rejoined  his  regiment  at 
Culpeper,  and  took  part  in  the  great  wilder- 
ness campaign,  the  Union  forces  capturing  at 
Beaver  Dam  Station  a  large  force  of  rebels 
and  recapturing  three  trains  and  many  prison- 
ers taken  by  the  enemy  in  the  wilderness 
and  elsewhere  in  the  early  days  of  May, 
1864.  This  raid  continued  on  to  Richmond, 
where  there  took  place  a  severe  skirmish  inside 
the  fortifications  —  the  raid  being  led  by  Gen. 
Sheridan,  with  Custer,  Devins,  Merritt  and 
Torbett  as  division  commanders.  After  about 
twenty-one  days  spent  within  the  rebel  lines, 
report  was  made  to  Gen.  Grant,  at  City  Point, 
Va. ,  and  the  next  raid  was  made,  under  the 
the  same  commanders,  from  City  Point,  upon 
Trevillian  Station,  where  was  had  a  general 
cavalry  engagement,  resulting  in  the  capture 
of  the  station  and  the  destruction  of  the  rail- 
road and  all  rebel  supplies.      Returning  to  City 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


475 


Point,  orders  were  given  for  the  corps  to  go 
north  and  intercept  Early's  raid  into  Maryland. 
They  embarked  on  boats  and  went  to  Wash- 
ington, being  fired  upon  by  rebel  shore  bat- 
teries nearly  all  the  way.  From  Washington 
a  forced  march  was  made  to  Harper's  Ferry, 
but  from  this  point  the  main  body  of  the  rebel 
cavalry  had  retired  across  the  Potomac,  carry- 
ing off  large  stores  taken  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland.  Custer's  division,  however,  re- 
captured a  portion  of  this  property.  Mr. 
Edwards  was  next  with  Sheridan  in  the  Shen- 
andoah valley,  and  fought  at  Winchester, 
Cedar  Creek  and  Fisher's  Hill.  In  the  latter 
battle  forty-two  pieces  of  artillery  were  cap- 
tured and  some  prisoners  and  munitions  of 
war  re-taken.  After  following  the  enemy  to 
Harrisonburg,  the  army  returned  to  the  valley 
and  wintered  near  Loudoun,  and  while  thus 
quartered  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  in  Fed- 
eral uniform,  who  captured  the  pickets  and 
created  a  general  stampede  in  camp,  where 
the  rebels  gained  some  advantage,  but  soon 
lost  more  than  they  had  gained.  In  the  spring 
of  1865  a  march  was  made  down  the  valley, 
and  the  enemy,  under  Early,  was  met  at 
Waynesboro,  where  he  lost  all  his  artillery, 
baggage-wagons  and  camp  equipage.  On  the 
march  to  join  Grant's  army  at  Petersburg,  Mr. 
Edwards  lost  his  horse  in  crossing  a  swollen 
stream,  and  was  sent  with  other  dismounted 
men  to  Pleasant  Valley.  He  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Cloud's  Mills,  where  he  took  charge 
of  his  company,  being  now  a  sergeant,  and  was 
here  mustered  out  as  a  supernumerary  non- 
commissioned officer  —  his  regiment  having 
been  consolidated  with  the  Sixteenth  New 
York  cavalry. 

Returning  to  New  York  city,  Mr.  Edwards 
enlisted,  in  1866,  in  the  Nineteenth  United 
States  infantry,  and  served  one  term  of  three 
years  and  one  term  of  five  years  as  first  ser- 
geant of  company  E.       The  last  five  years  he 


served  on  detached  duty  as  provost  under  Gen. 
C.  H.  Smith  at  Fort  Gibson,  in  the  Indian 
nation,  and  at  Fort  Smith,  Ark.  He  was 
finally  discharged,  at  Martinsville,  in  1874,  his 
application  for  re-enlistment  having  been  re- 
jected on  account  of  hernia  incurred  while  in 
the  service.  For  the  five  years  succeeding  his 
discharge,  he  was  employed  in  engineering  in 
New  Orleans,  La.  In  1879,  he  came  to  the 
Central  branch,  national  military  home,  Day- 
ton, but  was  incapacitated  for  work  for  several 
years.  In  July,  1890,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed foreman  of  the  home  laundry,  where 
he  has  supervision  over  forty-nine  men.  Mr. 
Edwards  was  a  true  and  brave  soldier,  and  of 
his  twelve  years  in  the  army  he  was  eleven 
years  an  officer.  During  his  last  term  of  serv- 
ice in  the  regular  army  he  was  stationed  twice 
at  Fort  Smith;  once  at  Fort  Gibson;  once  at 
Dover,  Ark. ;  once  at  Little  Rock;  thence  at 
New  Orleans  and  once  each  at  Holly  Springs, 
Miss. ;  Ship  Island,  in  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
Martinsville.  He  was  never  married,  has  never 
joined  a  secret  order,  but  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  church  all  his  life,  and  in 
politics  is  a  stanch  republican. 


aHARLES  W.  ELLIFF,  one  of  the 
prominent  young  members  of  the  Day- 
ton bar,  was  born  in  West  Carrollton, 
Ohio,  October  23,  1865,  and  is  a  son 
of  Patrick  Elliff,  who  located  in  Montgomery 
county  about  1859,  and  together  with  his  fam- 
ily moved  to  Dayton  in  1875,  where  they  have 
since  resided. 

Charles  W.  Elliff  received  a  high-school 
education  in  the  city  of  Dayton,  and  in  1889 
began  reading  law;  entered  the  Cincinnati  Law 
school,  and  after  leaving  that  institution  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1891.  During  the  same 
year  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Dayton,  and   served  a  term  of  three  years  in 


476 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


that  capacity,  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  and  approval  of  the  public.  Upon 
retiring  from  this  office  he  began  the  practice 
of  law,  and  has  been  thus  engaged  ever  since 
with  gratifying  success.  In  November,  1896, 
Mr.  Elliff  formed  a  law  partnership  with  H.  L. 
Ferneding. 

Mr.  Elliff  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  of  the  society  of  Elks.  He  was 
married  December  8,  1895,  to  a  daughter  of 
John  and  May  Fleckenstein,  the  former  of 
whom  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Elliff  has  already 
made  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
lawyer,  and  is  personally  very  popular  at  the 
Dayton  bar. 


V/^V  R.   CLARKE    S.     EPPLEY,    an    ex- 

I  perienced  chiropodist,  of  Dayton, 
/^^_J  Ohio,  with  office  in  room  5,  Newsalt 
building,  on  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Jefferson  streets,  was  born  in  Clarke 
county,  Ohio,  in  1870.  He  is  a  son  of  Prof. 
H.  C.  Eppley,  who  is  now  located  in  Cincin- 
nati, and  who  has  been  engaged  as  a  chirop- 
odist for  twenty  years,  during  four  of  which 
he  practiced  in  Dayton.  Prof.  Eppley  was 
born  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  on  a  farm,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  His 
parents  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio,  in  which 
state  they  resided  to  the  close  of  their  lives. 

Prof.  H.  C.  Eppley  was  married,  in  Clarke 
county,  to  Miss  Rosetta  Neff.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Ohio  and  Michigan,  and  followed 
farming  for  some  years,  giving  his  attention 
thereafter  to  horses,  buying,  selling  and  train- 
ing those  designed  for  the  race  course.  He 
was  well  acquainted  throughout  the  entire 
state  of  Ohio.  About  1875  he  adopted  the 
profession  of  chiropody,  and,  as  stated  above, 
has  ever  since  followed  that  calling.  He  and 
his   wife  were   the   parents  of  three   children, 


viz:     Charles,  deceased;  Clarke  S.,  and  Car- 
rie, now  living  at  home. 

Clarke  S.  Eppley  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  from  his  eighteenth  to  his 
twenty-first  year  was  occupied  in  the  shoe 
business  in  Springfield.  He  then  studied  with 
his  father,  learning  the  profession  of  chirop- 
ody, and  .has  since  that  time  been  engaged  in 
its  pursuit.  He  was  located  in  Springfield 
until  1893,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton,  where 
he  has  since  practiced  with  success. 


>-j*OHN  GATES  DOREN,  retired  journal- 
m  ist,  residing  at  No.  307  East  Sixth 
/>  1  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Athens,  Tenn.,  August  3,  1834,  and  is 
of  French  Huguenot  and  Scotch  Covenanter 
origin.  Immediately  after  the  revocation,  in 
1685,  of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  the  paternal  an- 
cestors of  Mr.  Doren  left  their  native  country, 
sought  refuge  in  England,  and  there  founded 
the  family  from  which  our  subject  directly  de- 
scends. His  paternal  great-grandfather  came 
to  America  with  Gen.  Horatio  Gates,  whose 
sister  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Doren.  They  were 
joint  heirs  to  large  estates  granted  by  the  crown 
of  England  in  Virginia,  of  which  province  Sir 
Thomas  Gates  was  the  first  colonial  governor. 
Grandfather  Doren  died  just  after  the  close  of 
the  war  of  1812,  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  the  fa- 
ther of  John  G. ,  also  named  John  Gates  Doren, 
was  born  near  Wytheville,  in  the  same  state. 
Both  the  Gates  and  the  Doren  families  were 
extensive  slaveholders  in  their  day,  but  gave  to 
all  their  slaves  their  freedom  in  the  early  part 
of  the  present  century,  Gen.  Gates  removing 
to  New  York. 

John  Gates  Doren,  the  elder,  in  early  man- 
hood settled  in  Tennessee,  where  he  married 
Jane  Macartney,  daughter  of  an  ex-captain  of 
the  British  navy,  but  who,  after  the  close  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  had  settled  in  east  Ten- 


U~  4  9. 


err* 


\ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


479 


nessee.  Capt.  Macartney  was  the  youngest 
brother  of  Lord  George  Macartney,  a  distin- 
guished figure  in  English  diplomacy  and  states- 
manship from  1769  until  1798,  and  who,  dur- 
ing this  interval,  was  a  member  of  parliament, 
chief  secretary  for  Ireland,  British  ambassador 
to  Russia  and  China,  and  governor-general  of 
India  and  the  Cape  settlements.  It  may  here 
also  be  added  that  Mrs.  Doren  was  a  school- 
mate of  Gen.  Sam  Houston.  The  mother  of 
Miss  Jane  Macartney  was  a  Murray,  of  the 
historical  family  of  that  name,  and  the  young- 
est sister  of  Lord  Dunmore,  the  last  colonial 
governor  of  Virginia.  The  Murray  family  were 
Scotch  Covenanters,  and  were  bitterly  opposed 
to  the  institution  known  as  African  slavery. 

The  parents  of  John  G.  Doren,  because  of 
their  anti-slavery  sentiments,  came  to  Ohio  in 
1847,  and  first  located  in  a  Covenanter  com- 
munity in  Greene  county,  but  in  185 1  settled 
in  Columbus,  which  may  be  called  the  family 
home.  The  children  of  these  parents  num- 
bered eleven — six  sons  and  five  daughters — of 
whom  six  only  are  now  living,  viz:  Sarah  L., 
a  widow,  residing  at  the  family  home  in  Co- 
lumbus; Horace  H.,  for  many  years  a  journal- 
ist, but  now  retired,  and  also  living  in  Colum- 
bus; Margaret  and  Henry  C. ,  likewise  at  the 
homestead;  Dr.  Gustavus  A.,  who  founded 
one  of  the  first  institutions  in  the  United 
States  for  the  treatment  of  imbecile  children, 
and  who  is  at  present  the  superintendent  and 
physician  of  the  original  institution  at  Colum- 
bus, now  under  state  government  control,  and 
of  which  he  has  been  the  head  since  its  crea- 
tion; this  asylum  being  rated  as  the  best  in  the 
world,  and  having  been  visited  by  many  com- 
missions from  Europe,  appointed  to  examine 
into  its  workings  with  a  view  to  the  improve- 
ment of  home  institutions  of  a  similar  char- 
acter. The  name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
closes  this  list.  It  may  be  added  that  all  of 
this  family  were  born  in  Athens,  Tenn. 


John  Gates  Doren  was  primarily  educated 
under  private  tutors,  of  whom  his  mother  was 
the  chief  and  most  effective.  For  some  years 
he  attended  Forest  Hill  academy  at  Athens, 
where  he  received  a  thorough  training  for  that 
day  and  for  his  own  age,  and  this  he  supple- 
mented by  close  and  discriminating  study 
through  a  course  of  years  devoted  to  self- 
tuition,  and,  indeed,  through  life,  to  the 
present  day. 

Mr.  Doren  was  united  in  marriage  at  the 
old  Collins  homestead,  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
February  23,  1861,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Brag- 
don,  a  native  of  Clermont,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
Dr.  George  Hunt  Bragdon,  and  granddaughter 
of  Rev.  John  Collins,  the  pioneer  minister, 
who  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in 
Cincinnati,  who  also  assisted  in  forming  the 
first  church  in  Dayton  and  organized  the  first 
Methodist  church  in  either  city,  and  who,  dur- 
ing his  first  pastorate,  received  into  the  church 
Chief  Justice  McLean  and  other  personages  of 
note.  The  authority  for  this  statement  may 
be  found  in  the  Life  of  Rev.  John  Collins, 
written  by  John  McLean  (then  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  United  States  supreme  court), 
and  published  in  1849  by  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Book  concern  of  Cincinnati. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doren 
have  been  born  seven  children,  viz:  Electra 
Collins,  now  librarian  of  the  Dayton  city  lib- 
rary; Elizabeth  Bragdon,  a  teacher  in  the  Day- 
ton city  schools;  Alice  Macartney,  who  holds 
a  similar  position;  Marian  McSherry,  now  in 
her  second  year  at  Oberlin  college;  and  three 
that  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Doren  became  a  democratic  editor  at 
nineteen  years  of  age  and  continued  in  that 
profession  until  18S9,  when  he  sold  out  and 
has  since  devoted  himself  to  special  work  in 
the  literary  field,  living  a  semi-retired  life.  He 
began  his  career  as  a  journalist  on  the  Ohio 
Statesman,  in   1852,  under  Gov.  Samuel   Me- 


480 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


dary,  after  having  served  a  regular  apprentice- 
ship at  the  printing  business.  From  1855  to 
1857  he  owned  and  edited  the  Gazette,  at 
Hillsborough,  Ohio.  In  1857  he  was  elected 
official  reporter  of  the  Ohio  house  of  represent- 
atives, on  the  nomination  of  the  late  Justice 
Woods,  of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
who  was  the  speaker  of  the  house  at  that  time, 
Mr.  Doren  receiving  the  votes  of  republicans 
as  well  as  of  democrats.  This  position  he  re- 
signed after  a  few  months  to  accept  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  treasury  department  at  Wash- 
ington. Still  keeping  up  his  connection  with 
the  Ohio  democratic  press,  he  established,  in 
1859,  the  Southern  Ohio  Argus  (democratic), 
at  Georgetown.  Up  to  this  time,  from  1852, 
during  such  intervals  of  leisure  as  the  busy 
life  of  a  newspaper  man  afforded,  he  had  been 
reading  law  under  the  direction  of  various  pre- 
ceptors at  different  times,  among  them  Hon. 
Samuel  Galloway  and  Judge  James  F.  Mat- 
thews, at  Columbus,  and  Hon.  Thomas  A. 
Hendricks,  of  Indiana,  and  Hon.  Geo.  E. 
Pugh,  of  Cincinnati,  who,  during  the  time  Mr. 
Doren  was  in  the  treasury  department,  were 
holding  official  positions  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
— one  as  senator,  and  the  other  as  commis- 
sioner of  the  general  land  office.  As  a  result 
of  this  industry,  Mr.  Doren  was  enabled  to 
graduate  after  one  term  of  lectures  at  the  Cin- 
cinnati law  school  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Cincinnati  in  1863. 

In  1864  Mr.  Doren  exchanged  the  Argos 
establishment  for  the  Sun  plant,  at  Batavia, 
in  Clermont  county,  but  sold  the  latter  almost 
as  soon  as  he  acquired  it,  with  a  view  to  de- 
voting himself  wholly  to  the  practice  of  law. 
He  then  opened  an  office  in  Cincinnati  for  this 
purpose,  but  early  in  1865  succeeded  Geo.  M. 
D.  Bloss  as  managing  editor  of  the  Enquirer, 
Mr.  Bloss  becoming  the  writing  editor.  This 
position  Mr.  Doren  held  until  his  health  failed, 
when  he  was  compelled  to   retire  for  rest  and 


recuperation.  In  the  latter  part  of  1869  he 
came  to  Dayton  at  the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Val- 
landigham,  and  bought  the  plant  of  the  old 
Empire,  which  paper  he  edited  and  published 
for  twenty  years,  as  the  Herald  and  Empire  and 
the  Empire  and  Democrat.  Upon  this  founda- 
tion Mr.  Doren  succeeded  in  doing  what  some 
very  able  men  before  him  had  failed  to  accom- 
plish— he  built  up  a  successful,  influential  and 
effective  democratic  newspaper.  The  list  of 
failures  preceding  him  includes  some  names  as 
notable  for  ability  as  that  of  Mr.  Vallandig- 
ham.  Among  those  who  early  attempted  to 
build  up  a  democratic  journal  in  Dayton,  but 
grew  discouraged,  were  three  gentlemen,  who, 
after  the  attempt,  "went  west  and  grew  up 
with  the  country,"  the  first — John  Bigler,  of 
California — winning  the  governorship  of  his 
adopted  state;  the  second — DeLazore  Smith, 
of  Oregon — the  United  States  senatorship, 
and  the  third — Thomas  J.  McCorkle,  of  Cali- 
fornia— the  honor  of  being  the  first  representa- 
tive of  that  state  in  congress  after  it  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union.  Other  brilliant  men, 
like  John  R.  Cockerill,  of  the  New  York 
World,  Hiram  H.  Robinson,  who  built  up  the 
■Cincinnati  Enquirer,  and  Thomas  and  William 
Hubbard,  also  succumbed  to  discouragements 
in  the  attempt  to  establish  a  democratic  paper 
in  Dayton.  These  facts,  and  the  other  fact 
that  Mr.  Doren's  party  was  in  an  apparently 
hopeless  minority  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
party  organ  in  Dayton,  but  soon  attained  a 
healthy  majority,  and  maintained  it  as  long  as 
he  owned  and  managed  the  paper,  are  some 
of  the  evidences  of  Mr.  Doren's  ability  as  an 
editor  and  publisher.  Taken  in  connection 
with  another  fact,  well  known  and  much 
spoken  of  by  Mr.  Doren's  brother  editors — 
that  he  never  edited  a  paper  in  any  county 
which  was  not  republican  when  he  began,  and 
democratic  when  he  quit — his  career  is  regard- 
ed as  an  instructive    and   significant  one  to  all 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


481 


editors.  The  characteristic  feature  of  this 
career  was  the  absolute  fearlessness  and  direct- 
ness with  which  he  always  maintained  his  own 
convictions  as  to  the  honest  interpretation  and 
rigid  application  of  his  party's  declared  princi- 
ples, as  against  any  and  all  truckling  "poli- 
cies" of  mere  politicians,  intent  only  on  getting 
votes  or  winning  and  keeping  offices.  Such  a 
policy  always  puts  a  partisan  editor  who  ad- 
heres to  it,  in  more  or  less  antagonism  with 
the  local  leaders,  so-called,  but  the  lesson  of 
Mr.  Doren's  experience  proves  that  it  is  the 
only  one  which  can  bring  permanent  success, 
and  demonstrates  that  the  political  press  need 
not  be  less  straightforward,  honest  and  inde- 
pendent because  it  is  partisan. 

During  the  twenty  years  that  Mr.  Doren 
was  editor  of  his  party  organ  in  Dayton,  he 
was  never  a  candidate  for  any  office  before  the 
people,  although  he  held  one  or.  two  by  ap- 
pointments which  came  to  him  unsolicited  be- 
cause of  his  special  training  or  fitness  for  the 
duties  required.  He  was  journal  index  clerk 
of  the  national  house  of  representatives  from 
1887  to  1889,  inclusive,  and  was  appointed  by 
Gov.  Foraker  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
state  charities,  a  position  which  he  held  for  six 
years,  the  last  year  as  secretary  of  the  board. 

The  special  characteristics  of  the  Doren 
family  are  devoted  to  literary  pursuits  and 
learned  professions,  loyalty  to  the  religious 
and  political  principles  of  their  ancestors,  and 
fidelity  and  integrity  in  all  things. 


BIORINI  &  SHERER,  a  firm  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  engaged  in  plastic  d  cora- 
tions,  stucco  work,  wood  carving,  de- 
signing,   modeling  and  drawing  orna- 
mental patterns  for  interiors  of  buildings,  with 
works  at  134  and  136  East  Fourth  street,   is 
composed    of    Henry   Fiorini  and    Charles  J. 


Sherer,    the    partnership   having  been    estab- 
lished in  1895. 

Henry  Fiorini,  the  senior  partner,  was 
born  in  Florence,  Italy,  in  July,  1844,  and  is 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Lotti)  Fiorini. 
His  elementary  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  schools  of  Florence;  he  then  entered 
the  gymnasium  and  later  passed  to  the  acad- 
emy of  fine  arts,  took  lessons  in  plastics  for 
three  years,  and  graduated,  with  honors,  in 
1865.  He  next  took  part,  as  an  Italian  pa- 
triot, in  the  war  against  Austria,  which  result- 
ed in  a  united  Italy,  and  in  1S68  came  to 
America,  where  he  found  even  a  greater  free- 
dom than  that  he  fought  for  in  his  native  land. 
Landing  in  New  York,  he  worked  at  his  art 
for  twenty  months;  he  then  went  to  New  Or- 
leans, La.,  where,  for  a  year,  he  labored  at 
wood-carving;  he  next  resided  for  three  months 
in  Chicago,  111.,  and  then  went  to  Montreal, 
where  he  worked  as  wood  decorator  for  the 
Pullman  Car  company.  There  he  remained 
for  eight  months,  going  thence,  in  1872,  to 
Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  was,  for  sixteen 
months,  foreman  of  a  furniture  firm,  design- 
ing the  ornamental  work.  In  the  fall  of  1873 
he  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Victoria  Gori.  He  then  returned 
to  Boston,  where  he  lived  until  1878;  then 
went  to  New  York  city  and  was  employed  at 
his  art  for  eight  years,  and  in  1886  came  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  various  branches  of  his  artistic 
profession,  being  for  about  six  years  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Barney  &  Smith  Car  works  in  deco- 
rative work,  and  since  1891  teaching  a  class 
in  modeling  and  carving  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of 
Dayton. 

In  1882  Mr.  Fiorini  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  his  wife,  who  died  in  January  of  that 
year,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-two,  the  mother 
of  four  children,  of  whom  two  are  still  living — 
Alfred  J.  and  Louisa.     In  politics,  Mr.  Fiorini 


482 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


is  a  republican,  and  fraternally  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order. 

Charles  J.  Sherer,  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Fiorini  &  Sherer,  was  born  in  Day- 
ton, February  19,  1868,  a  son  of  Michael  F. 
and  Margaret  C.  (Sacksteder)  Sherer,  was  ed- 
ucated in  Saint  Mary's  institute,  and  was  the 
first  graduate  from  that  institution  of  learning, 
this  event  taking  place  in  June,  1885.  He 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  at  artistic  wood 
carving  and  next  made  a  trip  throughout  the 
eastern  states,  starting  in  the  spring  of  1889, 
and  passing  three  years  in  that  section,  work- 
ing at  his  trade  and  adding  to  his  knowledge 
of  his  profession.  Since  his  return  to  Dayton 
he  has  conducted  business  on  his  own  account, 
carrying  on  his  trade  in  his  own  shop  until  the 
formation  of  his  present  copartnership.  Mr. 
Sherer  is  recognized  as  an  expert  carver,  and 
as  a  citizen  and  business  man  his  name  is  with- 
out a  blemish.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat 
and  in  religion  a  Catholic,  and,  like  his  part- 
ner, is  popular  with  his  fellow-citizens  of  the 
city  of  Dayton. 


BENRY  L.  FERNEDING,  of  the  law 
firm  of  Elliff  &  Ferneding,  Callahan 
Bank  building,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  na- 
tive of  this  city  and  is  a  son  of  Clem- 
ent L.  and  Barbara  (Barlow)  Ferneding,  the 
former  of  whom  has  been  for  many  years  prom- 
inent as  a  manufacturer  and  citizen  of  Dayton. 
Henry  L.  Ferneding  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  Dayton  schools,  after  which 
he  was  entered  as  a  pupil  at  Saint  Mary's  in- 
stitute, a  Catholic  college  situated  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  city,  where  he  remained 
for  five  years,  graduating  in  the  year  1890. 
The  following  year  he  continued  his  studies 
at  the  university  of  Notre  Dame,  near  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  finishing  his  course  there  two  years 
later,  after   which  he   returned   to  Dayton  to 


enter  upon  the  study  of  the  law.  Mr.  Fer- 
neding had  the  good  fortune  to  prepare  for  the 
bar  under  the  tutelage  of  Hon.  John  A.  McMa- 
hon,  of  the  firm  of  McMahon  &  McMahon,  in 
whose  office  he  remained  for  three  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1895  he  alternated  his  time  between 
his  studies  in  this  office  and  his  attendance  at 
the  Cincinnati  Law  school,  graduating  from 
the  latter  institution  and  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  the  following  spring.  He  continued  in 
the  office  of  McMahon  &  McMahon  until  No- 
vember 1 ,  1 896,  when  he  effected  a  partner- 
ship with  Hon.  Charles  W.  Elliff  in  the  practice 
of  law  under  the  firm  name  above  given. 


eDWARD  W.  HANLEY,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Dayton  Gas  &  Fuel 
company,  was  born  in  Dayton  on  Oc- 
tober 13,  1858,  and  is  of  Irish-Amer- 
ican descent,  his  parents  being  Joseph  and 
Anna  Hanley,  both  natives  of  Ireland.  The 
mother  survives  and  resides  in  Dayton.  Ed- 
ward W.  attended  the  public  schools  in  early 
boyhood,  but  left  his  studies  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  and  went  to  work  for  the  firm  of 
W.  P.  Callahan  &  Co.  After  a  year  spent  in  the 
shops  of  that  firm,  young  Hanley  went  to  the 
Barney-Smith  car  shops,  where  he  spent  five 
years.  In  1879,  having  determined  to  educate 
himself  more  thoroughly,  the  young  man  left 
the  car  works  and  entered  upon  a  course  in  the 
Miami  Commercial  college. 

In  1880  he  entered  the  employ  of  Patter- 
son &  Co.,  coal  dealers,  and  later  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Southern  Ohio  Coal  &  Iron 
company,  spending  about  four  years  in  the  coal 
business.  In  1884  Mr.  Hanley  became  deputy 
clerk  under  County  Clerk  George  W.  Knecht, 
of  Montgomery  county,  which  position  he  held 
until  September,  1886,  when  he  became  first 
assistant  postmaster  at  Dayton,  where  he  re- 
mained until  September,  1889.      In  November, 


'Ttou*^* 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


485 


1890,  Mr.  Hanley  began  the  publication  of  the 
Sunday  World  newspaper,  which  he  continued 
until  July,  1891,  when  he  disposed  of  the  pub- 
lication and  accepted  the  position  of  agent  of 
the  Dayton  Natural  Gas  company.  At  there- 
organization  of  the  above  corporation,  in  1893, 
Mr.  Hanley  was  made  a  director,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  both  the  Dayton  Gas  &  Fuel  com- 
pany and  the  Miami  Valley  Gas  &  Fuel  com- 
pany, two  separate  organizations,  but  under  the 
same  control.  Mr.  Hanley  also  occupies  the 
position  of  director  and  secretary  of  the  Troy 
(Ohio)  Gas  company,  and  the  same  relation  to 
the  Troy  (Ohio)  Electric  Light  &  Power  com- 
pany. He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Miami  Loan 
&  Building  association  of  Dayton.  Mr.  Han- 
ley enjoys  quite  a  reputation  as  a  writer,  and 
has  contributed  to  numerous  publications  for 
the  past  ten  years.  He  has  also  written  quite 
a  number  of  humorous  and  sentimental  songs. 
As  a  reciter  and  general  entertainer  he  also  has 
quite  a  reputation.  Mr.  Hanley  was  married 
on  December  7,  1881,  to  Miss  Carrie  J.,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  D.  Hale. 

Mr.  Hanley,  in  each  of  his  varied  occupa- 
tions, has  made  friends  and  built  for  himself  a 
good  and  enduring  reputation.  His  personal 
popularity  grows  not  only  out  of  his  business 
ability  and  integrity,  but  from  his  unfailing 
geniality  of  disposition  and  sense  of  humor. 


•  RENANIAN   DUPUY,  M.  D.,  one  of 

the  prominent  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Lewis 
county,  Ky.,  on  June  17,  1864,  and 
is  the  son  of  Richard  and  Martha  Dupuy.  The 
mother  died  shortly  after  the  close  of  the  late 
war;  the  father  is  still  living  and  is  eighty  years 
of  age. 

The  Dupuys  were  among  the  early  and 
prominent  families  of  Virginia.  Dupuy,  or 
Du  Puy,  is  a  very  ancient  French   name.      In 


the  first  crusade  Hugues  Du  Puy,  a  French 
knight,  and  his  three  sons,  accompanied  Gode- 
froy  de  Bouillon  to  Palestine,  and  in  about  the 
year  11 13  Raymond  DePuy  founded  and  was 
the  first  grand  master  of  the  military  order  of 
the  Knights  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  after- 
ward styled  the  Knights  of  Malta.  In  later 
years  the  family  was  identified  with  the  re- 
formed religion  of  France  as  Huguenots.  Bar- 
tholomew Dupuy  was  the  immediate  progen- 
itor of  the  Virginia  family.  He  entered  the 
French  army  at  the  age  of  eighteen  and  served 
fourteen  years,  becoming  an  officer  of  the 
guards  of  the  king,  Louis  IV.  Shortly  after 
the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  which 
was  followed  by  the  persecutions  which  drove 
the  Huguenots  from  France,  he  married  the 
Countess  Susanna  Lavillon,  also  a  Huguenot, 
and  retired  to  his  country  seat.  But  he  was 
now  compelled  to  flee  the  country  on  account 
of  the  religious  persecution  mentioned.  He 
and  his  wife  resided  for  about  fourteen  years 
in  Germany  and  about  two  years  in  England, 
and  in  the  year  1700  they  came  to  Virginia 
and  settled  in  King  William  parish,  on  James 
river,  above  Richmond,  on  lands  granted  to 
Huguenot  refugees.  There  the  old  Huguenot 
and  his  wife  lived  many  years.  Their  poster- 
ity are  found  in  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Mississippi,  Alabama,  Missouri,  Ohio  and  other 
states  of  the  Union.  The  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Dupuy  was  Moses  Dupuy,  a  direct  descendant 
of  Bartholomew  Dupuy. 

Dr.  Dupuy  was  brought  to  Ironton,  Ohio, 
by  his  -parents  in  the  fall  of  1865.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1880.  He 
learned  the  leather  business  with  his  father, 
who  owns  a  large  tannery  in  Ironton.  He 
attended  the  medical  department  of  the  Miami 
university  of  Cincinnati,  and  graduated  in 
March,  1889.  He  served  as  assistant  surgeon 
at  the  Central  branch  National  Military  Home 


486 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers,  from  April  i , 
1S89,  to  March  31,  1890.  He  was  the  first 
resident  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  Ohio 
Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Orphans'  home,  at  Xenia, 
from  September,  1890,  to  May,  1892,  during 
which  time  the  present  fine  hospital  at  that 
home  was  built.  In  September,  1892,  Dr. 
Dupuy  located  in  Dayton,  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  practiced  his  profession.  Dr.  Du- 
puy is  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  asso- 
ciation, and  of  the  Montgomery  county  Med- 
ical society,  and  is  secretary  of  the  board  of 
examining  surgeons  for  pensions  at  the  national 
military  home.  On  March  1,  1896,  the  doc- 
tor was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Union  Veterans'  union,  in  recognition  of  his 
services  in  the  interest  of  the  veterans  of  the 
late  war,  their  widows  and  orphans,  which 
honor  has  been  conferred  upon  but  two  other 
persons  in  the  history  of  the  order.  Shortly 
after  being  elected  to  this  order  he  was  ap- 
pointed aid-de-camp,  with  rank  of  colonel, 
upon  the  staff  of  the  commander-in-chief.  Dr. 
Dupuy  was  colonel  of  the  Tenth  regiment, 
uniform  rank,  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Ohio,  for 
four  years,  and  was  then  placed  upon  the  staff 
of  the  brigade  commander  of  that  order.  In 
politics  Dr.  Dupuy  is  a  democrat,  and  is  chair- 
man of  the  Montgomery  county  central  com- 
mittee. He  is  unmarried,  and  resides  at  No. 
120  South  Ludlow  street. 


*-j-»      EWIS  M.    FANSHER,    senior  mem- 
F    ber  of  the  firm  of  Fansher  Bros.,  soap 
Jl     manufacturers,     Dayton,    Ohio,    was 
born  in  Randolph  county,    Ind.,    Au- 
gust   4,   1854,    a  son   of    William    and    Emily 
(Gray)  Fansher. 

William  Fansher  was  a  wagonmaker  by 
trade,  was  an  Odd  Fellow  fraternally  and  po- 
litically was  a  republican.  His  death  took 
place  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,    in   1863,  from   dis- 


ease contracted  while  serving  in  an  Indiana 
infantry  regiment  in  defense  of  the  Union  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  he  being  at  the 
time  a  corporal  of  his  company.  He  was  the 
father  of  four  children,  viz:  Martin  D.,  now 
deceased,  Lewis  M.,  William  I.  and  Mary  E. 
A.,  wife  of  George  Baker,  a  farmer  residing 
near  Arcanum,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Emily  Fansher, 
after  her  husband's  death,  was  married  to 
George  Booher,  and  is  still  living. 

Lewis  M.  Fansher,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography,  passed  his  boyhood  on  an  Indiana 
farm,  was  educated  in  the  Farmland  (Ind.) 
high  school,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
began  teaching  in  the  district  schools;  when 
twenty  years  old  he  entered  Antioch  college, 
Yellow  Springs,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  taking 
the  preparatory  course  and  two  years  of  the 
college  course,  when  failing  health  precluded 
further  study;  again  he  resorted  to  school- 
teaching,  which  he  followed  for  several  years, 
the  last  two  being  passed  just  east  of  Dayton. 

In  1884,  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
William  I.,  after  two  or  three  years  of  other 
business  ventures,  he  embarked  in  the  soap 
manufacturing  business,  in  which  he  is  still 
engaged.  The  firm  produce  a  bar  of  soap, 
which  is  designed  for  domestic  and  general 
laundry  purposes,  and  a  laundry  chip  soap,  for 
the  use  of  steam  laundries — the  former  being 
disposed  of  mostly  in  Dayton,  while  the  latter 
meets  with  an  extensive  sale  throughout  sev- 
eral of  the  states;  they  also  manufacture  a 
compound  known  as  the  Anti-slip  Pulley  Dress- 
ing, which  is  the  invention  of  Louis  M.  Fan- 
sher, and  sold  all  over  the  United  States  as  a 
preventive  of  the  slipping   of   machinery  belts. 

Lewis  M.  Fansher  was  married  at  New- 
castle, in  Indiana,  in  1874,  to  Miss  Julia  A. 
Swigart,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of 
three  children,  viz:  L.  Percy,  Pearl  and 
William.  Of  these  the  eldest  is  married  to 
Miss  Florence   Lukinbeal,  and  is   engaged  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


487 


the  profession  of  photography  in  Dayton.  Mr. 
Fansher  has  a  quiet  and  handsome  home  at 
417  North  Broadway.  In  politics  he  is  a  pro- 
hibitionist, is  a  member  of  the  A.  I.  U.,  No. 
2,  of  Dayton,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
enterprising  business  men  of  the  city. 

William  I.  Fansher,  junior  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Fansher  Bros.,  was  born  in  Randolph 
county,  Ind. ,  August  31,  1858,  and  is  the 
younger  brother  of  Lewis  M.  Fansher.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  dis- 
trict and  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
twenty  years  of  age.  He  worked  for  a  year 
or  two  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Darke  county, 
Ohio,  and  in  1881  came  to  Dayton,  and  for 
two  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  spring 
beds,  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Lewis, 
and  for  one  year  manufactured  a  hoisting-jack 
for  wagons,  William  I.  acting  as  salesman 
chiefly.  In  1884,  as  related  above,  the  soap 
factory  was  established,  but  on  a  very  small 
scale  and  against  strong  competition.  At  times 
the  brothers  found  it  difficult  to  raise  the  means 
with  which  to  purchase  the  stock  from  which 
the  soap  was  made,  and  to  meet  the  estab- 
lished trade  of  other  manufacturers  was  a  diffi- 
cult task;  but,  by  persistency  of  purpose,  in- 
cessant toil  and  excellence  of  production,  they 
surmounted  all  obstacles,  the  result  being  that 
already  narrated.  In  this  business  William  I. 
has  attended  to  the  outside  affairs,  effecting 
sales,  making,  collections,  etc.,  and  proving 
himself  to  be  a  thorough  business  man.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  I.  U.,  No.  2,  of  Day- 
ton, and  in  politics  is  in  accord  with  his 
brother. 

William  I.  Fansher  was  married,  February 
5,  1884,  to  Miss  Izora  Leatherman,  daughter 
of  Frederick  Leatherman,  and  to  this  marriage 
have  been  born  three  children,  viz:  Frederick 
W.,  Robert  Gray  and  Susie  May,  the  last  two 
named  being  twins.  The  parents  are  mem- 
bers  of   the   Summit  street    United    Brethren 


church,  in  which  Mr.  Fansher  is  a  steward, 
taking  an  active  part  in  both  church  and  Sab- 
bath-school work.  His  pleasant  home  is  at 
123  Summit  street,  in  a  part  of  the  city  which 
possesses  every  church  and  social  advantage. 


ar 


ILLIAM  HANBY  FLACK,  plumber 
and  gasfitter,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  this  state  and  was  born  in 
Marion  county,  March  13,  1846. 
Rev.  Peter  Flack,  his  father,  was  an  itiner- 
ant minister  in  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  his  home  was  therefore  frequently  changed, 
until  about  1S61,  when  he  located  in  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.  He  was  a  native  of  Prussia,  but 
married,  in  the  United  States,  Miss  Lucretia 
Brooks,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  twelve  children,  of  whom  William 
H.  was  the  eldest,  and  eight  of  whom  are  still 
living.  Rev.  Mr.  Flack  was  a  strong  Union 
man  during  the  late  Civil  war,  and  served  his 
adopted  country  100  days  in  the  army  during 
that  conflict.  He  lost  his  wife  in  Moultrie 
county,  111.,  where  she  died  in  1880,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four  years,  while  his  own  death  took 
place  in  1889,  when  he  had  reached  his  seventy- 
sixth  year. 

William  H.  Flack  was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years 
when  the  family  located  in  Columbus.  Equally 
patriotic  with  his  father,  he  first  served  for  six 
months  in  the  Fifth  Ohio  independent  bat- 
talion of  cavalry,  and  while  in  this  service  did 
guard  duty  in  Kentucky,  fought  guerrillas  and 
protected  loyal  citizens  in  their  lives  and  prop- 
erty. In  1863,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he 
enlisted  at  Columbus  in  company  K,  Twenty- 
sixth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  the  regiment 
being  at  that  time  at  home  on  veteran  fur- 
lough. The  Twenty-sixth  was  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  thence  young 
Flack  went   under  Gen.    Sherman,  to  Atlanta, 


IS* 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


returning  with  Gen.  Thomas  to  Nashville, 
Term.,  where  the  army  confronted  the  rebel 
general,  Hood,  and  drove  him  out  of  the  state. 
The  winter  of  1864-65  was  spent  at  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1S65  Mr.  Flack 
accompanied  Gen.  Stanley,  commander  of  the 
Fourth  corps,  on  the  expedition  to  Texas,  and 
was  mustered  out  at  Victoria,  Tex.,  after 
having  served  two  years  and  a  half  under  this 
enlistment. 

In  the  meantime  the  parental  residence  had 
been  transferred  to  Illinois,  but  Mr.  Flack 
returned  to  Columbus,  where  he  resided  until 
1875,  when  he  came  to  Dayton  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  Rockey  Bros.,  in  plumb- 
ing, etc.  In  1880  he  withdrew  from  this 
firm  and  established  himself  on  the  West 
side,  adding  new  features  to  his  business 
as  seemed  to  be  demanded  by  his  trade,  and 
he  now  stands  among  the  prominent  business 
men  of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Flack  was  united  in  marriage  in  Janu- 
ary, 1869,  at  Columbus,  with  Miss  Josephine 
M.  Rockey,  a  sister  of  his  former  partners  in 
business,  and  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Ohio.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children,  viz  :  Yida  R.,  Willie  and  Mattie - 
the  last  two  being  twins,  who  are  attending 
school.  In  his  politics  Mr.  Flack  is  an  active 
and  energetic  worker  for  the  success  of  the 
republican  part}'  in  national  affairs,  but  locally 
he  sustains  good  men  in  preference  to  doubtful 
measures.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  of  the  G.  A.  R.;  and  the  church  relations 
of  the  family  are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

The  Flack  ancestry  were  agriculturists  for 
generations,  of  steady  habits  and  temperate  in 
all  things,  and  consequently  long-lived.  The 
father  of  William  H.  was  but  two  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated and  passed  all  his  mature  years  in  the 


ministry.  The  Rockey  family  are  represented 
by  Mrs.  Flack  as  having  settled  in  the  mount- 
ains of  Vermont  at  a  very  early  date  in  the 
history  of  this  country. 


(D 


ARION  RICHARDSON  DRURY. 
D.  D.,  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Morgan  S. 
and  Elizabeth  (Lambert)  Drury, 
was  born  at  Mendon,  Madison 
county,  Ind.,  December  27,  1849.  His  great- 
grandfather, William  Drury,  was  a  native  of 
England  and  on  coming  to  this  country  settled 
in  Franklin  county,  Pa.  There  his  grandfather, 
Arnold  Drury,  was  born  in  1793.  William 
Drury  removed  to  Henry  county,  Ind.,  in  1808 
or  18  10.  There  his  son  Arnold  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  his  country  and  served  during  the 
war  of  1  81  2. 

Morgan  S.  Drury  was  born  in  Henry  county, 
Ind.,  August  31,  1826.  In  1848  he  married 
Elizabeth  Lambert,  who  was  born  in  Rock- 
ingham county,  Va.,  June  30,  1826,  of  German 
parents  and  learned  to  speak  the  German  lan- 
guage. When  a  child  her  parents  removed  to 
Madison  county,  Ind.  She  and  her  husband 
went  to  Iowa  in  the  summer  of  1853,  and  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  Winneshiek  county.  These 
were  pioneer  days  in  the  west,  and  the  early 
settlers  there  were  subjected  to  the  many  pri- 
vations and  hardships  peculiar  to  a  new  coun- 
try. Here  Marion  R.  Drury  was  taught  the 
industries  of  the  farm.  From  a  very  early  age 
his  summers  were  spent  in  farm  labor  and  his 
winters  in  the  neighboring  village  school.  In 
March.  1866,  it  was  decided  that  he  should 
have  the  advantages  of  a  higher  education,  and 
accordingly  he  was  sent  to  Western  college,  a 
school  of  the  church  to  which  his  father  be- 
longed, located  at  Western,  in  Linn  county, 
Iowa.  Here  he  pursued  the  full  curriculum  in 
the  classical   department,  graduating  June  19, 


IK 


CLA^iTlA^ 


VK!.<Ox*A>yf 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


491 


1872,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts. 
Three  years  later,  in  1875,  he  received  from 
the  same  institution  the  degree  of  master  of 
arts  in  cursu. 

June  20,  1872,  Mr.  Drury  was  married  to 
Miss  Lucinda  Denny,  of  Waubeek,  Iowa. 
They  have  two  children — Florence  Blanche, 
who  was  married  to  Herbert  E.  Foster,  of 
Iowa,  September  9,  1896,  and  Philo  Walker, 
who  is  twenty  years  of  age  and  a  senior  in 
Western  college,  now  located  at  Toledo,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Drury  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ — the 
church  in  which  his  father  had  been  a  minister 
for  many  years — in  the  autumn  of  1 872,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  North  Iowa  conference. 
After  preaching  one  year  in  Fayette  county, 
Iowa,  he  determined  further  to  fit  himself  for 
his  chosen  work  by  taking  a  course  of  theolog- 
ical study.  He  therefore  entered  Union  Bib- 
lical   seminary,    Dayton,    Ohio,    in     October, 

1873,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  May, 
1875.  During  the  last  year  in  the  seminary 
he  served  the  Miami  chapel  congregation,  near 
Dayton,  as  pastor.  In  the  autumn  of  1875 
Mr.  Drury  returned  to  Iowa,  and  at  the  confer- 
ence held  in  Lisbon  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop 
J.  J.  Glossbrenner.  At  that  conference  he  was 
appointed  pastor  at  Toledo,  Iowa,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years.  His  next  pastorate 
was  at  Cedar  Rapids.  Here  the  church  was 
weak  and  without  a  house  of  worship.  Under 
his  labors  a  commodious,  well-located  church 
edifice  was  built,  and  the  present  flourishing 
congregation  of  United  Brethren  in  that  city 
has  been  the  happy  result. 

In  May,  1881,  the  general  conference  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  was  held  at  Lisbon, 
Iowa,  a  town  distant  twenty  miles  from  Cedar 
Rapids.  Mr.  Drury  reported  the  proceedings 
of  that  body  for  the  Cedar  Rapids  Daily  Re- 
publican. His  work  as  reporter  was  so  satis- 
factory that   before    the   conference  had  com- 


pleted its  work  he  was  offered  the  assistant  ed- 
itorship of  the  Religious  Telescope,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  the  chief  organ  of  his  denomination. 
This  position  he  accepted  after  some  weeks  of 
deliberation,  and  early  in  July  following  he 
entered  upon  his  new  duties  on  the  editorial 
staff  of  that  journal.  This  position  he  held 
for  eight  years.  In  1889  he  was  elected,  by 
the  general  conference  of  his  church,  associate 
editor,  which  position  he  now  (1896)  occupies. 
Since  residing  in  Dayton  he  has  been  secretary 
of  the  United  Brethren  Ministerial  association 
and  for  three  years  president  of  the  Dayton 
United  Brethren  alliance.  In  1891  he  became 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Hartford  street 
United  Brethren  church,  of  whose  Sunday- 
school  he  has  now  been  five  years  the  super- 
intendent. 

In  1887  Mr.  Drury  and  his  wife  took  up  the 
work  of  the  Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scien- 
tific circle,  which  furnished  a  four  years' 
course  of  study  on  the  university  extension 
plan,  graduating  at  Chautauqua,  N.  Y. ,  in 
August,  1 89 1,  and  receiving  their  diplomas  from 
the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Everett  Hale, 
D.  D.,  of  Boston.  Mr.  Drury  is  the  author 
of  a  number  of  volumes,  mostly  of  a  practical 
character,  some  of  which  have  reached  a  very 
large  sale.  These  are:  The  Pastor's  Pocket 
Record,  the  Otterbein  Birthday  Book,  a  Hand- 
book for  Workers  (issued  in  both  English  and 
German),  a  Pastor's  Pocket  Companion,  At 
Hand,  and  a  dedication  service  entitled,  The 
House  of  the  Lord.  He  is  also  the  author  of 
a  prize  essay  on  The  Tobacco  Habit,  a  tract  on 
How  to  Deal  with  Inquirers,  and  has  written 
some  very  valuable  articles  for  cyclopedias. 
He  has  likewise  been  one  of  the  book  editors  of 
the  United  Brethren  Publishing  house,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  for  many  years. 

Since  1890,  when  the  Young  People's 
Christian  union  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
was  organized,  he  has  been   a    member  of  its 


492 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


executive  council,   and  three  years  the  editor 
of  its  literature. 

In  1S91  the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity 
was  conferred  upon  Mr.  Drury  by  the  Western 
college,  his  alma  mater,  and  also  by  the  West- 
field  college  of  Illinois. 


BREDERICK  ECRI,  a  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Dayton,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Permanent  Building  &  Savings  asso- 
ciation, was  born  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  May  8,  1844,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Cath- 
erine (Spreng)  Ecki,  natives  of  Alsace,  France. 
The  father,  Jacob,  had  served  a  year  in  the 
French  army,  when  he  purchased  his  release, 
in  order  to  come  to  America.  He  brought  his 
family  across  the  ocean  in  1835  and  settled  in 
Holmes  county,  where  he  bought  160  acres  of 
land,  then  practically  in  the  wilderness,  the 
woods  abounding  with  all  kinds  of  game.  His 
means  were  somewhat  limited,  but  he  was  in- 
dustrious and  ambitious,  set  bravely  to  work 
with  his  ax,  cleared  up  his  land  and  built  the 
primitive  log  cabin,  and  by  dint  of  persever- 
ance cleared  up  his  original  farm,  adding  to  it 
until  he  had  accumulated  267  acres  of  arable 
land.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Evangelical  association,  and  in  that  faith  the 
father  died  in  1868  and  the  mother  in  1881, 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  five 
are  deceased.  Of  the  seven  still  living,  three 
are  residents  of  Dayton. 

Frederick  Ecki  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Holmes  county  and  inured  to  out-door  labor, 
but  found  time  to  secure  an  education  in  the 
common  schools,  which  were  then  quite  well 
advanced  in  the  methods  of  public  instruction. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  in  April,  1862, 
he  came  to  Dayton  and  began  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  machinist's  trade  with  W.  H. 
Pease,  the  establishment  being  now  known  as 
the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass  works.     While  here 


employed,  he  enlisted  in  May,  1S64,  in  com- 
pany B,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  regi- 
ment Ohio  national  guard,  under  Capt.  James 
Turner,  which  regiment  was  called  out  for  the 
1  OO-day  service  and  did  garrison  duty  at  Fort 
Federal  Hill,  Baltimore,  Md.  On  his  return 
from  this  military  service,  he  resumed  his  en- 
gagement with  the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass 
works,  with  which  he  has  since  been  uninter- 
ruptedly employed — making  a  total  of  thirty- 
five  years  in  that  service,  with  the  exception 
of  the  three  months  that  he  was  in  the  army. 
In  April,  1874,  he  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Permanent  Building  &  Savings  association,  in 
which  he  has  been  a  director  for  about  sixteen 
years,  and  for  nearly  eight  years  the  treasurer. 

Mr.  Ecki  was  happily  married,  in  Dayton, 
in  1867,  to  Miss  Fredericka  Kirschner,  who 
was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  in  1845, 
and  who,  having  lost  her  mother,  was  brought 
at  the  age  of  six  years  to  the  United  States  by 
her  father.  To  this  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ecki  have  been  born  seven  children,  in  the 
following  order:  Clara,  Ida,  W.  H.  H.,  George 
F.,  Florence,  Ellen  (deceased)  and  Anna  C. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
association,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Ecki  is  a  repub- 
lican. Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the 
National  Union,  and  socially  he  holds  that 
high  position  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors 
and  the  surrounding  country  which  his  indus- 
try and  correct  deportment  as  a  citizen  through 
life  have  so  worthily  won. 

W.  H.  H.  Ecki,  the  third  child  and  first- 
born son  of  Frederick  and  Fredericka  Ecki, 
was  born  December  10,  1871,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Dayton, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1890;  he 
then  read  law  with  O.  F.  Davisson,  graduated 
from  the  Cincinnati  Law  school  in  1893,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  same  year. 
He   has  met  with   success,    and   has    his  office 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


493 


with  O.  F.  Davisson,  one  of  the  prominent 
lawyers  of  Dayton.  Mr.  Ecki  is  now  the  at- 
torney for  the  Permanent  Building  &  Savings 
association. 


t*S~\  EV.  E.  LEE  FLECK,  pastor   of  the 

I  /^     Second     English     Lutheran     church, 

P     Dayton,     Ohio,    was    born    in   Blair 

county,  Pa.,  September  8,    1856,  and 

is  of  German  extraction. 

Conrad  M.  and  Mary  (Crossman)  Fleck, 
his  parents,  were  born  in  Blair  county  and 
Indiana  county,  Pa.,  respectively,  and  Peter 
Fleck,  grandfather  of  Conrad  M. ,  was  a  hero 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  his  remains  lying 
now  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Culp  post- 
office,  or,  as  the  place  is  known  historically. 
Sinking  Valley.  Conrad  M.  Fleck  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  cavalry  dur- 
ing the  late  Civil  war,  and  sustained  serious 
and  lasting  injuries  in  defense  of  his  country's 
flag.  The  family  of  Conrad  M.  Fleck  and 
wife  comprised  eleven  children;  of  these  Anna 
died  in  her  third  year;  Benjamin  C.  is  a  teach- 
er, is  married,  and  lives  in  Indiana  county. 
Pa.;  E.  Lee  is  our  subject;  Bliss  L. ,  twin  of 
E.  Lee,  is  the  wife  of  Levi  Knott,  residing  in 
Altoona,  Pa.;  Mary  Catherine  died  at  eighteen 
years  of  age,  unmarried;  Elmer  Ellsworth  died 
in  childhood;  Martha  Ellen  is  married  to  Jacob 
Otto,  and  lives  in  Loco,  Ind. ;  Ethelbert  died 
in  childhood,  her  sister,  Alice  May,  dying  at 
the  same  time;  Irene  Gertrude,  wife  of  Jacob 
Tate,  resides  in  Altoona,  Pa. ;  and  Sallie  E. 
is  now  Mrs.  Henry  Emery,  and  lives  in  Sink- 
ing Valley,  Pa.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  February  25,  1895,  on  tne  °ld  homestead 
in  Blair  county,  Pa.,  where  the  father  still 
makes  his  home. 

E.  Lee  Fleck  lived  in  his  native  state  until 
1875,  when  he  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  worked 


on  a  farm  for  one  or  two  seasons,  then  went  to 
Iowa,  worked  upon  the  railroad  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  resumed  farming  in  Cedar 
county,  in  the  same  state.  He  next  attended 
the  high  school  at  Clarence,  Iowa,  and  then, 
in  September,  1878,  entered  the  Carthage  col- 
lege, in  Hancock  county,  111.  Here  he  com- 
pleted a  six-years'  collegiate  course  and  passed 
his  final  examinations,  but  before  the  time  ar- 
rived for  the  award  of  diplomas  the  institution 
collapsed  under  financial  difficulties.  Mr.  Fleck 
then  returned  to  Clarence,  Iowa,  but  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year,  1884,  came  to  Ohio  and  en- 
tered the  Wittenberg  Theological  seminary  at 
Springfield,  from  which  he  graduated  in  May, 
1887.  He  immediately  began  the  work  of  or- 
ganizing the  Third  English  Lutheran  congre- 
gation of  that  city,  holding,  at  the  same  time, 
the  pastorate  of  the  congregation  at  Rockway, 
a  suburb  of  Springfield. 

In  March,  1888,  Mr.  Fleck  married  Miss 
Olive  Hosford,  who  had  been  his  classmate 
during  his  entire  course  at  Carthage  college, 
and  was  graduated  in  the  same  year;  being  a 
native  of  Hamilton,  in  the  same  county,  she 
succeeded  in  securing  her  diploma  and  was 
properly  entered  on  the  catalogue,  a  fortune 
that  did  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  non-residents. 
In  the  fall  of  the  year  of  his  marriage  the 
health  of  Mr.  Fleck  failed,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  resign  his  ministerial  duties  and  retire  to 
Hamilton,  111.,  to  recuperate.  In  August, 
1889,  having  somewhat  regained  his  health, 
he  accepted  the  pastorate  of  a  congregation  at 
Sidney,  Neb.,  where  he  remained  until  No- 
vember, 1893,  when  he  was  called  to  Dayton 
and  assumed  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Second 
English  Lutheran  church,  although  the  church 
building  had  not  at  that  time  been  erected. 
Mr.  Fleck  organized  the  mission,  and  during 
the  summer  of  1894  a  handsome  and  commo- 
dious edifice  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $16,- 
000,    with   a   seating  capacity   for  about  800 


494 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


persons.  The  membership  of  the  church  is 
150,  and  the  Sunday-school  enrollment  is  240. 
On  the  organization  of  the  congregation,  eighty 
members  were  drawn  from  the  First  English 
Lutheran  church,  a  proportionate  number  of 
Sunday-school  scholars  were  similarly  obtained 
and  other  communicants  and  scholars  came 
from  sundry  outside  societies. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  E.  Lee  Fleck,  Harlow 
and  Mary  (Wright)  Hosford,  were  born  in  Ohio 
and  Scotland,  respectively  —  the  father  in 
Brookfield,  Trumbull  county,  in  1824,  and  the 
mother  near  Edinburgh,  in  the  same  year. 
The  Wright  family  came  to  America  when 
their  daughter  Mary  (Mrs.  Hosford)  was  but 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  settled  in  Hamilton, 
111.,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hosford  were  married. 
To  this  last-named  couple  have  been  born 
six  children,  viz:  Harris  Truman,  a  farmer, 
and  married;  Anna  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Monroe 
Hanson;  Isaac  Newton,  married,  and  by  call- 
ing a  farmer;  Edwin  Wright,  also  a  farmer; 
Harriet  Olive,  now  Mrs.  Fleck,  and  Mary 
Jane,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hyndman;  all  of 
whom,  excepting  Mrs.  Fleck,  live  in  or  near 
Hamilton,  111.  The  mother  of  this  family  was 
laid  to  rest  April  6,  1895,  and  the  father,  who 
had  his  experience  in  the  outbreak  against  the 
Mormons  at  Nauvoo,  111.,  still  lives  near  Ham- 
ilton, not  far  from  the  scene  of  the  Mormon 
troubles  of  about  the  year  1846. 

To  the  happy  marriage  of  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
E.  Lee  Fleck  have  been  born  three  children, 
viz:  Vera  Mary  Olive,  in  Hamilton,  111.,  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1 891 ;  Harlow  Conrad,  in  Sidney, 
Neb.,  December  28,  1892;  and  Irene  Belle,  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  April  26,  1895. 

In  his  politics  Mr.  Fleck  is  independent  of 
party  lines,  but  is  strong  in  his  advocacy  of 
temperance.  He  was  one  of  the  champions 
of  the  prohibitory  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  Iowa,  in  1882,  and  his  proclivities  are 
still   in   favor  of   prohibition,  as    that  word   is 


understood  in  party  politics.  Fraternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Sons  of  Veterans 
and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


BD.  BITTINGER,  M.  D.,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Elkhart,  Ind.,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  George 
L.  and  Augusta  (Johnson)  Bittinger, 
both  of  whom  are  still  living  and  are  residing 
in  Huntington  count}',  near  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 
The  father  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
mother  of  New  York  state.  Both  went  to  In- 
diana during  their  younger  days,  and  it  was  in 
that  state  that  their  marriage  occurred. 

Dr.  Bittinger  was  reared  in  Elkhart  and 
Fort  Wayne.  His  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  Fort  Wayne  public  schools;  later 
he  attended  Taylor  university  (then  known  as 
the  Methodist  college),  at  Fort  Wayne,  follow- 
ing which  he  began  studying  medicine,  in  that 
city,  with  Dr.  G.  A.  Ross,  a  well-known  phy- 
sician, as  his  preceptor.  He  took  the  regular 
course  at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  college  and 
hospital,  Chicago,  graduating  from  that  insti- 
tution in  1888,  and  first  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Chicago,  where  for  a  time 
he  was  associated  with  Dr.  W.  S.  Harvey,  one 
of  the  professors  of  Hahnemann  college.  In 
the  summer  of  1888,  Dr.  Bittinger  located  in 
Dayton,  and,  opening  an  office  at  his  present 
location,  No.  23  West  Fourth  street,  began 
what  has  proved  a  most  successful  career  in 
medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Homeopathy,  of  the 
Ohio  state  Medical  society,  and  of  the  Day- 
ton Homeopathic  Medical  society,  being  presi- 
dent of  the  last  named  body.  Dr.  Bittinger  is 
surgeon  for  several  of  the  street  railway  com- 
panies of  Dayton,  and  a  medical  examiner  for 
several  well-known  life  insurance  companies, 
among  which  are  the  Pacific  Mutual,  of  San 
Francisco,    and   the    American   Union,  of  New 


^/(^Mcatstffrr-  fy.  A 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


497 


York  city,  and  is  chief  medical  director  for  the 
United  Order  of  American  Craftsmen.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  frater- 
nity and  of  the  Present  Day  club.  As  a  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  Dr.  Bittinger  ranks  among 
the  prominent  members  of  his  school  in  Dayton 
and  Montgomery  county.  As  a  citizen  he  is 
progressive  and  liberal  in  his  ideas,  ready  al- 
ways to  lend  his  assistance  to  movements  look- 
ing toward  the  advancement  of  the  city  and 
the  public  good.  His  career,  both  professional 
and  private,  has  been  not  only  successful,  but 
consistent,  and  has  earned  for  him  a  place 
among  the  representative  citizens  of  the  beau- 
tiful Gem  City. 

Dr.  Bittinger  was  married  in  the  fall  of 
1889,  to  Mrs.  Jennie  Darrow  (nee  Emerick),  a 
member  of  one  of  the  old  and  influential  fami- 
lies of  Germantown,  Ohio.  To  their  union 
two  daughters — Eugenia  and  Ruth — have  been 
born,  who,  with  one  son,  Willie,  from  the  first 
marriage  of  Mrs.  Bittinger,  constitute  the 
family  circle. 


a  APT.  WILLIAM  EDWARD  FAY, 
commanding  company  Seven,  Na- 
tional Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer 
Soldiers  at  Dayton,  was  born  at 
Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  on  December 
28,  1837.  His  parents  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  under  the  parental 
roof,  and  received  a  liberal  and  thoroughly 
practical  education,  which  was  completed  in 
the  Kentucky  Military  institute,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1859.  This  school  was  originated 
on  a  plan  similar  to  that  of  West  Point  Mili- 
tary academy,  and  held  a  position  second  only 
to  that  institution. 

Anthony  Fay,  the  father  of  William  E., 
was  a  native  of  New  England,  who  had  made  a 
liberal  fortune  in  the  lumber  business  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio.      He  was  a  son  of  Massachusetts, 

16 


and  was  proud  to  trace  his  lineage  back  to 
Plymouth  Rock.  His  wife,  Mary  Vail,  was  a 
native  of  the  county  where  William  E.  was 
born,  and  her  family  was  among  the  first  to 
establish  itself  in  western  Ohio.  Her  father, 
Moses  Vail,  was  a  Quaker,  and  it  is  said  that 
he  refused  to  locate  in  Cincinnati,  but  kept  on 
to  Franklin,  because  he  thought  the  former 
would  never  grow  into  a  large  city.  He  died 
when  his  daughter  Mary  was  twelve  years  of 
age.  The  Vails  were  a  numerous  family,  and 
it  is  said  that  at  one  time  half  the  population 
of  Franklin  were,  in  one  way  and  another,  re- 
lated to  it. 

Capt.  Fay  has  two  sisters  and  one  brother 
now  living,  he  being  the  eldest  of  the  family. 
One  sister,  Mrs.  Emma  Hamilton,  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Hamilton,  is  now  abroad  with  her  son, 
who  has  just  attained  his  majority.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton was  a  very  successful  banker  and  real- 
estate  dealer.  George  Anthony  Fay,  the 
youngest  of  the  living  children,  is  a  resident  of 
Dyersville,  Tenn. ,  where  he  is  engaged  in  an 
extensive  lumber  business.  He  made  a  very 
admirable  record  as  an  officer  of  the  United 
States  revenue  department.  The  other  mem- 
ber of  the  family,  Mrs.  Laura  Pugh,  has  her 
home  at  Shelbyville,  Ind. 

Capt.  Fay  began  his  mature  life  with  an 
inclination  towards  the  vocation  of  teaching; 
but  almost  immediately  on  his  graduation, 
passed  into  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  for  which  he  was  so  well  prepared.  Dur- 
ing the  presidential  campaign  of  i860,  his  name 
was  prominently  associated  with  the  organiza- 
tion and  training  of  the  Wide  Awakes,  his 
company  leading  the  great  procession  in  the 
city  of  Cincinnati,  that  followed  the  election 
of  Lincoln.  He  entered  the  army  August  6, 
1861,  receiving  the  appointment  of  adjutant 
of  the  Thirteenth  Missouri  volunteer  infantry, 
organized  at  Saint  Louis.  His  regiment  was  in 
the  western   army,  and  participated  in  many 


498 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


important  and  memorable  engagements.  At 
Fort  Donelson  it  was  the  first  regiment  to 
place  a  nag  on  the  captured  fortifications. 
Here  15,000  prisoners  were  taken,  and  half 
as  many  more  broke  the  lines  and  escaped. 
At  Shiloh  the  Thirteenth  was  in  the  thick 
of  the  fight,  and  here  Capt.  Fay  had  his  horse 
shot  from  under  him,  the  animal  falling  upon 
him  and  causing  an  injury  from  which  he  has 
never  recovered.  He,  however,  remained  on 
the  field  and  accompanied  his  regiment  to 
Corinth,  where  he  was  prostrated  with  typhoid 
fever,  and  sent  to  the  hospital.  Upon  his  re- 
covery, he  reported  for  duty,  and  was  with  his 
regiment  during  the  winter  of  1862-3  in  the 
vicinity  of  Corinth.  In  the  early  spring  fol- 
lowing, he  was  ordered  to  Trenton,  Tenn., 
where  two  companies  of  his  regiment  were 
mounted  and  served  as  scouts.  Here  a  rebel 
colonel  was  captured,  whom  Capt.  Fay  ac- 
companied to  Jackson,  Tenn. ,  alone,  and 
there  turned  him  over  to  the  proper  authorities. 
After  the  war  had  closed  the  father  of  Capt. 
Fay  went  south  and  built  a  mill  near  where 
this  officer  (Col.  Dawson)  had  his  home,  and 
the  two  families  grew  to  be  the  most  intimate 
friends. 

Capt.  Fay  took  part  in  the  siege  and  cap- 
ture of  Vicksburg,  being  among  those  soldiers 
who  were  stationed  at  Haines'  Bluff,  on  the 
Yazoo  river,  to  protect  the  rear  of  the  Union 
forces  from  threatened  attacks  by  Gen.  John- 
ston. After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  he  was 
ordered  to  Helena,  Ark.,  in  Kimball's  pro- 
visional division.  By  this  time  Adjutant 
Fay's  ability  and  special  qualifications  lifted 
him  into  prominence,  and  he  was  successively 
appointed  assistant  adjutant-general  and  as- 
sistant inspector-general  of  the  Second  brigade 
of  this  provisional  division,  also  known  as  the 
Arkansas  expedition.  The  city  of  Little  Rock 
was  easily  captured  in  September,  1863,  and 
here  the  command  remained    until   the  spring 


of  1864,  when  it  was  started  to  join  Gen. 
Banks'  expedition  against  Shreveport,  and 
had  progressed  as  far  as  Camden,  Ark.,  when 
word  came  that  that  movement  had  failed. 
It  was  confronted  by  a  strong  rebel  force,  and 
at  once  began  a  running  fight  to  reach  Little 
Rock.  It  had  several  encounters  with  the 
enemy,  but  finally  was  the  first  to  reach  and 
hold  the  city.  Our  subject  formed  his  line  of 
battle  five  times  in  one  day  on  this  forced 
march  and  was  always  ready  to  fight  whenever 
opportunity  was  offered.  The  last  battle  in 
which  he  participated  occurred  in  the  march 
above  described,  and  was  fought  at  Jenkins' 
Ferry,  April  30,  1864,  on  the  Saline  river. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  November, 
1864,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  being  at  home 
at  that  time  seriously  sick. 

Capt.  Fay  established  himself  as  a  lumber 
merchant  at  Saginaw,  Mich.,  when  his  health 
had  sufficiently  recovered  to  admit  of  his  en- 
gaging in  active  business.  In  1870,  after  four 
years'  labor  in  this  line,  he  returned  to  Cincin- 
nati, and  secured  a  political  office,  which  he 
held  for  several  years.  He  was  then  engaged 
as  bookkeeper  in  the  counting  room  of  an  ex- 
tensive wholesale  hardware  firm.  Later  on, 
this  same  firm  put  him  in  charge  of  its  found- 
ries and  shops,  which  position  he  resigned  to 
enter  the  office  of  the  Cincinnati  exposition, 
where  he  served  as  chief  clerk  in  the  secre- 
tary's office,  attending  to  its  correspondence 
and  advertising.  He  proved  a  very  valuable 
worker  for  this  corporation,  and  it  was  re- 
luctant to  let  him  enter  the  service  of  the  city, 
which  desired  him  to  act  as  inspector  of  street 
improvements.  He,  however,  severed  his  con- 
nection with  the  exposition,  and  was  in  the 
employment  of  the  city  for  several  years,  his 
duties  being  very  agreeable  to  him,  as  they 
were  largely  in  the  field  of  civil  engineering. 
Capt.  Fay  was  then  connected  with  the  con- 
struction of  a    railroad  in  northern   Georgia, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


499 


where  he  acted  as  paymaster  of  the  contract- 
ors, and  confidential  secretary  of  the  manage- 
ment. When  this  road  was  completed,  he 
returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  opened  an  office 
as  estimating  engineer,  receiving  plans  from 
architects,  and  giving  figures  as  to  the  cost  of 
excavations,  foundations,  bridges,  railroad 
work,  and  similar  construction.  In  this  he 
was  highly  successful  until  the  depression  of 
1893  put  an  end  to  active  work,  and  deprived 
him  of  remunerative  business.  He  entered  the 
home  in  May,  1896,  and  was  almost  immedi- 
ately put  into  the  command  which  he  now 
holds. 

Capt.  Fay  and  Miss  Laura  Eugenia  Dalton 
were  married  January  15,  1867.  She  was  of 
Revolutionary  stock,  and  her  father,  Joseph 
Dalton,  true  to  the  family  traditions,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  forces,  enlisting  from 
Oshkosh,  Wis.  No  children  were  born  to 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Fay,  and  after  an  almost 
ideal  wedded  life  of  nearly  twenty-nine  years, 
he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  her  death,  which 
occurred    September  16,   1895,  at    Cincinnati. 

Capt.  Fay  is  a  member  of  Union  Veteran 
Legion,  No.  41,  of  Cincinnati,  and  has  long 
been  identified  with  the  Christian  or  Disciples' 
church.  He  is  an  uncompromising  repub- 
lican, coming  of  an  old-line  whig  family  for 
two  generations  back.  Personally  he  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  education  and  broad  culture,  whose 
companionship  is  a  privilege  to  all  who  admire 
true  character  and  genuine  manliness. 


»  m  ELORA  D.  FLEMING,  junior  mem- 
J^T'C  ber  of  the  firm  of  Maxwell  &  Flem- 
M  M  ing,  was  born  in  Union  City,  Ind., 
February  20,  1870,  and  is  the  son  of 
David  and  Catherine  Fleming,  both  natives  of 
Ohio.  Mr.  Fleming's  paternal  ancestors  were 
Scotch,  his  great-great-grandfather  having  been 
a  Highlander.    His  grandfather  came  to  Amer- 


ica prior  to  the  American  Revolution,  and  was 
a  soldier  in  that  glorious  struggle.  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine Fleming,  whose  maiden  name  was  Allen, 
and  who  is  still  living,  is  descended  from  an 
old  English  family,  which  was  first  repre- 
sented in  the  United  States  by  her  great- 
grandfather, who  settled,  many  years  ago,  in 
Virginia.  The  family  of  David  and  Catherine 
Fleming  consisted  of  two  children,  William 
H.,  an  engineer  of  Dayton,  and  Zelora  D. 

Zelora  D.  Fleming  was  educated   in  Saint 
Mary's  institute,  Dayton,  and  the  Dayton  Com- 
mercial   college,    graduating    from    the    latter 
institution.      He   then  became    a   clerk  with  a 
mercantile  firm  of  the  city,  in  which  capacity 
he  continued  until  entering   the  service  of  the 
Illinois  Central   railroad,    where  he   was  em- 
ployed  for  eighteen    months,  becoming   profi- 
cient   in    telegraphy    during    that    time.      For 
nine  months  he  was  an  employee  of  the  P.,  C. , 
C.  &  St.  L.  railroad,  running  between  Chicago 
and  Logansport,  and   in  1891  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  teaming  and  furnishing  teams 
for  the  Rathbone  Lumber  company,  Chicago. 
He  was  thus  engaged  until  1893,  in  September 
of  which  year   he  disposed  of  his  business  at 
Harvey,  111. ,  a  suburb  of  Chicago,  and  his  head- 
quarters, where  he   purchased   and   still  owns 
valuable  real  estate.      He  returned  to  Dayton, 
and  after  about  eighteen  months  embarked  in 
his  present  business,  purchasing  property  for 
the  purpose   on   National  avenue.      This  busi- 
ness consists  of  handling  cut  and  dressed  stone 
of  all  kinds,  obtained  from  the  firm's  quarries, 
to   operate   which    requires  the  labor  of  from 
fourteen  to  twenty  men  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  year.      The  annual  output  is  as  high  as 
288    carloads    of    stone,    the    greater   part    of 
which  is  disposed  of  in    Dayton,  though   quite 
a  large   amount   is   shipped   to   other   cities  of 
Ohio  and  states  adjacent.      In  addition  to  the 
business  of  the  firm,   Mr.  Fleming  is  individu- 
ally engaged    in    handling   coal   and  fuel  of  all 


500 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


kinds,  in  which  his  success  has  been  most 
encouraging  from  the  beginning. 

On  the  20th  day  of  August,  1891,  Mr. 
Fleming  married  Miss  Fay  Mary  McCormick, 
who  is  a  native  of  the  county  Mayo,  Ireland, 
and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  when 
eight  years  of  age,  her  parents  locating  first  in 
New  York  city,  thence  moving  to  Yonkers, 
where,  in  Mount  Saint  Vincent  convent,  she 
received  a  liberal  education.  Her  brother, 
Michael  McCormick,  is  a  merchant  tailor  of 
Dayton,  in  which  calling  two  other  brothers 
are  also  engaged — James  in  this  city  and  John 
in  the  city  of  New  York;  another  brother, 
Dennis  McCormick,  is  a  resident  of  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.,  and  her  only  sister,  Delia  lives  in 
New  York  city.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Fleming 
and  two  sons,  Patrick  and  William,  reside,  at 
this  time,  in  their  native  isle. 

Mr.  Fleming  has  the  mature  judgment, 
sagacity  and  other  qualities  of  the  successful 
business  man  and  citizen.  He  is  independent 
in  politics  and  liberal  in  his  religious  views. 


8t 


'ARREN  E.  BEEGHLY,  one  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  Dayton 
bar,  was  born  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, at  the  Beeghly  homestead,  near 
the  soldiers'  home.  His  parents  were  Abra- 
ham and  Catherine  (Wolf)  Beeghly,  well  known 
and  greatly  esteemed  in  their  community. 

Warren  E.  Beeghly  received  his  prelimi- 
nary education  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton, 
and  afterward  attended  Ashland  college  for 
two  years.  He  then  entered  the  Miami  Com- 
mercial college,  graduating  from  that  institu- 
tion in  1885.  He  next  taught  school  for  three 
years  in  district  No.  12,  Van  Buren  township. 
Then,  attending  the  Cincinnati  Law  college, 
he  graduated  there  in  June,  1890,  and  on  the 
1st  of  September  following  began  the  practice 
of  the  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  George  W. 


Houk.  Since  the  untimely  and  lamented  death 
of  that  distinguished  gentleman,  Mr.  Beeghly 
has  been  in  practice  alone. 

Mr.  Beeghly  organized  the  Buckeye  Build- 
ing &  Loan  association  April  1,  1892,  and 
has  since  been  its  secretary  and  attorney.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the 
K.  A.  E.  O.,  of  the  Independent  Order  of  For- 
esters, and  of  Mystic  lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  In 
all  these  fraternities  he  is  in  good  standing  and 
is  considered  a  useful  member,  as  he  is  en- 
dowed with  sound  judgment,  and  with  good 
business  qualifications.  Mr.  Beeghly  is  as  yet 
unmarried. 


a  APT.  JAMES  R.  FLETCHER,  com- 
mander of  company  Twelve,  Na- 
tional Home,  D.  V.  S.,  was  born  in 
London,  England,  January  20,  1845; 
his  parents,  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Castle) 
Fletcher,  married  in  England,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  when  he  was  eighteen  months 
old,  settling  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  where  the 
father  for  many  years  held  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  iron  mills.  Samuel  Fletcher  was  a 
successful  business  man,  accumulated  a  hand- 
some competence  and,  died  in  the  city  of  Tren- 
ton at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years;  his  wife  sur- 
vived him  and  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-two,  before  being  called  from  the  scene 
of  her  earthly  labors. 

The  early  years  of  Capt.  Fletcher  were 
spent  in  Trenton,  in  the  schools  of  which  he 
received  his  first  educational  training  and  later 
obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  higher  branches 
of  learning  in  an  academy  of  the  city,  complet- 
ing the  prescribed  course  of  study.  On  the 
5th  day  of  June,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company 
I,  Fourteenth  New  Jersey  infantry,  and  after  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  where  his  bravery  under 
most  trying  circumstances  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  officers   of  the   regiment,  he   was 


WARREN    E.    BEECHLY. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


503 


promoted  first  lieutenant  of  company  D,  in 
recognition  of  meritorious  conduct.  He  com- 
manded his  company  during  the  remaining 
years  of  the  war,  and  proved  a  true  soldier  at 
the  head  of  his  men  in  many  of  the  bloody 
battles  in  which  the  First  brigade,  Third  divi- 
sion, Sixth  army  corps,  participated.  Among 
the  more  noted  engagements  in  which  he  took 
part  were  the  battles  of  the  Shenandoah  val- 
ley, Gettysburg,  Fredricksburg,  the  Wilder- 
ness and  Petersburg,  and  he  was  under  Gen. 
Sheridan  at  the  final  surrender  'of  the  Confed- 
erate forces  at  Appomattox.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  as  first  lieutenant, 
acting  captain,  in  June,  1865,  after  gallantly 
serving  his  country  for  over  three  years,  which 
covered  the  most  trying  and  critical  period  of 
the  war.  His  military  career  thus  completed, 
he  returned  to  the  old  home  in  New  Jersey, 
where  his  mother  was  then  living.  After 
spending  three  years  amid  the  scenes  of  his 
boyhood  days,  the  captain  went  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  found  employment  as  an  iron 
worker,  following  his  trade  in  that  city  during 
the  greater  part  of  fourteen  years.  He  also 
filled  a  clerical  position  in  the  Cleveland  post- 
office  for  some  time,  and  later  was  an  employee 
in  the  revenue  department  at  the  same  place; 
he  was  also  clerk  at  the  Cataract  House  in 
Cleveland,  being  thus  employed  when  failing 
health,  superinduced  by  previous  exposure 
while  in  the  army,  compelled  him  to  retire 
from  active  life  and  to  become  an  inmate  of 
the  national  soldiers'  home,  at  Dayton,  for 
treatment.  The  date  of  his  admission  to  the 
home  is  June  4,  1894,  since  which  time  he  has 
filled  various  official  positions,  having  had 
charge  of  company  Twelve  for  about  one  year. 
The  captain  has  been  married,  but  at  this  time 
is  alone  in  the  world,  his  wife  having  died, 
and  he  having  no  living  children.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.  fraternity,  belonging 
to    lodge  No.  46,    Cleveland,   of    which   he  is 


past  chancellor,  and  he  was  for  two  years 
commander  of  Commodore  Perry  post,  G.  A. 
R.,  Cleveland.  He  is  an  adherent  to  the 
principles  of  the  republican  party,  and  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


^*  i'OSEPH  FRANK,  ex-meat  inspector  of 
M  the  city  of  Dayton,  and  one  of  the 
{%  J  well  known  citizens  of  Montgomery 
county,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 
October  6,  1859.  His  education  was  received 
partly  in  the  old  country  and  partly  in  the 
United  States.  His  father,  Isaac  Frank, 
brought  the  family  to  this  country  in  1871, 
coming  at  once  to  Dayton,  Where  he  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  butchers  of  this  city.  Young 
Frank  went  to  work  with  his  father  in  the  meat 
business  when  between  sixteen  and  seventeen 
years  of  age,  having  previously  been  engaged 
in  driving  cattle  to  and  from  the  stock  yards. 
Remaining  with  his  father  till  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age,  he  then  went  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  was  engaged  for  three  years  as  a  butcher. 
Returning  to  Dayton,  he  and  his  brother,  Isa- 
dore,  embarked  in  the  grocery  and  meat  mar- 
ket business,  which  they  followed  for  about 
two  years,  when  Mr.  Frank  engaged  in  butch- 
ering and  dealing  in  cattle  on  his  own  account 
at  Brookville,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  at- 
tending the  Dayton  market.  He  then  spent  a 
year  in  traveling  for  his  uncle,  Jacob  Wein- 
reich,  formerly  president  of  the  Dayton  city 
council,  and,  upon  returning  to  the  occupation 
of  butcher,  he  purchased  the  meat  market  of 
F.  J.  Schmitt,  on  Third  street,  and  operated 
it  for  two  years.  In  March,  1891,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  city  salesman  with  N.  Jacobs  & 
Co.,  which  he  still  holds,  and  on  May  1,  1895, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  city  council  meat  in- 
spector for  the  city  for  one  year. 

Mr.  Frank  was  married  in  August,  1888,  to 
Victoria    Mayer,    formerly    of    Houma,    Terre 


504 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Bonne  parish,  La.,  and  to  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  three  daughters  and  one  son, 
as  follows:  Jennie,  Bertram,  Bertha  and 
Sarah.  Mr.  Frank  has  served  several  years  on 
the  democratic  county  central  committee  and 
is  treasurer  of  the  committee  and  also  of  the 
Gravel  Hall  democratic  club,  as  well  as  of 
several  societies.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Old  Men's  Invalid  home  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  en- 
campment and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
holds  the  position  of  commissary  sergeant  on 
Col.  Coffman's  staff.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Jewish  organization  known  as  the  O.  K.  S.  B., 
and  is  the  representative  to  the  grand  lodge  of 
the  order.  In  all  these  various  orders  and 
societies  Mr.  Frank  maintains  good  standing 
and  has  the  esteem  of  all  the  members.  In 
business  matters  he  has  always  been  successful 
and  is  in  every  way  a  useful  and  worthy  citizen. 


QICHAEL  FREUDENBERGER,  a 
retired  farmer,  living  at  2612  East 
Fifth  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  near  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, November  25,  1826.  He  is  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Sybilla  (Blitz)  Freudenberger, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  Two  children  were 
born  to  Christian  and  Sybilla,  viz:  Conrad 
and  Michael.  Christian  Freudenberger  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived  and  died  in 
Germany.  His  first  wife,  who  was  the  mother 
of  the  above-named  children,  and  who  was 
like  himself  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
died  in  1S28,  and  he  afterward  married  Miss 
Margaret  Martin,  by  whom  he  had  six  children. 
Four  of  these  are  still  living,  as  follows: 
George,  John,  Catherine,  widow  of  John  Kling, 
and  Mary. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Michael  was  a 
farmer  in  his  native  country,  in  which  he  lived 
and  died.      He  was  a  man  of  quiet  disposition, 


reared  a  family  of  four  children  and  bore  an 
excellent  reputation.  The  maternal  grandfa- 
ther, Johannes  Blitz,  was  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, reared  a  family  of  two  children,  and 
died  in  his  native  land  when  over  seventy  years 
of  age. 

Michael  Freudenberger  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Germany,  received  a  good 
common-school  education,  and  remained  at 
home  until  his  early  manhood.  In  1852  he 
sailed  for  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York,  and  five  weeks  later  came  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  worked 
for  George  Harris  in  his  dairy.  For  one  year 
afterward  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Pierce  & 
West,  and  at  the  end  of  this  time,  established 
himself  in  the  diary  business,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  for  a  period  of  thirty-two  years.  His 
dairy  was  next  to  his  present  place  of  residence, 
and  was  then  entirely  in  the  country,  timber 
land  extending  as  far  as  the  present  Linden 
avenue. 

On  November  7,  1858,  he  married  Miss 
Magdalena  Sauer,  daughter  of  Johannes  Adam 
and  Margaret  (Eckert)  Sauer.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  twelve  children,  as 
follows:  Magdalena,  Louise,  Celia,  Elizabeth 
K.,  Christian,  George,  William,  Emil,  Albert, 
Bertha,  August  and  Ida.  Of  these,  Magda- 
lena, Christian,  George,  William,  Emil  and 
Bertha  are  dead.  Elizabeth  K.  married  Will- 
iam C.  Kette,  of  Dayton,  and  has  two  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freudenberger  are  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics 
Mr.  Freudenberger  is  a  democrat.  At  one 
time  he  owned  eight  acres  of  land  in  Dayton, 
which  he  platted,  and  sold  off  a  large  part  in 
city  lots.  He  also  sold  six  acres  to  the  Na- 
tional Improvement  company,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  city.  In  1891  he  erected  his  pres- 
ent comfortable  and  attractive  residence.  He 
has  been  a  citizen  of  Dayton  for  forty-five 
years  and  has   done   his  share  toward  bringing 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


505 


about  its  remarkable  growth  and  development. 
Few  men  stand  higher  in  the  estimation  of 
their  fellow-men  than  does  Mr.  Freudenberger, 
who,  although  not  a  native  of  this  country,  is 
yet  one  of  the  most  patriotic  of  citizens. 


aHRISTIAN  FROMM,  retired  me- 
chanic of  Dayton,  Ohio,  residing  at 
No.  678  South  Main  street,  was  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  April  18, 
1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  Kath- 
arina  (Seifried)  Fromm,  also  natives  of  Wur- 
temberg. 

Christian  Fromm,  the  father,  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  named  above,  who 
became  the  mother  of  four  children,  viz: 
Christian,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch;  Mrs. 
Katharina  Loudenschlager,  now  a  widow  and 
residing  in  Dayton;  Mrs.  Fredericka  Nohr, 
who  resides  on  West  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
and  Mrs.  Magdalena  Meyers,  who  has  her 
home  in  Louisville,  Ky.  The  second  marriage 
of  Christian  Fromm  was  with  Maria  Kopf,  also 
a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  and  to  his  marriage 
were  born  two  daughters,  viz:  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Darr  and  Mrs.  Louisa  Durr,  both  wives  of 
farmers  living    in    Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 

Christian  Fromm,  the  subject  of  this  no- 
tice, received  a  good  common-school  education 
in  his  native  country,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
came  to  America  with  his  parents,  who  settled 
in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1853.  Here  the  father 
resumed  his  trade  of  stonecutting,  which  he 
had  learned  and  followed  in  the  old  country, 
and  which  he  here  continued  until  advancing 
years  compelled  his  retirement.  His  death 
occurred  in  Dayton,  August  6,  1891,  his  second 
wife  having  died  on  May  8th  of  the  same  year. 

Christian  Fromm,  Jr.,  on  coming  to  Day- 
ton with  his  parents,  was  at  once  apprenticed 
to  the  cabinetmaking  trade,  and  followed 
that  vocation   until  the  opening  of   the   Civil 


war,  when  he  enlisted,  in  August,  1861,  in 
company  B,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. Mr.  Fromm  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Perryville,  Stone 
River,  Murfreesboro,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  in 
the  siege  and  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  where 
his  term  of  enlistment  expired,  and  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Chattanooga,  where  it 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  Mr.  Fromm 
then  returned  to  Dayton,  where  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Globe  Iron  works,  and  there 
spent  twenty-eight  years,  and  in  1894  retired 
from  active  labor. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fromm  took  place  in 
Dayton,  September  18,  1865,  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Eberle,  a  native  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  of  Ger- 
man parentage.  This  union  was  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  five  children,  who,  in  order  of 
birth,  were  named  Otto  F. ,  now  a  hardware 
merchant  of  Dayton;  Bertha,  Edith,  Emma 
and  Cora,  the  daughters  being  still  unmarried 
and  living  with  their  parents.  A  peculiarity 
with  the  Fromm  family  is  the  fact  that  to 
every  marriage  that  has  taken  place  for  gen- 
erations back,  the  first  child  born  was  the  only 
son.  The  year  1891  was  one  of  deepest  sor- 
row to  Mr.  Fromm,  for  in  that  year  he  was 
bereft  of  father,  step-mother  and  wife — the 
death  of  his  wife  occurring  March  25th. 

In  religion  Mr.  Fromm  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  His 
children  are  members  of  the  English  Lutheran 
church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also  a  devout 
member.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Fromm  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Old  Guard  post,  No.  21,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  In  politics,  he  entered  the 
army  as  a  democrat,  but  voted  for  Lincoln  for 
the  presidency  in  1864,  and  has  ever  since 
been  a  republican. 

Mr.  Fromm  has  ever  lived  an  industrious 
life,  and  his  retirement  from  active  labor  was 


506 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


induced  by  the  fact  that  his  health  was  begin- 
ning to  fail  through  encroaching  years.  He 
had  charge  of  the  millwright  department  of 
the  Globe  Iron  works  for  many  years,  which  is 
proof  that  his  reputation  as  an  excellent  me- 
chanic was  well  earned.  At  one  time  during 
the  long  period  of  his  employment  by  this  com- 
pany he  temporarily  withdrew  and  engaged  in 
the  furniture  business,  for  which  his  early  ex- 
perience had  well  qualified  him,  but  the  panic 
of  1873  proved  fatal  to  this  venture;  other- 
wise, he  has  enjoyed  a  prosperous  career.  He 
has  the  good  fortune  to  be  surrounded  by  a 
loving  family  and  a  host  of  warm-hearted 
friends,  who  highly  esteem  him,  and  his  wan- 
ing days  are  passing  in  peace  and  comfort. 


BREDERICK  P.  BEAVER,  founder 
and  president  of  the  Beaver  Soap 
company,  situated  at  the  corner  of 
Hopeland  and  Concord  streets,  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city,  November 
29,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  J.  N.  F.  and  Caro- 
line (Snyder)  Beaver,  both  of  whom  have  died, 
the  former  in  August,  1856,  and  the  latter  in 
March,  1861.  They  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  one  having  been  born  near  Cham- 
bersburg,  the  other  near  Lancaster,  and  were 
respectively  of  French  Huguenot  and  Prussian 
descent.  They  came  to  Ohio  before  they  were 
married,  the  mother  in  18 19,  and  the  father  in 
1835,  and  were  married  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
1844.  For  some  years  J.  N.  F.  Beaver  was 
one  of  Dayton's  active  business  men,  being 
first  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  candy,  and 
later  in  selling  coal  and  wood.  Still  later  he 
became  engaged  in  the  wholesale  notion  busi- 
ness with  Jacob  Coffman,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Coffman  &  Beaver,  which  style  continued 
until  the  death  ot  Mr.  Beaver.  He  was  a  dea- 
con in  the  Baptist  church,  and  was  a  strong 
republican.      His   parents,    Philip  Beaver  and 


his  wife,  came  to  Dayton  a  short  time  prior  to 
their  death,  which  occurred  in  this  city. 

George  Snyder  and  his  wife,  parents  of 
Caroline  Snyder,  also  came  to  Dayton  and 
here  died.  The  former  for  a  time  conducted 
a  hotel  where  the  present  Cooper  house  stands. 

Frederick  P.  Beaver  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children,  as  follows:  Edward  C. ,  of 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  a  railroad  agent  for  the  Van- 
dalia  line;  Hattie  A.,  widow,  of  J.  A.  Crebs, 
of  Dayton;  Charles  H.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Ida  A.,  wife  of  Edward  Canby,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio;  and  Frederick  P. 

Frederick  P.  Beaver  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  was  a  paper  carrier.  Afterward  he 
took  a  commercial  course,  and  in  1863  accepted 
a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  Chamberlain  & 
Parker.  On  May  12,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the 
100  days'  service,  and,  after  serving  his  time 
in  the  army,  returned  to  Dayton,  re-entered 
the  employ  of  Chamberlain  &  Parker,  and  re- 
mained with  them  until  1869.  Then,  going 
to  Toledo,  he  carried  on  a  branch  store  for 
them  under  the  name  of  Frederick  P.  Beaver, 
being  thus  occupied  for  two  years.  Going 
then  to  Hopkinsville,  Ky. ,  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Brownell,  Orr  &  Co.,  the 
firm  operating  a  planing-mill.  Here  he  re- 
mained one  year,  when  he  returned  to  Dayton 
and  purchased  the  interest  of  Edward  Sweet, 
in  the  firm  of  Chadwick  &  Sweet,  furniture 
dealers,  the  name  becoming  Chadwick  &  Beaver, 
and  so  continuing  for  five  years.  Mr.  Beaver 
then  established  the  Silver  Star  baking  powder 
business,  which  lasted  but  a  few  months,  and 
in  which  he  lost  most  of  his  earnings;  but, 
nothing  daunted  by  failure,  he  started,  in  a 
small  way  and  with  but  small  capital,  the 
Beaver  Soap  company,  which,  under  the  man- 
agement of  himself  and  associates,  has  grown 
to  its  present  prosperous  condition.  It  was 
started  in  1879  in    a   one-story  frame   building 


J^ 


u'X^^^i- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


509 


on  Commercial  street,  near  Fifth,  and  the  first 
year's  output  did  not  exceed  1,200  gross  of 
soap.  Since  then  he  has  made  four  removals, 
enlarging  the  business  each  time,  or  rather 
moving  only  when  the  increasing  business  ren- 
dered it  necessary.  The  present  plant  has  400 
feet  street  frontage  and  is  seventy  feet  deep. 
The  buildings  have  two  and  a  half  acres  of 
flooring,  and  constitute  one  of  the  large  manu- 
facturing establishments  in  the  city  of  Dayton, 
which  city  is  known  all  over  the  civilized  world 
for  the  great  number  and  excellence  of  her 
manufacturing  industries.  There  are  employed 
in  these  works  some  seventy-five  hands,  and 
the  goods  manufactured  are  sold  all  over  the 
country — Grandpa's  Wonder,  Beaver's  Pine 
Tar  and  Grandma's  Laundry  soap  being  the 
especial  brands  made  by  the  concern.  When 
the  business  was  founded  Mr.  Beaver  started 
alone.  In  1883  he  took  in  Robert  Marsh, 
who,  however,  remained  associated  with  him 
but  a  short  time,  and  in  1885  he  accepted  as 
a  partner  W.  D.  Chamberlin,  whose  biograph- 
ical sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
The  firm  name  then  became  Beaver  &  Co., 
and  in  September,  1893,  the  business  was  in- 
corporated under  the  name  of  the  Beaver  Soap 
company.  The  officers  of  this  company  at  the 
present  time  are  as  follows:  F.  P.  Beaver, 
president;  W.  D.  Chamberlin,  vice-president; 
and  C.  F.  Snyder,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Mr.  Beaver  was  married,  November  29, 
1893,  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Thompson,  daughter 
of  Ralph  and  Mary  J.  Thompson,  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.  Mr.  Beaver  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Baptist  church,  and  resides  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  Second  and  Perry  streets.  He 
is  one  of  the  liberal-minded  men  of  the  city  of 
Dayton,  is  progressive,  intelligent,  well  in- 
formed, and  keeps  himself  fully  abreast  of  the 
times.  Socially  and  religiously  Mr.  Beaver 
enjoys  high  standing,  possessing  the  sincere 
esteem  of  the  entire  community. 


>^r*OSHUA  G.  GALLOWAY,  postmaster 
m  of  the  national  military  home,  Mont- 
(•  J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Bal- 
timore, Md.,  July  30,  1843.  He  is  a 
son  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Gorsuch)  Gallo- 
way, both  natives  of  Maryland,  and  born,  re- 
spectively, in  1 8 16  and  1822. 

Joshua  Galloway,  who  was  a  coppersmith 
by  trade,  lost  his  life  at  the  age  of  thirty-three 
years,  at  the  Relay  house,  on  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  railroad,  in  Maryland,  he  being  at  the 
time  an  engineer  on  the  road.  He  was  de- 
scended from  a  family  of  Scotch-Irish  and 
Welsh  extraction,  who  came  to  America  prior 
to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  in  which  war 
Aquilla  Galloway,  an  ancestor,  took  an  active 
part  in  liberating  the  colonies  from  the  tyranny 
of  Great  Britain,  and  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Of  the  four  sons  born  to  Joshua 
Galloway,  William,  the  eldest,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Beverly,  in  West  Virginia,  Octo- 
ber 29,  1864,  when  his  brother,  Joshua  G., 
standing  at  his  side,  caught  him  in  his  arms  as 
he  fell  from  his  death  wound;  John  was  a  vol- 
unteer in  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  infantry, 
served  through  the  Civil  war,  is  now  a  resident 
of  Dayton  and  is  employed  as  assistant  fore- 
man in  the  Globe  Iron  works;  James  was  a 
soldier  in  the  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
and  later  in  the  Eighteenth  regiment  of  volun- 
teer infantry  from  the  same  state,  was  wound- 
ed at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  before  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  is  now  engaged  as  a 
repairer  of  machinery  in  Dayton. 

Joshua  G.  Galloway  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  also  by 
private  tutors.  Upon  coming  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
he  began  working  in  a  paper  mill  when  he  was 
but  eleven  years  of  age.  At  the  opening  of  the 
Rebellion  he  enlisted,  in  April,  1861,  in  com- 
pany K,  Eleventh  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  served  three  months  at  Camp  Den- 
nison,  Ohio.      He  next  enlisted,  in  September, 


510 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1861,  in  company  G,  Forty-fourth  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  served  in  the  battles  of 
the  mountains  of  what  is  now  West  Virginia 
and  in  eastern  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
in  all  of  the  engagements  of  his  regiment,  be- 
ing with  Gen.  Burnside  at  the  siege  of  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  in  the  fall  of  1S63.  Having  re- 
ceived his  second  honorable  discharge,  he 
again  enlisted  while  in  the  field,  January  4, 
1S64,  in  the  Eighth  volunteer  cavalry,  com- 
pany G,  and  served  under  Gen.  Phil  Sheridan 
in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  going  through 
with  Gen.  Hunter  to  the  conflict  at  Lynch- 
burg. The  scope  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice will  hardly  permit  a  full  mention  of 
the  services  rendered  by  Mr.  Galloway 
as  a  soldier.  Suffice  it  to  say  that,  beside 
what  has  already  been  mentioned,  he  assisted 
at  Cumberland  Gap,  fought  against  the  rebel 
raiders,  Rosser,  Morgan,  Jenkins,  Moberlyand 
others,  and  on  January  II,  1865,  was  cap- 
tured by  a  band  of  Rosser's  men  at  Beverly, 
W.  Va.,  when  the  entire  Thirty-fourth  regi- 
ment of  Ohio  volunteer  infantry  was  also  cap- 
tured. After  thirty-five  days'  confinement  in 
Libby  prison  at  Richmond,  Va.,  he  was  re- 
leased on  parole,  and  found  his  way  to  Camp 
Chase,  Ohio,  where  he  was  granted  a  furlough 
to  await  notice  of  his  final  exchange.  In  May, 
1865,  he  was  ordered  to  report  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  received  his  final  discharge,  on 
June  19  following. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Galloway  engaged  with 
Barney  &  Smith  as  a  painter  in  their  car  shops 
at  Dayton,  and  subsequently  became  a  molder 
in  a  foundry  of  the  same  city,  a  trade  which 
he  followed  from  1870  until  August,  1893. 
While  thus  employed  he  became  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  affairs  of  laboring  men,  and  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Iron  Molders'  union  and 
for  several  years  served  as  its  president.  Of 
this  union  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
convention  held  at  Saint  Louis  in    1888,  and 


to  the  convention  at  Detroit  in  1890;  he  also 
held  the  office  of  corresponding  secretary  of 
the  Iron  Molders'  union  for  several  years,  and 
in  every  position  proved  himself  capable  and 
fully  worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him 
by  his  fellow-craftsmen.  Mr.  Galloway  was 
also  appointed  by  the  president  of  the  Iron 
union  of  North  America  to  represent  that  or- 
ganization in  the  grand  conference  with  the 
Manufacturers'  association  at  Chicago,  and 
having  been  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Iron 
union  and  for  a  number  of  years  a  member, 
his  experience  and  ability  made  him  a  most 
efficient  representative  of  its  interests.  The 
object  of  the  formation  of  the  Iron  union  is  to 
secure  the  settlement  of  labor  questions  be- 
tween employers  and  employees  by  arbitration 
rather  than  by  strikes  and  turbulence,  and  in 
the  advocacy  of  this  humane  and  effective 
method  of  settling  these  troubles  Mr.  Gallo- 
way stands  prominent. 

September  12,  1865,  Mr.  Galloway  was 
united  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Clara  J.  Server, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Server,  residents 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Galloway  being  a  mechanic  as  well  as  a 
farmer.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gallo- 
way have  been  born  nine  children,  viz:  Clara, 
employed  in  the  post-office  at  the  soldiers' 
home  at  Dayton;  Lydia,  a  teacher  in  the  Sev- 
enteenth district  public  school  of  Dayton;  Et- 
tie  and  Mellie,  both  students  in  the  Dayton 
high  school;  Robert,  Frank  and  Mary,  who 
are  in  the  Twelfth  district  school;  George, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years  and  three 
months;  and  James,  who  died  at  birth.  The 
family  are  identified  with  the  United  Brethren 
church. 

In  politics  Mr.  Galloway  is  a  Jeffersonian 
democrat,  but  in  the  debatable  field  of  taxa- 
tion he  decidedly  favors  the  single-tax  system. 
His  first  public  position  was  that  of  superin- 
tendent   of    the    Dayton    employment    office, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


511 


which  came  to  him  without  solicitation,  and 
which  he  filled  for  fourteen  months;  he  was 
next  appointed,  August  3,  1893,  as  postmaster 
of  the  national  military  home,  which  office  is 
rated  as  third  class  and  gives  employment  to 
four  persons. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Galloway  is  a  member  of 
Dayton  lodge,  No.  273,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  of  Old 
Guard  post,  No.  73,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  is  past 
colonel  of  encampment,  No.  82,  U.  V.  L.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Labor 
since  1876,  is  past  master  workman  of  district 
assembly  No.  121,  was  its  representative  in 
the  national  assembly  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  1889; 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Dayton 
Trades  assembly  since  its  organization  in  1882, 
served  four  years  as  its  secretary,  and  is  ener- 
getic in  establishing  crades  and  labor  assem- 
blies throughout  the  state  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  Galloway's  long  and  active  connection 
with  labor  organizations  has  been  instrumental 
in  making  him  a  careful  and  exact  reader  and 
a  close  student  of  finance,  as  also  of  parlia- 
mentary usage  and  of  the  perplexing  labor 
problems  of  the  day.  He  is  an  intelligent  and 
enthusiastic  advocate  of  the  laboring  man's 
rights — possessing  the  ability  to  present  his 
views  in  such  a  manner  as  to  carry  conviction 
of  his  earnestness  and  sincerity.  As  a  worker 
and  public  speaker  among  his  co-laborers  he 
stands  in  the  front  rank,  as  he  did  in  defense 
of  his  country. 


eDWARD  A.  FRY,  member  of  the  firm 
of  Berk  &  Fry,  undertakers,  127-129 
East  Fifth  street,  is  a  native  of  the 
city  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born  March  23,  1842.  His  father,  Henry  A. 
Fry,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Dayton 
about  the  year  1830  and  here  married  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Snyder,  who  was  also  born  in  the 
Keystone  state.      Henry  A.  Fry  was  for  some 


years  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker  and  is 
remembered  as  a  successful  business  man  in 
the  early  days  of  Dayton.  He  died  in  June, 
1847  ;  his  widow  survived  him  many  years, 
departing  this  life  at  a  ripe  age  in  1890.  The 
Fry  and  Snyder  families  are  of  German  de- 
scent and  representatives  of  both  came  to  the 
United  States  in  ante-Revolutionary  times, 
locating  in  Pennsylvania  near  the  cities  of 
Chambersburg  and  Harrisburg  respectively. 

The  immediate  family  of  Henry  A.  Fry 
consisted  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  Ed- 
ward A.  being  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
Charles  H.,  the  eldest  of  the  family,  is,  at  this 
time,  a  jeweler  at  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  where 
he  has  been  engaged  in  business  since  about 
the  year  1886.  He  went  south  when  a  young 
man  of  twenty  and  was  conscripted  into  the 
rebel  army,  with  which  he  served  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  The 
second  child,  Clara  S.,  married  a  Mr.  Phelps, 
a  resident  of  Dayton  and  an  extensive  manu- 
facturer of  salt,  his  business  being  in  the  state 
of  Kansas. 

Edward  A.  Fry  was  five  years  old  when 
his  father  died  and  his  whole  life  thus  far  has 
been  passed  as  a  resident  of  his  native  city. 
His  educational  advantages  embraced  the  cur- 
riculum of  the  public  schools  and  his  inde- 
pendent business  career  began  in  1865,  in 
October  of  which  year,  in  partnership  with  W. 
H.  McGowen,  he  embarked  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. After  spending  three  years  as  a  member 
of  this  firm,  Mr.  Fry  disposed  of  his  interest 
and  built  a  barn  of  his  own,  which  he  stocked 
throughout  and  operated  with  encouraging 
success  for  about  ten  years,  selling  out  in  1878 
and  purchasing  an  interest  in  the  undertaking 
establishment  of  Berk  &  Waymire. 

This  firm  began  business  in  Dayton  in 
1865,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  establishments 
of  the  kind  in  the  city,  having  much  more 
than  a  merely  local   reputation  as  skilled  and 


512 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


competent  undertakers.  Mr.  Fry  succeeded 
Mr.  Waymire,  and  the  style  of  the  firm  became 
Berk  &  Fry. 

As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Fry  is  gifted  with 
good  sense  and  judgment,  and  his  success 
financially  has  been  thoroughly  deserved.  His 
standing  among  the  business  men  of  the  city  is 
high,  and  he  is  warmly  esteemed  as  a  useful 
citizen  and  member  of  society.  Across  the 
street  from  his  present  business  location,  and 
upon  the  site  of  the  old  home  where  he  was 
born,  Mr.  Fry  has  erected  a  fine  four-story 
building  for  mercantile  purposes,  beside  which 
he  owns  other  valuable  property  in  the  city. 

In  politics  Mr.  Fry  has  always  been  a  re- 
publican, keenly  alive  to  the  best  interests  of 
his  party,  but  aspires  to  no  official  position;  he 
is  a  member  of  the  fraternity  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  with  his  family  attends  the  First  South 
church. 

Mr.  Fry  married  December  3,  1868,  Miss 
Sarah  F.  Warble,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Caroline  Warble.  This  union 
is  blessed  with  two  children — Fannie  B.,  wife 
of  John  E.  Weiffenbach,  a  wholesale  grocer  of 
Dayton,  and  Charles  E.,  an  employee  in  the 
electric  department  of  the  Dayton  Fan  & 
Motor  company. 


**S~\  EV.   JOHN    BAPTIST    FROHMIL- 
I  /«^     LER,  pastor  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
_^W    church  of  the  Holy  Rosary,  at  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, in    1850,  and  at  the  age  of   two  years 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  America.     He 
received   parochial,  seminary  and  college  edu- 
cation,   was    ordained    to    the    priesthood    in 
1875,    an<3    immediately    thereafter    was     ap- 
pointed assistant   priest  of  the   church  of  the 
Holy  Trinity  at    Dayton.      He  served  in  this 
capacity    until    1888,    when   he   organized    his 
present  congregation  in  North  Dayton,  which 


now  comprises  a  membership  of  1,185  souls 
as  communicants,  and  a  parochial  school 
where  175  children  are  instructed  in  element- 
ary knowledge  and  receive  wholesome  relig- 
ious training. 

Since  assuming  his  present  pastoral  charge, 
Rev.  Father  Frohmiller  has  erected  a  fine  brick 
church  edifice  and  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  about 
$25,000  for  the  buildings  and  grounds.  He, 
in  person,  superintended  the  construction  of 
the  buildings  mentioned,  and  managed  the 
financial  expenditure  necessary  to  carry  for- 
ward the  work  to  completion,  and  while  he  is 
too  modest  to  claim  any  credit  to  himself  for 
the  good  work  already  done,  he  is  yet  awarded 
great  praise  by  the  good  people  of  Dayton  for 
the  noble  task  he  has  thus  far  accomplished 
and  still  continues  to  prosecute.  The  secular 
language  of  the  church  is  German,  and  both 
German  and  English  are  taught  in  the  school, 
and  in  connection  with  the  congregation  are 
the  usual  societies  for  the  edification  of  the 
members  and  the  promotion  of  true  friendship 
and  brotherly  love. 


a  APT.  JOHN  BIRCH  is  a  familiar 
name  in  the  business  and  commercial 
interests  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  espe- 
cially in  real  estate  and  insurance 
lines.  Capt.  Birch  has  his  office  in  the  Canby 
building,  on  South  Main  street.  He  is  of 
English  nativity,  was  born  in  Manchester, 
April  17,  1836,  and  came  to  this  country  with 
his  parents  when  a  lad  of  only  eight  years,  and 
spent  his  youthful  days  at  Hamilton,  Butler 
county,  Ohio.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Ann  (Turner)  Birch,  both  natives  of  Manches- 
ter, England.  His  father  was  a  skilled  machin- 
ist, and  was  engaged  in  England  in  the  manu- 
facture of  machinery  used  in  cotton  mills,  and 
continued  in  the  same  business  at  Hamilton 
until    1852,  when   he  removed  to  Brookville, 


^1     ^,^J_ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


515 


Ind.,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until 
1857.  He  then  located  in  this  city,  retired 
from  active  business,  dying  two  years  later  at 
the  age  of  fifty-six,  his  wife  living  to  be  six 
years  older,  and  passing  away  in  1868.  They 
had  ten  children,  five  boys  and  five  girls. 
Three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  now  liv- 
ing, the  captain  being  sixth  in  the  order  of 
birth.  The  remaining  five  are:  Thomas,  in 
the  gas  and  steam-pipe  business  in  Cincinnati, 
the  firm  with  which  he  is  connected  being 
known  as  the  Stacey  Manufacturing  company; 
Jeffrey,  a  machinist  in  Covington,  Ky. ;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Samuel  DeVou,  having  her 
home  in  Hamilton;  Jane,  the  wife  of  John 
Brady,  living  at  Coalton,  Ohio,  where  her 
husband  is  postmaster;  and  Louisa,  who  mar- 
ried Theodore  Titus,  a  locomotive  engineer  at 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

Capt.  Birch  learned  in  early  life  the  ma- 
chinist's trade,  which  has  been  his  mainstay 
for  many  years.  He  began  it  under  his  father's 
eye  while  the  family  were  still  residing  in  Ham- 
ilton, and  continued  it  after  the  family  had  gone 
to  Indiana,  where  he  completed  his  apprentice- 
ship, so  that  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  city  he  was  ready  to  take  a  journeyman's 
position  with  Chapman  &  Edgar,  only  leaving 
their  employ  to  enlist  in  April,  1861,  in  com- 
pany C,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  The 
regiment  was  ordered  to  proceed  directly  to 
Washington,  and  was  among  the  first  troops 
to  enter  the  Confederate  territory. 

The  young  soldiers  first  heard  rebel  guns 
at  Vienna,  where  their  train  was  fired  upon  by 
an  ambushed  enemy.  The  regiment  was  in 
the  disastrous  rout  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861, 
and  its  members  relate  with  much  gusto  that 
it  was  one  of  the  fleetest  "runners"  after  the 
battle.  This  they  can  well  afford  to  admit, 
for,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  they  after- 
ward retrieved  their  reputation  on  many  a 
hard-fought    field    of    slaughter.       When    the 


First  had  completed  its  term  of  enlistment, 
it  was  mustered  out,  nearly  all  its  members  re- 
enlisting  in  other  organizations  for  the  war, 
for  by  that  time  the  serious  character  of  the 
struggle  in  which  the  nation  was  engaged  had 
become  apparent.  Mr.  Birch  returned  to 
Dayton,  and  enlisted  a  number  of  men  to  be 
known  as  the  Fremont  body  guards.  But  on 
reaching  Benton  barracks,  it  was  found  that 
not  enough  men  had  been  called  together  for 
this  purpose,  so  all  that  he  had  brought  be- 
came a  part  of  the  Thirteenth  Missouri,  and 
he  was  commissioned  as  second  lieutenant  of 
company  K.  Later  on,  when  credit  for  en- 
listed men  was  claimed  by  every  community 
sending  volunteers  to  the  front,  the  regiment 
was  designated  as  the  Twenty-second  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  with  this  organization 
his  name  is  found.  At  Fort  Donelson  the 
regiment  was  conspicuous  for  its  determined 
gallantry,  and  here  John  Birch  began  a  long 
and  honorable  military  career.  He  was  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Iuka, 
at  the  second  battle  of  Corinth,  at  the  capture 
of  Vicksburg,  and  in  several  of  the  tremen- 
dous battles  that  preceded  its  surrender. 
The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Little  Rock, 
Ark.,  where  it  was  engaged  in  guarding  the 
railroad  and  in  a  general  guerilla  warfare  with 
the  scattered  rebel  bodies  during  the  remain- 
der of  its  service.  May  14,  1862,  Lieut. 
Birch  received  promotion  as  first  lieutenant, 
and  in  August  of  the  same  year  he  received 
his  commission  as  captain  of  company  B, 
Twenty-second  Ohio.  He  was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Camp  Dennison,  November  18, 
1864.  During  his  stay  with  his  regiment  he 
was  detailed  to  many  important  duties,  such 
as  mustering  officer  for  five  months  at  Camp 
Dennison,  and  on  the  general  court  martial  at 
Little  Rock. 

When  Capt.  Birch  re-entered  the  ranks  of 
the  great  army  of  peaceful  labor,  it  was  in  the 


516 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


capacity  of  machinist  in  the  employ  of  Mc- 
Gregor &  Callahan,  of  this  city.  After  being 
with  them  for  several  years,  he  received  the 
appointment  of  foreman  at  the  Phoenix  Iron 
works,  where  his  stay  was  also  protracted. 
He  was  then  chosen  superintendent  of  the  J. 
R.  Brownell  Engine  department,  and  here  he 
was  active  for  four  years,  and  for  a  fifth  year 
was  purchasing  agent  for  the  same  institution. 
This  completed  his  connection  with  mechan- 
ical pursuits,  and  on  the  first  day  of  June, 
1896,  he  opened  his  present  office,  buying  and 
selling  real  estate,  and  doing  a  brokerage  and 
insurance  business. 

The  Birch  family  are  strong,  robust  men, 
above  medium  height,  and  its  members  have 
generally  taken  a  leading  position  wherever 
found.  A  brother  of  our  subject,  William,  was 
a  major  in  the  Ninety-third  Ohio  infantry,  and 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge; 
another  brother,  Jeffrey,  was  also  in  the  serv- 
ice, and  was  badly  wounded  in  front  of  Atlanta; 
another  brother,  Joseph,  died  at  the  compar- 
atively early  age  of  twenty-six.  Two  sisters 
lived  to  maturity,  and  were  happily  married. 
Both  are  now  deceased,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Stevens 
dying  March  1,  1S96,  at  Louisville,  and  her 
remains  resting  in  the  cemetery  at  Dayton. 
The  other  sister,  Mrs.  Ann  Bail,  died  at 
Turner  Station,  Ky. ,  and  is  there  buried. 
Capt.  Birch,  while  acting  as  mustering  officer 
at  Camp  Dennison,  was  ''mustered"  into  the 
great  army  of  matrimony,  in  September,' 1862, 
Miss  Ellen  Brady  being  associated  with  him  in 
this  enlistment,  whose  term  of  service  was,  "so 
long  as  you  two  shall  live."  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Brady,  a  well-known  contractor  of 
Dayton.  Two  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  Clara  May,  the  older,  being  the  wife  of 
Charles  J.  Geyer,  business  manager  of  the 
Dayton  Evening  Herald,  and  the  mother  of 
three  children,  Mercedes  Grace,  Bertram  and 
Mary.      Her  brother,  Thomas  J.,  was  a  most 


promising  and  attractive  young  man,  who  lived 
to  be  only  a  little  over  twenty-one,  dying  July 
20,  1888.  Both  were  graduates  of  the  Cen- 
tral high  school,  and  the  son  had  already  won 
a  good  standing  for  himself  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man, when  his  fatal  illness  came  upon  him. 
Capt.  Birch  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Chosen 
Friends,  and  of  encampment  No.  145,  Union 
Veteran  Legion.  He  is  independent  in  his  po- 
litical affiliations,  but,  being  an  ardent  temper- 
ance advocate,  is  desirous  of  the  success  of 
the  party  committed  to  that  principle  as  its 
corner-stone.  He  was  long  associated  with 
the  republican  party,  but,  of  late  years,  has 
followed  more  closely  the  dictates  of  his  per- 
sonal judgment.  Mrs.  Birch  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


^"^EORGE  H.  GEBHART,  member  of 
■  ^\  the  Dayton  bar,  was  born  in  this 
\^^M  city,  November  5,  1867.  He  is  a 
son  of  George  A.  Gebhart,  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  S.  T.  &  G.  A.  Gebhart, 
of  Dayton.  His  grandfather  was  Judge  Her- 
man Gebhart,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  every 
one  acquainted  with  the  history  of  Dayton. 

George  H.  Gebhart  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  the  high  school  of  his  na- 
tive city.  Leaving  the  high  school  in  the  third 
year  he  entered  the  select  school  of  John  Trues- 
dell,  which  was  established  in  the  fall  of  1885, 
for  the  purpose  of  fitting  young  men,  with 
thoroughness,  for  such  colleges  as  they  might 
wish  to  enter.  In  this  school  young  Gebhart 
prepared  for  Yale  college,  and  afterward  spent 
one  year  in  that  institution  and  returned  to 
Dayton.  In  1888  he  entered  the  Cincinnati 
law  college,  remaining  there  until  1890,  when 
he  was  graduated,  and  in  the  same  year  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He 
next  entered  the  law  office  of  Gottschall  & 
Brown  as  a  student,  remaining  with  them  until 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


517 


1894,  and  engaged  in  office  work  for  the  firm. 
Beginning  the  practice  of  law  in  Dayton,  he 
has  since  continued  with  credit  and  success. 
Mr.  Gebhart  was  married  in  March,  1894, 
to  Miss  Daisie  Brock,  of  Cincinnati,  and  to 
them  a  daughter  has  been  born,  named  Elli- 
nor.  Mr.  Gebhart  is  a  young  man  of  industry 
and  ambition,  and,  being  well  educated  in 
schools  and  colleges  of  high  standing,  he  is 
well  equipped  for  the  work  of  an  arduous  and 
honorable  profession. 


@ 


EORGE  H.  GEIGER,  M.  D.,  is 
one  of  the  well-known  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  Dayton,  of  which  city  he 
has  been  a  resident  since  March, 
1872.  He  is  a  native  of  Urbana,  Ohio,  was 
born  April  14,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Judge 
Levi  Geiger. 

Levi  Geiger  is  of  German  extraction,  but 
descends  directly  from  an  old  American  fam- 
ily, extensively  known  throughout  the  country 
as  prominent  in  the  learned  professions,  espe- 
cially in  law,  medicine  and  theology.  He  is 
most  active  as  a  member  of  the  republican 
party;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  bar  of 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  for  many  years,  and 
for  five  years  has  been  an  occupant  of  the 
bench.  He  married  Miss  Rosalinda  Gleason, 
of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  by  this  union 
became  the  father  of  six  children,  viz. :  Julia, 
wife  of  S.  L.  B.  Stone,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of 
John  Banta,  both  of  Urbana;  George  H. ; 
Charles  L. ,  who  died  in  Urbana  in  1895;  Ida; 
still  residing  in  Urbana,  and  Jessie  (Mrs.  Pat- 
ton)  of  Greensburg,  Pa. 

Dr.  George  H.  Geiger  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  at  the 
Wesleyan  university  of  Delaware,  Ohio,  and 
after  graduating  from  the  latter,  entered  a 
drug-store  in  Urbana,  and  later  a  store  of  the 
same    class    in    Dayton,    and    was    altogether 


about  nine  years  in  the  pharmaceutical  trade. 
He  then  read  medicine  with  Prof.  Pierce,  of 
Urbana,  attended  the  Starling  Medical  college 
of  Columbus,  and  graduated  from  the  latter  in 
the  class  of  1872,  when  he  at  once  located  in 
Dayton  and  has  since  been  one  of  the  most 
active  and  useful  practitioners  of  the  city.  Up 
to  1890  his  time  was  given  to  general  medical 
practice  and  surgical  operations,  and  in  this 
year  he  began  to  give  especial  attention  to  the 
treatment  of  disorders  arising  from  the  abuse 
of  alcohol  and  of  morphia.  This  branch  of 
the  profession  he  has  since  followed  with  a 
constantly  increasing  success.  Dr.  Geiger  has 
an  extended  fraternal  and  societary  connec- 
tion, being  a  member  of  the  Miami  lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Dayton  division,  No.  5, 
and  surgeon  of  the  Fourth  regiment,  uniform 
rank,  Knights  of  Pythias;  a  member  of  Dayton 
lodge,  No.  15,  Order  of  Chosen  Friends;  and 
also  medical  examiner  for  each  of  these  bodies. 
He  also  holds  the  same  relation  to  the  Mich- 
igan Mutual  Life  Insurance  company  at 
Dayton. 

Dr.  Geiger  was  married,  June  21,  1869,  to 
Miss  Sallie  A.  Taylor,  of  Urbana.  This  mar- 
riage resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  children,  in 
the  following  order:  Frank  L. ,  now  a  ma- 
chinist, of  Middletown,  Ohio;  Charles  H.,  a 
druggist,  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.;  Grace  R. , 
Parker  G.  and  Helen  J. 


>Y*ONATHAN  H.  GERLAUGH,  once  a 
m  prominent  but  now  a  retired  farmer, 
/•  1  living  on  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Beaver  Creek  town- 
ship, Greene  county,  Ohio,  March  10,  1823. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Adam  and  Catherine 
(Hanes)  Gerlaugh,  both  natives  of  Maryland. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Robert  W., 
of    Warren    county,    111.;     Arthur,    of    Greene 


518 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


county,  Ohio;  Jonathan  H. ;  Frances,  wife  of 
Benjamin  E.  Clark,  and  Mary  Jane,  now  Mrs. 
Emanuel  Hawker. 

John  Adam  Gerlaugh,  who  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  a  patriot  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1812,  removed  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1807, 
settling  in  Beaver  Creek  township,  Greene 
county,  where  he  bought  land  and  lived  the 
rest  of  his  life,  excepting  a  very  short  time, 
dying  in  Illinois  in  1856,  when  on  a  visit  to  his 
son.  He  was  then  sixty-eight  years  and  eleven 
months  of  age.  His  wife,  who  died  about  five 
years  before  him,  was  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 

Adam  Gerlaugh,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  Jonathan  H.,  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and 
came  to  Ohio  about  1807,  entering  three  quar- 
ter sections  of  land  in  Greene  county  for  all  of 
his  children.  He,  however,  lived  in  another 
part  of  the  county  from  that  where  he  entered 
this  land  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  The 
maternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  in  his 
native  state. 

Jonathan  H.  Gerlaugh  was  born  and  reared 
in  Greene  county.  Receiving  his  education  in 
the  common  schools,  he  remained  at  home  un- 
til he  arrived  at  mature  years.  He  began  life 
for  himself  by  renting  land  of  his  father  in 
1855,  but  as  his  father  died  the  next  year,  the 
property  was  divided  among  the  children,  and 
Jonathan  continued  to  farm  in  Mad  River 
township,  where  he  lived  twenty-two  years. 
Then,  removing  to  a  farm  a  little  above  Cham- 
bersburg,  he  lived  there  until  July,  1877,  when 
he  came  to  Dayton,  which  city  has  since  been 
his  home.  He  at  first  lived  at  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Van  Lear  streets,  but  later  removed 
to  his  present  home,  where  he  owns  eight  acres 
of  land  and  two  houses.  He  erected  his  hand- 
some brick  residence  in  1894.  Mr.  Gerlaugh 
owns  two  farms,  one  of  160  acres,  well  im- 
proved,  in    Darke   county,   Ohio,  and  one  of 


seventy-seven  and  one-half  acres  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  Dayton,  on  the  Xenia 
(Ohio)  pike. 

March  1,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Jane  Lantz,  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
Lantz.  To  this  marriage  there  were  born  no 
children.  Mrs.  Gerlaugh  died  March  3,  1876, 
a  member  of  the  First  Lutheran  church  of 
Dayton.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Gerlaugh 
married  Miss  Margaret  Davidson,  daughter  of 
William  and  Ann  Davidson,  of  Chambersburg, 
Montgomery  county.  To  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  two  children — Jonathan  and 
Morton.  The  latter  died  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen. Jonathan  is  attending  a  commercial  col- 
lege. Mrs.  Gerlaugh  is  a  member  of  Linden 
avenue  Baptist  church,  and  is  a  most  excel- 
lent woman.  Mr.  Gerlaugh  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  and  as  such  served  one  term  as  trus- 
tee of  Mad  River  township.  For  seventy-three 
years  he  has  lived  within  five  miles  of  Dayton, 
and  has  always  been  an  active,  industrious  and 
useful  citizen. 


aALVIN  A.  BONNER,  M.  D.,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  about  two  miles 
from  the  city  of  Dayton,  in  Van  Bu- 
ren  township,  on  the  30th  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1857,  the  son  of  John  N.  and  Mary 
(Moler)  Bonner,  the  former  of  whom  died  in 
1884 — the  mother  still  surviving.  John  N. 
Bonner  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  having 
been  born  on  the  same  farm  where  his  son 
first  saw  the  light  of  day.  His  father,  John 
Bonner,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the 
state  and  contributed  his  part  in  reclaiming 
the  now  prolific  and  beautiful  section  where  he 
located  so  many  years  ago.  Calvin  A.  Bonner 
was  reared  under  the  sturdy  and  invigorating 
discipline  of  the  farm,  and  his  preliminary 
education  was  received  in  the  district  school 
and  supplemented  by  a  course  of  study  in  the 


J/' Chtxruu^.    OL-  P  cltf-Zs-z^iXsy — s 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


521 


graded  schools.  When  he  was  seventeen 
years  old  he  was  unfortunate  in  meeting  with 
an  accident  while  engaged  in  his  farm  duties, 
which  rendered  him  a  cripple  for  about  three 
years.  During  the  first  two  years  he  was 
treated  at  home,  and  while  obliged  to  use 
crutches,  he  nevertheless  made  practical  use 
of  the  forge  which  his  father  had  erected  on 
the  farm,  as  well  as  of  the  carpentering  tools, 
and  thus  manufactured  many  useful  articles 
demanded  in  connection  with  the  farm  work. 
One  of  his  early  enterprises  was  in  the  manu- 
facture of  Portland  cutter  sleighs,  for  which 
he  found  a  ready  demand.  Being  then  sent 
to  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  for  treatment,  he  there 
became  a  resident  of  the  home  of  his  uncle, 
who  was  a  leading  physician  of  Indianapolis, 
and  under  his  effective  direction  devoted  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  medicine  for  the 
period  of  one  year,  after  which  he  returned  to 
his  home  and  again  resumed  his  connection 
with  farm  work  and  the  forge.  One  day  a 
casual  visitor  called  on  young  Bonner,  and 
found  him  at  work  at  the  forge.  This  caller, 
who  was  the  proprietor  of  the  Dayton  Forge  & 
Iron  works,  was  impressed  with  the  skill  of 
the  workman;  and  insisted  on  the  young  man's 
going  with  him  to  learn  the  business.  He 
consented,  and  went  to  the  city,  where  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  engine  and  steam 
hammer  in  the  above  named  establishment, 
thus  becoming  a  competent  operative. 

After  a  period  of  about  a  year  he  was  taken 
sick  with  typhoid  fever  and  sent  home.  Upon 
his  recovery  he  took  charge  of  a  portable  en- 
gine, and  continued  at  this  work  until  the  D. 
H.  Morrison  Bridge  company  built  their  new 
plant  in  Dayton,  when  he  secured  employment 
in  operating  the  portable  engine  which  sup- 
plied the  motive  power  of  that  plant  for  some 
time.  When  a  stationary  engine  was  secured, 
he  was  retained  in  the  capacity  of  engineer, 
continuing  his  connection  with  the  industry  for 

17 


a  period  of  about  four  years.  The  doctor  is 
possessed  of  much  mechanical  ability,  and  his 
practical  knowledge  in  this  line  would  have 
insured  to  him  a  successful  career  in  that  di- 
rection had  he  chosen  to  devote  himself  to  the 
same.  During  the  time  that  he  was  employed 
in  the  Bridge  works  all  his  leisure  hours  were 
spent  in  continuing  his  studies  in  medicine, 
and  during  this  time  he  furnished  the  capital 
to  purchase  a  drug  store  in  the  city  of  Dayton, 
being  associated  in  the  enterprise  with  J.  G. 
Sponsel,  under  the  firm  name  of  Sponsel  & 
Bonner.  He  disposed  of  his  interests  in  this 
establishment  at  the  end  of  three  years,  hav- 
ing in  the  meanwhile  devoted  as  much  time  as 
possible  to  the  study  of  medicine,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  pharmaceutical  work.  He  con- 
tinued as  clerk  in  the  drug  store  for  one  year 
after  selling  out,  and  then  went  to  Milford, 
Ohio,  and  there  assumed  charge  of  a  drug 
store,  owned  by  a  local  estate,  and  conducted 
the  business  one  year,  after  which  he  was  for 
an  equal  length  of  time  in  charge  of  a  drug 
store  at  Lawrenceburg,  Ind.  In  May,  1884, 
at  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  Dr.  Bonner  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Jeannette  Charch,  daughter 
of  John  S.  Charch.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
same  year  he  returned  to  Dayton,  and  here, 
in  the  following  spring,  he  effected  the  pur- 
chase of  the  drug  business  of  W.  E.  Hooven, 
conducting  it  during  a  period  of  about  five 
years.  At  the  same  time  he  continued  his 
preparation  for  that  profession  which  he  had 
determined  to  adopt  as  his  vocation  in  life. 
He  pursued  a  thorough  course  of  study  in  the 
Medical  college  of  Ohio,  in  Cincinnati,  grad- 
uating as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1890,  most 
admirably  equipped  for  successful  practice  as 
a  physician  and  surgeon.  In  1891  he  disposed 
of  his  drug  business  and  has  since  given  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  profession,  having 
gained  a  representative  practice  and  a  large 
measure  of  success. 


522 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  doctor  renders  stanch  allegiance  to  the 
republican  party  and  its  principles,  and  fra- 
ternally he  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
Masonic  order,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Sons  of 
Veterans,  and  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of 
America.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  the  Iola  division  of  the  uniform  rank  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  was  the  first  member 
of  the  Dayton  lodge  to  join  the  uniform  rank 
of  the  Sons  of  America.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bonner 
became  the  parents  of  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased,  the  survivor  being  a 
daughter,  Mary    Elizabeth. 


HE  GEM  CITY  STOVE  COMPANY, 
located  on  Linden  avenue,  in  Dayton, 
dates  its  inception  back  to  March  17, 
1884,  when  the  now  important  indus- 
try was  founded  by  Messrs.  Henry  R.,  Charles 
M.  and  August  M.  Gummer.  In  May,  1885, 
the  business  was  incorporated  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $23,000,  which  has  since  been  raised 
to  $100,000.  At  the  time  of  the  company's 
incorporation  Henry  R.  Gummer  was  made 
president,  Charles  M.  Gummer  vice-president, 
and  J.  Lee  Natches  secretary.  The  last  named 
is  now  deceased,  his  successor  as  secretary  of 
the  company  being  A.  J.  Conover.  The  di- 
rectors of  the  company  are  H.  R. ,  C.  M.,  and 
A.  M.  Gummer,  and  S.  D.  and  A.  J.  Conover. 
The  enterprise  now  stands  as  the  most  exten- 
sive of  the  sort  in  Dayton,  and  the  success 
which  has  attended  it  is  the  best  voucher  for 
the  ability  and  the  well  directed  efforts  of  its 
founders.  When  the  industry  was  first  estab- 
lished, the  business  was  conducted  on  Taylor 
street,  but  in  1 890  the  plant  was  removed  to 
the  present  location  on  Linden  avenue,  where 
better  facilities  were  afforded  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  business,  which  had  largely  ex- 
1  its  original  proportions.     This  removal 


occurred'  in  August,  and  in  the  following  De- 
cember the  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Noth- 
ing daunted  by  this  misfortune,  the  company 
at  once  began  the  work  of  rebuilding,  and  at 
the  present  time  the  great  demands  placed 
upon  the  institution  cause  the  utilization  of  an 
aggregate  floor  space  of  nearly  125,000  square 
feet,  the  main  building  being  five  stories  in 
height.  The  company  manufactures  the  Clear- 
mont  cooking  and  heating  stoves,  and  the  Per- 
fect gas  ranges,  the  latter  being  in  use  from 
Maine  to  California,  and  the  products  of  the 
establishment  find  sale  in  the  most  diverse  sec- 
tions of  the  Union,  the  superior  character  of 
the  output  being  such  as  practically  to  test  the 
capacity  of  the  plant  in  meeting  the  demands 
placed  upon  it.  Employment  is  afforded  to  a 
corps  of  200  operatives. 

When  the  Messrs.  Gummer  started  in  busi- 
ness, in  1884,  they  instituted  operations  upon 
a  very  modest  scale,  having  only  five  men  in 
their  employ  and  personally  giving  their  atten- 
tion to  the  various  practical  and  mechan- 
ical portions  of  the  work.  From  this  small 
nucleus  the  business  has  grown  to  its  present 
magnificent  proportions,  the  pronounced  suc- 
cess which  has  marked  the  successive  stages  of 
progress  standing  in  perpetual  evidence  of  the 
thorough  .  business  principles  upon  which  the 
enterprise  is  conducted.  The  average  output 
of  the  establishment  is  1,000  stoves  each  week, 
and  this  fact  is  indicative  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  business  controlled  by  the  company. 

The  three  brothers  are  natives  of  Dayton, 
and  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city  they  re- 
ceived their  educational  training.  Early  in 
life  they  entered  upon  that  industry  which  has 
made  their  success  in  the  business  world,  se- 
curing employment  in  the  stove  works  of  Greer 
&  King,  with  whom  they  remained  until  18S4, 
when  they  formed  a  partnership  among  them- 
selves and  engaged  in  business  on  their  own 
responsibility.      They  are  recognized  as  among 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


523 


the  most  active  and  energetic  business  men  of 
Dayton. 

Messrs.  S.  D.  and  A.  J.  Conover  were  also 
born  and  reared  in  Dayton,  and  are  among  the 
well-known  citizens  of  the  Gem  City.  S.  D. 
Conover  is  prominently  identified  with  the  coal 
business  of  the  city,  with  which  line  of  busi- 
ness A.  J.  Conover  was  also  identified  for 
several  years. 


^/^\  EY.  FRANCIS  JOSEPH  GOETZ  and 
I  /«^  the  Holy  Trinity  congregation. — The 
I  W  clerical  life  of  Rev.  Francis  Joseph  is 
so  closely  interwoven  with  the  origin 
and  development  of  Holy  Trinity  Catholic  con- 
gregation, of  this  city,  that  neither  one  could 
be  satisfactorily  complete  without  a  sketch  of 
the  other.  The  main  facts  in  connection  with 
the  origin  of  this  congregation  are  therefore 
presented  herewith.  As  early  as  1858  it  be- 
came apparent  that  the  rapidly  increasing  Cath- 
olic population  could  not  be  properly  ministered 
to  by  the  parent  congregation,  Emanuel's, 
which  was  founded  as  early  as  1833.  The  de- 
mand for  another  German  Catholic  church 
became  imperative.  Saint  Mary's,  on  Xenia 
avenue,  then  comparatively  a  farming  district, 
was  organized.  The  out-of-the-way  location 
was  unsatisfactory  to  many  Catholics  who  lived 
in  the  central  and  northern  portions  of  Day- 
ton, and  they  determined  to  have  a  congrega- 
tion of  their  own.  At  first  seemingly  insur- 
mountable obstacles  presented  themselves. 
But  the  sturdy  and  determined  good  men, 
under  the  leadership  of  the  venerable  pioneer 
Catholic,  Henry  Ferneding,  who  is  now  in  his 
eighty-fifth  year,  seconded  by  Theodore  Bar- 
low, were  never  discouraged  and  persevered 
until  their  efforts  were  crowned  with  glorious 
success.  With  such  stanch  supporters  of  the 
cause  as  Lawrence  Butz,  Sr. ,  Henry  Hilge- 
fort,  Bernard  Alke,  Theodore   Husche,  Frank 


Fritsch  and  many  others,  success  was  assured. 
The  serious  undertaking  of  establishing  a  new 
congregation  was  undertaken  and  pushed  to 
completion.  No  sacrifice  was  too  severe,  no 
burden  too  heavy.  In  i860  the  present  site 
of  the  church,  corner  Fifth  and  Bainbridge 
streets,  was  purchased,  plans  drawn,  the  con- 
tract awarded  to  Bernard  Lemper,  and  the 
erection  of  the  present  church,  60x135  Ieet 
in  dimensions,  and  with  a  spire  200  feet  in 
height,  was  begun.  At  that  time  these  pro- 
portions seemed  enormous,  but  the  wise  heads 
in  the  lead  cared  nothing  for  the  adverse  opin- 
ions of  others,  and  since  then  the  history  of 
the  church  has  fuliy  vindicated  them. 

Long  before  the  church  was  complete,  the 
Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Purcell  invited  Rev. 
F.  J.  Goetz  to  take  charge  of  the  new  congre- 
gation. The  youthful  priest  arrived  in  Dayton 
in  May,  1861.  They  were  just  putting  in  the 
pews  and  erecting  a  temporary  altar.  After 
that  time,  a  grand  organ  was  purchased,  the 
side  altars  built,  the  steeple  finished,  and  the 
pastoral  residence  and  two  school-houses 
erected,  Father  Goetz  all  the  while  making 
collections  from  house  to  house. 

In  the  beginning  the  congregation  num- 
bered scarcely  1 50  families.  The  Sisters  of 
Notre  Dame  were  engaged  to  teach  the  girls' 
school,  which  has  ever  since  been  under  their 
charge.  The  boys'  school  was  taught  for  a 
number  of  years  by  lay  teachers,  succeeded  by 
the  Brothers  of  Mary  of  the  Saint  Mary's  in- 
stitute, or  Nazareth,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 

August  15,  1886,  when  the  silver  jubilee 
of  the  congregation  was  celebrated,  it  was  out 
of  debt.  The  past  history  of  the  congrega- 
tion can  be  summed  up  in  the  few  words:  "It 
is  a  grand  triumph  of  true  Christianity,  and 
the  Catholic  faith  which  inspired  the  founders 
and  lives  in  their  progeny."  The  present  trus- 
tees of  the  church  are  Henry  Westendorf, 
John  Ziegler,  Jos.  Lenz,  George  Lause,  Theo- 


52-4 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


dore  Lienesch,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
first  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  Jos.  Ferneding,  who  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1862.  He  was  succeeded  by  C.  J.  Fer- 
neding, who  filled  this  position  without  com- 
pensation for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  when  he 
resigned  and  the  present  incumbent  was  elected 
in  January,   1887. 

In  February,  1851,  Francis  Joseph  Goetz 
entered  the  seminary  of  Saint  Sulpice,  Paris, 
where  he  completed  his  philosophical  and 
theological  studies,  and  was  ordained  a  priest 
August  15,  1855,  in  the  chapel  of  Saint  Sul- 
pice, by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  de  Goesbriand. 
After  celebrating  his  first  mass  in  the  village  of 
his  nativity,  Sufflenheim,  and  preaching  his 
first  sermon  there,  he  embarked  for  America 
October  22,  1855,  reported  to  Archbishop 
Purcell,  and  was  assigned  to  the  congregation 
at  Marges,  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  on  February 
1,  1856.  From  that  time  on  he  was  active  in 
the  missions  embracing  Marges,  Lodi,  Canal 
Dover,  Zanesville  and  Hessen-Huebel  in  Stark, 
Tuscarawas,  Muskingum  and  Carroll  counties, 
until  September,  1858.  The  young  but  ener- 
getic priest  overcame  many  severe  trials  in  a 
heroic  manner,  until  he  arrived  at  Mount  Saint 
Mary's  of  the  West,  Cincinnati,  where  he  taught 
French,  German  and  philosophy  for  several 
months.  On  the  15th  of  August,  1886,  the 
congregation  celebrated  its  silver  jubilee,  but 
prior  to  this,  in  1871,  Father  Goetz  was  most 
instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  order 
of  the  Knights  of  Saint  George  of  Holy  Trin- 
ity congregation.  The  care  of  the  great  con- 
gregation became  now  too  much  for  one  pastor. 
Hence,  Rev.  J.  D.  Kress  was  appointed  assist- 
ant in  1872.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  N. 
Nickels,  of  Saint  Mary's  institute,  in  1874. 
In  July,  1875,  Rev.  J.  B.  Frohmiller  came 
and  remained  until  188S.  He  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  Luebberman,  who  re- 
mained  until    1890.     The   Revs.   J.  G.  Franz 


and  Herman  Ellerbrock  had  charge  of  the 
congregation  during  a  European  tour  of  the 
rector.  Rev.  Ellerbrock  remained  until  August, 
1 89 1.  Then  came  Rev.  P.  Sigisbert  Zarn, 
O.  S.  B.,  who  was  assistant  until  1894.  The 
present  assistant  is  Rev.  Henry  G.  Kues. 

The  merits  of  Rev.  F.  J.  Goetz  as  rector  of 
the  Holy  Trinity  congregation  were  of  such 
high  order  that  the  present  archbishop  of  Cin- 
cinnati, the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Henry  Elder, 
made  him  the  permanent  rector  of  Holy  Trin- 
ity congregation  in  December,  1894.  He  is 
respected  and  beloved  by  thousands  in  Day- 
ton, regardless  of  religious  creed,  and  all 
who  know  him  wish  Father  Goetz,  now  past 
sixty-eight  years  of  age,  many  more  years  of 
health  and  happiness  and  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  faithful  and  persevering  labors  in 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 


fy    ■*  ENRY    CELLARIUS   is   a   native   of 

l^\  the  old  town  of  Schwarzburg-Rudol- 
F  stadt,  in  the  province  of  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  born  on  the  29th 
of  November,  1831.  His  father,  a  man  of 
eminent  ability,  was  Rev.  H.  F.  E.  Cellarius, 
who  held  distinguished  ecclesiastical  prefer- 
ment as  clergyman  of  the  reigning  prince  of 
Schwarzburg.  He  was  highly  educated,  was 
possessed  of  great  literary  attainments  and 
thorough  scholarship,  being  particularly  well- 
read  in  the  classical  languages.  A  brother  of 
Henry  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  honored 
father,  and  is  now  a  clergyman  of  the  Lutheran 
church  in  Germany. 

Henry  Cellarius  was  reared  in  his  native 
town,  being  afforded  the  best  of  educational 
advantages,  beside  enjoying  the  beneficial  in- 
fluences and  surroundings  of  a  home  of  culture 
and  refinement.  He  began  his  studies  as  a 
child  of  five  years,  and  completed  his  college 
course  at  the  age  of  nineteen.      In  1850,  am- 


y 


y 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


527 


bitious  to  make  for  himself  a  place  in  the 
world,  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
America.  This  project  met  with  paternal  op- 
position and  discouragement,  but  the  mother 
sympathized  with  the  young  man  and  lent  her 
influence  to  aid  him  in  effecting  the  object  of 
his  ambition.  The  first  week  of  September, 
of  the  year  mentioned,  Mr.  Cellarius  landed  at 
Castle  Garden,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He 
recalls  the  fact  that  just  an  hour  after  the  boat 
on  which  he  took  passage  had  reached  that 
city,  the  great  Swedish  vocalist,  Jenny  Lind, 
arrived  at  the  same  place  to  begin  a  triumphal 
tour  ever  memorable  in  the  musical  annals  of 
our  nation. 

From  the  metropolis  Mr.  Cellarius  made 
his  way  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  re- 
mained about  one  year,  having  there  secured 
employment  in  a  grocery  store.  From  Mem- 
phis he  came  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Cincin- 
nati, in  1 8 5 1 ,  and  there  remained  until  1858, 
filling  a  clerical  position  in  a  dry-goods  estab- 
lishment. In  August  of  the  year  last  named 
he  came  to  Dayton,  and  this  city  has  ever 
since  been  his  home.  Upon  his  arrival  here 
he  opened  a  dry-goods  store  for  Bouck,  Aley 
&  Co.,  the  establishment  being  located  at  the 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Wayne  streets.  He  suc- 
cessfully conducted  this  enterprise  for  a  few 
years,  after  which  he  accepted  a  position  as 
salesman  in  the  wholesale  dry-goods  house  of 
Perrine,  Lytle  &  Shaw,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained about  four  years,  when,  by  reason  of 
impaired  health,  he  determined  to  return  to 
his  old  home  in  the  fatherland  for  a  season 
of  rest  and  recreation.  He  remained  in  Ger- 
many for  a  year  and  a  half,  but  within  this 
time  failed  to  receive  the  looked-for  benefit  in 
the  recuperation  of  his  strength.  After  his  de- 
parture for  his  native  land  his  wife  engaged  in 
the  millinery  business  upon  a  modest  scale, 
and  she  was  successfully  carrying  on  this  en- 
terprise at  the  time  of  his  return  to  the  United 


States.  After  his  health  was  restored  Mr. 
Cellarius  entered  upon  the  same  business,  en- 
larging its  scope  and  securing  a  representative 
patronage.  He  later  engaged  in  the  business 
of  handling  men's  hats  and  caps  and  built  up 
a  lucrative  trade,  continuing  operations  in  this 
line  for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  early  'sixties 
he  became  identified  with  the  Dayton  Building 
&  Savings  association,  and  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  the  corporation.  In  1870  he  became 
secretary  of  the  old  Ohio  association,  and  was 
successful  in  bringing  its  affairs  into  excellent 
condition  before  the  business  was  brought  to  a 
termination,  and  afterward  he  was  one  of  the 
chief  promoters  jf  the  new  Ohio  Building  & 
Savings  association,  being  chosen  secretary  of 
the  same.  The  Permanent  Building  &  Sav- 
ings association  was  organized  April  4,  1874, 
and  Mr.  Cellarius  was  one  of  those  chiefly  in- 
strumental in  its  establishment.  Of  this  asso- 
ciation, whose  business  is  of  extended  and  im- 
portant scope  and  has  been  conducted  upon 
the  highest  principles  of  commercial  integrity 
and  according  to  the  most  approved  methods, 
our  subject  became  the  first  secretary  and  has 
ever  since  held  this  position,  his  well-directed 
efforts  having  been  most  potent  in  furthering 
the  prosperity  of  the  association  and  gaining 
for  it  the  confidence  and  support  of  the  public. 
The  president  of  the  association  is  John  Geyer; 
vice-president,  Joseph  Straub;  and  treasurer, 
Fred  Ecki — the  entire  official  corps  being  rep- 
resentatives of  the  substantial  business  inter- 
ests of  the  city. 

In  his  political  adherency  Mr.  Cellarius  is 
a  supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  of 
the  democratic  party,  while  in  his  fraternal 
relations  he  is  identified  with  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen. 

Mr.  Cellarius  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  C.  Haessig,  of  Cincinnati,  in  July, 
1858.  Mrs.  Cellarius  is  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, whence  she  emigrated  to  America  with 


528 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


her  father,  in  1852  or  1853.  To  this  union 
there  have  been  born  seven  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living,  namely:  Herman  F.,  Fred  J., 
Augustus  R. ,  Lydia  and  Ida.  The  religious 
association  of  Mr.  Cellarius  and  family  is  with 
the  Lutheran  church. 


WOHN  GEYER,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
A  surgeon  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  with  offices 
(•J  at  No.  330  South  Wayne  avenue,  was 
born  in  Lindau,  Austria,  January  31, 
1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Lawrence  and  Anna 
(Krater)  Geyer.  Dr.  Geyer  was  well  educated 
in  the  common  and  high  schools  of  his  native 
city,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  locating  first  in  Boston, 
Mass. ,  removing  afterward  to  Newark,  N.  J., 
where  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Hickey.  Later  he  attended  the  college  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  New  York,  for  two 
terms,  and  still  later,  in  1876,  graduated  at 
the  department  of  medicine  of  the  Wooster 
university  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  From  that 
time  until  1878  he  was  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  he  then 
removed  to  Lawrence,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1880,  when  he  went  to  Muscoda, 
Grant  county,  Wis.,  where  he  spent  five  years. 
In  1885  Dr.  Geyer  located  in  Portsmouth, 
Ohio,  and  there  spent  eighteen  months,  mak- 
ing his  final  move  to  Dayton  in  the  spring  of 
1887.  During  all  these  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  general  practice,  and  with  success, 
especially  since  he  came  to  Dayton. 

Dr.  Geyer  is  a  member  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Medical  society,  of  the  Ohio  state 
Medical  association,  as  well  as  of  the  Man- 
chester Medical  society,  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  the  Wisconsin  state  Medical  association. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order, 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and 
of  the  Independent  Order   of   Foresters.      He 


is  medical  examiner  for  the  latter  two  frater- 
nities. In  Dayton  he  has  succeeded  in  building 
up  a  lucrative  practice,  being  very  popular 
with  all  classes,  and  especially  so  with  the  sick, 
because  of  his  kindly  and  genial  disposition. 

Dr.  Geyer  was  married  at  Newburyport, 
Mass.,  to  Miss  Lina  B.  Moeller,  a  Boston  lady, 
and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Frederick  Moeller.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
as  follows:  Emma  L. ,  teacher  of  languages 
in  Eufala,  Ala.,  Union  Female  college,  and  a 
graduate  of  Wellesley  college;  Bertha;  Albert, 
deceased;  Annie  and  Carl.  He  and  his  wife 
are  communicants  of  the  Third  street  Luther- 
an church,  and  take  an  active  interest  in  re- 
ligious matters.  The  doctor  was  the  first  of 
his  family  to  come  to  the  United  States,  but 
since  he  came  three  of  his  sisters  have  followed 
him  and  all  are  well  pleased  with  their  choice 
of  a  home  in  the  land  of  the  free. 


aURTISS  GINN,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
youngest  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
Dayton,  was  born  in  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  in  1872.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr. 
Charles  F.  and  Harriet  (Whitmore)  Ginn.  Dr. 
Ginn  was  educated  first  in  the  public  schools, 
attended  Oberlin  college  for  three  years,  and 
after  graduating  from  that  institution  went  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1890,  and  there  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Biggar,  with  whom  he  was  a 
student  during  his  entire  stay  in  Cleveland, 
being  at  the  same  time  a  student  in  the  Cleve- 
land Medical  university,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1895.  His  aim  has  always  been  to  be 
a  general  practitioner,  and  with  the  careful 
preparation  which  he  has  made  and  the  deter- 
mination which  he  brings  into  his  profession, 
Dr.  Ginn  will  doubtless  prove  a  valuable  addi- 
tion to  the  medical  fraternity  of  Dayton.  He 
has  given  much  attention  to  surgery,  and  is  a 
member   of  the   Montgomery  county  Homeo- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


529 


pathic  Medical  society  and  also  of  the  Miami 
valley  Medical  society.  Fraternally,  Dr.  Ginn 
is  an  Ancient  Free  &  Accepted  Mason.  He 
is  one  of  the  progressive,  active  young  physi- 
cians of  Dayton,  and  is  rapidly  acquiring  a 
good  practice.  He  is  the  first  interne  of  the 
Deaconess  hospital,  and  has  been  connected 
therewith  since  April,  1895.  He  was  appointed 
attending  surgeon  on  the  homeopathic  staff  of 
the  Deaconess  hospital  in  April,   1896. 


a 


HARLES  O.  GRAUSER,  sergeant  on 
the  Dayton  metropolitan  police  force, 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  June  3,  1835,  ar>d 
is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Margaret  (Dininger) 
Grauser,  both  natives  of  Germany,  who,  when 
children  of  about  fourteen  years,  came  to  the 
United  States  with  their  parents,  and,  on 
reaching  mature  years,  were  married  in  Mont- 
gomery county. 

Christian  Grauser  was  a  musician  of  more 
than  ordinary  merit  and  took  his  first  lessons 
in  this  art  in  Germany,  where,  even  in  child- 
hood, he  was  organist  in  a  church.  His 
musical  education  was  finished  in  this  country, 
and  he  became  proficient  in  execution  upon 
many  kinds  of  musical  instruments.  He  pos- 
sessed a  natural  faculty  for  composition,  his 
maturer  years  being  largely  devoted  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  this  gift.  He  was  a  teacher  of  more 
than  local  reputation,  and  for  many  years 
conducted  classes,  in  both  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music,  in  Germantown.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  in  this  faith  he  died  in  1855.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grauser  were  born  eight  children,  in  the 
following  order:  Lewis  H.,  a  cooper  by  trade 
and  a  resident  of  Germantown;  Amelia  J.  was 
a  blacksmith,  and  died,  in  1892,  in  Detroit, 
Mich.,  where  he  had  located  with  his  family; 
Bianca  is  the   wife    of  P.  E.  Bechtold,  a  shoe 


merchant  of  Germantown;  Charlotte  is  the 
widow  of  O.  G.  H.  Davidson,  who  was  a 
prominent  business  man  of  Dayton,  was  sheriff 
of  Montgomery  county  for  four  years,  also  tax 
commissioner,  and  whose  son  is  now  a  city 
official;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Izor  died  in  young 
womanhood,  her  husband,  who  was  a  grain 
merchant,  being  also  deceased;  Charles  O.  is 
the  subject  of  this  memoir;  Augusta,  now  Mrs. 
Urschel,  has  been  twice  married,  her  first  hus- 
band having  been  Cornelius  Bitman,  and  her 
present  husband  being  a  farmer  of  Greenville, 
Darke  county,  Ohio;  Melozina  was  first  married 
to  Cyrus  Hiester,  and  after  his  death  became 
the  wife  of  Horace  Hippie,  a  farmer  near 
Germantown. 

Charles  O.  Grauser  early  learned  the  trade 
of  shoemaking  in  Germantown  and  followed 
the  business  for  about  twelve  years,  and  was 
also  engaged  in  farming  to  some  extent.  In 
1866  he  came  to  Dayton  and  became  turnkey 
of  the  county  jail,  his  brother-in-law,  O.  G.  H. 
Davidson,  being  at  that  time  county  sheriff; 
later  Mr.  Grauser  served  as  deputy  sheriff  for 
eighteen  months,  and  was  next  employed  as 
sanitary  policeman  for  two  and  a  half  years. 
March  19,  1874,  he  was  appointed  to  the  regu- 
lar police  force,  and  now  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  being  the  oldest  member,  in  point  of  serv- 
ice, of  the  Dayton  police  department,  his  term 
reaching  nearly  twenty-three  years,  during 
which  period  he  has  served  in  all  positions  from 
that  of  patrolman  to  the  highest  on  the  force. 

Mr.  Grauser  was  first  united  in  marriage  in 
1856,  with  Miss  Julia  Rowe,  of  Germantown, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  one  child, 
Walter,  who  became  a  telegraph  operator,  was 
a  bright  and  promising  young  man,  but  died  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years.  Mrs.  Grauser 
died  on  July  17,  1870,  and  in  1873  Mr.  Grauser 
married  Miss  Susan  Wright,  a  native  of  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  and  to  this  marriage  have  been 
born  two  children:  Earnest,  who  is  a  carriage- 


530 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


trimmer  by  occupation,  is  unmarried,  and  is 
living  at  home  with  his  father,  and  Clarence, 
who  is  a  student  in  the  city  high  school. 

Mrs.  Grauser  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Grauser  is  a  member 
of  Friendship  lodge,  No.  21,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Germantown,  and  of 
the  Dayton  lodge  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  No.  48;  also  a  member  of 
the  Dayton  Police  Benevolent  association,  of 
which  he  was  a  charter  member,  and  has  been 
the  president  for  three  years.  Mr.  Grauser 
has  been  a  most  faithful  officer,  and  as  a  citizen 
is  universally  respected. 


eLVIN  HENRY  COE,  a  representative 
insurance  man  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Oakland,  Oakland  county, 
Mich.,  May  3,  1847,  a  son  of  Alonzo 
and  Elizabeth  Coe.  Alonzo  Coe,  a  native  of 
Edinburg,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  was  a  physi- 
cian by  profession,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  entered  a  Michigan  regiment  as  sur- 
geon, served  in  the  Union  army  until  the  strife 
was  over,  and  died  in  Mexico,  Ind.,  in  1891. 
The  mother,  Elizabeth  Coe,  was  born  in  Corn- 
wall, Canada,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-two  years  when  her  only  child,  Elvin 
Henry,  was  very  young.  The  paternal  ances- 
tors traced  their  genealogy  to  England,  and 
the  maternal  were  of  Irish  extraction. 

Elvin  H.  Coe,  after  the  death  of  his  moth- 
er, was  practically  without  a  parental  home, 
and  was  reared  principally  among  strangers, 
although  for  a  time  he  found  a  home  with  an 
uncle,  William  M.  Olmstead,  of  Portage  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  After  he  entered  his  uncle's  house 
he  was  permitted  to  attend  the  district  school 
for  three  terms — the  school-house  being  at  a 
distance  of  three  miles  away,  thus  causing  him 
a  walk  of  six  miles  daily,  beside  which  he  was 
compelled  to  work   at   clearing  early  and  late. 


While  living  with  his  uncle,  Mr.  Coe  enlisted 
in  company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  his  service  was  princi- 
pally in  the  First  brigade,  Second  division, 
Twenty-third  army  corps;  with  this  command 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Snow's  Pond, 
Ky. ,  siege  of  Knoxville,  Cumberland  Gap, 
siege  and  capture  of  Atlanta,  Lookout  Mount- 
ain, Missionary  Ridge,  Spring  Hill,  Columbia, 
Franklin,  Nashville,  Fort  Fisher,  New  Berne, 
N.  O,  and  was  with  Gen.  Thomas  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  "  In  the  three  years' 
service  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry  they  soldiered  in  five  rebel 
states,  participated  in  the  annihilation  of  one 
great  rebel  army  and  received  the  surrender  of 
another;  fought  in  twenty-three  different  bat- 
tles, in  which  they  captured  more  than  10,000 
rebel  prisoners,  eighteen  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
twenty-five  stand  of  colors;  they  marched  more 
than  3,400  miles,  rode  3,000  by  rail,  1,300  by 
water;  they  uncomplainingly  endured  many 
hardships  of  hunger  and  thirst,  cold  and  heat, 
disease  and  wounds,  and  laid  hundreds  of  their 
comrades  in  the  silent  tomb." 

On  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Coe  went  to  Ravenna, 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  began  work  as 
brakeman  on  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western 
railroad  in  July,  1865,  but  was  shortly  after- 
ward promoted  to  be  conductor,  and  served  in 
this  capacity,  with  the  same  company,  for 
twenty-five  years.  While  yet  a  brakeman, 
however,  he  had  an  opportunity  of  demon- 
strating the  truth  of  the  saying,  "bread  cast 
upon  the  waters  will  return  after  many  days." 
A  penniless  boy  had  appealed  to  him  for  trans- 
portation to  Hudson,  Ohio,  in  order  to  attend 
school,  and  Mr.  Coe  interceded  for  him  with 
the  conductor,  and  with  success.  Years  later, 
when  Mr.  Coe  had  been  overtaken  with  mis- 
fortune, was  without  money,  and  anxious  to 
secure  work    however    menial,    the    penniless 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


533 


lad,  now  assistant  general  passenger  agent  of 
the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Railroad 
company,  reading  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Coe's 
son  and  of  other  mishaps  that  had  befallen 
Mr.  Coe  himself,  came  all  the  way  from  New 
York,  and  as  the  result  of  the  interview  ap- 
pointed the  latter  as  agent  in  Ohio  for  the 
American  Steam  Boiler  insurance  company,  at 
a  salary  of  $25  per  week.  This  led  up  to  his 
present  extensive  business,  and  it  is  needless 
to  say  that  Charles  B.  Squire  and  Elvin  H. 
Coe  are  bound  by  ties  equally  strong  as  if  they 
were  brothers. 

January  27,  1876,  Mr.  Coe  married  Miss 
Catherine  E.  Jones,  a  native  of  Aurora,  Trum- 
bull county,  Ohio,  the  ceremony  taking  place 
in  Ravenna.  In  1878  Mr.  Coe  and  wife  came 
to  Dayton  and  have  resided  here  continuously 
ever  since  that  time.  To  their  marriage  have 
been  born  four  children,  viz:  George  E., 
who  was  a  traveling  salesman,  but,  while  tem- 
porarily employed  on  a  railroad,  was  accident- 
ally killed  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his 
age;  Jennie  A.,  who  is  her  father's  very  effi- 
cient stenographer  and  bookkeeper;  Minnie  I., 
who  is  an  accomplished  vocalist,  a  member  of 
the  Third  Presbyterian  church  choir,  and  is 
recognized  as  the  best  alto  soloist  in  Dayton; 
Grace  L.,  who  is  a  pupil  in  one  of  the  city 
schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coe  are  members  of 
the  Memorial  Presbyterian  church,  in  which 
Mrs.  Coe  is  active  in  home  missionary  work, 
having  been  for  years  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  mission  society  attached  to  that  congre- 
gation, and  she  is  also  prominent  in  other  be- 
nevolent work.  Fraternally  Mr.  Coe  was 
made  a  Mason  in  Rockton  lodge,  No.  316,  at 
Kent,  Ohio,  and  still  holds  membership  with 
that  lodge;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
post,  No.  21,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  of  the  Garfield  club,  a  political  organiza- 
tion of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Coe    has  always   shown  industry  and 


diligence  in  whatever  he  has  been  called  upon 
to  do,  and  has  worked  out  his  own  success. 
Beginning  with  but  a  limited  education,  he 
found  this  fact  a  serious  inconvenience;  but  he 
has  traveled  with  his  eyes  and  ears  open,  and 
has  been  a  life-long  student  of  men  and  their 
ways.  He  has  been  an  omnivorous  reader, 
and  is  now  exceptionally  well  informed  upon 
general  subjects  and  upon  insurance  matters  in 
particular.  His  railroad  work  carried  Mr. 
Coe  through  Dayton  for  ten  or  twelve  years 
prior  to  his  permanent  settlement  in  this  city, 
during  which  period  he  made  many  warm 
friends,  whom  he  still  claims,  and  since  coming 
here  has  made  friends  with  hundreds  of  others, 
who  hold  him  in  high  regard  and  esteem,  both 
as  a  business  man  and  in  social  life. 


HLBERT  H.  GRIM.  — Among  the  rep- 
resentative business  men  of  Day- 
ton is  Albert  H.  Grim,  president  of 
the  A.  H.  Grim  company,  proprietors 
of  one  of  the  leading  furniture  and  carpet 
houses  in  the  Gem  City.  Mr.  Grim  is  the 
youngest  of  four  children  of  Louis  and  Theresa 
(  Brodbeck )  Grim,  and  was  born  at  Danville, 
Highland  county,  Ohio,  on  August  12,  i860. 
He  was  reared  in  Ripley,  Ohio,  to  which  place 
his  parents  removed  when  he  was  but  six  years 
of  age.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  learned  the  furniture  business  with 
his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  1885  Mr. 
Grim  came  to  Dayton  and  accepted  a  position 
as  traveling  salesman  with  the  Stomps-Burk- 
hardt  company,  furniture  manufacturers,  re- 
maining with  that  firm  for  a  period  of  eight 
years,  during  most  of  which  time  he  traveled 
over  fourteen  states.  On  July  1,  1893,  ne 
established  the  business  of  A.  H.  Grim  &  Co., 
which  firm  was  incorporated  into  the  A.  H. 
Grim  company   in   February,  1895,  with  Mr. 


534 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Grim  as  president,  A.  F.  Hochwalt  as  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  and  E.  O.  Pryor  as  a  direct- 
or. Their  business  was  located  at  No.  422 
East  Fifth  street  until  in  March,  1S96,  when 
they  removed  to  their  present  quarters  at 
Nos.  122  and  124  East  Fifth  street,  in  a  build- 
ing erected  especially  for  them,  which  is  one 
of  the  conspicuous  business  blocks  in  the  city. 
This  company  carries  a  complete  line  of  furni- 
ture, carpets,  stoves  and  household  goods, 
which  is  entirely  new  and  especially  selected 
for  the  trade.  The  company  occupies  four 
floors  and  basement,  45  x  99  feet,  and  has  the 
model  building  of  the  city  for  this  business. 
Mr.  Grim  is  thoroughly  equipped  for  and 
conversant  with  the  business,  having  been 
reared  to  it  from  boyhood,  and  to  his  experi- 
ence, judgment  and  fine  business  ability  is 
due,  in  a  great  part,  the  enviable  position  his 
company  holds  in  the  commercial  world.  He 
is  progressive,  wide-awake  and  enterprising. 
He  gives  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the 
affairs  of  the  company,  and  if  he  cherishes  one 
ambition  above  another  it  is  that  of  seeing  the 
A.  H.  Grim  company  maintain  its  present 
standing  in  the  business  circles  of  the  commu- 
nity. Mr.  Grim  is  quite  prominent  in  fraternal 
society  circles.  He  is  a  member  of  Humboldt 
lodge,  No.  58,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  court 
Harmon,  No.  131 1,  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters,  and  of  Gem  City  council,  No.  1, 
Fraternal  Censer.  Mr.  Grim  was  married  on 
May  1,  1883,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Philipina  Gross,  daughter  of  Peter  Gross,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Elsie,  Theresa,  Huldah  and  Leona.  The  eld- 
est child  born  is  deceased.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Grim  is  of  German  birth.  From  Danville  he 
removed  his  family  to  Ripley,  Ohio,  in  1866, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  For  years  he  was 
successfully  engaged  in  the  furniture  business, 
but  is  now  retired,  he  being  in  his  eighty-sixth 
year.      His  wife  is  of  Swiss  birth  and  is  in  her 


seventy-sixth  year.  They  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  as  follows  :  Louis,  born  Decem- 
ber 18,  1849,  a  furniture  dealer  of  Ripley, 
Ohio  ;  Joseph,  born  in  1853,  and  residing  in 
Ripley  ;  Emil,  who  died  in  childhood,  and 
Albert  H.,  our  subject. 


>^OHN  L.  GUSLER,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
■  ex-sheriff  of  Montgomery  county,  was 
/•  1  born  at  Liberty,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  July  27,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of 
Solomon  B.  Gusler,  who  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  in  April,  1849,  from  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born  July  31,  1821. 
By  occupation  he  has  been  a  farmer  all  his 
life,  and  is  still  farming  in  Jefferson  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where  he  has  lived 
since  1850.  He  has  never  held  political  office, 
but  is  a  thorough  democrat  in  principle.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  honest  and  straightfor- 
ward dealing  with  his  fellow-men,  and  he  en- 
joys the  well-earned  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 
He  married  Mary  Ann  Hoffman,  who  was  born 
May  27,  1827,  about  four  miles  from  Millers- 
town,  Perry  county,  Pa.,  and  who  is  still  liv- 
ing. To  their  marriage  seven  children  were 
born,  four  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  all  resi- 
dents of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 

John  L.  Gusler  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Jefferson  township,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Liberty.  Upon  arriv- 
ing at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  busi- 
ness life  as  a  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  of  D.  O. 
Kimmel,  at  Liberty,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  he 
went  to  Iowa,  and  worked  for  two  years  on  a 
farm.  Returning  home,  he  remained  two  years 
on  his  father's  farm,  aud  during  this  time 
served  as  constable  of  Jefferson  township. 
This  office  he  resigned  to  accept  a  position  with 
A.  D.  Wall,  successor  to  Samuel  C.  Schwarz, 
clothier,  of  Dayton.      Mr.  Schwarz  then  pur- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


535 


chased  the  store  from  Mr.  Wall,  Mr.  Gusler 
remaining  with  him  until  1883.  At  that  time 
he  embarked  in  the  clothing  business  for  him- 
self in  Dayton,  and  continued  thus  engaged 
until  1892.  In  that  year  he  was  elected  on 
the  democratic  ticket  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  filled  that  office  ac- 
ceptably to  the  people  of  the  county  for  one 
term  of  two  years.  He  was  renominated  for 
sheriff  in  1894,  but,  with  the  entire  democratic 
ticket,  was  defeated,  running  ahead  of  the  rest 
of  his  ticket,  however,  about  1,100  votes. 

Retiring  from  the  office  of  sheriff  Mr.  Gus- 
ler purchased,  January  17,  1895,  the  Palace 
livery  stables,  located  at  Nos.  233  and  235 
South  Jefferson  street,  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  arranged  plants  in  the  city,  and  conducted 
the  same  until  September,  1896.  Mr.  Gusler 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  of  the 
Elks,  of  the  Eagles  and  of  the  Foresters.  He 
was  married  March  6,  1 881,  to  Miss  Emma 
Miller,  a  daughter  of  John  Miller,  of  Jefferson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  born  two  children, 
Otho  Evan,  who  died  an  infant,  December  8, 
1883,  and  Laura  L. ,  who  was  born  July  29, 
1885,  now  with  her  parents. 


^•y  w*  ILLIAM  F.    HAAS,  who  merits  con- 

M m  sideration    in    this     connection     by 

mj^J  reason  of  being  one  of  the  repre- 
sentee young  business  men  of  Day- 
ton, the  city  of  his  nativity,  is  at  the  head  of 
the  firm  of  William  F.  Haas  &  Co.,  the  most 
extensive  dealers  in  bicycles  and  wheel  supplies 
in  this  section,  with  headquarters  at  No.  115 
East  Third  street.  Among  the  leading  bicycles 
handled  by  the  firm  are  the  Liberty,  Rambler, 
Crescent,  Ideal  and  Patee,  all  of  which  are 
known  for  their  many  points  of  superiority  as 
attractive  and  serviceable  machines.      The  firm 


also  carry  full  lines  of  bicycle  sundries  and  sup- 
plies and  maintain  a  repair  shop  which  is  com- 
plete in  all  its  equipments  and  in  charge  of 
competent  workmen.  The  firm  are  immediate 
successors  to  A.  W.  Gump  &  Co.,  whose  in- 
terests they  purchased  in  1895.  The  members 
of  the  present  firm  are  William  F.  Haas,  and 
L.  W.  Winters,  both  of  whom  have  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  business  as  conducted  by  their 
predecessors,  being,  therefore,  fully  conver- 
sant with  all  details  relative  to  the  successful 
management  of  the  enterprise.  They  are 
young  men  who  show  the  distinctive  American 
push  and  progressiveness,  and  their  correct 
methods,  unvarying  courtesy  and  unswerving 
business  integrity  have  gained  to  them  the 
measure  .of  success  which  is  justly  their  due. 

William  F.  Haas,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  review,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Dayton,  on 
the  7th  of  April,  1864,  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Christina  (Fishbach)  Haas,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Germany,  whence  they  came  to 
the  United  States  in  their  early  childhood. 
They  became  residents  of  Dayton  prior  to  their 
marriage,  and  here  the  death  of  Henry  Haas 
occurred  in  the  year  1889,  he  having  been  for 
some  time  a  well-known  salesman  in  a  leading 
mercantile  establishment  of  this  city.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  retaining  her  home  in 
Dayton.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  namely:  Clara  E.,  Mary  J.,  Ella 
M.,  Arthur  D.  (deceased),  William  F.,  Walter 
E.,  Harry  L. ,  and  Ida  M.  The  children  are 
all  unmarried  with  the  exception  of  Harry  L. , 
who  was  united  to  Miss  Bertha  Klugle. 

William  F.  Haas  has  passed  his  entire  life 
in  the  city  of  his  birth,  and  his  educational 
opportunities  were  those  afforded  by  the  ex- 
cellent public  schools  of  the  place.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  years  he  entered  upon  his  first 
business  experience  as  a  clerk  in  the  establish- 
ment of  D.  W.  Winters  &  Brother,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  two  years,  after  which  he  was 


536 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


for  an  equal  length  of  time  in  the  employ  of 
Legler,  Prugh  &  DeWeese.  His  next  move- 
ment was  one  which  showed  good  judgment 
and  grew  out  of  his  desire  to  acquire  a  knowl- 
edge which  would  be  of  reliable  value  to  him 
as  a  resource.  He  entered  the  Buckeye  Iron  & 
Brass  works  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the 
trade  of  a  machinist,  remaining  in  the  employ 
of  this  company  for  a  period  of  five  years,  after 
which  he  was  for  a  time  identified  with  his 
present  business,  finally  passing  from  the  posi- 
tion of  an  employee  to  that  of  proprietor.  The 
success  of  the  enterprise  is  one  of  which  the 
firm  may  well  feel  proud,  and  the  establish- 
ment enjoys  a  local  popularity  on  a  par  with 
the  high  personal  standing  of  the  interested 
principals. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Haas  is  iden- 
tified with  Wayne  lodge,  No.  10,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  is  also  a  zealous  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
In  his  religious  associations  he  is  connected 
with  the  Raper  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
in  which  he  is  a  steward,  as  well  as  an  assist- 
ant superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  His 
home  is  located  at  213  Howard  street. 


aHARLES  HENRY  CRAWFORD, 
deceased,  formerly  one  of  the  promi- 
nent and  valued  citizens  of  Dayton, 
was  born  in  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1820.  His  father  and  mother,  Jona- 
than and  Elizabeth  Crawford,  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  viz:  William,  deceased; 
Charles  Henry,  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  M.  N. 
Wheaton  and  Mrs.  E.  D.  Payne,  who  resided 
for  many  years  in  Dayton,  both  of  them  women 
of  excellent  qualities  and  strong  character. 

The  family  having  in  1821  removed  to  Mil- 
ton Center,  Saratoga  county,  lived  there  one 
year,  and  then  removed  to  Rock  City  Falls,  in 
the  same  county,  where  they  remained  until 
1830.      Of  his    boyhood    at    Rock  City   Falls 


Mr.  Crawford  always  retained  the  most  vivid 
and  pleasant  recollections.  It  was  there  that 
he  acquired  the  rudiments  of  his  education,  in 
the  little  school-house  on  the  edge  of  the  vil- 
lage, with  its  rude  writing  desks  and  benches; 
and  it  was  there  also,  when  in  his  eighth  year, 
that  he  received  his  first  religious  impressions, 
attending  meetings  in  the  houses  of  the  neigh- 
bors with  his  mother.  He  ever  remembered 
his  Sunday-school  teacher,  Oliver  Whitehead, 
with  affection  and  reverence. 

In  1830  the  family  removed  to  Milton 
Stone  Meeting  House,  where  Rev.  Thomas 
Powell  was  pastor,  and  where  Mrs.  Crawford 
had  previously  united  with  the  church.  Here 
they  lived  for  about  two  years,  when,  on  the 
death  of  Jonathan  Crawford's  father,  they  re- 
turned to  the  old  homestead  in  Saratoga 
county.  On  the  farm  young  Charles  Henry, 
strong  and  active,  became  exceedingly  helpful 
in  the  .work,  his  father's  approval  being  to  him 
a  constant  incentive  to  industry.  During  the 
winter  months  he  attended  district  school 
about  a  mile  away.  Naturally  of  a  studious 
disposition,  he  needed  no  other  stimulus,  made 
rapid  progress  in  all  his  studies,  and  felt  great 
pride  in  standing  at  the  head  of  his  class  and 
in  receiving  the  approval  of  his  teacher.  He 
also  attended  a  singing  class  and  thus  began  to 
cultivate  a  talent  by  means  of  which  he  added 
much  to  his  own  and  others'  happiness  during 
the  rest  of  his  life. 

Arriving  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
cheerfully  assented  to  the  proposition  of  his 
father  that  he  learn  a  trade,  and  so  was  ap- 
prenticed to  Paddock  &  Townsend,  saddlers, 
of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  with  whom  his  brother,  Will- 
iam, had  been  engaged  two  years.  On  March 
1,  1836,  he  left  home  and  was  soon  employed 
in  his  new  position,  and  he  ever  afterward  sup- 
ported himself. 

In  1829  Archibald  and  Ziba  Crawford, 
uncles   of    Charles    Henry,    established  them- 


foslsK^/ 


/i-mX 


(Z  fr£r«-«r^" 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


539 


selves  in  the  manufacture  of  lasts  and  shoe 
pegs  in  Dayton,  and  in  1839  they  extended  to 
their  young  nephew  an  invitation  to  take  a  po- 
sition in  their  factory.  The  firm  in  Troy  with 
which  he  was  engaged  failing  about  this  time, 
he  accepted  the  invitation.  After  a  journey  of 
eleven  days  and  ten  nights  he  arrived  in  Day- 
ton, November  4.  His  uncles  had  just  com- 
pleted a  new  building  for  their  factory,  on  the 
canal,  a  building  which'  is  still  standing.  At 
the  end  of  three  years  Mr.  Crawford  became 
a  third  owner  of  the  business,  and  continued 
a  member  of  the  company  most  of  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  became  well  known  as  a  just  and 
honorable  business  man,  an  amiable  partner 
and  unusually  thoughtful  in  every  time  of  trial 
and  business  care.  The  title  of  the  firm 
changed  several  times,  until  at  length  it  be- 
came, as  stated  in  the  sketch  of  William  H. 
Crawford,  the  Crawford,  McGregor  &  Canby 
Co.,  this  title  being  assumed,  however,  sev- 
eral years  after  the  death  of  Charles  Henry 
Crawford. 

In  1839,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Dayton, 
Mr.  Crawford  joined  the  choir  of  the  First 
Baptist  church,  and  remained  a  member  thereof 
for  forty  years.  In  1841  his  mind  became 
seriously  interested  in  the  subject  of  religion, 
and  on  the  10th  of  January  of  that  year  he 
joined  the  church,  being  baptized  with  several 
others  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  L..  Moore. 
From  that  time  until  the  end  of  his  life  he 
was  consecrated  to  the  interests  of  religion 
and  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  married  September  15, 
1846,  to  Miss  Melvina  Smith,  of  New  Carlisle, 
Ohio,  who  had  been  his  schoolmate  in  Saratoga 
county,  N.  Y.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Warren 
A.  and  Amanda  Smith.  She  was  a  graduate 
of  the  seminary  at  Granville,  Ohio,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church  in  New  Carlisle. 
Their  married  life  was  an  unusually  happy  one, 
but  doomed  to   be  cut  short  by  her  untimely 


death,  which  occurred  in  August,  1847.  Three 
years  later  Mr.  Crawford  married  Miss  Sarah 
J.  Comstock,  of  Hoosic  Falls,  N.  Y. ,  who  had 
been  a  teacher  of  music  in  the  Cooper  acad- 
emy at  Dayton,  Ohio,  when  E.  E.  Barney  was 
principal.  Two  years  after  their  marriage  she 
died.  In  1856  he  married  Miss  Sarah  N. 
Thresher,  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Thresher, 
and  for  twenty-four  years  they  lived  together  a 
gentle  and  affectionate  life.  They  gave  to  their 
children  the  benefit  of  wise,  patient  and  loving 
counsel,  and  of  a  pure  and  pious  example. 
This  wife  died  in  1880,  after  a  lingering  ill- 
ness, and  thus  Mr.  Crawford  was  a  widower 
for  the  third  time.  The  business  of  his  life 
was,  however,  not  neglected,  and  his  home  was 
under  the  care  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles 
W.  James.  Until  a  few  weeks  before  his  death 
he  appeared  to  be  in  his  usual  health,  when  he 
became  enfeebled  by  a  slow  malarial  fever,  and 
died  November  25,  1887.  The  funeral  serv- 
ices occurred  the  following  Monday  in  the  First 
Baptist  church,  and  his  remains  were  laid  for- 
ever to  rest  in  Woodland  cemetery. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  possessed  of  remarkable 
calmness  and  self-control.  On  one  occasion, 
when  his  factory  was  burning,  he  was  asked: 
"How  can  you  take  it  so  calmly?"  he  replied: 
"It  will  do  no  good  to  fret."  On  other  and 
more  important  occasions  he  was  equally  self- 
controlled.  He  was  nearly  always  at  church 
twice  on  Sunday,  and  a  regular  attendant  at 
Sunday-school  and  at  prayer-meeting,  and  al- 
ways ready  to  perform  his  duty  to  his  church 
and  to  the  community  in  general.  From  April, 
1866,  until  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  a 
deacon  in  his  church,  and  for  several  years  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  He 
always  sympathized  with  the  young,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  association,  as  well  as  of  the  Widows' 
home  of  Dayton.  It  was  a  habit  of  his  life  to 
be  doing  little  deeds  of  kindness,  and  among 


540 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  last  acts  of  his  life  was  one  of  thoughtful- 
ness  for  the  poor.  No  mistake  is  made  in  say- 
ing that  like  Barnabas  of  old,  the  "son  of  con- 
solation," "he  was  a  good  man,  full  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith." 


aOL.  JOHN  A.  GORGAS  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March 
1 8,  1828,  and  is  the  son  of  George 
and  Eliza  (Ashtonj  Gorgas,  both  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  state  and  of  French  and 
English  descent,  respectively.  The  colonel's 
ancestors,  upon  both  sides,  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia, 
and  the  names  appear  frequently  in  the  early 
annals  of  Germantown  and  Roxborough.  Mrs. 
Eliza  Gorgas  died  in  her  native  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, at  the  age  of  forty,  and  her  husband 
departed  this  life  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  when 
sixty-three  years  old.  These  parents  had  a 
family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  who 
reached  years  of  maturity,  and  two  daughters 
who  died  in  childhood.  The  eldest  of  the 
family,  Edmund  J.,  now  seventy-eight  years  of 
age,  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war  and  served 
in  the  same  regiment  with  his  brother,  John  A.; 
George  Gorgas,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
also  served  three  years  in  the  army  and  died  in 
1895,  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.;  Robert  islivingin 
Philadelphia,  and  has  been  a  life-long  invalid; 
the  sisters  are  all  deceased. 

Col.  Gorgas  received  a  common-school 
education  and  early  learned  the  miller's  trade 
and  coachmaking,  in  both  of  which  he  ac- 
quired much  more  than  ordinary  proficiency. 
He  was  successful  in  business  from  his  earliest 
venture  and  was  carrying  on  a  very  lucrative 
establishment  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
Previous  to  that  time,  he  had  been  identified 
with  the  militia  service  of  his  native  state,  hav- 
ing enlisted  in  the  infantry  corps,  national 
guard  of    Pennsylvania,  in    1850.       On  the  re- 


organization of  the  corps,  as  the  second  regi- 
ment national  guard  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
i860,  he  was  appointed  corporal  of  company 
C,  and  later,  at  the  first  call  of  President 
Lincoln  for  volunteers  for  the  three  months' 
service,  he  was  promoted  first  sergeant,  com- 
pany C,  Nineteenth  Pennsylvania  infantry;  the 
regiment,  having  offered  its  services,  was  mus- 
tered into  the  army  of  the  United  States  in 
1 861.  At  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  enlist- 
ment, the  government  having  no  troops  to  re- 
lieve the  Nineteenth,  the  regiment,  on  the 
appeal  of  Gen.  Dix,  voted  to  remain  in  the 
service  until  properly  relieved.  The  colonel 
was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  August 
29,  1 86 1,  and  upon  its  re-organization  for  the 
three  years'  service  as  the  Ninetieth  Pennsylva- 
nia infantry,  September  following,  he  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  of  company  C. 

On  the  7th  of  March,  1862,  he  was  made 
captain  of  his  company  and  served  as  such, 
taking  part  with  the  regiment  in  all  of  its 
many  engagements  until  March,  1863,  at  which 
time  he  resigned  his  commission  on  surgeon's 
certificate  of  disability.  Subsequently,  at  the 
call  of  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania  for  volun- 
teers, he  re-entered  the  service  while  still  suf- 
fering from  his  wounds,  and  recruited  com- 
pany B,  for  the  Fifty-second  Pennsylvania  in- 
fantry, of  which  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain, his  commission  bearing  date  July  1,  1S63. 
He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  Sep- 
tember 1st  of  the  same  year,  and  immediately 
thereafter  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
One  Hundred  and  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania, 
of  which  he  was  commissioned  and  mustered 
in  as  major  July  2,  1S64.  He  served  in  this 
capacity  until  the  17th  day  of  the  following 
October,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment,  and  received  special  orders  to  recruit 
a  regiment  for  the  Union  legion  of  Philadel- 
phia. He  succeeded  in  raising  1,500  men 
in  twenty-one   days.     This  regiment  was  or- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


541 


ganized  and  became  the  Two  Hundred  and 
Thirteenth  Pennsylvania,  and  Col.  Gorgas  was 
made  colonel  of  the  same,  and  as  such  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
March  4,  1865.  He  received  orders  from  the 
war  department  to  report  to  the  commanding 
officer  at  Baltimore,  Md. ,  but,  the  command 
not  being  armed,  he  was  unable  to  comply 
with  the  order.  After  ten  companies  were 
armed,  he  received  further  orders  and  trans- 
ferred two  companies  of  100  men  each,  with 
their  officers,  to  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
leaving  300  men  in  excess  of  the  1,000  re- 
quired to  fill  the  Two  Hundred  and  Thirteenth, 
as  a  nucleus  for  the  organization  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Pennsylvania;  with 
these  he  reported  to  the  commanding  officer  at 
Baltimore.  In  six  weeks  this  regiment  had  its 
full  complement  of  1,000  men,  fully  armed  and 
equipped. 

The  colonel's  command  was  divided;  three 
companies,  under  Lieut. -Col.  Jacob  N.  Davis, 
were  ordered  to  Monocacy  and  Fort  Dix,  while 
the  remaining  companies,  under  Col.  Gorgas, 
went  to  Annapolis,  Md. ,  to  relieve  Col.  Root, 
of  the  Ninety-fourth  New  York,  and  Brig. -Gen. 
Chamberlain  at  Camp  Parole;  later,  after  re- 
lieving Brig. -Gen.  Graham,  of  the  United 
States  army,  Col.  Gorgas  assumed  command 
of  the  district  of  Annapolis,  Md.  It  was  a  de- 
tachment of  his  regiment  that  captured,  near 
Monocacy  Junction,  Atzeroth,  the  attempted 
assassin  of  Sec.  Seward.  Col.  Gorgas  was  re- 
lieved by  Maj.  Werrel,  of  the  Two  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth  Pennsylvania,  and  ordered  to  Alex- 
andria, Va. ,  with  his  regiment,  and  dismantled 
the  forts  at  that  place  and  Washington.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  November  18, 
1865,  but  subsequently,  upon  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  the  Second  regiment,  national  guard, 
of  Pennsylvania,  he  enlisted  as  private  in  com- 
pany C;  was  elected  and  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  company  B,  September  4,  1867.      May 


17,  1S69,  he  was  commissioned  major  of  the 
regiment,  re-elected  to  the  same  position  June 
5,  1874,  and  on  the  25th  of  January,  1877, 
was  made  lieutenant-colonel.  He  served  with 
the  regiment  under  Lyle  in  the  Pittsburg  riots 
of  1877,  and  resigned  his  commission  as  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  1880. 

In  1888  the  colonel  came  to  the  national 
home,  D.  V.  S.,  and  was  soon  afterward  placed 
in  command  of  company  Eighteen,  a  position 
of  responsibility,  which  he  still  fills.  Col. 
Gorgas  possesses  rare  mechanical  skill,  and 
since  becoming  an  inmate  of  the  home,  has  de- 
voted his  leisure  to  manufacturing  various  ap- 
pliances for  use  in  the  construction  of  carriages, 
one  of  which  is  very  valuable.  His  last  device 
is  a  bicycle  lock  and  holder,  recently  patented, 
which,  with  the  appliances  above  noted,  has 
won  him  recognition  as  a  mechanical  genius  of 
high  order. 

Col.  Gorgas  was  married  in  1852  to  Miss 
Martha  Crouse,  of  Philadelphia,  who  died  in 
1882,  leaving  two  sons — John  A.,  Jr.,  and 
William  L. — the  former  born  while  his  father 
was  in  the  army.  John  A.,  Jr.,  is  a  young 
man  of  fine  intellectual  attainments,  a  lieuten- 
ant in  the  United  States  naval  reserve,  with 
headquarters  at  Camden,  N.  J.,  and  at  this 
time  is  second  in  command  of  the  monitor 
Ajax.  He  is  married  and  has  one  child, 
Josephine,  by  name.  William  L.  Gorgas  is  a 
coach  blacksmith  at  Sharon  Hill,  Pa.  He  is 
married  and  has  a  family  of  two  children,  both 
daughters.  Col.  Gorgas  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  and  G.  A.  R. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Methodist. 


'ILLIAM  G.  HAEUSSLER,  clerk  of 
the  board   of  education  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
March  30,  1856.    His  parents,  Jacob 
and  Fredericka  (  Maechtlen  )   Haeussler,  were 


m. 


542 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


both  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1848,  locat- 
ing immediately  in  Cincinnati.  There  Jacob 
Haeussler  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  and 
daily  market  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
gaining  wide  acquaintance  and  general  respect, 
and  died  in  his  adopted  city  November  8,  1881. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  taking  great  interest  in  religious  work. 
He  was  an  active  worker  in  behalf  of  the  re- 
publican party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellow  fraternity.  His  widow  is  now  living 
with  her  son,  William  G.,  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  is  in  her  seventy-ninth  year. 

William  G.  Haeussler  was  educated  in  Cin- 
cinnati, graduating  from  the  public  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  entering  Nel- 
son's Business  college  in  that  city.  He  gradu- 
ated from  that  institution  in  1875,  and  soon 
after  secured  a  position  as  bookkeeper  for  the 
firm  of  L.  R.  Hull  &  Co.,  commission  mer- 
chants of  Cincinnati,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  some  time,  and  later  accepted  a  similar 
place  with  the  furniture  manufacturing  firm  of 
Meyer  &  Merkle.  From  this  position  he  went 
to  a  similar  one,  in  the  employ  of  Louis  &  Co., 
continuing  with  this  firm  until  1885,  when  he 
came  to  Dayton,  taking  charge  there  of  the 
office  of  I.  &  C.  Van  Ausdal,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  six  years.  He  next  became  the 
bookkeeper  of  the  Farmers'  Friend  Manufactur- 
ing company,  of  Dayton,  one  of  the  largest 
manufacturers  of  farming  implements  in  the 
country,  and  was  with  that  company  for  three 
years,  when  the  business  was  purchased  by 
John  W.  Stoddard  &  Co.  From  this  time  Mr. 
Haeussler  was  the  general  agent  of  the  Home 
Life  Insurance  company,  of  New  York,  for 
Dayton  and  Montgomery  county,  until  April 
18,  1895,  when  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Dayton,  which  position 
he  still  holds. 

In  each  of   these  responsible  positions  Mr. 


Haeussler  has  been  faithful  to  his  trust,  hold- 
ing the  confidence  of  his  employers;  and  in 
the  history  of  the  Dayton  schools  no  board  of 
education  has  ever  enjoyed  the  services  of  a 
clerk  more  efficient,  more  industrious  or  more 
courteous  than  the  present  incumbent  of  that 
important  office. 

Mr.  Haeussler  was  married,  May  29,  1879, 
to  Miss  Bertha  Dornbusch,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Henry  Dornbusch,  a  pioneer  of  Davton.  To 
their  marriage  there  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Bertha;  Henry,  deceased; 
William,  deceased;  and  Charles.  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Haeussler  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and 
Odd  Fellow  orders,  and  religiously  he  and  his 
wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


y^V'RNST  ZWICK,  founder  of  the  Zwick 
m  1  &  Greenwald  Wheel  company,  of 
\^^  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  a  native  of  Lob- 
ten,  province  of  Schlesien,  guberna- 
atoril  district  of  Breslau,  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  on  June  16,  1822.  He  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  the  old  country,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education.  In  1852,  when  thirty 
years  of  age,  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  came  up  the 
river  to  Cincinnati.  Failing  to  find  employ- 
ment in  Cincinnati  he  came  to  Dayton,  and 
here  began  to  learn  the  wood-turning  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  1859,  when,  with  his 
savings,  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself, 
turning  for  furniture  factories,  finally  getting 
into  the  hub  and  spoke  business,  and  a  few 
years  later  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
wheels  complete.  During  the  war  the  firm  of 
Zwick  &  Bookwalter  was  organized  to  carry  on 
the  above  business,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Zwick,  Bookwalter  &  Kneisly,  and  that  firm 
was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Zwick,  Kneisly  & 
Co.,  A.  W.  Pinneo  being  the  company.     The 


£ 


fr/z-nS>T~ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


545 


last  named  firm  was  succeeded  by  Zwick,  Pin- 
neo  &  Daniels,  which  continued  until  1875, 
when  Mr.  Zwick  withdrew  from  it.  In  1881 
Mr.  Zwick  established  the  firm  of  Zwick, 
Green wald  &.Co.,  manufacturers  of  wheels, 
which  firm  was  composed  of  himself,  Jacob 
Greenwald,  who  had  been  with  the  old  firm  of 
Zwick,  Pinneo  &  Daniels  as  superintendent 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  Fred  Rogge  and 
Frank  Kammann.  Mr.  Zwick  died  on  No- 
vember 30,  1888.  He  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Regular  German  Baptist  church, 
and  took  great  interest  in  church  work,  he  and 
his  wife  having  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  first  church  of  that  denomination  in  Day- 
ton. Mr.  Zwick  was  a  devout  Christian  and 
devoted  to  his  family  and  friends.  He  was  of 
quiet,  unassuming  disposition,  caring  nothing 
for  display  or  public  office,  and  though  a 
strong  republican  in  politics,  did  not  take  part 
in  public  matters  more  than  to  make  use  of 
the  ballot.  In  business  affairs  he  was  active 
and  alert,  progressive  and  enterprising,  always 
looking  to  the  advancement  and  building  up  of 
the  business  industries  of  which  he  was  the 
head  and  controlling  spirit,  and  always  am- 
bitious to  extend  and  increase  their  scope. 
When  he  came  to  America  he  was  possessed 
of  neither  means  nor  trade,  was  already  mar- 
ried and  had  a  family,  yet  when  he  died  he 
left  a  competency,  all  of  which  had  been  ac- 
cumulated by  strict  business  methods,  and 
which  was  left  to  his  four  sons. 

Mr.  Zwick  was  married  in  Berlin,  Ger- 
many, on  June  29,  1849,  to  Sophie  Wilke. 
Mrs.  Zwick  was  a  native  of  Lichterfelde,  near 
Neustadt,  Eberswalde,  in  the  gubernatorial 
district  of  Pottsdam,  where  she  was  born  on 
April  18,  1819.  Her  death  occurred  on  Janu- 
ary 6,  1888.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zwick  seven 
children  were  born;  the  first  was  an  only  daugh- 
ter, Sophie,  who  was  born  in  Berlin,  and  died 
on  the   boat    en  route    from    New   Orleans   to 

18 


Cincinnati.  The  other  six  were  boys,  all  born 
in  Dayton,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
surviving  sons,  who  inherited  the  father's  large 
interests  in  the  Zwick  &  Greenwald  Wheel 
company,  are  Henry,  Joseph,  Samuel  and 
William. 


^y~|»ILLIAM  W.  HACKNEY  is  a  general 
M  M  mechanic    of    the   city   of    Dayton, 

\JL>^  where  he  has  made  his  home  for 
many  years  at  1700  East  Third 
street.  He  is  a  son  of  Montgomery  county, 
in  this  state,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  August 
27,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Josiah  D.  and  Char- 
lotte (Smith)  Hackney,  his  father  hailing  from 
New  Jersey;  his  mother  was  born  in  eastern 
Ohio  and  reared  in  Randolph  township,  Mont- 
gomery county.  The  Hackney  family  is  of 
the  old  Quaker  stock,  and  traces  its  history 
back  to  the  stirring  times  of  William  Penn. 
The  original  Hackney  emigrants  to  America 
came  from  London,  or  rather  from  Hackney, 
a  suburb  of  that  great  city.  On  his  mother's 
side  Mr.  Hackney  traces  his  family  back  to 
German  sources,  the  Smiths  having  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  remained  for  many 
years.  The  maternal  great-grandfather  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  one  of  two 
men  spoken  of  in  history  as  losing  their  lives 
when  Washington  crossed  the  Delaware  to 
attack  the  English  and  Hessians  at  Trenton. 
His  name  is  lost  to  his  descendants,  but  tra- 
dition fixes  the  fact  beyond  question. 

Josiah  D.  Hackney  was  a  "  bound  boy  "  in 
New  Jersey,  and  ran  away,  seeking  a  better 
and  happier  life  for  himself.  He  came  into 
Montgomery  county  as  early  as  182S,  crossing 
the  mountains  on  horseback.  He  was  a  stone- 
mason and  bricklayer,  and  found  his  services 
in  great  demand  in  this  new  and  growing 
country.  He  married,  in  November,  1831,  a 
niece  of  Dr.  Jacob  Weybright,  a  pioneer  physi- 


540 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


cian  of  the  county.  William  W.  was  the  eld- 
est of  four  children  born  of  his  father's  first 
marriage,  and  of  these  but  two  are  now  living. 
Charles  A.  has  his  home  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. ; 
Mary  C. ,  the  wife  of  Elias  Coates,  is  dead,  and 
her  remains  are  buried  in  Darke  county,  near 
Gettysburg;  Henry  Harrison  was  accidentally 
killed  by  falling  from  a  wagon  in  1874.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  February  25,  1840.  The 
father  again  married  in  1 841 ,  his  second  wife 
being  Miss  Catherine  Blackburn,  who  bore 
him  seven  children,  three  being  still  alive. 
John  Bruff  resides  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  and 
Susan  Jane  is  a  resident  of  the  same  county, 
being  the  wife  of  John  Macarter,  ex-postmaster 
of  Arcanum;  the  other  sister,  Frances,  is  a 
resident  of  this  city,  and  is  the  wife  of  William 
Lehman.  Four  of  this  family  died  either  in 
childhood  or  infancy.  The  father  died  in 
Saint  Mary's,  Auglaize  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1853,  to  which  place  he  had  but  re- 
cently removed.  Many  of  the  most  substantial 
brick  houses  of  the  northern  part  of  Mont- 
gomery county  stand  as  monuments  to  his 
industry. 

William  W.  Hackney  received  a  common- 
school  education,  considered  very  good  for  the 
times,  at  Union,  and  worked  on  the  farm  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty.  He  then  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  the  gunsmith's  trade  un- 
der the  instruction  of  Henry  Sheets,  in  Union. 
He  followed  this  trade  one  year  in  Union,  and 
three  years  in  Cincinnati,  after  he  had  com- 
pleted his  apprenticeship,  and  came  to  this 
city  in  1855,  and  here  he  has  lived  continu- 
ously for  more  than  forty-one  years.  He  was 
married  in  Dayton,  January  1,  1855,  by  Rev. 
Father  David  Winters,  to  Miss  Isabelle  Minick, 
a  native  of  Fairfield,  Ohio.  Her  parents  were 
Virginians,  and  she  inherited  much  of  the 
grace  and  beauty  of  the  best  Virginian  stock. 
To  this  marriage  were  born  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter,  both  of  whom  are  in   mature  life.     The 


daughter,  Mary  Virginia,  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
S.  Fuller,  editor  of  the  School,  of  New  York 
city,  and  the  son,  L.  W.  Edward,  is  business 
manager  of  the  same  publication;  both  are 
residents  of  New  York  city.  Mrs.  Hackney  died 
May  5,  1 87 1,  in  this  city,  at  the  present  home, 
of  the  family.  Mr.  Hackney  remained  a  wid- 
ower for  nine  years,  but  on  June  17,  1880,  he 
married  Mrs.  Caroline  Bowers  (nee  Lydenberg). 
She  was  the  widow  of  John  Bowers,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  Lydenberg,  born  in  Green- 
ville, but  a  resident  of  this  city  from  the  time 
she  was  two  years  of  age.  One  son  has  come 
of  this  marriage,  William  W.,  born  July  10, 
1883.  Mrs.  Hackney's  family  is  one  of  the  old 
Knickerbocker  stock. 

Mr.  Hackney  has  been  a  life-long  demo- 
crat, and  has  served  in  various  official  posi- 
tions in  this  city,  having  been  land  appraiser, 
assessor,  for  three  terms  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  also  a  member  of  the  board 
of  equalization.  His  religious  affiliations  have 
been  along  the  lines  of  Universalism,  though 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Memorial  Pres- 
byterian church  for  many  years.  He  was  ini- 
tiated into  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows in  1863,  and  has  filled  all  official  stations 
in  his  local  lodge. 


*^y  w*  ALTER  E.    HAAS,    doing  business 
MM  under  the  firm-name  of  Walter  E. 

\J^J  Haas  &  Co.,  at  No.  20  West  Fifth 
street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of 
the  city,  and  was  born  June  5,  1866,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Christina  (Fishbach)  Haas.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton, 
and  also  at  the  Miami  Commercial  college, 
and  early  engaged  in  mechanical  drafting  and 
pattern-making,  which  gave  him  remunerative 
employment  in  his  native  city  for  six  consecu- 
tive years.  After  having  completed  the  learn- 
ing of  his  trades  he  was  first  employed  by  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


547 


Callahan  Manufacturing  company  and  then  by 
the  Buckeye  Brass  &  Iron  works,  which  filled 
out  the  period  of  time  mentioned,  and  next 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  succeeding 
Henry  C.  Gump  February  7,  1894,  and  in  this 
he  has  achieved  prompt  success.  He  carries 
a  full  stock  of  the  best  makes  of  bicycles,  in- 
cluding the  Crescent,  Tribune  and  Eagle, 
making  of  these  a  specialty,  but  also  handling 
other  makes  or  brands  of  wheels.  In  type- 
writing machines  Mr.  Haas  makes  a  specialty 
of  the  Blickensderfer,  which  is  probably  the 
lowest-priced  first  class  machine  in  the  world, 
but  other  machines  for  type-writing  are  also 
carried  by  him.  He  has  fully  equipped  repair 
shops,  and  repairs  suited  for  his  specialties. 

Mr.  Haas  is  a  young  man  of  energy  and 
progressive  spirit,  and  is  very  popular.  He  is 
a  member  of  Iola  lodge,  No.  83,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  also  of  Raper  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  discharging  fully  his  obligations  to 
both  church  and  society.  His  residence  is  in 
a  most  pleasant  neighborhood,  at  No.  213 
Howard  street. 


If 


OUIS  P.  HAGEDORN,  member  of 
the  city  council  of  Dayton  as  repre- 
sentative from  the  Eighth  ward,  is  a 
native  son  of  this  place,  born  Octo- 
ber 5,  1852,  and  is  descended  from  German 
ancestors. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Henry  Hage- 
dorn,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in 
Dayton.  A  native  of  Germany,  he  emigrated 
to  Ameriica  when  a  young  man  landing  at  Bal- 
timore, Md.,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.,  from  which  point  he  made  the 
overland  trip  by  stage  to  Saint  Louis,  Mo. 
He  then  took  up  his  residence  in  Dayton 
in  1832,  and  here  he  devoted  his  attention 
to  work  at  his  trade,  that  of  blacksmithing, 
until   the   time    of  his   death,    which   occurred 


in  1 86 1.  He  was  a  man  of  thorough  in- 
tegrity and  honored  for  his  worth  of  charac- 
ter. His  widow  survived  him  until  1884.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Annie  M.  Wageman,  and 
she,  also,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  That 
her  parents  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Day- 
ton may  be  inferred  when  it  is  stated  that  they 
here  celebrated,  in  1866,  the  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  their  marriage  in  this  city.  Henry 
and  Annie  M.  Hagedorn  became  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living  at  the 
present  time:  Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Anthony 
Schumackers,  of  Dayton;  Katherine  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Hummeldorf,  of  Cincinnati; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  John  B.  Kline,  of  Elm- 
wood,  Ohio;  and  Louis  P.  is  the  subject  of 
this  review. 

Louis  P.  Hagedorn  received  his  education 
in  Dayton  and  Cincinnati,  his  mother  having 
removed  with  her  family  to  the  latter  city  after 
the  death  of  the  husband  and  father.  In  the 
meanwhile  Louis  P.  had  been  fitting  himself 
for  the  practical  duties  of  life,  having  learned 
the  upholstering  trade,  through  which  he  was 
enabled  to  earn  the  requisite  money  for  con- 
tinuing his  education.  He  completed  a  course 
in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  college  in  the 
Queen  City  and  continued  to  work  at  his  trade 
in  Cincinnati  until  1880,  when  he  returned  to 
Dayton,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  M. 
Ohmer's  Sons,  with  whose  establishment  he 
has  ever  since  been  identified. 

In  October,  1895,  Mr.  Hagedorn  was 
elected  to  the  city  council,  at  a  special  election 
which  was  called  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  James  B.  Wheeler.  At  the  April 
election  in  1896  he  was  re-elected  by  one  of 
the  largest  majorities  accorded  any  candidate 
on  his  ticket.  In  his  political  adherency  he  is 
a  stalwart  democrat,  but  in  his  efforts  to  further 
the  best  interests  of  the  municipality,  the  ele- 
ment of  partisanship  has  not  manifested  itself 
in  his  official  acts.      Mr.  Hagedorn  served  as  a 


548 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


member  ot  the  decennial  appraisement  board, 
to  which  position  he  was  appointed  by  the 
council  in  1890.  He  thus  served  for  a  period 
of  about  eighteen  months,  within  which  time 
he  rendered  effective  aid  in  the  re-appraise- 
ment of  every  piece   of  real  estate  in  the  city. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Hagedorn  is 
identified  with  court  Cooper,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Foresters,  and  with  the  Alsace-Lorraine 
society.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Thurman  democratic  club,  which  has  wielded 
considerable  influence  on  political  affairs  in  the 
city  and  county. 

Mr.  Hagedorn  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  died  in  May,  1873,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1895,  death  again  entered  his  home, 
taking  from  him  his  beloved  second  wife,  who 
left  seven  children — Frank,  Lillie,  Ella,  Ag- 
nes, Clara,  Annie  and  Ida.  In  religion  Mr. 
Hagedorn  clings  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  be- 
ing a  devout  member  of  St.  Mary's  Roman 
Catholic  church. 


EUGO  COOK,  a  prominent  manufac- 
turer and  inventor,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Dublin,  Ind.,  in  1858, 
and  is  the  son  of  Ignatz  and  Maria 
(Stuber)  Cook,  of  German  extraction.  Hugo 
Cook  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  In- 
dianapolis, and  in  a  technical  school  in  Saint 
Louis,  Mo.  He  also  received  instruction  in 
mathematics  and  surveying  from  Prof.  Ste- 
phens, of  Indianapolis.  After  spending  about 
three  years  in  this  line,  Mr.  Cook  turned  his 
attention  to  the  manufacture  of  sewing  ma- 
chines, in  which  he  was  engaged  for  several 
years,  during  which  time  he  invented  several 
machines  and  made  various  improvements 
thereon.  He  is  practically  the  inventor  of  the 
first  rotary  shuttle  machine.  Following  this 
period,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  invention 
of   automatic   machinery,    and   placed    on   the 


market  various  machines  and  devices  of  that 
character.  For  several  years  he  manufactured 
special  machinery,  and  turned  out  various 
automatic  screw  machines;  also  a  successful 
machine  for  the  manufacture  of  bicycle  spokes, 
etc.  He  invented  a  cash  register,  a  total  add- 
ing machine,  and  in  the  fall  of  18S8  came  to 
Dayton  with  his  machine  and  associated  him- 
self with  the  National  Cash  Register  company, 
for  the  manufacture  of  the  same.  This  is  to- 
day one  of  the  greatest  machines  of  its  kind. 
The  above  company  is  manufacturing  Mr. 
Cook's  inventions  and  improvements  on  the 
above  register,  of  which  there  are  many.  In 
1895  a  company  was  organized  in  Dayton  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  gas  engines. 
This  company  was  incorporated  with  Mr.  Cook 
as  president,  and  Charles  A.  Craighead  and 
William  Kinnard  among  the  directors.  The 
plant  is  located  at  No.  1 126  East  Third  street, 
and  the  goods  manufactured  are  from  the  pat- 
ents of  Mr.  Cook.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
skilled  and  thorough  men  in  the  manufacturing 
business  in  Dayton;  his  inventions  are  practical 
and  much  sought  after,  and  are  covered  by 
many  patents.  He  enjoys  a  reputation  in  the 
business  world  for  progressiveness  and  enter- 
prise, coupled  with  integrity  and  sound  busi- 
ness principles.  Mr.  Cook  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  Knight  Templar 
and  a  member  of  Reed  commandery.  He  was 
married,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Maria  Wilmer.  He 
resides  at  Oakwood,  where  he  has  an  experi- 
mental shop,  in  which  he  spends  a  large  por- 
tion of  his  time. 


WOHN  A.  HAHNE,  clerk  of  the  city  of 
fl  Dayton,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
A  1  in  January,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Frank 
^^^  A.  and  Theresa  M.  Hahne.  In  1858 
his  parents  removed  from  Cincinnati  to  Day- 
ton,   taking  up    their    residence    on    Franklin 


^J&^rjr  &*<{ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


551 


street,  where  they  have  ever  since  lived. 
Frank  A.  Hahne  has  been  retired  from  active 
business  for  about  ten  years. 

John  A.  Hahne  was  reared  in  Dayton  from 
the  age  of  one  and  a  half  years,  and  attended 
the  parochial  schools  and  the  Saint  Mary's 
institute,  a  college  established  in  1849,  gradu- 
ating from  the  latter  in  1 87 1.  When  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  began  an  apprenticeship  in  a 
drug  store,  that  of  the  old  firm  of  Kelso  & 
Bennett,  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Saint 
Clair  streets.  With  this  firm  he  remained 
three  years,  and  with  its  successor,  J.  B. 
Walters,  ten  years.  He  then  established  him- 
self in  business,  opening  a  drug  store  on  the 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Commercial  streets,  which 
he  operated  for  eleven  years,  thus  being  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  for  a  period  of 
twenty-four  years. 

In  1887  Mr.  Hahne  was  elected  to  the  city 
council  from  the  old  democratic  Seventh  ward, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1889.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  city  council,  when  that 
body  was  composed  of  thirty  members,  two 
from  each  ward,  receiving  the  unanimous  sup- 
port of  the  council.  In  1891  he  was  elected 
city  clerk,  was  re-elected  in  1893,  and  was 
again  re-elected  in  1895,  receiving  on  each  oc- 
casion the  unanimous  vote  of  the  council, 
democrats  and  republicans  alike,  he  being  a 
democrat.  In  1893,  owing  to  the  increasing 
labor  connected  with  his  office,  he  retired  from 
the  drug  business,  in  order  that  he  might  de- 
vote his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  pub- 
lic duties.  Mr.  Hahne  has  never  married, 
owing  to  the  untimely  death  of  a  lady  to  whom 
he  was  betrothed. 

Mr.  Hahne  comes  of  a  prominent  family. 
An  uncle  of  his,  Rev.  John  F.  Hahne,  was 
for  many  years  pastor  of  Emanuel  church, 
the  first  Catholic  church  established  in  Day- 
ton, and  he  is  related  in  the  same  degree  to 
Rev.  Charles  J.  Hahne,  the   present  pastor  of 


this  church.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Hahne,  a 
brother  of  John  A.,  is  pastor  of  a  Catholic 
church  in  Cincinnati,  and  another  brother,  Dr. 
H.  A.  Hahne,  filled  for  two  years  the  office  of 
coroner  of  Montgomery  county,  retiring  in 
January,  1895.  Mr.  Hahne  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Saint  George,  of  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  Ohio,  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Heptasophs,  and  of  several  democratic  clubs. 
The  above  brief  recital  of  the  principal  events 
of  his  life  is  sufficient  to  show  that  he  is  un- 
usually popular,  and  that  the  confidence  of  the 
people  of  Dayton  is  his  to  a  very  great  degree. 


%S^\  EV.  W.  A.  HALE,  D.  D.,  pastor  of 
I  /^  the  First  Reformed  church  of  Dayton, 
P  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio, 
June  29,  1847.  He  graduated  from 
Harlem  Springs  college  in  1868,  and  imme- 
diately thereafter  entered  the  ministry.  For 
eight  years  he  performed  faithful  duty  at  vari- 
ous points,  meeting,  through  his  fervor  and 
eloquence,  a  success  in  itself  remarkable  and 
of  great  benefit  to  his  several  flocks  and  to  the 
church  in  general.  October  1,  1876,  he  was 
called  to  Dayton  as  pastor  of  the  First  Re- 
formed church,  and  here,  for  a  period  of  over 
twenty  years,  his  sermons  have  been  a  theme 
of  wide  comment  and  commendation.  Per- 
sonally, he  is  a  genial  gentleman,  popular  with 
all  classes  of  citizens.  As  a  minister  he  is 
earnest,  eloquent  and  logical,  enjoying  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  his  faithful  con- 
gregation. 

The  First  Reformed  church. of  Dayton  was 
organized  in  1833  by  Rev.  David  Winters,  D. 
D.  At  the  advent  of  Dr.  Hale  the  congrega- 
tion numbered  184  members.  After  that,  the 
edifice  became  so  crowded  at  each  service 
held  by  Dr.  Hale  that  it  became  necessary  to 
form  other  congregations,  the  result  being  that 
four  additional  Reformed  churches  now  adorn 


552 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  bless  the  city  of  Dayton,  viz:  The  Second, 
the  Trinity,  the  Fourth  and  the  Memorial. 
During  the  twenty  years  of  Dr.  Hale's  pastor- 
ate he  has  admitted  into  his  congregation 
1,200  members,  and  the  present  membership 
is  725,  notwithstanding  the  constant  drains 
that  have  been  upon  it  by  the  other  congrega- 
tions now  existing  in  every  section  of  the  city. 
Seldom  indeed  has  it  been,  during  recent 
years,  no  matter  what  the  weather,  that  the 
attendance  at  the  First  church  has  not  been 
large,  and  there  have  been  special  occasions 
when  the  edifice  was  not  spacious  enough  to 
accommodate  those  desirous  of  attending; 
while  the  four  other  Reformed  churches,  the 
offspring  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hale's  spiritual  labors, 
are  all  in  a  most  flourishing  condition. 


ar 


ILLIAM  HALL,  deceased,  who  for 
thirty-one  years  was  a  resident  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  at  Holly- 
wood, near  Manchester,  Yorkshire, 
England,  June  16,  1827,  and  died  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  April  9,  1894.  When  but  three  years 
of  age  he  was  brought  to  America  by  his  par- 
ents, James  and  Ann  Hall,  who  settled  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. 

James  Hall  was  a  contractor  and  builder, 
and  erected  some  of  the  most  imposing 
churches,  theaters  and  other  public  buildings 
in  the  principal  cities  of  the  United  States, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  the  contract 
to  erect  the  Third  street  Presbyterian  church 
building  in  Dayton.  He  was  a  quiet,  conserva- 
tive gentleman,  given  to  the  exercise  of  broad 
charity,  did  much  good  in  his  day  for  the  gen- 
eral public,  and  was  officially  connected  with 
Saint  Xavier  college,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  His 
family  consisted  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
four  are  still  living,  the  subject  being  the  third 
born  of  the  family. 

William  Hall,  whose  name  opens  this  biog- 


raphy, was  reared  in  Cincinnati,  graduated 
from  St.  Xavier  college,  and  adopted  as  his 
life-calling  the  art  of  ornamental  plastering, 
and  also  the  business  of  contracting,  which  lat- 
ter occupation  he  followed  for  two  years  after 
the  decease  of  his  father.  In  1863  he  came 
to  Dayton,  where  he  engaged  in  his  calling  as 
an  ornamental  plasterer  until  1885,  when  he 
retired  from  active  industry.  He  was  married, 
in  Cincinnati,  to  Miss  Ann  Case,  who  still  sur- 
vives, and  to  this  marriage  were  born  chil- 
dren, in  the  following  order:  Mary;  James 
and  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Harry,  who  married 
Miss  Agnes  Donahue,  and  who  is  a  resident  of 
Helena,  Mont. ;  William,  who  is  an  electrician, 
and  also  in  the  bicycle  trade  in  Dayton;  Susie 
B.,  a  stenographer,  and  Charles  S.,  who  is 
associated  with  his  brother  William  in  the 
bicycle  business,  both  of  these  young  men  being 
noted  for  their  activity  and  business  enterprise. 

William  Hall,  whose  name  is  mentioned 
above,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  June  16,  1858, 
but  was  reared  in  Dayton,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  city.  At  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  began  learning  the  locksmith's 
trade,  which  led  him  to  the  study  and  investi- 
gation of  applied  electricity,  and  in  1883  he 
began  business  on  his  own  account  as  electri- 
cian and  locksmith,  which  combined  business 
he  conducted  until  early  in  1893.  In  that 
year  Mr.  Hall  added  bicycles  to  his  stock  in 
trade,  and  from  the  latter  has  developed  a  sub- 
stantial and  remunerative  source  of  income. 

Charles  S.  Hall,  brother  of  William  Hall, 
was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  January  4,  1874. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Dayton  public  schools, 
and  since  1888  has  been  associated  with  Will- 
iam in  business.  These  brothers,  being  excel- 
lent mechanics  and  electricians,  have  built  up 
an  extensive  and  profitable  trade,  secured 
through  their  strict  fidelity  to  the  interests  of 
their  customers.  In  the  bicycle  line  they  carry 
the  Columbia,  Hartford  and  other  makes,  with 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


553 


all  bicycle  repairs  and  sundries.  The  Hall 
brothers  are  members  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  association,  as  well  as  of  Christ  Epis- 
copal church,  while  William  is  also  a  Knight 
of  Pythias,  being  a  member  of  Miami  lodge, 
No.  32,  and  of  Dayton  division,  No.  5,  uni- 
form rank.  The)'  are  young  men  of  natural 
ability  and  high  character,  and  enjoy  an  excel- 
lent reputation  in  the  business  community. 


a  APT.  JASPER  NEWTON  HALL  de- 
scends from  English  people,  who  set- 
tled in  Virginia  in  ante-Revolution- 
ary times;  his  grandfather  was  a  cap- 
tain in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  his  parents, 
Thomas  and  Maria  (Bousman)  Hall,  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  where  they  lived  and  died.  Two 
sons  and  one  daughter  comprised  the  family  of 
Thomas  and  Maria  Hall,  Jasper  N.  being  the 
first  in  order  of  birth;  the  second  son,  John, 
went  to  the  Pacific  coast  in  1857  and  is  now  a 
farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Douglass  county, 
Ore. ;  the  sister,  Anna,  is  a  widow,  who  also 
resides  in  the  above  county  and  state. 

Capt.  Jasper  N.  Hall  was  born  near  the 
town  of  Saint  Paris,  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
October  I,  1835,  and  passed  his  youthful  years 
in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm,  attending 
in  the  meantime  the  country  schools.  He 
made  the  most  of  his  opportunities,  studied 
early  and  late,  and  such  was  his  progress, 
that,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  was  sufficiently 
advanced  to  teach  in  the  common  schools,  and 
was  thus  engaged  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond 
to  the  call  for  volunteers,  enlisting  in  April, 
1 86 1,  for  the  three  months'  service,  in  com- 
pany H,  Twentieth  Ohio  infantry,  spending 
that  period  principally  in  guarding  the  B.  &  O. 
railroad,  in  what  is  now  West  Virginia.  He 
re-enlisted  in  August,  1862,  as  first  sergeant  of 
company    E,    One    Hundred    and    Thirteenth 


Ohio  infantry,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland  under  Gen.  Rose- 
crans.  In  the  many  campaigns  and  battles  in 
which  his  command  participated,  Capt.  Hall 
bore  a  brave  part;  he  was  engaged  in  the  ma- 
neuvers with  Morgan's  guerrilla  band  in  Ken- 
tucky, participated  in  the  battle  of  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  and  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1863,  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga  and  held  a  prisoner  of  war  for  nineteen 
months.  He  was  first  confined  in  Libby  prison, 
Richmond,  Va. ,  thence  was  removed  to  the 
Pemberton  building,  in  the  same  city,  and  later 
was  incarcerated  in  prison  No.  4,  Danville, 
Va.  From  the  last  named  place  he  was  re- 
moved in  May,  1864,  to  the  notorious  Ander- 
sonville  prison,  where  he  endured  sufferings  be- 
yond description,  until  his  removal  to  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  where  he  was  liberated  in  April, 
1865.  Though  the  war  was  over  when  they 
were  released,  the  prisoners  were  kept  in  ig- 
norance of  the  fact,  and  it  was  not  until  after 
being  told  to  shift  for  themselves  that  suspicion 
was  soon  afterward  confirmed,  when  they  met 
a  detachment  of  Union  troops,  by  whom  they 
were  taken  to  camp  and  properly  looked  after. 
During  his  imprisonment,  Capt.  Hall  upon 
three  occasions  succeeded  in  eluding  his  guards 
and  escaping,  once  from  Richmond,  again 
from  Danville,  and  lastly  from  Andersonville, 
only  to  be  recaptured,  being  tracked  and  over- 
taken the  last  time  by  bloodhounds.  While 
in  prison  at  Danville  he  suffered  from  typhoid 
fever  and  smallpox,  and  at  Andersonville  was 
so  reduced  by  disease  that  his  life  was  depaired 
of.  When  taken  prisoner  his  weight  was  160 
pounds,  and  at  the  time  of  his  release  he  had 
become  so  emaciated  as  to  weigh  barely  ninety- 
four.  Few  men  possessed  vitality  sufficient  to 
withstand  such  long-continued  suffering  and 
privation,  yet  the  captain  came  through  it  all 
and  still  retains  a  remarkable  degree  of  phys- 
ical vigor. 


554 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


After  his  liberation  he  was  taken  to  An- 
napolis, Md.,  where  he  received  treatment, 
and,  being  sufficiently  recovered,  was  dis- 
charged at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio.  The  captain 
then  turned  his  attention  to  the  profession  of 
teaching,  which  he  followed  for  a  livelihood  in 
his  native  state  until  1868,  when  he  went  to 
Oregon,  where  he  was  similarly  engaged  for  a 
period  of  fifteen  years.  Abandoning  the  edu- 
cational field,  he  engaged  in  cattle-raising, 
which  he  followed  with  most  encouraging  suc- 
cess until  1888-9,  when,  on  account  of  a  very 
severe  winter,  he  met  with  severe  financial 
reverses,  he  and  his  partner  losing  cattle  to  the 
amount  of  $30,000.  Out  of  this  reverse  the 
captain  emerged  with  about  $1,700,  which  he 
invested  in  mining  in  Colorado,  only  to  seethe 
last  of  his  earthly  savings  disappear,  the  ven- 
ture proving  disastrous  from  the  beginning. 
After  disposing  of  his  watch  in  order  to  pay  a 
doctor's  bill,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  for  some 
time  attempted,  without  avail,  to  secure  a  po- 
sition in  the  public  schools.  Being  a  stranger 
and  having  in  his  possession  no  recommenda- 
tion as  an  instructor,  he  was  unsuccessful  in 
his  search  for  employment,  and  finally  decided 
to  apply  for  admission  to  the  national  soldiers' 
home;  accordingly,  in  1891,  he  became  an  in- 
mate, since  which  time  he  has  had  lucrative 
employment  in  the  institution,  first  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  annex  and  soon  afterward  as 
captain  of  company  Twenty-four,  which  latter 
position  he  has  held  for  four  years.  Capt.  Hall's 
company  numbers  about  120  men,  and  he  has 
discharged  his  official  functions  in  a  manner 
highly  creditable  to  himself  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  management  of  the  institution. 

Capt.  Hall  was  married  in  the  year  1862 
to  Miss  Lillie  Whiton,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who 
has  borne  him  four  children,  viz:  John  Court- 
land,  a  resident  of  Oregon;  Pearl,  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Clarke  county,  Ohio;  Mrs. 
M.  Dibert,  who  resides  in  Dakota,  and  Thomas 


Vinton,  a  resident  of  Oregon,  where  he  prac- 
tices medicine.  The  captain  has  a  pleasant 
home  in  Dayton,  where  both  himself  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  highly  respected.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  since 
1866,  and  is  also  an  active  worker  in  the  G. 
A.  R.  and  U.  V,  U.  Politically  the  captain 
affiliated  with  the  democracy  until  1884,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  supporter  of  the 
republican  party. 


^/\  ENNICK  BROS.,  brass  founders  and 

1  jobbers,  located  at  Nos.  141 5  and 
/^J  141 7  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
erected  their  foundry  in  the  summer 
of  1896,  and  do  a  jobbing  business  in  heavy 
and  light  brass  castings.  The  building  is 
33x96  feet,  and  the  firm  gives  employment  to 
five  men,  the  members  themselves,  William 
and  Herman  Dennick,  being  expert  artisans 
whose  hands  and  brains  are  constantly  em- 
ployed in  the  work. 

John  Dennick,  their  father,  is  a  Hessian  by 
birth  and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man; 
his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Anna 
Arnold,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  was  but  a 
little  girl  when  brought  to  the  United  States 
by  her  parents.  John  Dennick  served  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
and  bravely  defended  the  flag  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  is  a  stone-eutter  by  trade,  and 
for  some  years  operated  a  stone-yard  in  Day- 
ton and  was  also  engaged  in  contracting.  To 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Arnold  have  been  born 
five  children,  viz:  Mary,  widow  of  Albert  Slus- 
ser;  John;  William,  senior  of  the  firm  of  Den- 
nick Bros. ;  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Linkert,  and 
Herman,  the  junior  partner  in  the  same  firm. 

William  Dennick  was  born  in  Lebanon, 
Ohio,  February  15,  1S62,  and  Herman  Sep- 
tember 16,  1 866,  and  both  were  educated  in 
the  public  schools.      At  the  age  of  eight  years 


y/^T^T/l^sl 


'*A 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


559 


William  began  to  earn  his  livelihood  by  work- 
ing on  a  farm  for  four  years,  and  then  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Buckeye  Brass  foundry,  of 
Dayton,  at  a  compensation  of  $2  per  week  for 
two  years,  at  all-round  work.  He  was  then 
apprenticed  for  two  and  a  half  years  at  the 
trade  of  brass  molding,  and  after  learning  the 
art  went  to  Cincinnati,  and  secured  one  of  the 
best  positions  in  the  business,  with  the  Lunk- 
enheimer  Brass  foundry,  earning  at  the  end  of 
six  months,  $3.  50  per  day.  At  the  termina- 
tion of  a  period  of  five  years  he  resigned  his 
position  as  foreman  of  the  brass  foundry,  passed 
two  or  three  months  in  Dayton  and  then  went 
to  Chicago,  where,  after  working  about  two 
weeks  in  a  brass  foundry,  he  was  appointed 
foreman,  which  position  he  held  for  eighteen 
months;  he  next  visited  Greensburg  and  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  being  employed  about  six  months  at 
his  trade;  next  passed  two  weeks  in  Chicago, 
and  finally  returned  to  Dayton  and  started  in 
business  alone,  with  a  capital  of  $65,  in  a 
small  building  at  the  corner  of  McLain  and 
LaBelle  streets,  doing  his  work  without  an  as- 
sistant. A  short  time  thereafter  he  associated 
with  himself  his  brother  Herman,  forming  the 
firm  noted  at  the  opening  of  this  sketch,  and 
which  is  now  doing  the  largest  brass  jobbing 
business  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  In  their  small 
shop  20x33  feet.  these  brothers,  in  1895,  turned 
out  over  $17,000  worth  of  work  and  consumed 
over  250,000  pounds  of  brass.  In  their  new 
and  more  extensive  plant,  with  their  energy 
and  skill  to  back  them,  it  is  not  at  all  unrea- 
sonable to  foretell  a  more  lucrative  trade  in 
the  future  through  an  increased  volume  of 
business. 

William  Dennick  was  united  in  marriage, 
September  27,  1894,  with  Miss  Nettie  Clark, 
of  Springfield,  Ohio.  They  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  make  their  home  at 
No.  440  May  street. 

Herman  Dennick  was  fourteen  years  of  age 


when  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Buckeye 
Brass  foundry,  where  he  was  first  engaged  as 
a  utility  hand  for  six  months,  in  order  that  he 
might  become  familiar  with  the  business,  and 
for  the  two  years  following  was  employed  as  a 
coremaker.  He  was  next  employed  by  the 
Stoddard  Manufacturing  company,  with  which 
he  remained  for  six  months,  and  then  for  one 
year  and  nine  months  was  employed  in  the 
Barney  &  Smith  Car  works,  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade.  For  one  season  he  worked  at 
outside  carpenter  work,  then  went  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  for  nine  months  he  attended  to  the 
smelting  furnaces  of  the  Lunkenheimer  Brass 
foundry,  and  then  returned  to  Dayton,  where 
he  was  employed  for  nine  months  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  levee.  After  this  he  had  charge 
of  Wholler's  Brass  foundry  for  four  years  and 
a  half,  and  then  became  associated  with  his 
brother  William  in  the  present  business,  as 
alluded  to  above. 

Herman  Dennick  is  a  member  of  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  and  of  the  Fulton 
council,  American  Mechanics.  He  and  his 
brother  are  republicans  in  politics,  and,  as 
business  men,  enjoy  high  standing. 

Herman  Dennick  was  married  November 
12,  1896,  in  Dayton,  to  Stella  Clark,  who  was 
born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  December  12,  1873, 
and  is  a  sister  of  Mrs.  William  Dennick.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No.  815  East  May  street. 


QHARLES  J.  HALL,  official  court  re- 
porter and  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education  of  Dayton,  was  born  in 
Butler  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  February  3,  i860.  His  parents,  Austin 
H.  and  N.  A.  (Patty)  Hall,  were  natives  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  during  the  progress 
of  the  late  Civil  war,  in  1862,  Austin  H.  Hall 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  regi- 
ment, Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  which  was,  after 


560 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  battle  of  Corinth,  consolidated  with  the 
Sixty-third  regiment.  In  the  latter  part  of 
1863  Mr.  Hall  was  taken  ill,  and  his  superiors, 
thinking  him  sufficiently  recovered  to  go  to  the 
front,  refused  him  a  furlough  until,  when 
finally  granted,  it  came  too  late  to  be  of  any 
service  to  him,  as  he  died  on  the  boat,  between 
Memphis  and  Cairo,  the  next  day  after  start- 
ing for  home. 

Charles  J.  Hall  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Butler  township,  in  his  fifteenth  year  removing 
to  Dayton  to  attend  school.  From  the  high 
school  he  graduated  in  1879,  and  afterward 
took  a  complete  course  of  study  in  the  Miami 
Commercial  college.  After  teaching  school  in 
Miami  county  for  one  year,  he  made  a  more 
thorough  study  of  shorthand  with  John  Col- 
lins, the  only  court  reporter  in  the  county  at 
that  time,  and  in  the  spring  of  1882  became 
stenographer  for  John  W.  Stoddard  &  Co. ,  in 
which  position  he  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1890.  In  the  spring  of  1891  he  was  appointed 
official  court  reporter,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1895  ne  was  nominated  as  a  republican  from 
the  Third  ward  for  a  position  on  the  board  of 
education,  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  fifty- 
five  of  the  male  vote  and  of  488  of  the  female 
vote,  a  total  majority  of  543  over  his  demo- 
cratic opponent,  and  was  the  only  republican 
elected  to  office  in  his  ward.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  centennial  •  cele- 
bration by  the  schools,,  and  during  his  service 
on  the  board  kept  well  posted  as  to  the  gen- 
eral policy  and  routine  business  of  that  body, 
being  as  strong  an  opponent  of  that  which  he 
thought  wrong  as  he  was  earnest  in  his  sup- 
port of  all  measures  for  the  elevation  of  the 
standard  of  the  school  work. 

In  December,  1896,  he  was  reappointed 
one  of  the  official  reporters  of  the  courts  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  as  his  term  as  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education  was  almost  com 
pleted,  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  resign  from 


the  board  so  that  nothing  should  interfere 
with  his  giving  his  time  entirely  to  his  profes- 
sional duties. 

Mr.  Hall  is  a  member  of  the  Gem  City 
Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  order  and  of 
Earnshaw  camp,  Sons  of  Veterans.  He  was 
married  January  1,  1885,  to  Miss  Alice  Pierce, 
of  Concord  township,  Miami  county.  To 
their  marriage  there  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz:  Rus- 
kin  Pierce,  Elizabeth  Mary,  Charles  Ralph 
and  Alice  Lois. 

James  Hall,  the  grandfather  of  Charles  J., 
was  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  coming  here  from  South  Caro- 
lina, in  about  1804,  with  his  father,  William 
Hall.  He  was  one  of  the  lieutenants  in  the 
great  Harrison  demonstration  which  occurred 
in  Dayton  in  the  memorable  campaign  of  1840, 
and  was  also  a  captain  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war.  His  father,  William  Hall,  did  service 
for  his  country  in  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens, 
in  South  Carolina,  during  the  Revolution,  and 
died  in  this  county  in  1858,  aged  about  ninety- 
six  years. 

Charles  J.  Hall's  grandfather,  James  Patty, 
was  a  native  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  of 
Quaker  stock,  and  was  one  of  the  first  school- 
teachers in  Dayton.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
on  both  sides  of  the  family  Mr.  Hall  is  de- 
scended from  pioneers  of  the  county  in  which 
he  now  lives,  and  is  therefore  in  a  peculiar 
manner  identified  with  this  county's  interests. 
Being  a  well-educated  young  man,  he  is  pre- 
pared to  advance  the  cause  of  education  for 
the  young,  and  is  strongly  devoted  to  religious 
movements  as  well  as  to  educational  progress, 
believing  that  these  should  go  hand  in  hand, 
although  not  necessarily  the  public  schools. 

While  Mr.  Hall's  term  of  official  service  on 
behalf  of  the  public  schools  was  short,  it  was 
long  enough  to  enable  him  to  do  much  valua- 
ble work,  not  least  of  which   was  the  intelli- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


561 


gent  and  effective  assistance  rendered  by  him 
in  the  establishment  of  a  revised  course  of 
study  and  the  adoption  of  modern  text  books. 


a  APT.  EDWARD  HAMILTON  is  a 
native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  where  his 
birth  occurred  on  the  17th  of  March, 
1838.  He  is  of  English  and  Scotch 
ancestry  and  combines  in  a  very  marked  de- 
gree the  rugged  and  sterling  qualities  character- 
istic of  those  two  peoples.  Capt.  Hamilton 
was  educated  in  his  native  isle  and  there  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  silversmithing,  in  which, 
in  due  time,  be  acquired  considerable  profi- 
cency,  working  at  the  trade  until  his  immigra- 
tion to  the  United  States  in  1852.  For  some 
time  after  landing  upon  American  soil,  he 
carried  on  his  chosen  calling  in  New  York 
city,  but  in  1855,  yielding  to  a  desire  of  long 
standing,  he  entered  the  military  service,  en- 
listing in  the  First  United  States  dragoons, 
with  which  he  bore  a  gallant  part  in  the  war 
against  the  Indians  in  Oregon  and  other  regions 
of  the  far  west.  The  roster  of  the  above 
command  contains  the  names  of  a  number  of 
men  who  have  since  figured  prominently  in 
the  military  history  of  the  United  States,  and 
achieved  national  reputations.  Among  these 
were  Gen.  Grant,  who  at  that  time  ranked  as 
second  lieutenant;  Gen.  Philip  Sheridan,  a 
first  lieutenant  of  artillery,  and  Gen.  A.  J. 
Smith,  who  held  a  captain's  commission,  and 
with  all  three  of  whom  Capt.  Hamilton  sus- 
tained relations  of  cordial  friendship. 

Capt.  Hamilton  served  with  the  First 
dragoons  five  years,  the  regular  term  of  enlist- 
ment, participated  in  many  bloody  battles  with 
the  Indians,  met  with  a  number  of  thrilling 
adventures  and  had  many  narrow  escapes  from 
the  savages.  He  was  discharged  at  Fort  Van- 
couver, W.  T.,  March  28,  i860,  after  which 
he  returned  to  New  York  city,  where  he  later 


re-entered  the  service  as  an  unattached  recruit. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  Carlisle  barracks,  Pa., 
where  he  was  enlisted  as  sergeant,  and  his  first 
duty  was  to  drill  a  body  of  soldiers  known  as 
the  Anderson  body  guards,  a  regiment  organ- 
ized in  Philadelphia  by  order  of  the  secretary 
of  war,  with  the  stipulation  that  they  be 
drilled  by  officers  of  the  United  States  army. 
Early  in  1861,  the  captain  was  stationed 
at  Harper's  Ferry  at  the  time  that  military 
station  was  blown  up,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Carlisle,  where  he  served  as  drill-master  of 
recruits  until  1864,  in  the  spring  of  which 
year  he  joined  the  Fifth  United  States  caval- 
ry, company  E,  serving  with  the  same  under 
Gen.  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  cam- 
paign. He  was  with  this  command  through  all 
the  memorable  Virginia  campaigns,  took  part 
in  the  leading  battles  of  the  war,  and  after  the 
surrender  of  Appomattox  received  his  dis- 
charge only  to  enlist  again,  this  time  in  the 
Twelfth  United  States  infantry,  with  which  he 
served  two  enlistments  of  three  years  each. 
He  was  first  sergeant  of  company  E,  stationed 
at  Camp  Gaston,  Cal.,  and  had  the  priv- 
ilege of  going  to  the  scene  of  his  military 
operations,  on  the  western  coast,  on  the  first 
through  train  over  the  Pacific  railroad.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  second  term  of  enlist- 
ment, in  1 87 1,  Capt.  Hamilton  went  to  Massa-, 
chusetts,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  four 
years,  but  so  strong  was  his  attachment  to  a 
military  life,  that  in  1875  he  again  entered  the 
army,  enlisting  in  company  E,  Twenty-second 
United  States  infantry,  with  which  he  served 
for  five  years,  the  greater  part  of  which  time 
was  spent  at  Fort  Wayne,  Mich. ,  and  two  years 
inTexas.  He  was  honorably  discharged  in  1880, 
with  the  rank  of  sergeant,  bearing  with  him, 
at  the  time,  recommendations  from  all  of  his 
various  enlistments,  as  a  brave  and  gallant 
soldier  and  a  most  trustworthy  and  efficient 
officer.      Immediately  following  this  latter  dis- 


562 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


charge  Capt.  Hamilton  re-entered  the  United 
States  service  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  five 
years,  but  by  reason  of  disability  was  not  per- 
mitted to  remain  with  the  army  the  full  term, 
having  been  discharged  in  1883;  this  service 
was  in  company  G,  Fourteenth  United  States 
infantry. 

Shortly  after  his  discharge  Capt.  Hamilton 
went  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  where  his  daughter  at 
that  time  resided,  and  was  appointed  a  guard 
of  the  house  of  correction  in  that  city,  holding 
the  position  for  a  period  of  four  years.  Re- 
signing this  place,  he  next  took  the  road  as  a 
commercial  traveler,  selling  goods  and  collect- 
ing for  a  New  Orleans  wholesale  house,  in 
which  capacity  he  continued  until  1890,  when 
he  became  an  inmate  of  the  Central  branch, 
national  military  home  for  disabled  volunteers, 
at  Dayton.  For  some  time  after  coming  to 
the  home  Capt.  Hamilton  was  sergeant  of  the 
"Firing  squad"  ;  later  was  promoted  captain 
and  placed  in  command  of  barrack  No.  7, 
designated  as  company  Seven,  which  has  an 
enrollment  of  ninety  men. 

From  the  foregoing  synopsis  it  will  be  seen 
that  Capt.  Hamilton's  life  has  been  one  replete 
with  duty,  faithfully  and  patriotically  done  in 
the  service  of  his  adopted  country,  a  record  of 
which  any  man  might  justly  feel  proud.  For 
a  period  of  twenty-three  years  he  gave  his  best 
energies  to  the  nation,  in  whose  behalf  all  the 
positions  of  preferment  opened  by  other  voca- 
tions were  offered  a  willing  sacrifice,  and  it  is 
doubtful  whether  there  is  another  man  now  in 
the  home  who  has  seen  as  much  service  or 
earned  a  more  honorable  record.  For  disa- 
bilities received  while  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty  at  the  front  the  captain  is  the  recipient 
of  a  liberal  pension,  but  his  greatest  compensa- 
tion is  the  reflection  that  he  bore  his  part 
bravely  and  uncomplainingly  through  the  try- 
ing period  when  the  destiny  of  the  nation  was 
trembling  in  the  balance. 


Capt.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Ellen  Morri- 
son, of  Carlisle,  Pa.,  who  has  borne  him  three 
children,  two  living:  Sarah,  who  married 
Joseph  Yeager,  sergeant  of  police,  Detroit, 
Mich.,  and  Edward  J.,  a  musician  at  the 
home.  In  political  and  in  religious  matters 
Capt.  Hamilton  is  independent  in  all  that  the 
term  implies. 


>-j*OHN  FREDERICK  DITZEL,  carpen- 
■  ter  and  contractor,  of  No.  313  Johnson 
(9  j  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  near 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  June  15, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Eva 
(Natt)  Ditzel,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Ger- 
many. They  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  as  follows:  John  F. ;  Eva,  wife 
of  Elias  Breidenbach;  James;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Rolla  Gallaher,  and  Alice,  wife  of  Jackson 
Carroll. 

Frederick  Ditzel  was  a  butcher  in  early 
life,  in  Germany,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  about  1856,  locating  in  New  York  city. 
After  a  year  or  two  he  located  near  Palmyra, 
Wayne  county,  N.  Y.,  living  there  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  in 
1 86 1.  He  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixtieth  New  York  volunteer  infantry,  in  which 
regiment  he  continued  for  three  years,  within 
two  months,  his  services  to  his  adopted  coun- 
try ending  with  his  death  in  Baton  Rouge,  La., 
from  the  effects  of  a  wound  received  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, Va.  He  was  then  in  his  thirty- 
ninth  year.  His  wife  ..survived  until  April, 
1 89 1,  when  she  died  in  her  sixty-fourth  year. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  German  Evangelical 
church,  and  Mr.  Ditzel,  while  in  Germany, 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  but, 
upon  coming  to  this  country,  both  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


565 


John  F.  Ditzel  was  about  eight  years  of 
age  when  brought  to  this  country  by  his  par- 
ents. His  early  education  he  received  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  and  in  1864  came  to  Ohio, 
soon  after  his  father's  death,  and  located  at 
Alpha,  Greene  county,  where  he  lived  three  or 
four  years,  working  in  a  mill  and  in  Harbine's 
still-house,  or  distillery.  About  three  years 
were  then  spent  on  a  farm,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Dayton,  where  the  first  work  he 
found  was  on  the  streets,  after  which  he  was 
employed  by  the  contractor  who  was  construct- 
ing the  hydraulic  race  of  the  Dayton  View 
Hydraulic  company.  For  several  years  after- 
ward he  was  engaged  in  a  tobacco  factory,  and 
then,  on  the  advice  of  Dr.  Crook,  sought  out- 
door occupation  on  account  of  ill  health. 
After  working  thus  for  a  painter  for  one  year, 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  two  years  for  John  Hoehn,  and  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  late  John  Rouzer. 
After  remaining  with  this  well-known  con- 
tractor for  eight  years,  Mr.  Ditzel  returned  to 
Mr.  Hoehn  and  remained  with  him  a  short  time, 
or  till  his  death.  The  entire  business  was  then 
taken  up  by  Mr.  Ditzel,  who  has  since  been 
engaged  in  doing  contract  work  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  has  met  with  most  gratifying  suc- 
cess. Among  the  buildings  which  he  has 
erected  are  eight  school-houses  and  several 
churches  in  Dayton,  beside  numerous  resi- 
dences, all  of  which  show  honest,  careful  work. 
He  also  built  a  large  school-house  in  Lebanon, 
Warren  county. 

On  December  25,  1872,  Mr.  Ditzel  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Klinkert,  daughter 
of  Mathias  and  Margaret  (Oneth)  Klinkert, 
the  former  of  whom  came  from  Alsace-Lor- 
raine, and  the  latter  from  Frankfort,  on  the 
Main.  To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 
six  children,  as  follows:  Henry  Adam,  Charles 
Edward,  Bertha  May,  Bessie  Savilla,  John 
Milton,  and  Nellie  Naoma.      Bessie  died  when 


eleven  years  of  age;  Henry  A.  married  Miss 
Lillie  Frank,  daughter  of  Judge  Frank. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ditzel  are  members  of  the 
English  Evangelical  association.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Ditzel  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias,  and  politically  he  is  a  republican.  He 
has  served  as  a  director  of  the  workhouse  for 
five  years,  and  as  president  of  the  workhouse 
board  for  three  years. 

He  erected  his  present  home,  at  313  John- 
son street,  in  1875,  though  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Dayton  for  thirty-two  years.  After 
his  father's  death,  John,  the  eldest  son,  sup- 
ported the  family  as  they  grew  up,  or  until 
each  was  able  to  care  for  himself.  He  is  now 
rearing  to  good  citizenship  a  family  of  his  own, 
fine  children,  healthy,  strong  and-  intelligent. 
Mr.  Ditzel  and  a  few  others  organized  the 
English  Evangelical  association,  which  began 
with  a  membership  of  twenty-six,  and  now  has 
a  Sunday-school  attendance  of  200.  The  as- 
sociation started  with  no  financial  strength, 
Mr.  Ditzel  raising  $1,500  by  mortgaging  his 
own  home,  and  with  this  money  purchasing 
the  lot  on  which  the  church  improvements  now 
stand.  Mr.  Ditzel  also  organized  the  Builders' 
exchange,  starting  its  first  subscription  and 
writing  its  first  rules  of  order.  He  is  thus  a 
public-spirited  man,  full  of  hope  for  the  best 
in  all  things,  and  willing  to  labor  in  order  that 
that  hope  may  be 'realized.  He  is  most  genial 
and  generous,  with  a  character  above  reproach 
or  suspicion,  and  has  hosts  of  warm  and  ad- 
miring friends.  Such  men  are  the  safety  and 
the  salvation  of  the  city,  state  and  country. 


>»y»OSEPH  M.  HAND,  of  No.  214  East 
■  Fifth  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
m  J  in  this  city  October  2,  i860,  a  son  of 
John  and  Barbara  (Keiffer)  Hand,  both 
natives  of  the  town  of  Sarlonie,  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  Rhine,  Germany. 


566 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


John  Hand,  the  father,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1849,  and  for  a  short  time  resided  in 
Cincinnati,  whence  he  came  to  Dayton  and 
worked  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking  until  his 
sight  began  to  fail.  In  1869  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  eighteen  acres  of  land  six  miles  south 
of  Dayton,  and  engaged  in  gardening,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful.  Mrs.  Barbara 
Hand  was  born  in  March,  1822,  and  died  July 
23,  1884.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hand  there  survive  but  three,  viz:  An- 
gelica, wife  of  Julius  Burgmeier;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Henry  Gross,  and  Joseph  M. 

Joseph  M.  Hand  was  about  nine  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  located  upon  the  garden 
tract  above  mentioned,  where  for  nine  years 
he  assisted  his  father  in  its  cultivation,  thus 
aiding  the  latter  to  pay  for  the  property.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  was  released  from 
further  home  obligations  and  became  a  fire- 
man on  the  Toledo,  Cincinnati  &  Saint  Louis 
railroad,  but  a  number  of  years  later  resigned 
his  position  in  order  to  learn  the  barber's  trade 
under  Henry  Gross.  After  some  years  he 
purchased  the  shop  from  his  instructor,  and 
has  since  been  in  business  for  himself,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  best  known  barbers  in  Dayton. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hand  took  place  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1884,  with  Miss  Rose  L.  Sweetman, 
daughter  of  John  and  Rose  Sweetman,  both 
now  deceased.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children,  viz:  Roselee,  Lawrence 
J.  and  Walter  J.  The  family  are  conscien- 
tious and  devout  members  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
Catholic  church  and  in  politics  Mr.  Hand  is  a 
democrat.  He  has  for  sixteen  years  been  a 
member  of  the  order  of  Knights  of  Saint  John, 
and  since  joining  has  been  an  officer  almost 
continuously,  being  now  captain  of  commandery 
No.  132,  and  having  passed  through  the  minor 
offices  of  secretary,  treasurer,  president  and 
lieutenant.  He  has  won  the  captaincy  through 
meritorious  services,  having  been   largely   in- 


strumental in  placing  the  commandery  on  its 
present  substantial  footing,  both  in  its  military 
and  financial  standing.  He  is  also  district  or- 
ganizer of  the  Knights,  having  as  the  field  of 
his  labors  the  counties  of  Montgomery,  Greene, 
Preble,  Miami  and  Clarke.  Mr.  Hand  is  like- 
wise a  charter  member  of  Dayton  court,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Foresters,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  been  its  treasurer. 

Mr.  Hand's  success  in  business  is  due  to  his 
own  unaided  efforts,  to  his  industry  and  energy. 


eDWARD  F.  HAMM,  plumber  and 
gas-fitter,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Cleveland,  April  30,  1861.  Daniel 
Hamm,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  in  1833.  While  still  a  young 
man  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Margaret 
Schermer,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  but  who, 
when  a  child,  was  brought  to  America  by  her 
parents,  who  located  in  Cleveland.  Daniel 
Hamm  was  reared  to  milling,  but  since  com- 
ing to  America  has  been  engaged  in  railroad- 
ing, being  now  employed  by  the  "Big  4" 
company  as  foreman  of  car  inspection.  He 
first  came  to  Dayton  twenty-six  years  ago, 
and  has  ever  since  been  a  resident  of  the  city, 
with  his  home  at  No.  129  Montgomery  street. 
Edward  F.  Hamm  is  the  eldest  in  a  family 
of  three  children — his  sister,  Ella,  being  the 
wife  of  August  Gummer,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Gem  City  Stove  works,  and  his  brother, 
Charles,  being  a  plumber,  in  his  employ.  Ed- 
ward F.  attended  the  Cleveland  schools  until 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  Dayton,  and 
after  this  removal  attended  the  schools  of  Day- 
ton for  a  few  years,  after  which  he  was  em- 
ployed, for  a  short  time,  in  the  table-slide  fac- 
tory. He  then  took  up  railroad  work  and  for 
the  first  year  was  a  car  inspector,  and  for  four 
years  thereafter  a  fireman.    When  a  little  over 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


567 


twenty  years  of  age  he  became  an  apprentice 
at  the  plumber's  trade  in  Dayton,  and  after 
having  secured  a  full  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness, he  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  One  year  was  spent  in  contract 
work  in  Urbana,  Ohio,  when  Mr.  Hamm  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  in  March,  1893,  opened 
his  present  plumbing  and  gas-fitting  shop,  in 
which  he  has  established  a  prosperous  and 
steadily  increasing  trade. 

Mr.  Hamm  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, to  which  party  his  father  and  brother 
also  belong.  He  is  not  connected  with  any 
secret  society,  neither  has  he  ever  married. 
As  an  industrious,  faithful  and  public-spirited 
citizen  he  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  is  brought  into  contact,  either  in  social  or 
business  circles. 


eLLSWORTH  C.  HALTEMAN,  pat- 
ternmaker, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  this  city  April  23,  1862.  He 
is  proprietor  of  the  Central  Pattern 
works,  located  at  No.  26  South  Saint  Clair 
street.  The  business  was  established  in  1892, 
under  the  above  name,  at  the  crossing  of 
Wayne  avenue  and  the  railroad,  and  in  1895 
removed  to  Nos.  10  and  12  North  Canal  street, 
and  in  April,  1896,  removed  to  their  present 
location.  These  works  turn  out  all  kinds  of 
patterns  and  of  the  finest  workmanship,  the 
trade  of  the  concern  extending  all  through 
Ohio  and  Indiana.  High  grade  work  is  made 
a  specialty.  The  best  patternmakers,  both  in 
wood  and  metal,  are  here  employed,  and  drafts 
and  models  are  also  made  and  disposed  of. 

Mr.  Halteman  is  a  son  of  Christopher  and 
Margaret  (Wagoner)  Halteman.  The  mother 
has  died,  but  the  father  lives  at  No.  386  North 
Main  street,  Dayton,  Ohio.      He  is  one  of  the 


best  and  most  skillful  patternmakers  of  Day- 
ton, and  has  resided  in  this  city  since  1841. 
He  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  October  31, 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Tobias  and  Rebecca 
(Grady)  Halteman,  natives  of  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.,  and  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  de- 
scent. The  Halteman  family  have  for  several 
generations  been  mechanics,  so  that  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  comes  naturally  by  his  pecu- 
liar talent.  Tobias  Halteman,  together  with 
his  wife  and  four  children,  removed  to  Dayton 
in  1 84 1.  He  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  but  after 
locating  in  Dayton  followed  various  occupa- 
tions until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1849, 
his  wife  dying  in  1855.  They  were  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  church.  They 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  as  follows: 
Sarah,  now  deceased;  Joseph,  a  shoemaker  of 
Urbana,  Ohio;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Abraham, 
deceased  ;  Nancy,  deceased  ;  Christopher  ; 
Henry,  a  farmer  living  near  Eaton,  Ohio; 
Aaron,  deceased,  and  Hattie,  wife  of  Henry 
Groeweg,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Christopher  Halteman  was  early  taught  to 
labor,  the  father  having  died  while  the  son  was 
yet  young.  He  had  to  assist  in  supporting  not 
only  himself,  but  the  rest  of  the  family.  For 
some  time  he  worked  in  a  cotton  factory,  but 
later  learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  some  twelve  years.  He  then 
became  a  millwright  and  patternmaker,  and  is 
still  pursuing  the  latter  vocation,  in  which, 
though  self-taught,  he  is  exceedingly  proficient. 
He  has  been  at  work  in  the  millwright  depart- 
ment of  the  Brownell  company's  works  for 
twenty-two  years,  and  has  been  foreman  of 
the  department  for  fifteen  years.  As  a  repub- 
lican, he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs.  He  served  in  the  city  council  of  Day- 
ton, from  the  Second  ward,  for  one  term,  and 
was  the  candidate  on  the  republican  ticket  for 
water  works  trustee.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  Wayne  Lodge,  No.  10,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


r,c,s 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Halteman  was  married,  first,  in  1859, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Wagoner,  who  died  in  188 15. 
She  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  as  follows: 
William,  a  speculator  at  Port  Townsend, 
Wash.;  Ellsworth  C. ,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frank  Certner,  of 
Dayton;  Priscilla,  wife  of  L.  Landis,  of  Day- 
ton; Franklin,  deceased;  and  Lee,  a  pattern- 
maker of  Dayton.  Mr.  Halteman  was  mar- 
ried to  his  second  wife,  Miss  Minnie  Stone,  in 
October,  1892.  They  now  reside  at  No.  386 
North  Main  street. 

Ellsworth  C.  Halteman  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton,  and  afterward  at- 
tended Dennison  university  at  Granville,  Ohio, 
for  one  year.  Prior  to  going  to  college  he  had 
learned  the  trade  of  patternmaker.  Upon 
leaving  Granville  he  went  to  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
and  there  became  an  employee  of  Black  & 
Clawson,  manufacturers  of  paper-mill  ma- 
chinery. After  being  there  employed  for  one 
year,  he  went  to  Middletown,  and  remained 
three  years  with  the  Lotterratt  Machine  com- 
pany. Returning  to  Dayton  he  established  the 
business  of  his  own,  whose  nature  and  extent 
have  been  above  noted.  Mr.  Halteman  is  one 
of  the  progressive  young  business  men  of  Day- 
ton, and  is  rapidly  pushing  to  the  front  as  a 
manufacturer  of  the  most  reliable  and  most 
skillfully  made  patterns  to  be  found  anywhere 
in  the  state.  His  entire  attention  is  given  to 
his  business. 

Mr.  Halteman  was  married  in  June,  1890, 
to  Miss  Estella  Moser,  daughter  of  Alfred 
Moser,  the  jeweler.  She  was  born  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  is  now  the  mother  of  two  children, 
Alfred  and  Ruth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Halteman 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  reside 
at  No.  326  West  Fourth  street.  They  are 
among  the  best  of  the  citizens  of  Dayton,  and 
are  everywhere  held  in  high  esteem.  Mr. 
Halteman  has  for  years  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Young  Men's  Christian   association, 


and,  since  1895,  has  been  teaching  pattern- 
making  in  the  manual  training  department  of 
that  institution.  He  was  engaged  for  one 
year  in  teaching  drafting  in  Middletown,  and 
has  always  been  earnest  in  all  good  works. 


>Y*OHN  G.  FEIGHT,  contractor  and 
m  builder,  of  1040  West  Fourth  street, 
(•  1  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Germany, 
August  31,  1 83 1,  and  in  1832  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  Frederick 
and  Magdalena  Feight,  who  first  located  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  in  1838  came  to  Dayton. 
Here  Frederick  Feight,  though  he  had  been  a 
butcher  in  his  native  land,  engaged  in  market 
gardening,  being  among  the  first  here  to  enter 
upon  that  line  of  industry.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  viz:  John  Frederick,  a 
carpenter,  but  for  the  past  five  years  an  in- 
valid; Rebecca,  wife  of  John  H.  Fickensher,  a 
carpenter;  Louisa,  married  to  Jacob  Kuntz,  a 
barber;  John  G. ;  Jacob  Henry,  a  furniture 
dealer;  and  David,  the  keeper  of  a  feed  store — 
all  residing  in  Dayton.  The  father  of  this 
family  died  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years,  and  the  mother  a  year  later,  aged  sev- 
enty-eight. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  John  G.  Feight 
became  an  apprentice  under  Daniel  Coffin,  a 
well-known  carpenter  of  Dayton.  He  served 
two  and  one-half  years  as  an  apprentice,  re- 
ceiving a  compensation  of  $3,  $4  and  $5  per 
month,  in  accordance  with  his  advancement  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  trade  and  his  increased 
usefulness  to  his  employer.  After  completing 
his  apprenticeship  he  went  to  Platteville, 
Grant  county,  Wis.,  where  for  nearly  nine 
years  he  worked  as  a  contractor  and  builder. 
While  in  that  state  he  enlisted  in  company  K, 
Forty-fourth  Wisconsin  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  in  the  Civil  war  from  February,  1865, 
until  the  close  of  that  great  conflict,  when  he 


6 


f^-v-i,  i/o^^A- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


571 


was  honorably  discharged  with  the  rank  of  ser- 
geant. December  28,  1865,  he  returned  to 
Dayton,  and  has  since  been  engaged  at  his 
present  business,  and  if  all  the  houses  he  has 
erected  in  this  city  and  vicinity  were  concen- 
trated in  one  locality  they  would  constitute  a 
good-sized  town. 

Mr.  Feight  was  married  in  Wisconsin,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1862,  to  Miss  Eunice  Harries,  a 
native  of  Wales,  who  died  January  1,  1892,  in 
Dayton,  leaving  three  sons,  viz:  Alfred  G., 
of  whom  further  mention  is  made  in  a  bio- 
graphical notice  following  this;  John  E. ,  a  pav- 
ing contractor,  who  married  Miss  Bertha  Bru- 
ner,  and  is  now  the  secretary  of  the  Evening 
Press  association  of  Dayton;  and  George  Au- 
gustus, a  carpenter,  who  is  working  with  his 
father.  Mrs.  Feight,  the  mother  of  the  above- 
named  children,  was  an  exemplary  christian 
woman,  a  member  of  Christ  Episcopal  church, 
and  was  greatly  beloved  by  all  who  had  the 
privilege  of  her  personal  friendship. 

Mr.  Feight  has  been  quite  active  and  influ- 
ential in  political  affairs  in  the  city  and  county, 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  republican 
party  of  the  county  of  Montgomery,  and  served 
as  a  member  of  the  city  council  from  1876  to 
1882.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 

Alfred  Grant  Feight,  county  auditor  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  son  of  John 
G.  Feight,  mentioned  above,  was  born  in 
Platteville,  Wis.,  August  14,  1863,  and  was  a 
child  of  three  years  when  brought  to  Dayton, 
Ohio.  His  youthful  days  were  spent  in  the 
city  schools,  where  he  attained  the  seventh 
grade,  passed  through  the  high  school  and  also 
the  Miami  Business  college,  of  Dayton,  hav- 
ing in  the  meantime  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  be- 
came a  bookkeeper  in  the  wholesale  hardware 
store  of  Tischer  &  Reisinger,  in   Dayton,  re- 

19 


mained  there  three  years,  and  then  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building,  a  business  which  he 
has  followed  for  ten  years.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  by  the  republicans  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  city  council,  and  in  1895  was  elected 
as  county  auditor.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order. 

Alfred  Grant  Feight,  in  1886,  married  Miss 
Lucy  Webber,  a  native  of  Dayton  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Webber,  a  respected  contractor 
and  builder.  Mrs.  Feight  is  a  highly  accom- 
plished woman,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
her  native  city,  and  is  to-day  an  ornament  to 
the  social  circle  in  which  she  moves. 


VORUS  E.  HALL,  member  of  the  John 
F.  Hall  Coal  company,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Jackson  county, 
Ohio,  September  2,  1861.  His  par- 
ents were  John  F.  and  Amanda  (Stevenson) 
Hall,  the  former  a  native  of  England,  and  the 
latter  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  the  parents 
of  six  children,  as  follows:  Isaac,  Vorus  E., 
William,  Charles,  Frank  and  Nettie. 

John  F.  Hall  came  from  England  to  the 
United  States  in  1836,  landing  in  New  York 
and  remaining  there  for  two  years.  In  1838 
he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Jackson  county, 
and  was  there  engaged  for  many  years  as  a 
miner  and  shipper  of  coal.  He  was  a  man  of 
enterprise,  with  correct  business  methods,  up- 
right and  honorable  in  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow-men.  His  death  occurred  in  January, 
1895,  when  he  was  sixty-eight  years  of  age. 
His  wife  still  lives  in  Jackson,  the  county  seat 
of  Jackson  county,  where  she  and  he  had  lived 
for  so  long,  and  where  she  now  has  many 
friends,  who  well  remember  Mi.  Hall  as  a  con- 
sistent Christian  and  as  a  firm  supporter  of  the 
Christian  church  of  that  place,  of  which  he  was 
a  deacon  for  many  years,  and  of  which  Mrs. 
Hall  is  still  a  member. 


572 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  paternal  grandfather  of  Vorus  E.  was 
a  native  of  England  and  was  born,  lived  and 
died  in  Derbyshire.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Isaac  Stevenson,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  son  of  a  German.  An  early  settler  in 
Jackson  county,  he  endured  all  the  hardships 
and  trials  of  pioneer  farm  life;  but  being  of  a 
remarkably  strong  constitution,  he  lived  to  be 
i oi  years  of  age. 

Vorus  E.  Hall  was  reared  in  Jackson  county, 
and  educated  there  in  the  district  schools. 
Early  in  his  youth  he  began  to  work  with  and 
for  his  father,  and  when  he  became  of  age  was 
given  by  his  father  an  interest  in  the  business 
in  which  he  was  engaged.  Ever  since  then  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  coal  business,  travel- 
ing for  his  father  for  the  eight  years  preceding 
1892,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Dayton  and 
took  charge  of  the  office  here.  He  and  his 
brothers  constitute  the  company  of  which  he 
is  president.  This  company  gives  employment 
on  the  average  to  about  500  men.  The  Day- 
ton office  was  opened  September  2,  1892,  and 
other  agencies  are  located  at  Toledo,  Detroit 
and  Ironton.  On  September  12,  1895,  the 
Dayton  office  was  made  general  headquarters, 
and  since  then  the  business  has  been  transacted 
mainly  from  this  city. 

On  December  25,  1882,  Mr.  Hall  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hannah  Griffith,  daugther  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  Griffith.  To  this  marriage 
have  been  born  fourchildren,  as  follows:  Annie, 
Frederick,  Gracie  and  McKinley.  Mr.  Hall  is 
a  member  of  Salt  Lake  lodge,  No.  416,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  Jackson,  Ohio,  and  also  of  the  United 
Commercial  travelers,  and  of  the  Elks.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  republican,  and  while  living  at 
Jackson  he  served  as  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil for  two  terms. 

Besides  his  coal  business  Mr.  Hall  is  inter- 
ested in  the  real-estate  business  and  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  at  Coalton  and  at 
Mount  Vernon    Furnace,  Ohio.      He   is  a  man 


well  and  widely  known  for  his  integrity  and 
honorable  business  career,  and  also  as  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families 
in  Jackson  county. 


*w    «*  ENRY  K.    HARKER,  M.  D.,  of  Day- 
l'\    ton,  was  born  in  Dayton,  September 
\     P    25,   1853,  and  is  a  son  of  William  J. 
and  Susanna  (Howell)  Harker.      The 
father  is   a   native  of  Kentucky,  having  been 
born   near    Paris,  in   that    state,  and  came    to 
Dayton  with   his  parents  when   he    was   about 
six  years  of  age.      In  1847  he  removed  to  Cin- 
cinnati, but  returned  to  Dayton  in  1895.    The 
mother  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  and  both  parents  are   now  residing   in 
Dayton. 

Dr.  Harker  was  reared  in  Cincinnati,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
read  medicine  in  Cincinnati  and  in  Denver, 
Colo.,  and  graduated  from  Pulte  Medical  col- 
lege, Cincinnati,  in  1876.  He  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Cincinnati  in  the  same 
year,  and  continued  in  the  practice  in  that  city 
until  April,  1894,  when  he  located  in  Dayton, 
where  he  has  since  continued  his  practice,  his 
success  being  marked  from  the  beginning. 


<V^~\  ENJAMIN  F.   HARGRAVE,  of  Day- 

l(^^  ton,  Ohio,  special  agent  of  the  Mu- 
JK<mJ  tual  Life  Insurance  company,  of  New 
York,  was  born  at  Ironville,  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Su- 
sanna Hargrave.  The  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Ohio  in 
1824,  settling  in  Ashland  county.  Benjamin 
F.  was  educated  in  the  common  country  vil- 
lage schools.  He  came  to  Dayton  in  1861  as 
clerk  in  the  offices  of  the  Cincinnati,  Sandusky 
&  Cleveland  Railroad  company.  In  1864  he 
went  to  Sandusky,  where  for  almost  a  year  he 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


573 


was  agent  for  the  same  company.  He  returned 
to  Dayton  in  the  latter  part  of  1865  and  took 
charge  of  the  company's  business  under  the 
administration  of  the  Cincinnati,  Sandusky  & 
Cleveland  and  Cleveland,  Columbus  &  Cincin- 
nati Railway  companies,  continuing  as  agent 
until  1884.  Mr.  Hargrave  is  interested  in  sev- 
eral enterprises  in  Dayton,  being  the  vice-pres- 
ident of  the  Woodsum  Machine  company,  pres- 
ident of  the  Boda  House  Furnishing  company, 
and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Clingman 
Gas  Machine  company. 

Mr.  Hargrave  served  for  a  short  time  as  a 
member  of  the  Dayton  city  council,  from  the 
First  ward,  resigning  from  that  body  on  ac- 
count of  the  demands  of  his  business  affairs. 
He  also  served  for  six  years  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  election  of  the  city. 


>y*OHN  W.  HARRIES  (deceased),  one 
Jj  of  the  pioneer  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
/•  ■  Dayton,  was  born  in  1783,  in  the  town 
of  Gebledewyll.  in  Csermarthenshire, 
Wales,  a  county  bordering  on  the  Bristol 
channel.  He  was  a  son  of  William  and  Cath- 
erine (Waters)  Harries,  both  natives  of  South 
Wales.  In  1810  John  W.  Harries  married 
Miss  Mary  Williams,  and  soon  afterward  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  his  birthplace. 
There  they  lived  until  1820,  and  there  four 
sons  and  one  daughter  were  born  to  them,  as 
follows:  Thomas,  John,  David,  William  and 
Ann.  In  the  fall  of  1823  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York,  where 
Mr.  Harries  embarked  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  grocery  business,  and  there  his  wife,  the 
mother  of  the  above-named  children,  died.  In 
1826  he  married  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Conk- 
lin,  of  Huntington,  Long  Island,  daughter  of 
Elkanah  R.  and  Rebecca  (Smith)  Conklin, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Huntington. 
The  Conklins  came   originally  from  England. 


To  this  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Harries  there 
were  born  in  New  York  city  Charles  and  Caro- 
line, and  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  Mary,  Rosetta  and 
Emma. 

In  the  spring  of  1829  Mr.  Harries,  with  his 
family,  came  to  Ohio,  arriving  in  Dayton  on 
July  5th  of  that  year,  on  the  canal  boat  Ex- 
periment, having  made  the  journey  from  Cin- 
cinnati by  canal.  The  eldest  son,  Thomas, 
remained  in  New  York,  continuing  his  educa- 
tion, and  the  family  that  arrived  in  Dayton 
consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harries  and  six  chil- 
dren. Shortly  after  reaching  Dayton  Mr. 
Harries  engaged  in  brewing,  notwithstanding 
his  means  were  limited,  as  well  as  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  business.  But  by  dint  of  perse- 
verance and  considerable  native  ability  he 
made  a  success  of  the  enterprise,  and  continued 
to  follow  it  actively  until  the  last  year  of  his 
life,  dying  February  22,  1873,  in  the  ninetieth 
year  of  his  age.  In  the  accumulation  of  prop- 
erty he  was  unusually  fortunate,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the  wealthy  men 
of  the  city.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  and 
marked  character,  and  although  he  enjoyed 
few  opportunities  for  intellectual  development 
in  his  youth,  yet  his  native  ability  and  shrewd- 
ness, together  with  good  common  sense  and 
an  intuitive  knowledge  of  men,  compensated 
for  his  want  of  scholarship  and  learning;  and 
it  is  possible  that  his  life  was  a  greater  success 
through  the  aid  of  natural  gifts  than  it  would 
have  been  through  acquired  educational  ad- 
vantages. He  won  the  friendship  of  men  by 
the  frank,  open  generosity  of  his  nature,  and 
governed  them  by  the  strength  of  his  will  and 
by  the  originality  and  force  of  his  character. 

The  great  secret  of  his  prosperity  was  the 
promptness  and  accuracy  of  his  decisions, 
which  quality  seemed  to  be  with  him  intuitive. 
While  others  reasoned,  and  argued,  and 
weighed  the  probabilities  of  a  case,  he  promptly 
resolved    and  acted.      Mr.    Harries  had  great 


574 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


power  of  concentration  and  of  self-control, 
while  his  self-reliance  was  unbounded,  and  he 
was  also  capable  of  the  most  rigid  self-denial. 
He  was  a  man  of  many  virtues.  With  a  heart 
tender  and  warm,  his  hand  was  ever  open, 
ready  and  willing  to  lend  aid  to  charitable  en- 
terprises, and  no  worthy  cause  ever  appealed 
to  him  in  vain.  By  reason  of  his  high  charac- 
ter, good  deeds  and  noble  example,  he  is  emi- 
nently deserving  of  a  foremost  place  in  the 
annals  of  self-made  men. 

His  second  wife  died  August  20,  1871.  Of 
the  children,  mention  maybe  made  as  follows: 
Thomas,  the  eldest  son,  who  remained  in  New 
York,  was  for  more  than  forty  years  a  pastor 
on  Long  Island.  He  is  now  deceased.  John, 
the  second  son,  is  one  of  the  well  known  and 
highly  honored  citizens  of  Dayton;  David  was 
for  years  engaged  in  the  brewing  business  in 
Cincinnati,  and  is  now  deceased;  William  is 
now  a  resident  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
and  Charles  resides  in  Dayton;  Ann  is  a  widow 
and  resides  in  Dayton;  Caroline  is  also  a  widow 
residing  in  Dayton;  Mary  is  dead;  Rosetta  is 
the  wife  of  John  H.  Gorman,  of  Dayton,  and 
Emma,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  William 
H.  Simms. 

The  following  words,  communicated  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  are  wprthy  of  reproduction 
in  this  connection: 

John  W.  Harries  is  dead,  and  the  places 
which  knew  him  so  long  and  so  well  shall  know 
him  no  more  forever.  His  friendly  face,  his 
familiar  form,  his  cordial  greetings,  will  never 
be  seen  or  heard  on  earth  again.  On  the  22d 
of  February,  at  1 :  10  p.  M.,  he  breathed  his  last. 
For  several  days  he  seemed  on  the  point  of 
dissolution,  but  such  were  his  amazing  tenacity 
of  life  and  strength  of  will  that  he  appeared  to 
set  death  itself  at  defiance.  Long  and  hard  as 
the  struggle  was,  however,  he  fell  asleep  at 
last,  and  a  strong  man  passed  away  as  peace- 
fully as  a  tired  infant  goes  to  rest  in  its  moth- 
er's lap.  Mr.  Harries  was  a  self-made  man. 
Born  in   Wales,   he  came   to   this  country  in 


early  manhood  in  quest  of  fortune,  relying 
upon  his  character,  his  energy  and  his  brains. 
His  career  strongly  illustrates  all  the  virtues, 
while  it  was  far  from  most  of  the  faults  which 
characterize  that  remarkable  class  of  brave 
men  who  rise  by  the  inherent  force  of  their 
own  native  and  unaided  powers.  He  earned 
his  money  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow,  and  yet  did 
not  unduly  estimate  its  value,  nor  pride  him- 
self upon  its  possession.  In  its  use  he  was  as 
liberal  as  a  prince.  Poverty  could  not  depress; 
fortune  did  not  spoil  him.  Wealth  made  him 
neither  ambitious  of  the  countenance  or  ac- 
quaintance of  the  rich  or  great,  nor  forgetful 
of  the  rights  and  feelings  of  the  poor.  In  all 
his  relations  or  dealings  with  men  he  was  sin- 
gularly just.  He  never  forgot  old  friends  or 
past  favors.  He  had  no  false  pride  and  never 
turned  his  back  on  a  poor  man.  He  was  in 
many  particulars  a  very  remarkable  person. 
Fixed  in  his  convictions,  he  was  in  no  wise  in- 
tolerant of  the  opinions  of  other  people.  With 
few  advantages  of  early  education,  native 
shrewdness,  fine' common  sense,  and  close  ob- 
servation supplied  the  place  of  scholastic  at- 
tainment. He  was  a  reader  of  men,  not  of 
books.  Without  public  position  of  any  sort 
he  was  the  best  known,  the  most  popular  and 
influential  man  in  the  community  in  which  he 
so  long  resided. 


aRIAH  C.  HARTRANFT,  one  of  the 
prominent  and  scholarly  members  of 
the  Dayton  bar,  was  born  in  Dela- 
ware township,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  near  the  village  of  Dewart.  From 
the  age  of  five  years  until  he  was  nine  years  of 
age,  he  attended  public  and  private  schools, 
and  for  two  years  after  that  he  worked  on  the 
farm  in  summer  and  attended  common  school 
in  winter.  He  then  attended  Dewart  academy 
regularly  until  February  9,  1861,  soon  after 
which  date  he  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  in 
company  D,  Seventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry, 
and  served  with  this  regiment  in  the  western 
armies  until  the   close   of  the   war.      He  was 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


575 


mustered  out  of  service  at  Macon,  Ga.,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1865,  as  major  of  the  First  battal- 
ion of  the  regiment.  He  was  a  true  and  faith- 
ful soldier  all  through  the  war,  ever  ready  to 
perform  any  duty,  no  matter  how  dangerous 
or  unpleasant. 

In  January,  1866,  he  re-organized  the  De- 
wart  academy,  and  taught  school  six  months, 
until  the  trustees  found  a  teacher  with  sufficient 
"book  learning,"  to  carry  it  on.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1866,  he  entered  Dickinson  seminary  at 
Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  continued  a  student 
there  three  years,  and  in  1870  removed  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Upon 
arriving  in  Dayton,  Maj.  Hartranft  entered 
the  office  of  John  Scott  and  read  law  under 
his  instruction.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  October  15,  1871,  and 
formed  a  partnership  May  18,  1872,  with  Lewis 
R.  Pfoutz,  under  the  firm  name  of  Pfoutz  & 
Hartranft,  which  firm  continued  in  existence 
until  the  death  of  the  senior  member,  in  May, 
1892.  On  May  23, 1892,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Daniel  H.  Pfoutz,  a  son  of  his  for- 
mer partner,  under  the  old  name,  and  this 
firm  continues  at  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Hartranft  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard  post,  G. 
A.  R.,  and  of  the  Veteran  legion.  He  is  rec- 
ognized by  his  professional  associates  and  by 
a  large  body  of  clients  as  a  man  of  ability  and 
learning,  amply  deserving  of  the  success  which 
attends  his  practice  of  the  law. 


>-j»AMES  OTTO  HARTSHORN  stands 
■  among  the  leading  photographers  of 
(%  1  Dayton,  and  may  be  classed  as  among 
the  prominent  business  men  of  this 
city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  well-known  firm 
of  Anderson  &  Hartshorn,  whose  photographic 
studio,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Main  streets, 
is  equipped  with  the  most  approved  modern 
mechanical   and  art  accessories,  for  both  por- 


traiture and  commercial  photography,  as  well 
as  for  the  work  in  crayon,  India  ink,  water 
colors,  pastel,  etc. 

Mr.  Hartshorn  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  8th  of  August,  1869.  While 
quite  young  he  was  deprived  of  his  parents, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  he  found  an  abiding 
place  in  the  homes  of  various  friends,  being  a 
lad  of  but  thirteen  years  at  the  time  when  he 
entered  the  serious  conflict  of  life  upon  his 
own  responsibility.  He  was  employed  on  a 
farm  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  availing  himself  of  the  limited  educa- 
tional advantages  afforded  by  the  district 
schools.  At  the  age  last  mentioned  he  came 
to  Dayton  and  for  a  short  time  was  employed 
in  a  cotton-batting  factory. 

Having  a  predilection  for  photographic 
work,  in  February,  1888,  he  entered  a  studio 
in  Dayton  and  for  eighteen  months  applied 
himself  zealously  to  familiarizing  himself  with 
the  intricate  processes  of  successful  photog- 
raphy. At  the  end  of  this  time  he  secured  a 
position  in  the  studio  of  Hollinger,  the  Dayton 
photographer,  under  whose  effective  direction 
he  prosecuted  his  technical  study  and  labor  for 
nearly  five  years.  On  the  1st  of  February, 
1894,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  F. 
Anderson,  and  they  opened  their  present  stu- 
dio, at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Main  streets, 
where  they  have  built  up  a  most  successful 
business,  by  reason  of  their  superior  produc- 
tions and  their  unvarying  courtesy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hartshorn  is  a  member  of 
the  prohibition  party.  In  his  religious  affilia- 
tions he  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Baptist 
church.  In  connection  with  his  business  in- 
terests he  holds  a  membership  in  the  state 
association  of  photographers,  taking  a  lively 
interest  in  its  affairs. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hartshorn  was  sol- 
emnized on  the  19th  of  March,  189 1 ,  with 
Miss  Ella   M.    Huesman,   of    Dayton.      They 


576 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


became  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely: 
Howard  F.,  Grace  and  Ethel,  the  last  named 
being  deceased. 


%*/^\  ENJAMIN  F.  HATHAWAY,  livery- 
lf*^  man,  of  No.  309  East  Second  street, 
J^9  Dayton,  is  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Sarah 
(Jameson)  Hathaway,  and  a  native 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  born  September 
2,  1841. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Benjamin  Hath- 
away, was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but  early 
came  to  Ohio,  settled  in  Warren  county,  and 
there  reared  a  family  of  ten  children.  Elijah 
Hathaway,  father  of  Benjamin  F.,  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
and  there  married  Sarah  Jameson,  a  native  of 
the  same  county.  Soon  after  this  marriage 
Elijah  Hathaway  and  wife  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county  and  settled  near  Brookville,  on  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  which  they  passed  the 
greater  part  of  their  lives,  Mr.  Hathaway  pur- 
suing his  vocation  of  agriculturist.  He  died 
at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary 
Dunkan,  in  Harveysburg,  Warren  county,  in 
the  year  1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
His  widow  survived  until  1S94,  when  she  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  To  them 
two  children  were  born — Mary,  wife  of  Martin 
V.  Dunkan,  now  of  Dayton,  and  Benjamin  F., 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch. 

Benjamin  F.  Hathaway  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county.  After  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  was  engaged  for  some  time 
in  the  sale  of  lightning  rods,  and  then  for  nine- 
teen years  was  engaged  in  saloon-keeping  in 
Dayton.  Selling  his  place,  he  purchased  the 
livery  equipment  of  Renner  &  Long,  and  has 
since  been  doing  a  general  livery  business. 

In  1874  Mr.  Hathaway  married  Miss  Mary 
Blackburn,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Blackburn, 


of  Dayton,  and  this  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  one  child,  Maud.  The  family  residence 
is  at  No.  210  Brabham  street.  In  politics  Mr. 
Hathaway  is  a  republican;  as  a  business  man 
he  is  enjoying  the  success  which  is  earned  by 
diligence  and  close  attention  to  the  demands 
of  the  public. 


ar 


ILSON  S.  HAWKER,  one  of  the 
most  active  young  business  men  of 
Dayton,  was  born  June  14,  1853. 
He  is  now  the  head  of  the  Dayton 
Pattern  &  Model  works,  located  at  the  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Saint  Clair  streets,  the  com- 
pany having  been  organized  in  January,  1896, 
by  Wilson  S.  and  Frederick  Hawker.  He  is 
a  son  of  Emanuel  and  Mary  J.  (Gerlaugh) 
Hawker,  both  of  whom  are  living  in  Dayton. 
The  Hawker  family  is  of  German  descent  and 
is  located  principally  in  Ohio,  having  come 
originally  to  this  state  from  Pennsylvania.  At 
the  early  founding  of  Dayton  three  brothers 
came  to  Ohio,  their  names  being  Frederick, 
Adam  and  Abraham,  and  established  the 
Hawker  settlement  some  six  miles  from  Day- 
ton. Adam  Hawker  was  a  minister  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  to  which  he  de- 
voted his  life,  and  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent ministers  of  that  denomination  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  Abraham  and  Frederick 
were  farmers. 

Frederick,  the  grandfather  of  Wilson  S., 
was  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Perry,  Simon,  Emanuel,  Martin,  Rebecca,  and 
two  other  daughters.  Emanuel  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing until  thirty-five  years  of  age,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Dayton,  and  became  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  on  Fourth  street,  continuing  in 
this  occupation  for  a  number  of  years.  Re- 
moving to  Illinois  he  lived  there  for  a  short 
time  and  then   went   to    Wisconsin,    where  he 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


577 


engaged  in  farming.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a 
family  of  four  children,  as  follows:  Murray 
W. ;  Cora  M.,  deceased;  Wilson  S.  and 
Louella. 

Wilson  S.  Hawker  was  reared  in  Dayton, 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  entered  the  service  of  the  Smith  & 
Vaile  company,  where  he  acquired  the  trade 
of  patternmaker.  Here  he  remained  for  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  went  to 
Springfield,  and  was  employed  by  the  Cham- 
pion Agricultural  works  for  some  fourteen 
months  as  patternmaker.  Returning  to  Day- 
ton, he  worked  for  the  John  W.  Stoddard 
Manufacturing  company  for  about  a  year. 
After  spending  a  few  months  in  traveling  in 
the  east,  he  located  at  Norwalk,  Conn.,  where 
he  passed  a  year  in  the  employ  of  the  Ray- 
mond Foundry  company.  Going  from  Nor- 
walk to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  he  spent  some  seven 
years  there,  engaged  with  four  different  con- 
cerns, among  which  were  the  Abraham  Cox 
Stove  company,  and  the  Neafie  &  Leary  Ship 
Building  company.  He  was  for  a  time  man- 
ager of  the  pattern  department  of  the  Barr 
Pumping  Engine  company,  and  then  with  the 
Eynon-Evans  Manufacturing  company  in  the 
same  capacity,  returning  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
January,  1895.  During  1895  Mr.  Hawker 
was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  specialties, 
and  in  1896  he  added  to  his  business  the  man- 
ufacture of  patterns  and  models,  forming  the 
industry  of  which  he  is  now  the  head.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  progressive  young  business 
men  of  Dayton,  and  has  three  patented  spe- 
cialties of  his  own  devising.  His  is  the  largest 
plant  of  the  kind  in  Dayton,  and  is  most  com- 
pletely equipped,  furnishing  employment  to  a 
goodly  number  of  men.  Mr.  Hawker  is  him- 
self a  practical  patternmaker  and  a  general 
mechanic,  and  his  particular  business  is  a  val- 
uable addition  to  the  little  manufacturing 
world    that    comprises    Dayton.       Frederick 


Hawker  retired  from  this  firm  on  July  1,  1896, 
leaving  Wilson  S.  as  sole  proprietor.  Mr. 
Hawker  was  married  July  19,  1887,  to  Miss 
Lois  E.  Bouton,  of  Ansonia,  Conn.,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children,  viz:  Chester  B.  and 
Roland  G.  He  is  an  attendant  upon  the  serv- 
ices of  the  Baptist  church,  and  is  known  as  a 
business  man  and  a  citizen  of  high  integrity. 
As  will  be  seen  by  the  reading  of  this  brief 
sketch,  Mr.  Hawker  is  one  of  the  men  who 
has  carved  out  success  for  himself,  beginning 
at  the  lowest  round  and  building  up  a  business 
of  his  own  which  is  now  one  of  the  prosperous 
institutions  of  Dayton.  He  is  still  a  young 
man,  and  having  had  large  experience  and 
possessing  unusual  ability  in  his  special  field  of 
invention  and  manufacture,  the  future  prom- 
ises for  him  still  wider  prosperity. 


at 


INFIELD  SCOTT  HAWTHORN, 
one  of  the  most  extensive  coal  deal- 
ers of  Dayton,  was  born  January  24, 
1850,  in  a  portion  of  the  city  not 
then  incorporated.  His  father,  John  Haw- 
thorn, an  early  settler  of  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  in  New  Carlisle,  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
May  19,  1822,  but  became  a  resident  of  the 
suburb  of  Dayton,  above  alluded  to,  when  a 
boy,  and  attended  school  with  Robert  W. 
Steele,  Wilbur  Conover  and  others,  who  after- 
ward became  prominent' among  the  business 
and  professional  men  of  the  city.  He  was  a 
plowmaker  in  his  early  days,  but  later  engaged 
in  various  kinds  of  occupations.  For  a  short 
time  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Federal  Hill,  Baltimore,  Md. , 
on  garrison  duty.  His  death  took  place  in 
Dayton,  November  30,  1889,  through  an  acci- 
dent of  which  further  mention  will  be  made. 
His  wife,   who,   prior   to   marriage,  was   Miss 


578 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Sarah  R.  Bertles,  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Pa.,  in  1 83 1,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
family  of  her  son  Winfield  S.  Of  the  family 
of  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Haw- 
thorn, Winfield  S.  is  the  eldest;  Clara,  now 
Mrs.  John  A.  Fisk,  resides  in  Toledo;  David 
died  in  July,  1873,  in  young  manhood;  Will- 
iam is  a  merchant  of  Dayton,  is  married,  and 
is  the  father  of  four  children;  Melissa  died  in 
February,  1873,  at  about  seventeen  years  of 
age,  and  Bertles  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six. 

Winfield  S.  Hawthorn  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Harrison  (his  native)  town- 
ship and  early  learned  the  carpenter's  trade. 
For  twenty  years  he  worked  at  his  trade,  and 
for  seven  years  of  this  time  was  a  contractor 
and  builder.  He  was  then  superintendent  of 
the  Dayton  school  buildings  for  three  years; 
he  next  acted  as  solicitor  for  the  Dayton  In- 
surance company  for  three  years,  and  in  June, 
1893,  ne  entered  upon  his  present  business,  at 
No.  222  South  Williams  street,  where  he  has 
established  a  large  and  lucrative  trade. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hawthorn  took  place 
in  1 88 1,  in  Dayton,  to  Miss  Allie  Black,  a  na- 
tive of  Peru,  Ind.,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Black,  who,  with  his  wife,  died  when  their 
daughter,  Allie,  was  but  a  child.  In  1889  a 
disastrous  gas  explosion  occurred  at  Mr.  Haw- 
thorn's residence,  through  which  every  mem- 
ber of  the  family,  save  two  small  children,  was 
more  or  less  injured;  one  child  was  instantly 
killed,  and  Mr.  Hawthorn's  father,  John  Haw- 
thorn, died  eventually  from  the  injuries  sus- 
tained at  the  time,  while  Mr.  Hawthorn  him- 
self was  so  badly  injured  that  he  will  carry 
scars  to  the  grave.  This  explosion  made  a 
complete  wreck  of  the  dwelling  and  utterly  de- 
stroyed its  contents. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawthorn  have  been  born 
six  children,  of  whom  William,  the  eldest,  was 
the  victim  of  the  explosion  above  alluded  to; 
the  others  are   still    under   the   parental    roof 


and  are  named  John,  Eugene,  Helen,  Plinney 
and  Ruth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawthorn  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Hawthorn  is  a  republican.  Fraternally,  he  is 
a  Freemason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias.  In  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  he  is  a  P.  G.  of  his  lodge  and  a  P.  C. 
P.  of  his  encampment  and  in  his  social  and 
business  relations  he  holds  the  well-merited  es- 
teem of  his  fellow-citizens. 


BRANK  CAREY  GARRETT,  secretary 
of  the  Odd  Fellows'  National  Bene- 
ficial association,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  this  city  June  8,  i860, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rose  (Winters)  Gar- 
rett, who  are  natives  of  southern  Pennsylva- 
nia. The  family  is  a  combination  of  several 
nationalities,  with  the  German  element  pre- 
dominating. 

John  Garrett,  the  father  of  Frank  C. ,  was 
born  on  a  farm  and  passed  his  early  life  there, 
afterward  learning  the  trade  of  carpenter. 
Rose  (Winters)  Garrett  was  born  and  reared 
in  Shippensburg,  a  beautiful  village  in  the 
Cumberland  valley  of  Pennsylvania.  After 
their  marriage  they  remained  for  some  years 
in  Pennsylvania,  removing  to  Ohio  in  1854 
and  locating  in  Dayton,  where  they  have  since 
resided.  John  Garrett,  after  being  employed 
by  several  firms,  associated  himself  with  the 
John  Rouzer  company  as  foreman  some  thirty 
years  ago,  and  has  ever  since  been  connected 
with  this  concern,  by  whom  he  is  highly  re- 
garded. In  politics,  he  has  been,  since  the 
organization  of  the  party,  a  republican,  but 
has  never  sought  political  preferment  of  any 
kind.  He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  five 
children:  John,  Alice,  Lillie,  Frank  C,  and 
Charles*  W. 

Frank  C.  Garrett  was  reared  in  the  city  of 


F.    C.    GARRETT. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


581 


Dayton  and  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
graduating  with  high  honors  from  the  high 
school  in  1879.  Soon  afterward  he  devoted 
his  time  to  teaching  music,  to  which  he  has 
given  much  attention,  having  written  a  number 
of  very  fine  and  popular  instrumental  and  vocal 
compositions.  His  musical  abilities  have  won 
for  him  a  high  place  among  local  musicians, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  he  was  organist 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  Later  he 
held  the  same  place  in  the  Linden  avenue 
Baptist  church,  but  resigned  in  order  to  accept 
a  position  as  tenor  in  the  choir  of  the  Third 
street  Presbyterian  church.  This  latter  posi- 
tion he  was  compelled,  because  of  multiplied 
official  duties,  to  resign. 

After  teaching  for  a  short  time  he  entered 
the  office  ol  D.  L.  Rike  &  Co.,  as  bookkeeper 
and  cashier,  remaining  with  them  until  July, 
1884,  when  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
for  about  a  year.  He  then  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  the  Odd 
Fellows'  National  Beneficial  association,  which 
position  he  filled  until  the  latter  part  of  1894, 
when  he  succeeded  to  the  secretaryship  of  the 
organization.  He  is  also  grand  scribe  of  the 
grand  encampment,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Ohio — in 
both  of  these  offices  succeeding  James  Ander- 
ton.  Mr.  Garrett's  politics  are  republican  and 
of  a  pronounced  character.  Since  1885  his 
time  has  been  devoted  entirely  to  secret  society 
work,  in  its  many  phases,  and  in  this  direction 
he  seems  to  have  a  peculiar  aptitude.  He  has 
been  elected  to  numerous  positions  of  trust  and 
honor  in  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  to  which 
his  time  is  devoted,  and  is  at  present  repre- 
senting his  district  in  the  grand  lodge  for  the 
second  term.  He  is  a  member  of  Montgomery 
lodge,  No.  5;  Dayton  encampment,  No.  2; 
canton  Earl,  No.  16,  P.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  Iola  lodge,  No.  83,  K.  of 
P. ;  of  Mystic  lodge,  No.  405,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  and 
of  Unity  chapter,  No.  16.      He  is  a  member  of 


Dayton  lodge,  No.  58,  B.  P.  O.  of  E. ;  a  charter 
member  of  Gem  City  senate  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Ancient  Essenic  order  and  of  kremlin  Mos- 
cow, Imperial  Order  of  Muscovites,  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio;  and  also  has  the  honor  of  being 
chosen  as  a  permanent  representative  to  the 
supreme  kremlin,  I.  O.  M. 

Mr.  Garrett  was  married  June  28,  1888,  to 
Miss  El-Fleda  Houser,  a  native  of  Troy,  Ohio, 
to  which  union  two  children  have  been  born — 
Earle  and  Edythe.  As  members  of  society, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garrett  are  held  in  high  esteem. 


*-|-»  EMUEL  E.  HECKER,  M.  D.,  phy- 
r    sician  and  surgeon,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 

^^  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
November  14,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  H.  and  Catherine  (Eshelman)  Hecker, 
the  latter  of  whom  is  now  deceased  and  the 
former  is  a  resident  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa. 
On  his  father's  side  of  the  family  Dr.  Hecker 
is  of  German  descent.  The  family  has  for  sev- 
eral generations  furnished  members  of  the 
learned  professions.  John  H.  Hecker  was 
himself  a  physician,  but  is  now  retired.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  children 
as  follows:  Jacob  K.,  a  chemist  of  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.;  David  F.,  an  attorney-at-law  of 
Lebanon,  Pa. ;  Samuel,  a  baker  of  Reading, 
Pa.;  John  H.,  a  practicing  physician  of  Leb- 
anon, Pa.;  Lemuel  E. ;  George,  a  musician  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Grant  and  Lucinda,  living 
at  home,  and  one  now  deceased. 

Lemuel  E.  Hecker  was  educated  in  public 
and  high  schools.  After  spending  some  years 
prospecting  in  California,  he  studied  medicine 
with  his  father,  who  was  in  the  active  practice 
of  medicine  some  forty-five  years.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  the  Franklin  College  of  Medicine 
at  Philadelphia.  Lemuel  E.  Hecker  graduated 
from  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery  at  Cincinnati,  as  a  member  of  the  class 


582 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


of  1885,  and  first  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Lafayette,  Ind.,  but  owing  to 
an  accident  to  his  wife  he  was  obliged  to  give 
up  his  practice  and  to  travel  with  her  abroad 
for  the  benefit  of  her  health.  She,  however, 
died  in  1888,  and  after  her  death  Dr.  Hecker 
located  in  Dayton,  where  he  has  established 
himself  permanently  and  successfully  as  a  gen- 
eral practitioner. 

Dr.  Hecker  is  a  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  Medical  society  and  of  the  Ohio 
state  Medical  association.  His  first  wife  was 
named  Mary  Ross.  By  her  he  had  one  child, 
Lee  Addison.  He  was  married  subsequently 
to  her  death,  in  1888,  to  Miss  Catherine  Joe, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio.  Both  he  and  his  present 
wife  are  members  of  the  Memorial  Presbyte- 
rian church,  which  was  organized  as  a  New 
School  Presbvterian  church  in   1868. 


k/^\  OLLA  O.  HEIKES,  one  of  Dayton's 
I  ^Z  representative  citizens,  is  a  native  of 
\  P  this  city,  and  was  born  December  25, 
1856,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
Heikes,  and  was  here  reared  to  manhood,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  city  public  schools, 
and  at  the  Smithson  college,  at  Logansport, 
Ind.,  and  also  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  Going 
hence  to  Nebraska  he  for  sometime  conducted 
a  cattle  ranch,  and  then  went  to  Utah,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  same  occupation.  After 
five  years  of  this  life  he  returned  to  Dayton, 
and  became  associated  with  his  father  until 
1886  in  the  nursery  business,  to  which  he  had 
been  reared.  For  the  next  three  years  he 
acted  as  advertising  agent  for  the  La  Fevre 
Arms  company;  was  then  with  the  Hunter 
Arms  company  for  three  years,  and  then  be- 
came salesman  for  the  Winchester  Repeating 
Arms  company,  his  territory  embracing  the 
whole  of  the  United  States.      He   had   himself 


always  been  fond  of  a  gun,  and  began  practice 
in  its  use  at  the  early  age  of  five  years. 

In  1879  Mr.  Heikes  entered  the  lists  as  a 
crack  shot,  and  at  Brownville  took  his  first 
prize  at  trap  shooting,  where  he  made  the  sec- 
ond best  average  in  a  class  of  forty  competi- 
tors; at  Corry,  Pa.,  in  1889,  he  broke  181 
straight  targets,  following  this  record  on  the 
next  day  with  170  straight.  In  1893,  at  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  he  broke  500  targets  thrown  from 
five  traps,  using  three  double-barreled  guns 
and  loading  the  same  himself,  in  thirty-seven 
minutes  and  forty  seconds.  He  has  made  over 
a  dozen  runs  of  over  100  consecutive  shots 
without  a  miss,  and  at  an  exhibition  at  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.,  in  1896,  broke  100  targets, 
thrown  from  five  traps,  in  four  minutes  and 
thirty  seconds.  These  are  but  a  few  examples 
of  his  wonderful  dexterity  as  a  marksman,  and 
his  home  is  adorned  with  many  valuable  tro- 
phies won  at  shooting  tournaments.  For  the 
past  ten  years  he  has  devoted  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  this  line  of  skill  and  sport,  having  ap- 
peared in  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  United 
States,  and  has   everywhere  been  triumphant. 

In  1890  Mr.  Heikes  was  chosen  by  the 
United  States  Cartridge  company  as  one  of  ten 
experts  to  travel,  advertise  and  shoot  against 
all  competitors  in  forty  of  the  largest  cities  in 
the  country,  and  during  the  entire  tour  Mr. 
Heikes  never  missed  an  engagement.  In  1891 
he  made  his  first  record,  making  450  targets 
in  fifty-two  minutes  and  fifty  seconds,  and  be- 
ing the  first  ever  to  reach  such  a  score;  April 
9,  1892,  he  surpassed  this  achievement,  break- 
ing 500  targets  in  forty  minutes  and  forty 
seconds;  and  February  22,  1894,  he  broke  500 
targets  in  thirty-seven  minutes  and  fifteen  sec- 
onds. These  three  feats  have  never  been  ex- 
celled and  all  were  accomplished  with  the  Win- 
chester gun.  At  Lexington,  Ky. ,  in  1893,  he 
made  114  straight;  at  the  Eureka  Gun  club 
contest,  Chicago,  in  April,   1895,  he  made  117 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


583 


straight;  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1893, 
he  made  100  straight.  At  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
January,  1894,  he  made  468  hits  out  of  a  pos- 
sible 500;  at  Hamilton,  Ont.,  in  January,  1894, 
he  made  twenty  live  birds  and  155  targets — 
a  total  of  175  straight.  At  Chicago,  May  18, 
1894,  in  the  gold  cup  championship  of  Amer- 
ica, he  scored  eighty-one  out  of  a  possible  100, 
but  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  for  the  state  cham- 
pionship cup,  had  scored  forty-nine  in  a  possi- 
ble fifty.  At  Elwood,  Ind.,  June  24,  1894, 
he  made  a  straight  run  of  fifty;  June  27,  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  he  made  100  at  unknown 
angles  and  at  Chattanooga,  September  19, 
made  137  straight.  His  record  for  1895  is  in 
keeping  with  his  previous  achievements.  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1896,  he  made  the  world-beating 
record  of  100  targets  in  four  minutes  and 
twenty  seconds.  Afterward,  at  an  exhibition 
at  the  same  place  (Indianapolis,  Ind.)  of  the 
Limited  Gun  club,  of  rapid  shooters,  targets 
were  thrown  up  by  hand — first  two,  then  four, 
then  six — but  he  broke  all  before  reaching  the 
ground.  Mr.  Heikes  has  won  for  himself  a 
world-wide  reputation  as  a  marksman,  and  the 
people  of  Dayton  follow  his  career  with  inter- 
est, knowing  that  his  upright  character  and 
strict  integrity,  no  less  than  his  wonderful  skill 
in  his  unique  profession,  reflect  credit  upon  his 
native  city. 

Mr.  Heikes  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  .of 
Pythias.  On  January  12,  1881,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Cora  L.  Warbinton,  daughter  of 
John  Warbinton,  one  child,  Hprace  W.,  be- 
ing born  to  the  marriage  in  1881,  and  he  and 
family  reside  at  No.  304  Grafton  avenue. 


>-j*OHN  HOBAN  is  president   of   the   city 

A      council  of  Dayton,  and  foreman  of  the 

/•  1      brass  foundry  of  the  Buckeye  Iron  & 

Brass    works,    a    business    which    was 

established  in  1844,  in  a   small  way,  by    Geo. 


W.  Hoglen  and  W.  H.  Pease.  Mr.  Hoban's 
father,  Patrick  Hoban,  died  about  1878. 

John  Hoban  was  born  in  Dayton,  May  31, 
1857,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
and  parochial  schools  of  this  city.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  years  he  left  school  and  went  to 
work  for  the  Dayton  Gauge  company.  After 
some  time  he  became  engaged  in  trimming 
carriages,  and  continued  this  line  of  work  for 
about  five  months.  Not  being  satisfied  with 
this  occupation,  he  became  an  employee  with 
the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass  works  as  cleaner  of 
castings,  and  after  a  time  became  a  core- 
maker  and  at  last  a  molder.  After  serving 
four  years  at  the  molder's  trade  he  was  made 
foreman  of  the  shops,  a  position  which  he  has 
since  held  continuously  for  eighteen  years, 
making  a  period  of  twenty-five  years  of  un- 
broken employment  in  one  establishment. 
This  fact  alone  speaks  volumes  for  the  effi- 
ciency, faithfulness  and  skill  of  Mr.  Hoban  in 
a  place  of  trust  and  responsibility.  When  he 
began  working  for  this  company  there  were 
but  one  molder  and  two  boys  employed,  while 
at  the  present  time  there  are  sixty  men  in  the 
shops,  all  under  his  supervision. 

Mr.  Hoban  was  married  in  October,  1881, 
to  Mary  Mescher,  of  Dayton,  and  to  them 
there  have  been  born  seven  children,  all  sons, 
six  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Charles, 
John,  William,  Edward,  Albert  and  Harry. 
The  other  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hoban  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church,  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  of  the  Knights  of  St.. 
John,  and  of  the  National  Union. 

In.  the  spring  of  1891  Mr.  Hoban  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Day- 
ton from  the  Fourteenth  ward  as  a  democrat. 
In  1893  he  was  elected  from  the  Seventh 
ward  and  in  1895  was  re-elected  from  the 
same  ward.  He  was  chosen  president  of  the 
council  in  1895,  ar>d  is  now  filling  that  honora- 
ble position  with  credit  and  ability. 


584 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Hoban's  long  period  of  service  with 
the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass  works,  his  repeated 
elections  to  the  city  council,  and  finally  his 
elevation  to  the  presidency  of  that  body,  are 
all  indicative  of  a  strong  personality,  of  thor- 
ough integrity  and  of  a  persistant  devotion  to 
principle,  that  are  alike  admirable  and  valuable 
to  the  community  at  large. 


^""V'AMUEL  FLETCHER  GEORGE, 
*^^^j*    M.  D.,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,    was  born  in 

K.  j  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  on  February  16,  1843. 
Dr.  George's  paternal  grandfather 
was  Lemuel  George,  who  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  come  to  America.  He  was  a  native 
of  Wales,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's  trade, 
and  was  married.  Upon  coming  to  the  United 
States  he  located  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
established  a  large  tannery,  and  accumulated 
quite  a  fortune.  He  was  an  Episcopalian  in 
religion.  To  Mr.  George  and  wife  a  son  and 
daughter  were  born — Lemuel  and  Margaret. 
Lemuel  George  (the  younger),  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  Febru- 
ary. l799-  He  received  a  collegiate  education, 
became  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  followed  that  calling  all  his  life,  filling  pul- 
pits in  Albany,  Seneca  Falls,  Ithaca,  Geneva, 
Elmira,  Horseheads,  Corning,  Bath,  Syracuse 
and  Oswego  and  other  cities,  all  in  central 
New  York.  He  was  an  eloquent  pulpit  orator, 
strong  and  earnest,  with  great  power  to  move 
his  congregation.  He  was  an  extemporaneous 
speaker,  full  of  magnetism,  and  met  with  won- 
derful success  all  through  his  ministerial  work. 
He  was  married  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  to  Rhosilla 
Lowell,  who  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  in 
1 801,  a  daughter  of  Simon  and  Cynthia 
Lowell,  and  a  cousin  of  the  poet,  James  Rus- 
sell Lowell.  Her  mother  was  Cynthia  Stone, 
who  was  a  sister  to  the  mother  of  Gen. 
Benjamin  Butler.      Through  the  Stone  family, 


Vice-president  Arthur  was  a  cousin  to  our  sub- 
ject; thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Dr.  George  was 
a  second  cousin  to  several  of  our  most  distin- 
guished men,  including  Gen.  J.  B.  Stone,  late 
of  Detroit,  and  others.  The  father  of  Dr. 
George  died  on  July  15,  1872,  at  Seneca  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  to  which  city  he  had  retired.  The 
death  of  the  mother  occurred  in  Buffalo,  N. 
Y.,  in  February,  1892.  To  these  parents  the 
following  children  were  born:  William  L., 
Henry  S.,  Edward  and  Edwin  (twins),  Mel- 
vina  C,  Horace  C. ,  Elizabeth  E.,  J.  Russell, 
Charles  W.,  Mary  H„  Samuel  F.,  and 
Francis  W. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Dr.  George  were 
spent  in  Elmira,  Corning,  Horseheads,  and 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  and 
and  then  entered  what  was  known  then  as  the 
Knoxville  academy,  in  Steuben  county,  N.  Y. 
He  was  next  at  the  Syracuse  high  school, 
making  his  home  in  that  city  with  an  uncle,  a 
minister.  About  two  weeks  after  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  upon,  young  George  obtained  money 
from  his  uncle  and  returned  to  his  home,  then 
in  Elmira,  his  intention  being  to  enlist.  On 
account  of  his  youth  (eighteen  years),  his  fa- 
ther would  not  give  his  consent  to  his  entering 
the  army.  The  young  fellow  was  a  natural 
tactician,  and  had  had  some  training,  and  it 
was  not  long  until  he  was  employed  by  the 
state  to  drill  recruits,  at  which  he  was  engaged 
during  all  of  1861.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he 
organized  a  company,  and  entered  the  service 
as  major.  His  enlistment  papers  were  made 
out  early  in  1862,  but  it  was  not  until  August 
of  that  year  that  his  father  reluctantly  signed 
them.  He  then  became  a  member  of  the 
Fiftieth  regiment  of  New  York  engineers. 
Until  December  of  the  above  year  he  was  on 
detail  at  Syracuse,  and  then  left  for  the  front, 
and  five  days  after  leaving  home  he  was  in  the 
battle   of   Fredericksburg,    Va.      He  was  with 


avCvvfi^ 


,  V> , 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


587 


the  army  of  the  Potomac  until  the  surrender  of 
Lee,  his  regiment  building  all  bridges  and 
throwing  all  pontoons  for  the  army.  Though 
his  clothes  were  often  perforated  by  bullets, 
he  did  not  receive  even  a  scratch  during  the 
service.  He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Fort  Barry,  Va.,  in  May,  1865.  Returning  to 
Elmira,  where  his  parents  were  then  residing, 
Dr.  George  remained  for  a  time,  and  then 
going  to  Syracuse  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, at  which  he  continued  for  about  three 
years.  He  then  entered  the  Reformed  college 
at  Macon,  Ga. ,  where  he  graduated.  In  1869 
he  gave  up  the  study  of  medicine  and  took  a 
position  as  clerk  in  a  wholesale  tobacco  and 
cigar  house  in  Syracuse,  entering  the  establish- 
ment at  a  salary  of  $12  per  week.  Thirty 
days  later  he  was  head  clerk  and  in  a  manner 
had  charge  of  the  business  of  the  house.  After 
holding  this  place  for  about  one  year,  he  left  it 
to  engage  in  the  grocery  business  in  an  en- 
deavor to  save  money  he  had  loaned  to  a  gro- 
cery dealer;  sixty  days  later,  however,  the 
grocery  firm  failed,  and  he  lost  all.  This  firm 
had  an  indebtedness  of  $2,250,  but  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  liquidated  the  entire  amount. 
While  in  this  business  he  read  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice.  His  next  venture  was  in 
the  purchase  of  a  lot  in  Syracuse  on  time;  he 
borrowed  money  and  erected  a  handsome  resi- 
dence, which  property  he  sold  at  a  good  profit 
and  thus  got  on  his  feet  again.  He  then  en- 
tered Hobart  college,  to  prepare  himself  for 
the  ministry,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1873.  During  the  summer  of  that  year  he 
began  the  publication  of  a  newspaper  known 
as  the  Anti-Monopolist,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  and  Richmond,  Va. ,  with 
headquarters  at  Buffalo.  During  this  time  he 
also  published  the  Buffalo  Sunday  Transcript. 
At  this  he  was  engaged  until  1875,  when  he 
sold  out  the  Transcript,  and,  going  to  Philadel- 
phia, took   charge   as   general    manager  of  the 


Philadelphia  Evening  Chronicle  newspaper. 
He  continued  as  general  manager  of  the  Chron- 
icle for  a  period  of  six  months,  during  which 
brief  time  he  canceled  an  indebtedness  of 
$80,000  against  the  plant,  and  sold  the  paper 
with  a  profit  of  $25,000  to  the  proprietors. 
Dr.  George  then  suggested  the  plan  of  a  morn- 
ing newspaper  to  Messrs.  McClure,  McLaugh- 
lin and  other  newspaper  men,  which  resulted 
in  the  Philadelphia  Morning  Times,  of  which 
paper  Dr.  George  became  the  manager.  In 
1876,  however,  he  established  the  Camden 
(N.  J.)  Tribune,  a  morning  paper,  which  was 
sold  three  months  later.  Dr.  George  then 
gave  up  newspaper  life  and  returned  to  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Philadelphia.  In  1877 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  went  to  York,  Pa.,  and  continued 
his  practice  for  a  year.  Then  returning  to 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  Dr.  George  practiced  until 
1882,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton,  where  he 
has  since  practiced.  In  1886  Dr.  George 
graduated  from  the  Eclectic  Medical  college, 
of  Cincinnati.  Since  coming  to  this  city  Dr. 
George  has  been  connected  with  various  en- 
terprises, among  them  the  National  Medicine 
Case  company,  of  Dayton,  of  which  he  is 
president. 

Dr.  George  is  a  speaker  of  considerable 
ability  and  note,  and  frequently  addressed 
audiences  on  the  line  of  social  economy  and 
other  subjects.  In  Independence  square,  Phil- 
adelphia, on  July  25,  1875,  he  addressed  fifteen 
thousand  people.  All  his  life  he  has  been  a 
warm  friend  and  supporter  of  the  people,  and 
has  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  lifting  up  his 
voice  in  their  behalf.  Dr.  George  was  a  re- 
publican until  1880  when  he  joined  the  green- 
back-labor party.  He  affiliated  with  the  dem- 
ocratic party  until  1892,  and  then  went  to  the 
people's  party.  All  this  time  he  never  changed 
his  views,  however,  and  was  always  found  with 
the  party    holding    those    views.      During  the 


:,.ss 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


campaign  of    1896  he    was  quite  active,    deliv- 
ering numerous  speeches. 

Dr.  George  was  married  in  May,  1875,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Abbott,  who  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Hezekiah 
Abbott,  a  contractor  and  builder  of  that  city. 
To  this  union  the  following  children  have  been 
born:  Charlotte  M.,  Benjamin  Butler  and 
William  Van  Buskirk.  Dr.  George  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  and  also  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  fraternities,  and 
of  the  Episcopal  church. 


a 


HARLES  HERBY,  architect,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  with  his  office  in  room  No. 
27,  Beckel  building,  was  born  in 
Northampton  county,  England,  April 
14,  1846,  and  in  1849  came  to  America  with 
his  parents,  William  and  Elizabeth  (Johnson) 
Herby,  who  settled  on  a  farm  seven  miles  west 
of  Dayton.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Herby  were  seven  in  number,  of  whom  three 
died  in  infancy,  the  eldest  in  England,  while 
two  boys  and  two  girls  lived  to  years  of  ma- 
turity. That  part  of  the  family  which  came  to 
America  was  on  the  ocean  twenty-one  days 
and  was  twenty-two  days  in  making  the  trip 
from  New  York  to  Dayton,  overland  traveling 
facilities  at  that  early  day  being  of  the  most 
meager  description.  The  family  home  in 
Montgomery  county  was  retained  until  1880, 
when  the  parents  removed  to  Newton,  Harper 
county,  Kan.,  where  the  father  died  in  1883, 
soon  after  which  Charles  brought  his  mother  to 
his  home  in  Dayton,  where  she  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1895. 

Charles  Herby  passed  his  earlier  years  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
enlisted  in  company  K,  Thirty-first  regiment, 
Ohio  national  guard,  and   performed    garrison 


duty  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  from  May  4,  1864, 
until  August  23,  of  the  same  year.  Upon  at- 
taining his  majority,  he  apprenticed  himself  to 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  learned  thor- 
oughly, and  followed  the  business  of  contractor 
and  builder  for  about  twenty  years  without  in- 
termission. About  the  year  1882  he  became  a 
resident  of  Dayton,  and  in  1890  decided  to  de- 
vote his  time  wholly  to  architectural  work  and 
is  now  ranked  among  the  most  successful  drafts- 
men in  the  city. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Herby  took  place,  in 
1871,  to  Miss  Sarah  C.  Cunningham,  a  native 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Emily  Cunningham,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  prominent  farmer,  and  is  now 
deceased.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Herby,  five  died  in  infancy.  Of  the 
five  survivors,  Daisy  is  her  father's  housekeeper; 
Walter  E.  is  a  clerk;  Roy  is  a  carriage-trim- 
mer, and  James  A.  Garfield  and  Wilbur  are  at- 
tending school.  In  politics  Mr.  Herby  is  a  re- 
publican and  his  religious  relations  are  with  the 
Raper  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 
he  is  a  class  leader,  and  is  at  present  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Mission  Sunday-school. 


HOMAS  BABBITT  HERRMAN,  the 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Baggott 
&  Herman,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  this  city  March  27,  1867,  and 
is  a  son  of  Ezra  A.  and  Margaret  (Edgar) 
Herrman,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Day- 
ton. Henry  Herrman,  the  father  of  Ezra  A., 
came  from  Germany  to  the  United  States 
when  he  was  quite  young.  He  was  for  many 
years  a  merchant  and  grain  dealer,  on  Main 
street,  in  Dayton,  and  was  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  Montgomery  county. 

Margaret  Edgar  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
D.  Edgar,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, and  who  was  one  of  its  prominent  citizens, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


589 


especially  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  when 
he  was  connected  in  many  ways  with  work 
for  the  relief  of  families  of  soldiers  absent  in 
the  army  of  the  Union.  He  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Edgar,  who  was  born  at  Staunton, 
Va. ,  February  8,  1770,  settled  in  Dayton  in 
1796,  at  about  the  time  the  founders  of  the 
town  arrived,  and  on  September  17,  1798, 
married  Mrs.  Margaret  Gillespie  Kirkwood,  a 
native  of  Philadelphia,  born  April  6,  1772. 
The  ancestors  of  Robert  Edgar  came  to  this 
country  from  Ireland  during  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  country,  and  located  in  Virginia, 
where  Robert  was  born.  He  first  came  to 
Dayton  on  a  surveying  expedition  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  government,  and  returned  to  Cin- 
cinnati, then  Fort  Washington,  or  perhaps  Lo- 
santiville,  but  within  a  short  time  came  back 
to  Dayton,  where  he  then  remained.  He  came 
overland,  the  other  settlers  for  the  most  part 
coming  by  boat  up  the  Miami  river,  He  built 
the  first  cabin  in  Dayton  for  Col.  George  New- 
corn,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  Wayne's  cam- 
paign against  the  Indians,  and  in  the  war  of 
1812.  This  first  log  cabin  stood  just  south  of 
the  original  location  of  the  Centennial  log 
cabin,  which  now  stands  in  Van  Cleve  park, 
on  the  river  bank,  and  which  Mr.  Edgar  also 
built  for  Col.  Newcom.  Mr.  Edgar  boarded 
with  Col.  Newcom,  paying  for  his  board  by 
furnishing  the  table  of  Newcom  Tavern  with 
a  deer  once  a  week,  and  shooting  the  deer  in 
the  swamps  near  by.  The  contract  for  build- 
ing the  second  log  cabin,  referred  to  above,  is 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Herrman.  Robert 
Edgar  also  erected,  about  1800,  the  first  saw- 
mill and  the  first  gristmill  in  Montgomery 
county,  and  himself  operated  them.  He  died 
February  25,  1853. 

Ezra  A.  Herrman,  the  father  of  Thomas  B. , 
was  a  tobacco  merchant  in  Dayton  for  many 
years,  and  is  still  living,  as  is  also  his  wife. 

Thomas  Babbitt  Herrman  was  educated  in 


the  public  schools  of  Dayton.  Leaving  school 
in  1883,  he  went  to  South  Dakota,  and,  with 
his  father,  engaged  in  farming  and  cattle  rais- 
ing until  1887,  when  he  returned  to  Dayton 
and  traveled  for  the  next  two  years  as  sales- 
man. In  1 89 1  he  began  reading  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Baggott,  read  for  about  a  year, 
and  again  went  on  the  road  for  a  period  of 
two  years.  Returning  to  Dayton  he  again 
took  up  the  study  of  the  law,  and  was  gradu- 
ated at  the  Cincinnati  Law  college  in  May, 
1895,  and  in  June,  1895,  became  a  partner  of 
Judge  Baggott  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

While  on  the  road  Mr.  Herrman  was  ap- 
pointed adjutant  of  the  First  battalion,  Third 
regiment,  O.  N.  G.,  in  June,  1893,  and  served 
during  the  miners'  riots  at  Wheeling  Creek,  in 

1894,  being  honorably  discharged   in  January, 

1895.  Mr.  Herrman  has  an  abundance  of 
energy  and  application  to  business,  and  doubt- 
less will  make  his  mark  in  the  profession  upon 
which  he  has  so  recently  entered. 


^y^VATRICK  HICKEY,  of  the  quarter- 
ly W  master's  department  of  the  National 
M  Military  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer 

Soldiers,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  March  17,  1840,  and 
when  a  babe  was  taken  by  his  parents,  John 
and  Bridget  (Hennessy)  Hickey,  to  the  city  of 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  taught  the  carpenter 
and  joiner's  trade  by  his  father,  and  while 
working  at  this  trade  he  enlisted  in  company 
I,  Twenty-first  New  York  volunteer  infantry, 
and  served  from  May  1,  1861,  to  May,  1863 — 
the  last  year  as  second  lieutenant,  in  command 
of  his  company — in  the  Fifth  army  corps, 
arrny  of  the  Potomac.  He  took  part  in  all 
the  duties  of  his  regiment,  which  were  of  a 
varied  character,  until  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  where  he  found  his  first  general  en- 


590 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


gagement,  under  Gen.  Pope,  in  the  latter  part 
of  August,  iS62.  Here  the  captain  and  first 
lieutenant  of  his  company  were  killed  and  Mr. 
Hickey  was  placed  in  command;  he  was  at  the 
battle  of  South  Mountain,  and,  under  Gen. 
George  B.  McClellan,  was  engaged  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Antietam,  September  17,  1862,  and  was 
there  wounded.  December  13,  1862,  he 
fought  under  Gen.  Burnside  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  where  about  13,000  Union 
soldiers  lost  their  lives.  On  being  mustered 
out  of  service,  Lieut.  Hickey  enlisted  in  the 
Sixteenth  New  York  cavalry  and  served  until 
the  ciose  of  the  war.  He  was  orderly  sergeant 
of  company  B,  and  his  duties  were  mostly  of 
a  special  character,  he  being  for  many  months 
under  the  control  of  no  commander  excepting 
the  secretary  of  war.  It  was  by  a  portion  of 
his  company  that  John  Wilkes  Booth,  the  as- 
sassin of  President  Lincoln,  was  subsequently 
captured.  He  was  present  at  the  grand  re- 
view at  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and  on  the  con- 
solidation of  his  regiment  with  the  Thirteenth 
New  York  cavalry  he  was  commissioned  an  of- 
ficer and  was  mustered  out. 

On  his  return  to  Buffalo,  Lieut.  Hickey 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  until  1882, 
when,  by  reason  of  his  wound  and  the  ravages 
of  time  on  his  general  health,  he  availed  him- 
self of  the  beneficent  provision  made  by  a 
grateful  country  and  entered  the  national  mili- 
tary home  at  Dayton.  Here  he  was  employed 
in  various  duties  until  the  past  two  and  a  half 
years,  when,  as  a  reward  for  his  commendable 
conduct  and  general  capability,  he  was  placed 
in  his  present  position  in  the  quartermaster's 
department. 

The  parents  of  Lieut.  Hickey  were  natives 
of  Ireland,  but  were  brought  to  America  in 
their  infancy.  They  were  married  in  Geneva, 
N.  Y.,  and  became  the  parents  of  six  sons, 
of  whom  four,  Thomas,  John,  William  and 
Patrick,  served  as  soldiers   in  the   Civil   war. 


Of  these,  Thomas  and  John  have  died  since 
the  close  of  that  struggle,  presumably  from  the 
infirmities,  incurred  while  in  the  service — and 
this  is'  thought  more  especially  to  have  been 
the  case  with  John,  who  had  been  for  many 
months  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville.  The  par- 
ents died  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  the  father's  death 
resulting  from  injuries  caused  by  a  fall.  Pat- 
rick Hickey  was  never  married.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Home  post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  politics 
is  a  life-long  republican.  He  is  a  man  of  high 
character  and  standing,  and  is  sincerely  re- 
spected by  each  and  every  inmate  of  the 
military  home. 


eMIL  C.  HAESELER,  the  well  known 
dealer  in  furniture,  carpets,  mattresses, 
oil-cloths,  etc.,  at  No.  137  East  Fifth 
street,  Dayton,  was  born  in  Cincin- 
nati August  16,  1850,  a  son  of  Ernest  and 
Louisa  (Gross)  Haeseler,  who  were  of  German 
birth,  but  came  from  Paris  to  America  in  1848. 
Ernest  Haeseler  was  a  cabinetmaker  of 
the  highest  class,  and  had  followed  his  calling 
in  Paris  for  seventeen  years  prior  to  his  com- 
ing to  the  United  States,  and  here,  in  1850,  he 
made  for  J.  M.  Brunswick  &  Bro.  the  first  bil- 
liard table  manufactured  in  Cincinnati,  and 
probably  the  first  one  made  in  any  part  of  the 
west.  He  came  to  Dayton  in  1880,  resign- 
ing his  position  with  the  Brunswick  Bros.,  and 
accepted  employment  at  the  Barney  &  Smith 
Car  works,  as  an  expert  cabinetmaker,  execut- 
ing all  the  fine  veneer  work  done  in  the  shops. 
His  wife  died  in  1882,  in  the  faith  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  They  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, born  in  the  following  order:  Emil  C, 
whose  name  opens  this  biography;  Anthony, 
superintendent  of  repairs  at  the  Amos  Whitely 
Machine  company,  Springfield,  Ohio;  August, 
of  the   firm  of  Irwin   &   Haeseler,    dry-goods 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


593 


merchants  on  West  Third  street,  Miami  City 
(Dayton);  and  one  child  that  died  in  infancy. 
The  father  had  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  since  1850;  he  was  also  a  member  of  the 
order  of  Druids,  and  in  religion  had  been  born 
and  reared  a  Catholic.  His  death  was  caused 
by  an  accident  which  befel  him  in  the  car 
works  at  Dayton,  March  2,  1894,  and  in  him 
Dayton  lost  one  of  the  most  artistic  wood- 
workers that  ever  entered  her  borders. 

Emile  C.  Haeseler  received    his  education 
in   the   common    and  intermediate  schools   of 
Cincinnati,  and  in  1862,  when  twelve  years  of 
age,  began   his   first    wage-earning  in  the  lab- 
oratory of  Dr.  Roback,  on   Hammond  street, 
during  his  vacation  from  school.      The  follow- 
ing  vacation,    1863,    he    worked   for  John   D. 
Sparks,  and    in    1864   entered    the   employ   of 
Carroll  &  Co.,  booksellers  and  stationers,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  great  fire  of  1865. 
He  next    tried  wood-carving,  but  disliked  the 
employment,  and   eight   months   afterward,  in 
1866,  entered  upon    an   apprenticeship  at   up- 
holstering, requiring   a   service  of   four  years, 
with   A.    C.    Richards,    No.     12    East   Fourth 
street,    Cincinnati.      Emile    worked  one  year 
as  a  journeyman,  and  in   May,   1871,  went  to 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind..  thence   to    Chicago,  where 
he  worked  for  Thayer  &  Tobey,  and  after  the 
great  fire  visited   some  of   the   western  towns, 
returning  to  Chicago  in  1872.      In  1874  he  re- 
turned to  Cincinnati  and  worked  for  the  Rob- 
ert   Mitchell    Furniture    company    until    July, 
1875,  and   then   came  to  Dayton  and   entered 
the  Barney  &  Smith  car  shops  for  a  two-weeks' 
stay.      He  was  prevailed  upon  to  return,  after 
an  absence  of  six  weeks,  and  was  given  charge 
of  the  upholstering  department,  which  position 
he  retained   for  upward  of  twenty  years,  mak- 
ing    many     advances    and     improvements     in 
the  class  of  work   under  his  charge,  and  being 
the  patentee  of  the   spring-edge  cushion,  now 

universally    adopted    by    railroad    companies. 
20 


In  1895  he  left  the  employ  of  the  Barney  & 
Smith  company  and  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  on  his  own  account;  but,  not  liking 
this,    he    three    months    later,    November    1, 

1895,  embarked  in  upholstering  at  Nos.  1129 
and  1 131  South  Wayne  avenue.      February  15, 

1896,  he  placed  a  large  and  varied  stock  of 
furniture  at  No.  137  East  Fifth  street,  occu- 
pying three  floors.  At  his  factory  he  turns  out 
every  style  and  shape  of  upholstery,  including 
sofas,  couches,  lounges,  mattresses,  etc. 

Mr.  Haeseler  is  a  stockholder  and  director 
in  the  Tivoli  Fruit  &  Land  company.  He  is 
a  member  of  Saint  John  lodge,  F.  &.  A.  M. ;. 
Unity  chapter,  Rose  Croix,  No.  18,  and  is 
past  chancellor,  K.  of  P.,  and  member  of 
Humboldt  lodge,  No.  58,  and  Humboldt  di- 
vision, No.  12,  uniform  rank,  K.  of  P.,  and 
was  the  representative  of  his  lodge  in  the 
grand  lodge  in  1893  and  1894.  He  is  also 
vice-president  of  the  Dayton  Gymnastic  club, 
and  a  great  admirer  of  all  athletic  and  field 
sports.  He  is  public-spirited  in  a  high  degree, 
is  a  tireless  and  energetic  worker  for  the  good 
of  the  community,  and  it  is  largely  due  to  his 
exertions  as  a  member  of  the  South  Park  Im- 
provement association,  that  this  part  of  the 
city  has  been  so  much  benefited  by  recent  pro- 
gressive measures.  In  politics  Mr.  Haeseler 
is  a  sound  republican. 

Mr.  Haeseler  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
June,  1878,  with  Miss  Jennie  Cramer,  of 
South  Wayne  avenue,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children — Charles  and  Ed- 
ward. Of  these,  Charles,  the  elder  son,  was 
born  February  12,  1879,  was  educated  in  the 
Dayton  public  schools,  and  also  graduated 
from  Wilt's  business  college  in  November, 
1895;  he  is  now  bookkeeper  for  his  father. 
Edward,  the  younger  son,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 20,  1880,  and  is  a  student  at  Saint  Mary's 
college,  of  Dayton.  The  family  have  their 
home  at  No.   108  South  Bonner  street,  and  are 


594 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


among  the  mcst  respected  of  the  residents  of 
Dayton.  Mrs.  Haeseler  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Baptist  church. 


>-j,°SEPH  E-  HIMES,  assistant  in  the 
M  wound-dressing  department  of  the  na- 
m  1  tional  military  home,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  March 
28,  1837,  his  parents,  Benjamin  and  Eliza 
(Townsend)  Himes,  being  natives  of  the  same 
county.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
Civil  war,  and  died  of  disease  contracted  while 
in  the  service,  and  the  mother,  who  had  been 
a  nurse  in  the  hospital  at  Philadelphia  during 
the  same  turbulent  period,  passed  away  at  her 
peaceful  home  in  Chester  county.  Of  their 
family  of  six  children,  a  son  and  daughter  are 
deceased;  of  the  living,  beside  Joseph  E. ,  his 
brother,  Eleazer,  served  eight  years  in  the 
marine  corps  of  the  United  States  and  fought 
through  the  whole  of  the  Civil  war;  James  was 
in  the  volunteer  army  and  served  also  through 
the  entire  Rebellion;  Townsend  was  an  emer- 
gency man  at  the  time  of  the  rebel  invasion 
under  Gen.  Lee. 

Joseph  E.  Himes  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  youth,  and  worked  at  the  trade  many 
years  afterward.  He  first  enlisted  April  18, 
1 86 1 ,  for  three  months,  in  company  G,  Twenty- 
second  Pennsylvania  infantry,  served  out  his 
term  on  guard  duty  in  Baltimore,  Md. ,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  August  7,  1861. 
Three  days  later  he  enlisted,  for  three  years, 
in  company  C,  Seventy-second  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  infantry,  and  served  the  entire  term 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  on  the 
Peninsula,  under  Gen.  McClellan,  and  fought 
at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  1862,  and  at  Seven 
Pines,  June  1.  At  the  battle  of  Savage  Sta- 
tion, June  29,  he  was  wounded  in  the  head. 
Joining  Pope,  the  regiment  took  part  in  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run;  then  followed  South 


Mountain,  Antietam  and  first  and  second  Fred- 
ericksburg; the  regiment  then  started  on  the 
Gettysburg  campaign,  where  it  participated  in 
the  second  and  third  days'  battles.  It  was  the 
corps  to  which  Mr.  Himes  was  attached  that 
received  the  historical  charge  of  Pickett's  men 
at  the  Bloody  Angle.  The  winter  of  1863 
was  spent  at  Brandy  Station,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1864  the  memorable  Wilderness  campaign 
was  begun,  in  which  Mr.  Himes  fought  in  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness  proper,  at  Spottsyl- 
vania.  Cold  Harbor  and  Petersburg.  At  the 
latter  point  the  term  of  enlistment  expired, 
and  the  Seventy-second  lef.t  the  trenches  and 
started  for  home. 

After  his 'return  from  the  field,  Mr.  Himes 
resumed  his  trade  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
and  this  he  followed,  in  its  various  branches 
and  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  until 
1 891,  being  thirteen  years  of  this  time  em- 
ployed in  the  Baldwin  locomotive  works,  of 
Philadelphia.  In  1878  he  was  sent,  with  thir- 
teen others,  to  Russia,  to  set  up  and  start 
forty  locomotives  that  had  been  sold  to  the 
government  of  that  country,  and  was  absent 
about  four  months. 

Mr.  Himes  was  married  in  Schuylkill  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  in  1 866,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Bausman, 
who  died,  in  Philadelphia  in  1880,  leaving  three 
sons — Pierson  G.,  Townsend  J.  and  Charles — 
all  machinists  and  all  residentsof  Philadelphia. 
In  May,  1891,  Mr.  Himes  came  to  the  sol- 
diers' home,  where  he  was  first  employed  in 
the  carpenter  shops,  but  for  the  past  two  years 
has  been  in  the  hospital  service.  He  is  a 
member  of  encampment  No.  82,  Union  Veteran 
League,  of  which  he  has  been  officer  of  the 
day  for  three  years,  and  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow. 
In  politics  he  is  a  life-long  republican,  and 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  McKinley  and  the 
sound  money  platform;  and  his  father  and 
brothers  were  members  of  the  same  political 
party.      In  religion  he  is    liberal   in    his  views, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


.7.1.-, 


and  while  he  was  reared  a  Baptist,  his  parents 
were  of  Quaker  stock.  Mr.  Himes  by  his  good 
qualities,  has  made  many  personal  friends 
since  he  has  been  an  inmate  of  the  disabled 
soldiers'  home. 


HLBERT  F.  HOCHWALT,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  A.  H.  Grim  Co., 
is  one  of  the  well-known  young  busi- 
ness men  of  Dayton.  He  was  born 
in  this  city  December  24,  1869,  and  is  the  son 
of  George  and  Theresa  (Lothammer)  Hochwalt. 
George  Hochwalt  was  born  in  Hesse-Darm- 
stadt,  Germany,  in  1823,  and  died  in  Dayton 
in  1894  after  an  honorable  business  career,  at 
the  ripe  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He  came 
to  America  with  his  parents,  Henry  and  Eva 
Hochwalt,  in  1833,  and  his  parents,  after  a 
short  stay  in  Baltimore,  came  to  Dayton, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives, 
dying  at  an  advanced  age.  Their  son  George 
remained  in  Baltimore  and  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade.  After  completing  his  appren- 
ticeship he  came  to  Dayton  in  1840  and  opened 
up  a  shop.  His  business  prospered,  and  in 
1844  he  was  the  first  to  put  in  a  stock  of  east- 
ern factory  shoes,  thus  establishing  the  first 
shoe  store  in  the  city.  He  was  in  the  shoe 
business  for  fifty  years,  and  for  forty-six  years 
conducted  the  leading  shoe  stores  of  Dayton, 
retiring  from  active  business  in  1890,  and 
dying  four  years  later.  The  deceased  was  al- 
ways a  devout  Catholic,  and  was  a  trustee  of 
Emanuel  congregation,  with  which  he  affili- 
ated during  his  residence  in  Dayton.  His 
wife,  who  is  still  living,  is  sixty-four  years  of 
age.  She  was  born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  second  wife  of  George  Hochwalt.  To  his 
first  marriage  five  children  were  born,  as  fol- 
lows: Henry,  of  Dayton,  a  traveling  shoe 
salesman;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Krebs,  of  Day- 
ton ;  George  W. ,  in   the   insurance  business  in 


Dayton;  John,  a  shoe  dealer  in  Chicago;  Miss 
Josephine,  residence  in  Dayton.  From  the 
second  marriage  there  were  also  five  children, 
viz:  Edward  A.,  secretary  of  the  Schwind 
Brewing  company,  of  Dayton;  Emma  J.,  wife 
of  F.  J.  Burkhardt,  of  Dayton;  Charles  O, 
shoe  dealer,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Albert  F.  and 
Dr.  Gustave  A.  Hochwalt,  of  Dayton. 

Albert  F.  Hochwalt  was  reared  in  this  city 
and  received  his  early  education  in  the  paro- 
chial schools.  When  he  was  thirteen  years 
old  he  entered  Saint  Mary's  institute,  where 
he  graduated  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He 
then  associated  himself  with  his  father  in  the 
shoe  business  until  1890.  After  this  he  was 
with  D.  C.  Arnold,  shoedealer,  until  1893, 
when  he  became  connected  with  the  A.  H. 
Grim  company,  and  in  1894  became  one  of 
the  members  of  the  company,  to  whose  busi- 
ness he  has  since  given  his  entire  attention. 
Albert  F.  Hochwalt  is  well  known'in  society 
circles,  being  a  member  of  Herman  court,  I. 
O.  F.,  No.  131 1 ;  also  of  A.  S.  C.  colony.  No. 
4.  He  was  married  September  7,  1892,  to 
Miss  Adele  Butz,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Til- 
lie  Butz.  They  have  two  children,  Bert  G. 
and  Cyril  E.  All  are  members  of  Emanuel 
Catholic  congregation. 


HEODORE  HOLLENKAMP,  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Dayton  Ale  brew- 
ery, was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
November  2,  1834,  a  son  of  Henry 
H.  and  Kate  (Gerling)  Hollenkamp,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years  he  came  to  America,  and  for  thirteen 
years  lived  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Here,  after 
working  for  some  time  at  any  available  employ- 
ment, he  found  permanent  occupation  in  the 
breweries  of  the  city  and  thoroughly  learned 
the  business.  He  then  went  to  Xenia,  where 
he  associated  himself  with  an  uncle  in  a  brew- 


596 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ery,  continuing  there  in  business  for  eleven 
years.  The  uncle  died  in  1871,  and  then  Mr. 
Hollenkamp  came  to  Dayton  and  has  ever 
since  lived  here. 

In  1885  Mr.  Hollenkamp,  with  John  Ale- 
schleger  as  partner,  established  the  Dayton 
Ale  brewery,  but  the  partnership  lasted  two 
years  only,  when  Mr.  Aleschleger  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Henry  Kramer,  and  this  association 
was  continued  until  July,  1895,  since  when 
Mr.  Hollenkamp  has  been  the  sole  owner. 
The  output  of  the  plant,  which  is  located  at 
the  corner  of  Brown  and  Hickory  streets,  con- 
sists exclusively  of  ale  and  porter,  with  a  pro- 
duction of  about  5,000  barrels  annually,  mostly 
consumed  in  Dayton. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hollenkamp  took  place 
in  Cincinnati,  November  22,  1870,  to  Miss 
Anna  Tepe,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  six  children, 
viz:  Anna,  Elizabeth,  Lena,  Katie,  Theodore 
and  Benjamin.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Emanuel  Catholic  church  of  Dayton,  and 
stand  well  in  the  esteem  of  the  community  in 
which  they  live.  Mr.  Hollenkamp  has  achieved 
a  creditable  success  in  business,  having  begun 
his  life  in  Cincinnati  without  a  dollar,  and 
being  now  one  of  the  solid  capitalists  of  Day- 
ton. He  is  broad-minded  and  open-hearted, 
ever  ready  to  give  assistance  to  the  needy  and 
to  aid  all  enterprises  for  the  public  good.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  democrat,  but  has  never 
been  a  seeker  of  public  office. 


^yry'ARREN  E.  HOOVEN,    M.  D.,  No. 
mm  1 60 1  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton,    is 

\JL/1        ;i  most  experienced  physi- 

cians and  surgeons  of  the  Gem  City. 
He  was   born    in    Montgomery    county,  Ohio, 
May  12,   1838,   a    son    of    John    and    Hooven 
McCahan)  Hooven,  both  now  deceased. 

John  Hooven  and  his  wife  were  natives  of 


Juniata  county,  Pa.,  and  when  newly  married 
came  overland  to  Ohio,  to  find  Dayton  a  small 
hamlet  of  but  few  houses,  a  store  and  a  black- 
smith shop.  Mr.  Hooven  purchased  a  tract 
of  160  acres  of  land  near  Brookville,  Clay 
township,  Montgomery  county,  and  this  he 
converted  into  a  productive  farm,  on  which  he 
and  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  life.  He 
became  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Clay  township, 
was  a  local  leader  in  public  affairs,  and  for  six- 
teen years  was  township  assessor.  Of  Scotch- 
Irish  extraction,  he  possessed  all  the  hardihood 
of  physique  and  mental  tenacity  of  purpose  of 
the  combined  races,  and  having  been,  in  his 
early  days,  a  school-teacher,  he  was  ever  an 
advocate  of  free  and  universal  education.  He 
and  his  wife  were  parents  of  children  as  fol- 
lows: Elliott  and  Eliza  Ann  died  in  early  child- 
hood; John,  a  coal-dealer,  died  in  Dayton 
about  the  year  1890;  Susan,  now  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  W.  B.  Marshall,  who  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh;  Frank  M.  is  a 
resident  of  Marshall  county,  Iowa;  Hannah  is 
the  wife  of  B.  H.  Reed,  of  Union  City,  Ind., 
and  the  youngest  is  Warren  E.,  whose  name 
opens  this  biography. 

Warren  E.  Hooven  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  for  five  years  was  him- 
self a  school-teacher.  He  read  medicine  un- 
der Dr.  Robert  Toby,  at  that  time  a  resident 
of  West  Baltimore,  Montgomery  county;  he 
next  attended  the  Cincinnati  college  of  Medi- 
cine and  Surgery  in  1859-60,  then  practiced 
with  his  preceptor  until  1865,  when  he  located 
in  Ansonia,  Darke  county — in  the  meantime 
attending  the  Miami  Medical  college  of  Cincin- 
nati, from  which  he  graduated  in  1871.  In 
1883  he  left  Ansonia  and  came  to  Dayton, 
where  his  professional  skill  has  gained  for  him 
a  large  list  of  patients. 

Dr.  Hooven  has  been  a  member  of  the  lo- 
cal board  of  United  States  pension  examiners 
since  August,   1893,  ar>d  is   now   its   president. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


597 


He  is  also  a  member  of  the  medical  societies 
of  Darke  and  Preble  counties;  of  the  Dayton 
lodge  of  Free  &  Accepted  Masons;  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Dayton  lodge; 
of  the  Greenville  chapter,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of 
Linden  lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics, 
he  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  democratic 
party,  and  in  1890  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Dayton  board  of  civil  affairs,  which  office 
he  filled  for  two  years,  during  which  period  he 
was  largely  instrumental  in  bringing  about 
much  of  the  paving  and  sewer  construction  of 
the  city,  being  both  patriotic  and  progressive, 
and  desirous  of  seeing  Dayton  improved  by 
modern  thoroughfares  and  better  sanitation. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Hooven  took  place  in 
Montgomery  county,  in  i860,  to  Miss  Marietta 
R.  Riley,  a  native  of  the  county,  a  daughter  of 
George  \Y.  H.  Riley  and  a  second  cousin  of 
the  poet.  James  Whitcomb  Riley.  To  the 
marriage  of  the  doctor  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  but  two  survive,  namely:  Edith, 
now  the  wife  of  Dr.  E.  B.  Bayliss,  of  Parkers, 
W.  Va.,  and  Clement  W.,  agent  for  the  "Big 
4"  Railroad  company  at  Anderson,  Ind. ,  and 
one  of  the  company's  most  trusted  employees. 
Mrs.  Marietta  R.  Hooven  is  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  the 
doctor,  who  has  made  a  thorough  success  pro- 
fessionally and'  financially,  is  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Dayton. 


^y  w^ILLIAM  P.    HUFFMAN,   deceased, 
MM  who  was  one  of   Dayton's  foremost 

\JL>^  citizens  and  bankers,  was  born  in 
this  city  on  October  18,  1813,  and 
was  the  son  of  William  and  Lydia  (Knott) 
Huffman.  His  grandfather,  William,  who 
was  of  German  descent,  and  his  grandmother, 
who  was  of  English  descent,  emigrated  to 
America  from  Holland,  some  time  in  the  de- 
cade following    1730,    and     settled     in    Mon- 


mouth county,  N.  J.,  where  their  son,  Will- 
iam, father  of  William  P.,  was  born  on  May 
24,  1769,  and  where,  on  June  14,  1 801,  he 
married  Lydia  Knott,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county  on  January  19,  1779.  One  son 
and  four  daughters  were  born  to  their  union. 
The  family  came  west  and  settled  in  Dayton, 
where  both  parents  died,  the  father  January 
23,   1866,  and  the  mother  March  21,   1865. 

William  P.  Huffman  received  a  fair  English 
education,  and  read  law  for  a  time,  not  with 
the  idea  of  adopting  that  profession,  but 
solely  to  acquire  a  more  thorough  business 
equipment.  Early  in  1837  he  left  this  city 
and  for  ten  years  was  occupied  in  farming;  but 
in  1848  he  returned  to  Dayton  and  for  many 
years  was  extensively  engaged  in  banking, 
real-estate  and  building  operations.  He  was 
prominently  identified  with  a  number  of  en- 
terprises, among  which  were  the  Third  street 
railway,  Dayton  &  Springfield  pike.  Cooper 
Hydraulic  company,  and  the  Second  National 
bank,  of  the  last  of  which  he  was  the  organ- 
izer and  president  up  to  his  death.  For  fifteen 
years  Mr.  Huffman  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Dennison  university,  at  Gran- 
ville. He  was  a  member  of  the  Linden  avenue 
Baptist  church.  A  man  of  clear,  sound, 
practical  judgment,  and  exceedingly  conserva- 
tive and  reliable  in  all  transactions,  the  name 
of  William  P.  Huffman  stood  as  a  synonym 
for  wisdom  and  safety  in  the  business  circles 
of  Dayton.  As  a  man  of  integrity  and  moral 
worth,  he  was  a  strong  factor  in  molding  the 
Christian  sentiment  of  the  community  of 
which  he  was  so  long  a  worthy  and  honored 
citizen.  On  October  18,  1837,  Mr.  Huffman 
married  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Tate, 
of  this  county,  and  to  this  union  the  following 
children  were  born:  William,  deceased;  Mar- 
tha Bell,  wife  of  E.  J.  Barney,  of  Dayton; 
Lydia  H.,  wife  of  James  R.  Hedges,  of  Day- 
ton; Charles  T. ,  deceased;  Lizzie  H.,  widow 


598 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  Charles  E.  Drury,  of  Dayton;  Samuel,  who 
died  in  childhood;  Torrence,  of  Dayton;  Frank 
T.,  of  Dayton;  George  P.  and  Anna  M. 


ar 


'ILLIAM  HUFFMAN,  late  of  the 
firm  of  Huffman  &  Co.,  of  Dayton 
and  Piqua,  limestone  dealers,  was 
born  in  Mad  River  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  September  5,  iS38,ason 
of  William  P.  and  Anna  M.  (Tate)  Huffman, 
natives  of  the  same  county.  William  P.  Huff- 
man and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  William;  Martha  Bell,  wife 
of  E.  J.  Barney,  president  of  the  Barney  & 
Smith  Manufacturing  company,  of  Dayton; 
Lydia,  wife  of  J.  R.  Hedges;  Charles,  de- 
ceased; Lizzie,  widow  of  Charles  E.  Drury; 
Samuel,  who  died  in  childhood;  Torrence; 
Frank  T. ;  George  P.,  and  Anna  M.,  the  latter 
of  whom  lives  with  her  mother. 

William  P.  Huffman  was  a  banker  and  real- 
estate  dealer.  He  assisted  to  organize  the 
Second  National  bank,  and  afterward  the  Third 
National  bank,  being  president  of  each  in  suc- 
cession, until  he  retired,  in  1886.  He  was  a 
trustee  of  Dennison  university  from  1867  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  July  2,  1888,  when 
he  was  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Politically 
Mr.  Huffman  was  a  war  democrat,  and  was,  as 
his  widow  is,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
William  Huffman,  the  father  of  William 
P.  Huffman,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  May 
24,  1769.  His  ancestry  were  of  German  de- 
scent, but  came  to  this  country  from  Holland, 
somewhere  between  the  years  of  1730  and 
1740.  He  was  married  June  14,  1801,  to  Miss 
Lydia  Knott,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  Mr. 
Huffman  came  to  Ohio  in  181 2,  and  was  long 
engaged  in  business  in  Dayton.  He  built  the 
first  stone  house  in  the  place,  either  on  the 
present  site  of  the  Third  National  bank  or  on 
that  of  the  Beckel  house.      He  was  a  volunteer 


in  the  war  of  18  12,  and  marched  to  Fort  Piqua 
for  active  duty,  but,  the  services  of  the  com- 
pany of  which  he  was  a  member  were  not  re- 
quired. He  had  one  son,  William  P.,  and 
four  daughters.  He  died  January  23,  1866, 
in  his  ninety-seventh  year. 

Samuel  Tate,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
the  second  William  Huffman,  came  to  Ohio 
from  Pennsylvania  in  1818,  settled  near  Day- 
ton, and  lived  there  until  his  death  at  eighty- 
three  years  of  age.  He  was  of  Scotch- Irish 
descent,  his  ancestry  coming  from  the  north  of 
Ireland.  He  was  a  distiller  and  a  miller,  and 
retired  from  business  in   the  'fifties. 

William  Huffman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
lived  on  the  farm  in  Greene  county  until  he 
was  ten  years  old.  Then  coming  to  Dayton 
he  attended  the  common  schools  for  a  time. 
Going  back  to  the  farm  he  operated  the  same, 
also  a  sawmill  for  some  years,  and  then  re- 
turning to  Dayton  he  engaged  in  quarrying  and 
selling  limestone,  and  was  thus  engaged  until 
June  6,  1896,  when  his  death  occurred. 

Mr.  Huffman  was  married  January  30,  1862, 
to  Miss  Emily  Huston,  daughter  of  Israel  and 
Elizabeth  (Harshman)  Huston.  To  this  mar- 
riage were  born  fourteen  children,  nine  of  whom 
are  living,  as  follows:  Harriet,  Emily,  Daniel 
A.,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  W.  P.,  McCurdy  K., 
Eugene  B.,  and  Otto  V.  Harriet  married  R. 
M.  Wickersham,  of  Cincinnati,  and  has  one 
child.  Emily  married  Whitney  H.  Brown, 
now  of  Webb  City,  Jasper  county,  Mo.,  and 
hasonechild.  Elizabeth  married  L.  P.  Hazen, 
of  Cincinnati,  and  has  one  child.  Susan  mar- 
ried Frederick  T.  Darst,  of  Dayton. 

Mrs.  William  Huffman  died  April  25,  18S5. 
She  and  her  husband  were  members  of  Linden 
avenue  Baptist  church.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Huff- 
man was  a  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  an  Odd 
Fellow,  and  a  Knight  of  Honor.  He  was  in 
Masonry  a  Scottish-rite  Mason,  a  Knight  Tem- 
plar and  a  Shriner.      Politically  he  was  a  demo- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


599 


crat,  and  as  such  served  two  terms  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  and  as  president  of  that 
body  for  one  term.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  board  of  education  for  three  years,  and 
also  served  on  the  school  board  in  the  country 
district  in  which  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  police  commissioner  in  Dayton  four 
years,  and  for  three  years  a  trustee  of  the 
water  works,  and  during  his  incumbency  of 
the  latter  office  was  largely  instrumental  in 
placing  this  department  of  the  city's  business 
upon  a  paying  basis.  Under  the  new  law 
creating  a  board  of  city  commissioners,  he 
was  one  of  the  first  members  of  that  body,  and 
was  actively  concerned  in  securing  sewerage 
and  street  paving.  These  improvements  are 
among  the  most  important  in  any  city,  and 
Dayton's  rapid  and  extensive  adoption  of  them 
is  in  great  measure  due  to  William  Huffman's 
energy,  public  spirit  and  determination.  Mr. 
Huffman  held  various  offices  connected  with 
business  concerns.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  manager  of  the  Cooper  Hydraulic  com- 
pany, and  of  the  National  Improvement  com- 
pany. He  was  a  director  in  the  City  National 
bank,  and  in  the  Davis  Sewing  Machine  com- 
pany, and  was  president  of  the  Miami  Building 
&  Loan  association. 

Mr.  Huffman  established  his  limestone 
business  in  1873,  and  in  busy  seasons  gave  em- 
ployment to  about  1  50  men,  getting  out  build- 
ders  and  contractors'  stone.  He  was  not  only 
successful  in  his  business,  but  exerted  a  great 
influence  in  the  political  and  public  affairs  of 
the  city.  He  never  lost  interest  in  his  early 
occupation  as  a  farmer,  and  throughout  his  life 
owned  and  cultivated  large  tracts  of  land.  Mr. 
Huffman  was  of  a  pleasant  and  genial  disposi- 
tion, and  drew  about  him  a  large  circle  of  loyal 
friends.  He  lived  his  entire  life  in  Montgomery 
and  Greene  counties,  most  of  the  time  in  Day- 
ton, and  aided  largely  in  the  development  of 
both  county  and  city. 


HH.  IDDINGS,  M.  D.,  a  leading  med- 
ical practitioner  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  at  Pleasant  Hill,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  January  1,  1840.  When  eight- 
een years  of  age  he  graduated  from  the  Friends' 
academy,  a  local  educational  institution.  He 
pursued  the  study  of  medicine  while  working 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  during  the  winter  of 
i860  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  in  the 
Cincinnati  college  of  Medicine.  Subsequently 
■he  took  a  course  in  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
college,  of  New  York  city,  graduating  there  in 
1866.  After  practicing  five  years  in  Arcanum, 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  he  located  in  Dayton, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  con- 
tinuous practice  of  his  profession,  a  period  of 
twenty-five  years.  He  was  appointed  United 
States  pension  examiner  at  Dayton,  serving  in 
that  capacity  from  1884  until  1888.  Beside 
a  number  of  other  local  offices  which  he  has 
filled,  he  has  been  health  officer  of  the  city  of 
Dayton  for  eight  years,  and  is  occupying  that 
position  at  the  present  time. 

Dr.  Iddings  is  a  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  Medical  society  and  of  the  state 
Medical  association.  He  is  a  member  of  Saint 
John's  lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  of  Reed 
commandery,  No.  6,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar. 
Dr.  Iddings  has  succeeded  in  a  marked  degree 
financially,  being  possessed  of  much  valuable 
property.  His  residence,  No.  344  South  Main 
street,  is  among  the  desirable  homes  in  the 
city,  and  was  erected  by  himself.  His  office 
is  No.  136  South  Ludlow  street.  Politically 
Dr.  Iddings  is  a  stanch  democrat.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  several 
years,  and  was  president  thereof  for  two  years. 
For  five  years  he  was  connected  with  Saint 
Elizabeth's  hospital  as  physician,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  he  has  been  physician  at  the  jail. 
He  is  recognized  as  being  among  the  most  suc- 
cessful physicians  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  fol- 
lowing  general    practice.      Dr.    Iddings    is   of 


600 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Scotch  descent,  and  belongs  to  a  family  of 
great  longevity. 

Davis  Iddings,  his  father,  is  still  living  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  and  is  eighty-four  years  old. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Iddings  (nee  Hill),  his  mother,  died 
January  i  i,  1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight, 
having  lived  upward  of  fifty-seven  years  in  the 
house  in  which  she  died.  They  were  both 
members  of  the  Christian  church. 

A.  H.  Iddings,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  married  at  Pleasant  Hill,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  June  8,  1859,  to  Miss  C.  A.  DeBra,  a 
native  of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
DeBra,  and  to  this  marriage  there  has  been 
born  one  child,  Vinnia  Velantia.  Mrs.  Iddings 
is  a  member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  both  are  members  of  a  large  and 
pleasant  social  circle. 


a  man  well  qualified  for  the  position  he  holds, 
or  for  any  place  requiring  expert  mechanical 
knowledge  and  skill. 


OLIVER  PERRY  HUTCHINS,  su- 
perintendent of  the  Dayton  infirmary, 
was  born  in  Vinton  county,  Ohio, 
May  8,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Amer- 
icus  and  Elizabeth  (Tremain)  Hutchins,  the 
former  of  whom  was  the  son  of  a  Scotch-Irish- 
man, O.  P.  Hutchins,  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  Vinton  county,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  county.  For  the  past 
eighteen  years  he  has  been  a  machine  worker. 
From  Vinton  county  he  removed  to  Miami 
county  in  1876,  and  in  1886  he  came  to 
Dayton.  For  the  past  six  or  seven  years  he 
has  been  employed  in  the  Barney-Smith  Manu- 
facturing company's  works  in  Dayton;  that  is, 
up  to  April,  1895,  when  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Dayton  infirmary,  which 
position  he  now  occupies. 

Mr.  Hutchins  was  married  October  14, 
1884,  to  Miss  Irene  Oilman,  of  Indiana,  and 
a  daughter  of  Aaron  Oilman.  Mr.  Hutchins 
is  a  member  of  Iola  lodge,  No.  83,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican.      He  is 


>"j*OHN  HILLER,  now  living  in  retire- 
m  ment  at  No.  601  North  Main  street, 
(8  j  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  February  6,  1836,  a  son 
of  John  and  Annie  (Rush)  Hiller,  natives  of 
the  same  county. 

Mr.  Hiller's  great-grandfather,  John  Hiller, 
was  the  founder  of  the  American  branch  of  the 
family,  having  come  in  1682  from  the  Palati- 
nate of  Germany.  The  father  of  the  present 
John  Hiller  was  born  in  1788  and  died  in  his 
native  county  in  1864;  his  mother  was  born  in 
1795  and  died  in  1858.  Of  their  family  of 
eight  children  all  are  living,  and  were  born  in 
the  following  order:  Caspar,  in  the  nursery 
business,  at  Conestoga,  Pa.,  is  married  and 
has  a  family;  Catherine  is  the  widow  of  Jacob 
Myers  and  resides  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio;  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  Michael  Benedict, 
of  Conestoga,  Pa. ;  Annie  is  married  to  God- 
fred  Peifer,  of  Galena,  111. ;  Barbara  is  the 
widow  of  Martin  Whitmore,  and  lives  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.;  Jacob  is  a  carpenter  of  the 
same  county;  John,  the  seventh  born,  is  the 
subject  of  this  biography;  Mary  is  the  widow 
of  a  Mr.  Eschleman,  and  has  her  home  in  the 
city  of  Lancaster,  Pa. 

John  Hiller  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  came  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1S54,  being 
then  eighteen  years  old.  He  here  began 
school-teaching  and  followed  that  profession 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he 
enlisted  at  Dayton,  in  May,  1861.  and  spent 
three  months,  within  the  borders  of  the  state, 
in  the  Eleventh  Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  Sep- 
tember 5,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  company  C, 
Forty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  one  year  in  Crook's    brigade,  in  West 


j^&.  &<Ma, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


603 


Virginia,  where  he  shared  in  the  engagement 
at  Lewisburg,  May  23,  1862,  which  was  an 
open-field  fight  between  the  Thirty-sixth  and 
Forty-fourth  Ohio  regiments  on  the  one  side, 
and  five  regiments  of  Confederates  on  the  other 
— the  result  being  the  killing  and  capturing  of 
381  rebels.  In  the  fall  of  1862,  the  Forty- 
fourth  Ohio  was  sent  to  Kentucky,  where  Col. 
S.  A.  Gilbert  had  an  independent  command, 
and  the  regiment  was  mounted  for  about  a 
year,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Somerset. 
About  September,  1862,  it  was  placed  in  the 
Twenty-third  army  corps,  which,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  Ninth  army  corps,  captured 
Knoxville,  under  command  of  Gen.  Burnside, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1863  was  besieged  in  the  same 
city  by  Gen.  Longstreet. 

In  January,  1864,  the  Forty-fourth  Ohio  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans,  and  was  thereafter  known 
as  the  Eighth  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry.  For 
some  time  Mr.  Hiller  was  in  the  quartermas- 
ter's department,  where  he  did  efficient  detail 
duty,  as  shown  by  testimonials  still  in  his  pos- 
session. One  of  the  conditions  on  which  the 
Forty-fourth  re-enlisted  was  that  the  men 
should  have  the  privilege  of  electing  their  offi- 
cers, staff  and  line,  and  this  condition  was  ac- 
cepted by  Sec.  of  War  E.  M.  Stanton,  who 
sent  out  a  general  order  to  that  effect.  Upon 
this  arrangement  Mr.  Hiller  was  elected  cap- 
tain of  his  company,  and  served  as  such  from 
January  until  June,  1864,  but  was  not  yet  mus- 
tered in  with  that  rank,  as  an  arbitrary  ruling 
by  the  governor  of  Ohio  nullified  the  action  of 
the  secretary  of  war,  though  this  ruling  was 
not  generally  made  known  until  June.  Mr. 
Hiller,  finding  that  he  could  not  be  mustered 
in  with  his  proper  rank,  asked  to  be  reinstated 
in  the  quartermaster's  department,  and  while 
so  serving  was  captured  by  the  enemy  at  Win- 
chester, Va.,  was  imprisoned  at  Richmond, 
and  afterward  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  but  made 
his  escape  in  December,  1864,  and  for  this  act 


was  granted  a  furlough  by  Gen.  Grant.  After 
a  service  lasting  through  four  years  and  three 
months,  Mr.  Hiller  was  honorably  discharged, 
and  returned  to  his  former  home  in  Mont- 
gomery county. 

He  now  resumed  his  profession  as  teacher, 
serving  as  principal  of  graded  schools,  and,  in 
vacation,  conducting  normal  training  schools, 
in  which  he  prepared  young  men  for  entering 
upon  professions,  and  many  of  his  pupils  in 
these  vacation  classes  are  to-day  successful 
physicians,  lawyers  and  teachers.  He  was 
especially  noted  for  his  skill  in  teaching  the 
higher  mathematics,  having  but  few  equals  in 
the  state,  many  pupils  coming  to  him  to  take 
special  courses  in  mathematics  after  they  had 
graduated  from  colleges.  In  1879  he  was 
elected  county  surveyor,  and  ably  filled  the 
office  until  1881.  At  this  time  he  was  a  can- 
didate for  the  state  legislature,  but  sickness 
prevented  his  making  a  systematic  canvass  of 
his  district,  and  defeat  was  the  result.  Since 
1 89 1  he  has  lived  a  retired  life,  not  being  in 
the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  and  is  a  pen- 
sioner for  disabilities  incurred  in  the  army. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hiller  was  solemnized 
October  19,  1866,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  P. 
Zufall,  who  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Ohio,  June  18,  1848.  Her  parents,  Moses 
and  Eliza  (Hannold)  Zufall,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  French  and  English  de- 
scent. The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiller 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children,  viz:  An- 
nie, married  to  James  Nolan,  of  Dayton,  and 
now  on  a  visit  to  Ireland;  John  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  E.  Redmond,  daughter  of 
Col.  Joseph  H.  Redmond,  a  civil  engineer,  re- 
riding  at  Walnut  Hills,  Cincinnati;  Mary  E., 
wife  of  David  E.  Heeter,  a  farmer  of  Perry 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio;  Charles, 
and  Lily  Heeter,  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hiller  was  a  democrat  after 
leaving  the  army  until    1892,  when  he  became 


fi04 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


a  republican,  and  has  since  been  stanch  in  his 
support  of  the  latter  party.  He  and  his  wife 
are  liberal  in  their  religious  views  and  are  not 
connected  with  any  church  organization.  Fra- 
ternally Mr.  Hiller  is  a  member  of  the  Union 
Veteran  Legion.  Mr.  Hiller,  as  has  been  in- 
dicated, is  a  man  of  liberal  education,  and  is 
a  constant  reader  and  student.  He  has  been 
successful  in  life,  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


*y    ■*  ERMAN  ISRAEL,  dealer  in  coal  and 

l^\|  kindling,  at  No.  IQ  Dutoit  street, 
I  P  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Germany 
March  30,  1868,  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Bertha  Israel,  also  natives  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  America  in  1882,  and  now  reside 
in  Dayton.  Of  their  eight  children  all  are 
residents  of  Dayton  with  the  exception  of  one 
son  and  one  daughter,  who  live  in  Chicago. 
They  are  named  in  order  of  birth,  as  follows: 
Herman,  Mrs.  Dora  Lewin,  Max.  David,  Min- 
nie, Rose,  Willie  and  Harry.  Mrs.  Lewin  and 
David  make  their  home  in  Chicago,  while  all 
the  others  still  live  with  their  parents. 

Herman  Israel  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  America 
in  1882,  and  with  them  located  in  Dayton. 
Although  he  had  availed  himself,  as  far  as  his 
youth  permitted,  of  the  excellent  school  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  his  own  government  be- 
fore leaving  Europe,  he  nevertheless  supple- 
mented this  education  by  an  attendance,  for  a 
few  years,  in  the  common  schools  of  his  adopted 
city  of  Dayton,  after  which  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  performance  of  any  honorable 
labor  which  might  furnish  him  a  livelihood. 
In  1 89 1  he  united  with  his  father  in  conduct- 
ing the  coal  and  kindling  business,  handling 
various  sorts  of  fuel,  and  this  business  they 
continued  for  about  four  years,  when  the  elder 
Mr.  Israel  withdrew,  leaving  the  younger  man 


to  prosecute  the  enterprise  alone.  About  this 
time  Herman  Israel  removed  his  stock  and  of- 
fice from  Third  street,  where  the  business  had 
heretofore  been  carried  on,  to  his  more  con- 
venient quarters  at  No.  19  Dutoit  street,  where 
he  has  since  commanded  a  flourishing  and 
profitable  trade.  Being  a  young  man  of  fine 
business  attainments  and  being  genial,  prompt 
and  reliable,  his  efforts  have  met  deserved 
success. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Israel  is  repub- 
lican. He  attends  the  Jefferson  street  syna- 
gogue, and  in  the  social  and  fraternal  societies 
of  the  city  he  takes  a  profound  interest,  as  is 
evidenced  by  his  numerous  connections  with 
them.  He  is  a  member  of  Gem  City  lodge, 
No.  795,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  of  Linden  lodge,  No. 
412,  K.  of  P.;  of  Columbia  lodge,  No.  1280, 
K.  iS:  L.  of  H.,  and  of  Dayton  lodge,  No. 
183,  O.  K.  S.  B.,  being  president  of  the  last 
named,  and  having  held  various  official  posi- 
tions in  each  of  the  other  orders.  He  has 
formed  some  very  pleasant  social  relations  and 
connections  since  making  his  home  in  Dayton, 
and  is  esteemed  for  his  individual  character,  as 
well  as  for  his  strict  integrity  as  a  business  man. 


BRANK  E.  JAMES,  one  of  the  young- 
est members  of  the  Dayton  bar,  was 
born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  August 
27,  i860.  William  James,  his  father, 
was  also  born  in  Greene  county,  and  died  there 
in  1890.  The  James  family  is  of  Welsh  origin, 
and  its  earliest  American  members  settled  in 
New  Jersey.  On  the  mother's  side,  Mr.  James 
is  of  Quaker  descent.  The  James  family  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Greene  county, 
where  there  still  reside  many  of  the  name. 

Frank  E.  James  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Greene  county,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  country  schools.  Afterward 
he  took   a  course   of  study   at   Xenia  college, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


605 


and  still  later  he  took  a  five  years'  course  at 
Antioch  college,  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio. 
During  four  years  of  this  time  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  faculty  at  Antioch,  pursuing  his 
studies  at  the  same  time  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching. 

Mr.  James  began  reading  law  in  the  office 
of  the  Hon.  John  Little,  of  Xenia,  during  the 
winter  of  1887,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  four 
months.  He  then  came  to  Dayton  and  pur- 
sued his  lav/  studies  under  the  direction  of 
Hon.  R.  M.  Nevin,  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
through  an  examination  before  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in 
1 89 1.  Since  that  time  Mr.  James  has  been 
actively  engaged  in  practice  in  Dayton.  He 
has  also  been  quite  prominent  in  local  politics, 
though  he  has  never  held  office  of  any  kind. 
In  the  spring  of  1895  he  was  mentioned  as  a 
candidate  for  common  pleas  judge  on  the  re- 
publican ticket,  but  did  not  submit  his  name 
to  the  convention. 

For  three  years  Mr.  James  has  been  a 
member  of  the  faculty  at  Beck's  Commercial 
college,  of  Dayton,  as  a  lecturer  on  law  and 
political  economy.  He  was  married  May  10, 
1894,  to  Miss  Ida  M.  Kimmell,  of  Montgom- 
ery county.  While  yet  a  young  man  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  his  close  attention 
to  its  demands  has  been  rewarded  by  a  gratify- 
ing measure  of  success. 


HE.  &  H.  G.  JENNER,  father  and 
son,  physicians  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  with 
offices  at  No.  1913  East  Third  street, 
are  among  the  most  prominent  and 
successful  practitioners  in  the  city.  Alexander 
Ewell  Jenner  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
in  1S30.  He  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Julia 
(McLaughlin)  Jenner,  the  former  of  English 
and  the  latter  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.     When 


Alexander  Ewell  was  but  a  small  boy  his  par- 
ents located  near  Mansfield,  and  there  he 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  His  ancestry 
have  been  to  a  considerable  extent  members  of 
the  medical  profession,  his  father  and  grand- 
father both  having  been  physicians  of  note,  so 
that  he  has  a  decided  natural  aptitude  for  the 
profession,  if  there  is  any  truth  in  the  doctrine 
of  heredity. 

Abraham  Jenner,  his  father,  was  a  promi- 
nent physician,  first  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and 
later,  for  many  years,  in  central  Ohio,  where 
he  continued  to  practice  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  31,  1869.  Be- 
side his  standing  as  a  successful  physician  he  was 
prominent  in  many  other  ways,  being  a  poli- 
tician of  note,  a  representative  of  the  people  of 
his  district  in  the  Ohio  state  general  assembly. 
In  politics  he  was  a  democrat,  and  was  a  most 
useful  man  in  his  section  of  the  state  as  a  pio- 
neer settler.  He  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, to  all  of  whom  he  gave  a  good  education, 
as  he  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  intellectual  powers.  Two  of  his  sons 
adopted  the  medical  profession,  Alexander  E. 
and  Charles  W.  jenner,  the  latter  of  whom 
located  in  Denver,  Colo.,  and  became  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  of  that  progressive  city. 
Another  brother,  John  W.  Jenner,  adopted 
the  legal  profession,  and  has  just  retired  from 
the  circuit  judgship  of  the  Fifth  district  of 
Ohio,  after  having  served  in  that  position  for 
twelve  years.  He  is  now  living  in  Mansfield. 
Another  brother,  Samuel  Eberly  Jenner,  is  at 
the  present  time  a  prominent  member  of  the 
bar  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  is  also  a  leader  in 
local  politics.  The  other  children  were  daugh- 
ters. Mary,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Douglas,  a  minister  of  the  Lutheran 
church;  Sarah  is  the  widow  of  O.  D.  Harris, 
of  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Emily  is  the  wife  of 
Judge  Amherst  Franklin,  of  Ottawa,  Kan. ; 
Hattie  is  the    widow   of  William    Franklin,  of 


606 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Kansas;  Martha  is  the  widow  of  H.  Burrows, 
of  Delta  county,  Colo.,  and  Anna  F.,  now  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Alban,  of  Walla 
Walla,  Wash. 

Alexander  E.  Jenner  was  reared  near  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  was  educated  first  in  the  public 
schools  and  received  his  advanced  education  in 
Oberlin  college.  He  then  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  his  father,  and  later  attended 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  college,  New  York, 
which  institution  was  founded  in  1861,  Dr. 
Jenner  being  among  its  first  students.  After 
graduating  from  this  institution  he  located  at 
Crestline,  where  he  remained  until  1873,  when 
he  received  the  appointment  of  superintendent 
of  the  Soldiers  &  Sailors'  Orphan  asylum  at 
Xenia,  Ohio.  This  position  he  held  until 
1874,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
has  been  located  here  ever  since,  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  For  a  short 
time  he  was  connected  with  the  Dayton 
Leader,  a  weekly  paper,  and  was  also  inter- 
ested in  the  drug  business  with  his  son.  His 
practice  in  Dayton  is  both  extensive  and  lucra- 
tive. He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs  and  has  been  state  senator  two  terms. 
His  affiliation  has  been  with  the  democratic 
party,  and  in  the  interest  of  this  party  he  has 
been  quite  prominent  in  local  politics.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Montgomery  county  Medical 
society,  and  also  of  the  Ohio  state  Medical 
association. 

Dr.  Jenner  married  Miss  Anna  Andrew,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Rhoda  Andrew.  She  is  a 
native  of  Washington  county.  Pa.,  and  is  the 
mother  of  five  children,  as  follows:  Frances, 
wife  of  W.  M.  McCully,  of  Newark,  Ohio,  en- 
gaged as  a  manufacturer  of  oil  tank  wagons, 
etc.;  Albert  N.,  deceased,  who  was  in  business 
for  some  time  as  a  druggist,  and  later  became 
a  locomotive  engineer,  dying  at  the  age  of 
thirty-one;  Harry  Garrabrant,  now  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  partnership  with  his  father; 


Robert  Austin,  a  physician  and  surgeon  located 
at  Kingston,  Ohio,  who  graduated  from  the 
Miami  Medical  college,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in 
the  class  of  1895;  and  Emily  May,  wife  of 
Kneisley  Jewell,  dealer  in  paints  and  oils,  of 
Dayton,  Ohio. 

Harry  G.  Jenner,  M.  D.,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 1,  1866,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  later  attended  Yale  col- 
lege, graduating  in  the  class  of  1888,  with  the 
degree  of  bachelor  of  philosophy.  He  at 
once  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
father,  afterward  attending  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  college,  graduating  therefrom  in  the 
class  of  1890.  Then  in  the  further  prosecu- 
tion of  his  studies  he  took  a  trip  abroad,  trav- 
eling through  England,  Scotland  and  Ger- 
many, consuming  some  eight  or  ten  months  in 
this  way,  and  then  returned  to  Dayton,  and 
became  his  father's  partner  in  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  has  been  thus  successfully  en- 
gaged ever  since.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Montgomery  county  Medical  society,  of  the 
order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Forest- 
ers. Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  and  was 
called  on  by  his  party  friends  to  make  the 
race  for  the  position  of  county  coroner.  While 
he  is  yet  a  young  man  yet  he  has  made  an  un- 
usually creditable  record,  both  in  the  way  of 
preparation  for  one  of  the  most  honorable  and 
useful  of  the  professions,  and  also  in  the  suc- 
cess with  which  he  has  met  in  that  profession. 
The  Jenner  family  are  all  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

In  closing  this  sketch  of  the  lives  of  the 
Doctors  Jenner,  it  is  proper  to  add  that  Dr. 
A.  E.  Jenner  was  during  the  war  appointed 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Ohio 
regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and,  soon 
afterward,  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  Fifth 
Ohio,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


609 


*w    *  ENRY     HOLLENCAMP,     merchant 

|r\    tailor,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 

^P    Cincinnati,  Ohio,  October    31,   1850, 

and  is  a  son  of  Herman  Henry  and 

Mary  T.  (Welimeyer)   Hollencamp,  natives  of 

Hanover,   Germany. 

Herman  Henry  Hollencamp,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  molder  by  trade,  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  the  year  1840,  located  in  Cincinnati, 
and  in  1851  came  to  Dayton,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  until  his  death.  Here  he  lost 
his  wife,  who  died  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years,  and  here  his  own  death  occurred,  in 
1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Their 
three  children,  in  the  order  of  birth,  were: 
Henry;  Mary  S.,  deceased  wife  of  William 
Popplemeyer,  and  Philomena,  who  is  now  Mrs. 
Henry  Weber,  of  Dayton. 

Henry  Hollencamp,  who  was  an  infant  of 
twelve  months  when  brought  to  Dayton  by  his 
parents,  suffered  from  poor  health  in  his  child- 
hood, and  was  thereby  debarred  from  acquir- 
ing more  than  an  ordinary  common-school  ed- 
ucation; but  as  years  passed,  and  with  them 
he  gained  strength,  he  became,  through  self- 
instruction,  capable  of  transacting  the  affairs 
of  an  ordinary  business  life.  For  two  years, 
in  his  boyhood  days,  he  worked  in  a  foundry 
for  McGregor  &  Callahan,  now  W.  P.  Calla- 
han &  Co.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  en- 
tered the  tailoring  establishment  of  Col.  Henry 
Miller,  a  well-known  merchant  tailor,  as  an 
apprentice,  worked  with  his  needle  on  the 
bench,  learned  the  business  in  all  its  branches, 
and  early  demonstrated  his  ability  to  manage 
employees  and  to  control  the  workings  of  the 
shop.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  was 
able  to  engage  in  business  for  himself,  succeed- 
ing Toban  &  Breene  in  the  long-established 
business  of  William  Breene. 

In  1873  Mr.  Hollencamp  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Christ  Edelmann  in  the  merchant- 
tailoring  business  in   Dayton,  but,  1873   being 


a  year  of  financial  panic,  the  partnership  lasted 
for  two  years  only,  when  Mr.  Hollencamp  as- 
sumed the  entire  indebtedness  of  the  firm,  and, 
with  indomitable  will,  overcame  all  obstacles, 
conquered  failure  with  success,  and  is  to-day 
among  the  leaders  in  his  branch  of  industry  in 
Dayton.  He  employs  a  large  number  of  cut- 
ters and  salesmen  for  the  disposition  of  ready- 
made  wearing  apparel.  Until  1888,  Mr.  Hol- 
lencamp occupied  the  premises  at  No.  7  South 
Jefferson  street,  Odd  Fellows  temple,  when, 
having  met  with  abundant  success,  he  pur- 
chased the  ground  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson 
and  Market  streets,  in  1888,  and  erected  the 
fine  four-story  stone  and  brick  building,  known 
as  the  Hollencamp  block,  60x50  feet,  to 
which  he  added,  in  1894,  another  building, 
fifty  feet  deep,  which  is  used  for  his  stores  and 
for  office  purposes.  He  believes  in  furnishing 
employment  to  home  people,  and  at  present 
has  in  his  employ  at  least  seventy-five  hands. 
Mr.  Hollencamp  was  married,  May  16, 
1876,  to  Miss  Kate  Grenlich,  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children,  of  whom 
Emma  Kate  and  Barbara  died  in  their  infancy; 
those  living  are  named  Charlie  H.,  Frank  An- 
drew, Mary  Theresa  and  Henry  Herman.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hollencamp  now  reside  at  415  West 
Second  street,  are  dutiful  members  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  stand  high  in  their  social 
relationship.  Mr.  Hollencamp,  who  has  made 
his  own  fortune,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
keen  and  shrewd  business  men  of  Dayton, 
solid  in  his  finances,  competent  in  his  manage- 
ment, and  honorable  in  all  his  transactions. 


SOBERT  THOMAS  JOHNSON,  vice- 
president  and   manager  of  the  Kuntz- 
Johnson  Lumber  company  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  is  a  native   of  county  Tyrone, 
Ireland,    and  was  born  January  12,   1845.      1° 
1850  his  parents,  George  and  Sarah  (Taggart) 


610 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Johnson,  came  to  America,  bringing  their  three 
surviving  children,  having  lost  a  fourth  in  its 
infancy.  The  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  and  the  father,  who  was  born  in  1810, 
is  a  resident  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  in  which  city 
the  mother  died  June  11,  1891.  The  father 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  business  life  in 
contracting  and  railroading,  but  about  twenty- 
years  ago  laid  aside  all  business  cares  and  is 
now  living  in  retirement.  The  sister  of  Robert 
T.,  Mrs.  Jane  Hall,  resides  in  Springfield,  and 
is  the  widow  of  James  A.  Hall,  who  was  aeon- 
tractor  and  builder;  the  only  brother,  William, 
is  at  present  superintendent  of  the  P.  P.  Mast 
Buggy  company. 

Robert  T.  Johnson,  the  youngest  of  the  four 
children  born  to  his  parents,  passed  his  early 
life  in  Springfield,  where  he  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools;  when  he  was  in  his  six- 
teenth year  he  entered  the  joint  office  of  the 
United  States  and  American  Express  compa- 
nies, and  for  several  years  was  employed  as 
clerk,  messenger  and  agent,  both  stationary 
and  traveling.  In  1867  he  accepted  the  agency 
of  the  Dayton  &  Union  Railroad  company  at 
Union  City,  Ind.,  and  in  1872  took  the  joint 
agency  of  the  Dayton  &  Union  and  the  Bee 
Line  or  Big  Four  system,  at  the  same  place. 
Id  March,  1877,  he  was  transferred  to  Green- 
ville, Ohio,  and  in  March,  1881,  returned  to 
Union  City,  where  he  remained  until  March  1, 
1883,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Peter  Kuntz,  of  that  place,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  the  present  business  in  Dayton. 
The  plant  is  valued  at '$100,000  and  gives  em- 
ployment to  an  average  of  thirty  men  in  the 
preparation  of  building  material,  and  is  in  an 
altogether  prosperous  and  flourishing  condition. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  united  in  marriage,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1866,  with  Miss  Cynthia  E.  Lenox, 
a  native  of  Sidney,  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Alfred  and  Frances  E.  (Gish) 
Lenox,   both    now    deceased.       Mrs.   Johnson 


was  educated  in  Union  City,  Ind.,  and  is  a 
thoroughly  accomplished  woman,  being  very 
active  in  the  social  and  religious  societies  at- 
tached to  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Her  husband  is  a  member  of  the  official  board 
of  this  church,  and  was  formerly  president  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in  Dayton.  In  his  politics 
Mr.  Johnson  affiliates  with  the  democratic 
party,  has  served  several  terms  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council  in  Union  City,  and  in  Day- 
ton exerts  a  quiet  but  powerful  influence  in  the 
selection  of  candidates  and  the  management  of 
the  local  elections. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  an  ardent  Freemason  and 
a  very  prominent  member  of  the  fraternity. 
He  received  the  symbolic  degrees  in  Turpin 
lodge,  No.  401,  having   been    initiated    March 

20,  1S74.  He  filled  various  subordinate  posi- 
tions in  the  blue  lodge,  and  received  the  de- 
gress in  capitulary  Masonry  in  Union  chapter, 
No.  94,  was  advanced  and  presented  December 

21,  1 87  5,  and  was  received,  acknowledged  and 
exalted  December  22,  1875,  and  filled  several 
official  positions  in  this  chapter.  He  was  ad- 
mitted a  member  of  Greenville  lodge,  on  di- 
mit,  January  27,  1880,  and  was  elected  wor- 
shipful master  December  14,  1880,  filling  the 
office  one  year.  February  16,  1880,  he  was 
admitted  to  Greenville  chapter,  and  was  elected 
captain  of  the  host  December  20,  1880.  Mr. 
Johnson  entertains  a  very  warm  feeling  toward 
his  brothers  of  Greenville  lodge,  who  first  made 
him  feel  the  force  of  the  benefits  conferred  by 
speculative  Masonry.  Some  time  after  locat- 
ing in  Dayton  Mr.  Johnson  was  again  dimit- 
ted  and  became  a  member  of  Saint  John's 
lodge,  No.  13,  of  Unity  chapter,  No.  16,  and  of 
Reed  commandery,  No.  6,  and  on  November 
17,  1892,  received  the  ineffable  degrees  in  an- 
cient and  accepted  Masonry.  His  relations 
with  the  Dayton  Masons  have  been  of  the 
most  pleasant  character  and  he  has  received 
ready  and  just   recognition    of   his  merits  as  a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


611 


bright  brother.  In  the  commandery  he  is  now 
rilling  the  office  of  senior  warden;  and  in  busi- 
ness, family  and  social  relations  he  has  found 
that  his  "lines  have  fallen  in  pleasant  places." 


^V^V  AVID  JONES,  dealer  in  coal  and 
I  wood,  Dayton,  was  born  in  Mont- 
/^^J  gomeryshire,  near  Newtown,  Wales, 
November  II,  1835,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  the  United  States  in  1857,  lo- 
cating in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  where  his 
father,  Evan  Jones,  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  David's  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Jane  Powell,  also  a  native  of  Wales, 
died  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  in  1863;  the 
father  died  in  1881.  Evan  and  Jane  Jones 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  David  being 
third  in  order  of  birth;  John  died  at  the  age  of 
about  thirteen  years;  Evan  served  in  the  Third 
Ohio  infantry  and  died  before  the  expiration  of 
his  period  of  enlistment;  Jane  married  Reese 
Jones  and  died  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio; 
Richard  resides  at  West  Jefferson,  Ohio,  where 
he  carries  on  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
builder;  he  served  through  the  late  war  in  the 
Thirtieth  Ohio  infantry;  Edward,  also  a  soldier 
in  the  late  war,  is  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  in 
Kansas;  Thomas  served  during  the  Civil  war 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Ohio 
infantry  and  died  in  the  Indian  territory;  Susan 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen;  Elizabeth  married  a 
Mr.  Richmond  and  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
leaving  two  children. 

The  early  life  of  David  Jones  was  spent  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  he  followed  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture  until  attaining  his  majority,  when 
an  accident,  which  resulted  in  the  breaking  of 
his  collar-bone,  caused  him  to  change  his  plans 
of  life.  Leaving  the  farm,  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  an  attendant  in  the  insane  asylum  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  the  duties  of  which  he  dis- 
charged for  a  period   of  three  years,  and   then 


accepted  a  similar  place  in  the  hospital  for  the 
insane  at  Hopkinsville,  Ky.  Here  he  remained 
for  less  than  one  year,  on  account  of  the  de- 
struction of  the  institution  by  fire.  Returning 
home,  he  soon  afterward  came  to  Dayton  and 
secured  a  situation  in  the  insane  asylum, 
where  he  continued  as  attendant  and  night 
watchman  for  three  years.  In  the  meantime 
the  national  guard  of  Ohio  was  organized, 
and  David  was  enrolled  as  a  member.  He 
was  called  into  active  service  May  3,  1863,  pro- 
ceeding with  his  command  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
and  was  for  some  time  stationed  at  Forts 
Federal  Hill  and  Marshall.  He  served  100 
days,  the  duty  of  a  guard  during  that  time 
being  to  relieve  the  disciplined  soldiers  and 
permit  them  to  meet  Gen.  Lee's  invasion  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  Returning  to 
Dayton  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  serv- 
ice, Mr.  Jones  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Dayton  &  Michigan  railroad  as  freight  brake- 
man.  Later  he  became  baggage- master,  and 
finally  was  put  in  charge  of  a  freight  train  as 
conductor.  He  served  ably  in  these  subordi- 
nate positions,  winning  the  confidence  of  the 
management  of  the  road,  and  was  subse- 
quently promoted  to  be  passenger  conductor, 
a  position  which  he  filled  for  fourteen  years, 
during  the  last  six  of  which  he  ran  a  train  be- 
tween Cincinnati  and  Toledo. 

In  1882  Mr.  Jones  retired  from  the  road 
and  engaged  in  his  present  business,  which  has 
proved,  financially,  very  successful.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  man,  well  known  in  the  busi- 
ness circles  of  Dayton  for  his  integrity  and 
honesty  of  purpose,  and  enjoys  in  an  eminent 
degree  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  relations  of  a  business  or  a 
social  nature.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Old 
Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Dayton,  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  since  his 
twenty-first  year  has  been  an  unswerving  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  republican  party. 


612 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  was  married,  in  1863,  to  Ellen  Haley,  of 
Dayton,  daughter  of  Edward  Haley,  and  there 
have  been  born  to  this  union  five  children,  viz: 
Mattie,  Alfred,  Carrie,  Daisy  and  Alice.  Alfred 
is  married  and  is  engaged  in  business  in  Day- 
ton; Carrie  died  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and 
Daisy  when  six  months  old;  Alice  is  the  wife  of 
E.  R.  McLean,  and  Mattie  is  bookkeeper  for 
the  firm  of  Evans  cS:  Davis,  of  Dayton.  Mrs. 
Jones  is  one  of  a  family  of  four,  two  brothers 
and  two  sisters.  Luke  Haley  died  in  early 
manhood;  Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Ware,  resides 
in  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  Edward  Haley  is  ser- 
geant on  the  police  force  in  Dayton. 


(D 


AJ.  DAVID  CLARK  HUFFMAN, 
M.  D.,  surgeon  of  the  Central 
branch,  N.  H.  D.  V.  S.,  near  Day- 
ton^ Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Westmore- 
land county,  Pa.,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Louisa 
(Metzger)  Huffman,  of  German  descent,  and 
was  born  November  4,  1843.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  district  until  the  time 
of  his  enlistment,  in  March,  1862,  in  company 
C,  Eleventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  with  his  regiment  until 
after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  September  17, 
1862,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  hospital  on 
account  of  sickness,  and  was  mustered  out  in 
November  of  the  same  year.  In  March,  1865, 
having  in  the  meantime  read  medicine,  he 
was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  to  the  Thir- 
teenth Pennsylvania  cavalry;  but,  as  the  Rebel- 
lion was  brought  to  an  end  soon  afterward,  he 
saw  no  active  service  in  this  capacity. 

Dr.  Huffman  received  his  literary  education 
in  Sewickley  academy  and  Allegheny  college, 
at  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  graduated  in  medicine 
from  the  Jefferson  Medical  college,  of  Phila- 
delphia, in  1866.  He  located  for  practice  at 
McKeesport,  Pa.,  and  met  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess until  1889,  when  he  was  appointed  on  the 


medical  staff  of  the  national  soldiers'  home,  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  served  one  year  in  this  capacity, 
and  in  Ma)',  1893,  was  appointed  to  his  pres- 
ent position  as  surgeon  of  the  institution. 
While  at  McKeesport  he  was  surgeon  for  the 
National  Tube  works, and  for  twelve  years  sur- 
geon for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  com- 
pany, and  his  varied  and  extended  practice  in 
these  positions  fully  qualified  him  for  the  very 
responsible  office  he  now  fills.  As  surgeon  of 
the  home,  he  is  third  in  rank  among  its  offi- 
cers, and  has  six  assistants. 

Dr.  Huffman  is  a  member  of  the  Mont- 
gomery county  Medical  society,  of  the  Alle- 
gheny county  (Pa.)  Medical  society,  of  which 
he  was  vice-president  in  1892;  also  a  member 
of  the  Pennsylvania  state  Medical  society  and 
of  the  American  Medical  association;  of  Alli- 
quippa  lodge,  No.  375,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Mc- 
Keesport, of  which  he  was  master;  Tancred 
commandery,  No.  48,  of  Pittsburg;  Ohio  con- 
sistory, thirty-second  degree,  S.  P.  R.  O.,  of 
Cincinnati,  and  of  Veteran  post,  No.  5,  G.  A. 
R. ,  and  in  1894  was  appointed  aid-de-camp  on 
the  staff  of  national  commander,  Gen.  Adams. 

Dr.  Huffman  was  united  in  marriage  July 
3,  1872,  with  Miss  Georgia  Wolfe,  who  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  June  4,  1855. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


aHARLES  FREDERICK  KAMRATH, 
Sr.,  member  of  the  Dayton  city 
council  from  the  Tenth  ward,  and  a 
successful  business  man  of  that  city, 
was  born  in  Prussia,  December  21,  1843. 
Reared  and  educated  in  his  native  country,  he 
there  learned  the  trade  of  butcher,  and  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  he  entered  the  German 
army  and  served  three  years.  In  the  war  be- 
tween Prussia  and  Austria,  sometimes  called 
The    Seven     Days'    War,    which    was    fought 


'I —"If 


LVfrJl^<~&^~-^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


615 


by  those  countries,  after  the  death  of  Ferdi- 
nand VII,  king  of  Denmark,  over  the  control 
of  the  duchies  of  Schleswig,  Holstein  and 
Lauenburg,  Mr.  Kamrath  was  of  course  in 
the  army  of  Prussia,  and  participated  in  the 
decisive  and  historic  battle  of  Koniggratz,  or 
Sadowa,  which  occurred  July  3,  1866.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  right  leg  by  a  splinter 
from  a  bomb,  which  exploded  in  front  of  him, 
and  on  account  of  this  wound  he  was  in  the 
hospital  five  months.  After  recovering  from 
his  injury  he  secured  a  furlough  for  a  year  and 
came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York  April  4,  1867.  After  a  fortnight  spent 
in  that  city  and  in  Pittsburg,  he  came  direct  to 
Dayton,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 
About  five  years  after  settling  in  Dayton  he 
opened  a  butcher  shop  at  the  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Henry  streets,  and  afterward  opened  a 
shop  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Terry  streets, 
about  the  same  time  purchasing  his  present 
place  of  business  and  residence,  on  the  corner 
of  May  and  June  streets.  Here  he  has  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  business  ever  since. 

Mr.  Kamrath  was  married  first,  in  1868,  to 
Bertha  Felitz,  who  was  born  in  Prussia.  She 
died  in  1882,  leaving  four  children,  viz: 
Charles  F.,  Jr.,  who  was  manager,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Troup  Manufacturing 
company,  of  Dayton,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
merchant  tailoring;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel 
Dornbusch,  of  Dayton;  Bertha  and  Rosa.  In 
1883  Mr.  Kamrath  married  Rosa  Gerttz,  of 
Dayton.  Mr.  Kamrath  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Butchers'  asso- 
ciation. He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Kamrath  has  been 
quite  active  in  politics  in  Dayton.  In  1891  he 
was  appointed  city  meat  inspector,  holding 
that  office  for  one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1894 
he  was  elected  to  the  city  council  from  the 
Fifth  ward,  now  the  Tenth  ward. 


m. 


21 


ILLIAM  J.  JONES,  treasurer  of  the 
Stoddard  Manufacturing  company, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton county,  Ohio,  November  22, 
1843,  and  is  a  son  of  David  C.  and  Eliza 
(Shumard)  Jones,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Ohio.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  calling. 
He  removed  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  in  about 
1850,  and  in  1890  came  to  Dayton,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  May,  1893.  His  widow 
died  in  December,  1894.  Both  parents  were 
life-long  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

W.  J.  Jones  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Hamilton  and  Butler  counties,  and  received  a 
common-school  education.  When  about  nine- 
teen years  of  age  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  about  three  years. 
In  February,  1866,  he  came  to  Dayton  and 
entered  Greer's  Commercial  college  and  took 
the  full  course,  leaving,  however,  before  re- 
ceiving his  diploma,  to  take  temporary  charge 
of  a  set  of  books  for  the  firm  of  Haas  & 
Mitchell.  Two  months  later  he  returned  to 
college,  intending  to  remain  until  he  obtained 
a  diploma,  but  being  considered  by  the  princi- 
pal as  proficient,  he  was  given  his  diploma 
without  further  study.  He  then  took  charge 
of  the  books  of  the  lumber  firm  of  William 
Seeley  &  Co.,  with  which  firm  he  remained 
about  three  and  a  half  years,  leaving  there  to 
take  charge  of  the  books  of  D.  W.  Stewart  & 
Co.,  where  he  remained  for  seven  years.  He 
was  next  bookkeeper  for  C.  Wight  &  Son, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  December  1 , 
1879,  when  he  took  a  similar  position  with 
J.  W.  Stoddard  &  Co.  In  1884,  when  this 
firm  was  incorporated  into  the  Stoddard  Man- 
ufacturing company,  Mr.  Jones  became  a  stock- 
holder, and  in  1886  was  elected  treasurer  of 
the  company. 

The   Buckeye  Building  &  Loan  association 
was  organized  April  1,  1893,  Mr.  Jones  being 


mi; 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


one  of  the  incorporators,  and  he  has  ever  since 
been  one  of  the  directors,  and  most  of  the 
time  has  been  treasurer  and  member  of  the 
finance  committee. 

Mr.  Jones  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss 
Luvina  McClellan,  of  Springdale,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  James  McClellan, 
and  to  this  union  one  son  has  been  born,  Frank 
McClellan  Jones,  who  is  a  draughtsman  at  the 
Barney  &  Smith  Car  works.  Mr.  Jones  is  a 
member  of  the  Park  Presbyterian  church  and 
of  Montgomery  lodge,  No.  5,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


Ky^ALTER    D.    JONES,    a    prominent 
Mm  and    successful    attorney-at-law    of 

mJL^l  Dayl  m,  Ohio,  was  born  at  West 
Milton,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Annie  (Jay)  Jones,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Ohio.  The  Jones  family  came  to  Ohio 
from  Georgia  and  the  Jay  family  from  Mary- 
land. Both  families  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  this  state. 

Walter  D.  Jones  spent  his  younger  days 
on  a  farm  in  Miami  county,  and  received  his 
elementary  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Later  he  attended  Earlham  college  at  Rich- 
mond, Ind.,  from  the  time  he  was  fifteen  years 
of  age  until  he  was  eighteen,  and  then  went 
to  Spiceland,  Ind.,  college,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1 87 1.  He  then  engaged  for  three 
years  in  teaching  school  in  Ohio  and  Iowa,  and 
afterward  began  reading  law  in  Richmond, 
Ind.,  with  his  cousin,  Louis  D.  Stubbs,  going 
from  that  city  to  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  entering 
the  law  department  of  the  university  of  Mich- 
igan, and  graduating  there  in  1876.  His 
graduation  from  that  institution  admitted  him 
to  practice  in  Michigan,  and  upon  removing  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
this  state.  He  spent  about  six  months  in  the 
law    office    of    John   Howard,    who    was,  from 


1839  to  1878,  the  year  of  his  death,  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  and  successful  lawyers  of 
Dayton,  a  city  famous  for  its  able  bar.  In 
the  spring  of  1877  Mr.  Jones  opened  an  office 
for  himself  and  for  some  years  practiced  alone. 
For  eight  years  he  was  in  partnership  with 
Charles  J.  McKee,  but  owing  to  the  failing 
health  of  Mr.  Jones,  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved. The  two  lawyers  occupied  the  same 
office,  however,  for  thirteen  3'ears.  Mr.  Jones' 
office  at  the  present  time  is  at  No.  22  East 
Third  street.  He  is  well  read  in  the  law,  has 
clear,  safe  judgment,  and  unites  with  strong 
good  sense  a  quality  of  humor  which  has  won 
for  him  a  host  of  friends  in  both  professional 
and  social  life. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  He  was  married  in  1874  to 
Sina  A.  Harvey,  of  Wilmington,  Clinton 
county,  Ohio.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  eleven  children,  four  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Jones 
and  his  wife  are  worthy  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


kJ^\  EV.    JOHN   KAUFMANN,    pastor  of 
I  /«^     Emanuel   Evangelical    church,    Com- 
_P     mercial    street,    Dayton,    Ohio,    was 
born  in   Fluorn,  ober  amt  Oberndorf, 
Wurtemberg,    German}',    August    13,    1834,    a 
son  of  John  George  and   Anna    (Ruoff)    Kauf- 
mann,  the  former  of  whom   died    in    German}' 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  and  the  latter  at 
at  the   age  of  seventy.      The    father    was  for 
many  years   mayor    of    Fluorn    in    his  native 
province,  but  resigned  his  office  some  time  be- 
fore his  death,  being  succeeded  by  his  brother, 
through  election. 

John  Kaufmann  received  his  elementary 
education  in  his  native  land  and  in  his  native 
tongue,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  came 
to  America  in  1854,  two  years  after  his  brother 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


617 


Andrew,  who  died  some  thirty  years  ago  in 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  leaving  a  family.  John 
first  located  in  Marshall,  Clark  county,  111., 
worked  at  farming  till  1863,  at  the  same  time 
acquiring  an  English  education.  In  1863  he 
became  an  exhorter  in  the  Evangelical  asso- 
ciation, and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  Septem- 
ber of  the  same  year,  after  which  he  served 
the  Clay  county  (Ind.)  mission  one  year;  next 
served  the  mission  two  years  at  Bunker  Hill, 
Miami  county,  Ind.,  and  then  two  years  at  the 
church  in  South  Bend,  Ind.,  next,  two  years 
in  the  First  church  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.  He 
then  officiated  at  Olney,  111.,  for  three  years, 
1  whence  he  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  had  a 
charge  from  1873  to  1876,  during  which  period 
his  present  church  edifice  and  parsonage  were 
erected.  In  the  last-mentioned  year  the  con- 
ference divided,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Kaufmann  united 
with  the  South  Indiana  conference,  and  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Marshall  circuit,  over 
four  congregations,  and  officiated  for  three 
years;  he  was  then  again  stationed  at  Brazil 
and  remained  a  year  and  four  months,  when, 
on  the  death  of  the  presiding  elder,  Rev.  H.  L. 
Fisher,  of  the  Olney  (111.)  district,  Mr.  Kauf- 
mann was  elected  his  successor.  Here  he 
served  until  the  convening  of  the  conference, 
when  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Olney  district, 
and  served  for  two  years — his  home  during  all 
this  time  being  at  Marshall,  111. ;  he  was  then 
re-elected  to  Olney  for  four  years,  then  to  the 
Louisville  district,  where  he  served  for  three 
and  a  half  years.  In  April,  1893,  at  Dayton, 
the  conferences  were  reunited  and  the  con- 
solidated body  is  now  known  as  the  Indiana 
conference.  By  this  body  Rev.  Kaufmann 
was  appointed  to  his  present  charge. 

The  Emanuel  Evangelical  church  was  or- 
ganized in  1840,  Rev.  A.  B.  Schaefer  being 
the  first  minister.  It  has  always  been  pros- 
perous, although  recently  an  English  mission 
has  drawn  away   thirty-five    of    its    members. 


Its  present  membership  is  226,  and  its  Sun- 
day-school enrollment  is  200;  its  property,  in- 
cluding church  building  and  parsonage,  is 
valued  at  $23,500.  Rev.  Mr.  Kaufmann, 
during  his  incumbency,  has  done  his  full  share 
toward  maintaining  the  prosperity  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  has  always  been  active  and 
earnest  in  his  ministerial  labors.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  general  conference 
for  five  terms,  and  has  be.en  a  delegate  to  the 
board  of  missions  and  a  trustee  of  the  North- 
western college  for  many  years.  He  is  elo- 
quent and  fervid,  devoted  and  faithful,  has 
everywhere  been  received  with  great  favor, 
and  has  left  the  impress  of  his  piety  on  every 
charge  which  has  had  the  good  fortune  to  sit 
under  his  ministrations. 

Rev.  Mr.  Kaufmann  was  married  at  Mar- 
shall, Clark  county,  111.,  December  31,  1858, 
to  Miss  Mary  Susanna  Snyder,  a  native  of 
Allentown,  Pa.,  born  September  24,  1836. 
The  fruit  of  this  union  has  been  thirteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  only  one  deceased  was 
named  Gideon,  who  was  killed  in  a  railroad 
accident  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  Two 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  married,  viz: 
Aaron,  twin  brother  of  Gideon,  a  commercial 
traveler  of  Olney,  111. ;  Otto,  on  the  old  farm 
in  Marshall,  111;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  William 
Voigt,  a  salesman  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind. ,  and 
Mary,  married  to  Henry  Bamesberger,  of  Mar- 
shall, 111.  The  other  children  are  named  Ed- 
ward William,  John  Franklin,  Samuel,  Har- 
mon, Oscar,  Orestes,  Lillian  and  Flora.  Of 
these,  Harmon  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Kaufmann  &  Horner,  at  Olney,  111;  John  and 
Samuel  are  bridge  carpenters;  Oscar  is  clerk- 
ing in  his  brother's  store  in  Olney,  111.,  and 
Orestes  is  at  home  with  his  parents  and  his 
sisters,  Lillian  and  Flora. 

In  his  politics,  Rev.  Mr.  Kaufmann  has  been 
a  warm  supporter  of  the  republican  party  dur- 
ing all  his  forty-two  years'  residence  in  America. 


618 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lS~\  AVID  KEMP,  a  retired  farmer  and 
I  prominent  citizen  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
/^^J  was  born  in  Mad  River  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  November 
8,  i  S  1 6.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Herring)  Kemp,  the  former  a  native  of  Fred- 
erick county,  Md.,  and  the  latter  of  Switzer- 
land. They  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  as  follows:  George  W. ;  Mar- 
garet; Barbara,  wife  of  William  Steele;  David, 
and  Catherine,  wife  of  Mathias  Burrows. 

Joseph  Kemp  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
came  to  Ohio  in  i  806,  with  his  parents,  who 
located  in  Mad  River  township,  and  there  Jo- 
seph followed  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1824,  when  he  was  but  thirty-six 
years  old.  He  served  in  the  war  of  181 2  as  a 
teamster,  and  supplied  provisions  to  the  troops. 
His  wife  died  in  1861,  aged  seventy-six  years. 
She  vvas  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 

Ludwig  Kemp,  the  father  of  Joseph  Kemp, 
was  of  German  descent  and  a  native  of  Mary- 
land. The  name  in  Germany  was  spelled 
Kempf,  but  to  simplify  it  the  last  letter  was 
dropped  early  in  the  history  of  the  family  in 
this  country.  He  removed  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  in  1806,  purchased  land  in  Mad 
River  township,  and  lived  thereon  until  his 
death.  He  and  his  devoted  wife  lie  side  by 
side  in  the  Kemp  burying  ground.  They 
reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Mr.  Kemp,  though  of  slender  build,  was  of 
strong  constitution,  and  of  much  refinement  in 
his  habits  and  tastes.  He  was  successful  in 
the  accumulation  of  property,  and  at  one  time 
was  quite  wealthy,  but  divided  his  estate 
among  his  children,  and  eventually  nearly  all 
of  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  grandchildren. 

David  Kemp  lived  on  the  old  farm  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  then  moved 
into   Dayton,  for  the   purpose  of   learning  the 


tailor's  trade,  which  he  successfully  followed 
for  about  eighteen  years.  Then,  owing  to  ill 
health  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  that  occupa- 
tion, and,  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  his 
physician,  went  to  California  in  1849.  He  re- 
mained in  that  state  nine  years,  engaged  in 
mining  a  part  of  the  time,  and  in  this  occupa- 
tion accumulated  considerable  wealth,  return- 
ing to  Ohio,  sound  in  health  and  strong  as  in 
youth.  Mr.  Kemp  has  since  been  engaged  in 
superintending  his  farming  operations,  though 
not  personally  engaged  in  physical  labor.  His 
farm  lies  in  Mad  River  township,  contains 
sixty-three  acres  of  land,  and  was  purchased 
by  him  in  1854,  while  at  home  on  a  visit  from 
California. 

Mr.  Kemp  was  married  November  14,  1867, 
to  Miss  Catherine  Callahan,  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  and  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Forest)  Callahan,  of  Greenville  district,  that 
state,  but  afterward  residents  of  Louisville, 
Ky.  No  children  have  been  born  to  this  mar- 
riage. Mrs.  Kemp  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  to  which  denomination  her  parents  be- 
longed. Mr.  Kemp  became  an  Odd  Fellow  in 
1838,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  order 
ever  since.  After  his  return  from  California 
he  lived  on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  his 
marriage  in  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Dayton, 
living  on  Tecumseh  street  one  year.  Then, 
after  living  on  Maple  street  for  a  year,  he  pur- 
chased his  present  home  at  No.  201  Bainbridge 
street,  where  he  and  his  wife  have  resided  for 
the  past  twenty-six  years.  Politically  Mr. 
Kemp  is  a  stalwart  democrat,  but  has  never 
sought  nor  desired  office  of  any  kind.  He  is 
now  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Montgomery 
county,  being  over  eighty  years  of  age.  He 
and  his  wife  are  living  in  a  quiet  and  happy 
manner,  surrounded  by  numerous  friends,  and 
enjoying  the  results  of  the  labors  of  earlier 
years,  and  the  fullest  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  that  know  them. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


(319 


^yyMLLIAM    HUGHEY    KEMPER,    a 

MM  director   and   the   assistant  superin- 

\jL^  tendent  of  the  Crawford,  McGregor 
&  Canby  company,  of  Dayton,  and 
superintendent  of  the  company's  plant  at  Gay- 
lord,  Otsego  county,  Mich.,  was  born  in  In- 
dianapolis, Ind.,  April  14,  1841.  His  parents 
were  John  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Hughey)  Kemper, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Kentucky 
and  the  latter  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  the  only 
daughter  of  William  Hughey,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  that  city.  John  M.  Kemper  was  for 
many  years  a  contractor  and  builder  of  Indian- 
apolis, and  died  in  that  city  in  1878.  His 
widow  then  removed  to  Dayton  to  make  her 
home  with  her  son,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography. 

William  Hughey  Kemper  was  reared  in  In- 
dianapolis, and  was  educated  there  in  the 
public  schools.  In  1857  he  began  working  at 
the  lastmaker's  trade  in  Indianapolis,  and  con- 
tinued thus  engaged  until  1861,  when  he  re- 
sponded to  the  first  call  for  troops  to  suppress 
the  Rebellion.  He  became  a  private  soldier 
in  the  Eleventh  Indiana  volunteer  infantry — 
Gen.  Lew  Wallace's  zouaves.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  Gen.  Harrison's  regiment,  the  Sev- 
entieth Indiana,  with  which  he  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  Georgia 
campaign,  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea, 
was  at  Raleigh,  N.  C. ,  when  Lee  surrendered, 
and  participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  war  having  come  to  an  end,  Mr. 
Kemper  returned  to  Indianapolis  and  entered 
the  employ  of  the  successors  to  the  firm  with 
which  he  had  been  engaged  before  his  enlist- 
ment. In  1869  he  removed  to  Dayton,  taking 
a  position  with  the  last-manufacturing  firm  of 
Crawford  &  Coffman,  the  place  given  him  be- 
ing that  of  foreman  of  the  boot-tree  depart- 
ment. Remaining  with  this  firm  through  all 
its  changes,  when  the  name  became  Crawford, 


McGregor  &  Canby  he  became  assistant  su- 
perintendent, and  in  July,  1895,  was  made  su- 
perintendent of  the  Gaylord  branch  in  Michi- 
gan. In  March,  1896,  when  the  company  was 
incorporated,  he  became  a  member  of  the  new 
corporation. 

Mr.  Kemper  was  married  in  Indianapolis 
in  1 861,  to  Lizzie  M.  Connolly,  of  that  city, 
and  to  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  five 
children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living.  These 
are  as  follows:  Albert  H.,  vice-president  of 
the  Brownell  Manufacturing  company,  of  Day- 
ton; William  R.,  with  Callender  &  Patterson, 
of  Dayton;  Ida  E.,  and  John  Sanford,  ma- 
chinist, with  the  Brownell  Manufacturing  com- 
pany. Frank  E.  died  in  1875,  m  tne  ninth 
year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Kemper  has  always  been  a  successful 
business  man,  having  been  steadily  promoted 
from  one  position  to  another  as  the  result  of 
faithful  performance  of  his  duty,  and  of  the 
appreciation  and  esteem  of  his  employers. 


Kyw^ALTER  S.  KIDDER,  the  assistant 
MM  manager   and   treasurer  of  the   Dr. 

\JL/^  Harter  Medicine  company,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  Urbana, 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  August  17,  1866, 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city, 
and  in  1879  entered  the  employ  of  a  grocery 
firm.  Three  months  later  he  entered  a  furni- 
ture house  to  learn  upholstering,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  a  year  entered  the 'office  of  the 
Indiana,  Bloomington  &  Western  Railroad  com- 
pany, to  learn  telegraphy.  After  three  months, 
he  was  appointed  night  operator,  and  was,  in 
due  course  of  time,  promoted  to  day  operator 
and  clerk.  In  1882  he  accepted  the  chief 
clerkship  of  the  Nickel  Plate  and  Big  Four  Rail- 
way companies  at  Green  Springs  Junction,  and 
in  1883  was  assigned  as  bill  clerk  to  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  which  position  he  held  until  1887, 


620 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


when  the  Ohio,  Indiana  &  Western  company 
relinquished  its  business  on  the  Cincinnati, 
Sandusky  &  Cleveland  line.  He  was  then 
made  chief  clerk  of  the  Cincinnati,  Sandusky 
&  Cleveland  company,  at  Springfield,  which 
position  he  held  from  October  10,  1887,  until 
May  3,  1888,  when  he  was  made  chief  clerk 
in  the  auditor's  office  of  the  Cincinnati,  San- 
dusky &  Cleveland  railroad,  which  place  he 
held  until  March,  1890.  He  then  resigned  to 
accept  a  position  as  manager  of  the  Hayner 
Distilling  company,  which  he  held  until  May  3, 
1894,  when  he  entered  upon  his  present  re- 
sponsible office. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Kidder  took  place 
August  27,  1889,  to  Miss  Georgianna  Hayner. 
Mr.  Kidder  is  affable  and  courteous,  and  is  rec- 
ognized as  a  young  man  of  the  highest  type  of 
business  capabilities,  and  this  estimation  of  his 
character  is  abundantly  substantiated  by  his 
career  up  to  the  present  time.  But  it  now  be- 
comes necessary  to  make  a  digression  and  to 
give  a  sketch  of  the  lives  of  the  gentlemen  who 
stand  at  the  head  of  the  well-known  company 
of  which  Mr.  Kidder  is  the  assistant  manager 
and  treasurer. 

Dr.  M.  G.  Harter  was  born  in  Harrison 
county,  Ky.,  in  1S17,  of  Virginian  parents, 
who  moved  from  Rockingham  county  to  Ken- 
tucky in  1795.  Jacob  D.  Harter,  the  father 
of  the  doctor,  was  a  volunteer  in  the  war  of 
18 1 2,  and  in  1820  came  to  Ohio  and  settled 
in  the  wilderness  of  Miami  county,  in  Eliza- 
beth township.  He  was  reared  among  the 
pioneers  and  educated  in  the  frontier  schools, 
but,  as  he  had  always  manifested  a  disposi- 
tion in  his  youthful  days  to  become  a  physi- 
cian, he  was  permitted  to  prepare  himself 
under  the  preceptorship  of  a  practicing  mem- 
ber of  the  profession  for  entrance  to  the  uni- 
versity of  the  city  of  New  York,  from  the 
medical  department  of  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated, and  then  returned  to  Ohio  and  engaged  I 


in  active  practice.  For  several  years  he  alter- 
nated his  practice  with  further  attendance  at 
the  best  medical  colleges  in  the  country,  and, 
finally,  after  settling  down  to  practice,  became 
dissatisfied  with  the  formulas  of  his  prede- 
cessors and  originated  new  compounds  for  the 
cure  of  the  most  prevalent  disorders,  and 
these  have  since  made  his  name  well  known. 
These  preparations,  being  in  constant  demand 
throughout  the  country  on  account  of  their 
efficacy,  were  at  first  packed  in  plain  brown 
paper  and  shipped  by  his  own  hands;  but  the 
demand  became  so  great  that  he  was  forced 
to  give  up  his  practice  and  to  devote  his  entire 
attention  to  the  compounding  of  his  remedies. 
This  he  continued  to  do  at  Troy,  Ohio,  until 
May,  1866,  when,  in  order  to  avail  himself  of 
greater  shipping  advantages  by  which  he  could 
reach  the  remoter  parts  of  the  country,  he 
removed  to  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  died 
in  1875.  In  i895  the  business  was  removed 
to  Dayton,  where  the  immense  laboratory  is 
now  located  and  where  ample  railroad  facili- 
ties for  the  shipment  of  preparations  to  all 
points  are  at  hand.  While  in  Saint  Louis, 
Mo.,  the  doctor  formed  a  joint  stock  company, 
July  4,  1873,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $300,000, 
and  to  the  incorporators  this  capital  netted  a 
handsome  dividend  until  the  dissolution  of  the 
company  in  1894. 

Samuel  K.  Harter,  brother  of  Dr.  M.  G. 
Harter,  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  in 
1823,  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a  good 
academical  education.  In  1846,  after  leaving 
school,  he  engaged  with  J.  M.  Hart,  of  Troy, 
in  the  iron  and  hardware  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Hart  &  Harter,  which  firm  was 
steadily  successful  for  thirty  years,  and  was 
terminated  only  by  the  death  of  the  senior 
partner,  when  Mr.  Harter  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone  and  still  conducts  it,  making  a  rec- 
ord of  half  a  century  in  this   trade.      In  1863, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


621 


Mr.  Harter  also  took  an  interest  in  the  manu- 
facturing concern  of  his  brother,  Dr.  M.  G. 
Harter,  which  he  still  holds.  Before  the 
death  of  Mr.  Hart,  the  firm  of  Hart  &  Harter 
largely  invested  in  farm  lands,  which  are  still 
held  by  Mr.  Harter.  He  is  also  a  director  in 
the  Miami  county  branch  of  the  State  bank  of 
Ohio,  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First 
National  bank  of  Troy,  and  has  been  a  director 
thereof  ever  since  the  beginning,  being  its 
largest  stockholder;  he  was  also  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  in  the  Dayton  &  Michigan 
Railroad  company;  he  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  establishing  the  Troy  Carriage  com- 
pany, and  has  been  one  of  its  directors  ever 
since.  For  years  Mr.  Harter  was  president  of 
the  Troy  board  of  education,  was  mayor  of 
the  city  several  years,  and  was  also  for  a  long 
time  president  of  the  Knoop's  Children's  home 
of  Miami  county.  He  is  probably  the  largest 
landholder  in  Miami  county,  and  as  a  business 
man  and  citizen  his  name  stands  to-day  with- 
out a  blemish. 


aHRISTIAN  GOTTLIEB  KELLNER, 
proprietor  of  Kellner's  dye  works,  at 
128  Saint  Clair  street,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  No- 
vember 13,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian 
Gottlieb  and  Johanna  Christina  (Fuchs)  Kell- 
ner,  to  whom  there  were  born  eight  children, 
seven  sons  and  one  daughter,  six  of  whom  are 
now  living,  as  follows:  Frederick,  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. ;  Wilhelm,  of  Greitz,  Germany; 
August,  of  the  same  place;  Heinrich,  of  New 
York  city;  C.  Gottlieb;  and  Hermann,  of  San 
Francisco,  Cal.  The  eldest  and  youngest  of 
the  family,  Christian  and  Paulina,  are  dead. 

Christian  Kellner,  the  father,  was  a  farmer 
in  his  native  country,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
German  army,  and    died    in    Germany    about 


1855.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1895,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years  in  the 
old  country. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Johan  Kellner, 
was  a  farmer  in  Germany,  and  lived  to  be 
about  seventy-five  years  of  age.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather,  Johan  Gottlieb  Fuchs,  was 
likewise  a  farmer  in  Germany,  and  died  in  1879 
aged  seventy-eight  years. 

Christian  Gottlieb  Kellner,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  reared  in  Germany  and  there 
received  a  good  education,  growing  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm.  When  yet  a  small 
boy  he  began  to  learn  to  print  wall  paper,  and 
to  weave  and  print  cloth,  and  these  occupa- 
tions he  followed  in  Germany  for  many  years, 
or  until  1873,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  landing  in  New  York  on  the  12th  of 
July.  Soon  afterward  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  remained  there  engaged  in  the  same  oc- 
cupations for  seven  years.  Since  then  he 
traveled  extensively  in  the  United  States,  with 
the  view  of  informing  himself  as  to  the  condi- 
tion of  the  people  of  the  different  sections,  and 
as  to  the  climate,  etc.,  of  the  several  states, 
and  on  his  wedding  trip,  in  1894-5,  ne  visited 
the  Mid-winter  fair  in  California. 

Mr.  Kellner  arrived  in  Dayton,  June  27, 
1 88 1,  and  almost  immediately  purchased  the 
dye-house  of  C.  H.  Frank.  Since  then  he  has 
been  continuously  in  the  business,  which  is 
steadily  growing,  and  is  increasing  in  popular- 
ity as  well  as  in  proportions.  Mr.  Kellner  is 
one  of  the  successful  and  enterprising  business 
men  of  Dayton,  and  a   most  excellent   citizen. 

Mr.  Kellner  was  married  June  9,  1894,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Uhrich,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rosa  (Steiner)  Uhrich.  To  this  marriage  there 
has  been  born  one  child — Henry  William.  Mr. 
Kellner's  business  place  is  in  the  first  hotel 
building  ever  erected  in  Dayton.  Mr.  Kellner 
intends,  in  1897,  to  replace  this  old  building 
with  a  new  and  modern    structure,  which  will 


622 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


be  better  adapted  to  the  necessities  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  will  be  more  in  keeping  with  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  city  at  large. 


at 


TLLIAM  M.  KINNARD.  — Among 
the  younger  manufacturers#of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  few,  if  any,  have  had  a 
more  successful  career  or  attained 
a  place  of  more  prominence  than  William  M. 
Kinnard,  head  of  the  Kinnard  Manufacturing 
company.  Mr.  Kinnard  is  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  state,  having  been  born  in  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  on  August  27,  1857,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  D.  and  Martha  (Brown)  Kinnard. 
The  boyhood  days  of  Mr.  Kinnard  were  spent 
in  a  manner  common  to  the  average  boy  of  his 
time  and  surroundings.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  until  during  his  fourteenth  year, 
and  then  left  school  to  begin  an  apprenticeship 
at  the  printing  and  bookbinding  trade,  at  which 
he  served  five  years.  In  November,  1878, 
three  months  after  completing  his  apprentice- 
ship, Mr.  Kinnard  left  Harrisburg  and  came  to 
Ohio,  stopping  at  Dayton  on  his  way  to  Cin- 
cinnati, in  which  latter  place  he  expected  to 
find  employment  at  his  trade.  Being,  how- 
ever, in  urgent  need  of  employment,  as  his 
finances  were  ebbing,  he  decided  to  remain 
here,  at  least  temporarily,  if  he  found  any- 
thing to  do.  He  secured  a  place  in  the  Odell 
printing  and  binding  establishment  almost  im- 
mediately, and  a  few  weeks  later,  when  a 
change  in  the  proprietorship  of  the  business 
was  made,  the  firm  becoming  that  of  Odell  & 
Mayer,  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the  con- 
cern. During  the  following  four  years  Mr. 
Kinnard's  services  as  superintendent  were  so 
valuable,  and  so  apparent  to  his  employers 
were  his  abilities,  that,  at  the  end  of  that 
period,  he  was  offered  and  accepted  a  partner- 
ship in  the  firm.  However,  while  an  invoice 
of  the   plant   and    stock  was  being  made,  pre- 


paratory to  the  admission  of  Mr.  Kinnard  to 
the  firm,  the  senior  partner,  Mr.  Odell,  died, 
and  the  business  was  consequently  terminated. 
Mr.  Kinnard  then  formed  the  Troup-Kinnard 
company,  for  the  manufacture  of  blank  books 
and  stationery,  which  firm  continued  with  suc- 
cess until  the  fall  of  1887,  when  it  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Troup  Manufacturing  company, 
from  which,  however,  Mr.  Kinnard  retired, 
selling  his  interest  to  the  incorporated  concern. 
Following  this,  Mr.  Kinnard  spent  several 
months  in  the  west,  recuperating  his  health, 
which  had  become  somewhat  impaired  by  too 
close  application  to  his  duties. 

He  returned  to  active  business  in  the  spring 
of  1888,  when  he,  with  three  other  well-known 
gentleman,  purchased  the  interest  of  J.  B. 
Sefton  in  the  Crume  &  Sefton  Manufacturing 
company,  of  which  concern  he  was  made  sec- 
retary and  treasurer.  This  position  he  filled 
until  his  resignation  in  the  winter  of  1893.  In 
this  year  he  was  one  of  five  organizers  and  in- 
corporators of  the  Dayton  Autographic  & 
Register  company,  of  which  he  became  secre- 
tary, and  so  continued  during  the  first  year  of 
its  existence.  The  gentlemen  connected  with 
Mr.  Kinnard  in  this  enterprise  were  Messrs. 
E.  J.  Barney,  John  W.  Stoddard,  George  P. 
Huffman,  O.  M.  Gottschall,  W.  E.  Crume  and 
John  Kirby,  Jr.  In  1893  Mr.  Kinnard  also 
organized  and  established  the  Merchants'  Sup- 
ply company,  which  company  was  absorbed 
in  August  of  the  same  year  by  the  Carter- 
Crume  company.  The  latter  corporation  was 
an  amalgamation  of  the  Crume  &  Sefton  Co., 
the  Merchants  Supply  Co.,  the  Dayton  Auto- 
graphic cSc  Register  Co.,  of  Dayton,  Carter 
&  Co.,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  and  Carter  &Co., 
Rodswell  &  Co.,  and  the  H.  Houseman  Art 
Metal  Co.,  all  of  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.  This 
company  is  one  of  the  largest  concerns  in  the 
country,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $1,800,000, 
with  head  offices  at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


625 


branch  offices  at  Dayton,  Ohio;  and  with 
plants  at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. ,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
Toronto,  Canada,  and  Saginaw,  Mich.  Upon 
the  formation  of  the  new  concern,  Mr.  Kin- 
nard  was  made  treasurer  of  the  western  de- 
partment and  held  that  office  until  1895,  when 
he  resigned,  but  continues  as  a  director  of  the 
company.  In  February,  1896,  he  organized 
the  Kinnard  Manufacturing  company,  for  the 
manufacture  of  flour  sacks  and  water-proof 
fiber  signs,  this  being  now  one  of  the  success- 
ful enterprises  of  the  city,  and  to  which  he 
devotes  the  greater  portion  of  his  time  and 
attention. 

Mr.  Kinnard  is  the  inventor  and  patentee 
of  upward  of  forty  patents,  all  of  which  he  has 
disposed  of  except  his  first  issue.  The  career 
of  Mr.  Kinnard  has  been  a  most  active  one, 
and  success  has  crowned  his  efforts  to  a  marked 
degree.  Still  a  young  man,  in  the  very  prime 
of  life,  he  has  established  a  splendid  business 
reputation,  and  is  rated  among  the  leading  and 
substantial  men  of  a  city  noted  for  its  conserv- 
ative and  practical  business  men;  and  all  this 
has  been  accomplished  by  his  own  efforts  and 
in  a  comparatively  short  time.  When  he  came 
to  Dayton,  in  1878,  Mr.  Kinnard  was  possessed 
of  no  friends  in  the  city,  and  of  small  means. 
Not  only  has  he  thrived  and  met  with  success 
in  business,  but  he  has  aided  very  materially 
at  the  same  time  in  advancing  the  prosperity 
of  his  adopted  city,  and  has  contributed  his 
share  toward  the  development  of  her  enter- 
prises and  institutions.  His  name  has  been 
connected,  as  organizer  and  promoter,  with 
several  of  the  leading  and  prosperous  indus- 
tries of  the  city,  to  the  development  of  all  of 
which  his  energy,  talents  and  means  were  given. 
To  come  into  a  strange  city,  without  friends  or 
means,  and,  within  less  than  twenty  years' 
time,  to  rise  by  one's  own  efforts  and  ability  to 
a  position  of  prominence  in  the  manufacturing 
life  of  a  conservative   city   like   Dayton,  to  be 


connected  at  one  time  or  another  with  so  many 
of  her  leading  industries,  and  to  have  had  a 
guiding  hand  and  interest  in  them,  is  an 
achievement  of  which  a  man  and  his  friends 
may  well  be  proud. 

Mr.  Kinnard  was  married  in  Dayton,  in 
1883,  to  Grace,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  R. 
Gebhart,  one  of  the  well-known  and  useful 
business  men  of  Dayton.  To  this  union  one 
son  has  been  born — Joseph  Rittner  Gebhart 
Kinnard.  Mr.  Kinnard  is  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  club,  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
lover  of  all  outdoor  sports  and  recreations,  es- 
pecially with  the  gun,  and  is  a  member  of  sev- 
eral outdoor  clubs.  Personally  Mr.  Kinnard 
is  genial,  liberal-minded  and  progressive,  and 
his  characteristics  and  manners  are  such  that 
he  has  gained  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
admiring  acquaintances. 


EENRY   S.    KIMMEL,    M.  D.,  of  No. 
103  Valley  street,  Dayton,  is  a  native 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
born    December    3,    1833,    a    son  of 
Michael   and  Catherine  (Armentrout)  Kimmel, 
both  now  deceased. 

His  great-grandfather  came  from  Switzer- 
land to  America  in  1760,  settled  in  York  coun- 
ty, Pa. ,  served  gallantly  through  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  reared  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, who  were  named  Abraham,  Jacob,  Isaac, 
Philip,  David,  Solomon,  Michael  and  Lizzie. 
Of  these  children,  David  was  the  progenitor  of 
the  Ohio  branch  of  the  family,  the  others  hav- 
ing scattered  to  different  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  all  reaching  worthy  positions  in 
life — the  only  one,  however,  so  far  as  known, 
who  attained  any  political  prominence  being 
Judge  Kimmel,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  who,  beside 
filling  his  judicial  functions  with  ability,  also 
served  two  terms  in  congress. 


626 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


David  Kimmel,  grandfather  of  Henry  S., 
came  from  Somerset  county,  Pa.,  to  Ohio  in 
the  spring  of  1817,  and  settled  on  a  farm  six 
miles  west  of  Dayton,  where  he  died,  Septem- 
ber 25,  1827,  aged  eighty-four  years,  the  farm 
falling  to  the  lot  of  his  son  Lewis,  and  later  to 
his  grandson  Lewis,  son  of  Lewis.  David 
Kimmel  had  been  twice  married,  and  to  his 
first  union  were  born  two  children,  of  whom 
but  little,  if  anything,  is  now  known;  to  his 
second  marriage  the  following-named  children 
were  born:  Susan,  who  was  married  to  Michael 
Beeghly,  and  died  March  5,  1858;  John,  who 
was  born  November  30,  1795,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1877;  Jonas;  David,  who  was  born 
August  14,  1S00,  and  died  August  17,  1863; 
Lewis,  who  died  April  22,  1876,  in  his  seventy- 
second  year;  Hannah,  deceased  wife  of  David 
Murray;  Michael,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  January  10,  18 10,  and  died  October  29, 
1878;  and  Magdalene,  the  youngest,  was  mar- 
ried to  Christian  Forney,  and  died  January 
25,  1858.  The  family  were  all  members  of 
the  Dunkard  church. 

Michael  Kimmel  and  his  wife,  Catherine 
(Armentrout)  Kimmel,  had  born  to  their  mar- 
riage eight  children,  viz:  Henry  S.,  whose 
name  opens  this  sketch;  Aaron,  a  farmer  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio;  Mary,  wife  cf  B. 
C.  Jackson,  of  Darke  county;  George,  of  Mont- 
gomery county;  Sarah,  wife  of  B.  F.  Keller,  of 
Darke  county;  Michael  C. ,  deceased;  David, 
deceased;  and  Susan,  wife  of  John  Shank,  of 
Montgomery  county. 

Dr.  Henry  S.  Kimmel,  after  passing  through 
the  usual  preliminary  course  of  literary  in- 
struction, began  reading  medicine,  in  1858, 
with  Dr.  J.  L.  Gephart,  of  Liberty,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  and,  after  due  prepara- 
tion, entered  the  Cincinnati  college  of  Medicine 
and  Surgery,  from  which  he  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and  at  once  entered  upon 
the   practice   of   his   profession   in    Brookville, 


Montgomery  county.  He  then  removed  to 
Liberty,  in  the  same  county,  and  in  the  latter 
town  conducted  a  store,  and  was  also  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  township  treasurer  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  1882  he  came  to  Dayton,  and 
here,  in  addition  to  attending  to  his  duties  as 
a  practitioner  of  medicine,  he  also  conducts  a 
successful  drug  business. 

Politically  Dr.  Kimmel  is  a  stalwart  repub- 
lican, and  in  his  fraternal  professional  associa- 
tion is  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Medical  and 
Montgomery  county  Medical  societies,  while 
in  his  secret  societary  connection  he  is  an  Odd 
Fellow.  He  is  the  husband  of  Miss  Mary 
King,  a  native  of  Germantown,  Montgomery 
county,  whom  he  married  June  n,  1861,  the 
union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  three  children: 
Delia,  now  the  widow  of  I.  T.  Holt;  Annie, 
wife  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Winder,  a  Presbyterian 
minister  of  Galesville,  Wis. ;  and  Vesta,  wife 
of  J.  Orville  Clemens.  Dr.  Kimmel  has  been 
very  successful  in  his  profession,  having  been 
thoroughly  educated  therein,  and  is  sincerely 
esteemed  as  a  citizen. 


aHARLES  S.  KING,  dealer  in  coal, 
feed,  lime,  etc.,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Harrison  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  February  12,  1851, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  B.  and  Louisa  P.  (Spin- 
ning) King.  The  father,  William  B. ,  was  born 
in  1822,  in  what  is  now  a  portion  of  the  city 
of  Dayton,  and  the  mother,  two  years  his  jun- 
ior, is  also  a  native  of  Montgomery  county. 
The  grandparents  of  Charles  S.  King,  on  both 
sides,  were  early  settlers  of  this  section  of 
Ohio,  and  the  great-grandfather,  King,  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  the  territory  now  em- 
braced within  the  limits  of  Dayton. 

To  William    B.  King   and   wife  have    been 
i  born  nine  children,  of  whom  five  only  are  now 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


627 


living,  viz:  Jennie,  wife  of  E.  A.  Townley, 
who  is  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Terre 
Haute,  Ind. ;  Charles  S.,  whose  name  opens 
this  biography;  Elizabeth,  who  is  still  unmar- 
ried and  resides  with  her  parents;  Susan,  who 
is  married  to  Charles  Allen,  a  farmer  and  gar- 
dener, residing  in  Springdale,  Ohio;  and  Lou- 
isa (Mrs.  William  Day),  of  Dayton.  Of  the 
four  deceased,  Mary,  Herbert  and  Allie  died  in 
childhood,  and  Wilmer  Gurley  died  in  Dayton 
in   1885. 

Charles  S.  King  passed  the  earlier  part  of 
his  life  on  his  father's  farm  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
While  still  quite  young  he  was  employed  to  as- 
sist in  constructing  the  Home  avenue  railroad, 
and  six  months  after  its  completion  was  ap- 
pointed a  conductor  and  then  superintendent, 
continuing  in  this  capacity  for  over  seventeen 
years.  In  1888  he  engaged  in  the  coal  trade, 
and  in  1890  established  his  present  business, 
which  is  now  quite  extensive. 

November  5,  1874,  Mr.  King  was  united 
in  marriage,  at  the  national  military  home, 
with  Miss  Anna  J.  Miller,  daughter  of  Mrs.  E. 
L.  Miller,  matron  of  that  institution.  Mrs. 
Miller  was  connected  with  the  United  States 
sanitary  commission  during  the  Civil  war  and 
has  largely  devoted  her  life,  throughout  that 
struggle  and  since  its  close,  to  the  care  and 
comfort  of  the  brave  men  who  defended  the 
Union.  Miss  Miller,  now  Mrs.  King,  was  edu- 
cated in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Chicago,  111., 
Green  Bay,  Wis.,  and  Columbus,  Ohio.  To 
th^  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  have  been 
born  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  are, 
Carl  Spinning,  Lloyd  Stanley,  Emma  Louise 
and  Marguerite.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church,  and 
have  reared  their  children  in  the  same  simple, 
but  rigid,  religious  faith.  Mr.  King  is  a  dea- 
con and  trustee  of  this  congregation  and  his 
father,    William   B.    King,   is   an   elder   in   the 


same  church.  In  politics  Mr.  King  is  a  re- 
publican, but  is  not  aggressive  as  a  party  man 
and  has  never  been  an  office  seeker. 

Of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King,  the 
eldest,  Carl,  has  until  recently  been  an  assist- 
ant to  his  father  in  his  business.  Lloyd,  the 
second  born,  is  a  pharmaceutist  and  is  em- 
ployed by  a  drug  firm  of  Dayton;  the  elder 
daughter  is  a  student  in  one  of  the  city  schools, 
and  the  younger  daughter  is  now  a  child  of 
four  years.  The  King  family  have  for  several 
generations  been  important  factors  in  the 
development  of  the  material  interests  and  the 
social  life  of  Dayton,  and  the  name  is  espe- 
cially identified  with  the  growth  and  improve- 
ment of  that  section  of  the  city  lying  west  of 
the  Miami  river. 


EENRY  KLEPINGER,  proprietor  of 
the  Dayton  Leather  &  Collar  com- 
pany, the  business  of  which  is  located 
on  Second  street,  resides  in  Madison 
township  on  a  farm,  and  is  considered  one  of 
the  solid  men  of  Montgomery  county.  He 
succeeded  his  son  Charles  in  the  enterprise  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged,  and  which  was  es- 
tablished in  1853.  It  is  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous concerns  in  the  city  of  Dayton,  being 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  horse  collars, 
leather  nets  and  leather  specialties  of  numerous 
kinds,  which  find  a  market  throughout  the 
central  and  southern  states.  This  business  is 
under  the  management  of  Charles  Klepinger, 
son  of  Henry  Klepinger,  who  was  born  on  the 
home  place  in  Madison  township,  December 
16,  1865.  He  received  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  and  later 
took  a  course  of  study  in  the  Miami  Commer- 
cial college,  remaining  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  Then  accepting  a  po- 
sition as  bookkeeper  with  Claude  M.  Mitchell, 
he  served  in  that  capacity    for  six  years,    after 


628 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


which,  in  company  with  George  K.  Hill,  he 
succeeded  to  the  business  of  Mr.  Mitchell,  then 
on  Second  street,  and  which  consisted  of  the 
manufacture  of  collars.  These  two  gentlemen 
continued  as  partners  until  January  i,  1895, 
when  Charles  Klepinger  took  the  entire  busi- 
ness, and  in  August,  1895,  it  was  removed  to 
the  present  location,  Charles  having  then 
been  succeeded  by  his  father,  Henry  Klep- 
inger, as  owner  of  the  establishment. 

Charles  Klepinger  was  married  October  3, 
1893,  to  Miss  Etta  May  Anderson,  of  Dayton, 
and  a  daughter  of  J.  I.  Anderson.  They  have 
one  child,  Edith  M.,  and  reside  at  No.  52 
McOwen  street,  Dayton,  Ohio.  They  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and 
Mr.  Klepinger  is  one  of  the  popular  and  pro- 
gressive young  men  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  and 
the  manager  of  one  of  its  most  successful 
commercial  industries. 


^^EORGE  MONROE  LEOPOLD,  a 
■  ^\  leading  member  of  the  Dayton  bar 
^L^J  and  member  of  the  Ohio  legislature, 
representing  Montgomery  county,  was 
born  August  22,  1864,  at  the  little  town  of 
Trotwood,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  His 
parents  are  Charles  W.  and  Lucretia  (Lutz) 
Leopold,  both  natives  of  the  Shenandoah  val- 
ley, Virginia.  They  came  to  Ohio  in  1863, 
locating  in  Montgomery  county,  and  have  since 
resided  here. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Leopold 
was  born  either  in  Virginia  or  North  Carolina, 
his  people  having  been  North  Carolinians.  He 
was  educated  for  the  ministry,  but,  following 
the  death  of  his  wife,  whom  he  had  married  in 
Maryland,  he  abandoned  the  ministry  and 
went  to  the  gold  fields  of  the  west,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  family  being    Pennsylvania   Dutch. 


From    Pennsylvania  he  removed  into  the  Old 
Dominion. 

George  M.  Leopold  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  Perry  township,  Montgomery  county,  and 
attended  the  country  public  schools,  being  in 
school,  generally,  only  a  few  months  in  each 
year  until  he  reached  the  age  of  thirteen,  when 
he  was  able  to  provide  himself  with  books  and 
other  necessaries,  and  attended  school  more 
regularly.  He  continued  in  school  until  he 
reached  his  seventeenth  year,  when  he  secured 
a  license  and  a  country  school  and  began 
teaching,  which  he  continued  for  seven  years. 
During  that  period  he  attended  the  normal 
school  several  summers,  and  later  read  law 
with  S.  H.  Carr  as  his  preceptor.  In  1891  he 
came  to  Dayton  and  began  reading  law  regu- 
larly in  the  office  of  Mr.  Carr,  and  in  June, 
1892,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  at  once 
entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  C.  W.  Dustin 
as  an  assistant  to  that  gentleman,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  nearly  two  years.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  W.  G.  Powell,  under  the 
name  of  Leopold  &  Powell.  This  firm  is  now 
prominent  among  the  younger  members  of  the 
local  bar. 

In  the  spring  of  1895  Mr.  Leopold  became 
a  candidate  at  the  county  republican  primary 
election  for  the  nomination  of  representative 
in  the  Ohio  legislature,  in  which  two  members 
were  seeking  renominations,  and  Mr.  Leopold 
was  successful.  The  contest  was  an  earnest 
one  and  was  carried  on  night  and  day  from  the 
beginning  until  the  end,  and  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Leopold  was  a  new  man  in  the  field,  and  with- 
out experience  as  a  candidate,  made  his  suc- 
cess quite  an  achievement,  and  one  particularly 
pleasing  to  himself  and  his  friends.  At  the 
ensuing  election  he  led  the  legislative  ticket, 
another  noteworthy  fact,  as  he  was  practically 
unknown  in  the  county,  save  in  a  few  town- 
ships, previous  to  the  primaries.  In  the  legis- 
lature Mr.  Leopold  was   assigned  to  the   fol- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


631 


lowing  committees:  Railroad  and  telegraph, 
elections,  fish  culture  and  game,  and  claims. 
During  the  session  of  1896,  in  the  contested 
election  case,  by  which  Charles  O.  Davis,  of 
Franklin  county,  was  unseated,  Mr.  Leopold 
made  the  principal  argument  for  the  committee 
on  elections,  in  an  address  which  gained  him 
quite  a  reputation,  and  from  that  time  on  he 
was  prominent  throughout  the  session,  taking 
part  in  most  of  the  debates  on  the  floor.  Mr. 
Leopold  has  taken  part  in  political  campaigns 
as  a  stumper  since  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  During  the  heated  campaign  of  1896  he 
made  numerous  addresses,  both  in  Montgom- 
ery and  other  counties,  his  work  on  the  stump 
being  very  effective,  as  he  made  a  careful  and 
thorough  study  of  both  the  money  and  tariff 
questions.  As  an  attorney  Mr.  Leopold  has 
been  very  successful.  For  several  years  he 
has  been  quite  prominent  in  fraternal  circles. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  the  Ancient 
Essenics,  Heptasophs,  Foresters,  Royal  Fores- 
ters and  Robin  Hood.  He  is  deputy  supreme 
chief  ranger  of  the  Independent  Order  of  For- 
esters and  supreme  secretary  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Robin  Hood. 

On  July  12,  1888,  Mr.  Leopold  was  mar- 
ried to  Hattie,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  Baker,  of  Louisburg,  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  and  to  this  union  the  following  children 
have  been  born:  Joseph  F.,  Robert  B.  and 
Dorothea. 


EENRY  KISSINGER,  superintendent 
of  the  Free  Public  Employment 
bureau  of  Dayton,  is  a  native  of  this 
city;  within  half  a  block  of  the  pres- 
ent location  of  his  business  office  is  the  place 
of  his  birth,  which  occurred  December  21, 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry  and 
Permelia  (Slaight)  Kissinger,  his  father  having 


been  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  in  the  year 
1805,  and  his  mother  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  five 
years  later.  In  the  year  1825,  the  father 
came  to  this  city  and  established  himself  in  a 
business  that  was  to  continue  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  He  was  a  merchant  tailor,  and 
had  a  long  and  honorable  career,  both  as  a 
business  man  and  as  a  citizen  and  neighbor. 
The  mother  came  overland  to  Dayton  when  a 
child  of  only  two  years,  and  grew  to  young 
womanhood  in  this  city,  where  in  due  time  she 
was  married.  Both  father  and  mother  were 
closely  identified  with  all  the  interests  of  early 
Dayton,  being  among  its  older  settlers,  and 
they  had  many  an  interesting  story  to  tell  of 
the  trials  and  difficulties  that  befell  the  new 
comers  who  were  laboring  to  build  a  great 
city  in  what  was  then  largely  a  rugged  wilder- 
ness. Their  family  consisted  of  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  all  but  one  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Charles  H.,  the  eldest  son,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Dayton.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Union  army,  enlisting  in  the  First  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  for  three  months,  and  afterward 
serving  a  year  in  another  regiment  from  this 
state.  Samuel  died  when  sixteen  years  of  age, 
in  1855;  Lucy  A.,  wife  of  John  Black,  has  a 
pleasant  home  in  Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Henry 
was  the  fourth  child  in  this  family,  and  Thomas 
E.,  the  fifth,  is  a  machinist  at  Buchanan, 
Mich. ;  Permelia,  bearing  her  mother's  name, 
is  a  teacher  in  the  city  public  schools,  while 
Alexander  B.,  the  youngest  son,  is  a  watch- 
man in  the  city.  The  father  was  called  above 
March  31,1  870,  his  wife  surviving  him  about 
twelve  years. 

Mr.  Kissinger,  the  subject  of  this  writing, 
grew  to  manhood  in  this  city,  receiving  such 
educational  advantages  as  the  city  schools  af- 
forded, and  had  begun  life  for  himself  as  ap- 
prentice at  the  tinner's  trade,  when  the  call  of 
his  country  took  him  to  the  battle  front,  the 
date  of  his   enlistment   being    August  7,   1862, 


632 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


when  he  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  com- 
pany B,  Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry. 
With  this  organization  he  became  a  part  of  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  was  in  the  great  bat- 
tles of  Stone  River,  Liberty  Gap,  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  Missionary  Ridge.  Here  he  re- 
ceived a  disabling  wound,  and  was  under  a 
long  and  painful  treatment  in  the  hospital  at 
Chattanooga.  He  returned  to  the  front,  but 
was  not  thought  fit  for  active  service,  and  was 
detailed  for  light  duty,  and  thus  completed  his 
term  of  enlistment,  being  mustered  out  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  July  17,   1865. 

With  the  dying  out  of  the  storm  of  war, 
Henry  returned  to  his  interrupted  apprentice- 
ship, and  finished  up  his  engagement,  thor- 
oughly mastering  the  tinner's  trade;  but  after 
learning  it,  did  not  see  fit  to  follow  it.  He 
found  a  desirable  opportunity  in  the  stove 
business,  which  he  pursued  for  a  time.  Greer 
&  King,  largely  engaged  in  the  stove  foundry 
trade,  desired  his  services,  and  made  him  such 
offers  that  he  entered  their  employment  and 
remained  with  them  for  more  than  fifteen 
years.  He  left  them  to  accept  the  position  of 
assistant  superintendent  of  carriers  in  the 
Dayton  post-office.  A  change  of  administra- 
tion threw  him  out  of  office  before  he  had  com- 
pleted quite  three  years  of  service,  and  he  en- 
tered the  trunk  factor}'  of  E.  B.  Lyon,  re- 
maining there  for  a  period  of  four  years.  For 
one  year  he  was  guard  in  the  city  work  house; 
after  which  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  McKin- 
ley  to  his  present  position,  and  was  re-appoint- 
ed by  Gov.  Bushnell,  and  now  has  served  about 
four  years.  The  office  was  created  for  the 
purpose  of  finding  employment  for  the  vast 
number  of  men  who  have  in  recent  years  been 
thrown  out  of  the  ranks  of  bread-winners,  and 
are  unable  of  themselves  to  find  labor,  and 
cannot  afford  the  expense  attending  an  ordi- 
nary private    bureau,  or  "  intelligence  office.'' 


Mr.  Kissinger  is  one  of  five  men  holding  this 
position  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  the  others  being 
located  at  Columbus,  Cincinnati,  Cleveland 
and  Toledo.  Since  this  office  was  instituted, 
April  28,  1890,  over  25,000  persons  have  re- 
ceived material  aid  through  it  in  finding  em- 
ployment. 

Mr.  Kissinger  was  married  October  30, 
1867,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Waymire,  a  native  of 
Dayton  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Waymire, 
long  a  prominent  contractor  in  this  city.  She 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  Gem  City, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  social  and  church 
activities,  having  been  especially  concerned  in 
the  temperance  reform  and  in  all  city  charities. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Third  street  Presby- 
terian church  from  her  twelfth  year,  and  was 
also  a  charter  member  of  the  Old  Guard,  W. 
R.  O,  in  which  she  always  took  great  interest. 
Her  husband  and  children  and  a  wide  circle  of 
friends  mourn  her  untimely  death,  which  oc- 
curred November  30,  1894.  She  was  the 
mother  of  four  children,  of  whom  the  eldest, 
Marianna,  is  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Russell,  of  this 
city;  Charles  William  is  engaged  in  a  city  car- 
pet store;  Walter  Conner  is  also  in  the  city,  a 
machinist  in  the*  Cash  Register  factory;  and 
Harry  Wood  is  traveling  in  the  west. 

Mr.  Kissinger  has  been  an  active  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  Grand  Army  from  the 
date  of  its  organization.  He  has  rendered 
active  assistance  in  the  establishment  of  two 
posts,  arid  holds  his  membership  at  present 
with  the  Old  Guard  post  in  Dayton,  of  which 
he  is  past  post  commander.  He  is  a  familar 
figure  at  the  national  encampments,  and  on 
several  occasions  has  served  on  the  national 
staff  as  aid-de-camp.  In  1895  he  was  elected 
senior  vice-commander  of  department  of  Ohio, 
and,  though  not  a  candidate  for  the  office,  re- 
ceived a  very  complimentary  vote  for  depart- 
ment commander  in  1896.  For  the  last  twelve 
years  he  has  been  prominently  associated  with 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


633 


all  department  affairs  of  the  Grand  Army,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  council  of  administra- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Essenic 
Knights,  a  social  organization  in  Dayton.  Po- 
litically he  works  with  the  republican  party, 
and  has  always  been  active  and  strenuous  in 
advocating  its  principles.  The  prominent  po- 
sitions he  has  held  in  the  Grand  Army  organi- 
zation entitle  him  to  bear  the  honorary  title  of 
colonel.  The  serious  injuries  that  he  received 
in  the  war,  which  are  noted  above,  have  put 
him  on  the  pension  list,  as  one  deserving  well 
of  his  country. 


<*S~\  OBERT  EVERETT  KLINE,  sur- 
I  /^  veyor  of  Montgomery  county,  was 
J  .P  born  in  Miamisburg,  in  that  county, 
February  17,  1868,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  H.  and  Mattie  (Stanfield)  Kline,  both  of 
whom  are  still  living.  The  former  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  in  Greene 
count}',  Ohio,  her  family  being  quite  promi- 
nent there.  Her  uncle,  Isaac  M.  Barret,  was 
a  state  senator  for  several  years.  Her  brother, 
Samuel  Stanfield,  is  a  surveyor,  as  were  also 
his  uncle  and  his  grandfather.  Four  children 
of  John  H.  Kline  and  wife  are  living:  Charles, 
a  student  at  the  Ohio  State  university;  Wal- 
ter, a  student  at  the  college  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  New  York  city;  Robert  Everett  and 
Hubert,  a  student  in  the  Steele  high  school  at 
Dayton. 

Robert  Everett  Kline  passed  his  boyhood 
and  received  his  early  education  at  Salem, 
Montgomery  county.  Having  passed  success- 
fully through  a  high-school  course  of  study,  he 
began  teaching  school  in  1886,  and  taught  one 
year.  In  1887  he  entered  Otterbein  univer- 
sity and  was  graduated  from  this  institution  in 
1892,  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts.  In 
1893  he  entered  Harvard  college,  having  been 


granted  a  scholarship  for  excellent  work  pre- 
viously done  at  Otterbein.  After  one  year's 
study  at  Harvard  he  was  graduated  with  hon- 
ors with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  science, 
civil  engineering  having  been  his  principal 
study  while  there.  From  1889  down  to  the 
present  time  (1897),  he  has  been  continuously 
occupied  in  his  profession,  that  of  civil  engi- 
neering, showing  his  proficiency  and  skill  on 
many  occasions.  One  of  these  was  while  he 
was  yet  at  Otterbein,  when  he  made  a  com- 
plete plat  of  Westerville.  By  means  of  work 
done  during  vacations,  young  Kline  earned  suf- 
ficient to  pay  his  expenses  in  college. 

Immediately  upon  graduation  he  was  em- 
ployed as  special  engineer  in  the  construction 
of  sewers  in  Dayton,  having  charge  of  the  con- 
struction of  the  sanitary  and  storm  sewer  sys- 
tems of  the  city.  Upon  the  completion  of  this 
work  he  was  called  to  Hamilton  to  take  charge 
of  the  construction  of  the  sewer  system  of  that 
city,  and  while  engaged  in  Hamilton  became 
a  candidate  for  the  office  of  surveyor  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  His  canvass  for  the  nomina- 
tion was  a  remarkable  one,  he  securing  the 
nomination  over  three  opponents,  and  by  a 
majority  of  250  over  all.  At  the  election  he 
received  a  majority  of  1,600  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  office  in  September,  1895,  the  term 
being  for  three  years. 

Mr.  Kline  was  married  June  4,  1895,  to 
Agnes  L.  Lyon,  a  daughter  of  Calvin  H.  Lyon, 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  McHose  &  Lyon,  of 
Dayton.  Mr.  Kline  is  a  member  of  the  camp 
of  Sons  of  Veterans,  of  Dayton,  his  father  hav- 
ing served  in  the  army  of  the  Union  as  a  pri- 
vate soldier  in  company  K,  Second  regiment, 
O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years,  and  then  for  a  short 
time  in  company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Eighty- 
fourth  regiment,  O.  V.  I.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Foresters,  of  the  American  Me- 
chanics, and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr. 
Kline's  career  has  been,  for  so  young  a  man, 


634 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


very  creditable  and  somewhat  remarkable,  and 
bids  fair  to  be  in  the  future  one  of  unusual 
brilliancy  and  success. 


>t-»OSHUA  R.  McCALLY,  M.  D.,  physi- 
m  cian  and  surgeon  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
(%  1  born  in  Auglaize  county,  Ohio,  August 
15,  1863.  He  is  a  son  of  Albert  and 
Sarah  (Brackney)  McCally,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  The  family  is  of  Irish  and 
English  descent,  and  is  a  numerous  one  in  the 
central  states  of  the  Union.  Albert  McCally, 
the  father  of  Dr.  McCally,  was  a  teacher  and 
an  agriculturist  during  his  lifetime.  He  was  a 
Methodist  in  religion,  and  quite  active  in  poli- 
tics as  a  republican.  He  served  in  the  army 
of  the  Union  as  sergeant  for  one  year,  toward 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  educational  labors 
were  performed  principally  in  graded  schools, 
in  which  he  was  unusually  successful.  He 
and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of  six  children,  as 
follows :  Lydia,  wife  of  Frank  Idle,  of  Au- 
glaize county,  Ohio;  Marco,  a  farmer  of  Shelby 
county,  Ohio;  Joshua  R. ;  Lyman,  an  insurance 
agent,  with  residence  in  Dayton ;  Charles,  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  Wapakoneta,  Ohio, 
and  Gilbert,  a  student  at  Otterbein  university, 
at  Westerville,  Ohio.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died,  and  the  father  married  a  second 
time,  by  his  second  marriage  having  three 
children,  as  follows:  Curtis,  a  telegraph  opera- 
tor; Clifford,  a  student  at  Ohio  Wesleyan  uni- 
versity, and  Homer,  living  at  home. 

Joshua  R.  McCally,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  afterward  in  the  normal  school  of  Valpar- 
aiso. Ind.,  and  was  in  attendance  for  two  terms 
at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at  Dela- 
ware. Having  secured  a  good  education,  he 
taught  school  for  seven  years.  He  began 
reading  medicine  while  in  attendance  at  the 
Delaware  university,    his   preceptor   being  Dr. 


A.  P.  Van  Trump,  of  Saint  John's,  Auglaize 
county,  Ohio.  Afterward  he  attended  the 
Eclectic  Medical  institute  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
graduating  in  the  spring  of  1890.  Immediate- 
ly afterward  he  located  in  Uniopolis,  Auglaize 
county,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  for  three 
years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  July,  1893.  Here  he  has  established 
himself  in  a  lucrative  practice,  and  is  one  of 
the  progressive  and  rising  young  physicians  of 
the  Gem  City  of  Ohio.  He  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  Hamer  lodge,  No.  167,  F.  &  A.  M. 
On  September  23,  1886,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Nannie  Gnagi,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Susannah  Gnagi,  and  to  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  two  children,  Grace  and  Ward. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  McCally  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  active  in  religious 
work,  and  highly  esteemed  as  members  of 
society  circles  in  Dayton. 


@EORGE  C.  LAUTENSCHLAGER, 
member  of  the  Dayton  city  council 
from  the  Third  ward,  and  who  is  one 
of  the  leading  and  best  known  citi- 
zens of  North  Dayton,  was  born  in  Dayton, 
March  17,  1862.  His  parents  were  George  J. 
and  Catherine  (Fromm)  Lautenschlager,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  Germany.  They  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1855  and  1856 
respectively,  came  direct  to  Dayton  and  were 
married  in  this  city,  where  Mr.  Lautenschla- 
ger was  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  for 
about  fifteen  years.  He  was  a  well  known 
and  respected  citizen,  and  died  in  April,  1884, 
in  his  forty-sixth  year.  His  widow  survives 
him,  and  is  now  living  in  Dayton. 

George  C.  Lautenschlager  was  reared  in 
Dayton  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
began  his  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug 
store.      In    1881    he    went  to   Cincinnati    and 


£*.  Ao>    c(/a^^ 


^6£^>y^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


637 


took  a  course  in  the  Pharmaceutical  college, 
and  returning  to  Dayton  he  opened  and  con- 
ducted a  pharmacy  on  the  corner  of  Brown 
and  Oak  streets.  In  1892  he  located  in  North 
Dayton  and  opened  a  drug  store  and  phar- 
macy, and  in  June,  1S94,  he  removed  to  his 
present  location,  at  No.  226  Valley  street,  his 
being  the  leading  drug  store  in  North  Dayton. 
Mr.  Lautenschlager  was  married,  Novem- 
ber 14,  1883,  to  Augusta  Roemhildt,  who  was 
born  in  Dayton,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Bern- 
hardt Roemhildt,  a  music  dealer  of  this  city. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three 
children:  Harry,  Thurman  and  Bessie.  Mr. 
Lautenschlager  has  always  been  interested  in 
political  matters,  and  has  taken  an  active  part 
therein  as  a  democrat  for  several  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1895  he  was  nominated  for  the  office 
of  councilman  from  the  Third  ward  and  was 
elected  for  a  term  of  two  years.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  National  Union,  and  also 
of  the  Jackson  club,  a  political  organization 
named  in  honor  of  Andrew  Jackson. 


m. 


'ILLIAM  KUNTZ,  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  at  No.  1405  East 
Third  street,  Dayton,  was  born 
about  one-half  mile  north  of  the 
city,  in  Mad  River  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  March  28,   1866. 

Joseph  Kuntz,  father  of  William,  was  born 
in  Alsace,  France,  February  17,  1S32,'  came 
to  the  United  States  before  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  settled  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  he  had  friends,  and  went  to 
work  at  farming.  October  7,  1855,  he  mar- 
ried Magdalene  Wolf,  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  July  16,  1834,  who  came  to  America 
about  the  same  year  her  husband  reached  this 
country,  and  for  two  years  lived  in  Cincinnati, 
whence  she   came  to  Dayton,  where   the  two 

were    shortly    afterward     married,    the    result 
22 


being  the  birth  of  ten  children,  viz:  John, 
Joseph,  Maggie,  Katie,  George,  William,  Frank, 
Magdalene,  Mary  and  Clara,  all  living  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  all  married  excepting  the 
youngest.  After  marrying,  Mr.  Kuntz  pur- 
chased twenty-seven  acres  of  land  and  began 
gardening,  afterward  adding  a  twelve-acre 
tract,  situated  on  the  city  corporation  line,  and 
on  which  were  two  dwellings  and  a  store.  Mr. 
Kuntz  now  also  owns  several  houses  within  the 
city  limits,  and  is  a  substantial  citizen.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stalwart  democrat,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  supervisor  of  Mad  River  township. 
In  religion,  he  and  his  wife  are  Roman  Cath- 
olics, and  are  members  of  the  Holy  Rosary 
congregation. 

William  Kuntz  was  reared  on  his  father's 
homestead  and  was  educated  in  the  parochial 
schools.  November  13,  1888,  Mr.  Kuntz  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  G.  Kinzig,  who  was  born  in 
Mad  River  township  in  October,  1868,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Valentine  Kinzig,  a  native  of  Germany, 
now  residing  in  Dayton  and  in  business  as  a 
butcher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuntz  are  now  the 
parents  of  two  children — Victor,  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1889,  and  Leona,  born  December  29, 
1893.  Upon  marrying,  Mr.  Kuntz  settled  in 
Dayton  and  opened  a  retail  grocery  store  at 
No.  1 42 1  East  Third  street,  remained  there 
three  years,  and  then  purchased  the  property 
at  the  corner  of  East  Third  and  Beckel  streets, 
converted  the  dwelling  thereon  into  a  combined 
dwelling  and  store,  and  has  been  doing  a  suc- 
cessful business  ever  since. 

Mr.  Kuntz  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  Saint  John,  commandery  No.  104, 
was  formerly  paymaster  of  the  Seventh  battal- 
ion and  also  filled  some  minor  offices,  and  since 
January  30,  1896,  has  been  major  of  the  Third 
Ohio  regiment  of  the  order,  which  was  organ- 
ized at  that  date.  As  an  indication  of  the  es- 
teem in  which  Mr.  Kuntz  is  held,  it  may  be 
related,    that,  during    the  national  convention 


r,38 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  Saint  John,  held  at 
Dayton,  in  June,  1896,  a  Dayton  merchant 
offered  a  handsome  gold-mounted  sword  and 
belt,  to  be  voted  to  the  most  popular  sir 
knight  in  Dayton.  In  this  contest,  5,885  bal- 
lots were  cast  for  Mr.  Kuntz — the  next  highest 
vote  being  4,464,  and  Mr.  Kuntz  carried  off 
the  prize.  Commandery  No.  104,  the  first 
Catholic  uniform  organization  to  be  founded 
in  the  United  States,  celebrated  its  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  April  24,  1896,  and  of  its 
banquet  Mr.  Kuntz  had  the  sole  supervision. 
He  has  also  represented  the  order  as  its  dele- 
gate to  its  national  conventions  at  Columbus, 
Ohio;  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. ;  Toronto,  Can. ;  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.;  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Evansville,  Ind., 
and  Dayton,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuntz  are 
members  of  the  Holy  Trinity  Catholic  congre- 
gation, and  both  are  greatly  respected  within 
and  without  the  pale  of  their  church. 


@EORGE  F.   KRUG,  the   well   known 
and   popular  grocer,  at  Nos.  28    and 
30    South    Main   street,  Dayton,    has 
been  a  resident  of  the  city  since  1853, 
having  been  born  in  Minster,  Ohio,  a  son  of 
George  and  Barbara  (Ruse)  Krug,  both  natives 
of  Germany. 

George  Krug,  the  elder,  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents and  their  family,  landing  at  Baltimore, 
Md. ,  whence  he  and  his  brother  walked  to 
Minster,  Ohio,  having  in  their  possession  a  cap- 
ital of  $3  at  the  time  of  their  departure,  and  at 
the  time  of  their  arrival  in  Minster  being  still 
the  possessors  of  $2.  The  remainder  of  the 
family  came  by  stage  and  boat  as  far  as  Cin- 
cinnati, and  thence  they  walked  to  Minster, 
where  the  father  secured  a  small  tract  of  land 
in  the  woods,  on  which  he  erected  a  small 
dwelling.  The  elder  sons  found  work  upon 
the  construction    of    the   Erie   canal    and    the 


Dayton  &  Springfield  pike.  George  next  went 
to  Cincinnati,  near  which  city  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  gardener  for  several  years,  and  for  a 
few  years  longer  carried  on  the  same  business 
on  his  own  account.  In  1853  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  bought  a  farm  of  120  acres  on 
the  Wolf  creek  road,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  and  gardening  until  1870,  when  he 
purchased  property  in  the  city.  Here  he  re- 
sided in  retirement  until  his  death,  in  1876,  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years,  in  the  faith  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church.  His  wife  survived 
until  1888,  when  she  died,  in  the  same  faith,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  To  George  Krug 
and  wife  were  born  eight  children,  viz:  Mary, 
now  widow  of  L.  H.  Miller,  of  Indianapolis, 
Ind.;  John  H.,  a  dairyman,  on  the  old  home- 
stead; Carrie,  deceased;  Frank  L. ,  of  Dayton; 
George  F.,  whose  name  opens  this  biography; 
Elizabeth;  Clara,  who  died  in  a  convent,  and 
Barbara,  a  nun,  at  Oldenburg,  Franklin 
county,  Ind. 

George  F.  Krug  was  reared  on  the  nome 
farm  and  was  educated  chiefly  in  the  parochial 
schools  of  his  diocese.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  began  clerking  in  a  grocery  store  in 
Dayton,  and  held  his  position  for  eight  years, 
when,  in  1878,  he  opened  business  on  his  own 
account  at  his  present  stand,  but  at  that  time 
occupied  but  a  single  room.  By  strict  atten- 
tion to  the  wants  of  his  customers  and  by  an 
intelligent  devotion  to  the  details  of  his  busi- 
ness, he  was  able,  in  1883,  to  purchase  the 
adjoining  room  and  to  throw  the  two  rooms 
into  one.  This  grocery  he  has  made  one  of 
the  best  in  Dayton,  and  carries  a  full  line  of 
staple  and  fancy  goods,  including  baker's  stock 
and  confectionery,  making  a  success  seldom 
achieved  in  so  short  a  time. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Krug  took  place  in 
1877,  with  Miss  Tillie  Stoffel,  daughter  of 
George  Stoffel,  this  unoin  resulting  in  the  birth 
of   three    children,    of    whom    George    A.   and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


639 


Albert  L.  are  still  living,  and  Marie  is  de- 
ceased. The  parents  are  devout  members  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  have  a  de- 
lightful residence  at  No.  414  South  Ludlow 
street.  Mr.  Krug  deservedly  stands  prominent 
among  the  successful  young  men,  of  whom 
Dayton  boasts  so  many  in  the  avenues  of  trade. 


jAR.  OSMER  W.  LOUNSBURY,  Jr., 
I  physician  and  surgeon,  of  No.  135 
/^J  West  Fifth  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is 
a  native  of  New  York  city,  and  was 
born  September  1,  1867,  a  son  of  Osmer  W. 
Lounsbury,  Sr. ,  who  is  also  a  physician  and  is 
now  practicing  in  Wyoming,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Osmer  W.  Lounsbury,  Sr. ,  was  edu- 
cated to  his  profession  in  the  Cleveland  Homeo- 
pathic college,  and  also  graduated  from  the 
Pulte  Medical  college  of  Cincinnati,  in  which 
institution  he  subsequently  held  the  chair  of 
materia  medica  for  five  years;  he  practiced  for 
two  years  in  Dayton,  then  moved  to  Wyoming, 
where  he  has  a  large  general  medical  practice, 
his  experience  extending  through  a  period  of 
over  twenty-seven  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  state  and  local  medical  societies,  and  en- 
joys high  standing  in  the  fraternity  as  well  as 
with  the  public.  A  native  of  Connecticut,  he 
married  Miss  Lydia  E.  Hotchkiss,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  state,  and  to  their  marriage 
have  been  born  four  children. 

Dr.  Osmer  W.  Lounsbury,  Jr.,  the  subject 
of  this  memoir,  was  educated  in  childhood  in 
the  high  school  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  he  studied 
medicine  with  his  father  and  was  graduated 
from  Pulte  Medical  college  with  the  class  of 
1890,  having  studied  five  years  in  that  well- 
known  medical  institute,  and  acquiring  a  thor- 
ough preparatory  knowledge  of  his  profession. 
Upon  graduating,  he  first  practiced  in  Dayton 
for  about  eighteen  months,  then  moved  to 
Dublin,  Ind.,  where  he  passed  another  year  in 


practice,  thence  moved  to  Eaton,  Ohio,  where 
he  established  a  satisfactory  practice,  and 
where  his  skill  was  fully  recognized.  In  No- 
vember, 1895,  ne  came  to  Dayton,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Montgomery  county  Medical  association  and 
of  the  Hahnemann  Homeopathic  Medical  so- 
ciety, of  Cincinnati,  to  both  of  which  he  has 
contributed  a  number  of  valuable  papers  on 
medical  jurisprudence. 

The  doctor's  marriage  took  place  in  1889, 
in  Dayton,  to  Miss  Sarah  B.  Lyon,  daughter 
of  ex-Postmaster  E.  B.  Lyon.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
in  politics  the  doctor  is  a  republican.  He  was 
selected,  while  at  Eaton,  to  fill  the  position  of 
physician  to  the  county  infirmary,  and  also  to 
the  children's  home.  Dr.  Lounsbury  is  a  valu- 
able acquisition  to  the  medical  profession  of 
Dayton,  and  has  found  a  firm  foothold  in  his 
practice,  as  well  as  in  the  esteem  of  the  best 
citizens  of  the  Gem  City. 


>Y*UDGE  JOHN  W.  KREITZER,  ex- 
■  judge  of  the  Montgomery  county  pro- 
(%  J  bate  court,  and  a  prominent  attorney  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  this  county,  on  January  17,  1852. 
His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  in  what 
might  be  well  termed  a  fight  for  existence, 
as  he  was  very  poor.  Early  education  was  out 
of  the  question,  and  it  was  not  until  after  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  and  had  taken  upon  him- 
self the  responsibilities  of  life  by  marrying, 
that  he  began  a  regular  course  in  the  common 
schools.  This  was  at  Farmersville,  whither 
he  removed  after  his  marriage,  and  it  was  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  village  that  he 
prepared  himself  for  teaching.  He  taught 
common  school  for  eight  years,  and  later 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Craighead  &  Craig- 
head, of  Dayton.      He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 


640 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  October,  1888,  and  at  once  began  active 
practice,  meeting  with  early  and  continued 
success.  Judge  Kreitzer  is  a  democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  has  been  quite  prominent  in  the  coun- 
cils of  that  party  for  several  years.  While 
residing  in  Jackson  township  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  an  office  he 
held  for  ten  years,  and  was  also  township 
clerk  for  seven  years  and  assessor  for  five  years. 
In  1S90  he  was  the  nominee  of  his  party 
for  probate  judge,  and  was  successful  at  the 
general  election  of  that  year.  His  service  as 
judge  of  the  probate  court  was  marked  by 
ability  and  devotion  to  duty,  giving  entire 
satisfaction  to  the  public  and  to  his  friends 
and  fellow-attorneys.  His  term  expired  in 
1895,  since  when  he  has  given  all  his  time 
and  attention  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss  Emma  Pof- 
fenbarger,  and  to  their  union  four  children 
have  been  born,  as  follows:  Oscar,  Dorsey, 
Herbert  and  Pearl.  Judge  Kreitzer  is  a  master 
Mason. 


SICHARD  J.  McCARTY,  the  leading 
patent  attorney  of  Dayton,  was  born 
in  Augusta,  Ga.,  January  24,  1852. 
His  father,  Jeremiah  McCarty,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  came  to  the  United  States 
about  1 8 12,  and  served  all  through  the  Black 
Hawk  and  Seminole  wars.  Subsequently  he 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war  and  afterward 
located  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  holding  a  position  in  the  ordnance  de- 
partment of  the  government.  In  1  848  he  was 
sent  to  Augusta,  Ga. ,  and  remained  a  resident 
of  that  state  up  to  and  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  his  death  occurring  during  the  last 
year  of  the  great  conflict. 

Richard  J.  McCarty  was  reared  in  Georgia. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  state.      For  a  number  of  years 


he  was  connected  with  the  Augusta  Chronicle, 
and  in  1874  removed  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  was  employed  about  the  capital.  During 
the  time  he  was  thus  engaged  he  began  the 
study  of  law,  the  first  copy  of  Blackstone  he 
ever  read  having  been  presented  to  him  b}'  the 
Hon.  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  known  to  his- 
tory as  the  vice-president  of  the  southern  Con- 
federacy. It  was,  in  fact,  upon  the  advice  of 
Mr.  Stephens  that  Mr.  McCarty  determined 
the  choice  of  his  profession.  Subsequently  he 
removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  com- 
pleted his  legal  studies,  graduating  from  Wash- 
ington university  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
He  began  the  practice  of  the  law  in  St.  Louis, 
remaining  there  about  three  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Baltimore,  Md.  In  1883  he  took 
up  the  patent  law  practice,  in  Baltimore  and 
Washington,  and  has  since  then  confined  him- 
self to  this  branch  of  the  profession.  In  1891 
Mr.  McCarty  located  in  Dayton,  where  he  has 
built  up  a  large  and  successful  practice.  He 
does  all  kinds  of  patent  law  business  and  solic- 
iting, and  numbers  among  his  clients  many  of 
the  leading  manufacturing  firms  of  the  city. 

Mr.  McCarty  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He 
was  married,  in  1879,  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
to  Miss  Amy  H.  Toulmin,  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  and 
to  this  marriage  there  has  been  born  one 
daughter,  Belle  McCarty. 


^y^VERRY    M.    KLEPINGER,    secretary 
1      m    and  treasurer  of   the  American  Fence 
company,  Dayton,  was  born  on  a  farm 
in   Montgomery  county,    Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 13,   1864,  a  son  of    William  and  Elizabeth 
(Bowser)  Klepinger.      He  is  by  nature  adopted 
to  mechanical  pursuits,  although  his  early  man- 
hood was  passed  on  his  father's  farm.      After 
receiving  a  sound  preparatory  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  native,  county  he  took  a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY 


641 


course  of  lessons  in  the  Mount  Morrison  nor- 
mal school,  which  included  thorough  instruc- 
tion in  bookkeeping  and  commercial  practice. 
He  also  learned  telegraphy,  and  was  for  two 
winters  employed  by  the  Mutual  Union  tele- 
graph company;  he  then  returned  to  the  home 
farm,  and  for  three  years  followed  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture,  and  next  came  to  Dayton,  where 
for  twelve  months  he  was  engaged  in  contract- 
ing for  excavation  work.  In  the  spring  of 
1895  he  disposed  of  his  pending  contracts  and 
became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  American 
Fence  company.  This  company  was  incor- 
porated in  the  year  named,  with  a  capital  of 
$50,000,  and  its  place  of  business  located  at 
Nos.  10  to  18  North  Canal  street,  Dayton, 
where  it  employed  about  twenty  men  in  the 
construction  of  lawn  and  farm  fences  and  other 
light  iron  protective  work  for  dwellings  in  the 
city  and  for  suburban  residences,  its  output 
being  sent  to  all  points  of  the  United  States. 
On  September  9,  1896,  this  company  was  sold 
out,  being  purchased  by  William  Klepinger, 
who  has  since  continued  the  business. 

April  25,  1889,  Mr.  Klepinger  married  Miss 
Susie  Lentzy,  daughter  of  Lucas  Lentzy,  a 
prominent  hotel-keeper  of  Dayton.  Of  the 
two  children  born  to  this  union,  the  elder, 
Ethel  May,  is  deceased;  the  son,  Herschel  L., 
still  survives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klepinger  are 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church  and 
both  are  active  Sunday-school  workers.  The 
residence  of  the  family  is  at  223  Fourth  avenue. 


>Y*OHN  p-  LENZ-  o{  Dayton,  dealer  in 
■  stoves  and  tinware,  was  born  in  West 
/•  1  Libert}',  Logan  county,  Ohio,  April  22, 
1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  Lenz,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  The  Lenz  family  came  to 
Dayton  in  1 864,  and  here  Peter  Lenz  for  a 
number  of  years  carried   on    his    trade  of  tin- 


smith, in  which  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
John  P.,  on  retiring  from  business  in  1889. 

John  P.  Lenz  attended  the  public  schools 
and  also  the  brothers'  school  of  Dayton,  and, 
after  securing  a  very  fair  education,  learned  the 
trade  of  tinner  from  his  father,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Cincinnati,  and  worked  as  a 
journeyman  for  two  years.  On  returning  to 
Dayton  again  he  worked  with  his  father,  as  a 
journeyman,  until  1889,  when  he  bought  the 
business,  and  has  since  conducted  it  at  No. 
638  Wayne  avenue,  with  success. 

The  marriage  of  John  P.  Lenz  took  place 
April  22,  1886,  in  Dayton,  to  Miss  Clara 
E.  Meyers,  daughter  of  Herman  H.  Meyers 
(deceased).  In  his  politics  Mr.  Lenz  has  been 
a  life-long  democrat,  and  has  been  an  active 
worker  for  his  party.  In  the  spring  of  1895  he 
accepted  the  office,  through  election  by  the 
city  council,  of  member  of  the  board  of  health 
for  the  term  of  three  years.  Fraternally,  he  is 
a  member  of  Humboldt  lodge,  No.  38,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  the  Dayton  Turners'  society  and 
of  the  Harmonias. 


*y~*  ERBERT  W.  LEWIS,  ex-auditor  of 
I^\  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  a 
F  well-known  and  popular  citizen  of 
Dayton,  was  born  in  Painesville,  near 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  July  29,  1S52.  His  par- 
ents, however,  removed  to  Dayton  when  he 
was  but  one  year  old,  and  as  he  was  reared 
and  educated  in  this  city,  he  is  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  a  Daytonian.  He  attended  the 
public  schools,  securing  a  good  English  educa- 
tion. He  early  identified  himself  with  the 
democratic  party,  and  in  1889  he  was  that 
party's  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  au- 
ditor, and  at  the  election  that  year  was  elected 
for  a  term  of  four  years.  His  administration 
was  so  successful  and  satisfactory  that,  in  1892, 


642 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


he  was  again  nominated  by  his  party  and  re- 
elected. Mr.  Lewis  stands  very  high  in  fra- 
ternal societies,  in  which  he  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest. He  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  and  in 
1893  he  was  elected  grand  chancellor  of  the 
Ohio  grand  lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  which 
position  he  held  for  one  year. 


'HEODORE  H.  LIENESCH,  an  en- 
terprising manufacturer  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Fayetteville,  Saint 
Clair  county,  Ills.,  January  7,  1861, 
and  is  a  son  of  Theodore  and  Elizabeth  (Lin- 
hoff)  Lienesch.  Theodore,  the  father,  was 
born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  died  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  January  18,  1885,  an  ex-justice  of 
the  peace;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lienesch,  a  native 
of  Prussia,  is  still  living. 

Theodore  H.  Lienesch  attended  the  public 
and  parochial  schools  of  Fayettesville,  111., 
until  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  October  1, 
1872,  and  added  to  his  early  education  by  at- 
tendance at  the  Emanuel  parochial  school  and 
Saint  Mary's  institute.  For  several  years  he 
assisted  his  father  in  his  shoe  shop  by  working 
on  the  bench,  and  his  first  outside  work  was 
in  the  planing-mill  and  sash  factory  of  John 
Rouzer,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  machine 
hand.  At  this  trade  he  worked  for  about  seven 
years  in  the  shops  of  John  Rouzer,  the  Stod- 
dard Manufacturing  company,  Jacob  Clemens 
and  Peirce  &  Coleman.  In  the  latter  factory, 
in  May,  1884,  he  met  with  an  accident  that 
necessitated  a  change  of  occupation,  where- 
upon he  entered  the  Miami  Commercial  col- 
lege and  studied  bookkeeping.  He  was  then 
employed  by  Jacob  Eckes,  and  later  in  the 
Stomps  &  Burkhardt  Company's  chair  factory 
as  shipping  clerk;  subsequently  he  entered  the 
office  of  H.  Ferneding  &  Son  as  bookkeeper, 
and  with  them  he  was  employed  for  nearly  ten 


years.  May  1,  1895,  Mr.  Lienesch,  in  part- 
nership with  William  H.  Gondert,  purchased 
the  Miami  Valley  Box  factory  of  Adam  Zengel, 
and  this  prosperous  concern  is  now  operated 
under  the  firm  name  of  Gondert  &  Lienesch. 
Mr.  Lienesch  is  prominent  in  local  politics 
as  a  democrat,  and  served  a  short  time  on  the 
board  of  education  a  few  years  ago,  but  was 
legislated  out  of  office  through  the  re-arrange- 
ment of  the  city  wards.  He  has  been  at  the 
head  of  a  number  of  democratic  organizations, 
having  been  at  one  time  president  of  the  Thur- 
man  club.  He  is  also  prominent  in  Catholic 
circles,  and  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
Holy  Trinity  Catholic  church  since  1888.  He 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Catholic 
Gesellen  Verein  since  1878,  and  in  the  latter 
has  served  as  secretary,  senior  treasurer  and 
second  vice-president.  He  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Saint  John  for  sev- 
eral years,  is  now  president  of  commandery 
No.  104  of  that  order,  and  is  also  president  of 
the  league  of  commanderies  of  the  same  order 
in  charge  of  Lafayette  hall.  He  held  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee  in  charge  of  the  arrangements  for 
the  eighteenth  annual  convention  of  the 
Knights  of  Saint  John,  held  in  Dayton,  June 
24,  1896,  and  has  represented  commandery 
No.  104  at  the  annual  conventions  of  the 
order  for  the  past  six  years.  Mr.  Lienesch  is 
also  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
league  of  German  societies  of  the  city.  He 
assisted  in  organizing  Dayton  colony,  No.  4, 
American  Sons  of  Columbus,  of  which  he  is 
the  treasurer.  Mr.  Lienesch  owes  his  business 
prosperity  to  his  own  unaided  efforts,  and  that 
he  is  highly  esteemed  and  very  popular  is  evi- 
denced by  his  selection  for  many  positions  of 
trust,  both  past  and  present.  He  is  as  yet 
unmarried,  and  makes  his  home  with  his  wid- 
owed mother,  his  brother,  William,  and  sis- 
ters, Lizzie  and  Theresa. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


643 


HEODORE  C.  LINDSEY,  a  popular 
general  merchant,  at  No.  18  South 
Main  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  November  i ,  1 844, 
and  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  six  years  of 
age,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Columbus, 
thence  to  Cambridge,  and  three  years  later  to 
Cumberland,  where  they  resided  until  1855, 
when  the  family  came  to  Dayton. 

Wilson  Lindsey,  father  of  Theodore  C, 
was  also  a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Ohio, 
born  August  26,  181 7,  a  son  of  Wilson  Lind- 
sey, a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  spent  his 
maturer  years  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  died  while 
on  a  visit  to  Pennsylvania  in  1830,  his  son, 
Wilson,  being  with  him  at  the  time.  It  is 
thought  that  he  was  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction 
and  descended  from  ancestors  long  established 
in  America.  Wilson,  the  younger,  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Frances  Fulton,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  in  182 1,  the  ceremony  having  been  sol- 
emnized, near  Columbus,  in  1S37,  by  the 
bride's  father,  Rev.  Daniel  Fulton,  a  Presby- 
terian minister.  After  marriage  the  young 
couple  located  on  a  farm  four  miles  south  of 
Columbus,  and  there  were  born  to  their  union 
seven  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  died  in 
early  infancy.  The  other  six  were  born  in 
the  following  order:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Seafers, 
resides  on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  county;  James 
W. ,  a  mechanic  in  Louisville,  Ky. ,  served 
three  years  in  company  H,  Fourth  Ohio  vol- 
unteer cavalry  during  the  late  Civil  war;  Theo- 
dore C.  is  the  subject  of  this  biography;  Emma 
is  the  wife  of  Moses  Waters,  a  mechanic  of 
Dayton;  Susan  A.  A.  is  married  to  Sylvester 
B.  Curry,  a  confectioner  in  Louisville,  Ky. ; 
Samuel  M.,  who  passed  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  mercantile  pursuits,  died  in  Louisville, 
Ky.,  January  10,  1889,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years.  Wilson  Lindsey,  the  father  of 
this  family,  was  for  many  years  a   farmer  and 


stock  dealer,  but  since  1855  has  been  a  dealer 
in  market  products,  handling  fruits  principally, 
and  is  still  engaged  in  that  business  in  Dayton. 

Theodore  C.  Lindsey,  whose  name  opens 
this  memoir,  received  a  good  common-school 
education  in  Dayton,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  began  an  apprenticeship  at  printing  in 
the  office  of  the  Daily  Journal,  finishing  in  a 
job-printing  house.  September  15,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  company  H,  Fourth  Ohio  volunteer 
cavalry,  and  served  in  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland under  Gens.  Thomas,  Rosecrans  and 
others,  participating  in  many  skirmishes  and 
minor  battles,  beside  the  historical  engagement 
at  Chickamauga,  and  serving  until  honorably 
discharged,  October  19,  1864 — a  period  of 
over  three  years.  He  then  returned  to  Day- 
ton, and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  the  fruit 
business. 

May  30,  1865,  Mr.  Lindsey  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Martha  Seitters,  a  native  of 
Dayton  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Christina  Seitters,  who  were  born  in  Germany, 
but  in  early  life  came  to  America  and  located 
in  Dayton  about  the  year  1840.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lindse)'  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children,  viz:  Harry  W. ,  who  is 
married,  and  is  employed  at  his  father's  store; 
Anna  Frances,  wife  of  Harry  E.  Dill,  a  clerk 
for  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Lindsey;  Theodore 
C. ,  Jr.,  a  student  in  the  senior  class  of  the 
Steele  high  school,  and  Elsie  C,  also  a  high- 
school  student. 

Mr.  Lindsey  continued  in  the  fruit  business 
until  1 88 1,  when  he  embarked  in  general  mer- 
chandizing at  his  present  location,  where  he  is 
doing  a  prosperous  trade.  He  is  prominently 
identified  with  several  of  the  social  orders,  in- 
cluding the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Union  Vet- 
eran Legion  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. In  the  latter  order  he  is  aid-de-camp 
on  the  staff  of  National  Commander  Walker, 
with   the  rank  of    colonel.      His  church   rela- 


644 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tions,  and  those  of  his  children,  are  with  the 
First  Reformed  church  of  Dayton,  although  his 
parents  were  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
in  which  faith  his  mother,  who  was  of  Irish  an- 
cestry, died  in  1859.  The  present  Mrs.  Wil- 
son Lindsey  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah 
E.  Fox.  In  politics  Theodore  C.  treads  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  father,  who  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  republican  party,  and,  although 
he  has  neither  sought  nor  held  public  office,  he 
has  been  active  in  his  party's  councils  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Garfield  club  of  Dayton.  His 
social  standing,  like  that  of  his  children,  is  be- 
yond question,  and  his  business  integrity  is 
recognized  by  the  entire  community. 


kS^\  EV.   EZEKIEL  LIGHT,  D.D.,  chap- 

I  /<^     lain   for   the  National  Home  for  Dis- 

P     abled  Volunteer  Soldiers,  at  Dayton, 

Ohio,    was    born    in    Lebanon,    Pa., 

March  19,   1834. 

Rev.  John  Light,  his  father,  was  born  in 
1802,  was  a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  during  his  mature  years  served  in 
the  itinerancy  or  as  presiding  elder,  and  died 
in  1845.  Rev-  Jonn  Light's  father,  Felix 
Light,  was  a  Mennonite  peacher,  but  without 
any  special  church  connection.  He  was  of 
Swiss  descent,  but  of  American  nativity,  and 
was  a  son  of  John  Light,  who  was  born  in 
Switzerland. 

To  John  Light  and  his  wife,  Nancy  Hoffer, 
there  were  born  four  children  beside  Ezekiel, 
viz:  Rudolph,  a  clergyman  of  Erie,  Pa. ;  Ste- 
phen, a  stove-founder  of  Lebanon,  Pa.  ;  Job, 
a  clergyman  for  over  twenty  years,  and  who 
suddenly  died  at  Reading,  Pa.,  December, 
1888;  Louisa,  who  is  married  to  Levi  Light,  a 
carriagemaker  of  Lebanon. 

Ezekiel  Light  lived  in  his  native  city  until 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  and  there  received 


his  early  education;  he  then  lived  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion, 
when  he  returned  to  his  native  state,  entered 
the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-third  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  as  chaplain, 
and  served  nine  months  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  After  his  service  in  the  army  he  re- 
sumed his  ministerial  labors  in  Lebanon,  and 
also  edited  the  German  literature  of  his  church 
in  that  city,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  United 
Brethren  congregation.  In  1885  he  returned 
to  Dayton,  where,  for  some  time,  he  edited 
the  German  literature  for  the  publishing  house 
of  his  church,  and  als"b  officiated  for  the  Ger- 
man worshipers  at  the  soldiers'  home,  and  in 
May,  1893,  was  re-elected  editor  of  the  Ger- 
man literature  of  the  U.  B.  publishing  house 
of  Dayton.  In  August,  1893,  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position  as  chaplain  to  the  in- 
mates of  the  home.  His  duties  here  include 
the  teaching  of  a  Sunday-school,  preaching  in 
English  on  Sunday  at  10  A.  M. ,  and  in  German 
at  2  p.  M.;  a  gospel  service  at  3  p.  M.,  largely 
conducted  by  the  Christian  workers  of  Day- 
ton, and  services  again  by  the  chaplain  at  6:30 
p.  m.  ;  regular  prayer  meetings,  in  English,  are 
held  every  Wednesday,  and  in  German  every 
Thursday  evening,  and  in  the  fall  and  winter 
additional  gospel  services  are  held  on  Tuesdays 
and  Thursdays. 

The  marriage  of  Rev.  Dr.  Light  took  place 
at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  September  24,  1863,  with 
Miss  Kate  A.  Bowman,  a  native  of  that  city, 
and  this  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  eight 
children,  viz:  John  J.  B.,  who  is  a  farmer, 
in  Benton  county,  Ark.;  Alvin  L. ,  a  medical 
student,  living  under  the  home  roof;  S.  Ru- 
dolph, a  graduate  of  the  Dayton  high  school, 
and  a  student  of  electrical  dentistry;  Wilson 
H.,  now  in  his  third  year  at  the  high  school; 
Annie  F.,  at  home  with  her  father;  Jennie  L., 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Luther  O.  Burtner,  a  mission- 
ary,   and    now    with    her    husband  in    Africa; 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


647 


Tacie  M.,  an  organist  of  the  home  church, 
and  Matilda  M.,  at  home,  a  literary  student. 
In  politics  Rev.  Dr.  Light  was  an  ardent 
anti-slavery  man,  and  at  one  time,  while  sta- 
tioned at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  used  his  church 
as  a  rendezvous  for  fugitive  slaves  escaping 
to  Canada.  From  the  organization  of  the  re- 
publican party  until  recently  he  was  active  in 
its  ranks,  but  is  now  a  prohibitionist  and  a 
zealous  laborer  in  the  cause  of  that  organization. 


BEV.  MICHAEL  LOUCKS,  D.  D.,  is 
a  native  of  Fairfield  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Christina 
Loucks.  He  was  born  near  Canal 
Winchester,  Ohio,  May  28,  1850,  and  his  boy- 
hood days  were  spent  on  the  farm  and  about 
the  old  mill  on  Walnut  creek.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  had  in  the  district  school.  He  was 
baptized  in  his  infancy  by  Rev.  I.  S.  Weisz. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  twelve  years  of 
age.  September  25,  1865,  he  entered  Heidel- 
berg college,  at  Tiffin,  Ohio.  He  attended 
catechetical  instruction  under  Rev.  L.  H.  Ke- 
fauver,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Reformed 
church  of  Tiffin,  Ohio,  'and  was  confirmed  by 
the  same  pastor,  April  11,  1868.  Thus  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  the 
denomination  to  which  his  father  and  mother 
belonged — which  church  dates  its  origin  to  the 
time  of  the  reformation  under  the  teaching  and 
preaching  of  the  great  reformer  of  Switzerland, 
Ulric  Zwingli.  This  church  has  an  honorable 
history  of  nearly  four  hundred  years.  The 
symbol  of  faith  is  the  Heidelberg  catechism, 
issued  in  1563.  One  of  the  institutions  of 
learning  of  this  church  is  located  at  Tiffin, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Loucks  pursued  a  regular 
classical  course,  graduating  in  1871. 

Two  years  were  spent  in  the  Theological 
seminary  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  J.  H. 
Good  and  Dr.  H.  Rust,  two  eminent  professors 


of  the  school  of  the  Prophets.  He  was  ex- 
amined, licensed  and  ordained  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Ohio  synod  of  the  Reformed  church  at 
Shelbyville,  111.,  May  18,  1873.  He  received 
and  accepted  an  unanimous  call  from  Grace 
Reformed  church  at  Akron,  Ohio,  and  preached 
his  first  sermon  as  pastor  at  Akron,  June  1, 
1873.  At  that  time  Grace  Reformed  church 
was  a  struggling  congregation  and  passed 
through  trying  ordeals.  Dr.  Loucks  labored 
here  from  June  1,  1873,  till  April  11,  1875, 
when  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Church  of  the  Cross  at  Somerset,  Ohio,  preach- 
ing his  first  sermon  as  pastor,  July  4,  1875. 
He  labored  here  until  December  21,  1879, 
when  he  closed  his  labors  to  accept  a  call  from 
the  Valley  charge,  in  the  vicinity  of  Dayton, 
composed  of  David's  and  Hawker's  churches, 
originally  a  part  of  Mount  Zion  charge,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  Winters,  D.  D.  He 
preached  his  introductory  sermon  in  these  two 
churches,  January  11,  1880.  He  labored  in 
this  charge  until  January  1,  1885,  when,  owing 
to  throat  affection,  he  ceased  preaching  for 
several  years. 

In  February,  1882,  Dr.  Loucks  purchased 
the  interest  belonging  to  Rev.  I.  H.  Reiter, 
D.  D.,  in  the  Christian  World,  a  weekly  re- 
ligious paper,  the  organ  of  the  Reformed 
church  in  the  west,  which  was  established  in 
1849,  and  in  connection  with  his  pastorial 
work  also  devoted  part  of  his  time  to  the  edi- 
torial work  of  the  paper,  in  company  with 
Rev.  E.  Herbruck.  In  the  spring  of  1882, 
the  Reformed  Publishing  company  was  organ- 
ized, with  Rev.  E.  Herbruck,  Rev.  M.  Loucks 
and  John  Blum  constituting  the  members  of 
the  firm.  Under  this  arrangement  the  busi- 
ness was  successfully  carried  on  until  1894, 
when  Rev.  Herbruck  sold  his  interest  to  the 
other  members  of  the  firm,  and  Rev.  Loucks 
assumed  full  editorial  management  of  the 
Christian  World,  which  position  he  still  occu- 


648 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


pies.      In   the    winter   of    1882,   he   issued   his 
Church  Register,  which    has  had  a  large  sale. 

In  1884  Dr.  Loucks,  in  company  with  Dr. 
G.  W.  Williard  and  his  son,  Rev.  E.  R.  Will- 
iard,  and  Rev.  E.  Herbruck,  issued  the  popu- 
lar book,  A  Treasury  of  Family  Reading. 

He  has  been  honored  by  being  a  member 
of  the  board  of  regents,  of  Heidelberg  uni- 
versity, the  board  of  visitors,  and  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Heidelberg 
Theological  seminary,  of  which  he  is  the  sec- 
retary. Beside  these  he  has  held  various 
other  responsible  positions  in  his  church,  where 
most  of  his  time  is  devoted.  The  honorary 
degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  was  conferred  on 
him  by  his  alma  mater,  June  17,   1891. 

In  1 89 1  Dr.  Loucks  published  a  very  unique 
chart  of  the  History  of  Christianity  from  the 
Apostolic  Period  to  and  including  the  Protest- 
ant Reformation.  This  chart  is  in  the  form 
of  a  tree,  giving  a  correct  and  interesting  bird's- 
eye  view  of  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  Christian  church  through  those  important 
periods  of  its  formation.  For  several  years 
after  the  publication  of  this  chart  his  services 
were  called  for  as  a  lecturer  on  church  history. 
These  lectures  were  instructive  and  interesting, 
as  he  took  his  audience  through  the  thrilling 
incidents  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
the  Christian  church. 

The  ancestors  of  Dr.  Loucks  came  to  this 
country  from  Europe  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. His  father,  Samuel  Loucks,  was  a  native 
of  York  county,  Pa.,  the  son  of  John  Loucks, 
who,  with  his  family,  settled  in  Violet  township, 
Fairfield  county,  in  the  early  part  of  the  cen- 
tury. Samuel  Loucks  died  October  18,  1862, 
in  his  sixty-sixth  year.  Dr.  Loucks'  mother, 
Christina  Loucks,  was  the  daughter  of  Mi- 
chael Alspach.  She  lived  to  the  old  age  of 
eighty-eight  years,  the  date  of  her  death  being 
November  22,  1894.  Dr.  Loucks  was  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  most  of 


whom  died  in  their  infancy,  leaving  himself 
with  his  only  brother,  George  Loucks,  and  his 
only  sister,  Mrs.  Catherine  Shade,  both  of  the 
vicinity  of  Canal  Winchester,  Ohio.  Novem- 
ber 4,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Katie  Stevenson,  of  Canal  Winchester, 
Ohio.  This  proved  a  most  happy  union,  as 
Mrs.  Loucks  possessed  unusual  talents  and 
qualifications  as  a  minister's  wife,  and  it  was 
largely  through  her  influence  and  force  of 
Christian  character  that  his  work  was  rendered 
pleasant  and  profitable.  To  her  he  ascribes 
far  more  than  to  himself  what  good  may  have 
been  done  by  them  in  their  work  and  service 
in  the  church.  To  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren. Nevin  Alpheus  was  born  December  23, 
1874,  at  Akron,  Summit  county,  Ohio;  Ed- 
gar Vincent  was  born  September  15,  1877,  in 
Somerset,  Perry  county,  Ohio;  Ethel  Ger- 
trude was  born  March  29,  1882,  in  Washington 
township,  Montgomery  county,  near  Dayton, 
Ohio;  Samuel  Bryant  was  born  January  2, 
1884,  in  Dayton,  and  Mary  Christina  was  born 
August  29,  1887,  in  Dayton.  Thus  a  happy 
family  surrounded  these  parents  until  Decem- 
ber 8,  1896,  when  the  faithful,  pious  and  de- 
voted mother  was  called  away  by  death,  a, 
brief  notice  of  whose  active  life  is  here  tenderly 
recorded,    as   written   by   her   pastor: 

IN    MEMORIAM. 

Sarah  C. ,  wife  of  Rev.  M.  Loucks,  was 
born  near  Canal  Winchester,  Ohio,  October 
24,  1855,  and  died  peacefully  December  8, 
1896,  aged  forty-one  years,  one  month  and 
fourteen  days.  Having  Christian  parents,  she 
was  given  to  the  Lord  in  the  sacred  covenant 
of  baptism  before  she  was  five  months  old,  un- 
der the  ministry  of  Rev.  Hennavvald.  At  the 
age  of  twelve,  Rev.  James  Heffley  admit- 
ted her  into  full  membership  with  the  David's 
Reformed  church  by  confirmation.  Her  active 
Christian  life  began  to  develop  at  once.  God 
had  endowed  her  with  rare  musical  gifts, 
which  she  consecrated  to  his  service  early, 
taking  an  active  part  in  the  public  worship  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


649 


the  sanctuary;  and  her  delight  in  singing  the 
praises  of  God  seemed  to  increase  as  the  years 
passed.  While  but  a  child  herself,  she  began 
work  with  the  children,  training  them  for  the 
Master  and  for  usefulness  in  his  church.  Al- 
though her  talents  were  varied  above  most  of 
us,  in  this  responsible  and  difficult  work  with 
the  little  ones,  she  seemed  to  exercise  her  best 
gift.  Her  father  was  taken  away  in  her  in- 
fancy, and  her  mother  two  years  ago  last  sum- 
mer. Her  five  children,  over  whom  she  re- 
joiced and  for  whom  she  lived  as  a  true  Chris- 
tian mother,  remain  with  the  husband  and 
many  other  relatives  and  friends  to  mourn 
their  loss. 

But  the  church  is  bereaved  also.  Mrs. 
Loucks  was  gifted  with  the  ability  to  lead,  and 
so  held  executive  positions  in  the  woman's 
work  of  the  classes  and- synod,  and  in  the  gen- 
eral religious  work  of  Dayton.  She  possessed 
varied  talents,  and  none  of  them  were  laid 
away  in  a  napkin.  In  all  the  manifold  work 
of  Trinity  Reformed  church  she  had  a  part. 
At  the  time  of  her  death  she  was  superintend- 
ent of  the  primary  department  in  the  Bible- 
school,  president  of  the  Woman's  Missionary 
society,  superintendent  of  the  junior  endeavor 
work  and  actively  associated  with  the  other 
organizations  of  the  church.  The  King's 
Daughters  always  found  a  valued  friend  and 
advisor  in  Mrs.  Loucks,  and  no  one  in  the 
congregation  has  done  more  for  the  young  men 
than  did  she.  While  her  chief  energies  were 
given  the  children,  there  was  place  in  her 
heart  for  all  the  work.  Beside  her  duties  at 
home  and  in  organized  Christian  effort,  she 
found  time  to  visit  and  help  the  needy  and  un- 
fortunate. Of  those  who  feel  the  keen  loss  of 
a  true  friend,  none  are  to  be  regarded  before 
the  poor,  who  have  shared  so  largely  in  her 
sympathy  and  substantial  benefactions.  In- 
deed, we  know  of  no  .good  work  in  which  she 
was  not  deeply  interested.  Happy  is  the  serv- 
ant of  Christ  who  has  such  a  co-laborer.  No 
work  of  hand  or  brain  or  heart  was  ever  a 
hardship  for  her.  She  knew  no  such  thing  as 
toil — only  joyful,  happy  service.  To  her  duty 
was  alway  privilege  and  all  work  an  oppor- 
tunity. Life  was  an  inspiration,  because  of 
Loving  surrender  to  the 


the  good  to  be  done. 


will  of  the  Master  and  unselfish  interest  in  hu- 
man souls  is  the  secret  of  it  all. 

Mrs.  Loucks  has  built  her  own  monument, 
not  in  brass  or  marble,  not  in  the  vain  pleas- 
ures of  the  earth,  not  in  the  ways  of  wealth 
and  position;  but  in  humble  human  hearts, 
where  she  sought  to  represent  and  reproduce 
the  life  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Nazarene.  She 
has  gone,  but  there  abides  with  us  a  sweet 
memory — a  communion  and  fellowship  with 
Christ  which  cannot  be  broken. 


£*V*AMUEL  MAROW  LOGAN,   a   well- 
*\^KT    known  citizen  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 

p^^y  now  living  in  retirement  at  No.  417 
West  First  street,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Md.,  March  28,  1828,  a  son  of 
John  M.  and  Mary  (Widdis)  Logan.  The  fa- 
ther, also  a  native  of  Washington  county,  Md., 
was  born  in  1790,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
and  was  for  many  years  a  school-teacher,  but 
retired  about  fifteen  years  prior  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Topeka,  Kans.,  in  1864. 
Mrs.  Mary  (Widdis)  Logan  was  a  native  of 
Frederick  county,  Md.,  born  in  1793,  was  of 
German  extraction,  and  died  in  her  native 
county  at  the  age  of  forty  years. 

Of  the  family  of  nine  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  M.  Logan,  four  only  are  now 
living,  viz:  Samuel  M.,  who  was  the  only 
representative  of  the  family  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war;  David,  who  lives 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  Jeremiah,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Arkansas  City,  Kans. ;  and  Catherine,  wife 
of  Edwin  Scott,  who  is  a  resident  of  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.  Of  the  five  deceased,  all  reached  ma- 
ture years  and  were  named,  in  the  order  of 
their  birth,  James,  John,  Daniel,  Thomas,  and 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Williams),  who  died  in  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.  James  was  a  successful  inventor,  and 
died  in  England,  while  attending  to  his  inter- 
ests; John,  was  a  farmer  in  Pennsylvania;  Dan- 
iel, was  a  weaver,  and  died  in  Ithaca,    N.    Y. ; 


650 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  Thomas,  an  attorney  of  Kansas,  died  in 
Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1894. 

Samuel  Marow  Logan  was  educated  in  the 
academy  of  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  his  native  state.  He  learned 
coach  painting  in  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  in  this 
calling  traveled  extensively  through  the  eastern 
states,  and  then  came  west,  finally,  in  1852, 
settling  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
carriage  manufacturing  in  1853,  and  followed 
this  vocation  four  years.  He  then  sold  his 
business  and  became  a  pupil  of  Charles  Soule, 
an  artist  of  great  merit,  for  the  purpose  of 
learning  the  art  of  portrait  painting. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Logan  enlisted  in  company  I, 
Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  soon 
afterward  was  promoted  orderly  sergeant  of 
his  company.  He  saw  some  service  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles 
of  Antioch  Church,  Tenn. ,  and  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  Tenn.  In  the  latter  engagement  he  was 
twice  wounded  in  the  right  arm,  which  injuries 
incapacitated  him  for  further  service,  and  he 
was  honorably  discharged,  by  reason  of  disa- 
bility, May  3,  1863.  On  his  return  to  Dayton 
he  engaged  with  I.  M.  Cochrane  as  traveling 
sewing-machine  salesman,  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  1874,  when  he  became  manager 
of  agencies  for  the  Champion  Machine  com- 
pany, of  Springfield,  Ohio,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  sixteen  years,  traveling  through 
the  south  and  west.  Since  1890  he  has  lived 
in  retirement,  as  before  stated,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  early  industry. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Logan  took  place  in 
Dayton,  October  3,  1854,  to  Miss  Lovinia 
Bowman,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  this 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three 
daughters,  viz:  Lillie  C,  who  makes  her 
home  with  her  parents;  Minnie,  now  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Driscoll,  a  practicing  physician  of  Kan- 
sas; Katie  E.,  who  is  married  to  Harry  S. 
Ohmer,  and  also  lives  in  Kansas. 


Mr.  Logan  is  a  stanch  republican  in  poli- 
tics. In  religion  he  is  independent  of  church 
alliance,  being  a  free  thinker,  although  reared 
in  the  Lutheran  faith.  His  societary  relations 
are  confined  to  his  membership  with  Old 
Guard  post,  No.  21,  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. He  has  made  many  warm  friends  in 
his  extensive  travels,  but  he  is  nowhere  more 
highly  esteemed  than  he  is  by  his  numerous 
friends  in  Dayton. 


eB.  LYON,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Chaplin,  Windham  county, 
Conn.;  was  born  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember, 1S40,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
W.  and  Sarah  (Hagarj  Lyon.  When  he  was 
about  ten  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to 
Massachusetts,  and  in  that  state  he  received 
the  greater  part  of  his  education. 

E.  B.  Lyon  enlisted,  October  3,  1861,  as  a 
member  of  company  K.  Twenty- fourth  Massa- 
chusetts volunteer  infantry,  and  was  in  active 
service  until  October  8,  1864,  when  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Chapin's  farm,  having  par- 
ticipated in  twenty-four  engagements,  aside 
from  numerous  skirmishes.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  came  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Day- 
ton, where  he  has  since  made  his  home,  and 
where  he  has  secured  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  the  community.  Upon  his  arrival 
here  he  secured  employment  in  a  paper  mill, 
where  he  remained  about  a  year,  after  which 
he  became  an  attache  of  the  freight  depart- 
ment of  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton 
railroad.  In  1868  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  trunk  supplies  and  excelsior,  laying 
at  that  time  the  foundation  for  his  present 
prosperous  enterprise,  whose  business  extends 
into  the  most  diverse  sections  of  the  Union, 
and  also  into  foreign  countries.  The  industry 
had  a  very  modest  inception,  and  was  the  first 
of   the    sort   ever   projected  in   Dayton.      But 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


653 


business  sagacity,  correct  methods  and  per- 
sonal integrity,  coupled  with  unceasing  and 
well-directed  labor,  did  not  fail  of  their  re- 
ward. The  well-equipped  plant  occupies 
about  an  acre  of  ground,  while  the  buildings 
and  mechanical  accessories  are  of  the  most 
available  order,  so  that  the  work  of  produc- 
tion is  facilitated  in  every  department.  The 
principal  products  of  the  establishment  are 
trunk  slats  and  handles,  and  the  output  of  the 
manufactory  finds  a  ready  demand  in  the  do- 
mestic and  foreign  markets.  Employment  is 
given  to  a  body  of  about  thirty-five  skilled 
workmen.  In  1 891  Mr.  Lyon  began  the  manu- 
facture of  excelsior,  and  this  branch  of  the 
business  has  come  into  equal  favor. 

In  politics  Mr.  Lyon  renders  an  unswerving 
allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  and  has 
served  acceptably  as  a  member  of  the  city 
council.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1891,  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  city  of  Day- 
ton, this  office  having  been  tendered  him  with- 
out solicitation,  and  in  face  of  the  fact  that 
there  were  several  avowed  candidates  in  the 
field.  Within  the  time  of  his  incumbency  of 
this  office  he  instituted  many  improvements  in 
the  service,  among  which  may  be  noted  the 
establishment  of  the  night-collection  service 
and  the  utilization  of  special  mail  wagons. 
The  annual  business  of  the  office  was  increased 
by  some  $60,000,  and  his  administration  gave 
exceptional  satisfaction  to  the  public,  gaining 
him  endorsement  from  all  classes,  irrespective 
of  party   affiliations. 

In  his  fraternal  associations  Mr.  Lyon  is 
conspicuously  identified  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  being  a  member  of  Old 
Guard  post,  No.  23,  in  which  he  has  passed 
all  the  chairs,  having  also  served  on  the  staff 
of  the  commander  of  both  state  and  national 
departments.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of   Honor. 

On  the  4th  of  April,    1866,  Mr.  Lyon  was 


united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Broadwell, 
a  native  of  Dayton,  but  whose  death  occurred 
in  1 88 1.  In  1883  he  married  Miss  Sarah  B. 
Broadwell,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  but  death's 
summons  called  her  into  eternal  rest  in  1892. 
On  the  24th  of  May,  1894,  Mr.  Lyon  con- 
summated a  third  union,  being  then  joined  in 
matrimony  to  Mary  A.  McQuiston,  who  is  the 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  F.  Patton,  ex- 
member  of  the  Ohio  legislature,  and  founder 
of  the  Xenia  Gazette.  Three  daughters  were 
born  of  the  first  marriage,  viz:  Ella  H.,  who 
is  her  father's  capable  assistant  in  conducting 
the  detail  office  work  of  his  business;  Sarah 
B.,  wife  of  Dr.  O.  W.  Lounsbury,  and  Bessie 
W. ,  deceased.  Mrs.  M.  A.  Lyon,  who  enjoys 
a  wide  popularity  in  the  social  circles  of  Day- 
ton, was  the  department  president  of  the  Ohio 
Woman's  Relief  Corps  in  1891-2,  and  is  now 
(1896)  assistant  national  inspector  on  the  staff 
of  Mrs.  Turner,  of  Boston,  Mass. 

In  his  long  business  career  in  Dayton  Mr. 
Lyon  has  so  conducted  his  affairs  and  so  lived 
as  to  gain  the  esteem  and  respect  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  community.  He  has  been  enter- 
prising, public-spirited  and  progressive,  and 
his  interest  in  the  advancement  of  the  material 
prosperity  of  the  city  has  been  manifested  in 
a  practical  way,  as  he  has  been  the  pioneer  in 
building,  both  for  residence  and  manufacturing 
plants,  in  the  east  end. 


aOL  WILLIAM  McCLELLAN,  clerk 
in  the  commissary  department  of 
the  national  military  home  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Germantown,  Pa., 
July  13,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Mary  (Gillespie)  McClellan,  both  of  Scotch- 
Irish  extraction.  The  father  died  when  subject 
was  but  two  years  of  age,  and  the  mother,  who 
never  re-marned,  survived  until  1893,  when 
she  expired   in  the   Baptist  home   at   Philadel- 


654 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


phia,  aged  eighty-six  years,  the  mother  of  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  of  which  family  the 
colonel  is  the  only  survivor.  Thomas,  his 
brother,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg; 
his  elder  sister,  Elizabeth,  died  at  twenty-nine 
years  of  age,  and  the  younger  sister,  Anna, 
died  when  thirty-four  years  old.  Both  sisters 
had  married,  but  left  no  children. 

Col.  McClellan  was  educated  at  Girard 
college,  Philadelphia,  and  was  then  appren- 
ticed to  a  whipmaker  in  Wellsville,  York 
county,  Pa.,  being  thus  engaged  when  the 
Civil  war  opened.  On  May  8,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  company  H,  Seventh  Pennsylvania 
infantry,  known  during  the  Rebellion  as  one  of 
the  regiments  of  the  Pennsylvania  reserves.  He 
went  through  the  peninsular  campaign  under 
Gen.  George  B.  McClellan,  his  brigade  at  the 
time  being  in  command  of  Gen.  George  G. 
Meade.  Later,  after  the  promotion  of  Gen. 
Meade,  Gen.  McCandless  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade,  Gen.  Crawford's  division 
and  Gen.  Reynold's  corps.  Col.  McClellan 
fought  in  all  of  the  battles  in  which  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  took  part,  with  two  exceptions. 
He  was  at  second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  the 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  and 
Petersburg,  and  also  at  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Robert  E.  Lee,  having  enlisted  a  second  time, 
in  1863.  Of  his  original  company  of  101  men, 
chiefly  students  and  professional  men,  but 
eleven  are  now  living. 

After  the  war  was  ended  Col.  McClellan 
was  employed  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
railroad  for  fifteen  years,  when,  on  account  of 
failing  health,  he  came  to  the  soldiers'  home, 
in  1 88 1,  and  was  here  employed  fourteen 
years  as  timekeeper,  until  the  spring  of  1896, 
when  he  resigned  because  of  the  great  respon- 
sibility of  the  position,  and  entered  the  com- 
missary department  as  clerk. 

Col.    McClellan   was    married   in    Chester, 


Pa.,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Emma  Morris,  the  union 
resulting  in  the  birth  of  five  children,  of  whom 
two  are  now  deceased.  The  survivors  are 
William,  Jr.,  a  young  man  of  twenty-six  years 
and  foreman  of  the  tool-room  of  the  Com- 
puting Scales  works,  of  Dayton;  George,  eight- 
een years  old,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
same  company;  and  Mary,  aged  seven  years, 
who  is  attending  school.  The  two  deceased 
were  Mamie,  who  died  at  nine  years,  and 
Anna,  who  died  when  but  three  months  old. 
On  entering  the  home,  the  colonel  brought 
with  him  his  family,  as  he  was  furnished  a 
residence  by  the  management  on  account  of 
his  official  position;  but  since  the  past  spring 
the  family  have  lived  at  No.  1637  West  Second 
street,  in  Dayton.  Col.  McClellan  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  encampment  No.  82,  Union 
Veteran  Legion,  and  was  honored  by  being 
elected  its  colonel  for  three  successive  terms. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Dister  post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  his  religious  affilia- 
tion is  with  the  First  Reformed  church  of  Day- 
ton, of  which  his  sons  are  also  members.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  republican. 


SAMUEL  B.  McDERMONT,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  McDermont  & 
Clemens,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  which 
firm  does  a  large  business  in  gas-fit- 
ting, plumbing,  etc. ,  was  born  in  Newark, 
N.  J.,  January  19,  1853.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  there 
also  served  an  apprenticeship  at  plumbing. 
In  the  fall  of  1875  ne  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  here  worked  for  Gibbons  &  McCormick 
until  1889,  when  he  united  in  the  business 
with  F.  J.  McCormick.  This  co-partnership 
lasted  until  1894,  attaining  during  its  existence 
a  large  degree  of  prosperity.  In  the  year  last 
mentioned  Mr.  McCormick  withdrew,  and 
Frank  C.  Clemens  became  the  business  asso- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


655 


ciate  of  Mr.  McDermont.  The  firm,  as  now 
constituted,  gives  constant  employment  to 
about  thirty  men,  and  carries  a  full  line  of 
supplies  in  all  departments,  both  for  their  own 
use  and  for  sale  to  minor  firms  engaged  in  the 
same  line  of  trade. 

David  McDermont,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  memoir,  was  a  chair  manufacturer  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  and  for  ten  years  carried  on 
business  at  No.  414  Broad  street,  and  there 
died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty  years.  David 
McDermont  was  a  son  of  Peter  McDermont, 
whose  parents  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland; 
Peter  also  carried  on  chairmaking  in  Newark 
for  many  years.  David  McDermont  married 
Miss  Eliza  Hughes,  a  native  of  Dingman's 
Ferry,  N.  Y.,  and  of  Welsh  ancestry.  Mrs. 
McDermont  died  in  1871,  the  mother  of  Sam- 
uel B.  and  two  other  children — Sergeant  L. , 
who  is  a  well-known  optician  of  Canton,  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  and  Frances,  who  was  married 
to  John  G.  Gillespie,  in  Narrowsburg,  N.  Y., 
but  who  died  in  Equinox,  N.  Y.,  while  her 
husband  died  in  Middletown,  in  the  same  state. 

Samuel  B.  McDermont  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Troy,  Ohio,  in  1S81,  with  Miss  Au- 
gusta E.  Braunschweiger,  a  native  of  Troy 
and  of  German  parentage.  One  child,  only, 
has  blessed  this  union — a  daughter  named 
Hannah,  and  now  a  bright  little  girl,  aged 
seven  years.  In  politics,  Mr.  McDermont  for 
a  long  time  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  but  at  present  prefers,  in  local 
matters,  to  vote  for  the  honest  and  capable 
man  who  will  act  for  the  best  interests  of  his 
constituents.  He  is,  therefore,  to  be  ranked 
as  independent,  as  far  as  politics  is  concerned. 
He  is,  however,  a  member  of  of  the  democratic 
organization  known  as  the  Jackson  club,  and 
also  occupies  his  leisure  hours  as  a  member  of 
a  social  and  literary  club.  In  religion  he  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
but  his  wife  still  adheres  to  the  faith  in  which 


she  was  reared,  that  of  the  German  Lutheran, 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Third  street 
church,  of  that  denomination,  in  Dayton.  Mr. 
McDermont  has  always  been  a  man  of  industry 
and  thrift,  and  through  his  own  exertions  has 
raised  himself  to  his  present  independent  po- 
sition in  business  life.  His  name  stands  with- 
out a  stain,  and  he  is  honored  and  highly  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  him,  either  in  busi- 
ness or  social  circles. 


QHARLES  MacGREGOR,  M.  D.,  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  Md. ,  on  the  22d  of  No- 
vember, 1868,  being  the  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Laura  (Winters)  MacGregor,  of  Scotch 
and  German  descent.  The  father  died  in  the 
prime  of  his  strong  and  useful  manhood,  pass- 
ing away  in  January,  1S77,  when  our  subject 
was  a  lad  of  but  nine  years.  Robert  and 
Laura  MacGregor  were  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Robert  W.  and  Charles.  Robert  is  a 
resident  of  Dayton,  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  progressive  and  influential  business  men 
of  the  city.  The  mother  is  still  living  and 
maintains  her  home  in  Dayton,  where  she  is 
the  recipient  of  the  utmost  filial  devotion  from 
her  sons.  The  family  took  up  their  abode  in 
Dayton  soon  after  the  death  of  the  father,  and 
here  Charles  continued  his  studies  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  after  which  he  entered  the  Michi- 
gan Military  academy,  at  Orchard  Lake,  Oak- 
land county,  where  he  remained  until  October, 
1886,  when  he  matriculated  in  the  medical  de- 
partment of  Michigan's  famous  university,  at 
Ann  Arbor.  He  there  prosecuted  his  technical 
studies  with  zealous  interest,  graduating  as  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1889. 

This  would  have  represented  a  complete 
education  to  the  average  young  man  thus  aim- 
ing to  enter  professional  life,  but  Dr.  Mac- 
Gregor's  ambition  was  such  that  he  could  con- 


656 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


sent  to  accept  as  final  nothing  less  than  the 
most  complete  preparation  and  reinforcement 
attainable.  Accordingly,  he  went  to  New 
York  city,  in  1890,  and  there  entered  the  col- 
lege of  Physicians  &  Surgeons,  a  department 
of  Columbia  university,  completing  his  post- 
graduate course  and  graduating  in  the  year 
noted.  Practical  and  effective  experience  was 
his  for  the  ensuing  year,  during  which  he 
served  as  assistant  surgeon  at  the  national  sol- 
diers' home,  in  Dayton.  In  1892  he  returned 
to  New  York  and  for  several  months  devoted 
his  undivided  attention  to  the  study  of  diseases 
of  the  eye  and  ear,  prosecuting  his  work  in  this 
line  in  the  New  York  Eye  &  Ear  infirmary. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  enabled  to 
go  abroad  for  the  purpose  of  profiting  by  study 
of  foreign  methods  and  investigations,  having 
secured  privileges  in  certain  of  the  most  re- 
nowned medical  institutions  of  Europe.  Dr. 
MacGregor  was  in  Vienna,  Austria,  until  the 
summer  of  1893,  when  he  proceeded  to  Mu- 
nich, where  he  studied  and  carried  forward  his 
observations  in  the  leading  hospitals  and  col- 
leges during  a  period  of  six  months.  He  then 
returned  to  Vienna  and  there  passed  an  equal 
length  of  time,  returning  to  his  home  in  Day- 
ton in  the  spring  of  1894,  thoroughly  equipped 
for  the  successful  practice  of  his  profession, 
with  special  reference  to  diseases  of  the  eye, 
ear,  nose  and  throat,  which  class  of  disor- 
ders had  been  the  particular  subject  of  his  for- 
eign study.  He  has  built  up  a  very  excellent 
practice  in  his  special  lines  and  has  established 
a  high  reputation  for  professional  ability  and 
excellence  of  personal  character.  It  has  been 
proved  in  his  case  that  the  old-time  hostility 
against  the  young  man  in  the  medical  profes- 
sion has  grown  obsolete,  and  that  honor  is 
granted  where  honor  is  due — even  in  face  of 
the  once  humiliating  characteristic  of  youthful- 
ness.  Dr.  MacGregor's  office  is  located  at  29 
South  Ludlow  street,  while  he  resides  at  514 


West  Second  street.  He  holds  the  position 
of  oculist  and  aurist  on  the  medical  staff  of  the 
Deaconess  hospital.  In  his  political  adher- 
ency  he  is  identified  with  the  republican  party, 
while  socially  he  enjoys  a  merited  popularity 
in  the  city  of  his  home,  being  genial  in  dispo- 
sition and  endowed  with  that  never-failing 
courtesy  so  essential  to  the  successful  physician. 


m. 


D.  McKEMY,  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Dayton  bar,  was  born  in 
Rockbridge  county,  Va.,  February 
14,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Kirkpatrick)  McKemy.  Orig- 
inally the  family  on  both  sides  came  from  the 
north  part  of  Ireland,  the  McKemys  being 
Irish  and  the  Kirkpatricks,  Scotch.  John  Mc- 
Kemy, the  grandfather  of  W.  D.  McKemy, 
was  the  first  of  his  family  to  come  to  the 
United  States,  he  coming  when  a  youth  and 
settling  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  the  rest  of 
his  life.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and 
served  in  the  war  of  18 12.  His  son,  William, 
was  born  in  Virginia  and  lived  there  all  his 
life.  William's  wife  was  also  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  which  state  she  lived  and  died.  She 
and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  but  two  of  whom  are  still  living,  a 
daughter  in  Colorado,  and  our  subject,  W.  D. 
McKemy. 

Judge  McKemy  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Rockbridge  county,  Ya. ,  receiving 
such  education  as  was  afforded  in  that  coun- 
try. He  remained  there  until  1866,  in  the 
meantime  serving  in  the  Confederate  army 
from  August  5,  1861,  untiljune  30,  1865, 
as  a  member  of  company  H,  Twenty-fifth 
regiment,  Virginia  volunteer  infantry,  which 
formed  a  part  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  bri- 
gade and  division,  being  present  when 
that  general  was  killed.  In  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,    May    12,    1 S64,    young    McKemy 


/WmtL^. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


659 


was  captured,  taken  to  Point  Lookout,  Md., 
and  later  was  transferred  to  Elmira,  N.  Y., 
where  he  remained  until  his  final  discharge, 
in  June,  1865. 

In  1866  he  removed  from  Virginia  to  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1868  located 
in  Dayton.  His  education  wascontinued  after 
the  war  in  the  common  schools  at  his  home  in 
Virginia,  and  after  coming  to  Ohio,  he  attend- 
ed the  high  school  at  Greenville,  and  grad- 
uated there  in  1867,  afterward  teaching  school 
for  a  year  or  two.  He  then  took  a  position  as 
deputy  clerk  to  the  probate  judge  of  Darke 
county,  and,  after  his  removal  to  Dayton, 
acted  in  a  similar  capacity  under  Judge  Dwyer. 
For  three  years  he  was  deputy  recorder  under 
Johnson  Snyder,  and  later  was  deputy  sheriff 
and  bookkeeper  for.two  years  and  a  half  under 
Sheriff  Patton.  Next  he  was  deputy  under 
H.  H.  Laubach,  county  treasurer,  for  three 
years.  While  in  the  treasurer's  office,  in  1877, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1878  was 
a  candidate  for  probate  judge,  but  in  the  elec- 
tion was  defeated  by  a  majority  of  only  a  few 
votes.  He  then  began  the  practice  of  the  law, 
and  three  years  later  was  again  a  candidate  for 
the  same  office,  was  elected  and  served  three 
consecutive  terms  of  three  years  each.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  in  1890  he  returned  to 
the  law  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice. 

Since  retiring  from  the  office  of  probate 
judge  he  has  served  for  four  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  board  of  elections,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  city  board.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  of  the 
Chosen  Friends,  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  of  the  Fraternal  Censer  and  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W. ,  Miami  lodge.  Since  1894  he 
has  been  in  partnership  with  J.  M.  Nutt,  in 
the  practice  of  the  law. 

Judge    McKemy    was    married    in    March, 

1873,   to   R.  Florence   Haise,   of  Union  City, 

Randolph   county,    Ind.,    by   whom    he   is  the 
23 


father  of  three  children:  Gertrude  L. ,  John 
W.,  and  Harry  G.  He  and  his  family  are 
among  the  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Dayton,  thoroughly  loyal  to  both  friends 
and  country. 


>*t*OHN    W.     McKEOWN,     one    of    the 

m  prominent  young  members  of  the  Day- 
(•  1  ton  bar,  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  December  28,  1854.  Until  he 
was  six  years  old  his  parents  lived  in  Mansfield 
and  Crestline,  Ohio,  after  which  they  removed 
to  Adams  county,  and  there  he  remained  until 
attaining  his  majority.  His  elementary  educa- 
tion was  secured  by  attending  district  schools 
in  the  winter  months,  in  his  native  county. 
He  afterward  attended  the  national  normal 
university  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  conducted  by 
Mr.  Holbrook.  Beside  this  he  attended  a 
number  of  local  normal  sessions  in  his  own 
county,  and  in  several  of  them  assisted  in 
teaching. 

In  1876  Mr.  McKeown  began  teaching 
school  in  his  native  county,  first  in  country 
districts,  and  then  in  the  public  schools  of 
West  Union  and  Manchester.  All  of  the 
money  needed  to  pay  for  his  own  education  he 
earned  by  teaching  school  and  in  working  at 
$13  per  month,  receiving  no  pecuniary  aid 
from  any  source.  During  a  portion  of  the 
time  covered  by  the  above  recital  he  served  as 
school  examiner  for  Adams  county,  being  the 
youngest  examiner  ever  appointed  there.  In 
1883  he  removed  to  Warren  county  and  there 
taught  school  in  country  districts,  and  was 
afterward  superintendent  of  the  Springboro 
public  schools,  retaining  this  position  for  five 
years.  Mr.  McKeown  was  next  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Amanda  public  schools  for  one 
year,  1889-90,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Springboro,  and  remained  there  as  superin- 
tendent of  the    public   schools    for  three  years 


660 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


more.      While  in  the  latter  place  he  secured  a 
ten  years'  state  certificate  as  a  teacher. 

Mr.  McKeown  was  married,  in  1890,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Michel,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  R.  B. 
Michel,  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  They 
have  two  sons,  Stuart  E.  and  Robert  Bruce. 
During  the  last  three  years  of  his  teaching, 
Mr.  McKeown  spent  his  leisure  hours  in  read- 
ing law  and  entered  the  Cincinnati  Law  col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1894.  In 
August,  of  that  year,  he  located  in  Dayton 
with  the  view  of  practicing  law.  Opening  an 
office  he  has  since  continued  in  active  practice, 
with  gratifying  success  for  the  short  time  in 
which  he  has  been  so  engaged. 


^yy»ILLIAM    C.    MARSHALL,    M.    D., 
M  ■  physician   and   surgeon  of    Dayion, 

\JL/I  with  offio  lI  thi  northeast  corner 
of  Third  and  Broadway  streets,  was 
born  in  Lexington,  McLean  county,  111.,  July 
7,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert  F.  and  Agnes 
(Elder)  Marshall,  both  now  residents  of  Yellow 
Springs,  Ohio.  Robert  F.  Marshall  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  the  family 
are  of  much  more  than  ordinary  intellectual 
ability  and  influence. 

William  C.  Marshall  is  of  German,  English 
and  Scotch  descent.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Clarke  county,  and  later  at- 
tended Wittenberg  college,  at  Springfield,  Ohio, 
and  graduated  from  Antioch  college,  at  Yellow 
Springs,  in  1886.  His  first  study  of  medicine 
was  with  Dr.  J.  M.  Harris,  of  Yellow  Springs, 
after  which  he  attended  the  Ohio  Medical  col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  graduating  with  the  class 
of  1890.  For  a  short  time  he  was  in  practice 
with  his  preceptor,  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio, 
and  then  located  at  Trotwood,  Montgomery 
county,  where  he  remained  until  January  29, 
1895.  He  removed  to  Dayton,  where  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  general   practice  of 


medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Montgomery  county  Medical  society  and  of 
the  Ohio  state  Medical  association.  He  is  a 
member  of  Yellow  Springs  lodge,  No.  279, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters.  Dr.  Marshall  was  appointed  phy- 
sician to  the  county  infirmary  and  was  re-ap- 
pointed in  1896.  Politically  he  is  a  republican, 
and  in  religious  belief  a  Presbyterian. 

In  his  early  life  Dr.  Marshall  engaged  in 
school-teaching,  for  two  years  after  gradua- 
ting, and  the  money  thus  earned  went  to  de- 
fray his  expenses  at  college.  He  is  one  of  the 
rising  young  members  of  the  medical  frater- 
nity, and  is  meeting  with  gratifying  success. 
He  belongs  to  the  Present  Day  club  of  Day- 
ton, and  also  to  the  Garfield  club,  standing 
high  in  all  the  orders  and  societies  of  which  he 
is  a  member. 


^^r9  IEUT.  JOHN  MARSHALL,  de- 
f    ceased,  "the  hero  of  Lookout  Mount- 

^A  ain,"  was  born  in  Paisley,  Scotland, 
June  22,  18 1  5,  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  married  his  first  wife.  At  the  same 
age  he  entered  the  British  army  as  an  artillery- 
man, served  nine  years,  and  during  this  time 
was  stationed  on  many  of  the  islands  and  in 
several  of  the  provinces  subject  to  the  British 
crown,  including  the  dominion  of  Canada. 

In  1847  Mr.  Marshall  came  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  two  years  later  was  called  to  mourn 
the  death  of  his  wife.  In  1S50  he  wedded 
Miss  Emily  Thomas,  a  native  of  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  who  came  to  Dayton  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  but  six  years  of  age,  and  who 
still  survives.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Evan 
Owen  and  Jane  (Maze)  Thomas,  the  former  a 
native  of  Wales,  born  in  1795;  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
located  near  Delaware,  Ohio,  and   there   mar- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


661 


ried  Mrs.  Jane  (Maze)  Hahnaman,  a  native  of 
Zanesville,  and  in  the  fall  of  1838  came  to 
Dayton.  To  this  marriage  there  were  born 
eight  children,  viz:  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Feicht; 
Emily,  now  Mrs.  Marshall;  Mrs.  Martha  Bar- 
telle  (of  Browntown,  Ohio);  Mrs.  Laura  Baker 
(deceased);  William  H.,  who  died  suddenly  of 
heart  disease  in  middle  life;  Harvey,  now  de- 
ceased; Evan  Owen,  present  market-master  of 
Dayton;  and  John  W. ,  who  had  been  eighteen 
years  a  locomotive  engineer,  and  was  killed  in 
a  wreck  near  Xenia,  Ohio.  To  her  first  hus- 
band, John  Hahnaman,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Marshall  had  borne  three  daughters,  who  are 
still  living,  viz:  Mrs.  Matilda  Shamo,  of 
Louisville,  Ky. ;  Mrs.  Susan  Rodkey,  of  Wi- 
chita, Kans. ,  and  a  twin  sister  of  Susan;  Mary, 
who  married  a  cousin,  named  Maze,  and  is 
now  a  widow.  To  John  and  Emily  (Thomas) 
Marshall  were  born  a  son  and  a  daughter,  viz: 
John  W.,  who  has  been  in  the  employ  of 
Heathman  &  Co.,  cracker  bakers,  for  the  past 
twenty-seven  years,  and  Maggie  D.,  who  is 
married  to  Frank  E.  Rouzer,  a  traveling  sales- 
man for  a  Columbus  wholesale  firm,  and  has 
had  four  children,  all  now  deceased.  The  fa- 
ther of  Mrs.  Marshall  was  a  weaver  by  trade, 
and  came  to  Dayton  as  superintendent  of  a 
carpet  factory,  and  later  carried  on  the  same 
business  on  his  own  account;  both  he  and  his 
wife  died  in  Dayton,  the  latter  at  seventy-six 
years  of  age,  and  their  remains  lie  interred  in 
Woodland  cemetery. 

Mrs.  Emily  (Thomas)  Marshall  has  been  a 
member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Dayton 
for  the  past  fifty  years,  being  one  of  the  old- 
est, in  point  of  membership,  of  that  congrega- 
tion; she  is  also  chaplain  of  the  Old  Guard,  G. 
A.  R.,  Woman's  Relief  corps,  of  which  she  was 
a  charter  member. 

John  Marshall,  whose  name  opens  this  bi- 
ography, at  the  first  call  to  arms  at  the  opening 
of  the  great    Rebellion,   promptly    offered   his 


services  as  a  Union  soldier,  and  subsequently 
distinguished  himself  for  his  patriotism,  sol- 
dierly coolness,  bravery  and  ability.  He  first 
enlisted  in  company  G,  Eleventh  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  for  three  months,  and  at  the 
close  of  this  term  re-entered  the  army  as  a  pri- 
vate in  company  E,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  with 
which  he  served  until  the  termination  of  the 
war.  Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  for  a  special 
act  of  gallantry  on  that  field.  Battery  M, 
Fifth  regiment,  United  States  artillery,  being 
in  distress,  Mr.  Marshall  volunteered,  and  was 
permitted  by  his  officers  to  go  to  its  relief; 
here  his  past  experience  as  an  artillerist  came 
into  play,  and  he  saved  the  guns.  This  act  is 
a  matter  of  record  in  the  archives  of  the  war 
department  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Subse- 
quently, however,  Lieut.  Marshall  achieved 
even  greater  feats  of  soldierly  bravery. 

In  October  and  November,  1863,  Hooker's 
army  lay  in  the  valley  overlooked  by  Lookout 
mountain,  which,  in  the  latter  month,  was  so 
gallantly  stormed.  Right  on  a  spur  of  this 
mountain  the  rebel  signal  corps  had  established 
a  flag  station.  From  this  point  all  of  Gen. 
Hooker's  movements  could  be  seen,  and  intel- 
ligence immediately  telegraphed  by  means  of 
the  signal  flag  to  Gen.  Bragg.  It  will  be  seen 
how  important  was  the  station  to  the  enemy 
and  how  desirable  to  the  Union  forces  that  it 
be  destroyed  or  swept  away.  Across  the  Ten- 
nessee river,  at  Moccasin  Point,  the  sixteen- 
pound  Rodman  guns  of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio 
battery  were  planted.  John  Marshall's  pro- 
motion had  made  him  a  lieutenant  of  this  bat- 
tery. He  could  see  that  flaunting  flag  of  the 
rebel  signal  station  as  it  waved  its  intelligence 
of  the  movements  of  the  Union  army  day  by 
day,  and  it  taunted  him.  He  knew  that  he 
could  cut  it  down  with  one  of  the  Rodman 
guns,  but  his  captain  frowned  on  his  presump- 
tion in  pretending  to  know  more  than  his  supe- 


662 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


rior  officers.  Gen.  Branum,  chief  of  artillery 
of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  had  said  that 
it  could  not  be  done.  The  removal  of  the  flag 
was  considered  an  impossibility,  though  very 
desirable,  and  so  reported  after  a  careful  ex- 
amination of  the  surroundings,  by  Gens.  Hooker 
and  Branum,  Col.  Barnett  and  Maj.  Menden- 
hall.  They  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was 
impossible  to  train  a  gun  upon  it.  John  Mar- 
shall watched  the  calculations  with  interest, 
and  when  the  decision  was  announced  he 
stepped  up  to  Gen.  Branum,  and,  touching  his 
cap  in  salute,  said,  "General,  if  you  will  give 
me  permission  to  try,  I  think  I  can  shoot  that 
flag  off  there."  The  general  looked  at  him 
sternly  a  moment,  and  then  said:  "Go  to 
your  quarters,  sir,  under  arrest." 

But  this  was  not  the  end.  The  Eighteenth 
battery  was  attached  to  Gen.  Whittaker's  bri- 
gade, and  bluff  Gen.  Whittaker  took  more 
stock  in  Lieut.  Marshall  than  did  the  austere 
Branum.  So  certain  was  Gen.  Whittaker 
that  Lieut.  Marshall  knew  what  he  was  talk- 
ing abcut,  that  he  went  to  Chattanooga  and 
signed  a  security  bond  for  $600,  the  value  of 
the  cannon,  in  case  it  should  burst,  and,  return- 
ing, told  Lieut.  Marshall  of  his  action.  Mar- 
shall went  to  his  quarters  that  night  feeling 
that  the  hour  of  his  triumph  was  at  hand. 
The  next  morning  he  had  his  throughly-drilled 
gun  squad  on  the  ground  long  before  the  ar- 
rival of  Gen.  Whittaker.  It  was  a  moment  of 
imminent  danger,  for  should  the  gun  burst  by 
reason  of  its  great  elevation,  not  a  man  would 
escape.  The  first  shot  Gen.  Whittaker  re- 
ported to  be  a  hundred  yards  above  the  flag. 
"Yes,  sir;  I  know  that,  and  the  next  will  be  fifty 
yards  above  it,"  said  Marshall.  The  second 
shot  proved  the  truth  of  his  statement.  "Now, 
General,  this  time  I'll  fetch  the  flag."  The  gun 
boomed,  and  a  field  glass,  in  the  hands  of  Gen. 
Whittaker,  was  passed  from  one  to  another  of 
the  anxious  little  squad,  but  no  flag  could  be 


seen.  It  had  been  shot  from  the  staff  at  the 
third  discharge,  and  the  army's  movements 
would  not  thereafter  be  reported  to  rebel 
headquarters.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
Lieut.  Marshall  was  the  hero  of  the  hour, 
and  received  the  most  profuse  congratulations, 
even  from  the  chief  of  artillery  whose  judg- 
ment he  had  so  successfully  overthrown. 
He  was  recommended  for  promotion  to  sun- 
dry high  positions,  but  chose  that  of  second 
lieutenant  when  he  could  have  been  a  colonel 
as  well.  He  was  a  man  of  modest  and  unas- 
suming character — loyal  to  the  core,  brave  to 
a  fault — but  inclined  to  belittle  his  own  achieve- 
ments. His  education  was  somewhat  limited, 
though  possibly  superior  to  that  of  many  who 
held  high  military  positions,  yet  he  declined 
high  office,  believing  that  his  lack  of  education 
would  be  a  stumbling  block  to  his  success.  He 
left  a  legacy  to  his  children  in  his  honorable 
and  distinguished  services  for  his  country, 
more  valuable  than  gold,  and  more  lasting 
than  title  or  crown. 

John  Marshall,  the  patriot  and  soldier — 
the  loving  father,  devoted  husband,  honored 
friend — departed  this  life  March  2,  1895,  and 
awaits  the  grand  reunion  in  beautiful  Wood- 
land. His  comrades  of  Old  Guard  post,  G. 
A.  R.,  conducted  the  funeral  obsequies,  the 
funeral  discourse  being  delivered  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Colby  of  the  First  Baptist  church.  His  widow 
remains  at  the  lonely  home  where  so  many 
years  of  her  wedded  life  were  spent,  at  No. 
236  South  Allen  street. 

John  W.  Marshall,  son  of  Lieut.  John  and 
Emily  (Thomas)  Marshall,  was  born  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  May  12,  1851.  He  is  a  man  of 
fine  business  attainments  and  strict  integrity, 
as  his  long  continuance  with  one  firm  abund- 
antly proves.  He  is  a  man  of  temperate 
habits,  and  marked  devotion  to  his  home  and 
family.  By  industry  and  economy  he  has  ac- 
cumulated   a    competence,    owns    a    beautiful 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


663 


home,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  by  the 
besl  people  in  the  city  of  his  birth.  He  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Garfield  club,  the  Bakers'  Benevo- 
lent association,  and  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O. 
E.  K.  On  June  17,  1879,  Mr.  Marshall  mar- 
ried Miss  Alice  E.  Russell,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
In  1895,  Mr.  Marshall,  in  company  with 
his  wife,  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  O.  Thomas, 
and  Mrs.  Col.  Byron,  visited  Lookout  mount- 
ain, Missionary  ridge,  Nashville,  Louisville, 
and  many  other  places  and  scenes  of  Lieut. 
John  Marshall's  military  career,  not  mentioned 
in  the  sketch  of  that  brave  soldier's  life. 


aLYSSES  S.  MARTIN,  one  of  the 
young  members  of  the  Dayton  bar, 
was  born  in  Randolph  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  March  4,  1866. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  Martin,  who  was  born 
at  Lewisburg,  Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  1830, 
and  who  removed  to  Montgomery  county  about 
1856.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer;  polit- 
ically he  was  a  republican,  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  and  such  was  his  popu- 
larity that  he  served  for  three  terms  as  trustee 
of  Randolph  township,  although  the  township 
was  normally  democratic.  The  people  then, 
as  now,  believed  that  in  local  affairs  fitness  for 
the  position  was  a  better  qualification,  in  an 
official,  than  mere  party  affiliation.  Mr.  Mar- 
tin died  in  1892,  honored  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife  was  Maria  Frantz,  born  about  ten 
miles  northwest  of  Trotwood,  Montgomery 
county,  and  is  still  living. 

Ulysses  S.  Martin  was  reared  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  and  then  for  some  two  years  he  attended 
the  high  school  of  Randolph  township,  at  Har- 
risburg.       At    this    time    he     began    teaching 


school  in  the  winter  time  and  attending  the 
Western  normal  university  at  Ada,  Ohio,  in 
the  summer  season.  This  course  he  pursued 
for  three  years,  and  then  began  a  course  of 
study  at  Otterbein  university,  graduating  from 
this  institution  as  a  bachelor  of  arts,  in  June, 
1892.  He  taught  school  for  another  year,  and 
then  began  reading  law,  in  the  spring  of  1893, 
in  the  office  of  Carr,  Allaman  &  Kennedy,  of 
Dayton.  As  he  had  already  begun  to  read 
law  while  engaged  in  teaching  school,  having 
had  that  profession  in  view,  it  was  not  neces- 
sary for  him  to  spend  as  much  time  in  prepara- 
tion for  practice  as  would  otherwise  have  been 
the  case,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
June,  1894.  In  July  following,  he  opened  an 
office  in  the  Callahan  Bank  building,  where  he 
is  now  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
of  the  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic  Order. 
He  was  married  November  27,  1894,  to  Laura 
G.  Denlinger,  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  Mr.  Martin 
is  a  thoroughly  educated  man,  well  equipped 
for  the  successful  prosecution  of  his  profession, 
and,  though  but  recently  established,  there  is 
every  reason  to  expect  him  to  take  a  creditable 
place  in  the  ranks  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  Montgomery  county  bar. 


^V^V  AVID  M.  MARTIN,  superintendent 
I  and  secretary  of  the  Dayton  work- 
/^^_J  house,  was  born  in  Clarke  county, 
Ohio,  September  20,  1848.  He  is  a 
son  of  Henry  Martin,  who  when  a  boy  removed 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and  lived  in  Clarke 
county  until  1880,  when  he  removed  to  Day- 
ton, where  he  is  now  living.  Henry  Martin 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
being  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-third  regiment  O.  V.  I.,  and  in  the  same 


664 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


company  there  were  also  one  of  his  brothers 
and  three  brothers-in-law. 

David  M.  Martin  was  reared  in  Clarke 
county,  six  miles  west  of  Springfield,  receiv- 
ing his  elementary  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  completing  his  education  in  the 
Miami  Commercial  college  at  Dayton.  When 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  the  family  re- 
moved to  Osborn,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  clerked  for  some  time  in  a  general 
store.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Dayton,  where, 
after  attending  commercial  college,  he  filled  a 
position  as  bookkeeper  for  fifteen  years.  In 
1888  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council,  and 
in  1889  he  was  elected  to  his  present  position, 
to  which  he  has  been  annually  re-appointed 
ever  since. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Knights  of  Pythias,  lodge  No.  83,  American 
Legion  of  Honor,  and  a  director  of  the  Garfield 
club,  a  republican  organization.  He  was  mar- 
ried February  20,  1873,  to  Miss  Lucy  J.  Jud- 
son,  of  Osborn,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  has  two 
sons  and  one  daughter.  The  eldest  son, 
George  M. ,  is  at  the  present  time  physical  di- 
rector of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  associa- 
tion, of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  the  other  son, 
Harry  J.,  is  a  law  student  in  this  city.  Mr. 
Martin  is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  Dayton,  and  is  deservedly  popular 
with  all  classes  of  people. 


>-j'OHN  MATHIAS,  manager  of  the  Ma- 
m  thias  Planing  Mill  company,  of  Day- 
f»  1  ton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Germantown) 
Montgomery  county,  and  was  born 
October  5,  1 861,  of  sterling  German  parentage. 
His  father,  John  Frederick  Mathias,  was  born 
in  Breslau,  Prussia,  in  18 10,  and  his  mother, 
Rosanna  (Volz)  Mathias,  is  a  native  of  Hessen 
Darmstadt,  born  in  18 18.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Germantown,  Ohio,    where  the  father 


passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a  farmer 
and  butcher,  and  died  April  29,  1890;  the 
mother  is  still  living  and  is  passing  her  declin- 
ing years  with  her  children  in  Dayton.  John 
Frederick  and  Rosanna  were  parents  of  two 
children  only — Jacob  C  and  John. 

John  Mathias,  when  about  five  years  of 
age,  was  taken  toSunbury,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  by  his  parents,  where  for  a  number 
of  years  they  made  their  home.  There  he  re- 
ceived his  early  education,  and  later  became  a 
student  in  architecture  in  his  native  town,  and 
there  engaged  in  business;  later,  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  for  several  years  worked  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder.  He  then  returned  to 
Germantown,  but  finally,  in  1890,  permanently 
settled  in  Dayton,  established  the  Globe  Paper 
Mill  &  Lumber  company  and  operated  it  until 
September  15,  1892.  At  that  date  the  Mathias 
Planing  Mill  company  was  organized  and  in- 
corporated, with  an  authorized  capital  of 
$75,000,  the  incorporators  being   N.  T.    Bish, 

D.  W.  Allaman,  Elmer  E.  Ganster,  Benjamin 

E.  Hocker,  W.  S.  Zehring  and  Mr.  Mathias. 
For  the  first  year  and  a  half  after  incorporation 
Mr.  Mathias  served  as  president  of  the  com- 
pany, after  which  S.  W.  Hoover  was  elected 
and  served  until  his  death  in  1895,  although 
Mr.  Mathias  was  always  the  efficient  mana- 
ger of  the  concern.  January  27,  1897,  Mr. 
Mathias  retired  from  the  company,  though 
still  holding  his  interest  in  the  same,  and  or- 
ganized a  new  company,  which  assumed  the 
same  name — i.  e. :  The  Mathias  Planing  Mill 
company.  The  company  does  a  general  con- 
tracting business,  furnishing  lumber  and  mill 
work,  and  for  the  past  three  years  the  average 
output  has  been  at  the  rate  of  $145,000  per 
annum. 

January  29,  1888,  Mr.  Mathias  married 
Miss  Sarah  Main,  a  native  of  Liberty,  Mont- 
gomery county,  but  of  Maryland  parentage. 
Four  children  have  blessed  this  union  and  were 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


665 


born  in  the  following  order:  Joseph  G.,  Flor- 
ence I.,  Edgar  H.,  and  Wilson.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mathias  are  consistent  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Mathias 
is  an  active  republican.  He  is  a  thorough 
master  of  his  business,  attentive  and  obliging 
to  his  patrons,  and  has  won  the  respect  of  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances  throughout  Mont- 
gomery county. 


SI 


•ARREN  G.  MATTHEWS,  proprie- 
tor of  the  Dayton  Floral  company, 
was  born  in  Chicago,  111.,  January 
14,    1861,    and   is  a  son  of    Aaron 
G.  and  Nancy  A.  (Youngblood)  Matthews. 

Aaron  G.  Matthews  was  born  near  Boone- 
ville,  Warrick  county,  Ind.,  was  a  farmer  by 
calling,  and  died  in  1863;  Mrs.  Nancy  A.  Mat- 
thews is  now  a  resident  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 
There  were  but  two  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Matthews,  viz:  Warren  G.,  and  Eva,  wife 
of  John  G.  Weaton,  of  Chicago.  Warren  G. 
Matthews  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years 
began  working  in  a  floral  establishment,  com- 
pleting a  thorough  course  of  training  in  both 
the  retail  and  wholesale  departments  of  the 
mercantile  branch  of  floriculture,  and  also 
learned  landscape  gardening,  having  ample 
practice  in  this  branch  through  working  in 
Lincoln  park  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1883 
he  came  to  Dayton,  and  was  employed  by 
George  R.  Mumma  for  one  year,  but  while  so 
employed  opened  a  store  on  Fifth  street  for 
the  sale  of  cut  flowers,  and  since  his  first  year 
here  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  this 
particular  line  of  business.  In  1887  he  opened 
his  present  establishment,  which  is  inclosed 
with  15,000  square  feet  of  glass,  and  here  he 
propagates  an  immense  assortment  of  exotic 
and  domestic  plants  of  the  choicest  varieties, 
selling  cut  flowers  for  decorating  purposes,  and 


also  dealing  largely,  both  at  retail  and  whole- 
sale, in  bedding  plants.  His  establishment  is 
admirably  constructed  for  the  purpose  to  which 
it  is  devoted,  being  supplied  with  all  the  ap- 
paratus necessary  for  the  successful  culture  of 
plants.  Mr.  Matthews  has  made  a  marked 
success  of  this  industry,  and  this  has  been 
brought  about  through  his  own  skill  and  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  science  of  floriculture. 
Mr.  Matthews  is  not  a  politician,  but  is  a 
strong  and  active  republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Iola  lodge,  No.  83,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  of  Iola  division,  No.  26,  uniform  rank  of 
the  same  order;  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  American  Knights,  of  the  Patriotic 
Sons  of  America,  and  of  the  dramatic  order  of 
Knights  of  Khorassan.  He  was  married,  Oc- 
tober 1,  1884,  to  Miss  Flora  B.,  daughter  of 
George  R.  Mumma,  but  has  had  the  misfortune 
,to  lose  his  wife,  who  died  March  21,  1893, 
the  mother  of  three  children,  Walter  G.,  Ruth 
M.  and  Florence  M.  Mr.  Matthews  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Second  Evangelical  Lutheran  church, 
and  enjoys  the  attachment  of  many  warm 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


HLVIN  LAWRENCE  MENDEN- 
HALL,  member  of  the  Dayton  bar, 
was  born  at  Woodington,  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  August  21,  1866.  He 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  T.  and  Catherine  (Teeter) 
Mendenhall,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Pa.  Early  in  life  Samuel  T. 
Mendenhall  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there  engaged 
in  merchandizing  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years 
and  died  in  1875,  a  man  of  influence  and 
standing  in  the  community.  His  widow  died 
in  1882. 

Alvin  Lawrence  Mendenhall  lived  at  home 


666 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


until  the  death  of  his  mother,  he  being  at  that 
time  a  little  more  than  fifteen  years  of  age. 
From  that  time  until  1895  he  lived  in  Preble 
county.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  be- 
gan teaching  school  and  followed  that  profes- 
sion for  nine  years  in  Preble  county.  In  1892 
he  began  reading  law  and  in  1894  was  in  at- 
tendance at  the  Cincinnati  Law  school,  being 
graduated  there  in  May  of  that  year.  In  July, 
1895,  he  located  in  Dayton  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law,  which  profession  he  has  fol- 
lowed here  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Mendenhall  was  married  March  16, 
1887,  to  Miss  Anna  C.  Foos,  of  West  Man- 
chester, Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  to  this  mar- 
riage there  has  been  born  one  child,  Irene, 
aged  four  years. 


BREDERICK  C.  MERKLE,  president 
of  the  Staniland,  Merkle  &  Staniland 
company  of  Dayton,  was  born  in 
Wapakoneta,  Auglaize  county,  Ohio, 
April  24,  1 85 1,  a  son  of  Charles  and  Anna 
Eve  (Kitzenberger)  Merkle,  the  former  of 
whom  is  deceased  and  the  latter  a  resident  of 
Findlay,  Ohio.  Both  parents  were  born  in 
Germany,  the  mother  in  Bayern,  whence  she 
was  brought  to  America  when  but  two  years  of 
age.  The  father,  who  was  born  in  Witten- 
berg, was  twenty-two  years  old  when  he  came 
to  the  United  States.  For  some  years  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  of  wagonmaking,  but  for  the 
twenty  years  immediately  preceding  his  death 
was  the  proprietor  of  the  Union  house  in  Wa- 
pakoneta. Their  children  were  eight  in  num- 
ber, as  follows:  William,  now  deceased;  Jolm, 
a  police  officer  of  Dayton;  Frederick  O; 
Charles,  a  contractor  of  Dayton ;  Mary,  de- 
ceased; Joseph  C,  chief  engineer  of  water 
works  at  Dayton;  Rosa  and  Adam,  deceased. 
Frederick  C.  Merkle  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Wapakoneta  until  sixteen  years  of 


age,  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  J.  H. 
Weller,  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Day- 
ton &  Michigan  railroad,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained three  years,  taking  in  the  meantime  a 
course  of  study  in  the  Wilts  Commercial  col- 
lege. He  then  began  railroad  work  proper, 
commencing  as  brakeman  on  a  freight  train 
and  reaching  the  position  of  freight  conductor, 
remaining  on  the  road  for  four  years.  In  1873 
he  went  to  Tippecanoe,  Ohio,  and  opened  a 
harness  store,  which  he  conducted  for  four 
years,  and  while  in  that  city  he  married,  March 
24,  1874,  Miss  Elizabeth  Pohlkotte.  In  1880 
Mr.  Merkle  came  to  Dayton  and  engaged  as 
traveling  salesman  for  the  marble  firm,  which, 
through  his  indefatigable  devotion  to  his  duties, 
has  reached  its  present  large  proportions. 
The  plant  was  established  in  1863  and  is  the 
oldest  of  its  kind  in  Ohio,  and  when  Mr. 
Merkle  became  connected  with  it  occupied  a 
small  lot,  40  x  200  feet.  In  1890  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm,  which  then  assumed  the 
style  of  Staniland,  Merkle  &  Staniland,  and  in 
1892  the  concern  was  incorporated,  when  he 
became  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  It  manu- 
factures granite  and  marble  monuments,  mau- 
soleums, etc.,  and  all  kinds  of  marble  furniture 
and  plumbers'  accessories.  The  plant  is  on 
Washington  street  near  the  railroad,  covers 
two  acres  of  land,  and  employs  from  thirty  to 
seventy-five  men.  It  is  the  best  equipped 
plant  in  the  west,  being  fitted  with  complete 
steam  apparatus,  traveling  derricks  and  cranes, 
and  all  other  modern  improvements.  The 
output  of  the  company  is  disposed  of  through- 
out Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana  and  parts  of 
Illinois  and  Pennsylvania,  and  nine  salesmen 
are  kept  constantly  on  the  road.  The  capital 
stock  of  the  company  is  $35,000,  and  its 
present  officers  are  Frederick  C.  Merkle,  pres- 
ident; C.  A.  Bonner,  vice-president;  J.  Henry 
Merkle,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

To  Mr.  Merkle  too  much  praise  cannot  be 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


669 


given  for  the  skill  and  energy  with  which  he 
has  managed  the  affairs  of  his  present  firm, 
and  indeed,  for  the  successful  manner  in  which 
he  has  conducted  all  his  undertakings.  He 
was  but  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  started 
at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  and  he  now  stands 
among  the  solid  business  men  of  Dayton.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican.  Fraternally,  he  is 
a  member  of  Tippecanoe  lodge,  No.  257,  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Buckeye  lodge,  No.  47,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  he  is  also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Merkle  have  had  four  children,  viz:  J. 
Henry,  who  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Staniland,  Merkle  &  Staniland  company; 
George  R.,  deceased;  Anna  and  Edith.  The 
family  have  their  pleasant  home  at  No.  26 
High  street,  and  are  consistent  members  of 
the  German  Lutheran  church. 


<yJ  OUIS  MEHLBERTH,  the  efficient 
r  and  popular  deputy  sheriff  of  Mont- 
_^^  gomery  county,  Ohio,  traces  his  line- 
age through  a  long  line  of  German 
ancestors.  His  father,  Bernard  Mehlberth, 
was  born  in  Germany  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1848,  landing  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and 
proceeding  thence  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  then  made  his 
way  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from  which  city  he 
came  to  Dayton.  Here  he  established  himself 
in  business,  becoming  one  of  the  prominent 
and  honored  citizens  and  business  men  of  the 
city,  and  here  remained  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  30,  1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years.  He  was  successfully  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brushes  for  many  years, 
and  was  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  in 
the  community.  In  his  religious  affiliations  he 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  German  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Pauline  Fraas,  was  born  in 
Germany,  whence  she  came  to  America  about 


the  year  1855,  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Mehlberth 
being  solemnized  in  Dayton.  She  is  still  liv- 
ing, at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  The  chil- 
dren of  this  union  were  five  in  number:  Em- 
ma is  the  wife  of  Charles  Schlemmer,  of  Day- 
ton; Edward  is  also  a  resident  of  this  city;  Louis 
is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Ma- 
tilda is  the  wife  of  William  H.  Smith,  of  Day- 
ton; and  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  E.  R.  Lines,  also 
of  this  city. 

Louis  Mehlberth  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  com- 
pleting the  intermediate  school  course  and 
graduating  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1880. 
He  then  entered  the  office  of  the  Dayton 
Journal  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  at  the  printer's  trade.  For  a  short  time 
only  he  devoted  his  attention  to  work  at  the 
trade,  and  in  1883  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Dayton,  continuing  for  a  period  of 
nine  years,  being  associated  with  his  brother 
on  East  Fifth  street.  He  then  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  this  business,  and  entered  Wilt's 
Commercial  college,  where  he  completed  a 
course  of  study,  after  which  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Wells  &  Mehlberth, 
dealers  in  hats  and  caps.  He  withdrew  from 
this  enterprise  at  the  end  of  two  years,  and  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1895,  was  appointed  office 
deputy  by  Sheriff  Anderton,  and  has  since 
rendered  most  effective  service  to  the  county 
in  this  capacity.  In  his  political  adherency 
Mr.  Mehlberth  renders  allegiance  to  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  his  personal  popularity  was 
such  as  to  secure  his  election  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  education,  in  which  he  represent- 
ed a  democratic  ward  from  1892  to  1894.  He 
has  always  taken  a  particular  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters,  and  his  services  on  the  board 
were  of  much  value,  while  he  has  been  pro- 
gressive and  public-spirited  in  all  matters  bear- 
ing upon  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  city 
of  his  birth.      In    his    fraternal  relations  Mr. 


670 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mehlberth  is  identified  with  Gem  City  lodge, 
No.  795,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Linden  lodge,  No.  412, 
Knights  of  Pythias;  and  Gem  City  council,  No. 
1,  Fraternal  Censer,  while  he  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  Garfield  club,  a  repub- 
lican organization. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1886,  Mr.  Mehl- 
berth married  Miss  Clara  B.  Vintree,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  F.  Vintree,  of  Dayton.  They 
enjoy  a  pleasant  popularity  in  the  social  cir- 
cles of  the  city,  and  their  home  is  the  center 
of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


>t-*OSEPH  C.  MERKLE,  chief  engineer 
m  of  the  Dayton  water  works,  was  born 
(%  1  in  Wapakoneta,  Auglaize  county,  Ohio, 
February  8,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  Merkle,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
Auglaize  county.  In  1867  Mr.  Merkle  removed 
his  family  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  there  Joseph 
C.  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age.  He  began  the  practical 
work  of  life  by  learning  the  trade  of  a  machin- 
ist, continuing  at  work  in  various  establish- 
ments until  1 88 1,  when  he  became  foreman  of 
the  Stilwell  &  Bierce  Manufacturing  company, 
which  manufactures  heaters,  roller  mills,  and 
turbine  water  wheels.  This  position  he  held 
for  six  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1887  he  be- 
came assistant  engineer  of  the  Dayton  city 
water  works.  This  position  Mr.  Merkle  held 
until  1894,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  po- 
sition of  engineer  in  chief,  upon  the  death  of 
M.  L.  Weaver,  who  had  been  engineer  in 
chief  from  1873  to  1882,  and  again  from  1887 
until  1894,  the  year  of  his  death.  Mr.  Merkle 
has  two  assistant  engineers  and  four  other 
employees  under  him.  The  water  works  have 
a  capacity  of  29,000,000  gallons  per  day,  and 
it  is  probable  that  no  city  in  the  United  States 
has  a  more  constant  or  a  purer  supply  of  water 
than  has  the  city  of   Dayton.      The  plant  runs 


continually  twenty-four  hours  per  day  the  year 
round,  and  the  position  of  chief  engineer  is 
one  of  trust  and  responsibility.  Since  holding 
his  present  position,  Mr.  Merkle  has  made 
many  improvements,  and  reconstructed  the 
plant  materially.  He  has  made  connection 
with  the  whole  system  of  wells,  by  which  he 
can  pump  by  direct  suction  in  case  of  necessity. 
Mr.  Merkle  was  married  November  27, 
1879,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Weglage,  of  Dayton, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Weglage,  deceased.  To 
this  marriage  there  have  been  born  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  as  follows:  William  H., 
Charles  E.,  Walter  E. ,  Blanche  M.  and  Fred- 
erick C.  Mr.  Merkle  is  a  member  of  Dayton 
lodge,  No.  273,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  Riverdale  lodge, 
K.  of  P. ;  Dayton  court  of  Foresters,  and  of 
the  Jackson  democratic  club.  He  is  a  man  of 
great  force  of  character  and  of  sterling  integ- 
rity, enjoying  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 
who  know  him. 


^V^VETER  MEYER,  funeral  director  and 
I  M  undertaker,  No.  716  South  Wayne 
street,  Dayton,  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, born  on  the  8th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1850,  in  the  kingdom  of  Prussia.  His 
parents,  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Meyer,  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  country,  and  their  bodies  lie 
side  by  side  in  the  old  cemetery,  where  mingle 
the  ashes  of  many  generations  of  their  ances- 
tors. Of  a  family  of  four  children  born  to 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Meyer,  but  two  survive — 
Jacob,  a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  Peter.  John, ' 
the  eldest  brother,  died  in  1871,  and  the  only 
sister,  Mrs.  Katie  Breit,  died  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  the  fatherland. 

Peter  Meyer  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  country,  and  there  served  an  appren- 
ticeship at  the  trade  of  blacksmithing,  at  which 
he  worked  four  years  in  Prussia.  Thinking  to 
better  his  condition  in  a  country  which  afforded 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


671 


better  inducements  and  larger  opportunities, 
Mr.  Meyer,  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  bade 
farewell  to  the  land  of  his  birth  and  came  to 
the  United  States,  locating  in  Dayton  city, 
Ohio,  where  for  a  period  of  six  years  he 
worked  at  his  trade  with  much  success.  Dur- 
ing the  last  three  years  of  that  time  he  oper- 
ated a  shop  upon  his  own  responsibility,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  which  he 
carried  on  until  1885,  when  he  added  under- 
taking as  a  branch  of  the  enterprise.  In  the 
spring  of  1 89 15  Mr.  Meyer  disposed  of  the  liv- 
ery business,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted 
his  entire  attention  to  undertaking,  which,  con- 
ducted with  a  wisely-directed  energy,  has 
borne  results  of  a  most  satisfactory  character. 

Mr.  Meyer  is  a  typical  German-American, 
a  man  of  the  highest  business  and  social  stand- 
ing, and  his  reputation  has  been  gained  by  a 
long  course  of  honest  and  straightforward  con- 
duct. He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  in  re- 
ligion is  a  Roman  Catholic,  belonging  with  his 
family  to  Saint  Mary's  church  of  Dayton.  He 
is  charitably  inclined,  having  always  been 
noted  for  his  liberality  in  behalf  of  the  needy. 

In  November,  1873,  Mr.  Meyer  and  Miss 
Rosa  Steffen,  of  Dayton,  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Mary  Steffen,  natives  of  Germany,  were 
united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock,  a  union 
blessed  with  the  birth  of  three  children — 
Charlie,  Katie  and  Marie — all  residing  at  this 
time  under  the  parental  roof. 


EENRY  W.  MEYER,  foreman  of  the 
works  of  S.  N.  Brown  &  Co. ,  manu- 
facturers of  wheels  and  carriage  ma- 
terials, was  born  in  the  kingdom  of 
Hanover,  February  12,  1837.  His  parents, 
Henry  W.  and  Elizabeth  fOsterhaus)  Meyer, 
were  natives  of  Germany,  and  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter.    Three  of  these  are  still  living,  as  follows: 


Henry  W. ;  John,  of  Dayton;  and  August,  of 
Springfield.  There  were  two  children  born  to 
the  senior  Meyer  by  a  former  marriage,  only 
one  of  whom  is  now  living,  viz:  James  R. , 
now  engineer  for  O.  L.  Bouck,  of  Dayton. 
Henry  W.  Meyer,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1837,  located  in 
Dayton,  and  there  lived  all  his  life,  dying  in 
1880  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  From  1846  to 
1854  he  was  sexton  of  the  cemetery  in  Day- 
ton. He  assisted  to  build  the  old  Sears  street 
Lutheran  church  and  was  a  member  of  the 
church  and  one  of  its  deacons  for  many  years. 
His  wife  was  also  a  member  of  this  church, 
and  died  in  1846,  when  forty-six  years  of  age. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  present 
Henry  W.  Meyer  died  in  Germany,  when  his 
son  Henry  W.  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Henry  Harmon  Oster- 
haus,  came  to  the  United  States,  lived  in  Day- 
ton, and  died  in  this  city  at  an  advanced  age. 

Henry  W.  Meyer,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  in  Dayton,  and  was  educa- 
ted in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  He 
began  learning  the  trade  of  wood-turning  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  and  entered  the  service  of 
the  firm  for  which  he  is  still  working,  in  June, 
1852,  so  that  he  has  been  in  the  constant  em- 
ployment of  this  one  firm  for  forty-five  years, 
and  has  been  foreman  of  the  works  for  thirty 
years.  Mr.  Meyer  was  married  October  28, 
1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Kuhlman,  daughter 
of  Herman  B.  and  Margaret  E.  Kuhlman. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  had  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  William, 
Charles  H.,  Mary  and  Emma.  William  H. 
married  Miss  Tillie  Timmer,  and  has  six  chil- 
dren. Mary,  who  married  G.  A.  Lange,  prin- 
cipal of  the  Fourth  district  school,  has  two 
children,  Florence  and  Herbert.  Charles  H. 
is  secretary  of  the  Germania  Building  associa- 
tion; and  Emma  is  a  successful  teacher  of  in- 
strumental music. 


672 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyer  and  all  of  their  family 
are  members  of  the  Wayne  street  Lutheran 
church.  Politically,  he  is  an  independent 
democrat,  and  as  such  served  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council  for  several  years,  representing 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth  wards.  He  lives  in  a 
comfortable  home  on  the  corner  of  Chestnut 
and  Brown  streets,  among  the  highly  esteemed 
and  well-known  citizens  of  Dayton. 


<^"\  AVID  W.  MILLER,  superintendent 
I  of  construction  at  the  national  mili- 
/^^J  tary  home,  at  Dayton,  is  a  native  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  born  Au- 
gust 25,  1 84 1 ,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Susannah 
(Stoner)  Miller,  and  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native 
county. 

Jacob  Miller,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  February  13,  1809,  and 
descended  from  a  German  family,  who  spelled 
the  name  Mueller,  and  who  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Jacob  Miller  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  in 
his  early  manhood  came  to  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  here  married,  in  1835,  Miss 
Susannah  Stoner,  a  native  of  Maryland,  born 
in  1817.  To  this  marriage  were  born  six  sons 
and  six  daughters,  of  whom  four  died  in  in- 
fancy; William  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  and  Jacob  when  eighteen  years  old.  Of 
the  five  living,  beside  David  W.,  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  Noah  Kinsey,  a  farmer  residing 
seven  miles  north  of  Dayton;  Michael  B.,  a 
carpenter  and  contractor,  lives  in  Riverdale, 
Dayton;  Mary  Ann  is  married  to  Adam  Greene- 
wait,  of  Mansfield,  111.;  Susannah  is  the  wife 
of  George  Leattor,  of  Elgin,  111.,  and  Henrietta 
Williamson  lives  near  Dayton,  Ohio.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  on  the  Mont- 
gomery county  farm,  in  1S61,  and  the  father 
took  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Hannah  Stoner, 


a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  with  whom  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  Montgomery  county,  in  1875; 
his  widow  now  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Williamson. 

David  W.  Miller  enlisted,  February  7, 
1864,  in  company  K,  Sixty-third  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
Civil  war — his  brother,  Michael  B.,  being  a 
member  of  the  same  company.  The  scope  of 
this  memoir  cannot  be  expanded  sufficiently  to 
permit  mention  of  the  numerous  battles  in 
which  Mr.  Miller  took  part;  suffice  it  to  say  that 
he  served  in  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  and 
participated  in  all  the  marches,  skirmishes, 
and  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged, 
including  the  march  of  Sherman  to  the  sea 
and  through  the  Carolinas  to  Washington, 
where  he  participated  in  the  grand  review  in 
May,  1865,  and  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge in  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  July  of  the  same 
year,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  county 
and  resumed  active  work  at  his  trade. 

January  10,  1867,  David  W.  Miller  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Lan- 
dis,  a  native  of  Montgomery  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Rachel  (Welbaum)  Lan- 
dis.  David  Landis  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  in  18 16;  his  wife  is  a  native  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  born  in  (821,  and 
both  are  now  living  in  Salem,  in  the  latter 
county.  They  have  had  born  to  them  a  family 
of  ten  children,  viz:  John  W.,  Jacob  H.,  Jo- 
siah,  Rachel,  William  W.,  Lucinda,  Mary 
Catherine,  Harvey,  Dora  Ellen  and  Theodore. 
Of  these,  John  W.  lives  on  the  old  homestead, 
near  Salem;  Jacob  H.  is  a  bookkeeper  in  a 
law  office  in  Dayton;  Josiah  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war,  was  married,  and  died  in  1869, 
leaving  one  child;  William  W. ,  ateacher,  died 
in  1868,  in  his  twenty-first  year;  Lucinda  died 
in  young  womanhood,  and  Mary  Catherine  is 
also  deceased;  Dora  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  H.  C. 
Boyer,  a  farmer  near  West  Milton,  Ohio. 


CCA 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


675 


To  the  marriage  of  David  W.  Miller  and 
wife,  seven  children  have  been  born,  in  the 
following  order:  Carrie  May,  who  is  the  wife 
of  H.  H.  Prugh,  an  attorney  of  Dayton;  Lillie 
Ada,  married  to  Rev.  Freeley  Rohrer,  a  Pres- 
byterian minister,  of  Paulding,  Ohio;  Wilbert 
Alfred,  a  notary  public,  bookkeeper  and  sten- 
ographer, and  in  the  insurance  business  in  Day- 
ton; Chester  Earl,  employed  in  Dayton;  Daisy 
Ann,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years  and 
six  months;  Mabel  Maud,  and  Charles  Howard; 
the  youngest  four  living  of  these  are  still  under 
the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Miller  followed  his  vocation  of  carpen- 
ter and  contractor,  and  that  of  superintending 
the  business  of  Beaver  &  Butt,  contractors, 
until  1888,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  pres- 
ent responsible  position  as  superintendent  of 
construction  at  the  national  military  home. 
He  has  charge  of  twenty-six  regular  carpenters, 
beside  a  force  of  forty  auxiliaries,  and  also  of 
all  the  material  used  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  construction  and  repair. 

Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  also  of  the 
Old  Guard  post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
Mrs.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies  of  the 
G.  A.  R. ,  and  also  of  the  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  union,  and,  with  her  husband,  of 
Raper  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  being  very 
active  in  both  church  and  Sunday-school  work. 
Socially,  the  family  stands  very  high,  and  no 
one  enjoys  a  fuller  measure  of  esteem  in  the 
community  than   David  W.  Miller. 


V7*AMES  R.  MEYERS,  engineer  for  O.  L. 
m  Bouck's  planing  mill,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
A  1  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  December  22,  1825.  He  is 
a  son  of  Henry  W.  and  Eliza  (Dorman)  Mey- 
ers, who  were  natives  of  Germany.  Henry 
W.  and  Eliza  Meyers  had  two  children,  James 


R.  and  Christian  R. ,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
May  27,  185 1.  James  R.  Meyers  is  a  half- 
brother  of  Henry  W.  Meyers,  whose  biograph- 
ical sketch  appears  elsewhere  in   this  volume. 

James  R.  Meyers  was  eleven  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Montgomery  county 
and  located  in  Dayton,  in  August,  1837. 
Reared  in  Dayton,  he  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  city.  When  he  was  in  his 
fifteenth  year  he  began  working  for  the  state  of 
Ohio,  on  the  repairs  of  the  canal  between  Day- 
ton and  Troy,  and  continued  thus  to  work  until 
he  was  married,  which  event  occurred  August 
21,  1 85 1 .  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Martha  Ann  Baman,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Martha  (Hill)  Baman,  who  came  from 
Virginia  to  Dayton  in  181 1. 

To  the  marriage  of  James  R.  and  Martha 
Ann  Meyers  there  were  born  nine  children,  as 
follows:  William,  Henry,  Albert,  Frank,  El- 
len, Miranda,  Annie,  Callie  and  Lillie.  Will- 
iam married  Minnie  Staffin,  and  by  her  has 
two  children,  Clara  and  Louisa.  William  Mey- 
ers is  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  occupation. 
Henry  married  Rose  Miles.  He  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time  foreman  of  the  O.  L.  Bouck  planing 
mill.  Albert  married  Ida  Taylor.  Frank  mar- 
ried Clara  Stowe.  Ellen  married  O.  L.  Bouck, 
and  has  two  children,  Clifford  and  Margaret. 
Miranda  married  Frank  Judson,  who  has  been 
a  clerk  in  the  post-office  at  Dayton  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson 
have  two  sons,  Arthur  and  Walter.  Annie 
married  Charles  P.  Foulkuth,  and  has  onechild. 
Ivy  Callie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  and 
Lillie  is  keeping  house  for  her  father,  her 
mother  having  died  December  2,  1880,  at  the 
age  of  forty-nine.  Mrs.  Meyers  was  one  of  the 
good  christian  women  of  Dayton,  a  member  of 
the  First  United  Brethren  church  of  Dayton, 
to  which  Mr.  Meyers  himself  belongs.  Polit- 
ically' Mr.  Meyers  is  a  republican,  but  has 
never  sought  official  position.     He  has  been  en- 


.;:.; 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


gineer  for  the  O.  L.  Bouck  planing  mill  ever 
since  it  was  established,  a  period  of  twelve 
years,  and  has  earned  a  reputation  for  faithful 
and  excellent  performance  of  his  responsible 
duties.  For  the  past  sixty  years  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  has  been  an  eye-wit- 
ness of  this  city's  great  and  rapid  growth  and 
development  as  a  manufacturing  center. 


a  APT.  HERMAN  C.  MEYER,  a  resi- 
dent of  the  Dayton  National  Military 
Home  for  Disabled  VolunteerSoldiers, 
holds  the  responsible  position  of  cap- 
tain of  company  Eight.  He  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, having  been  born  in  Osnabruck,  Han- 
over, September  17,  1840,  and  there  he  re- 
mained until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, when  he  joined  the  great  throng  of  the 
hardy  and  adventurous  that  were  coming  to 
America  for  those  larger  opportunities  of  living 
that  the  old  world  did  not  afford.  He  was 
educated  with  German  thoroughness  at  the 
gymnasium  in  Osnabruck,  and  at  the  univer- 
sity at  Gottingen,  Hanover.  On  reaching  this 
country  he  made  his  way  to  Allentown,  Pa. , 
where  he  secured  a  good  position  in  a  rolling 
mill,  through  the  influence  of  Senator  S.  S. 
Cox,  whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  while 
on  the  ocean.  His  stay  in  the  rolling  mill  was 
measured  by  half  a  year,  when  he  left  it  to  go 
into  the  office  of  the  Ohio  &  Northwestern 
Lumber  company  as  bookkeeper  and  clerk.  He 
was  still  in  the  employ  of  this  firm  when  the 
fall  of  Fort  Sumter  startled  the  north.  The 
rapidity  with  which  the  people  rallied  to  the 
support  of  the  government  is  evident  from  the 
fact,  that  though  Mr.  Meyer's  enlistment  came 
as  early  as  May  17,  1861,  he  was  enrolled  in 
company  A,  Twenty-eighth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  was  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Cincinnati,  and  was  at  once  attached  to  the 
arm}'   of    West    Virginia,    under   command    of 


Gen.  Rosecrans.  In  a  skirmish  at  Princeton, 
in  that  state,  he  received  a  disabling  wound, 
being  shot  through  both  arms.  He  was  in  the 
hospital  for  long  and  dreary  weeks,  and  when 
he  left  it  was  pronounced  unfit  for  active  serv- 
ice. But  he  was  determined  to  be  still  at  the 
front,  and  at  his  own  request  was  transferred 
to  the  United  States  signal  corps,  and  served 
with  that  organization  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  joined  Sherman's  army  at  Rocky 
Face  ridge,  and  went  with  it  to  Atlanta,  Sa- 
vannah, and  "the  sea."  He  was  with  it  on 
the  memorable  march  through  the  Carolinas 
and  to  Washington,  participating  in  the  grand 
review  of  the  victorious  armies.  From  Wash- 
ington he  was  sent  to  Louisville,  and  from 
there  to  Brownsville,  Tex.,  remaining  in  the 
service  until  August  6,   1866. 

Mr.  Meyer  immediately  sought  his  old  posi- 
tion with  the  Ohio  &  Northwestern  Lumber 
company  at  Columbus,  upon  his  retirement 
from  the  signal  service,  and  with  that  firm  he 
continued  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to 
cease  active  labor  April  4,  18S5,  and  to  seek 
medical  relief.  He  was  in  the  hospital  at 
Buffalo  under  treatment  for  several  months, 
and  finding  himself  permanently  unfit  for  active 
employment,  he  came  to  the  Dayton  home 
November  13,  1886.  He  was  at  once  put  in 
command  of  company  Twenty-seven,  and  ad- 
ministered the  duties  of  that  position  for  nine 
years.  But  his  health  became  so  much  im- 
paired that  he  could  no  longer  act  in  that 
capacity.  Accordingly  he  resigned  in  Febru- 
ary, 1896,  and  took  a  prolonged  trip  through 
northern  Michigan.  This  so  improved  his 
health,  that,  on  his  return,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  company  Eight. 

Capt.  Meyer  is  a  member  of  Mystic  lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  Germania  society  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  of  the  Signal  Corps  organization 
at  Detroit,  of  which  there  are  known  to  be  but 
fifty-seven  members  living.     He  is  a  Protestant, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


07^ 


confirmed  in  the  German  Reformed  church 
while  still  a  youth.  He  is  a  strong  republican, 
and  a  man  of  intelligence  and  broad  culture. 
He  has  had  many  thrilling  experiences,  and 
the  story  of  his  life  would  read  like  a  romance, 
.with  the  added  charm  of  being  true.  He 
comes  of  a  family  of  soldiers  well  known  in  his 
native  country.  His  father,  H.  V.  Meyer, 
was  colonel  of  the  Second  dragoons  of  Han- 
over, Germany,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
army,  dying  of  a  wound  received  in  the 
Schleswig-Holstein  war  of  1866.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  May  Viola  Von  Hess, 
was  the  daughter  of  Gen.  Von  Hess,  well 
known  in  the  military  history  of  Austria,  and 
is  also  deceased.  She  and  her  husband  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters,  and  of  these  but  four  are  now 
living,  Capt.  Meyer  being  the  youngest.  His 
eldest  brother,  Laurens  V.  Meyer,  resides  near 
Berlin,  Germany,  and  is  on  the  retired  list  of 
the  imperial  army.  He  was  in  active  service 
as  brigadier-general  of  the  First  German  cav- 
alry corps.  The  two  sisters  also  married 
soldiers,  and  are  widows  residing  in  their 
native  country. 


f\  EORGE  W.  MILLER,  M.  D.,  a  suc- 
■  ^\  cessful  physician  and  surgeon  of  Day- 
\i^J  ton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Cincinnati, 
.  March  18,  1866.  He  is  a  son  of 
Charles  H.  and  Hannah  C.  (Combs)  Miller, 
both  of  Cincinnati,  of  which  city  the  family 
have  been  residents  for  many  years. 

George  C.  Miller,  the  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Miller,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cincin- 
nati, when  it  was  but  a  small  place,  contain- 
ing then  only  about  3,000  inhabitants.  He 
came  from  New  Jersey,  was  of  Revolutionary 
stock,  and  started  the  first  carriage  factory  on 
this  side  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  He 
turned  out  the  first  iron-tired  buggy  ever  made 


in  the  west,  forging  the  tires  by  hand  from 
scraps  of  iron.  He  retired  from  business  at 
an  advanced  age  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
two  sons.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Commercial  bank  of  Cincinnati,  and  was 
also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Seventh  Pres- 
byterian church  of  that  city.  He  lived  to  a 
green  old  age,  and  died  leaving  a  family  of  six 
children.  Charles  H.  Miller,  the  father  of  the 
doctor,  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  plows  and  carriages. 

George  W.  Miller  is  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children.  He  was  educated  in  the  high  school 
of  Cincinnati,  and  afterward  took  a  commer- 
cial course,  in  1887  entering  Pulte  Medical 
college,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1890. 
After  practicing  in  Cincinnati  for  one  year  he 
was  called  to  the  chair  of  anatomy  in  Pulte 
Medical  college,  which  chair  he  filled  for  two 
years.  In  1893  he  removed  to  Dayton  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Joseph  E. 
Lowes,  with  whom  he  has  since  been  associ- 
ated. Dr.  Miller  is  a  thorough  physician  and 
is  rapidly  advancing  in  the  ranks  of  the  pro- 
fession. He  is  a  member  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Homeopathic  Medical  society,  and  of 
the  state  Homeopathic  Medical  association, 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  B.  P.  O. 
E. ;  is  physician  of  the  Dayton  work  house, 
and  is  medical  examiner  for  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  church,  is  devoted  to  church 
work,  and  is  in  every  way  a  worthy,  public- 
spirited  citizen. 


WOHN  CHARLES  MILLER,  the  well 
&  known  and  popular  pharmacist  at  No. 
/•  I  504  East  Xenia  street,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
is  a  native  of  Clay  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  October  3,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev. 
Jacob  and  Huldah  (Pickhart)  Miller,  both  na- 
tives of  Germany. 


678 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Rev.  Jacob  Miller  was  born  in  Martsheim, 
Germany,  February  I,  1833,  and  his  wife, 
Huldah  Pickhart,  is  a  native  of  Hueckswagen, 
Germany,  born  November  29,  1834.  They 
were  married  in  Cannelton,  Ind.,  August  12, 
1854,  the  mother  having  come  to  America  in 
1848,  and  of  their  family  of  five  sons  and  five 
daughters,  two  of  each  are  still  living.  The 
father  died  October  9,  1891,  at  No.  ngBoltin 
street,  Dayton,  where  his  widow  still  resides. 
Rev.  Jacob  Miller  received  his  education  in 
his  native  land,  and  there  also  learned  the 
coopering  trade.  He  embarked  for  America 
January  31,  1853,  landed  at  New  Orleans, 
came  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers,  and 
reached  Evansville,  Ind.,  April  5  of  the  same 
year.  There  he  established  a  cooper  shop  and 
followed  his  trade  until  1866,  when  he  aban- 
doned it  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the  Evangel- 
ical church.  Though  his  services  in  this  work 
were  but  poorly  recompensed  in  that  then 
frontier  country,  his  heart  was  in  the  cause  of 
the  Master,  and  he  continued  to  labor  in  his 
vineyard,  in  various  sections  of  the  country, 
until  within  three  years  of  his  death,  when  ill 
health  compelled  him  to  retire. 

John  C.  Miller,  his  son,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  within  the  family 
circle,  in  the  latter  receiving  a  thorough  train- 
ing in  the  German  language,  which  has  been 
of  great  value  to  him  from  a  business  point  of 
view.  July  5,  1S86,  he  became  a  clerk  in  a 
drug  store  in  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  and  then  entered  the  Illi- 
nois college  of  Pharmacy  at  Chicago,  passed 
through  a  one-year  course  of  lectures,  and 
then,  for  about  two  years,  clerked  in  a  drug 
store  in  that  city.  In  1890  he  came  to  Day- 
ton, and  here,  for  a  short  time,  was  employed 
by  a  leading  drug  firm.  From  January,  1891, 
until  January,  1892,  he  resided  in  Cincinnati, 
and  while  there  passed  an  examination  before 
the   Ohio  board  of    pharmacy,   receiving    his 


license  as  a  pharmacist  in  the  last  named  year 
— this  license  being  reissued  in  1895.  Sep- 
tember 5,  1892,  he  opened  business  on  his 
own  account  at  his  present  location  in  Dayton, 
and  now  carries  a  well  selected  stock  of  drugs, 
patent  medicines,  toilet  articles,  etc.  He 
compounds  some  of  the  standard  proprietary 
remedies,  and  bears  an  excellant  reputation, 
personally  and  as  a  careful,  painstaking  pre- 
scription druggist.  He  is  doing  an  altogether 
prosperous  trade,  and  well  deserves  the  success 
attending  him. 

May  11,  1892,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Kuebler,  daugh- 
ter of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  Kuebler,  old 
settlers  of  Dayton.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  two  children — Frederick  John,  who  died 
when  seven  weeks  old,  and  one  that  died  in 
early  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  strict 
members  of  the  Evangelical  church,  and  Mr. 
Miller  is  a  Forester.  In  politics  he  is  inde- 
pendent, but  is  possessed  of  strong  silver- 
republican  proclivities.  In  social  life,  he  and 
wife  hold  a  high  position  and  are  greatly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  them. 


*y    ■*  ARRY   F.   NOLAN,    one  of  the  best 

|f\    known  of  the  younger  members  of  the 

r    Dayton   bar,  was  born  in  this  city  on 

June  22,   1864,  and  is  the  son  of   the 

late  Col.  Michael  P.  and  Anna  Schenck  (Clark) 

Nolan. 

Col.  M.  P.  Nolan  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ire- 
land, on  June  28,  1823,  and  in  the  following 
year  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and 
in  1837  removed  to  Dayton.  He  was  given 
but  a  limited  education  during  his  youth.  He 
learned  carriagemaking,  at  which  trade  he 
worked  for  some  time,  during  which  he  did  all 
in  his  power  to  educate  himself.  He  entered 
a  debating  society,  where  he  found  a  good  li- 


&t^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


681 


brary,  the  books  of  which  he  read  at  every  op- 
portunity. When  a  young  man  he  com- 
manded a  canal  boat  for  a  time.  On  Decem- 
ber 30,   1847,  he  married  Anna  Schenck  Clark, 


of  Miamisburg. 


He  continued  working  at  his 


trade,  and  at  night  read  law  from  borrowed 
books,  as  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  become 
a  lawyer.      In  1 8  5  1  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

In  April,  1861,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  war,  he  raised  company  G,  of  the  Elev- 
enth regiment  of  Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  He 
became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fiftieth  regi- 
ment, Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  subsequently 
colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  regi- 
ment, Ohio  infantry.  During  the  war  Col.  Nolan 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Union  League, 
and  was  president  of  that  body  for  the  Third 
congressional  district  of  Ohio,  and  delegate 
from  that  district  to  the  national  convention  at 
Baltimore  that  nominated  Mr.  Lincoln  for 
president  in  1864.  During  the  summer  of 
1863  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  "  war  de- 
mocracy" in  Ohio,  and  took  the  stump  for 
Gov.  Brough.  After  the  war  he  served  for 
several  years  as  United  States  commissioner  at 
Dayton.  In  1878  he  was  the  congressional 
candidate  of  the  greenback-labor  party,  which 
nomination  he  accepted  with  the  full  knowl- 
edge that  he  was  to  lead  a  forlorn  hope. 
His  death  occurred  in  Dayton  on  Monday,  No- 
vember 30,   1 89 1,  of  heart  failure. 

December  1,  1891,  the  day  following  the 
death  of  Col.  Nolan,  the  sad  event  was 
announced  in  court,  and,  on  motion,  Judge 
Dwyer  ordered  a  recess  to  be  taken  and  a 
bar  meeting  was  at  once  convened.  At  this 
meeting  a  committee  of  six  was  appointed  to 
draft  resolutions,  and  the  bar  then  adjourned 
until  the  next  day,  when,  on  re-assembling, 
resolutions  of  condolence  and  respect  were 
adopted,  and  several  speeches  were  made  by 
the  more  prominent  members  of  the  bar,  eulo- 
gizing the  many  noble  qualities  of  the  deceased. 

24 


Later,  December  12  and  31,  similar  resolu- 
tions were  passed  by  Dister  post,  G.  A.  R. , 
and  by  the  members  of  the  Hibernian  Rifles. 
The  press  throughout  the  state  was  profuse  in 
its  commendation  of  the  merits  and  the  active 
life  of  the  departed  soldier  and  lawyer,  several 
journals  giving  a  more  or  less  extended  record 
of  his  virtues  and  work. 

Col.  Nolan    was  a   man   of  superior   intel- 
lect,   was   kind,    courteous   and    obliging,    and 
extremely  affectionate  in  his  domestic  relations. 
He  was  indeed  a  man  of  strong   likes   and  dis- 
likes,   a  sterling   friend    who    never    forgot    a 
favor,  and   seldom,    if   ever,  forgot    an   injury. 
In   point    of  wit,    humor  or  sarcasm    he    was: 
without  a  peer  at  the  bar  or  in   society.      His 
industry     was     unceasing,     his    discrimination 
quick  and  his  judgment  sound.      His  oratory 
was  brilliant    and    his    logic  convincing.      His 
reading   had  been    deep    and   exhaustive,  not- 
withstanding his  lack  of  opportunity  for  an  ed- 
ucation  in   his   early  days,  and   the   words  of 
Shakespeare,  his  favorite  author,  were  ever  at 
his  command.      As  a  lawyer,  his   counsel   was 
safe;  he   was  strong  as   an   advocate  before  a 
jury,  in   which    body   he   had  great    faith,  and 
could  hardly  realize  that  a  judge  had  any  right 
to  set  aside  a  verdict  that  had  once  been  ren- 
dered in    his  favor.      He   was   a   born  soldier, 
and  as  far  back  as  1850   organized  a  company 
of  state  militia,  and  at  one  time  was  a  captain 
of  the  old  Montgomery  guards.      His  Civil  war 
record  is  given   in    a   previous   paragraph.      In 
politics  he   was  at  first  a  democrat,  as  he  fol- 
lowed the  footsteps  of  his  father  in  this  partic- 
ular; but  he  had   an  inborn  dislike  of  slavery, 
and,  when   old  enough   to    think    for    himself, 
modified    his   views,    and    in    1848    voted    for 
Martin   Van  Buren  as  the  free   soil  candidate 
for  the  presidency,  at  a  time  when  it  required 
a  great  deal  of   moral  courage   to   take    such  a 
step  in  Miami  township,  of  which  he  was  then 
a  resident.      Fraternally,  he  was  a  member  of 


682 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  also  a  Free  Mason. 
He  left  behind  him,  to  deplore  his  loss,  his 
widow  and  five  of  his  ten  children,  viz:  Mary 
E.,  Sallie  E.  (wife  of  Samuel  M.  Kehoe),  Dr. 
Charles  N.,  of  Greenville,  Ohio;  Louise  B. 
and  Harry  F.  Col.  Nolan  was  strictly  a  tem- 
perance man,  and  in  1877  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  first  Murphy  organization  in  Dayton. 

Harry  F.  Nolan  was  educated  in  the  Day- 
ton public  schools,  leaving  the  high  school  in 
1879  to  begin  an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of 
bookbinding  at  the  United  Brethren  Publish- 
ing house.  On  January  12,  1882,  he  entered 
his  father's  office  and  began  reading  law.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  6,  1886,  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  on  January  1, 
1887,  a  co-partnership  was  formed  between 
his  father  and  himself  under  the  firm  name  of 
Nolan  &  Nolan.  On  April  8,  1890,  Mr.  Nolan 
was  elected  city  attorney  of  Dayton,  serving  in 
that  capacity  for  over  two  years,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  practice.  After  his  father's  death 
he  succeeded  to  the  law  business  of  the  firm 
and  has  since  continued  in  practice. 

Mr.  Nolan  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, having  received  the  Knights  Templar 
degree,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Elks. 


eROF.  SAMUEL  ARNOLD  MIN- 
NICH,  principal  of  the  Fifth  district 
public  schools  of  Dayton,  is  a  native 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  near  Brookville,  September  7,  1847, 
and  in  this  county  he  has  passed  his  entire  life, 
with  the  exception  of  about  seven  years,  when 
teaching  school — six  years  in  Darke  and  one 
year  in  Preble  counties. 

John  and  Barbara  (Arnoldj  Minnich,  his 
parents,  were  born  respectively  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio,  and  in  the  latter  state  the  father, 
who  was  an  agriculturist,  died  in  Montgomery 
county,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  while  the 


mother,  who  is  still  a  widow,  now  makes  her 
home  in  Darke  county,  near  Arcanum.  The 
Minnich  family  traces  its  descent  to  Bavaria, 
the  name  being  derived  from  that  of  the  city 
of  Munich,  the  capital  of  the  kingdom;  and 
the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  America  was 
Prof.  Minnich's  great-grandfather,  who  settled 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  Prof.  Samuel  A. 
Minnich  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  fourteen  children,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm.  His  choice  of  a 
life-work  was  largely  directed  by  an  accident 
which  occurred  when  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  through  which  his  left  hand  was  severe- 
ly and  permanently  maimed,  while  he  was  feed- 
ing a  circular  saw  in  the  preparation  of  fuel 
for  the  use  of  the  family.  He  had  intended  to 
become  a  mechanic  and  had  a  strong  predilec- 
tion for  carpentry,  but  of  course  his  desire  in 
this  respect  was  by  this  mishap  defeated.  He 
had  recieved  a  most  excellent  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  had  begun  teaching 
while  still  living  on  the  home  farm,  al- 
though his  teaching  alternated  with  at- 
tendance at  private  schools.  He  final- 
ly entered  the  normal  school  at  Medina, 
Ohio,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1876.  Fol- 
lowing this  event,  he  resumed  teaching,  but 
later  took  a  course  of  lectures  on  materia  med- 
ica  and  graduated  from  the  Long  Island  College 
hospital  in  1882.  For  two  and  a  half  years  he 
practiced  medicine;  but  the  profession  proving 
to  be  distasteful  to  him,  he  again  resumed  that 
of  school-teaching,  and  has  ever  since,  with 
the  exception  of  the  period  above  alluded  to, 
followed  this  vocation  in  Montgomery  county 
with  marked  success,  and  in  1892  was  elected 
to  his  present  position  of  principal  of  the  Fifth 
district  public  school  of  Dayton. 

The  marriage  of  Prof.  Minnich  took  place 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1885,  to  Miss 
Ida  M.  Mundhenk,  a  native  of  the  county  and 
of    German    extraction.      Her    father,     John 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


683 


Mundhenk,  is  now  deceased,  and  her  mother 
is  a  resident  of  Dayton.  Mrs.  Minnich  was 
educated  in  the  Pyrmont  public  schools  and  in 
the  Lebanon  normal  school,  became  a  teacher 
and  was  an  assistant  to  Prof.  Minnich  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage.  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Minnich 
are  consistent  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  of  Dayton,  and  the  professor,  while 
not  controlled  by  party  lines,  manifests  a  strong 
inclination  toward  republicanism.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  socially  he  and 
his  wife  occupy  a  very  prominent  position 
among  the  citizens  of  Dayton. 


<*S~*\  EV.  D.  R.  MILLER,   D.  D.,   general 

I  /<^  manager  of  the  Union  Biblical  semi- 
_W  nary,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  on  June  13, 
1835.  In  the  same  year  his  parents  moved 
from  Fairfield  county  to  what  is  now  Auglaize 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  secured  a  portion  of  his  education  in  the 
district  school.  When  quite  young,  however, 
he  became  identified  with  manufacturing  in- 
dustries and  mercantile  interests,  which  ex- 
perience greatly  aided  in  the  development  of 
his  business  qualities.  While  thus  engaged  he 
obtained  further  education  through  attending 
select  and  special  schools,  until  he  was  fully 
equipped  and  obtained  a  certificate  for  teach- 
ing, which  he  followed  for  a  time. 

Dr.  Miller  joined  the  United  Brethren  j 
church  in  1848,  and  entered  the  ministry  of 
that  church  in  i860.  For  over  thirty  years 
he  has  been  an  active  member  in  the  Sandusky 
conference  of  this  church,  which  conference 
embraces  the  larger  portion  of  northwestern 
Ohio.  With  this  conference  he  still  sustains 
active  relations,  and  has  represented  it  in  all 
of  the  general  conferences  since  and  including 
that  of  the  year  1873.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  board    of    trustees    of    the   Union  Biblical 


seminary  from  1873  to  the  time  of  his  election 
as  general  manager  in  1885.  As  manager  of 
the  seminary  he  has  greatly  improved  the  sur- 
roundings, and  by  personal  solicitations  and 
attention  has  secured  to  the  assets  and  for 
current  expenses  of  the  institution,  consider- 
ably over  $200,000.  He  has  been  officially 
connected  with  Otterbein  university  as  agent 
or  trustee  since  1863,  and  is  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  at  this  time.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  United 
Brethren  Publishing  house,  at  Dayton,  for 
four  years,  and  served  eight  years  on  the  Sun- 
day-school board  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 

The  public  career  of  Dr.  Miller  has  been 
prominent.  He  served  a  term  as  chaplain  of 
the  Ohio  penitentiary,  and  was  also  superin- 
tendent of  the  Girls'  Industrial  home,  of 
Ohio,  for  several  years.  He  likewise  served 
for  four  years  as  a  republican  member  of  the 
Dayton  city  council,  representing  the  Fourth 
ward,  his  term  in  that  body  expiring  in  1894. 
While  a  member  of  the  council  his  services 
were  of  great  benefit  to  the  city.  For  two 
years  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
law,  and  he  prepared  or  revised  most  of  the 
ordinances  pertaining  to  street  railroad  fran- 
chises, and  was  the  principal  author  of  the 
measure  providing  for  the  transfer  system  now 
in  force  governing  street  railways  in  the  city 
of  Dayton.  He  was  one  of  the  special  com- 
mittee of  the  city  council,  instrumental  in 
securing  concessions  from  the  Natural  Gas 
company,  which  provided  for  an  independent 
line  for  Dayton,  a  pumping  plant,  and  a  fixed 
pressure  of  two  and  a  half  ounces  to  be  main- 
tained throughout  the  city  and  determined  by 
recording  gauges,  or  in  default  thereof,  a  pro- 
portionate rebate  to  customers.  The  price  of 
the  gas  under  this  compromise  was  to  be 
twenty  cents  per  thousand  feet.  This  adjust- 
ment was  considered  as  the   most  favorable  in 


684 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


its  terms  of  any  contract  ever  obtained  for  the 
city  of  Dayton.  But  because  of  the  peculiar 
excitement  at  the  time,  this  compromise  was 
defeated  in  the  council. 

Dr.  Miller  was  also  one  of  the  special  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  council  to  determine 
the  propriety  of  preserving  the  old  log  cabin 
and  to  superintend  its  removal  from  its  former 
to  its  present  location;  and  to  this  he  gave 
special  attention,  in  connection  with  other  rep- 
resentative citizens,  until  the  cabin  was  per- 
manently established  on  its  new  foundation. 
He  was  also  appointed  by  the  mayor  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  on  ship  canal,  and  gave 
much  time  to  the  investigation  of  that  subject. 
For  several  years  he  has  been  greatly  interested 
in  the  development  and  improvement  of  that 
part  of  the  city  known  as  the  West  side,  and 
has  been  continuously  the  president  of  the 
West  Side  Improvement  association.  He  has 
twice  been  a  member  of  the  republican  exec- 
utive committee  of  Dayton,  and  was  chairman 
of  the  same  during  one  year. 


^yy-W1  ILLIAM  HARRISON  MILLER,  one 

a  a  of  the   well-known  young  members 

\_\^yl  Dayl     i  bar,  was  born  in   the 

northern  part  of  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  November  15,  1862.  His  parents 
are  Benjamin  and  Mary  A.  (Zeigler)  Miller, 
both  natives  of  Montgomery  county.  Benja- 
min Miller  has  followed  farming  to  some  ex- 
tent, and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  threshers  of 
this  section,  he  having  operated  a  horse-power 
threshing-machine  between  Dayton  and  Green- 
ville for  many  years.  He  was  also  in  the  nur- 
sery business  for  a  short  time;  and  is  at  pres- 
ent engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Brook- 
ville,  this  county.  To  his  marriage  nine  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  eight  sons  and  one 
daughter,  one  of  the  sons  being  now  deceased. 
William    H.    Miller   was   educated   in   the 


common  schools,  Randolph  township  high 
school,  Antioch  college,  Ohio  Wesleyan  uni- 
versity, and  the  Ohio  normal  university.  He 
also  took  a  law  course  at  the  last  named  insti- 
tution, graduating  there  in  1892,  with  the  de- 
gree of  LL.  B.  He  taught  school  at  different 
times  for  a  period  of  about  nine  years,  and 
during  two  summers  taught  the  normal  school 
at  Greenville,  Ohio.  He  began  reading  law 
with  Julian  Irwin,  of  Greenville,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  Indiana  in  1893,  and  in  Ohio  in 
October,  1894.  He  began  the  practice  at 
Marion,  Ind.,  came  to  Dayton  in  1894  and 
opened  an  office,  and  has  since  continued  in 
general  practice.  Mr.  Miller  was  married  June 
7,  1893,  to  Esther  C.  Trump,  of  Castine, 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  William  K. 
Trump. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  in  which  order  he  is  the 
high  counselor  of  Ohio.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Knights'  Fidelity  league. 

All  of  the  children  of  Benjamin  Miller  and 
wife  who  have  attained  their  majority  are  fol- 
lowing professions:  V.  L.  Miller,  M.  D.,  is  a 
practitioner  of  Brookville,  Ohio;  H.  W.  and 
C.  B.  are  druggists. 


>-j*    M.    MORGAN,    M.    D.,    physician  and 
A      surgeon,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Al      Atlanta,    Ga. ,     June     15,      1858.      His 
father,  H.  M.  Morgan,  was  a  merchant 
of  Atlanta,  dealing  largely  in  cotton  and   be- 
coming one  of  the  largest  cotton   merchants  of 
the  south.      He  removed  to  the  north  in  1864, 
and  is  now  living  in  Dayton,  retired  from  busi- 
ness.     The  mother  of  Dr.   Morgan  was  born 
in  South   Carolina,   in  1825,  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Catherine  Manguna,  and  is  still   living. 
Dr.  J.  M.  Morgan  received  his  literary  edn- 
cation    at    Urbana,    and  at  Springfield,    Ohio. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Cincinnati, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


685 


to  pursue  the  study  of  medicine,  and  in  the 
last  named  city  married  Miss  Alfarata  M. 
Smith,  daughter  of  C.  W.  Smith,  M.  D.,  at 
that  time  holding  the  chair  of  medical  juris- 
prudence in  the  Physio-Medical  college  of  Cin- 
cinnati. 

Dr.  Morgrn  graduated  at  Chicago  in  the 
spring  of  1887;  removed  to  Saint  Louis,  Mo. ,  in 
1892,  where  he  was  appointed  to  the  chair  of 
orificial  surgery,  in  the  American  Medical  col- 
lege, and  in  the  same  year  he  removed  to  Day- 
ton, where  he  still  resides.  His  office  is 
located  at  No.  309  West  Third  street. 


(D 


ICHAEL  MORAN,  liveryman,  No. 
527  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  seven  miles  from  this  city, 
on  Hole's  creek,  June  6,  1857.  He 
is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Johanna  (Maher) 
Moran,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Tipper- 
ary,  Ireland.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
some  time  in  the  'thirties,  and  lived  a  few 
years  in  New  York  state,  but  in  1842  removed 
to  Cincinnati,  lived  there  a  few  years,  and  then 
removed  to  the  farm  upon  which  their  son 
Michael  was  born.  Upon  this  farm  the  family 
lived  for  seven  years,  and  then  removed  to  the 
old  Lovvery  farm,  four  miles  north  of  Dayton, 
where  they  lived  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Moran, 
which  occurred  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  still  survives.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  still  living,  viz:  Michael,  Margaret 
and  Catherine.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moran 
were  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic  church, 
of  which  Mrs.  Moran  is  still  a  devoted  member. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  Michael  lived  in 
Ireland  all  his  life,  and  had  but  one  child. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  was  Lawrence  Maher.  He 
also  was  a  farmer,  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  and  died  in  Ireland  at  an  advanced  age. 


Michael  Moran,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  Remaining  at 
home  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  he 
rented  lands  and  carried  on  farming  on  his  own 
account.  He  then  removed  to  Dayton  and 
engaged  in  trading.  He  was  married  Novem- 
ber 24,  1886,  to  Miss  Mary  Cahill,  daughterof 
James  and  Catherine  (O'Rourke)  Cahill.  Mrs. 
Moran  died  February  11,  1890,  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Moran  is  a  member 
of  that  church,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  and  of  the  Knights 
of  Saint  John.  As  a  democrat  he  served  two 
years  as  supervisor  of  Butler  township,  not- 
withstanding that  township  was  usually  re- 
publican. 

After  his  marriage  he  returned  to  the  farm, 
but  upon  the  death  of  his  wife  he  again  came 
to  Dayton,  in  1890,  and  for  two  years  was  en- 
gaged in  teaming.  In  1892,  Mr.  Moran  en- 
tered upon  the  livery  business,  being  at  first 
located  at  No.  2013  Fifth  street,  but  in  Octo- 
ber, 1893,  removed  to  his  present  location. 
Having  lived  in  Montgomery  county  for  thirty- 
nine  years,  he  is  well  and  widely  known 
throughout  the  county. 


>--r'OHN  MULL,  one  of  the  representative 

m      business  men    of   Dayton,  was  born  in 

/»  1      Warren   county,    Ohio,    July  4,    1844, 

and  is  a  son   of   Reuben   and  Catherine 

(Spindler)  Mull,  both  of  German  extraction. 

Reuben  Mull  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  October  7,  1808,  and  in  the  same  place 
Catherine  Spindler  was  born  October  3,  1809'. 
Reuben  was  a  wagonmaker  and  farmer,  and 
in  May,  1835,  came  with  wagons  to  Ohio,  locat- 
ing near  Lebanon,  Warren  county,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  until  1851.  He  then  rented 
a  farm  and  followed  agriculture  until  his  death, 
June  24,  1873,  his  widow  surviving  until  Sep- 


r„s<; 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


tember  7,  1892.  The  family  comprised  nine 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  are 
named  Elizabeth,  Isaac,  Henry,  Joseph,  Ben- 
jamin, Mary,  John,  Charles  and  George. 

John  Mull  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Warren  county,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  March  26,  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  company  A,  Seventy-ninth  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  served  in  the  Twentieth 
army  corps,  under  Gen.  Hooker.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864, 
where  his  regiment  charged  a  rebel  battery  and 
captured  four  pieces  of  artillery;  his  next  en- 
gagement was  at  Burnt  Hickory,  or  Dallas, 
May  25,   1864;  then   New  Hope  church,    June 

15,  where  the  regiment  suffered  severely;  June 
23  there  was  another  engagement,  and  follow- 
ing this  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  June  27,  and  at  the  severe  engage- 
ment at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July  20.  The 
battle  of  Atlanta  followed,  hut  in  this  Mr. 
Mull  was  not  generally  engaged;  he  took  part, 
however,  in  the  siege  of  that  city,  which  ended 
in  its  subjection,  September  2,  and  followed 
Sherman  on  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  starting 
from  Atlanta  November  15,  1864,  and  taking 
part  in  many  skirmishes  and  battles,  including 
Savanna,  Ga.,  and  Averysboro,  N.  O,    March 

16,  1865.  This  was  the  last  battle  in  which 
Mr.  Mull  took  an  active  part.  Passing  through 
Goldsboro  and  Raleigh,  N.  C,  and  Richmond, 
Va.,  the  regiment  reached  Washington,  D.  C, 
encamped  near  the  Long  bridge,  and  took  part 
in  the  grand  review,  May  24,  1865.  Mr.  Mull 
was  transferred  to  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  in- 
fantry as  a  member  of  company  D,  was  pro- 
moted corporal,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Louisville,  Ky. ,  July  26,  1865,  never  hav- 
ing lost  a  day  off  duty  during  his  very  active, 
but  comparatively  brief  term  of  service. 

On  his  return  home  he  attended  the  Na- 
tional normal  school  nearly  two  years,  and  in 
August,  1868,  was  employed  as  clerk  and  book- 


keeper in  a  retail  grocery  in  Lebanon.  Twenty- 
three  months  later  he  bought  out  his  employer, 
and  for  over  a  year  conducted  the  business  on 
his  own  account,  closing  out  in  August,  1871. 
On  the  30th  of  September  following  he  came 
to  Dayton  and  opened  a  grocery  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Fifth  street  and  Wayne  avenue, 
but  sold  out  in  May,  1875,  and  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, where  he  was  employed  as  a  traveling 
salesman,  four  years  being  passed  in  this  ca- 
pacity, during  which  time  he  visited  nearly 
every  state  in  the  south.  In  August,  1879, 
Mr.  Mull  returned  to  Dayton  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  Charles  E.  Underwood  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  confectionery  trade — the 
firm  now  doing  an  extensive  wholesale  busi- 
ness throughout  Ohio. 

Mr.  Mull  was  happily  wedded,  January  3, 
1883,  to  Miss  Katie  E.  Traebing,  a  native 
of  Troy,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of 
William  L.  and  Katherine  (Kline)  Traebing, 
natives  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  but 
married  in  Troy,  Ohio,  in  1856,  the  maternal 
grandmother  being  of  French  origin.  The 
Traebing  children  were  three  in  number,  Mrs. 
Mull  being  the  eldest;  Alice  C.  is  unmarried, 
has  been  a  teacher  for  about  twenty-four  years, 
and  resides  with  her  parents  in  Dayton;  and 
Charles  Henry  is  a  confectioner  by  trade,  with 
his  residence  in  Columbus.  Mrs.  Mull  gradu- 
ated from  the  Dayton  high  school  and  from 
the  normal  school  of  Dayton,  and  prior  to 
marriage  was  one  of  the  most  successful  pri- 
mary teachers  in  Dayton,  holding  one  school 
for  eleven  years.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mull  has  been  blessed  with  two  interest- 
ing little  daughters — Ruth  Alice,  born  July  4, 
1889,  and  Lillian  B.,  born  April  22,  1891. 

Mrs.  Mull  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  is  secretary  of  the  Grace 
church  Pastor's  Aid  society;  she  is  also  presi- 
dent of  the  society  known  as  the  King's  Daugh- 
ters,   and    past    president    of    the   Old    Guard 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


687 


Woman's  Relief  corps,  G.  A.  R. ,  No.  121. 
Mr.  Mull  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard  post,  G. 
A.  R.,  and  has  served  as  quartermaster.  He 
became  an  Odd  Fellow  in  1875,  and  .at  pres- 
ent is  a  member  of  Dayton  lodge,  No.  273, 
and  Gem  City  encampment.  He  is  a  repub- 
lican of  the  best  type. 

Mr.  Mull  has  achieved  business  prosperity 
through  his  own  energy  and  industry,  having 
begun  without  financial  aid.  The  monetary 
collapse  of  1873  left  him  worse  off  than  noth- 
ing; but,  with  true  American  grit,  he  started 
again  and  made  a  success,  of  which  one  of  the 
tangible  evidences  is  his  present  handsome 
residence,  which  was  constructed  in  1885, 
under  his  own  supervision.  He  is  a  progressive, 
wideawake  citizen,  of  generous  impulses  and 
liberal  propensities,  as  well  as  refined  tastes, 
being  passionately  fond  of  flowers  and  taking 
great  interest  in  horticulture. 


BRANK  W.  MURPHY,  M.  D.,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  and  one  of  the  successful 
young  physicians  of  the  city,  was 
born  near  Dayton  in  1870,  of  Scotch 
and  Irish  lineage,  and  is  one  of  the  four  chil- 
dren born  to  Edmund  and  Mary  Murphy.  Un- 
til the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  passed  his  life  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  was  then  permitted  to 
enter  Dennison  university,  where  he  expected 
to  take  an  elective  course  and  to  prepare  him- 
self for  teaching.  Having  here  finished  his  lit- 
erary studies,  he  entered  mercantile  life  as 
clerk  in  a  grocery,  with  the  view  of  earning  the 
money  with  which  to  defray  his  expenses  as  a 
student  of  medicine.  He  thus  secured  means 
sufficient  to  pay  his  way  through  the  Pulte 
Medical  college  of  Cincinnati,  from  which  he 
graduated  as  valedictorian  of  the  class  of  1894, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Dayton,  meeting  with 
most  gratifying  success. 


Dr.  Murphy  is  a  member  of  the  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  society  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  of  the  Southern  Iowa  Medical  soci- 
ety of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  He  is  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  New  York  Medical  Journal 
and  to  the  North  American  Journal  of  Home- 
opathy, and  many  of  his  articles  have  met  with 
the  emphatic  approbation  of  the  readers  of 
these  publications.  The  doctor  is  a  Knight  of 
Pythias  and  a  member  of  the  K.  A.  E.  O. 

Dr.  Murphy  was  married,  June  30,  1896, 
to  Miss  Rhoda  G.  Brown,  of  Atlantic,  Cass 
county,  Iowa.  He  has  both  perseverance  and 
energy,  keeping  abreast  of  the  advances  made 
in  the  healing  art  and  the  science  of  medicine, 
and  the  success  which  has  already  attended  his 
growing  practice  gives  promise  of  a  prosperous 
professional  career. 


@ 


EORGE  NEDER  (deceased)  was 
born  June  15,  1828,  in  a  small  ham- 
let in  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many. His  education,  received  at 
several  of  the  renowned  colleges  of  Europe, 
was  a  most  complete  one,  thoroughly  qualify- 
ing him  for  the  journalistic  career  which  he 
afterward  adopted.  His  first  venture  in  this 
field  was  the  founding  and  editing  of  the 
Wurzburger  Journal,  in  1854,  which  paper 
still  exists. 

Earl}'  in  the  'sixties  Mr.  Neder  came  to  this 
country,  being  first  located  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. , 
where  he  became  the  editor  of  the  leading 
German  papers.  He  came  to  Dayton  in  1866, 
and  immediately  founded  the  Daytoner  Volks- 
Zeitung,  of  which  he  remained  the  owner  and 
chief  editor  up  to  his  death.  This  paper  was 
first  issued  as  a  weekly,  then  as  a  tri-weekly, 
and  since  1876  it  has  been  issued  daily. 

Mr.  Neder's  career  in  the  Miami  valley  was 
a  most  honorable  one,  and  while  he  never  be- 
came  conspicuous   in    public   life,   his  counsel 


688 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  ever  sought  and  recognized.  He  served 
as  a  member  of  the 'board  of  education  for 
two  terms,  and  was  for  several  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  library  board.  His  popularity  and 
influence  with  the  German  population,  through 
his  paper,  were,  very  great,  and  his  journalistic 
services  in  their  behalf  were  thoroughly  appre- 
ciated. His  support  of  any  worthy  cause  was 
always  the  result  of  a  sincere  conviction,  and 
earned  for  him  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held. 

Mr.  Neder  was  married,  in  1849,  to  Miss 
Marianna  Eckert,  which  union  was  blessed 
with  eight  children,  four  of  whom  survive  and 
are  residing  in  Dayton.  His  death  occurred 
July  19,  1895,  and  his  remains  now  lie  in  Cal- 
vary cemetery,  beside  those  of  his  wife,  who 
passed  away  in  1893. 


ar 


TLLIAM  T.  MOONEY,  superintend- 
ent of  the  John  Rouzer  company, 
contractors  and  builders,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  June  23, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Wesley  and  Martha 
(Clemmer)  Mooney,  the  former  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  two  sons 
and  five  daughters,  four  of  the  seven  children 
still  surviving,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Minerva 
Grove,  Mrs.  Fannie  Shank,  William  T.  Mooney, 
and  Mrs.  Flora  Alberts.  Wesley  Mooney  was 
a  farmer,  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and 
settled  in  Montgomery  county,  and  carried  on 
farming  in  Jackson  township  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1856,  when  he  was  forty- 
eight  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Mount  Carmel  Reformed  church. 

The  father  of  Wesley  Mooney  was  born  in 
Virginia  and  was  an  officer  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Ohio, 
and  died  in  Miami  county  at  the  age  of  ninety- 


four.  By  trade  he  was  a  shoemaker,  and  fol- 
lowed this  calling  until  the  later  years  of  his 
life.  He  had  but  one  son,  Wesley,  the  father 
of  William  T.  He  possessed  many  fine  traits 
of  character,  and  was  highly  honored  by  the 
community  in  which  he  lived  so  many  years. 
Martha  (Clemmer)  Mooney's  father,  David 
Clemmer,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  of 
German  descent  and  a    farmer  by  occupation. 

William  T.  Mooney  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  Montgomery  county  until  he  was  fifteen 
years  of  age,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools.  Afterward  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
builder,  which  he  followed  as  a  journeyman 
for  some  years.  Then,  buying  an  interest  in 
the  Rouzer  planing  mill,  he  was  for  eighteen 
years  a  member  of  the  company  owning  and 
operating  it.  Selling  his  share  in  this  business, 
he  was  actively  engaged  for  five  years  in  con- 
tracting, at  the  end  of  which  time  he  again 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  mill,  accepting 
the  superintendency  of  the  establishment, 
which  position  he  still  retains.  This  mill  fur- 
nishes employment  for  from  seventy-five  to 
100  men  and  is  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  prosperous  enterprises  in  the  city  of 
Dayton. 

On  February  1,  1871,  Mr.  Mooney  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Oldfather,  daughter 
of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Pence)  Oldfather, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mooney  there  have  been 
born  four  children:  Iva  M.,  Ernest  V.,  Mary 
F. ,  and  Arthur  F.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mooney 
belong  to  the  Fourth  Reformed  church  and 
Mr.  Mooney  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason 
and  belongs  to  Reed  commandery  of  Knights 
Templar.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

When  Mr.  Mooney  first  arrived  in  Dayton  he 
had  practically  no  means  whatever,  while  now 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


691 


he  is  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  is  one 
of  the  substantial  business  men  of  Dayton. 
His  establishment  has  done  some  very  import- 
ant work,  including  the  erection  of  the  court 
houses  at  Columbus,  Springfield,  Tiffin,  and 
Sidney,  Ohio,  the  opera  house  at  Bellefon- 
taine,  and  the  residences  in  Dayton  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Clegg,  Col.  Piatt,  R.  N.  King,  H.  C. 
Graves,  Frederic  P.  Beaver,  beside  many 
other  private  houses  and  business  buildings  in 
this  city.  All  of  these  are  excellently  built 
and  are  a  credit  to  the  capacity  and  skill  of 
the  company  with  which  Mr.  Mooney  has  his 
business  connection. 


@AMALIEL  C.  MYERS,  M.  D.,  a  well 
known  physician  and  surgeon  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  Sharonville, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  September 
23,  1848.  His  parents  were  Andrew  S.  and  Jane 
(Crosson)  Myers,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio,  respectively.  The  grandparents  of  Dr. 
Myers  on  both  sides  came  from  Belfast,  Ire- 
land. The  father  came  to  Ohio  with  his  par- 
ents when  a  small  boy,  the  family  locating  in 
Hamilton  county.  The  father  has  followed 
farming  all  his  life,  and  is  now  in  his  ninetieth 
year.  The  mother  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years. 

Dr.  Myers  was  reared  in  Sharonville  and 
attended  the  public  schools  of  that  place  until 
he  reached  his  fourteenth  year.  In  May, 
1S62,  before  reaching  his  fourteenth  birthday 
he  entered  company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-eighth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  as  a 
corporal,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Den- 
nison,  Ohio,  in  September,  1865.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  attended  the  Lebanon 
(Ohio)  normal  school  and  graduated  in  1873, 
after  a  four  years'  course.  He  then  taught 
school  and  at  the  same  time  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.   Creager,    of  Lebanon,    as    his   pre- 


ceptor. He  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati 
college  of  Medicine  &  Surgery  in  1880,  came 
to  Dayton  in  the  following  year  and  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  has 
since  continuously  followed. 

Dr.  Myers  has  served  two  terms  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  board  of  health,  and  one  term 
as  county  coroner.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  medical  staff  of  the  Deaconess  hospital 
since  the  organization  of  that  institution,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Ohio  state  Medical  society 
and  of  the  Montgomery  county  Medical  so- 
ciety, having  served  as  president  and  secretary 
of  the  latter.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  F.  &  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  K.  of 
P. ;  also  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  Ex-Prisoners  of 
War  societies,  having  been  for  eleven  months 
a  prisoner  of  war  at  Libby  prison,  Anderson- 
ville  and  Belle  Island. 

Dr.  Myers  was  married,  in  1880,  to  Miss 
Delia  Killoren,  a  native  of  Sligo,  Ireland.  To 
their  happy  union  one  daughter  has  been  born 
— Genevieve. 


tV^"\  ORMAN    S.    NIER,    carpenter    and 
M    builder  of  No.   104  North  Broadway, 
r     Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born   in    LeRoy, 
Genesee  county,  N.  Y. ,  February  1 1, 
1833.      His  paternal   grandfather  was  a  native 
of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  was  the  founder  of 
the  family  in   America,  and  died  when  the  fa- 
ther of  Norman  S.  was  seven  years  of  age. 

Henry  G.  and  Catherine  (Shook)  Nier, 
parents  of  Norman  S.,  were  schoolmates  in 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  were  reared  and 
married  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  farmer,  and  to  him  and  his  wife 
ware  born  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz: 
Catherine,  wife  of  James  Cashan,  now  resid- 
ing in  Monroe  county,  N.  Y. ;  Sylvester,  of 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  died  in  August,  1896; 
Norman  S. ,  the   subject  of    this   memoir,  and 


692 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mary  A.,  widow  of  John  Van  Valkenburg  and 
now  residing  at  Orchard  Lake,  Mich. 

Norman  S.  Nier  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
his  native  county,  received  his  education  in  its 
public  schools  and  at  the  Lima,  Livingston 
county,  N.  Y. ,  seminary,  and  in  his  young 
manhood  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and 
also  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  jeweler's 
business.  August  5,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany I,  Eighth  New  York  heavy  artillery,  as 
the  regiment  was  called  at  the  time  of  his  en- 
listment, being  afterward  known  as  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  New  York  infan- 
try. This  regiment  was  first  assigned  to  gar- 
rison duty  at  Fort  McHenry,  Federal  Hill, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  also  to  Forts  Carroll 
and  Marshall,  until  May,  1864,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  join  the  Second  army  corps  at 
Spottsylvania,  Va.  At  this  place  Mr.  Nier  re- 
ceived a  wound  which  confined  him  in  hospital 
until  the  December  following,  but  rejoined  his 
regiment  before  Petersburg  and  remained  at 
the  front  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads 
June  5,   1865. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Nier  took  place 
November  25,  1856,  to  Miss  Catherine  Shook, 
of  Mount  Clemens,  Mich.  She  was  born  No- 
vember 25,  1835,  and  for  several  years  before 
marriage  was  a  school-teacher.  She  bore  her 
husband  three  children,  viz:  Mary,  married 
to  Henry  Bartlett  and  residing  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y. ;  Caroline,  the  wife  of  Joshua  Webster, 
farmer  and  machinist,  living  in  Monroe  county, 
X  V.,  and  Edgar,  who  died  in  infancy.  Im- 
mediately after  his  discharge  from  the  army, 
Mr.  Nier  joined  his  wife  and  two  children, 
then  living  in  Genesee  county,  N.  Y. ,  where 
he  remained  an  invalid  for  three  years.  He 
then  moved  to  Rochester,  Monroe  county,  in 
the  same  state,  where  his  wife  died  April  19, 
1880.  His  second  wife,  whom  he  married  No- 
vember 30,   1882,  was  a  Mrs.  Almeda  Morden, 


and  a  native  of  Canada,  where  she  married  her 
first  husband,  who  died  in  Elmira,  N.  Y. 
Leaving  Rochester  in  1892,  Mr.  Nier  became 
an  inmate  of  the  national  military  home  at 
Hampton,  Va.,  but  nine  months  later  was 
transferred  to  the  Central  branch  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  partially  regained  his  health  in  this 
more  congenial  clime.  He  died  December  25, 
1896.  As  he  was  unable  to  engage  in  any  se- 
vere physical  labor,  he  was  employed  on  the 
home  force  of  carpenters,  he  being  an  adept 
in  that  trade;  but  his  pleasant  residence  was 
with  his  devoted  wife,  at  No.  104  North  Broad- 
way. He  was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  of  the  Union  Veteran  Le- 
gion, politically  a  republican  and  in  religion 
adhered  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  faith,  be- 
ing a  constant  attendant  of  that  church. 


Kf)  EV.    JACOB    G.    NEIFFER,   pastor 
I  z1^     of  Saint  John's   Evangelical   English 
V     Lutheran  church,   of   Dayton,    Ohio, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa., 
and  is  a  son  of  Christian   and   Kathrina  (Von 
Grabenstein)  Neiffer,   natives  of  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  of  whom  further  mention  will  here- 
after be  made. 

Rev.  J.  G.  Neiffer  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Philadel- 
phia; he  acquired  his  literary  education  at  the 
Pennsylvania  college  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  be- 
tween the  years  1861  and  1863,  and  in  the 
last-named  year  entered  Franklin  &  Marshall 
college,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  in  the  classical  department  in 
1865.  He  then  entered  the  Evangelical  The- 
ological (Lutheran)  college  at  Philadelphia, 
pursued  his  studies  there  for  three  years,  and 
June  10,  1868,  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  His  first 
call  was  to  Saint  Mark's  church,  at  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  where  he  officiated  two  years,  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


693 


then  accepted  a  call  to  Saint  John's  church,  at 
Salisbury,  N.  O,  where  he  remained  five 
years;  he  then  came  to  Ohio,  and  for  ten  years 
had  charge  of  Saint  Paul's  church  in  Lima. 
In  May,  1885,  he  was  called  to  his  present 
work  in  Dayton.  Here  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Neiffer  have  been  of  the  most  satisfactory 
character.  When  he  assumed  the  onerous 
duties  pertaining  to  Saint  John's  congregation, 
in  1885,  now  eleven  years  ago,  the  member- 
ship numbered  about  sixty,  the  congregation 
was  about  $3,000  in  debt,  and  its  most  san- 
guine members  were  in  a  state  of  great  dis- 
couragement. Since  the  advent  of  Mr.  Neif- 
fer, however,  this  indebtedness  has  been  can- 
celled, the  membership  has  been  increased 
from  sixty  to  500,  and  a  new  church  edifice, 
to  be  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  city,  is  in 
contemplation,  and  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  be 
completed  within  the  present  year,  with  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  about  700  persons.  In  1894 
Mr.  Neiffer  organized  Saint  Luke's  English 
Evangelical  Lutheran  mission  on  Broadway 
and  Germantown  streets,  West  side,  Dayton, 
and  for  this  mission  he  preached  during  the 
first  year  of  its  existence;  it  now  has  a  chapel 
of  its  own,  and  Rev.  John  Webber,  of  Lon- 
don, Ohio,  was  elected  pastor  and  assumed 
charge  January  1,  1897.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  Mr.  Neiffer  has  not  been  idle  since 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  that  his 
labors  in  the  Master's  vineyard  have  not  only 
been  very  great,  but  have  been  most  happy  in 
their  results. 

Rev.  Mr.  Neiffer,  also,  had  attained  con- 
siderable eminence  as  a  classical  tutor  prior  to 
his  entrance  upon  his  ministerial  duties,  as  from 
1865  until  1868,  while  at  the  theological  sem- 
inary in  Philadelphia,  he  taught  Latin  and 
Greek  in  preparing  students  for  the  state  uni- 
versity, and  from  1880  until  1885  was  profes- 
sor of  the  German  language  in  the  high  school 
at  Lima,  Ohio,  combining  that  work  with  his 


church  labors.  Neither  has  he  been  remiss  in 
patriotic  duty,  for  in  the  fall  of  1862,  during 
the  invasion  of  his  native  state  by  Gen.  Lee's 
army,  he  volunteered  as  a  militiaman  and 
served  most  faithfully  until  the  Confederates 
were  driven  from  Pennsylvania  soil,  when  he 
resumed  his  collegiate  studies. 

Christian  Neiffer,  father  of  Rev.  J.  G. 
Neiffer,  married  Miss  Von  Grabenstein  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Napoleonic  war,  and  came  to  America  in  18 14, 
having  left  his  native  land  on  account  of  the 
political  restrictions  placed  upon  its  subjects. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  high  literary  culture, 
and  on  reaching  Pennsylvania  established  his 
home  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  and  en- 
gaged largely  in  the  manufacture  of  pottery 
and  also  quite  extensively  in  farming.  There 
he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  his 
widow  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  The 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian 
Neiffer  numbered  seven  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, of  which  family  Rev.  Jacob  G.  was  the 
eleventh  in  order  of  birth.  Of  the  sons,  two 
served  in  the  late  Civil  war,  one  being  killed 
in  the  Wilderness  campaign,  and  two  others 
supplied  substitutes.  Four  sons  and  fourdaugh- 
ters  of  the  family  are  still  living  in  the  vicinity 
of  Philadelphia,  the  sons  being  either  physi- 
cians or  lawyers,  and  the  family  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  well  known  in  eastern 
Pennsylvania.  Rev.  Jacob G.  Neiffer  has  never 
married. 


HBRAM  H.  NIXON,  manufacturer  of 
spraying  apparatus,  was  born  within 
seven  miles  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 3,  1 81 3.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
Nixon,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  from 
which  state  he  emigrated  to  Fayette  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  married  and  whence  a  few 
years  later  he  removed  to  Ohio,  coming  down 


694 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  Ohio  river  on  a  flatboat,  and  settling  at 
the  place  where  Abrarn  was  afterward  born. 
Coming  to  Ohio  at  that  time,  John  Nixon  was 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  state,  which 
was  then  only  ten  years  old.  Some  years 
later  he  moved  about  fifteen  miles  north  of  his 
first  location,  into  Butler  county.  Here  Abram 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  his  education  being  re- 
ceived in  the  district  schools,  which  were  then 
of  a  very  inferior  kind,  as  much  inferior  to 
those  of  the  present  day  as  were  the  log  cabin 
school-houses,  with  their  puncheon  floors  and 
greased-paper  widows,  to  the  finely  adapted 
modern  school  structures. 

When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Franklin,  Ohio,  and  established  himself  in 
business,  in  the  manufacture  of  cooper  ware. 
Remaining  in  Franklin  for  two  years,  he  then 
removed  to  Centerville,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  carried  on  the  same  business  for  three 
years.  At  that  time  there  was  more  pork 
packed  in  Centerville  than  in  Dayton.  In  the 
spring  of  1838,  Mr.  Nixon  removed  to  Carroll- 
ton,  Montgomery  county,  where  he  continued 
his  business  on  a  larger  scale  than  ever  before, 
using  machinery  in  the  manufacture  of  his 
wares,  and  being  the  first  to  introduce  it  for 
that  purpose  into  the  county.  At  that  time 
it  was  the  custom  to  go  to  the  woods,  cut 
the  timber  and  haul  it  to  the  cooper  shops  in 
wagons;  but  Mr.  Nixon  soon  found  that  to  be 
too  tedious  and  laborious  a  method,  and  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  going  into  the  forest,  there 
cutting  the  trees  up  into  staves,  and  hauling 
them  to  the  cooper  shop  in  canal  boats.  He 
was,  in  fact,  the  first  to  bring  a  canal  boat 
load  of  cooper  stuff  to  Carrollton. 

Mr.  Nixon  was  married  in  Carrollton  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Cotterill.  who  was  born  in 
Brown  county,  Ohio.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  Carrollton  for  nineteen  years,  and  in  1857 
removed  to  Dayton,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.      In  1852  he  disposed  of  his  cooper  busi- 


ness and  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  leaf 
tobacco,  which  was  then  just  beginning  to  be 
raised  in  Ohio.  After  locating  in  Dayton  he 
continued  in  the  tobacco  business  and  has  re- 
tired from  active  business  only  within  the  last 
three  years.  Mr.  Nixon  shipped  the  first  car 
load  of  tobacco  out  of  Dayton,  over  the  Day- 
ton &  Sandusky  railroad.  This  was  in  1853, 
when  that  was  the  only  railroad  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Nixon,  becoming  interested  in  the  manu- 
facture of  spraying  apparatus,  was  the  first  in 
the  United  States  to  make  a  specialty  thereof. 
In  i860  A.  C.  Nixon  became  engaged  in 
the  tobacco  business  with  his  father,  since 
whose  retirement  from  active  business  he  has 
carried  it  on  alone.  Abram  H.  Nixon  is  the 
oldest  dealer  in  cigar  leaf  tobacco  west  of  the 
Allegheny  mountains  and  is  well  known^  all 
over  the  country,  as  a  man  of  probity  and  in- 
tegrity. A  long  career  of  honorable  business 
activity  has  rendered  Mr.  Nixon's  life  a  worthy 
example  for  the  emulation  of  the  young  men 
of  the  present  day. 


t/^  ARRY  S.  MURPHY,  junior  member 
1/"^  of  the  law  firm  of  Patterson  &  Mur- 
JK^9  phy,  was  born  on  a  farm  three  miles 
east  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  August  26, 
1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Dennis  and  Catherine 
Murphy,  now  residing  in  Dayton.  For  seven 
years  he  attended  Saint  Mary's  institute,  a 
Catholic  school  which  was  established  in  1849, 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  employment  to  three 
teachers  then  unemployed,  and  also  to  estab- 
lish a  better  school  than  any  then  in  existence 
in  Dayton.  After  the  expiration  of  these  seven 
years  he  entered  the  Dayton  high  school  and 
was  graduated  there  in  1882.  After  leaving 
school  he  accepted  a  position  as  reporter  on 
the  Dayton  Daily  Journal,  at  the  same  time 
attending  commercial  college  in  order  to  ac- 
quire a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  business. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


697 


After  completing  his  commercial  course  he 
taught  school  for  some  time  and  then  entered 
the  office  of  Iddings  &  Iddings.  Here  he 
studied  law  for  three  years  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1888.  In  1889  the  partnership 
now  existing  between  himself  and  J.  C.  Pat- 
terson was  formed  under  the  name  of  Patter- 
son &  Murphy,  and  their  practice  has  been  a 
prosperous  and  growing  one. 

Mr.  Murphy  is  a  member  of  the  society  of 
Elks,  of  the  Foresters,  of  the  American  Sons 
of  Columbus,  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians.  For  two  years  he  was  attorney 
for  the  board  of  education,  and  in  all  legal 
connections  and  business  he  has  proved  him- 
self a  conscientious  and  safe  counselor. 


>^OHN  M.  NUTT,  one  of  the  well-known 
m  attorneys  at  law  of  Dayton,  was  born 
A  1  in  Sidney,  "Shelby  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Irwin 
and  Barbara  (Persinger)  Nutt.  Irwin  and  Bar- 
bara Nutt  were  old  settlers  of  Montgomery 
county,  removing  thence  to  Shelby  county 
about  1834.  There  Mr.  Nutt  died  in  1880,  a 
highly  esteemed  citizen;  Mrs.  Nutt  still  resides 
on  the  old  farm  in  Shelby  county,  venerated 
and  respected  for  her  many  amiable  qualities 
by  all  who  know  her. 

John  M.  Nutt  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  secured  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  where  he  at- 
tended college.  For  more  than  twenty  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  Sid- 
ney, Ohio,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Quincy,  Ohio, 
and  other  places,  meeting  with  unusual  success. 
Mr.  Nutt  was  about  this  time  injured  by  an 
accidental  fall  from  a  building,  which  incapa- 
citated him  for  further  active  employment,  and 
he  therefore  selected  a  profession  for  his  life- 
work.  After  reading  law  for  two  years  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1888,  removed  to  Day- 


ton, and  there  opened  an  office  for  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  practiced  alone  nearly 
seven  years,  and  in  May,  1894,  was  appointed 
United  States  commissioner.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  Judge  McKemy,  under  the 
firm  name  of  McKemy  &  Nutt,  which  con- 
tinues to  the  present  time,  and  now  stands 
among  the  prominent    legal    firms   of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Nutt  was  married  in  1875  to  Miss  Ella 
M.  Smith,  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and  to  this 
marriage  there  have  been  born  four  sons,  as 
follows:  Frank,  now  eighteen  years  of  age; 
Irwin,  aged  fifteen;  Cris,  twelve  years  old,  and 
Edmund  B. ,  nine  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nutt  are  consistent  members 
of  the  Broadway  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and,  fraternally,  Mr.  Nuttis  a  thirty-second  de- 
gree Mason,  and  also  an  active  member  of  the 
Knight  Templar  commandery  at  Dayton.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  stanch  republican,  but,  while 
active  and  ardent  in  the  support  of  his  party 
and  principles,  has   never  sought  public  office. 


HLFRED  K.  OATES,  a  guide  at  the 
national  military  home,  Dayton, Ohio, 
was  born  in  Manchester,  England, 
February  19,  1836,  and  when  a  child 
of  nine  years  of  age  was  brought  to  America 
by  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Allegheny  City, 
Pa.,  where  the  father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  and  the  mother,  some  years  later,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three.  The  father  had  been  a 
soldier  in  the  British  army,  as  had  also  been 
an  uncle.  Alfred  K.  was  the  youngest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  fourteen  children,  and  of  these  he  and  a 
sister,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Moseley,  of  Cumberland, 
Md.,  are  the  sole  survivors. 

Alfred  K.  Oates  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  in  his  youth,  and  this  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  enlistment,  in  New  York  city, 
April  22,  1861,  under  somewhat  unusual  cir- 
cumstances.      Several     companies    had    been 


WIS 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


formed  in  Pennsylvania  and  had  offered  their 
services  to  the  governor;  but  he,  believing  that 
the  war  would  soon  be  brought  to  a  termina- 
tion, declined  to  accept  additional  troops;  in 
consequence  of  this  decision,  two  of  these  or- 
ganized companies  paid  their  own  fare  to  New 
York,  where  their  services  were  accepted,  and 
they  were  accredited  to  the  New  York  quota, 
and  assigned  to  company  A,  Fifth  Excel- 
sior, or  Seventy-fourth  New  York  volunteer 
infantry,  the  regiment  being  placed  in  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Heintzelman.  It  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Va.,  and  in  the  entire 
peninsula  campaign;  was  at  second  Bull  Run, 
but  missed  the  battle  of  Antietam,  yet  partici- 
pated in  all  the  other  battles  of  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  up  to  June  22,  1864,  when  it  was 
honorably  discharged.  At  Gettysburg,  Mr. 
Oates  sustained  a  wound  in  the  head,  and  as  a 
slight  compensation  for  this  injury  was  award- 
ed a  pension. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  Mr. 
Oates  returned  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  resumed 
his  trade,  working  for  the  Carnegie  company 
eighteen  years.  In  1865,  he  married  Miss 
Sarah  Whittaker,  a  native  of  England,  but 
reared  from  childhood  in  Mexico.  She  died  in 
1882,  a  true  wife  and  the  exemplary  mother  of 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Of  these  chil- 
dren, George  is  a  master  painter  for  the  Pitts- 
burg, Virginia  &  Charleston  railroad  company, 
and  resides  in  Monongahela  City,  Pa. ;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Miles  Hollinger  and  lives  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.  ;  Elizabeth,  twin  of  Mary,  is  now 
Mrs.  Hawkes,  of  Irwin  Station,  Westmoreland 
county,  Pa.,  and  William,  unmarried,  is  an 
employee  of  the  Pittsburg,  Virginia  &  Charles- 
ton railroad,  with  his  home  in  Pittsburg. 

Mr.  Oates  entered  the  Central  branch  of 
the  national  military  home,  Dayion,  Ohio,  in 
September,  1892,  for  a  short  time  was  em- 
ployed in  light  labor,  and  three  years  ago  was 
appointed  to  his  present   position,  in  which  he 


has  proven  himself  to  be  courteous  and  oblig- 
ing, giving  perfect  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  the  Union  Veteran  Legion,  and 
of  the  Knights  of  Maccabees.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican. 


lS^\  OBERT  O'DONOGHUE  is  a  member 
I  /"^     of  Hose  company,  No.  7,  located  on 
M    .r     Xenia  avenue,  Dayton,   and   is  a   na- 
tive of  Ireland,  having  been  born  in 
county  Cork,  in  the  city  of  that   name,  March 
27<   Ii^39-       He   continued  on   Irish  soil  until 
the  year  1852,  when  he  came  to  this  country, 
and    made    his   home    in    this    city.       He  was 
brought  over  by  a   party  of   relatives,  his  par- 
ents having   died   when  he  was   a  child.      He 
found  his  way   to   the  home  of  an  uncle,  who 
lived    in    Greene   county,    six    miles  from   this 
city,  in  the  village  of  Kinsley,  and  was  an   in- 
mate of  his  family  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war.     Then  the  Irish  lad,  now  a  sturdy  young 
man    of   twenty-one,    was    among   the  first  to 
offer    his   services    for    the    protection    of    his 
adopted    country.       He    enlisted    among    the 
1  oo-day  men,  but  was  not  called  into  active 
service.       August    20,     1 86 1 ,    he    enlisted    in 
this  city  for  three  years,  and  was  assigned  to 
company    F,    First    Ohio    volunteer    infantry, 
and  with   his  regiment   became  a  part  of  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  being  under  the  com- 
mand of   such    distinguished  officers  as   Buell, 
Rosecrans,    Grant,     Thomas    and    Sherman. 
Private  O'Donoghue  participated  in  every  bat- 
tle and  skirmish  in  which  his  regiment  was  en- 
gaged, never  missed  a  roll  call,  and  was  never 
absent  from  his  place  of  duty.      After  the  bat- 
tle of  Stone  River  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  ser- 
geant, and  finally  to  the  responsible  position  of 
first  sergeant,  which   he   held   at  the   time  the 
regiment   was    mustered    out   of   service.       At 
Chickamauga   he  was  slightly   wounded,    but 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


699 


did  not  leave  the  field.  When  its  term  of  en- 
listment expired  the  regiment  offered  its  serv- 
ices as  veterans,  but  the  close  proximity  of  the 
rebel  general,  Longstreet,  with  a  large  force 
at  the  front  in  east  Tennessee,  kept  them  con- 
stantly busy,  and  the  time  for  re-enlistment 
passed.  The  regiment  was  finally  mustered  out 
of  the  service  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  August 
17,  1864.  Mr.  O'Donoghue  spent  the  follow- 
ing winter  at  his  home  in  this  city,  but  early  in 
the  following  spring  enlisted  for  one  year  in 
the  United  States  service,  and  was  enrolled  as 
a  member  of  company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-eighth  Ohio.  He  served  for  a  short 
time  at  Columbus,  but  was  not  called  from  the 
state,  Lee's  surrender  having  virtually  termi- 
nated the  war.  Upon  his  final  retirement  he 
once  more  came  to  Dayton,  and  here  he  has 
made  his  home  to  the  present  day. 

Mr.  O'Donoghue  was  employed  for  several 
years  in  a  paper  mill,  and  afterward  in  the  dis- 
tilleries, this  latter  business  having  been  mas- 
tered by  him  before  the  war.  In  1876  he  be- 
gan his  service  as  a  member  of  the  city  fire 
department,  and  his  connection  with  it  in  vari- 
ous capacities  has  been  continuous.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  Gallagher,  a  native  of  Canada, 
in  1877.  There  have  been  born  to  them  six 
children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  the  eldest,  is  an  appren- 
tice to  the  plumbing  business;  Mary  is  in  the 
second  year  in  the  Dayton  high  school;  Hen- 
rietta and  Nellie  are  in  the  city  schools;  Bes- 
sie died  November  7,  1887,  and  Robert,  Jr.,  is 
a  young  child  at  home.  Mr.  O'Donoghue  is  a 
member  of  Wayne  lodge,  No.  10,  I.  O.  O.  F. , 
the  Old  Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  en- 
campment, No.  145,  Union  Veterans  Legion. 
He  is  associated  with  the  Episcopal  church, 
and  adheres  politically  to  the  republican  party, 
having  always  voted  that  ticket,  except  on  the 
occasion  of  his  first  vote,  which  was  cast  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas. 


>y*AMES  P.  O'NEILL,  correspondent  at 
J  the  soldiers'  home,  near  Dayton,  Ohio, 
A  ■  for  the  Commercial-Tribune  and  the 
Post,  of  Cincinnati,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  February  22,  1844,  and  in  1846 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Pittsburg,  where 
he  was  educated,  primarily,  in  the  parochial 
school  of  Saint  Paul's  cathedral,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years  was  sent  to  Saint  Michael's 
seminary  to  be  educated  for  the  priesthood. 
While  there  engaged  in  study,  Bishop  Henry- 
Elder,  of  Natchez,  Miss. — now  archbishop  of 
Cincinnati — visited  the  seminary,  in  i860,  and 
requested  that  three  students  be  selected,  to  be 
sent  to  Rome  and  educated  in  the  American 
college  in  that  city,  and  young  O'Neill  was 
selected  as  one — the  time  set  for  their  de- 
parture being  1861.  The  Civil  war  being  then 
imminent,  the  project  was  frustrated,  and 
James  continued  his  studies  in  the  seminary 
until  August  22,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry. 

The  first  battle  in  which  he  took  part  was 
at  Fredericksburg,  Va. ,  December  13,  1862, 
and  the  next  at  Chancellorsville;  he  was  in  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  next  went  on  the 
Mine  Run  expedition.  The  winter  of  1863-4 
was  passed  in  guarding  the  Orange  &  Alexan- 
dria railroad,  between  Centerville  and  Fal- 
mouth, Va.  With  the  opening  of  hostilities 
in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  after  the  three  days' 
fighting  in  the  Wilderness,  he  was  disabled  by 
a  wound  in  the  right  groin,  in  the  battle  of 
Laurel  Hill.  He  was  in  consequence  trans- 
ferred as  an  invalid  to  the  veteran  reserve 
corps,  as  a  member  of  company  D,  Ninth  regi- 
ment, and  stationed  at  Washington,  D.  C,  but 
was  soon  afterward  detailed  as  clerk  in  the  office 
of  Gen.  H.  H.  Wells,  then  provost-marshal- 
general  of  the  defenses  south  of  the  Potomac, 
and  afterward  military  governor  of  Virginia, 
under  the  reconstruction  act.      Mr.    O'Neill's 


700 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


duty  was  principally  the  keeping  of  records  of 
deserters  apprehended  for  bounty-jumping, 
etc.,  a  very  pleasant  position,  as  he  had  all  the 
privileges  of  the  life  of  a  civilian.  June  29, 
1865,  he  received  his  final  discharge  from  the 
service,  and  returned  to  the  parental  home  in 
Pittsburg. 

In  September,  1865,  Mr.  O'Neill  entered 
the  Cathedral  high  school  as  teacher,  remain- 
ing one  year,  and  the  following  year  he  was 
employed  as  brakeman  on  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad.  In  September,  1868,  he  was  ap- 
pointed telegraph  editor  and  proof-reader  on 
the  Pittsburg  Post,  and  was  connected  with 
that  journal  for  about  six  years,  the  last  two 
years  as  city  editor.  Following  this,  he  worked 
as  a  reporter  for  almost  every  newspaper  in 
Pittsburg,  continuing  in  journalistic  work  until 
1892.  During  this  period  he  was  also  associ- 
ate editor  of  the  Catholic  Journal,  with  a 
corps  of  nine  clergymen  as  editors,  contribu- 
tors, etc. ,  and  for  several  months  was  proof- 
reader for  Rand,  McNally  &  Co.,   of  Chicago. 

August  19,  1892,  Mr.  O'Neill  was  admit- 
ted to  the  national  military  home  at  Dayton, 
where  for  the  first  six  months  he  was  engaged 
as  clerk  in  the  hospital,  and  then,  for  four  or 
five  months,  as  clerk  in  the  Central  depot. 
During  the  past  three  years  he  has  employed 
his  time  principally  as  correspondent  for  the 
Cincinnati  Commercial-Tribune  and  the  Post. 
As  a  writer  he  has  both  wit  and  brevity,  with 
the  faculty  for  condensation  which  is  so  nec- 
essary to  success  in  the  reporter's  work. 

Mr.  O'Neill  was  married,  in  Pittsburg, 
August  24.  1870,  to  Miss  Caroline  A.  Schell, 
a  lady  of  German  extraction,  with  whom  he 
lived  most  happily  until  1876,  when  Mrs. 
O'Neill  became  demented,  and  the  succeeding 
seventeen  years  of  her  life  were  passed  in  an 
asylum  in  Pittsburg,  where  the  end  came  in 
March,  1893.  Of  the  three  children  born  to 
this  marriage,  the  youngest  died  in  infancy  and 


the  two  surviving  were  reared  to  manhood  by 
their  paternal  grandmother.  James  J.,  the 
elder  of  the  two,  now  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
is  a  salesman  and  window-trimmer  in  a  dry- 
goods  house  in  Carnegie,  Pa.,  and  Charles  J., 
aged  twenty-three,  is  employed  in  the  Home- 
stead steel  works.'  Fraternally  Mr.  O'Neill  is 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
and  of  the  Union  Veteran  Legion,  having  joined 
encampment  No.  1,  of  the  latter  order,  in 
Pittsburg,  on  its  organization,  and  having 
transferred  its  membership  to  encampment 
No.  83,  at  the  soldiers'  home,  being  the  pres- 
ent adjutant  of  this  camp.  In  1868  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Second  brigade  band, 
and  served  as  its  president  and  leader  for  five 
years.  In  his  politics  he  was  a  democrat  in 
his  earlier  years,  and  voted  with  that  party 
until  the  defeat  of  Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock  for 
the  presidency  of  the  United  States,  since 
which  time  he  had  affiliated  with  the  repub- 
lican organization. 


@EORGE  W.  OZIAS,  attorney  at  law 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  January 
28,  1863,  at  Farmersville,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of 
David  Ozias,  a  native  of  Lewisburg,  Preble 
county,  Ohio.  When  George  W.  was  a  child 
his  parents  removed  to  Kenton,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  was  reared  and  educated,  graduating 
from  the  Kenton  high  school  when  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age.  David  Ozias  remained  in 
Kenton  with  his  family  until  1887,  when  he 
removed  to  Dayton.  George  W.,  almost  im- 
mediately after  graduating  at  Kenton,  as  above 
mentioned,  entered  the  freshman  class  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at  Delaware,  re- 
maining there  throughout  the  regular  four 
years'  course,  and  graduating  when  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, and   in  the  fall   of    1883   entered  the 


jUy 


>r_ 


/C 


~^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


703 


Cincinnati  Law  school,  taking  a  thorough  course 
in  law,  and  graduating  from  that  institution  in 
1886.  His  expenses,  while  at  Delaware,  he 
paid  by  teaching  school  in  vacations,  and  those 
incident  to  his  attendance  at  the  law  school  by 
working  for  Bradstreet's  Commercial  agency. 
Immediately  upon  completing  his  course  in 
Cincinnati,  Mr.  Ozias  located  in  Dayton,  and 
there  became  the  manager  of  Bradstreet's 
Commercial  agency  for  the  district  whose  head- 
quarters were  in  that  city,  and  this  position  he 
held  for  five  years.  Severing  his  connection 
with  this  agency,  on  November  1,  1 891,  he 
opened  an  office  and  began  the  active  practice 
of  the  law  on  his  own  account.  Later  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Benjamin  F.  Her- 
shey,  which  continued  from  January  1,  1893, 
to  about  January  1,  1895.  This  connection 
was  then  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Ozias  remained 
alone  until  March  1,  1896,  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Judge  Calvin  D.  Wright, 
formerly  of  Troy,  Ohio,  Wright  &  Ozias  hav- 
ing since   been  engaged  in  general  practice. 

January  4,  1894,  Mr.  Ozias  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Blanche  B.  Whealen,  who 
was  born  in  Dayton,  March  2,  1873,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Corson)  Wheal- 
en, natives  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Whealen  is  district  manager  of  the  Amer- 
ican Strawboard  company,  and  a  well  known 
citizen  and  business  man,  of  whom  mention  is 
made  on  another  page. 

Mr.  Ozias  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  an 
able  and  ambitious  young  man,  and  has  made 
a  creditable  record  in   his  profession. 


®L 


TLLIAM    S.    O'NEILL,    wholesale 
dealer  in  and  packer  of  leaf  tobacco, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Pa.,  October  17,   1838.    He 
is  a  son  of  Charles   and   Elizabeth   (Sherman) 

25 


O'Neill,  the  former  a  native  of  county  Antrim, 
Ireland,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. To  this  marriage  there  were  born 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters, 
five  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Mary, 
widow  of  Jacob  Yost;  Ann  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
John  Albright,  of  Kokomo,  Ind. ;  Dr.  Salisbury 
Eugene,  of  Ottumwa,  Iowa;  William  S.,  and 
Jennie,  wife  of  Dr.  Souders,  of  Beavertown. 
The  two  deceased  children  were  John,  who, 
during  the  Irish  famine,  went  to  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  as  a  representative  of  and  reporter 
for  the  Philadelphia  Ledger,  and  died  there, 
and  Marcellus,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  O'Neill  was  by  occupation  a  con- 
tractor, and  came  to  the   United  States  in  the 
interest  of  an  English  syndicate  to  superintend 
the  construction    of    the    Cumberland    Valley 
railroad.      Locating  six  miles   east   of  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa.,  he  lived  there  and  in  that  vicin- 
ity until  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1848, 
being  induced    by    an    injury   which   caused  a 
hemorrhage.      His    wife    survived    him    many 
years,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  son,  Will- 
iam S.,  in  Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery, 
county,  when  she   was    upward   of  sixty  years 
of  age.      Mr.  O'Neill   was   in  politics  a  demo- 
crat, but  never  held    or   sought  public  office, 
though  he  was  very  fond  of  the  study   and  dis- 
cussion of  public  questions.     He  superintended 
the  construction  of   the    old   Tappewann  rail- 
road from  Gettysburg  to  the   Caledonia  Iron 
works,  and  was  then  in   the   employ  of  Thad- 
deus  Stevens.      Mr.  O'Neill    was  a  man  of  va- 
ried experience  and  learning.      In  his  youth  he 
was  educated  for  the  Catholic  priesthood,    but 
refused  to  act  in  that  capacity.     Arthur  O'Neill, 
his  brother,  was    educated  to    be    a    Catholic 
priest  and  served   as   such    during  his  lifetime. 
The  wife  of  Charles  O'Neill  was  in  her  earlier 
life  a  Lutheran,  but  later  became  a  Catholic. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  William  O'Neill 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  lived  and  died   in 


704 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


his  native  land.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Salisbury  Sherman,  was  a  native  of  New  Bed- 
ford, Mass. ,  where  he  was  bound  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  a  blacksmith.  Afterward  he  learned 
the  trade  of  cutler,  and  was  foreman  of  a 
factory  in  Chambersburg  for  a  number  of 
years.  Then  uniting  with  a  company  at 
Gettysburg,  he  aided  in  establishing  a  factory 
there.  At  Gettysburg  he  was  married  to  Cath- 
erine Whealen.  After  his  marriage  he  removed 
to  Franklin  county,  near  Chambersburg,  lived 
there  sixty-five  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  ninety-eight  years  of  age. 

William  S.  O'Neill  was  reared  a  farmer's 
boy,  and  received  a  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Pennsylvania.  For  some  time 
he  worked  for  twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  day. 
In  1858,  coming  to  Dayton,  he  went  thence  to 
Van  Buren  township,  and  hired  out  as  a  farm 
laborer  on  one  of  the  farms  which  he  now 
owns.  Two  years  were  spent  in  this  way,  the 
second  year  in  raising  tobacco,  and  in  the  win- 
ter following  he  chopped  cord  wood  and  split 
rails.  In  1864  he  purchased  ten  acres  of  land 
in  Miami  township,  having,  however,  previously 
purchased  property  in  Carrollton.  The  ten 
acres  he  soon  sold  and  bought  forty  acres  in 
Van  Buren  township.  Afterward  he  purchased 
160  acres  in  Mercer  county,  and  still  later  148 
acres  in  Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery 
county,  upon  which  he  had  worked  when  he 
first  came  to  the  state.  This  he  still  owns,  to- 
gether with  thirty-one  acres  of  the  above-men- 
tioned forty,  having  sold  nine  acres  thereof. 
For  two  years  he  carried  on  farming  in  Miami 
township,  but  otherwise  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  in  Van  Buren  township,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  past  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  has  lived  in  Dayton,  his  residence  be- 
ing at  No.  228  Warren  street.  Beside  the 
land  named  above  as  owned  by  Mr.  O'Neill, 
he  owns  100  acres  in  Washington  township. 
Mr.  O'Neill  was  married,  in  March,  1863, 


to  Miss  Elizabeth  Shroyer,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Himes)  Shroyer.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  five  children,  as  follows: 
Carrie  May,  Amanda  Ellen,  Charles  Shroyer, 
Harry  Sherman,  and  Lizzie.  Charles  Shroyer 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty.  Carrie  May  at  nine- 
teen and  Amanda  Ellen  at  twenty-one.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  O'Neill  and  their  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reform  church  in  Van  Buren  town- 
ship, of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  twenty 
years.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  but  has 
never  sought  office  or  any  kind  of  political  pre- 
ferment. He  has  been  a  resident  of  Mont- 
gomery county  since  March,  1857,  a  period  of 
forty  years,  and  the  history  of  his  life  is  one  in 
which  may  be  found  the  success  and  prosperity 
that  attend  upon  industry,  thrift  and  strict 
integrity  of  character. 


^y^V  AVID  A.  ONKST,  one  of  the  leading 
I  contractors  and  builders  of  Dayton, 
S^^J  Ohio,  was  born  near  Bull's  Gap, 
Greene  county,  Tenn.,  April  7,  1859, 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Louisa  (Thomp- 
son) Onkst,  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
and  the  latter  of  West  Virginia.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  six  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Jacob  B.  Martin;  James 
T. ;  Emiline,  wife  of  Nathan  Martin;  David  A., 
William  P.,  and  Charles  H.  Margaret  was 
the  name  of  one  that  died,  and  another  died 
in  infancy. 

William  Onkst  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
He  removed  in  1872  from  Tennessee  to  Little 
York,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming  for 
one  year.  From  that  time  on  until  he  retired 
from  active  life  he  pursued  his  trade,  and  is 
now  living  at  Greenville.  His  wife  died  in 
1873,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one,  a  member  of  the 
Dunkard  church,  and  a  most  exemplary  wo- 
man in  every  respect. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


705 


The  paternal  grandfather,  David  Onkst, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  coming  to  the 
United  States,  settled  in  Tennessee  many 
years  ago,  dying  in  that  state  when  upward  of 
eighty  years  of  age.  The  number  of  his  chil- 
dren is  not  now  definitely  remembered,  but  it 
is  known  that  there  were  at  least  six.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Archibald  Thompson, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and,  like  the  paternal 
grandfather,  settled  in  Greene  county,  Tenn., 
many  years  ago,  and  there  died  at  about  eighty 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  minister  in  the  German 
Baptist  or  Dunkard  church. 

David  A.  Onkst,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when  brought  to 
Montgomery  county  by  his  parents.  His  early 
education  was  received  in  Tennessee.  Arriv- 
ing in  Ohio,  he  worked  on  the  farm,  remain- 
ing at  home  until  1874,  when  he  began  life  on 
his  own  account.  For  two  years  he  worked 
for  his  brother-in-law,  for  his  board  and 
clothes,  and  afterward  worked  on  a  farm  as  a 
hired  man  for  four  years.  On  the  24th  day  of 
February,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Viola  Den- 
linger,  daughter  of  Israel  and  Mary  Ann  (Gar- 
ver)  Denlinger.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  two  children,  viz:  Virgin  L.  and 
Ellis  R. 

Israel  and  Mary  Ann  Denlinger  are  both 
natives  of  Montgomery  county.  The  paternal 
grandfather  was  Abraham  Denlinger,  who  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
He  made  the  first  hay  rake  owned  in  this 
county.  His  wife  was  a  Miller,  also  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  Three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter were  reared  by  the  old  people. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Onkst  are  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  or  Dunkard  church,  in  which 
they  are  active  and  useful  members.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Onkst  is  a  republican,  and  as  such 
served  one  term  as  school  director  in  Ran- 
dolph   township.      In   the    spring  of    1889  he 


moved  to  Dayton,  and  for  the  past  five  years 
has  been  living  at  No.  31  East  Hershey  street. 
Ever  since  coming  to  Dayton  he  has  followed 
street  contract  work,  consisting  of  grading, 
graveling,  guttering  and  making  cement  side- 
walks. He  also  has  the  present  contract  with 
the  city  for  sweeping  the  paved  streets.  Mr. 
Onkst  is  one  of  those  citizens  who  have  done 
and  are  doing  their  full  share  to  make  the  com- 
munity prosperous,  and  is  highly  esteemed  and 
popular  in  both  city  and  county. 


WOHN  F.  OEHLSCHLAGER,  member 
J  of  the  Dayton  city  council  from  the 
(%  J  Eighth  ward,  and  proprietor  of  the  Gem 
City  Ale  house,  was  born  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  November  30,  1856.  His  parents,  Fred- 
erick and  Mary  (Kriege)  Oehlschlager,  were 
natives  of  Germany,  but  came  to  this  country 
while  yet  unmarried.  They  were  married  in 
Cincinnati,  and  in  1859  removed  to  Dayton, 
where  the  former  died  about  1871,  and  where 
the  mother  is  still  living. 

John  F.  Oehlschlager  was  reared  in  Day- 
ton, and  received  a  common-school  education. 
In  1 87 1,  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father, 
he  went  to  work  on  a  farm  in  order  to  aid  his 
mother  in  the  care  of  the  family.  He  was 
thus  engaged  for  three  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Dayton  and  went  to  work  for  his  step-father 
in  the  draying  business,  at  which  he  continued 
for  three  or  four  years.  Subsequently  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Greer  &  King,  stove  found- 
ers, as  solicitor,  and  afterward  the  service  of 
J.  V.  Nauerth  &  Son,  wholesale  grocers,  as 
shipping  clerk  and  solicitor.  Afterward  he  be- 
came city  solicitor  for  A.  Tegeler,  proprietor 
of  the  Eagle  mills,  and  remained  in  this  posi- 
tion for  about  a  year.  Mr.  Oehlschlager  then 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  at  Trebein's 
Station,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about   six  months,  when   he  sold 


706 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  business  and  purchased  a  general  store  at 
Alpha,  in  the  same  county,  at  which  point  he 
was  agent  for  the  express  company,  ticket 
agent  for  the  Pennsylvania  lines,  and  post- 
master After  being  thus  engaged  at  Alpha 
for  five  years  he  sold  out,  returned  to  Dayton, 
and  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  Dayton 
Ale  brewery,  on  Brown  street.  Two  years 
later  he  sold  this  interest  and  purchased  prop- 
erty on  the  corner  of  Wayne  and  Oak  streets, 
establishing  himself  in  his  present  business. 
He  is  now  wholesale  agent  and  bottler  for  the 
Morrow  Brewing  company's  ales,  for  the  Xenia 
ales,  and  for  the  Schwind.  company's  beers. 

Mr.  Oehlschlager  was  married,  March  16, 
1882,  to  Elizabeth  B.  Tegeler,  of  Dayton. 
To  this  union  there  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren— William  T.,  now  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  Edna,  nine  years  of  age. 

In  April,  1891,  Mr.  Oehlschlager  was  elect- 
ed to  represent  the  Twelfth  ward  in  the  city 
council  for  a  term  of  two  years.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1894,  he  was  elected  to  fill  out  the  unex- 
pired term  of  Mr.  Houser,  for  the  Seventh 
ward,  and  in  1895  was  elected  from  the  Eighth 
ward  for  two  years,  his  term  expiring  in  1897. 
Mr.  Oehlschlager  is  a  member  of  Humboldt 
lodge,  No.  58,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  and  also  of  the 
Saint  Paul's  German  Evangelical  church.  He 
is  one  of  the  substantial  and  respected  business 
men  of  the  city. 


BRANK  J.  OTTER,  well  known  as  an 
architect  and  superintendent  of  con- 
struction,oof   Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  na- 
tive ofu London,  England,  born  Octo- 
ber 19,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Ann 
(Dixon)  Otter. 

Joseph  lOtter  was  born  in  February,  1830, 
learned  his  trade  of  carpenter  in  his  native 
land,  and  in  1870  crossed  the  ocean  to  Canada, 


where  he  remained  until  1889,  when  he  fol- 
lowed his  son,  Frank  J.,  to  Dayton,  where  the 
family  now  reside.  The  children  of  Joseph 
and  Ann  Otter  originally  numbered  eleven,  of 
whom  one  died  in  infancy. 

Frank  J.  Otter  was  trained  for  his  profes- 
sion in  Canada  under  several  of  the  most  noted 
architects  of  that  country,  among  whom  may 
be  mentioned  Hancock  &  Townsend,  of  To- 
ronto; W.  G.  Storm,  the  designer  of  the  uni- 
versity buildings  of  the  same  city,  and  James 
Connelly,  the  Roman  Catholic  church  archi- 
tect. While  in  Toronto,  Mr.  Otter  was  for 
three  years  chief  of  the  office  of  Mr.  Storm — 
a  position  of  great  responsibility,  and  one  in- 
dicative in  itself  of  the  advanced  architectural 
knowledge  possessed  by  him. 

On  reaching  Dayton,  in  1887,  Mr.  Otter 
found  a  field  open  for  the  exercise  of  his  archi- 
tectural skill  and  mechanical  genius,  and  he  at 
once  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  I. 
Williams,  and  during  the  six  years  of  its  exist- 
ence this  firm  designed  and  superintended  the 
erection  of  some  of  the  finest  buildings  in  Day- 
ton and  other  cities,  among  which  may  be 
enumerated  the  public  library  and  the  Meth- 
odist church  structures  in  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
the  Callahan  Bank  building — the  first  business 
block  of  any  architectural  pretentions  in  Day- 
ton— the  Sacred  Heart  Catholic  church  and  the 
Trinity  Reformed  church  edifices,  and  numer- 
ous fine  private  residences  throughout  the  city. 

In  1893  the  partnership  between  Mr.  Otter 
and  Mr.  Williams  was  dissolved,  and  since  then 
Mr.  Otter,  by  employing  a  number  of  able  as- 
sistants, has  fully  maintained  the  deserved  rep- 
utation of  the  old  firm,  and  has  done  an  ever- 
increasing  business,  with  his  well-equipped 
offices  located  in  the  Firemen's  Insurance 
building.  Among  the  more  recent  plans  for 
fine  residences  designed  by  Mr.  Otter  are  those 
for  James  C.  Reber,  cashier  of  Winter's  Na- 
tional    bank;      Edward      Hochwalt,     Gustave 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


707 


Stomps,  Daniel  W.  Allaman,  Rolla  Heikes, 
Gottlieb  Kellner,  Charles  Moore  and  other 
prominent  citizens  of  Dayton.  At  Miamis- 
burg  he  furnished  the  design  for  the  residence 
of  William  Gamble,  the  banker,  and  for  a  busi- 
ness building  for  Aull  Brothers,  and  at  Dayton, 
later,  the  plans  for  the  Hayner  Distilling  com- 
pany plant. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Otter  took  place  in 
Toronto,  Canada,  to  Miss  Ethel  Mounstephen, 
a  native  of  England,  but  who  was  taken  to 
Canada,  when  a  child,  by  her  parents.  Three 
children  have  blessed  this  union,  and  are 
named  Genevieve  Ethel,  Frank  Mounstephen 
and  Blanche  Florence.  The  church  relations 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Otter  are  with  the  Congrega- 
tionalists.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Otter  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  he  is  a  past  regent 
of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  is  also  president  of 
the  National  Union. 


aLIFTON  LEANDER  PATTERSON, 
M.  D. ,  physician  and  surgeon  of  Day- 
ton, with  office  and  residence  at  No. 
219  West  Third  street,  was  born  near 
Dayton,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 19,  1866.  He  is  a  son  of  William  J.  and 
Anna  (Ford)  Patterson,  both  natives  of  Lon- 
donderry, Ireland,  a  city  beautifully  situated 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Foyle  river,  the  siege 
of  which  is  one  of  the  most  celebrated  events 
in  modern  Irish  history.  Both  remained  in 
their  native  land  until  they  had  reached  mature 
years,  and  then  came  to  the  United  States, 
the  former  coming  in  1850  and  locating  in 
Carrollton,  where  he  met  his  future  wife.  In 
the  common  schools  he  obtained  a  thorough 
education,  completing  it,  however,  after  com- 
ing to  this  country.  About  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  began  teaching  school,  and  at  the 
same  time  engaged  in  farming  on  a  small  scale. 
This  course  of   life   he  continued  until   he  re- 


moved to  Dayton,  to  take  a  position  as  princi- 
pal of  the  Thirteenth  district  school  of  the 
city,  which  he  held  for  some  time,  and  is  now 
principal  of  the  Seventh  district  school. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children  :  Joseph  E. ,  a  farmer 
of  Montgomery  county;  Emma,  the  wife  of 
Frank  Wogaman;  William  F. ,  with  the  Ameri- 
can Express  company;  Marcie,  wife  of  W.  P. 
Rice;  John  C,  attorney-at-law,  all  of  Dayton; 
Rev.  James  A.,  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
of  Fostoria,  Ohio;  Clifton  L. ;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Arthur  Johnson,  of  Dayton,  and  Robert  C, 
a  law  student.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  are 
members  of  the  German  Reformed  church  of 
Dayton. 

Clifton  L.  Patterson  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  at  Heidelberg  uni- 
versity. He  then  taught  school  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  George 
Goodhue,  of  Dayton,  and  after  remaining  there 
as  a  student  until  thoroughly  prepared,  he  en- 
tered Starling  Medical  college  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  graduated  as  a  member  of  the  class 
of  1893.  He  then  located  in  the  city  of  Day- 
ton, where  he  has  since  given  special  attention 
to  diseases  of  the  throat  and  ear,  but  also  car- 
ries on  a  general  practice.  Dr.  Patterson  is  a 
member  of  Miami  lodge.  Knights  of  Pythias, 
No.  32,  and  of  court  Cooper,  No.  1,567,  In- 
dependent Order  of  Foresters.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Gem  City  council,  No.  1,  Fra- 
ternal Censer.  For  the  last  two  orders  he  is 
examining  physician. 

Dr.  Patterson  was  married  December  29, 
1892,  to  Miss  Carrie  D.  Jackson,  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Jackson,  of  Arcanum, 
Darke  county.  Two  children,  a  daughter  and 
a  son,  born  to  them,  are  now  deceased.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Patterson  are  esteemed  members 
of  the  First  German  Reformed  church,  and  of 
excellent  standing  in  society.  Politically  Dr. 
Patterson  is  a  democrat,  but,  like  most  physi- 


708 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


cians,  takes  little  active  interest  in  political 
affairs.  He  is  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Cincin- 
nati, Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad  company, 
and  is  one  of  the  promising  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  the  city  of  Dayton. 


*y  ■*  AMER  W.  PARROTT,  secretary  and 
1^™^  treasurer  of  the  Parrott  Manufactur- 
P  ing  company,  on  Crane  street,  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  is  a  native  of  this  city, 
and  was  born  April  30,   1853. 

William  Parrott,  Sr. ,  his  father,  was  born 
in  Talbot  county,  Md.,  January  7,  1799,  came 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  in  183 1  mar- 
ried Margaret  Ann  Willis,  also  a  native  of  Tal- 
bot county,  Md.  Soon  after  reaching  Dayton 
Mr.  Parrott  engaged  extensively  in  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  was  widely  known  as  a  man  of 
excellent  business  capabilities  and  of  unflinch- 
ing integrity.  The  old  Commercial  corner,  at 
the  head  of  the  basin,  was  at  that  time  a  noted 
place,  and  in  that  building  William  and 
Thomas  Parrott  commenced  the  sale  of  dry 
goods,  when  there  were  but  seven  stores  of 
that  character  in  the  city,  all  in  the  same 
vicinity,  away  up-town.  For  several  years 
just  prior  to  his  death,  William  Parrott  was  a 
director  in  the  Dayton  branch  of  the  State 
bank  of  Ohio,  and  this  position  he  filled  with 
credit  to  himself  and  with  profit  to  the  insti- 
tution. After  being  successfully  engaged  in 
business  for  twenty  years,  Mr.  Parrott  retired, 
in  185 1,  to  enjoy  in  quiet  the  competence 
which  was  the  reward  of  his  earlier  labors. 
After  about  seven  years  thus  spent,  his  death 
took  place  January  7,  1858,  and  the  loss  of  no 
business  man  in  Dayton,  up  to  that  date,  had 
been  more  keenly  felt  than  his. 

To  the  marriage  of  William  Parrott  there 
was  born  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  four 
daughters,  viz:  George,  who  was  a  minister 
of  the  Methodist   Episcopal  church   for   some 


years,  but  who,  on  account  of  a  throat  trouble, 
was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  pulpit  and 
turn  his  attention  to  business,  and  was  for  fif- 
teen years  associated  with  the  Parrott  Manu- 
facturing company,  and  who  died  in  1892; 
Charles,  who  is  an  attorney  and  was  also  in  the 
transportation  business  in  Dayton,  being  a 
lessee  of  the  canal  from  the  state  until  1874, 
when  he  went  to  Columbus,  where  he  is  still  in 
active  business;  William,  who  was  formerly 
engaged  in  the  milling  industry  in  Dayton,  but 
who  died  in  1864  from  disease  contracted  in 
the  army;  John,  who  was  secretary  of  the 
board  of  public  works  for  several  years,  with 
his  residence  at  Columbus,  and  who  also  died 
of  disease  contracted  in  the  army;  Virginia, 
the  wife  of  J.  B.  Smith,  of  Dayton;  Henry  R. , 
who  was  the  principal  proprietor  of  the  Day- 
ton Furniture  company,  and  died  May  11, 
1896;  Maggie  and  Emily,  of  Dayton;  Louisa, 
who  died  in  1886;  Thomas,  who  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  Parrott  Manufacturing  com- 
pany and  died  in  1883,  and  Hamer  W.,  whose 
name  opens  this  biography. 

Hamer  W.  Parrott  received  an  excellent 
common-school  education,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Aughe  &  Parrott  Plow  Manufacturing  company 
and  learned  the  business  thoroughly,  passing 
the  forenoons  in  the  shops  and  the  afternoons 
in  the  office.  In  1872  he  took  entire  charge 
of  the  office  work  and  filled  the  position  until 
1878,  when  he  went  to  California,  where  he 
passed  one  year  and  then  returned  to  Ohio, 
going  to  the  Hocking  valley,  where  he  became 
secretary  of  the  Union  furnace,  pig  iron  pro- 
ducers. Here  he  remained  until  1882,  when 
he  went  to  Columbus,  where,  for  three  years, 
he  was  associated  with  the  Ohio  Pipe  company 
and  then  disposed  of  his  interest  in  that  con- 
cern and  returned  to  Dayton  in  1885;  for  the 
three  following  years  he  was  secretary  of  the 
Dayton  Coal   Dealers'   association,    and    from 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


709 


1 888  until  December,  1892,  was  general  man- 
ager for  Crane  &  Co. ,  agents  for  the  National 
Cash  Register  company.  Mr.  Parrott  then 
again  associated  himself  with  the  Parrott  Man- 
ufacturing company,  in  which  he  is  a  stock- 
holder. Of  this  company,  Charles  Parrott  is 
the  president;  Hamer  W.  Parrott,  the  secretary 
and  treasurer,  and  Fred  W.  Nolt  superintend- 
ent. The  company  manufactures  all  kinds  of 
steel  plows,  but  its  special  production  is  the 
Aughe  plow.  The  concern  also  manufactures 
step-ladders  and  chairs,  this  feature  having 
been  added  in  the  winter  of  1893-94.  It  em- 
ploys a  force  of  fifteen  men,  and  its  plows  are 
in  constant  demand  throughout  the  states  of 
Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois. 

Mr.  Parrott  was  married,  September  22, 
1885,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Fowler,  daughter  of  Henry 
Fowler,  an  old  resident  of  Dayton,  and  this 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children — Fow- 
ler Stoddard  and  Charles  Willis.  In  politics 
Mr.  Parrott  is  a  republican,  and  as  a  business 
man,  as  well  as  socially,  occupies  a  prominent 
place  in  the  community. 


«V^VERRY    R.    PEASE,    member  of  the 

1     a    city  council   of  Dayton,    Ohio,  from 

the   Fifth  ward,  and   also  a  deputy  in 

the  office   of   the    county    auditor  of 

Montgomery   county,    was  born  in  West  Car- 

rollton,  Montgomery  county,  August  2  1,   1855, 

a  son  of  Joseph   and   Sarah  (Cotterill)  Pease, 

natives  of  the  same  county. 

Perry  Pease,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Perry  R.,  was  a  native  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  and 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  somewhere 
about  the  year  1820,  locating  at  West  Car- 
rollton,  where  he  leased  the  water-power  of 
the  canal,  then  in  course  of  construction  or 
just  finished,  and  engaged  in  the  milling  and 
distilling  business  for  many  years.  Joseph 
Cotterill,   the   maternal  grandfather  of   Perry 


R.  Pease,  was  also  an  early  settler  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  for  many  years  kept  the 
hotel  at  Carrollton.  Joseph  Pease,  father  of 
Perry  R.,  was  engaged  in  business  with  his 
father  until  his  death  in  1861,  at  the  early  age 
of  twenty-eight  years,  leaving  his  widow,  now 
in  her  sixty-first  year  and  a  resident  of  Day- 
ton, and  three  children — Perry  R.,  Harry  (de- 
ceased), and  Carrie,  the  wife  of  N.  H.  Rice, 
of  Dayton. 

Perry  R.  Pease  was  reared  in  West  Car- 
rollton until  fifteen  years  of  age,  in  the  mean- 
time attending  the  public  schools;  he  then  en- 
tered the  Miami  Valley  institute,  a  Quaker 
college  nearSpringboro,  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  a  student  for  three  years,  and 
then  returned  to  West  Carrollton  and  entered 
the  general  store  of  his  step-father,  being  now 
fully  qualified  for  the  requirements  of  business. 
In  this  store  he  was  soon  admitted  as  a  part- 
ner, and  so  continued  for  the  period  of  twelve 
years,  and  then  engaged  in  the  cigar  trade,  in 
the  same  town,  for  two  years.  In  April,  1882, 
he  came  to  Dayton  for  the  purpose  of  becom- 
ing a  traveling  salesman  for  a  wholesale  gro- 
cery, but  this  house  having  met  with  financial 
difficulties,  Mr.  Pease  engaged  with  an  uncle, 
William  F.  Fackler,  in  the  painting  and  paper- 
hanging  business,  which  proved  so  satisfactory 
that  he  continued  to  devote  his  attention  to  it, 
and  for  the  past  eight  years  has  been  a  con- 
tractor in  this  particular  industry. 

February  12,  1878,  Mr.  Pease  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Louella  Pease,  born  in  West 
Carrollton,  November  14,  1857,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Perry  J.  and  Lucy  (Renley)  Pease. 
Perry  J.  Pease  was  born  in  Virginia  and  came 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  when  a  boy, 
with  his  father,  Edward  Pease,  and  is  now  a 
well-known  auctioneer  of  Dayton.  Lucy  (Ren- 
ley) Peace  was  born  in  Dayton  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Renley.  To  the  happy  union  of 
Perry  R.  Pease  and  wife  have  been  born  three 


710 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


children:  Wilbur,  born  June  18,  1879;  Fred- 
erick, December  29,  1888,  and  Ruth,  Septem- 
ber 21,    1892. 

In  politics  Mr.  Pease  has  always  been  a  re- 
publican, and  has  ever  been  a  popular  man 
with  his  party,  for  which  he  has  been  an  act- 
ive worker.  In  April,  1896,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Dayton  city  council  from  the 
Fifth  ward,  and  October  19,  1896,  was  ap- 
pointed a  deputy  in  the  office  of  the  county 
auditor,  and  has  faithfully  performed  his  du- 
ties in  both  capacities.  Fraternally  Mr.  Pease 
is  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  socially  enjoys  the 
esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


eNOS  PHILLIP  ROBINSON, lecturer, 
and  exhibitor  of  the  cyclorama,  Bat- 
tle of  Gettysburg,  at  the  .national  mili- 
tary home,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
West  Fallowfield,  Chester  county,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 27,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Margaret  (Harris)  Robinson.  The  father  was 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the 
son  of  an  English  soldier  who  bore  arms  in 
the  British  army  in  the  days  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

William  was  a  farmer  in  his  native  state, 
which  vocation  he  followed  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years;  his  wife  was  of  Scotch  parentage  and 
died  when  seventy-two  years  old.  Of  the 
family  of  eleven  children  born  to  this  couple, 
Enos  Phillip  is  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  and 
is  one  of  the  three  still  surviving,  the  other 
two  being  Mrs.  Sallie  McNeil,  of  Oxford,  Pa., 
and  Mrs.  Serenah  Keitel,  of  Kansas. 

Of  the  many  young  soldiers  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  late  Civil  war,  not  one  has  a 
more  interesting  history  than  has  Enos  P. 
Robinson.  His  enlistment  took  place  August 
7,  1862,  in  company  H,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-second    volunteer    infantry.      He  was 


then  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  was  proba- 
bly the  youngest  lad  that  ever  entered  the 
Union  ranks  for  the  purpose  of  bearing  a 
musket.  Others,  equally  young,  may  have  been 
enlisted  as  musicians,  etc.,  but  it  may  be  as- 
serted that  not  another  as  young  as  he  enlisted 
to  bear  arms  in  defense  of  his  country's  flag. 

The  first  service  to  which  Mr.  Robinson 
was  assigned,  as  a  soldier,  was  with  the  army 
of  the  Potomac,  under  Gen.  Phil.  Kearney. 
He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  second  Bull 
Run,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg  and  Chancel- 
lorsville,  and  in  the  last-named  battle  lost  his 
left  leg,  and  for  eight  days  lay  on  the  battle- 
field unnoticed  and  without  attention.  At  last, 
he  was  discovered  by  the  Confederates  and 
taken  prisoner,  and  his  leg  was  amputated  by 
Confedrate  surgeons  on  the  field.  He  was 
exchanged  and  sent  to  the  Union  army  at 
Aquia  Creek,  Va.,  whence  he  was  sent  to 
hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.  When  he  was 
able  to  be  removed,  he  was  conveyed  by  car- 
riage from  Alexandria  to  Washington,  whence 
he  was  sent  to  Philadelphia.  But,  by  reason 
the  neglect  of  his  wound  at  the  time  it  was 
received,  and  for  eight  days  afterward,  gan- 
grene set  in  and  two  subsequent  amputations 
became  necessary,  and  these  were  performed 
in  Philadelphia.  After  his  recovery,  the 
soldier  boy  was  employed  for  a  time  in  the 
clothing  deparment  of  the  United  States  ar- 
senal in  the  Quaker  City. 

The  records  of  the  war  department  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  showed  that  he  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville;  but,  twenty- 
five  years  later,  while  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  he 
met  Col.  E.  E.  Franklin,  who  had  commanded 
his  regiment  in  the  battle  named.  Having 
been  personally  acquainted  with  the  colonel 
before  enlistment,  the  families  being  intimate, 
the  colonel  had  mourned  the  soldier  boy  as 
dead,  and  great  was  his  astonishment  when 
confronted  by  the  living  witness  of  his  error. 


&C£ 


#££ 


4&yz^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


713 


Upon  leaving  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Robinson 
attended  school  at  Augusta,  Me.,  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  he  being  then  an  inmate  of  the 
soldiers'  home  at  that  point.  The  home  being 
destroyed  by  fire,  Mr.  Robinson  was  detailed 
to  escort  fifty  of  the  inmates  to  the  Central 
branch  home  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  being  first  employed  as  ser- 
geant of  a  company,  then  as  a  member  of  the 
band,  and  then  in  the  telegraph  department. 
In  1870,  a  colony  of  seven  soldiers,  including 
himself,  went  to  Kansas  and  located  home- 
steads in  Dickinson  county,  where  for  two 
summers  Mr.  Robinson  was  employed  in  herd- 
ing cattle  and  driving  them  through  from 
Texas. 

Returning  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  he  married,  in 
December,  1871,  Miss  Hattie  A.  Snyder,  a  na- 
tive of  the  city,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  H. 
and  Rebecca  Snyder — the  former  a  native  of 
New  York  and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  They 
were  married  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  had  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  two  only  of  whom  are 
living:  Joseph  H.,  a  mechanic  of  Dayton,  and 
Mrs.  Robinson.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rob- 
inson was  employed  by  the  Third  street  rail- 
road company  for  eleven  years,  and  next,  for 
five  years,  by  the  Home  avenue  railroad  com- 
pany. In  1886,  the  Dayton  &  Soldiers'  Home 
Panorama  company  organized  and  opened  the 
cycloratna  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  Mr. 
Robinson  was  placed  in  charge.  His  lecture 
evinces  careful  study  of  all  the  details  of  that 
turning  point  of  the  late  Civil  war,  and  is  en- 
tertaining and  instructive.  Mr.  Robinson  also 
owns  a  photograph  gallery  at  the  corner  of 
Fifth  street  and  Wayne  avenue,  Mrs.  Robin- 
son having  the   management  of  the  same. 

Mr.  Robinson  has  been  very  prominent  as 
a  secret  society  member.  He  organized  the 
Hiram  Strong  post,  No.  79,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  is 
its  past  commander;  he  is  a  member  of  and 
past  grand  in  the   Independent  Order  of  Odd 


Fellows,  a  member  of  Hope  lodge.  No.  277, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  division  No.  32, 
uniform  rank,  of  the  same  order;  is  ex  counsel- 
or of  Putnam  council,  Order  of  United  Ameri- 
can Mechanics,  and  is  also  chairman  of  the 
Dayton  Soldiers'  Relief  commission.  In  his  pol- 
itics he  has  always  been  a  republican,  and  was 
once  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Harrison 
township  at  a  time  when  that  township  usually 
gave  about  200  democratic  majority,  and  he 
has  several  times  served  as  delegate  to  con- 
ventions of  his  party.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson 
have  been  members  of  the  First  Reform  church 
since  1875,  an^  no  couple  stand  higher  in  the 
esteem  of  the  community  than  the  "  boy  sol- 
dier" and  his  amiable  wife. 


HBRAHAM  M.  OSNESS,  M.  D.,  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  although  a  compara- 
tively young  man,  is  a  physician  and 
surgeon  of  ability  aud  skill.  He  was 
born  in  Berdichen,  Russia,  May  19,  1864,  a 
son  of  Moses  and  Anna  Osness,  the  former  of 
whom  passed  all  his  days  in  Russia,  and  the 
latter,  after  the  decease  o'f  her  husband,  com- 
ing to  America  to  join  her  son,  the  doctor,  and 
being  now  a  resident  of  Dayton. 

Dr.  Abraham  M.  Osness  was  reared  in  his 
native  land  until  the  age  of  seventeen,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city  of  Berdichen.  At  the  age  mentioned  he 
went  to  Austria,  where  he  passed  one  year,  and 
in  1882  came  to  America  and  at  once  located 
in  Dayton,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  ci- 
gar-making, at  which  he  was  constantly  em- 
ployed until  1888.  During  these  six  years  he 
was  an  earnest  student,  attended  high-school 
and  studied  at  home,  and  later  attended  a  com- 
mercial college.  He  was  a  constant  visitor  at 
the  public  library,  where  he  was  able  to  add 
considerably  to  his  stock  of  knowledge.  In 
1889  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  fruit  house 


714 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


in  Greenville,  Ohio,  as  manager,  bookkeeper, 
etc.,  and  in  1890  went  to  Chicago,  111.,  to  pre- 
pare himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  hav- 
iag  already  devoted  twelve  months  or  more  to 
the  study  of  that  science.  At  Chicago  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  Dr.  Meyerowich,  under 
whose  preceptorship  he  pursued  his  studies, 
and  also  entered  the  college  of  Physicians  & 
Surgeons,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
April,  1894.  Immediately  after  receiving  his 
degree  of  M.  D.,  he  returned  to  Dayton  and 
established  himself  in  his  chosen  profession. 
He  is  recognized  as  a  young  physician  of  ex- 
cellent parts,  has  already  secured  a  remuner- 
ative practice,  and  has  been  appointed  exam- 
ining surgeon  for  the  K.  of  H.,  M.  W.  of  A., 
the  S.  of  B.,  and  the  Germania  Life  Insurance 
company. 


a  APT.  THOMAS  N.  PATTERSON  is 
a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
born  on  the  24th  day  of  February, 
1835,  in  the  city  of  Rochester.  His 
father,  Thomas  Patterson,  also  a  native  of 
New  York,  was  bona  in  1804,  of  Irish  parent- 
age, the  ancestors  of  the  family  immigrating 
to  the  United  States  about  the  year  1791.  The 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Jenkins,  was  born  in  the  Empire  state  in  1808. 
These  parents  died  in  the  years  1864  and 
1843  respectively,  after  rearing  two  children, 
Thomas  N.  and  a  daughter,  Hester,  whose 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 

When  a  small  boy,  Capt.  Patterson  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  in  the 
schools  of  which  city  he  received  his  educa- 
tion. After  serving  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  working  at  the  same  for 
some  years  in  Detroit,  he  went  south  and 
spent  the  four  years  immediately  preceding  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  in  the  states  of  Texas 
and  Louisiana.      This,  as  all  know,  was  a  very 


critical  period,  and  on  account  of  his  loyal 
sentiments,  which  he  took  no  pains  to  conceal, 
Mr.  Patterson  received  many  broad  hints  to 
the  effect  that  his  society  was  no  longer  agree- 
able to  certain  southern  gentry,  and  accord- 
ingly, in  March,  1S61,  he  took  counsel  of  his 
better  judgment  and  returned  north.  On  April 
19  of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in  company  G, 
Tenth  Ohio  infantry,  in  which  he  served  as 
private  for  a  period  of  four  months.  On  the 
1  ith  of  September  following,  he  was  promoted 
first  sergeant  of  his  company,  became  second 
lieutenant  January  12,  1862,  and  on  the  1 8th 
of  the  ensuing  October  was  commissioned  first 
lieutenant.  Ten  days  prior  to  the  latter  pro- 
motion, Capt.  Patterson  lost  his  right  arm  in 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  and  on  returning 
from  the  hospital,  he  was  made  adjutant  of 
the  regiment,  serving  as  such  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  period  of  enlistment.  The  cap- 
tain's army  experience  embraces  some  of  the 
most  noted  campaigns  of  the  war  and  he  took 
part  in  quite  a  number  of  pitched  battles,  be- 
side numerous  irregular  engagements  and 
skirmishes  with  guerillas.  September  10, 
1861,  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Carnifax 
Ferry,  Va.,  and,  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
same  year,  his  command  was  engaged  in  guer- 
rilla warfare  in  West  Virginia,  beside  doing 
some  fighting  in  old  Virginia.  The  next  bat- 
tle was  that  of  Stone  River  or  Murfreesboro, 
where  his  regiment  suffered  a  loss  of  thirty- 
three  men,  though  serving  as  rear  guards  at  the 
time  of  the  engagement;  Chickamauga  fol- 
lowed, where  forty  brave  men  bit  the  dust  be- 
fore the  aim  of  the  enemy,  and  in  the  bloody 
battle  of  Perryvile,  Ky.,  fully  one  half  of  the 
right  wing,  of  which  the  captain's  command 
formed  a  part,  were  killed  or  wounded.  Capt. 
Patterson  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
in  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea  as  far  as 
Kingston,  Ga.,  where  he  was  mustered  out  at 
the  expiration   of  his  term  of  service   on  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


715 


17th  day  of  June,  1864.  On  the  8th  day  of 
the  following  August,  he  re-entered  the  army 
as  first  lieutenant  of  company  G,  Ninth  regi- 
ment, veteran  reserve  corps,  and  served  as 
such  at  Washington  city,  where  the  regiment 
was  stationed  for  guard  duty  until  the  latter 
part  of  the  ensuing  year.  For  seventeen 
months  Capt.  Patterson  had  command  of  the 
military  patrols  at  the  national  capital  and 
afterward  commanded  the  force  that  had 
charge  of  the  aqueduct  bridge  leading  from 
Washington  to  Arlington  Heights;  he  com- 
manded the  patrols  in  Washington  on  the 
night  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination  and 
had  a  guard  at  Ford's  theatre  when  the  fatal 
shot,  which  deprived  the  nation  of  its  beloved 
ruler,  was  fired.  From  Washington  he  was 
sent  to  Cincinnati  in  December,  1865,  and 
there  remained  until  honorably  discharged  on 
the  first  day  of  July,   1866. 

For  some  time  after  severing  his  connec- 
tion with  the  army,  Capt.  Patterson  was  em- 
ployed in  the  United  States  revenue  service, 
and  for  two  years  was  inspector  of  distilleries. 
Later  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  sheriff's 
office  of  Hamilton  county,  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  1876,  at  which  time  he  became  an 
inmate  of  the  Central  branch,  National  Home 
for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers,  where,  with 
the  exception  of  about  two  years,  he  has  since 
remained.  For  a  period  of  twelve  years 
Capt.  Patterson  was  commissary  sergeant  and 
assistant  steward  at  the  home,  and  in  1888 
was  the  republican  candidate  for  sheriff  of 
Montgomery  county,  having  taken  his  dis- 
charge from  the  home  on  receiving  the  nomi- 
nation. Owing  to  the  overwhelming  majority 
of  the  opposition  the  captain  was  unsuccessful, 
and  shortly  after  the  election  he  went  to  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  made  his  home  for  about 
eighteen  months.  In  May,  1891,  he  returned 
to  the  home,  where  he  has  since  remained  in 
an  official  capacity,  his  first  command  being 


company  Twenty-nine,  from  which  he  was 
afterward  transferred  to  company  Sixteen. 
He  continued  in  charge  of  the  latter  for  four 
years,  and  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1896, 
was  placed  in  command  of  company  Thirty, 
the  largest  in  the  home,  a  position  he  still  fills 
most  creditably. 

Capt.  Patterson  was  married,  October  20, 
1866,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Frances 
Shield,  a  union  blessed  with  the  birth  of  eight 
children,  namely:  Frederick  N.,  an  employee 
of  the  home;  Thomas  Francis,  an  electrician 
at  the  home;  Harry  S.,  clerk  in  Hotel  Atlas, 
Dayton;  William  C,  tobacconist  of  Dayton; 
Blanch  J.,  student  in  the  Dayton  high  school, 
and  Grace,  Ruth  and  Madge,  all  attending  city 
schools.  The  captain  was  reared  in  the  Epis- 
copal faith,  but  of  late  years  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  U.  B.  church.  He  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  being  one  of  a  very  few  men  who 
served  in  the  field  after  losing  an  arm,  and  his 
record  as  a  brave  defender  of  the  old  flag  is 
without  a  blemish;  he  is  a  capable  and  pains- 
taking official,  a  worthy  citizen,  and  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  in  any  capacity, 
unite  in  pronouncing  him  a  most  courteous 
gentleman  of  the  old  school. 


aHARLES  PHILIPPS,  proprietor  of 
the  Riverdale  bath  and  boat  house, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  February  22,  1832,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Anna  Marie  (Fischer)  Philipps. 
These  parents  were  married  in  Alsace;  of  their 
family  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  Charles 
is  the  only  survivor.  The  daughter,  named 
Mary,  died  in  infancy,  and  Ferdinand,  the 
other  son,  died  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age 
of  sixty- five  years. 

Charles  Philipps  was  but  five  years  of  age 
when  the  family  came  to  America  and  settled 
on  a  farm  near   Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and    here  the 


716 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


parents  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days, 
their  remains  being  interred  near  the  {arm. 
Ferdinand  succeeded  to  this  property,  to  which 
he  added  other  lands,  and  passed  his  life  on 
the  farm,  where,  beside  following  agriculture, 
he  was  engaged  to  some  extent  in  mechanical 
pursuits  until  his  death.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  Charles  was  apprenticed  to  shoemaking, 
and,  having  thoroughly  learned  the  trade,  was 
employed  for  some  thirty  years  at  fine  work, 
and  during  this  period  visited  many  of  the 
larger  American  cities.  But  the  encroach- 
ments of  improved  machinery  proved  to  be 
seriously  detrimental  to  hand  production  of 
shoes  and  he  relinquished  his  journeyings.  He 
then  purchased  a  place  near  Buffalo,  where  he 
carried  on  his  trade  in  a  small  way  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  afterward  became  a  member 
of  the  Buffalo  fire  department;  but  by  reason 
of  one  hand  having  been  crippled  by  disease, 
he  was  at  last  compelled  to  abandon  both  his 
trade  and  his  position.  He  then  opened  a  sa- 
loon on  the  Terrace  in  Buffalo,  and  this  he 
conducted  for  about  seven  years.  He  then 
built  a  floating  bath  house,  which  proved  a 
source  of  profit  for  about  ten  years,  when  the 
structure  was  destroyed  by  a  violent  storm,  en- 
tailing upon  him  a  heavy  loss.  In  1888  he 
came  with  an  excursion  party  to  Ohio,  and  de- 
siring to  adopt  a  new  iocation  for  business,  he 
came  to  Dayton  and  established  his  present 
bath  and  boat  house.  Here,  during  the  season, 
hundreds  of  citizens  of  Dayton,  of  all  ages, 
come  to  enjoy  the  boating  and  bathing,  while 
every  precaution  is  taken  for  their  safety;  it 
sometimes  happens  that  bathers  become  over- 
bold, and  Mr.  Philipps  has,  since  in  business 
here,  saved  no  less  than  eighteen  persons  from 
drowning.  For  these  brave  and  valuable  serv- 
ices he  has  received  appreciative  mention  in 
the  local  press,  and  very  often  more  tangible 
evidence  of  the  gratitude  of  the  rescued. 

Mr.    Philipps  was  married,   in   Buffalo,   to 


Miss  Bertha  Webber,  who  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  in  1841,  and  this  marriage  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Of  these  William  C.  is  a  harness- 
maker  and  dealer  in  Dayton  and  is  married; 
Rose  is  a  dressmaker,  and  resides  with  her 
parents;  Albert  conducts  a  boating  house  at 
Dayton  View;  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Aloysius  W. 
Kling,  foreman  of  Walker's  lithographic  estab- 
lishment in  Dayton;  Edward  G.  is  an  assistant 
to  his  father;  Clara  and  Frankie  are  attending 
school.  In  their  religious  faith,  the  family  are 
true  Catholics.  Mr.  Philipps  is  a  modest,  un- 
assuming gentleman,  courteous  and  attentive 
to  his  many  patrons.  He  well  deserves  the 
success  which  now  attends  him,  and  is  equally 
deserving  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  by  the  citizens  of  Dayton,  with  many  of 
whom  his  occupation  necessarily  brings  him 
into  association. 


HNDREW  PLOCHER,  proprietor  of 
the  City  Forge  &  Iron  works,  at  25 
South  Wyandot  street,  is  a  native  of 
the  kingdom  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, was  born  on  the  19th  of  June,  1850, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Anna  M.  (Zeller) 
Plocher.  The  father  passed  his  entire  life  in 
the  fatherland,  while  the  mother  subsequently 
came  to  America  and  passed  her  declining 
years  with  her  children,  her  death  having  oc- 
curred in  Dayton,  in  the  year  1882.  John  and 
Anna  Plocher  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
viz:  John,  a  resident  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing; Andrew,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  re- 
view; Christian  W.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  bot- 
tling business  at  Elyria,  this  state;  Caroline, 
the  widow  of  John  Bitzer,  of  Crestline,  Ohio; 
Lena,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Holker,  of  the  same 
place;  and  Jacob,  whose  present  residence  is 
not  known  to  the  other  members  of  the  family. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


717 


The  father,  who  was  prominently  engaged  in 
business  as  a  grain  dealer  in  his  native  land, 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  He  was  a 
zealous  and  consistent  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  was  honored  for  his  ability 
and  sterling  worth  of  character. 

Andrew  Plocher  passed  the  first  seventeen 
years  of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  re- 
ceiving his  educational  training  in  the  excellent 
schools  of  Germany,  and  familiarizing  himself 
with  practical  business  affairs  as  an  assistant 
of  his  father.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
he  emigrated  to  America,  and  soon  after  his 
arrival  here  made  his  way  to  Dayton,  which 
has  ever  since  been  his  home.  For  about 
eighteen  months  he  found  employment  on  a 
farm,  after  which  he  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  with  which  line  of  work,  or  that  of  a 
like  nature,  he  has  ever  since  been  identified. 
In  1895  he  established  his  present  enterprise. 
The  products  of  the  establishment  include 
varied  kinds  of  light  and  heavy  forgings,  and 
in  the  well  equipped  works  are  also  manufac- 
tured wrought-iron  fence,  railings,  etc.,  of  the 
most  artistic  design  and  superior  construction, 
the  output  finding  sale  throughout  a  wide  ter- 
ritory contiguous  to  Dayton.  The  mechanical 
equipment  is  of  the  most  modern  and  approved 
sort,  so  that  the  work  of  manufacture  is  facili- 
tated in  every  possible  way.  The  superior 
workmanship  and  thorough  reliability  of  prod- 
ucts have  given  the  business  a  marked  im- 
petus from  its  inception.  Mr.  Plocher  is  him- 
self an  expert  mechanic,  and  he  maintains  a 
personal  direction  and  supervision  of  all  de- 
tails of  the  business.  His  character  is  one 
which  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  dealings,  and  he  is  known 
as  one  of  the  alert  and  progressive  business 
men  of  the  city,  and  as  one  whose  success  is 
the  just  reward  of  well-directed  efforts  and  un- 
flagging perseverance.  Aside  from  the  City 
Forge  &  Iron    works  Mr.    Plocher   has  other 


considerable  financial  interests.  He  is  the 
owner  of  much  valuable  realty  in  Dayton,  and 
has  erected  two  excellent  dwelling  houses  be- 
side his  shops. 

Mr.  Plocher  is  a  member  of  the  democratic 
party,  while  his  fraternal  relations  are  with 
Humboldt  lodge.  No.  58,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  with  the  Deutschen  Ordens  der  Harugari, 
in  which  latter  order  he  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  local  body,  Victoria  lodge,  No  67. 

In  the  year  1874  Mr.  Plocher  married  Miss 
Eva  Barnhardt,  who  was  born  in  Wurtemberg, 
on  the  6th  of  June,  1852,  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Lenah  Barnhardt.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren— John  and  Carroll,  both  of  whom  are 
employed  in  their  father's  establishment,  and 
Flora,  who  is  still  at  home.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  church,  and  their  home  is 
located  at  No.  1806  East  Fifth  street. 


(D 


AJ.  ALPHONSO  PETTIT,  com- 
mander of  company  Twenty-nine, 
National  Home,  D.  V.  S.,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Belfast,  county  An- 
trim, Ireland,  April  13,  1838,  and  is  a  son 
of  Henry  J.  and  Cornelia  (Parsell)  Pettit, 
both  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  The  family 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1841,  and  lo- 
cated near  Dayton,  Ohio,  thence  moved  to 
Troy,  in  which  city  the  elder  Pettit  became  a 
prominent  political  factor,  having  been  hon- 
ored at  various  times  with  important  official 
positions.  By  occupation  he  was  a  merchant 
tailor,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Troy  in  the 
year  1867.  Mrs.  Pettit  died  in  1844.  Maj. 
Pettit  and  one  sister  are  the  only  living  mem- 
bers of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters; the  sister  is  Mrs.  Christian  N.  Copper, 
who  resides  at  Urbana,  Ohio.  The  others 
Zachary  T.,  John  E.,  Mary  F.,  Anna  M.,  Cor- 
nelia E.,  and  Jane  died  in  youth. 

The  early  life  of  Alphonso  Pettit  was  spent 


718 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


as  a  student  and  mercantile  clerk,  and  he  also 
worked  for  some  years  as  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  which  trade  he  learned  while  living  in 
the  city  of  Troy.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1861, 
he  entered  the  three  months'  service  in  com- 
pany K,  Eleventh  Ohio  infantry,  and  on  the 
28th  day  of  August  following,  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  he  re-enlisted  in  the  For- 
ty-fourth Ohio,  which  formed  a  part  of  the 
army  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  the  department  of 
West  Virginia.  During  his  first  service,  the 
major  participated  in  the  battles  of  Red  House 
and  Pocotaligo  in  the  Kanawha  valley,  and 
shortly  after  re-enlisting  he  accompanied  his 
command  to  central  Kentucky,  and  in  1863 
joined  Burnside's  forces  at  Knoxville,  Tenn. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  fought  at  the  last 
named  place,  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Cum- 
berland Gap,  and,  in  recognition  of  meritorious 
conduct,  was  promoted,  March,  1862,  second 
lieutenant  of  his  company.  In  April,  1864, 
the  regiment  having  veteranized,  the  Forty- 
fourth  was  re-organized  and  mustered  into 
service  as  the  Eighth  Ohio  cavalry,  Lieut. 
Pettit  being  promoted  first  lieutenant  of  his 
company  and  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  He 
discharged  his  two-fold  duties  most  acceptably 
until  May,  1864,  at  which  time  he  was  pro- 
moted captain  and. assigned  to  the  command 
of  company  L,  Eighth  Ohio  cavalry.  The 
regiment  was  assigned  that  year  to  Gen.  Aver- 
ill's  division  and  joined  Gen.  Hunter  in  the 
Lynchburg  movements,  participating  in  the 
battles  at  Piedmont  and  Liberty,  together  with 
the  several  skirmishes  on  the  advance  and  re- 
retreat  from  Lynchburg  to  White  Sulphur 
Springs.  After  this,  Maj.  Pettit  was  given 
command  of  500  dismounted  men  and  ordered 
to  report  to  Gen.  Averill  at  Martinsburg,  W. 
Va.,  and  during  the  summer  of  1864  he 
participated  in  all  the  fighting  in  the  Shenan- 
doah valley,  being  on  the  extreme  right  of  Gen. 
Sheridan's  army  in  that  memorable  campaign. 


He  was  assistant  adjutant  of  the  First  brigade, 
Second  division,  of  Sheridan's  cavalry  corps 
and  remained  with  the  division,  as  aid,  until 
after  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee's  forces  at  Ap- 
pomattox. He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
as  captain  of  cavalry  and  brevet  major,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1865,  having  passed  through  nearly 
four  and  a  half  years  of  active  service  without 
receiving  any  disabling  wounds  or  being  absent 
from  his  command  for  any  considerable  length 
of  time  on  account  of  sickness. 

Returning  to  Troy,  Ohio,  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  the  major  engaged  in  the  nursery 
business  near  that  city,  and  continued  the  same 
with  fair  success  until,  in  the  year  1884,  he  be- 
came an  inmate  of  the  national  home,  at  Day- 
ton. Since  that  date  he  has  served  four  years 
as  superintendent  of  national  cemeteries  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Beverly,  N.  J.,  and  Fay- 
etteville,  Ark.,  and,  beside  filling  various  offi- 
cial stations  at  the  home,  has  been  for  some 
time  commander  of  company  Twenty-nine. 
During  his  connection  with  the  home  Maj. 
Pettit  has  won  the  confidence  of  all  classes, 
and  the  good  will  entertained  for  him  by  the 
executive  head  of  the  institution  is  a  compli- 
ment to  a  most  deserving  and  capable  official. 

Mr.  Pettit  and  Miss  Sarah  M.  Baker  were 
united  in  marriage  in  1874,  a  union  cruelly 
severed  by  the  death  of  the  wife  one  year  later; 
she  left  a  daughter,  Judith,  now  the  wife  of 
William  McLean,  of  Galena,  Ohio.  The 
major  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  and  G.  A. 
R. ;  politically  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
democratic  party. 


V^VROF.   WILLIAM    J.    PATTERSON, 

1      M    late  principal  of  the  Seventh  district 
public   school    of    Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  Ireland,  of  Scotch-Irish  par- 
entage, and  was  born  February  15,  1833.      He 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


719 


received  his  elementary  education  at  Coleraine, 
Londonderry,  and  in  1 851  came  to  America, 
following  a  brother,  Joseph,  who  had  preceded 
him  by  two  years.  In  1854  he  was  followed 
by  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (McVicker) 
Patterson,  who  first  located  in  Dayton,  but 
later  removed  to  Oxford,  where  both  parents 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days.  The  fam- 
ily comprised  seven  children,  viz:  Joseph, 
now  the  owner  of  a  600-acre  farm  in  Coffee 
county,  Tenn. ;  William  J.;  Martha,  wife  of 
Henry  Halteman,  a  farmer  of  Preble  county, 
Ohio;  Eliza,  widow  of  John  Dugan,  and  now 
a  resident  of  Rockwood,  Tenn.,  her  husband 
having  been  killed  in  a  railroad  accident ;  Annie, 
wife  of  Isaiah  Douglass,  a  farmer  of  Oxford, 
Ohio;  Mrs.  Sarah  Lindsay,  of  Nebraska;  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  Edward  Weingardner,  of 
First  street,  Dayton. 

Prof.  Patterson  has  been  a  resident  of  Day- 
ton since  1 85 1 ,  when  the  city  contained  a  popu- 
lation of  but  16,000,  with  no  buildings  of  any 
pretentions  to  architectural  beauty  or  con- 
struction, or  of  any  considerable  monetary 
value;  in  fact,  the  majority  of  them  were  either 
log  or  frame,  with  an  occasional  brick  struct- 
ure at  the  more  populous  or  business  points  of 
the  town.  The  most  speedy  means  of  com- 
munication and  travel  between  Dayton  and 
Cincinnati  was  by  canal  packet  in  his  early 
residence  here,  and  he  was  a  witness  to  the 
laying  of  the  first  railway  track  to  enter  the 
city,  that  of  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Day- 
ton road.  As  to  the  other  great  changes  which 
have  taken  place  during  the  interval  of  forty- 
five  years,  only  those  who  survive  from  that 
early  day  can  fully  realize  their  magnitude. 

On  first  locating  in  Dayton,  Prof.  Patter- 
son attended  school  in  Carrollton  for  two  years 
and  then  began  teaching.  The  first  teachers' 
examination  was  held  in  the  old  academy 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Central 
school  building  of  Dayton,  and  which  was  the 


old  Central  high  school  site;  the  examiners 
were  James  Campbell  and  John  Hall,  both  for 
many  years  afterward  employed  as  teachers  in 
the  same  high  school.  Prof.  Patterson  began 
his  work  as  a  tutor  in  a  typical  log  school-house 
on  the  farm  of  Rev.  Mr.  Heineker,  near 
Miamisburg,  and  has  the  unusual  record  of  hav- 
ing been  a  school-teacher  in  the  district  and  vil- 
lage schools  of  Montgomery  county  for  over 
forty  years.  In  1890  he  was  elected  principal 
of  the  Thirteenth  public  school  district  of  Day- 
ton, in  which  he  served  most  effectively  for  two 
years  and  a  half,  and  was  then  appointed  to  a 
similar  position  in  the  Seventh  district,  which 
he  has  since  filled  with  ability. 

The  marriage  of  Prof.  Patterson  took  place 
March  18,  1855,  to  Miss  Anna  Ford,  who  was 
born  in  Castlebar,  Ireland,  in  1833,  and  came 
to  America  an  orphan  child.  This  marriage 
has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  Joseph  Edward  is  a  prosperous  farmer, 
living  near  Dayton;  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Wogaman  and  resides  in  the  city;  Will- 
iam F.  is  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Ex- 
press company;  John  Charles  is  an  attorney  at 
law  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Dayton 
bar;  Rev.  James  Albert  is  a  talented  minister 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Fostoria,  Ohio; 
Martha  is  married  to  William  Rice,  general 
agent  at  Dayton  for  the  Jackson  Coal  com- 
pany; Dr.  Clifton  L.  is  a  successful  member  of 
the  medical  fraternity;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Johnson, 
whose  husband  is  bookkeeper  for  the  Buckeye 
Iron  &  Brass  works,  and  Robert  C. ,  a  student 
in  the  Cincinnati  Law  school.  The  family 
are  all  members  of  the  First  Reformed  church 
of  Dayton,  having  been  reared  in  the  Scotch 
Presbyterian  faith. 

Prof.  Patterson  has  been  always  active  in 
church  and  Sunday-school  work;  in  politics  he 
has  invariably  sided  with  the  democratic 
party,  although  he  has  never  been  a  partisan 
for  personal  ends.      As  an  office-holder,  he  has 


720 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


been  content  to  serve  seven  years  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  county  examiners  of  teachers 
— an  office  for  which  he  is  peculiarly  well  quali- 
fied— and  as  a  patriot,  he  served  ioo  days  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry  during  the  late  Rebellion. 


Wl 


'ILLIAM  G.  POWELL,  one  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  Dayton 
bar,  was  born  in  Wayne  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1867.  His  parents  are  John  and 
Esther  (Wells)  Powell,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Gloucestershire,  England,  and 
the  latter  at  Culpeper  Court  House,  Va.  They 
were  married  in  Tippecanoe,  Ohio,  and  moved 
to  Montgomery  county,  where  Mr.  Powell 
engaged  in  farming  about  six  miles  north  of 
Dayton,  in  Wayne  township.  There  he  is 
still  residing  and  has  served  three  terms  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  of  that  township.  He  is  a 
substantial  farmer  and  a  useful  citizen,  held  in 
high  estimation  in  that  community. 

William  G.  Powell  was  reared  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  and  attended  the  neighboring  dis- 
trict schools  until  he  reached  his  fifteenth  year. 
In  1883  he  entered  Otterbein  university,  and 
was  there  in  attendance  three  years.  For 
three  years  afterward  he  taught  school  in  the 
country  and  in  1891  came  to  Dayton  and  en- 
tered the  office  of  S.  H.  Carr,  where  he  read 
law  for  one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1892,  his  short  course  of  preparation 
for  admission  being  accounted  for  by  his  hav- 
ing read  law  extensively  while  engaged  in 
teaching,  as  he  had  the  profession  of  the  law 
in  mind  even  at  that  early  day. 

On  August  8,  1892,  he  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  being  alone  until 
February,  1894,  when  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  George  M.  Leopold,  the  firm  name  being 
Leopold    &     Powell,   which    partnership    still 


continues.  In  the  fall  of  1891  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  county  board  of  elections,  serving 
one  year.  In  1893  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  deputy  to  the  state  supervisor  of  elections, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1894,  1895  and  1896, 
holding  the  office  at  the  present  time.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  also  of  the  Garfield  club,  from  which  his 
political  affiliations  may  readily  be  inferred. 
Mr.  Powell  is  devoted  to  his  profession,  in 
which  there  is  every  promise  of  his  achieve- 
ment of  a  gratifying  success. 


aOL.  HARLEY  H.  SAGE,  of  tb,e  na- 
tional military  home,  near  Dayton,  is 
a  native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  February  23,  1835,  ar,d  pa- 
ternally is  of  Welsh  descent.  Two  of  his 
great-grandfathers  were  patriots  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  his  father  and  father's  fa- 
ther were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812.  Henry 
Sage,  the  father  of  the  colonel,  was  an  early 
settler  of  Pickaway  county,  was  prominent  as 
a  Freemason  and  as  a  citizen,  and  died  in 
April,  1865,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years; 
the  colonel's  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Amanda  Hayden,  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  died  in  1878,  when  eighty-four 
years  old. 

Harley  H.  Sage  grew  to  manhood  in  his  in 
his  native  county,  received  a  good  academical 
education,  attended  Kenyon  college  one  year, 
and  read  law  in  Circleville  until  fire  was  opened 
on  Fort  Sumter,  when  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany B,  Thirteenth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  in 
April,  1 86 1,  at  the  time  the  regiment  was 
being  re-organized  for  the  three  years'  service, 
and  was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  his  com- 
pany. About  six  months  later  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  assisted  in  recruiting  the 
Forty-third  Ohio  infantry,  serving  as  private 
from  October  8  until  December  29,  when  he 


0  J 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


723 


was  commissioned  captain  by  Gov.  Tod,  and 
placed  in  command  of  company  E,  of  the 
Forty-third,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until 
after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  when,  October  8, 
1862,  he  was  made  major  of  his  regiment.  He 
resigned  this  commission  in  1863,  at  Bolivar, 
Tenn.,  returned  home,  was  actively  employed 
in  the  recruiting  service,  and  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  Ninety-second  Ohio  national 
guard;  upon  the  re-organization  of  the  camp 
of  instruction,  he  was  appointed  commander 
and  instructor  at  Athens  and  Portsmouth,  Ohio, 
and  filled  this  position  until  the  call  for  100- 
day  men  was  made,  when  he  reported  at  Camp 
Dennison.  Here  his  recruits  were  consolidated 
with  the  Mahoning  county  battalion,  and  mus- 
tered in  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  of  which  regiment  he 
was  appointed  colonel,  and  with  this  rank 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  To  recapit- 
ulate: In  the  Thirteenth,  Col.  Sage  served  in 
Virginia  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Carni- 
fax  Ferry.  With  the  Forty-third,  he  fought 
at  New  Madrid,  Island  No.  10,  and  Tipton- 
ville,  was  with  Pope  in  his  attempted  capture 
of  Memphis,  and  in  the  siege  of  Corinth.  With 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth,  he  served  in 
West  Virginia,  also  in  front  of  Richmond  and 
Petersburg,  Va. ,  and  through  the  campaign  of 
the  peninsula;  was  with  Butler  at  Bermuda 
Hundred  and  then  had  command  of  the  en- 
trenched camp  at  Norfolk;  he  next  took  his 
regiment  on  a  raid  to  Elizabeth  City,  N.  C, 
marched  down  the  bank  of  the  Dismal  Swamp 
canal,  also  having  command  of  the  artillery 
on  this  expedition.  He  then  returned  to  Nor- 
folk, whence  he  was  sent  to  Camp  Dennison, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  mustered  out  August  27, 
1864.  He  was  next  ordered  by  Gov.  Tod  to 
organize  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth 
Ohio  infantry,  but  his  services  were  more  in 
demand  at  the  front,  and  he  was  given  com- 
mand of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 

26 


Ohio,  then  already  organized,  took  part  in  the 
siege  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  had  com- 
mand of  a  brigade  during  the  two  days'  battle 
under  Maj.-Gen.  Thomas,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  was  finally 
mustered  out  June  18,  1865.  The  only  brother 
of  the  colonel,  Henry  Tecumseh,  served  in  the 
Mexican  war,  but  died  of  yellow  fever  in  New 
Orleans  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  the  war,  Col. 
Sage  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  supreme 
court  of  Ohio,  and  opened  a  law  office  in 
Circleville;  was  city  solicitor  for  that  corpora- 
tion until  1878,  when  he  came  to  Dayton  as 
supervisor  of  the  southern  Ohio  lunatic  asylum, 
which  position  he  held  for  two  years;  he  was 
then  appointed  deputy  clerk  in  the  probate 
court,  but  resigned  two  years  later  and  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  Dayton.  During 
his  incumbency  of  this  office  for  six  years,  he 
never  had  a  decision  reversed  on  appeal, 
although  he  had  transacted  the  major  part  of 
the  justice's  court  business  of  the  city  during 
that  period.  He  then  resumed  his  law  prac- 
tice, which  he  continued  until  failing  health 
warned  him  that  it  was  necessary  to  relinquish 
active  labor.  September  29,  1894,  the  colonel 
became  an  inmate  of  the  soldiers'  home,  and 
by  the  1st  of  November  following  had  suffici- 
ently recuperated  to  assume  his  present  posi- 
tion as  captain  of  company  Twenty-two. 

Col.  Sage  was  first  married,  in  Circleville, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Miss  Nannie  E.  Campbell,  who 
bore  him  seven  children,  four  of  whom  died 
while  he  was  in  the  army.  His  wife  died  about 
fifteen  years  after  marriage,  and  for  his  second 
wife  he  chose  Mary  McLean,  also  of  Circle- 
ville, who  became  the  mother  of  two  children, 
now  deceased,  and  who  herself  was  soon  called 
away.  In  1881,  the  colonel  married  Mrs. 
Anna  Thompson,  and  they  have  their  residence 
adjoining  the  soldiers'  home.  The  colonel's 
only  living  children  are  J.  Kirby  Sage  and  Mrs. 


724 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Mary  E.  Snyder — the  son  and  son-in-law, 
both  mechanics,  being  associated  in  business. 
Col.  and  Mrs.  Sage  have  also  an  adopted 
daughter,  Lulu,  a  young  lady  who  still  has  her 
home  in  the  colonel's  family. 

In  politics  the  colonel  has  always  been  an 
active  member  of  the  democratic  party,  and 
has  been  its  nominee  for  the  state  legislature 
and  for  probate  judge  of  Montgomery  county. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  royal  arch  Mason,  was  a 
Son  of  Malta  before  that  unique  order  became 
defunct,  is  a  member  of  the  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men,  of  the  Union  Veteran  Union,  and 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  the 
last  named  orders  he  has  been  especially  prom- 
inent and  active,  as  post  commander  of  Dister 
post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  as  an  officer  on  the  staff 
of  the  department  commander,  and  in  the 
U.  V.  U.  as  colonel  of  John  A.  Logan  en- 
campment. The  colonel  is  held  in  high  re- 
spect by  the  officers  and  inmates  in  general  of 
the  soldiers'  home,  and  also  enjoys  the  warm 
friendship  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintance,  in 
Circleville,  in  Dayton,  and  all  throughout  the 
county  of  Montgomery. 


@IDEON  F.  POND,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative ex-soldiers  and  mechanics  in 
the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Vol- 
unteer Soldiers,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Holden,  Me.,  January  20,  1848,  and 
is  a  son  of  Philander  L.  and  Emily  W.  (Billing- 
ton)  Pond,  natives  of  the  same  state,  where 
they  still  reside.  The  children  born  to  these 
parents  were  six  in  number,  of  whom  Albert 
A.  died  in  Bangor,  Me.,  in  February,  1896; 
Henry  L.  resides  in  Mount  Chestnut,  Butler 
county,  Pa.;  the  third,  Gideon  F.,  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biographical  notice;  Marcia  J.  is 
unmarried;  Myra  A.  is  now  Mrs.  Rand,  and 
Sarah  E.  is  as  yet  unmarried. 

Gideon  F.  Pond  was  educated  in  his  na- 


tive city  and  in  Bangor,  Penobscot  county, 
Me.,  and  was  early  apprenticed  to  learn  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  millwright.  When  in 
his  seventeenth  year  he  enlisted  in  company 
F,  Twelfth  Maine  volunteer  infantry,  and  was 
probably  the  youngest  patriot  soldier  of  the 
state.  He  served  at  camp  Bevoy,  Me.,  and 
at  Galloup  island,  Boston  harbor,  Mass.,  chief- 
ly in  guarding  transports  conveying  troops,  for 
about  seven  months,  when  he  was  discharged 
by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war.  During  this 
comparatively  short  term  of  service,  however, 
he  was  taken  ill  from  exposure  and  incurred 
a  disability  from  which  he  has  never  fully  re- 
covered. On  returning  to  Maine  he  remained 
there,  an  invalid,  for  nearly  three  years,  and 
then,  in  1870,  believing  that  a  change  of  cli- 
mate would  be  beneficial,  went  to  California, 
where  for  thirteen  years  he  was  employed  as 
clerk,  as  letter-carrier  in  the  San  Francisco 
post-office,  and  at  such  other  light  work  as  he 
was  able  to  perform.  He  then  served  five 
years  in  the  United  States  marine  corps,  from 
1878  to  1883,  when  he  returned  home  on  a 
visit,  and  in  the  following  year  came  to  Ohio. 
Here  he  worked  at  millwrighting  and  carpen- 
tering until  December,  1891,  when  he  relin- 
quished the  futile  effort  at  self-support  under 
the  very  discouraging  conditions  then  existing, 
and  became  an  inmate  of  the  Central  branch  of 
the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Sol- 
diers. Since  then  Mr.  Pond  has  been  chiefly 
employed  in  light  work,  and  of  late  has  had 
charge  of  the  lumber  in  the  carpenter  shops  of 
the  home.  In  this  position  he  receives  and 
distributes  the  material  necessary  for  the  re- 
pair of  the  home  buildings,  which  is  continu- 
ously going  on,  and  thus  his  active  mind  finds 
occupation  and  is  relieved  of  the  monotony  of 
camp  life. 

Mr.  Pond  united  with  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  in  1887,  and  is  at  present  a  mem- 
ber of  Mart  Armstrong  post,  No.  202,  of  Lima, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


725 


Ohio.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  life-long  re- 
publican. In  religion  he  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Congregational  church.  Of  the 
three  sons  and  one  daughter  born  to  his  de- 
ceased brother,  Albert  A.,  the  elder  son,  Bert 
C. ,  is  secretary  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  so- 
ciety in  Philadelphia,  and  the  younger,  Fred- 
die, is  secretary  of  the  same  association  at 
Bangor,  Me. 

Asa  A.  Billington,  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mr.  Pond,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  Mr.  Pond  still  treasures  as  an  heirloom 
the  musket  his  grandfather  carried  through  the 
war  in  defense  of  American  liberty.  The  Pond 
family  is  of  Plymouth  Rock  descent,  and  was 
well  represented  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  patriotism  is  an  inher- 
ent quality  in  the  present  generation. 


HLFRED  B.  POWERS,  of  the  National 
Park  restaurant,  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  na- 
tive of  Paducah,  Ky.,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 7,  1839,  a  son  of  John  and 
Naomi  (Norris)  Powers,  both  of  whom  were 
born  in  Indian  Hill,  a  village  near  Cincinnati. 
After  marriage  they  went  to  Paducah,  Ky. , 
but  when  Alfred  was  a  child  of  some  four  or 
five  years  of  age  they  returned  to  Indian  Hill, 
where  John  Powers  was  engaged  in  business 
for  two  or  three  years,  and  then  located  on  a 
farm  in  that  vicinity,  where  he  and  his  wife 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days.  They 
were  of  Pennsylvania  descent,  and  had  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  who  are  now  scattered 
throughout  the  country,  although  three  or  four 
of  them  still  reside  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
old  homestead  at  Indian  Hill. 

The  earlier  manhood  of  Alfred  B.  Powers 
was  spent  in  farming  on  the  old  homestead  and 
in  its  vicinity.  In  1883  he  came  to  Dayton, 
and  for  the  past  four  or  five  years  has  been 
engaged  in  the  confectionery  business,  as  well 


as  restaurant  keeping.  At  present  he  operates 
two  stands,  at  the  Third  street  and  Fifth  street 
entrances  to  the  national  military  home,  in 
which  he  caters  to  the  wants  of  the  hungry 
and  thirsty  visitors  to  that  great  institution. 

Mr.  Powers  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
1S60,  in  Sharonville,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Melissa 
Price,  a  native  of  the  place,  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  daughters 
and  one  son,  viz:  Mollie,  who  is  married  to 
John  Brannin,  a  clerk  in  the  court  house;  Mag- 
gie, the  wife  of  George  Smith,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business,  and  Edgar  M.,  who 
married  Miss  Carrie  Smith,  and  is  now  assist- 
ing his  father  in  the  restaurant  and  confection- 
ery business,  and  through  these  marriages  Mr. 
Powers  and  his  wife  have  been  given  eight 
grandchildren.  In  religion,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Powers  are  of  the  United  Brethren  faith,  and 
in  politics  Mr.  Powers  is  a  republican. 

When  Mr.  Powers  started  in  his  present 
business  he  was  almost  entirely  without  means, 
and  for  the  first  two  years  he  and  his  wife 
lived  in  a  tent,  in  which  they  also  transacted 
their  limited  business;  to-day,  as  has  been 
stated,  he  has  two  establishments,  giving  con- 
stant employment  to  four  assistants,  beside 
keeping  himself,  wife  and  son  occupied. 


>^T*ACOB  A.  PRITZ,  proprietor  of  the 
J  Acme  Star  laundry,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is 
A  j  a  native  of  Hanover,  Pa. ;  was  born 
October  24,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Mary  Pritz,  natives,  respectively,  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland.  They  were  married 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1840  came  to  Ohio, 
Jacob  A.  being  then  a  babe  and  the  third  born 
in  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  but  five 
are  now  living.  The  father  was  a  well-known 
manufacturer  in  Dayton,  and  here  died  in 
1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  The 
mother  still  survives  and  lives  in  this  citv.     Of 


726 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


the  living  children,  beside  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  notice,  J.  W.,  the  eldest  born, 
resides  on  a  stock  farm  in  Montgomery  county; 
William  H.  served  during  the  Civil  war  in  the 
Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  Dayton;  Mrs.  Scott  lives  in 
Newark,  Ohio,  and  Mrs.  Hildt  makes  her  home 
with  her  mother. 

Jacob  A.  Pritz  received  a  good  common- 
school  education,  learned  the  machinist's  trade 
before  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  and  was 
thus  employed  when  he  responded  to  Presi- 
dent Lincoln's  first  call  for  volunteers,  when 
he  enlisted  in  company  A,  Eleventh  Ohio  in- 
fantry, for  three  months.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  he  at  once  re-enlisted,  August  20, 
1 861 ,  but  this  time  in  the  Thirteenth  Missouri 
volunteer  infantry,  of  the  exploits  of  which 
regiment  an  account  will  be  found  in  the  biog- 
raphy of  Capt.  John  Birch,  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  On  being  mustered  out  at  the  close 
of  the  war  Mr.  Pritz  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  harvesting  machinery,  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father  and  two  brothers,  in  Day- 
ton, and  continued  in  this  line  until  about 
1880,  when  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  plant, 
and  for  eighteen  months  was  in  the  milling 
business  in  Cincinnati.  He  then  became  gen- 
eral agent  for  the  state  of  Ohio  of  the  Saint 
Paul  Harvester  company,  but  three  years  later 
this  company  made  an  assignment,  and  Mr. 
Pritz  secured  a  similar  position  with  C.  Ault- 
man  &  Co.,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  three  years.  His  next  engage- 
ment was  with  J.  R.  Brownell  &  Co.,  manu- 
facturers of  boilers  and  engines  in  Dayton,  with 
whom  he  remained  six  or  seven  years,  or  until 
February,  1896,  when  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent establishment,  where  he  is  doing  a  lucra- 
tive trade  and  employs  fourteen  persons. 

Mr.  Pritz  was  joined  in  wedlock  in  1865, 
at  Dayton,  with  Miss  Helen  Field,  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  by  whom  he  had  one  child  only, 


named  Earle,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 
Mrs.  Pritz  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Mr.  Pritz  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the 
Union  Veteran  Legion.  Politically,  he  is  an 
ardent  republican.  Few  men  are  better  known 
throughout  the  state  than  Mr.  Pritz,  who  en- 
joys, both  at  home  and  wherever  he  has  trav- 
eled, the  warm  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of 
admiring  friends. 


>^r*OHN  W.  PRUGH,  of  the  firm  of 
a  Prugh  &  John,  funeral  directors  at  No. 
A  1  410  South  Wayne  street,  was  born  May 
8,  1851,  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  son  of 
John  and  Mary  Jane  (Davner)  Prugh.  The 
Prugh  family  is  of  German  extraction,  and 
came  originally  from  the  kingdom  of  Prussia. 
For  many  generations  the  Prughs  were  tillers 
of  the  soil,  and  quite  a  number  of  them  were 
noted  for  longevity,  Abner  Prugh,  the  grand- 
father of  John  W.,  dying  at  the  remarkable 
age  of  100  years,  one  month  and  twelve  days. 
The  maternal  branch  is  also  German,  and,  like 
the  Prughs,  has  generally  been  a  very  rugged 
and  long-lived  race.  John  Prugh  was  born  in 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1827,  was 
married  in  March,  1850,  and  died  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year,  a  short  time  before  the  birth 
of  his  son.  Subsequently,  about  i860,  Mrs. 
Prugh  became  the  wife  of  John  John,  a  most 
estimable  gentleman  of  Montgomery  eounty, 
who  has  taken  the  place  of  a  father  to  young 
Prugh  in  every  possible  way.  To  this  second 
marriage  have  been  born  three  children:  Mad- 
ison, who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Elmer 
E.,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  Wilford  John, 
who  is  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Prugh 
&  John.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
July  7,  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 
John  W.  Prugh  attended  the  common 
schools    in    his   youth,   and    later    obtained    a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


727 


knowledge  of  the  higher  branches  in  Hol- 
brook's  Normal  school,  Lebanon,  Ohio.  He 
began  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer,  following 
this  useful  calling  until  1885,  in  September  of 
which  year  he  came  to  Dayton  and  accepted  a 
position  in  the  Barney  &  Smith  Car  shops, 
taking  charge  of  the  stock  department  and 
books  relating  thereto.  Continuing  with  this 
concern  until  October,  1887,  Mr.  Prugh  re- 
signed his  position  and  went  to  Florida,  where, 
for  a  limited  period,  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Clifford  Orange  company.  Returning  to 
Dayton  for  a  short  time,  he  again  went  to 
Florida  and  resumed  work  with  the  Clifford 
company,  spending  nine  months  in  charge  of 
the  packing  and  shipping  department.  For 
some  months  after  quitting  work  in  the  south, 
Mr.  Prugh  was  not  actively  employed,  but 
later  accepted  the  position  of  foreman  of  the 
yard  department  at  the  Farmer's  Friend  Agri- 
cultural works,  Dayton,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  most  acceptably  for  over  two  years,  the 
last  year  and  a  half  as  assistant  on  inside  work. 
His  next  venture  was  in  the  mercantile  line, 
handling  groceries,  and  also  giving  considera- 
ble attention  to  dealing  in  bicycles,  in  both  of 
which  branches  of  trade  he  was  successful.  In 
company  with  his  half-brother,  Wilford  M. 
John,  Mr.  Prugh  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business  on  South  Wayne  street,  in  1894,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Prugh  &  John,  a  part- 
nership which  still  continues.  Messrs.  Prugh 
&  John  have  a  fully-equipped  establishment, 
and  have  enjoyed  a  steady  increase  in  patron- 
age from  the  beginning.  They  are  also  the 
proprietors  of  a  large  and  well-stocked  livery 
stand  at  Nos.  233  and  235  South  Jefferson 
Stre3t,  Dayton. 

On  the  5th  day  of  December,  1878,  Mr. 
Prugh  and  Miss  Nannie  J.  Barney,  of  Beaver 
Creek  township,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  were 
married.  Mrs.  Prugh  is  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
B.  H.  Barney,  a  well-known  Baptist  minister, 


and  spent  the  greater  part  of  her  life  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio.  Politically,  Mr.  Prugh  is  a 
stanch  member  of  the  republican  party,  and  in 
religion  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  while  Mrs.  Prugh  belongs  to  the  Linden 
avenue  Baptist  church  ot  Dayton. 


e   OSCAR  PRYOR,  a  member   of  the 
firm  of  A.  H.  Grim  &    Co.,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
progressive,  enterprising  and  energetic 
business  men  of  the  Gem  City.      He  was  born 
February  6,  i860,  in  Pleasant  Ridge,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Edward  F.  and  Sarah 
Pryor.      In  November  of    the  same  year  his 
parents  established  their  residence  in  Dayton, 
and  his  father  became  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens,   being  closely   identified    with   the   hotel 
business  and  the  growing  industries  of  this  city. 
E.  Oscar  Pryor  was  reared  in  Dayton,  re- 
ceived   his   primary   education    in    the    public 
schools  and  graduated  in  the  high  school.      His 
business  training  was  completed  in  A.  D.  Wilt's 
Commercial   college.      At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he    accepted    the    position    of    cashier    in  the 
freight   depot    and    ticket    office   at   the   Third 
street  crossing,  maintained   by  the   Dayton  & 
Southeastern  railroad,  and  this  place  he  held 
from  1879  to  1880,  when  he  resigned  and  as- 
sociated himself  with  his  brother-in-law  A.    B. 
Ridgway  as  clerk  and  bookkeeper  and  later  as 
steward    in   the    Phillips    House,  in    which  ca- 
pacity he  served   for  twelve   years  at  different 
times.     In  1886  Mr.  Pryor  was  appointed  to  a 
clerkship  in  the  post-office  under  the  Cleveland 
administration,   where   he  served   with   ability 
during  three  years,  when  his  successor  was  ap- 
pointed.     He   then    returned    to    the    Phillips 
House  as  steward,  continuing  until  1891,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  James  A.  Kirk  and 
opened  up  the  Lakeside  Park  at  the  soldier's 
home.      Three  years  later  he  sold  out  his  in- 


728 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


terest  in  this  enterprise  and  returned  to  the 
hotel  business  as  manager  of  the  Phillips  House. 
He  conducted  this  hostelry  in  an  excellent 
manner  until  March,  1895,  when  he  accepted 
a  position  as  steward  of  the  Hotel  Atlas.  One 
year  later  (March  6,  1896)  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  A.  H.  Grim  &  Co.  He  has 
made  a  decided  success  of  every  business  en- 
terprise undertaken  in  his  active  career,  and 
the  present  admirable  system  in  our  hotels  is 
largely  due  to  his  intelligence  and  business 
qualities,  inherited  from  his  father,  who  was 
also  prominent  in  hotel  management. 

E.  Oscar  Pryor  has  always  been  an  out- 
spoken democrat  in  politics.  In  lodge  and 
society  circles  he  is  as  well  and  favorably 
known  as  in  the  business  world  and  stands  in 
the  front  rank.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  John's 
lodge,  No.i3,F.  &  A.  M. ;  Unity  chapter,  No.  16, 
R.  A.  M. ;  Reed  commandery,  No.  6,  K.  T. ; 
Ohio  consistory,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  thirty-second 
degree.  In  1  881  he  entered  the  order  and  took 
the  Scottish-rite    degree  November   12,   1883. 

In  1885  Mr.  Pryor  married  Miss  Helena 
Schaeffer,  who  died  in  1891,  leaving  one  child, 
Sarah.  Two  years  later,  in  September,  1893, 
'  he  was  again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Miss 
Ella  Fisher.  This  marriage  was  blessed  with 
one  child,  named  E.  Oscar.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pryor  are  affiliated  with  the  Lutheran  church. 


a  APT.  MARTIN  E.  QUINN,  com- 
mander of  company  Twenty-six,  Na- 
tional Home  Disabled  Volunteer  Sol- 
diers, is  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  at 
Culpeper  Court  House,  December  25,  1846. 
His  parents,  John  F.  and  Amelia  (Reagan) 
Quinn,  were  born  in  Ireland,  in  which  country 
they  married  and  reared  a  part  of  their  family, 
immigrating  to  the  United  States  several  years 
prior  to  the  birth  of  their  son  Martin,  and  set- 
tling in  Virginia.      The    family    of    John    and 


Amelia  Quinn  consisted  of  eight  children,  four 
of  whom  were  born  in  the  United  States;  the 
parents  both  died  in  Virginia,  but  their  bodies 
were  returned  to  their  native  country  for  bur- 
ial and  now  lie  side  by  side. 

After  the  death  of  the  parents  the  children 
went  to  Chicago,  taking  considerable  means 
with  them  from  Virginia,  and  purchased  prop- 
erty which  served  as  a  home  for  the  family  as 
long  as  the  several  members  remained  together. 

Martain  E.  obtained  such  education  as  the 
common  schools  impart,  and  in  1859  entered 
upon  an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the  printer's 
trade,  with  the  Chicago  Tribune;  he  soon  be- 
came an  expert  typographer,  but  laid  aside  the 
"stick"  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil 
war,  and  proffered  his  services  to  his  country, 
enlisting  in  the  Twenty-third  Illinois,  with 
which  he  served  with  Mulligan's  brigade  until 
captured  at  Lexington,  Mo.  He  was  soon 
paroled  and  discharged  from  the  service,  again 
entered  the  army,  as  sergeant  of  company  A, 
Fifth  Middle  Tennessee  cavalry,  from  which 
he  was  subsequently  discharged  in  order  to  re- 
ceive promotion  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  Fourth 
Tennessee  mounted  infantry.  One  month 
after  his  promotion  he  was  made  captain  of 
company  D,  same  regiment,  and  as  such  served 
with  distinction  in  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land under  Gen.  Thomas,  and  later  did  staff 
duty  during  Gen.  Sherman's  famous  march  to 
the  sea.  He  was  a  participant  in  the  exciting 
scenes  of  that  celebrated  military  movement, 
took  part  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  cav- 
alry was  engaged,  and  accompanied  his  com- 
mand from  the  sea  through  the  Carolinas  and 
on  to  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Capt.  Quinn  was  entrusted  with  many  del- 
icate and  trying  duties  and  his  adventures  and 
escapes  were  both  narrow  and  thrilling.  He 
was  instrumental  in  capturing  the  notorious 
guerilla,  "  Champ  "  Ferguson,  whose  name  be- 
came a  terror   wherever   heard,  and  who  was 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


729 


afterward  hanged  by  the  Federal  authorities 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Mr.  Quinn  was  mustered 
out  in  November,  1865,  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain, and  immediately  thereafter  returned  to 
Chicago,  thence  a  little  later  went  to  Elkader, 
Iowa,  where,  for  a  period  of  four  years,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  Michael  Quinn.  Un- 
fortunately this  venture  did  not  prove  success- 
ful, in  consequence  of  which  the  captain  was 
compelled  to  dispose  of  his  stock  and  turn  his 
attention  to  another  calling. 

During  the  years  from  1873  to  1876,  inclu- 
sive, Capt.  Quinn  was  engaged  in  journalism 
at  Friar's  Point,  Miss.,  publishing  one  of  the 
two  republican  papers  at  that  time  in  the  state. 
The  feeling  against  him,  intense  from  the  be- 
ginning, culminated  in  an  incendiary  fire  in 
1876,  in  which  his  office  and  fixtures  were  en- 
tirely destroyed,  entailing  a  total  loss  of  all 
property  at  the  time  in  his  possession.  For 
nearly  four  years  thereafter  he  was  on  the  road 
as  a  commercial  traveler,  representing  a  New 
York  clothing  house,  which  business  he 
abandoned  in  1880  to  accept  a  position  in  the 
office  of  the  Chicago  Tribune.  Subsequently 
he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C. ,  with  S.  P. 
Rounds,  who  was  appointed  public  printer,  and 
remained  with  him  during  the  four  years  of  his 
administration  of  the  office;  from  the  national 
capital,  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  which 
city  he  worked  on  the  Dispatch  until  August, 
1895,  when  he  became  an  inmate  of  the  na- 
tional soldiers'  home,  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he 
has  since  continued  in  an  official  capacity. 
The  captain  has  never  hesitated  in  giving  ex- 
pression to  his  honest  convictions  upon  all 
questions  of  a  public  nature  when  occasion 
for  such  expression  presented  itself.  Politi- 
cally he  is,  and  always  has  been,  unseverving 
in  his  allgiance  to  the  republican  party,  not- 
withstanding he  numbers  among  his  warmest 
friends  many  democrats.      He   is  a  member  of 


the  G.  A.  R.,  belonging  to  post  No.  3,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. 

Capt.  Quinn  was  married  in  Pittsburg  to 
Miss  Maggie  Savage,  a  native  of  Prince  Will- 
iam county,  Va.,  where  her  father  was  killed 
by  rebel  bushwackers  during  the  war;  the  fruit 
of  this  union  was  one  child,  a  daughter,  Sadie, 
at  this  time  a  student  in  a  Chicago  convent; 
Mrs.  Quinn  died  in  Pittsburg  in  October,  1894. 


a  APT.  JAMES  RATCLIFFE,  a  dis- 
tinguished ex-soldier  and  trusted  offi- 
cial of  the  national  soldier's  home, 
was  born  at  the  town  of  Little  Falls, 
N.  J.,  March  12,  1838,  the  son  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Aldride)  Ratcliffe,  both  natives  of 
England.  These  parents  were  married  in  the 
old  country,  where  the  father  learned  the 
trade  of  carpet-weaving,  and,  after  coming  to 
the  United  States,  located  at  Paterson,  N.  J., 
and  later  moved  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.  Subsequently 
the  family  located  in  Allegheny  City,  and  when 
James  was  a  mere  lad  moved  west  to  Indiana, 
where  both  parents  died.  To  John  and  Mar- 
garet Ratcliffe  were  born  seven  children;  of 
these  Mary,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  England, 
is  married  and  resides  in  Topeka,  Kans. ;  Alice, 
widow  of  Edward  Harrison,  lives  in  the  city 
of  Washington,  D.  C. ;  James  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  John  W.  is  a  farmer  living  in  the 
vicinity  of  Markle,  Ind. ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Man- 
ning is  a  widow,  whose  home  is  in  Kansas, 
and  Thomas  is  a  farmer  of  Arkansas;  one 
member  of  the  family,  Ellen,  is  deceased. 

Capt.  James  Ratcliffe  enjoyed  but  limited 
educational  advantages,  and  at  the  early  age 
of  nine  years  was  put  to  work  in  the  factories 
at  Paterson,  N.  J.  Later  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  other  pursuits  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  variously  employed,  his  principal 
occupation  being  farming  and  contracting. 
He  assisted  in  clearing  over  300  acres  of  forest 


730 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


land  in  Indiana,  and  in  making  several  farms, 
beside  building  wagon-roads  and  railroads,  and 
general  contracting  in  different  lines.  He  was 
thus  employed  until  1862,  in  August  of  which 
year  he  enlisted  at  Markle,  Ind.,  in  company 
K,  Seventy-fifth  Indiana  infantry,  his  first 
military  experience  being  in  Kentucky,  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  noted  guerrilla,  John  Morgan. 
From  that  state  his  regiment  went  to  Tennes- 
see, thence  to  Alabama,  and  during  this  period 
of  three  years'  service,  Mr.  Ratcliffe  served  in 
the  commands  of  Gens.  Rosecrans,  Thomas, 
Grant  and  Sherman,  taking  part  under  the 
last  named  in  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea. 
The  battles  in  which  he  bore  an  active  part 
included  many  of  the  bloodiest  engagements 
of  the  war,  besides  numerous  skirmishes  and 
raids,  a  complete  enumeration  of  which  will 
not  be  attempted  here.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  took  part  in  the  grand  review  at  the 
national  capital. 

After  his  return  from  the  army  the  captain 
and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
E.  Manning,  and  whom  he  married  in  1862, 
immediately  after  his  enlistment,  began  house- 
keeping on  a  farm  in  Indiana.  For  sometime 
he  gave  his  attention  almost  exclusively  and 
very  successfully  to  contracting,  and  was  thus 
engaged  until  the  panic  of  1873,  when  he  lost 
the  greater  part  of  his  possessions  and  was 
obliged  to  turn  his  attention  to  other  business. 
He  then  began  dealing  in  lime,  in  Huntington 
county.,  Ind.,  and  while  engaged  in  this  trade 
he  met  with  a  painful  accident,  which  rendered 
him  a  cripple  for  life,  his  left  arm  becoming 
disabled.  By  reason  of  this  disability,  the 
captain,  in  1888,  removed  his  family  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  and  became  an  inmate  of  the  Na- 
tional Military  Home,  D.  V.  S.,  where  he  has 
since  remained,  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in 
an  official  capacity.  In  March,  1892,  he  was 
promoted  captain  and  placed  in  command  of 
company  Six,  which   at  this  time   has  a  com- 


plement of  108  men.  The  captain  has  dis- 
charged his  official  functions  in  a  most  credita- 
ble manner,  and  has  proved  himself  faithful  to 
every  trust  reposed  in  him.  Of  his  family  of 
nine  children  seven  are  still  living,  viz:  Nellie, 
wife  of  Joseph  Overmeyer,  a  business  man  of 
Huntington,  Ind. ;  Cora,  who  married  George 
Drafenstatt,  also  a  resident  of  Huntington; 
Guy,  a  druggist  of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Millie  and 
Ray  B.,  who  are  engaged  in  the  confectionery 
business  in  Dayton;  Lettie,  who  resides  in  the 
state  of  Washington,  and  Sherman,  the  young- 
est, who  is  a  student  in  the  schools  of  Dayton. 
Politically  Capt.  Ratcliffe  is  a  member  of  the 
republican  party,  and  the  Baptist  church  rep- 
resents his  religious  creed.  Mrs.  Ratcliffe's 
father,  Rev.  William  C.  Manning,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas,  has  spent  a  long  life  in  the 
ministry.  He  began  preaching  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  is  now  eighty-five  years  old  and  still 
actively  engaged  in  his  saqred  calling. 


>Y*ACOB  WILLIAM  SORTMAN,  con- 
m  tractor  and  brickmaker  of  Dayton,  was 
A  1  born  in  Union  county,  Pa.,  May  20, 
1842.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Maria  C.  (Bossier)  Sortman,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  of  German  parentage.  George 
Sortman,  who  was  by  trade  a  manufacturer  of 
chairs,  located  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1853,  and 
lived  in  this  city  to  the  close  of  his  life,  dying 
in  1 88 1,  at  sixty-nine  years  of  age.  His  wife 
had  died  in  1875.  Both  were  good  people, 
religiously  inclined,  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  church,  and  highly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  them. 

Jacob  \V.  Sortman,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  Dayton.  For  several  years 
thereafter  he  worked  in  the  summer  time  and 
attended  school  in  the  winter  season,  thus  re- 
ceiving a  good  education  and  becoming  a  prac- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


733 


tical  young  man  at  the  same  time.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  learning  the 
trade  of  brickmason,  at  which  he  worked  until 
the  war  broke  out.  At  Dayton,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 14,  1 861,  Mr.  Sortman  enlisted  in  com- 
pany F,  Birge's  sharpshooters,  which  company 
was  changed  to  company  H,  and  to  company 
G,  western  sharpshooters,  April  20,  1862.  His 
regiment  was  changed  to  the  Fourteenth  Mis- 
souri volunteer  infantry,  and  changed  from  the 
Fourteenth  Missouri,  to  the  Sixty-sixth  Illinois 
volunteer  infantry,  western  sharpshooters,  No- 
vember 26,  1862,  by  order  of  secretary  of 
war,  E.  M.  Stanton.  Jacob  W.  Sortman 
was  a  good  and  faithful  soldier,  always  at  his 
post  of  duty  in  camp,  on  the  march,  on  picket, 
and  was  in  the  battles  of  Mount  Zion,  Mo., 
December  28,  1861;  Fort  Donelson,  Tenn., 
February  13,  14  and  15,  1862;  Shiloh,  April 
6  and  7,  1862;  Phillips'  Creek,  Miss.,  May  21, 
1862;  siege  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  April  29  to  May 
30,  1862;  Iuka,  Miss.,  September  19  and  20, 
1862;  Corinth,  Miss.,  October  3  and  4,  1862; 
the  Hatchies,  December  29,  1862;  Whiteside's 
Farm,  Miss.,  September  9,  1863;  in  the  raid 
through  north  Alabama,  November  2  to  12, 
1863;  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Ga. ,  May  9,  1864;  Su- 
gar Valley,  Ga.,  May  11  and  12,  i864;Resaca, 
Ga. ,  May  13  and  14,  1864;  Lay's  Ferry,  Ga. , 
May  14  and  15,  1864;  Rome  Cross  Roads,  Ga. , 
May  16,  1864;  Andersonville,  Ga.,  May  17, 
1864;  Dallas,  Ga. ,  May  25  to  June  1,  1864; 
Lone  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  1,  1864;  New  Hope 
Church,  Ga.,  June  2  and  3,  1864;  Big  Shanty 
Station,  Ga.,  June  11,  1864;  Brushy  Mount- 
ain, Ga. ,  June  14,  1864;  general  assaults  on 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  27,  1864;  Marietta, 
Ga.,  July  3,  1864;  Rupp's  Mills,  or  Nickajack 
Creek,  Ga.,  July  4,  1864;  Howe's  Ferry,  Ga., 
July  7  and  8,  1864;  Chattahoochie  river,  Ga., 
July  9,  1864;  Decatur,  Ga.,  July  19  and  20, 
1864;  Howard  House,  Bald  Hill  and  Atlanta, 
Ga. ,  July  22,    1864;  Ezra  Church,    Ga. ,  July 


28,  1864;  siege  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  26  to 
August  26,  1864;  and  Proctor's  Creek,  Ga. , 
August  4,  9  and  1 1,  1864.  He  was  sent  to  the 
rear,  Angust  26,  1864,  his  term  of  service 
having  expired,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn.,  September  2,  1864,  and  dis- 
charged at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Septembers,  1864. 

After  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Sortman 
completed  the  learning  of  his  trade,  and  was 
a  journeyman  until  1872,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  in  business  for  himself.  He  erected 
the  Pruden  block,  the  Stoffel  &  Abbey  building 
at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Main  streets,  the 
two  Reibold  buildings,  Barney's  five-story 
building  on  Fifth  street,  the  Christian  church 
building,  and  several  public  school-buildings 
in  the  city,  among  them  the  Steele  High-school 
building.  He  also  built  many  private  houses, 
among  them  the  beautiful  residence  of  Col. 
J.  D.  Piatt.  While  foreman  for  Marcus  Boss- 
ier, Mr.  Sortman  had  charge  of  the  erection 
of  the  new  Montgomery  county  jail;  and  also, 
while  acting  in  that  capacity,  erected  twenty- 
seven  buildings  at  the  Soldiers  &  Sailors 
Orphans'  home  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  and  also  a 
number  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  city  of 
Dayton. 

Mr.  Sortman  was  married  December  20, 
1866,  to  Miss  Adelia  R.  Gilbert,  daughter  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  (Lehman)  Gilbert. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Of 
these  the  following  are  living:  Katie  B., 
Bessie,  Oliver  P.,  and  Oscar  B.,  the  two  last 
named  being  twins.  Katie  B.  married  Clif- 
ford Turner,  a  bookkeeper  for  Wolf  Bros. 
They  have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter, 
Katherine  and  Robert.  Mr.  Sortman  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  church  and 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Old 
Guard  post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R. ;  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of    Druids;    of    Wayne    lodge,    No.   10, 


734 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  he  is  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  and 
served  four  years  in  the  city  council  from  the 
Fourteenth  and  Eighth  wards.  He  now  lives 
in  a  handsome  home  at  No.  59  Green  street, 
the  architecture  being  of  a  most  pleasing  style. 
Mr.  Sortman  is  a  man  of  resources,  and  has 
been  most  successful  in  business.  His  career 
has  been  one  which,  when  contemplated  by 
the  young,  can  only  inspire  them  to  its  imita- 
tion and  can  only  lead  them,  when  rightly  fol- 
lowed, to  a  similar  success. 


eDWARD  D.  REGAN,  undertaker, 
whose  business  house  is  located  at 
No.  829  East  Fifth  street,  was  born 
in  Middleton,  Ohio,  November  18, 
1862,  son  of  Timothy  and  Mary  Regan,  both 
parents  being  natives  of  Ireland.  Timothy 
Regan  was  born  in  county  Cork,  November  19, 
1830,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Smith,  was  born  May  14,  1863,  in  county 
Cavan.  Both  spent  their  youthful  years  in 
their  native  land,  and  in  1852,  Timothy  Regan, 
thinking  to  better  his  condition  in  a  country 
where  larger  opportunities  were  offered,  sailed 
for  America,  the  land  of  promise,  and  settled 
in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  was  subsequently 
married,  his  wife  having  come  to  the  United 
States  in  1856,  in  company  with  her  brother, 
Rev.  Father  Joseph  Smith,  a  priest  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage,  Timothy  Regan 
moved  from  Dayton  to  Middletown,  where  he 
resided  for  several  years,  afterward  returning 
to  the  former  city,  where  he  still  lives.  Mr. 
Regan  served  with  distinction  in  the  late  war, 
entering  the  army  as  first  lieutenant  of  com- 
pany I,  Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
and  subsequently,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct,  was  promoted  captain  of  the  com- 
pany.     He    shared    the    fortunes   of    war   for 


three  and  one-half  years,  during  which  period 
he  participated  in  a  number  of  campaigns  and 
battles,  in  one  of  which,  Chickamauga,  he  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  which  necessitated  his 
lying  in  the  hospital  for  several  months.  In 
the  winter  of  1866  he  was  appointed  to  a  po- 
sition in  the  United  States  mail  service,  which 
he  still  holds,  enjoying  at  this  time  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  oldest  railway  postal  clerk  in 
the  United  States.  Timothy  and  Mary  Regan 
reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Edward  D.  being  the  fourth  in  the  order 
of  birth. 

Edward  D.  Regan  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Middletown  and  began 
life  for  himself  as  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  the 
Atlantic  &  Great  Western  railroad,  with  which 
he  remained  for  a  period  of  nine  years. 
Severing  his  connection  with  railroad  work, 
Mr.  Regan  entered  the  employ  of  P.  J-  Sorg, 
the  well  known  manufacturer  of  tobacco,  and 
for  three  years  represented  that  house  as 
traveling  salesman  in  Ohio  and  other  states, 
making  for  himself  a  fine  reputation  as  a  busi- 
ness man. 

Not  fully  satisfied  with  the  vocation  of 
salesman  and  desiring  to  engage  in  business 
upon  his  own  responsibility,  Mr.  Regan  aban- 
doned the  road  and  embarked  in  undertaking 
in  Dayton,  and  has  conducted  that  enterprise 
most  successfully  during  the  last  three  and 
one-half  years.  His  establishment  is  fully 
equipped  with  all  the  appliances  essential  to 
the  successful  prosecution  of  the  undertaking 
business,  his  stock  is  full  and  complete  and  his 
equipment  is  among  the  finest  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Regan  manages  his  establishment  upon 
strictly  business  principles  and  his  prosperity 
is  amply  deserved. 

Mr.  Regan  was  united  in  marriage  Septem- 
ber 19,  1887,  with  Miss  Frances  H.  Hartnett, 
of  Dayton,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  Hartnett.      Four  children  have  been 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


735 


born  of  this  union,  namely,  Robert,  Arthur, 
E.  J.  and  Mary.  Mr.  Regan  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Saint  Joseph  Roman  Catholic 
church  of  Dayton.  He  belongs  to  the  Saint 
George  A.  O.  H.,  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion 
and  Catholic  Knights  of  Ohio.  In  national 
affairs  Mr.  Regan  is  a  republican  and  in  local 
politics  independent. 


\S~\  EV.  GODFRED  I.  REICHE,  hos- 
I  z1^  pital  steward  at  the  national  military 
P  home,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Cincinnati  February  5,  1848.  His 
parents,  Gottlieb  and'Augusta  (Stibler)  Reiche, 
were  born  in  Saxony  and  Prussia,  Germany, 
respectively,  came  to  America  in  1838,  and 
settled  among  the  Indians  in  Texas.  '  But  the 
savages  were  so  hostile,  and  their  depredations 
so  frequent,  that  Mr.  Reiche  preferred  to  sac- 
rifice his  360  acres  of  land  rather  than  risk  the 
lives  of  his  family  by  remaining.  As  he  had 
been  a  Prussian  soldier,  he  had  assisted  in  drill- 
ing the  Texan  troops  for  the  war  with  Mexico, 
and  availed  himself  of  government  wagons  re- 
turning from  that  war  to  bring  his  family  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his 
son,  Godfred,  then  in  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  in 
1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years;  the  mother 
still  survives,  and  lives  with  her  son  at  his  home 
in  Dayton.  Of  their  six  children,  Augusta 
was  buried  at  sea,  and  her  sister,  Otilis,  died 
of  fright  at  the  Indians,  and  was  buried  on  the 
trip  to  Cincinnati.  Of  the  sons,  Theophilus  is 
foreman  of  a  brewery  in  Knoxville,  Tenn. ; 
Joseph  is  a  teacher  of  music  in  Sheboygan, 
Wis. ;  of  one  no  record  is  preserved,  and  of 
Godfred  I,  the  following  biography  is  given. 

Godfred  I.  Reiche  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cincinnati, 
and  when  in  his  fifteenth  year  enlisted,  in  July, 
1862,  in  company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Eighth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  until  the 


close  of  the  war.  He  was  attached  to  the 
Fourteenth  army  corps,  and  participated  in  all 
engagements  from  Chickamauga  to  the  At- 
lantic ocean,  and  in  those  in  the  Carolinas, 
and  also  bore  a  part  in  the  grand  review  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  He  never  missed  a  day 
from  duty  while  in  the  service,  and  was  pro- 
moted when  but  fifteen  and  one-half  years  old. 
He  was  discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  July, 
1S65,  when  he  returned  to  his  former  home 
in  Cincinnati. 

Mr.  Reiche  now  resumed  his  studies  and 
entered  Marietta  college,  passing  to  the  third 
or  junior  year,  and  completed  his  education  at 
the  Mission  House  seminary,  in  Wisconsin, 
where  he  was  prepared  for  the  ministry  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  He  was  ordained 
in  1873  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  where  he  remained 
nine  years,  built  three  churches  and  organized 
one  congregation.  The  church  edifices  spoken 
of  were  erected  at  Rising  Sun,  Aurora  and 
Florence,  Ind.  Mr.  Reiche  next  had  charge 
of  the  congregation  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  for 
eight  years,  this  being  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent congregations  in  the  conference.  For 
two  years  he  had  a  charge  in  Cincinnati,  and 
was  the  trusted  agent  of  the  city  for  the  distri- 
bution of  funds  for  the  relief  of  sufferers  from 
the  Ohio  valley  flood.  In  this  capacity  he  dis- 
posed of  over  $100,000  to  the  worthy  and 
needy,  and  holds  a  letter  of  commendation 
from  prominent  gentlemen  of  Cincinnati  for 
his  faithfulness  in  this  matter. 

Mr.  Reiche  was  also  strongly  recommended 
for  the  chaplaincy  of  the  Ohio  penitentiary, 
and  could  easily  have  secured  the  position,  but 
was  deterred  from  entering  upon  its  duties 
through  failing  health.  For  this  reason,  also, 
he  was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  active 
work  of  the  ministry  in  1894,  after  a  continu- 
ous service  of  over  twenty  years.  Leaving  his 
mother  in  Louisville,  Ky. ,  he  came  to  the  sol- 


736 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


diers'  home  at  Dayton  to  die.  But  through 
good  care  and  rest,  he  so  far  recuperated  as 
to  become  able  to  perform  his  present  light 
duties.  October  I,  1896,  Rev.  Mr.  Reiche 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alvira  Estray, 
of  Van  Wert,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Reiche  is  a  Meth- 
odist in  her  religious  belief. 

Mr.  Reiche  is  a  member  of  encampment 
No.  82,  Union  Veteran  League.  In  politics 
he  has  been  a  life-long  republican.  In  1894 
he  brought  his  venerable  mother  from  Louis- 
ville, Ky. ,  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  the  family 
have  their  happy  and  comfortable  home  near 
the  soldiers'  home  grounds. 


c/^V  ANIEL  GEORGE  REILLY,  M.  D., 

I  practicing  physician  and  surgeon  of 
f^^J  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Thorndike,  town  of  Palmer, 
Hampden  county,  Mass.,  August  29,  1863. 
He  is  a  son  of  Patrick  Reilly  and  Johanna 
(Wren)  Reilly,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
county  Kerry,  Ireland,  and  came  to  the  United 
States,  the  mother  when  she  was  two  years  of 
age,  the  father  when  he  was  eighteen.  They 
met  and  married  in  Ware,  Hampshire  county, 
Mass.,  and  are  now  living  in  the  village  of 
Thorndike,  where  their  son,  Daniel  George, 
was  born.  The  father  was  a  cotton  manufac- 
turer, but  is  now  living  retired  from  business. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Daniel  G.  Reilly  was  a  child  of  seven  years 
when  he  became  an  employee  of  a  cotton  fac- 
tory in  Thorndike,  owned  by  the  Bliss-Fabian 
company,  with  whom  he  remained  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  having  filled  all 
positions,  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest.  Up 
to  the  time  of  leaving  the  factory  he  had  had 
no  educational  advantages  whatever,  and  he 
then  began  in  the  elementary  branches  in  the 
district  school   in  his  native  village,  and,  after 


remaining  in  the  district  schools  four  terms, 
entered  Monson  academy,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  graduated  in  1887.  Then  entering 
Middlebury  college,  at  Middlebury,  Vt.,  a  Con- 
gregational institution  established  in  1800,  he 
there  graduated  in  1891,  with  the  degree  of 
bachelor  of  arts.  Entering  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  university  of  Vermont,  a  Con- 
gregational institution  established  in  1 791,  he 
graduated  fram  that  school  as  valedictorian  in 
the  class  of  1894.  The  expenses  of  these  sev- 
eral courses  •  of  study,  in  all  of  the  above- 
named  schools,  he  met  through  his  own  un- 
aided efforts. 

Dr.  Reilly  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  August, 
1894,  an  entire  stranger  to  the  people  of  the 
place.  As  in  his  pursuit  of  knowledge,  so  in 
his  practice,  he  has  been  deservedly  success- 
ful, and  is  one  of  the  rising  young  physicians 
of  the  city.  He  is  a  general  practitioner,  and 
is  county  and  examining  physician  for  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Foresters  of  Dayton,  of 
which  he  is  a  member.  He  is  examing  physi- 
cian for  the  Fidelity  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
company,  of  Philadelphia,  for  the  Mutual  Bene- 
fit Insurance,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  the  C.  K.  of  O.,  the  C.  K. 
of  A.  and  the  Fraternal  Censer.  During  1895 
Dr.  Reilly  was  on  the  lecture  staff  of  the  Dea- 
coness hospital  of  Dayton.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church.  Too  much  cannot  be 
said  in  commendation  of  the  energy  and  per- 
severance manifested  by  Dr.  Reilly  in  his  efforts 
to  advance  himself,  not  only  jn  scholarship, 
but  also  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  per- 
taining to  his  profession. 


E 


the 


ARRY    E.     RANDALL,    one    of    the 
well-known    young   business    men  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  proprietor   of  one 
of  the  leading  livery  establishments  of 
city,    was    born   in   Montgomery  county, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


737 


Ohio,  May  21,  1868.  He  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam C.  and  Catherine  (Warner)  Randall,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
parents  came  to  Montgomery  county  in  their 
childhood,  were  married  in  this  county,  and 
have  ever  since  resided  here.  The  father  has 
followed  farming  all  his  life,  and  now  resides 
on  his  farm  in  Butler  township.  Both  parents 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Van- 
dalia,  Montgomery  county. 

Harry  E.  Randall  was  reared  on  the  farm, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
in  Vandalia.  In  1889  he  went  to  Lexington, 
Ky. ,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  re- 
maining there  for  two  years,  when  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  engaged  in  the  livery' business  at 
No.  27  North  Jefferson  street,  where  he  has 
since  continued  with  much  success.  Mr.  Ran- 
dall is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  For- 
esters, and  the  A.  E.  O.  fraternities,  and 
stands  equally  well  in  the  social  and  business 
circles  of  Dayton. 


c/^V  P.  RAMSEY,  one  of  the  well-known 
M  citizens  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  secre- 
_P  tary  of  the  S.  R.  K.  T.  and  M.  M. 
association,  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.,  on  May  30,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Patterson)  Ramsey,  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  Ramsey  family  came  orig- 
inally from  Scotland  and  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction.  They  settled  in  Pennsylvania  at 
an  early  day,  and  married  and  intermarried 
among  the  Quakers.  The  Pattersons  were 
also  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  went  to 
Pennsylvania  from  Harrodsburg,  Ky.  Joseph 
Ramsey  and  wife  resided  in  Pennsylvania  until 
during  the  'eighties,  when  they  came  to  Ohio 
and  located  at  Wyoming,  in  Hamilton  county, 
where  Mr.  Ramsey  died.  His  widow  survives 
and  resides  in  Saint  Louis.  Of  the  children 
born   to    them    the   following  are  still    living: 


Joseph  Ramsey,  of  Saint  Louis,  who  is  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  Wa- 
bash railway  company;  John  P.  Ramsey  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Sierra  Madre  Construc- 
tion company  of  Ciudad  Juarez,  Mexico;  Rev. 
Alfred  Ramsey,  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church 
of  Minneapolis;  Mrs.  W.  D.  Holliday,  wife  of 
the  assistant  general  freight  agent  of  the  C. , 
C. ,  C.  &  St.  L.  railway  company,  of  Saint 
Louis,  and  N.  P.,  our  subject.  Two  sons  and 
one  daughter  are  deceased. 

N.  P.  Ramsey  was  reared  in  Pittsburg,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
When  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  he  left  school  and 
went  to  work  in  aglass-house,  and  later  clerked 
in  a  grocery  store  for  a  time,  during  which 
period  be  attended  night  school  and  learned 
bookkeeping.  He  next  took  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  for  a  wholesale  grocery  house  in 
Pittsburg,  in  which  he  was  employed  until 
1872.  In  that  year  he  entered  the  railroad 
service,  in  which  he  continued  until  1892,  first 
as  clerk,  then  as  agent  and  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  Bell's  Gap  railroad,  Pennsylvania, 
then  as  chief  clerk  of  the  B.  &  O.  accounting 
department,  then  as  general  freight  and  pas- 
senger agent  of  the  P.,  C.  &  Y.  and  P.,  N.  Y. 
and  L.  E.  railways,  then  as  general  manager 
of  the  C.  &  W.  M.  railway,  and  later  as  gen- 
eral agent  of  the  Big  Four  railway.  From 
1885  to  1891  Mr.  Ramsey  had  his  headquarters 
in  Dayton,  when  auditor  of  the  D.,  F.  W.  and 
C.  railway.  In  1892  he  accepted  the  secre- 
taryship of  the  Scottish  Rite  Knights  Templar 
&  Master  Masons'  Aid  association,  his  pres- 
ent position.  Mr.  Ramsey  is  a  member  of 
Milnor  lodge,  A.  Y.  M.,  No.  287,  of  Pittsburg; 
of  Mountain  chapter,  187,  of  Pennsylvania;  a 
charter  member  and  P.  C.  of  Ascalon  com- 
mandery,  No.  59,  K.  T.,  of  Pittsburg;  is  a 
member  of  Reese  commandery,  No.  9,  of  Day- 
ton; Gabriel  grand  lodge  of  perfection;  is  G. 
H.  P.  of  Miami  grand  council;  of  Dayton  grand 


738 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


chapter  of  the  valley  of  Dayton,  of  Dayton;  of 
Ohio  grand  consistory  S.  P.  R.  S.,  of  Cincin- 
nati. He  is  also  representative  of  the  grand 
commandery,  K.  T. ,  of  Ohio,  to  the  grand 
commandery,  K.  T.,  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Ramsey  was  married  early  in  life,  and  is  the 
father  of  seven  daughters,  one  of  whom  is 
happily  married. 


*w  *  ENRY  WILLIAM  REQUARTH,  su- 
|f\  perintendent  of  the  F.  A.  Requarth 
^  P  company,  at  the  corner  of  Sears  street 
and  Monument  avenue,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
is  a  native  of  this  city,  was  born  December  12, 
1864,  and  this  has  been  his  life-long  home. 
His  father,  F.  August  Requarth,  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  from  which  country  he  came  directly 
to  Dayton  in  1847,  here  learned  his  trade  of 
woodworker,  and  from  i860  until  1886  carried 
on  a  turning  shop.  His  son,  Henry  W.,  our 
subject,  being  then  about  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  the  two  formed  a  partnership  in  the  plan- 
ing-mill  business — the  nucleus  of  the  present 
magnificent  plant.  Four  years  later  the  F.  A. 
Requarth  company  was  incorporated  and  its 
mills  constructed,  and  unvarying  success  has 
attended  it  until  the  present  hour.  The  com- 
pany does  a  general  contracting  and  building 
business,  but  makes  a  specialty  of  stair  build- 
ing, and  its  product  is  known  and  used  in  nearly 
all  the  states  of  the  Union.  The  force  em- 
ployed numbers  about  125  men,  the  machinery 
is  unsurpassed  for  the  designed  purposes,  and 
the  work  turned  out  is  first-class  in  every  par- 
ticular. The  ground  and  buildings  belonging 
to  the  Requarth  company  cost  not  less  than 
$40,000,  the  machinery  and  stock  are  valued 
at  an  equal  amount,  and  the  value  of  the  out- 
put reaches  at  least  $125,000  per  annum. 
The  present  quarters  have  been  occupied  by 
the  company  since  1894,  ar>d  its  office  appoint- 
ments  are   everything   that   can   be  desired  in 


the  way  of  conveniences,  embellishment  and 
furnishings,  which  present  a  fair  sample  of  the 
excellence  of  the  company's  handicraft.  F. 
August  Requarth,  the  founder  of  the  company, 
is  still  active  as  president  of  the  corporation 
and  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors. 

F.  August  Requarth  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Regina  Hueffelman,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  died  in  Dayton  in  1870,  the  moth- 
er of  eight  children,  viz:  Anna,  Amelia,  Mary, 
Henry  W. ,  Emma  and  Lewis,  who  are  still 
living,  and  Herman  and  August,  who  died  in 
childhood.  Of  the  survivors,  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Brumm,  a  carpenter,  and  Lewis  is 
working  as  a  wood  turner  in  the  Requarth 
shops.  Henry  W.  Requarth  was  married,  in 
1890,  to  Miss  Clara  S.  Feldman,  a  native  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  three  children:  Harvey  August, 
Florence  Ella  and  Earl  Lewis. 

In  his  politics  Henry  W.  Requarth  is  a 
democrat,  but  he  is  not  a  partisan  and  prefers 
to  devote  his  business  faculties  to  the  promo- 
tion of  the  interests  of  the  extensive  establish- 
ment of  which  he  is  the  superintendent.  His 
church  affiliations  are  with  the  Saint  Paul's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation,  of  which 
his  wife  is  also  a  member,  and  in  the  faith  of 
which  he  is  training  his  children.  As  a  master 
of  his  business  he  is  an  excellent  manager;  as 
a  Christian,  his  life  has  been  upright  and  con- 
sistent, and  as  a  citizen  he  has  been  useful  in 
every  department  of  civil  life,  and  has  thus 
won  the  approbation  of  the  solid  men  of 
Dayton  city  and  its  environs. 


>^*ACOB  RENNER,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is 
■  one  of  those  German-Americans  whose 
/•  1  residence  here  has  brought  thrift  and 
prosperity,  loyalty  and  good  citizen- 
ship. He  was  born  on  the  Rhine,  in  the  king- 
dom of  Bavaria,  February  20,  1836.      His  mi- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


739 


nority  was  spent  in  his  native  country,  where 
he  enjoyed  excellent  educational  advantages, 
first  in  the  public  schools,  but  principally  as  a 
student  soldier  in  the  army  of  Germany.  At 
thirteen  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  bar- 
ber's trade,  continuing  that  business  until  fif- 
teen, when  he  joined  the  army  as  a  musician. 
The  succeeding  six  years  he  spent  in  the  serv- 
ice of  his  country,  devoting  much  of  his  time  to 
the  study  required  by  the  governmental  author- 
ities. In  1857  he  emigrated  to  America — his 
two  brothers  having  preceded  him.  His  fa- 
ther, Carl  Theodore  Renner,  was  a  mechanic, 
and  died  when  Jacob  was  a  child.  The  mother 
remained  in  her  native  country,  where  she  died 
at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  family  consisted  of 
three  sons,  of  whom  John  Adam  was  the  eld- 
est. He  died  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1881. 
Frederick,  the  youngest  of  the  sons,  is  engaged 
in  the  wholesale  paint  business  in  Cincinnati. 
On  coming  to  America  Jacob  resumed  his 
trade  as  a  barber,  and  spent  two  years  as  such 
on  a  passenger  steamer  on  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi. At  the  outbreak  of  the  great  Civil  war, 
he  was  among  the  first  to  offer  his  services  to 
his  adopted  country,  and  was  regularly  en- 
listed within  five  days  after  Fort  Sumter  was 
fired  upon.  He  became  a  member  of  company 
B,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  partici- 
pated in  all  of  the  important  maneuvers  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  including  the  first  battle 
of  Bull  Run.  His  previous  military  training 
stood  him  in  good  part,  and  he  was  soon  made 
a  non-commissioned  officer  of  his  company. 
His  term  of  enlistment  expired  on  the  heels  of 
the  national  defeat  at  Bull  Run.  Returning 
to  Dayton,  where  he  had  located  in  1859,  he 
soon  after  re-enlisted  for  the  three  years'  serv- 
ice, in  his  old  military  organization,  which  had 
been  maintained.  Three  years  were  spent  in 
the  service,  following  the  varying  fortunes  of 
the  Union  cause,  in  company  B,  First  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry.      During  this  period  he  was 


with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  com- 
mand, successively,  of  Gens.  Buell,  Rosecrans 
and  Grant. 

The  principal  battles  in  which  Mr.  Renner 
participated  were  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Murfeesboro 
or  Stone  River,  and  Perryville.  It  must  not 
be  forgotten,  however,  that  the  skirmishes  and 
preliminary  engagements  leading  up  to  these 
were  one  unceasing  series  of  battles,  often 
fought  with  great  losses.  At  Murfreesboro  he 
received  a  severe  wound  in  the  hand,  and 
while  en  route  to  the  field  hospital  for  treat- 
ment was  captured  by  the  enemy.  Presuming 
that  their  German-Yankee  prisoner  was  disa- 
bled, they  were  somewhat  lax  in  their  duties 
as  captors,  and  consequently  he  made  his  es- 
cape. His  term  of  service  expired  in  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  and  he  did  not  again  enter  the 
army.  Mr.  Renner  was  married  in  Dayton, 
in  1 86 1,  just  prior  to  the  war,  to  Miss  Rachel 
Louise  Hoerz,  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  in  young  woman- 
hood. To  this  union  six  children  have  been 
born,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Emma,  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  eldest  living  is  Jacob  Frederick, 
who  is  now  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business 
at  Spokane,  Wash.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  of 
his  county  until  recently,  serving  several  years 
in  that  capacity.  Frederick  served  five  years 
in  the  regular  army,  being  a  musician  in  the 
First  United  States  cavalry;  his  service  was 
entirely  on  the  Pacific  coast;  he  was  married 
by  the  post  chaplain,  and  following  his  dis- 
charge located  in  Washington.  Oscar  L.  is 
the  assistant  in  his  father's  business;  Eleanora 
Louise  and  Amelia  Lillian  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof,  the  latter  holding  a  position  as 
stenographer  and  typewriter  in  an  extensive 
manufacturing  concern  in  Dayton. 

Mr.  Renner  is  a  past  commander  of  Dis- 
ter  post,  G.  A.  R.,  but  now  a  member  of  Old 
Guard  post,  No.  23.  He  holds  membership 
in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 


740 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Independent  Order  of  Red  Men,  being  past- 
sachem  in  the  latter;  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Druids,  and  past  noble  arch 
of  the  same.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Harugari  society  and  of  the  German  Pio- 
neer society.  The  latter  is  largely  social. 
Membership  in  it  requires  continuous  residence 
in  Dayton  of  not  less  than  twenty  years,  and 
no  person  will  be  admitted  to  membership  who 
is  not  more  than  forty  years  old  and  able  to 
pass  a  critical  examination  touching  his  char- 
acter and  standing  in  the  community. 

Mr.  Renner  is  independent  both  in  politics 
and  religion.  His  motto  is  to  deal  justly  by 
all  men;  to  "visit  the  sick,  relieve  the  dis- 
tressed, bury  the  dead  and  educate  the  orphan  " 
are  among  the  duties  imposed  by  his  ritual. 
He  believes  in  voting  for  the  men  and  meas- 
ures whose  success  would  bring  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number.  He  has  been 
fairly  successful  in  business,  owning  a  com- 
fortable home  and  business  house  at  No.  246 
Wayne  avenue.  Renner  hall  is  a  part  of  this 
property,  where  various  lodges  and  societies 
hold  regular  meetings. 


IHOMAS  A.  SELZ,  president  and  man- 
ager of  the  Pearl  Laundry  company, 
and  one  of  the  well  known  young  busi- 
men  of  Dayton,  was  born  at  Camp 
Thomas,  Franklin  county,  Ohio  (now  a  part 
of  the  capital  of  the  state),  November  3,  1863. 
He  is  a  son  of  Charles  Selz,  who  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  who  came  to  the  United  States 
about  1850,  landing  at  New  York  and  going 
direct  to  Bucyrus,  Ohio.  Enlisting  in  the 
Fifty-eighth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  he  served 
during  the  war  as  band  sergeant.  Mr.  Selz 
was  a  bugler  in  Col.  Joseph  Dister's  command, 
and  when  the  order  was  issued  disbanding  the 
bands  of  the  volunteer  regiments,  he  joined 
the    regular   army,  and   became   a   member  of 


the  Eighteenth  regiment's  band.  His  service 
was  in  the  west  for  three  years,  at  Fort  Lara- 
mie and  other  frontier  posts.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Ohio,  locating  at  San- 
dusky, and  was  there  for  some  time  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  carriages.  In  1876  he  re- 
moved to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  has  ever  since 
been  a  resident  of  this  city.  At  present  Mr. 
Selz  is  a  member  of  the  Third  regiment  band. 
The  education  Thomas  A.  Selz  received 
was  that  furnished  by  the  public  shools,  but 
leaving  school  when  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
became  a  cash  boy  in  a  store  in  Dayton.  Af- 
terward he  was  engaged  for  nearly  three  years 
in  a  photograph  gallery,  and  at  the  end  of  this 
time  he  went  to  work  in  a  laundry,  in  which 
he  was  an  employee  for  nearly  three  years.  In 
1 88 1  he  engaged  in  the  laundry  business  for 
himself,  beginning  on  a  very  small  scale  with 
a  hand  laundry,  his  plant  consisting  of  one 
wash  tub^nd  a  second  hand  cook  stove.  His 
partner  in  this  enterprise  was  Charles  A.  Koch. 
Their  business  gradually  increased  in  propor- 
tion from  year  to  year  until  1887,  when  they 
established  a  steam  laundry,  fitting  up  their 
plant  af  No.  1 1 1  East  Second  street.  They 
continued  to  increase  their  capacity  until  1893, 
when  they  organized  a  stock  company  with  a 
capital  of  $25,000,  with  Mr.  Selz  as  president 
and  manager,  and  Mr.  Koch  as  vice-president 
and  assistant  manager.  In  June,  1895,  their 
present  handsome  building  was  completed  at 
Nos.  106,  108  and  110  East  Second  street,  it 
being  erected  especially  for  their  laundry  busi- 
ness. It  is  four  stories  in  height,  60x60  feet 
in  size,  and  is  fitted  up  with  the  latest  and 
most  improved  machinery  for  doing  a  general 
and  special  laundry  business.  To  give  some 
idea  of  the  capacity  of  this  establishment  and 
of  the  amount  of  work  done,  it  may  be  stated 
that  the  Pearl  laundry  uses  25,000  gallons  of 
water  daily,  which  is  pumped  from  the  com- 
pany's own  wells.      Their  steam  mangle,  which 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


743 


is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world,  has  a  daily 
capacity  of  32,000  pieces,  and  this  company 
has  the  exclusive  right  to  operate  it  in  Dayton. 
Since  1886  Mr.  Selz  has  been  a  member  of  the 
National  Laundry  association,  and  is  1895,  at 
the  convention  held  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  association,  which 
position  he  still  holds. 

Politically  Mr.  Selz  is  and  always  has  been 
a  democrat,  and  at  the  present  time  is  treas- 
urer of  the  democratic  city  committee.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Foresters,  of  the  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans, of  the  Dayton  Bicycle  club  and  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  Dayton  Gymnastic  club  for 
years.  Mr.  Selz  was  married,  in  1 891,  to  Miss 
Clara  L.  Clemens,  daughter  of  Jacob  Clemens, 
a  retired  contractor  and  builder  of  Dayton. 
He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  capacity,  and 
through  his  own  unaided  efforts  and  careful 
management  has  built  up  a  fine  business,  and 
ranks  as  one  of  the  able  and  useful  young  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city. 


^y^V  EWTON     H.    RICE,     manager    and 
M    bookkeeper  for  W.  S.  Hawthorn,  coal 
r     and  wood    dealer,    of    Dayton,    was 
born  in  Van  Buren  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  May  6,  1857,  and  is   a 
son  of  James  A.  and  Hannah  (Opdyke)  Rice. 
James  A.  Rice,  a  native  of  Frederick  coun- 
ty, Md. ,  was  born   May  24,  1824,  and   is  now 
residing  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  where  the  parental  home 
has  been   since  1861;   Mrs.  Hannah  (Opdyke) 
Rice  was  born   in   Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
August  18,  1826.     To  their  marriage  have  been 
born  eleven    children,  nine   of   whom  are  still 
living.     Ten  names  of  the  eleven,  in   order  of 
birth,  are  as  follows:     James  Milton,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years;  Charles  W. ,  who  is  a 
farmer  in  Miami  county,  Ohio;  Albert  O,  who 

27 


is  a  bookkeeper  in  Dayton;  Oliver  H.,  an  en- 
gineer, went  west  in  1876,  and  has  not  returned; 
Newton  H.  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir;  a 
daughter  died  in  infancy,  unnamed;  Wilson, 
who  was  a  school-teacher,  is  now  engaged  in 
the  coal  business  in  Germantown,  Ohio;  Willie 
P.  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  Wellston  & 
Jackson  Fuel  company,  of  Jackson,  Ohio;  Ed- 
gar E.  is  a  bookkeeper  for  a  coal  company  at 
Glenroy,  Ohio;  Emma  M.  and  Lillie  O.  are 
unmarried  and  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Newton  H.  Rice  was  educated  primarily  in 
the  public  schools,  and  this  education  was  sup- 
plemented by  courses  in  the  Euphemia  normal 
school  and  the  normal  school  at  Valparaiso, 
Ind.  He  was  prepared  for  teaching,  and  fol- 
lowed this  as  a  profession,  from  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  for  eight  years,  in  Preble 
and  Montgomery  counties.  He  was  then  as- 
sessor of  Miami  township,  in  the  latter  county, 
for  two  years,  and  in  1889  entered  upon  his 
vocation  as  bookkeeper,  for  the  first  four  years 
with  Mr.  McClure,  and  since  that  time  with 
Mr.  Hawthorn.  He  is  possessed  of  fine  busi- 
ness abilities,  is  especially  expert  as  an  ac- 
countant, and  is  faithful  and  painstaking  in  the 
discharge  of  every  detail  of  his  duty. 

Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  marriage  in  West 
Carrollton,  Ohio,  in  1883,  with  Miss  Carrie 
M.  Pease,  a  native  of  that  place — her  parents 
having  been  among  the  early  settlers.  She  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Carrollton  and  Miamisburg,  and  to 
her  marriage  with  Mr.  Rice  there  has  been 
born  one  daughter — Lulu  Ethel — now  eleven 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Rice  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  Mr.  Rice  is  a 
free  contributor  to  all  religious  and  charitable 
institutions.  In  politics  Mr.  Rice,  like  his 
father,  is  a  democrat  and  is  very  popular  with 
his  party  and  with  the  public  in  general,  hav- 
ing been  elected  assessor  of  Miami  township  by 
the  almost  unanimous  vote  of  all  parties. 


744 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Fraternally  Mr.  Rice  is  prominent  in  vari- 
ous societies,  being  a  member  of  Miamisburg 
lodge,  No.  44,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  a  char- 
ter member  of  uniform  rank,  Hope  division, 
No.  32;  a  past  grand  of  Wayne  lodge,  No.  10, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  mem- 
ber of  Dayton  encampment,  No.  2,  of  which 
he  is  past  chief  patriarch;  also  a  member  of 
canton  Earl,  No.  16,  patriarchs  militant,  and 
of  court  Cooper,  No.  1567,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Foresters,  of  which  he  has  served  as 
treasurer.  He  was  also  a  charter  member  of 
the  Fraternal  Censers,  Gem  City  council,  No. 
1,  and  is  likewise  a  charter  member  of  camp 
No.  3526,  Master  Workmen  of  America. 


WOHN  B.  RITCHIE,  the  popular plumb- 
M  er  and  dealer  in  plumbers'  supplies  at 
A  1  No.  535  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pa., 
June  28,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  Alexander  T. 
and  Hannah  C.  (Brown)  Ritchie,  both  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state. 

Alexander  T.  Ritchie  was  born  August  10, 
1818,  was  a  cooper  by  trade  in  his  earl}'  man- 
hood, but  spent  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in 
the  butchering  business,  and  died  in  Beaver 
county,  Pa.,  September  19,  1886;  his  widow, 
who  was  born  in  1824,  survived  until  October 
14,  1888,  when  she  died  in  Venango  county. 
The  children  born  to  these  parents  were  seven 
in  number,  of  whom  John  B.  is  the  only  sur- 
viving son;  of  the  other  six,  Kelso  died  at  the 
age  of  seven  months;  Perry  Amasa  was  drowned 
May  16,  1886,  when  twenty-one  years  old; 
E.llen  Elizabeth  is  married  to  Hugh  M.  Adams, 
a  farmer  of  Venango  county,  Pa. ;  Clementine 
C.  is  the  wife  of  David  B.  Nelson,  a  farmer  of 
the  same  county;  Mary  J.,  married  to  James 
VanCamp,  a  cooper,  lives  in  Crawford  county, 
Pa.,  and  Parthenia  is  the  wife  of  Homer  Car- 
penter, of  Venango  county,  in  the  same  state. 


John  B.  Ritchie,  in  his  youthful  years,  re- 
ceived a  very  good  public-school  education  in 
his  native  county,  and  his  early  manhood  was 
devoted  to  aiding  his  father  on  the  home  farm. 
After  leaving  the  parental  roof  he  went  to 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  apprenticed  himself 
to  a  plumber,  and,  after  having  thoroughly 
learned  the  trade,  he  worked  for  some  years  in 
that  city  as  a  journeyman.  He  first  started 
for  himself  in  business  in  Piqua,  Ohio,  but 
after  one  year's  experience  in  that  city,  moved 
his  implements,  wares  and  fixtures  to  Dayton, 
and  on  December  21,  1888,  located  at  his 
present  place  of  business.  Here  he  has  pros- 
pered, being  thoroughly  skilled  in  plumbing, 
gas-fitting,  steam-fitting  and  kindred  work. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ritchie  occurred  in 
Dayton  July  21,  1889,  the  bride  being  Miss 
Ida  E.  Hall,  a  native  of  Ohio.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  three  children — Perry  L., 
Blanche  Marie  and  Irene  Hall.  In  his  frater- 
nal relations  Mr.  Ritchie  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
also  a  member  of  the  uniform  rank,  Knights 
of  Pythias.  In  religion,  although  reared  in 
the  United  Presbyterian  faith,  he  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  organization.  In  politics  he  is,  as 
in  religion,  quite  independent,  his  proclivities, 
however,  tending  toward  republicanism.  Mr. 
Ritchie  is  of  Scottish  origin,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, Robert  Ritchie,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, having  been  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage, 
his  remote  ancestors,  like  hundreds  of  other 
Scots,  having  migrated  from  their  native  coun- 
try to  the  north  of  Ireland  on  account  of  re- 
ligious persecution. 


a  APT.  HENRY  RILEY,  an  official  of 
the  national  soldiers'  home,  near  Day- 
ton,   Ohio,    was    born    in    Mattituck, 
Suffolk    county,    N.    Y. ,    March    23, 
1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Mary  (Mc- 
Donald) Riley,  both  of  county  Cavin,  Ireland. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


745 


The  parents  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1 83 1,  settling  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y. ,  where 
the  mother  died  a  number  of  years  later. 
Philip  Riley  was  by  occupation  a  manufacturer 
of  boots  and  shoes;  after  a  long  residence  in 
the  United  States  he  returned  to  his  native 
country,  where  he  died.  Philip  and  Mary 
Riley  reared  a  family  of  three  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom  was  Thomas,  a  soldier  in  the 
British  army,  who  fell  in  the  Crimean  war; 
Mary  married  a  Mr.  Dillon,  of  New  York,  and 
is  now  a  widow  living  in  Ireland,  and  the  third 
child,  Henry,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Capt.  Henry  Riley  passed  his  youthful 
years  in  his  native  town  until  1857,  at  which 
time  his  parents  removed  to  New  York  city, 
where  he  completed  his  educational  training, 
attending  the  schools  of  that  city  for  about  two 
years  only.  In  1859  he  entered  upon  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  learn  the  tailor's  trade  with  an 
uncle,  at  Lafayette,  Ind,  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  1 86 1,  in  September  of  which  year 
he  enlisted  in  company  C,  Fortieth  Indiana  in- 
fantry, which  formed  a  part  of  the  army  of 
the  Ohio,  commanded  by  Gen.  D.  C.  Buell. 
Later  Capt.  Riley's  regiment  was  transferred 
to  Gen.  Wood's  division,  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, under  Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  during  the 
year  that  followed  its  record  is  replete  with 
laurels  gallantly  won  on  many  of  the  bloodiest 
battle  fields  of  the  south.  Capt.  Riley  shared 
with  his  comrades  these  honors,  taking  part  in 
numerous  hotly  contested  battles  and  minor 
engagements,  among  the  most  noted  of  which 
were  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Perryville,  Stone  River 
or  Murfreesboro,  in  the  last  of  which  he  received 
a  severe  wound  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell,  which 
cost  him  his  right  hand.  This  wound  necessi- 
tated the  captain's  retirement  from  active  serv- 
ice for  some  time,  but  after  his  recovery,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Ninety-fourth  company, 
Second  battalion,  Veteran  reserve  corps,  and 
did  duty  at  the  provost  marshal's  office,  Terre 


Haute,  Ind.,  until   his   final  discharge,  in  De- 
cember, 1864. 

After  retiring  from  the  army,  Capt.  Riley 
engaged  in  the  sewing-machine  business  at  La- 
fayette, Ind.,  where  he  met  with  reasonably 
fair  success,  but  removed  two  years  later  to 
New  York  city,  at  which  place  he  was  identi- 
fied with  the  mercantile  trade  until  1872,  when 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  retire,  tem- 
porarily, from  active  life.  In  the  year  last 
named  the  captain  became  an  inmate  of  the 
national  soldier's  home,  Dayton,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  for  a  short  time,  returning  to  New 
York  and  accepting  the  position  of  orderly  in 
the  Charity  hospital,  the  duties  of  which  he 
discharged  in  a  highly  creditable  manner  for 
about  two  years.  Severing  his  connection 
with  the  above  institution,  the  captain  became 
an  inmate  of  the  home  at  Tagus,  Me,  where 
he  continued  until  1879,  conducting  in  the 
meantime  a  co-operative  store  for  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry,  which  business  was  carried  on 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  home.  In 
1879  he  was  transferred  to  the  national  home 
at  Hampton,  Va.,  thence,  in  1881,  to  the 
Northwestern  home,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where 
he  remained  until  transferred,  in  1882,  to  the 
Central  branch,  Dayton,  Ohio,  from  which  he 
took  his  discharge  in  September,  1886.  In 
April,  1888,  he  returned  to  the  home,  where 
he  has  since  remained.  For  six  years  and 
three  months  he  served  as  chief  clerk  and  com- 
missary sergeant,  and  on  the  24th  day  of 
April,  1895,  was  appointed  to  his  present  po- 
sition— that  of  captain  of  company  Sixteen, 
although  he  has,  at  different  times  since  his 
connection  with  the  institution,  commanded 
eight  companies. 

Company  Sixteen  is  composed  of  240  men, 
present  and  absent,  from  which  the  engineers 
of  the  home  are  selected.  Capt.  Riley  pos- 
sesses fine  military  talent  and  executive  ability 
of  a  high  order,  and  his  official  functions  have 


746 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


been  discharged  in  a  manner  creditable  to 
himself  and  satisfactory  to  the  management  of 
the  home.  He  is  every  inch  a  soldier,  strict 
in  discipline,  active  in  behalf  of  the  interests  of 
the  noble  institution  with  which  he  has  been  so 
long  identified,  and  is,  withal,  a  most  intelli- 
gent gentleman,  popular  with  all  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact  in  official  or  social  rela- 
tions. The  captain  was  married  December 
ii,  1886,  to  Miss  Louisa  Kimmerle,  of  Day- 
ton, a  union  blessed  with  the  birth  of  one  child, 
Henry  J.,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1890. 
The  captain  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Veteran 
Legion,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  being  past  junior 
vice-commander  of  the  latter,  and  he  holds 
the  position  of  quartermaster  of  encampment 
82,  U.  V.  L.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote,  in  1864,  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has 
been  a  faithful  and  uncompromising  adherent 
of  the  republican  party  ever  since. 


^yy»ILLIAM  SCHULTZ  ROCK,  of  the 
mm  firm  of  Rock  Bros.,  sign-writers,  39 

WjL^J  South  [efferson  street,  Dayton,  was 
born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  November 
22,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Kate 
(Farrell)  Rock.  John  Rock  was  born  in  Al- 
sace, Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  locating  in  Zanesville,  where 
he  was  a  wholesale  butcher  and  stock  dealer 
until  his  death  in  1866.  Mrs.  Catherine 
Rock  subsequently  married  D.  D.  Vande- 
grift  and  is  still  living.  Of  the  immediate  fam- 
ily of  John  and  Kate  Rock  there  were  six  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  as  follows:  Mary,  wife 
of  J.  C.  Harris,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio;  John,  a 
business  man  of  Dayton;  Thomas  L. ,  the  busi- 
ness associate  of  William  S.;  Flora  E.,  wife  of 
Walter  J.  Manley;  William  S.  and  Harry  J., 
the  latter  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bates  & 
Rock,  dry-goods  dealers,  of  Dayton. 

The  early  years  of  William  S.    Rock  were 


passed  in  his  native  city  of  Zanesville,  where 
he  attended  the  public  schools,  and  when  quite 
young  manifested  a  decided  taste  for  painting 
and  decorating.  He  yielded  to  the  desire  to 
become  a  painter,  and  worked  at  the  trade  for 
some  time  in  Zanesville.  He  later  came  to 
Dayton,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Barney 
&  Smith  car  works,  where  he  remained  for 
eight  years.  During  this  time  he  became  pro- 
ficient in  painting  and  finishing,  but  after  leav- 
ing the  shop  discontinued  his  trade  for  a  time 
and  worked  with  his  brother  John,  in  the 
grocery  business,  for  about  two  years.  He 
then  abandoned  merchandizing,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1893,  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
Thomas  L.  Rock,  again  engaged  in  painting, 
the  firm  giving  its  entire  attention  to  sign  work 
in  all  its  branches.  Rock  Bros,  do  all  kinds 
of  work  in  this  line,  making  wire,  wood  or  can- 
vas signs,  and  being  recognized  as  the  leading 
sign  manufacturers  of  the  city.  Their  trade  is 
very  lucrative  and  the  name  of  the  firm  is  a 
guarantee  for  honest  and  artistic  work.  Will- 
iam S.  Rock  was  married  December  26,  1882, 
to  Miss  Carrie  Hicks,  of  Springfield,  Ohio, 
who  died  June  6th,  1886,  leaving  one  child, 
Violet.  November  20,  1888,  Mr.  Rock  mar- 
ried his  present  wife,  Katie  Peters,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  William  Peters,  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known 
families  of  the  city.  Politically  Mr.  Rock  is  a 
democrat  and  in  religion  is  liberal,  not  being 
bound  by  any  church  or  creed. 


>Y*OHN  ROCK,  a  member  of  the  Dayton 
M  city  council,  and  one  of  the  well  known 
m  J  and  highly  respected  business  men  of 
the  city,  was  born  in  Muskingum  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  January  28,  1857.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Herbig  &  Rock,  manu- 
facturers of  harness  and  dealers  in  carriages, 
wagons  and  bicycles,  with  their  place  of  busi- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


747 


ness  at  No.  31  East  Fourth  street.  He  was 
reared  in  Muskingum  county  and  there  received 
the  elementary  education  usually  supplied  by 
the  public  schools.  He  early  assumed  the  re- 
sponsibility of  caring  for  himself,  beginning 
when  fifteen  years  of  age  to  learn  telegraphy, 
and  being  thus  engaged  for  three  or  four  years. 
In  1878  he  came  to  Dayton  and  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  on  East  Fifth  street,  con- 
tinuing in  this  occupation  until  1891.  In  this 
year  he  engaged  in  his  present  line  of  business 
in  partnership  with  George  Herbig,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Herbig  &  Rock. 

In  1889  Mr.  Rock  was  first  elected  to  the 
Dayton  city  council  from  the  Fifth  ward,  as  a 
democrat.  Serving  one  term,  he  retired  from 
that  body  in  1891.  In  the  spring  of  1895  he 
was  again  elected,  this  time  from  the  First 
ward,  and  his  term  will  expire  in  1897.  Mr. 
Rock  is  a  member  of  Iola  lodge,  No.  83, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  Iola  division  uni- 
form rank,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  November,  1885,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jeanette  Robinson,  of  Elmwood  Place,  Ham- 
ilton county,  Ohio.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Rock 
were  John  and  Catherine  (Farrell)  Rock,  the 
former  born  in  Germany  and  the  latter  in 
Johnstown,  Pa.  The  father  died  in  Muskingum 
county  in  1868,  his  widow  still  surviving  and 
living  in  Dayton. 

John  Rock,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is 
one  of  the  substantial  and  influential  citizens 
of  Dayton,  is  vice-president  of  the  city  council, 
and  is  highly  regarded  for  uprightness  and  in- 
tegrity of  character  wherever  known. 


^V'AINT  MARY'S  INSTITUTE,  of  Day- 
*^^KT    ton,     Ohio,     was    founded    by    Rev. 

K^  J    Father  Leo  Meyer,  of  Alsace,  France, 

who  landed  at  New  York  city  July  4, 

1850,  and  thence  went   to  Cincinnati  on  the 


16th  of  the  same  month,  where  he  joined  four 
distinguished  and  reverend  brothers,  named 
J.  B.  Sitzi,  M.  Zehler,  A.  Edel,  and  D.  Litz, 
who  had  reached  the  last  named  place  in  De- 
cember, 1849,  and  had  taken  charge  of  Trinity 
school.  In  January,  1851,  Father  Meyer  was 
called  to  Dayton  to  aid  Brothers  Zehler  and 
Edel  in  the  care  of  unfortunates  who  were 
stricken  with  cholera,  and  while  engaged  in 
the  performance  of  this  charitable  and  self- 
sacrificing  duty  conceived  the  idea  of  estab- 
lishing Saint  Mary's  Institute.  Father  Meyer 
secured  the  land  upon  which  formerly  stood 
the  old  Stuart  mansion,  and  here  was  estab- 
lished the  nucleus  of  what  is  now  the  prosper- 
ous institution  of  education  under  considera- 
tion. These  five  enterprising  brothers  lived 
to  see  their  efforts  crowned  with  success,  three 
however  being  now  deceased,  Brother  Edel 
dying  in  July,  1891;  Brother  Zehler  on  March 
24,  1893,  both  passing  away  in  Dayton,  and 
Brother  Meyer  dying  in  Europe  at  a  date  not 
accessible. 

From  these  feeble  beginnings  in  1850  has 
sprung  the  now  prosperous  and  vigorous  sodal- 
ity or  order  known  as  the  Brothers  of  Mary, 
which  is  represented  in  nine  or  ten  states  of 
the  Union,  in  Winnipeg  and  in  the  Sandwich 
islands,  the  efforts  of  the  members  being  de- 
voted to  the  education  of  young  men  exclu- 
sively. In  1895  tne  local  institute  of  Dayton 
had  under  instruction  26$  students,  an  increase 
of  treble  its  enrollment  when  the  institute  was 
regularly  incorporated  in  1878,  and  at  least 
double  that  when  it  was  authorized  by  the 
state  legislature,  in  1882,  to  confer  upon  its 
graduates  the  usual  collegiate  degrees.  The 
curriculum  is  very  comprehensive,  as  it  begins, 
when  necessary,  at  the  foundation  of  primary 
instructions  and  carries  the  pupil  to  the  culmi- 
nating point  of  "commencement  day, "when 
he  receives  the  diploma  which  authorizes  him 
to  adopt  that  one  of   the  learned  professions 


748 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


which    he  may    select   as   best   suited    to    his 
abilities. 

The  higher  department  of  this  most  excel- 
lent institute  is  divided  into  three  sections, 
designed  to  meet  the  demands  of  those  students 
who  desire  advancement  in  literature,  science 
or  commercial  training,  and  each  section  is 
most  excellently  well  officered.  Proficiency 
on  the  part  of  the  students  is  recognized  by  a 
system  of  rewards  given  at  competitive  exam- 
inations, and  a  full  record  is  kept  of  the  stand- 
ing of  each  competitor,  a  copy  of  which  is  sent 
monthly  to  his  parents  or  guardians.  He  has, 
also,  free  access  to  a  chemical  laboratory,  to 
physical  apparatus  and  to  a  cabinet  of  natural 
history,  as  well  as  to  libraries  for  reference 
and  libraries  for  circulation.  Vacation  is  had 
only  at  the  Christmas  holidays.  The  discipline 
of  the  institute  is  vigorous  but  is  based  chiefly 
on  moral  suasion,  and  is  calculated  to  train 
the  students  to  habits  of  self-control  and  gen- 
tlemanly behavior,  based  on  true  Christian 
principles.  The  full-course  students,  as  a  rule, 
remain  under  the  roof  of  the  institute  until 
graduated,  forming  one  happy  family  and  en- 
joying all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of 
their  respective  homes,  while  of  course  there 
are  some  few  day-scholars  who  enjoy  all  the 
advantages,  in  an  educational  sense,  of  the 
permanent  attendants.  Music  and  elocution 
are  not  neglected,  and  as  to  the  former  the 
student  may  make  choice  between  vocal  and 
instrumental,  or,  indeed,  avail  himself  of  the 
benefits  of  both.  He  may,  if  he  prefer  instru- 
mental tuition,  also  select  the  instrument  to 
which  his  taste  may  most  incline  him.  In 
this  connection  it  may  here  be  mentioned  that 
the  institute  choir  now  comprises  seventy-five 
voices,  and,  under  the  direction  of  its  pro- 
ficient instructors,  "  discourses  most  excellent 
music."  Many  hundreds  of  young  men  have 
gone  forth  from  Saint  Mary's,  are  now  orna- 
ments to  society  and  successful    business  men 


or  eminent  in  the  various  learned  professions. 
But  it  is  meet  that  some  mention  be  made  of 
the  grounds  and  buildings  occupied  by  this  in- 
stitution. The  main  college  building  is  a  large 
four-story  brick  structure  and  the  chapel  is  a 
beautiful  modern  edifice,  occupying  a  position 
midway  between  the  principal  and  the  second- 
ary college  buildings.  The  grounds  are  remote 
from  all  contaminating  influences,  yet  of  easy 
access  by  street-car  lines,  and  are  located  on 
an  eminence  overlooking  the  city  and  the  sur- 
rounding country;  they  are  handsomely  laid 
out  in  drives  and  walks,  ornamented  with  trees 
and  shrubbery,  and  constitute  a  most  homelike 
and  inviting  retreat. 


</^  RUNO  RITTY,  general  contractor 
1^*^  and  builder,  and  bridge  builder,  of 
J^^9  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  near  Belfort, 
France,  formerly  a  city  in  the  depart- 
ment of  the  Upper  Rhine,  which  was  first  reg- 
ularly fortified  in  1668  by  Vauban.  The  date 
of  his  birth  was  October  6,  1849.  He  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Theresa  (Casper)  Ritty,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  France.  To  them  there 
were  born  four  sons,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living,  as  follows:  Bruno,  Louis  and  Henry. 
The  fourth  son,  who  died  in  Louisville,  Ky. , 
was  Francis  Joseph. 

Joseph  Ritty  is  still  living  in  France.  He 
is  a  stonecutter  and  mason  by  trade,  and  is,  as 
was  his  wife,  who  died  in  1888,  at  about  sixty- 
two  years  of  age,  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Bruno, 
Frank  Ritty,  was  also  a  native  of  France,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  served  his  coun- 
try as  a  soldier  in  the  war  with  Russia.  He 
married  twice,  reared  a  large  family,  of  whom 
Joseph,  a  son  of  his  first  wife,  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor, and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  died  in  France  before  Bruno 
was  born. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


749 


Bruno  Ritty  was  reared  in  France,  and 
there  in  part  learned  his  trade  and  married. 
However,  previous  to  his  marriage,  he  went  to 
Switzerland,  and  in  Basel,  the  second  largest 
city  in  that  country,  finished  learning  his  trade. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  Africa,  re- 
mained there  four  years,  and  then  returned  to 
France,  having  served  in  the  army  during  his 
sojourn  in  Africa. 

The  marriage  of  Bruno  Ritty  and  Miss 
Rosalie  Shapperly,  daughter  of  Doris  and  Anna 
(Brobst)  Shapperly,  took  place  in  the  month 
of  January,  1871.  To  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  five  children,  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  as  follows:  Mary  Rosalie, 
Charles  O,  Leo,  Theresa,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Edward.  In  1872,  after  the  birth  of  the 
first  child,  Mary  Rosalie,  Mr.  Ritty  and  family 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  coming  direct 
to  Ohio  and  settling  in  Dayton.  For  the  first 
year  and  a  half  after  arriving  in  Dayton  he 
worked  by  the  day,  then  began  taking  con- 
tracts, and  since  then  has  erected  many  of  the 
large  business  blocks  and  residences  in  the  city. 
During  his  twenty-five  years'  residence  in  the 
city  of  Dayton,  Mr.  Ritty  has  materially  aided 
in  its  growth  and  improvement.  Through  his 
industry  and  sound  judgment  he  has  been  un- 
usually prosperous  in  his  business  affairs,  and 
is  as  highly  respected  as  successful.  Since  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age  he  has  seen  his  father's 
home  but  twice.  Politically,  he  is  independ- 
ent, and  in  religion  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Both  are 
excellent  people,  and  have  a  wide  circle  of  true 
and  trusted  friends. 


V/^~JEV-      WILLIAM     A.      ROBINSON, 
1/^    D.    D.,   pastor    of    Grace    Methodist 
.P    Episcopal  church  of  Dayton,  is  a  na- 
tive of   the   Buckeye  state    and  was 
born    in    Warren    county,     January  9,    1843. 


His  parents,  James  A.  and  Lucinda  (Guthrie) 
Robinson,  also  natives  of  Warren  county, 
were  respectively  born  in  August,  1817,  and 
August,  18 1 5.  The  father  was  a  tanner  by  vo- 
cation, but  is  now  retired  and  resides  with  Dr: 
Robinson,  whose  mother  died  in  Warren 
county  in  1880.  The  grandfather  of  James 
A.  Robinson  was  a  Kentuckian  and  traced  his 
genealogy  to  John  Robinson,  an  Englishman, 
who  came  to  America  in  the  Mayflower.  This 
grandfather  was  a  Baptist  minister,  an  early 
settler  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  and  ended  his 
days  on  his  farm  near  New  Carlisle.  Dr.  Rob- 
inson's paternal  grandmother  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent, while  his  maternal  grandfather  and 
grandmother  were  respectively  of  Welsh  and 
English  extraction. 

The  children  that  were  born  to  James  A. 
and  Lucinda  Robinson  were  six  in  number, 
viz:  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Gibson,  now  of  Columbus, 
Ohio;  Rev.  William  A.;  Rothwell  P.,  who 
died  in  Kokomo,  Ind.,  in  childhood;  Loretta 
A.,  whose  home  is  with  her  brother,  Edgar 
B.,  at  Higginsport,  Ohio;  Wellington  Porter, 
a  teacher,  who  died  in  1875,  at  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  and  Edgar  Bunyan,  who  married 
a  daughter  of  Capt.  Kauts,  brother  of  Gen. 
Kauts,  and  lives  on  his  farm  at  Higginsport, 
Brown  county. 

Dr.  William  A.  Robinson  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  Defiance  and  Rochester, 
Ohio,  and  in  1862,  while  taking  an  academic 
course  at  Martinsville,  enlisted  in  the  Fifth 
regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  for  three 
months,  but  filled  out  a  term  of  four  months; 
returning  to  Ohio,  he  entered  school  at  Troy, 
but  shortly  afterward  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Miami  and  Clinton  counties;  he  then  took  an 
additional  academic  course  at  Mount  Washing- 
ton, and  in  the  fall  of  1864  entered  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  university  at  Delaware,  from  the 
classical  department  of  which  he  graduated  in 
1868.     When  a  lad  of  but  ten  years  of  age  he 


750 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


had  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Defiance  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Parker,  and  he  preached  his  first  sermon  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years,  when  a  student,  and  also 
preached  while  teaching  a  three-months'  term 
in  Miami  county.  The  year  following  his 
graduation  from  the  Wesleyan  university  he 
was  appointed  by  the  presiding  elder  assistant 
preacher  on  the  Mainville  (Warren  county) 
circuit,  and  in  the  fall  of  1868  was  ordained  by 
Bishop  Kingsley,  at  London,  Ohio;  in  1872  he 
was  made  an  elder  in  the  church  at  Eaton, 
Ohio,  by  Bishop  Scott,  and  in  the  fall  of  1879 
entered  the  Cincinnati  conference  at  Hillsboro, 
Bishop  E.  R.  Ames  presiding.  His  first  ap- 
pointment in  this  conference  was  to  the  Venice 
circuit,  which  consisted  of  eight  charges  with 
two  preachers,  Mr.  Robinson  being  in  charge. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  to  Christie 
chapel,  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained  for 
three  years,  and  from  1874  to  1877  officiated 
at  Raper  church  in  Dayton;  from  1877  to 
1880  his  charge  was  the  Central  church  of 
Springfield,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the 
north  Ohio  conference  and  stationed  at  the 
Franklin  avenue  church  in  Cleveland  from 
1880  to  1883.  At  the  close  of  this  pastorate 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg  conference 
and  assigned  to  the  North  avenue  church,  Alle- 
gheny City,  from  1883  to  1886,  during  the  last 
year  of  which  incumbency  he  visited  England, 
Ireland,  Scotland,  France  and  other  European 
countries.  In  1886  he  was  invited  to  return 
to  the  Franklin  avenue  church  of  Cleveland, 
where  he  again  passed  three  years,  and  was 
then  invited  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Union 
church  in  Covington,  Ky. ,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  having  been  transferred  to  the  Ken- 
tucky conference.  In  1893  he  was  invited  to 
the  charge  of  Grace  church,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
returning  to  the  Cincinnati  conference  after  a 
a  separation  of  eleven  years.  During  a  part 
of    the    winter   of    1895  and  of  the  following 


spring  Mr.  Robinson  again  passed  three  months 
abroad,  going  up  the  Mediterranean  sea  and 
visiting  Palestine  and  other  points  of  interest 
in  the  old  world.  He  is  now  serving  the 
fourth  year  of  his  present  pastorate,  and  it 
may  be  here  mentioned  that  during  his  twenty- 
eight  years  in  the  ministry  he  has  had  pastoral 
charge  of  over  6,500  persons,  and  has  received 
into  his  various  congregations  1,300  converts. 
Rev.  Dr.  Robinson  was  united  in  marriage 
in  Delaware,  Ohio,  in  1869,  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth J.  Page,  daughter  of  W.  H.  B.  and  Mary 
Page.  She  is  highly  accomplished  and  well- 
educated,  having  graduated  from  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  Female  college  in  1868.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  this  union,  viz:  Har- 
rison Page,  who  was  born  in  Venice,  Ohio,  in 
1870,  and  is  connected  with  the  wholesale 
glassware  house  of  Barge  &  Gross  at  Cleve- 
land; James  Francis  C,  who  graduated  from 
the  university  of  Cincinnati  in  1892,  and  is 
now  a  teacher  of  English  literature  and  his- 
tory in  the  Dayton  high  school;  Grace  Hardin, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  Woodward  high  school  of 
Cincinnati,  was  also  an  attendant  at  Barthol- 
omew's school  and  the  university  of  Cincinnati, 
and  is  now  at  home  with  her  parents;  Daisy, 
who  died  in  Dayton  at  the  age  of  three  years, 
at  the  time  her  father  was  pastor  of  Raper 
church;  Blossom,  who  is  taking  a  graduate 
course  in  the  Dayton  high  school;  and  Helen 
Hunt,  who  is  now  in  the  sixth  grade  of  the 
public  schools.  Dr.  Robinson  is  a  republican 
in  his  political  affiliations,  and  fraternally  is  a 
member  of  the  Greek  Letter  fraternity  of  his 
alma  mater,    and  of  the  G.   A.   R. 


a  APT.     PAUL    SANDRIDGE,     com- 
manding  company  Ten,    of   the  na- 
tional  military   home,    near  Dayton, 
Ohio,     was    born    in    slavery,     near 
Lynchburg,   Va.,   February   1,  1841,  and  was 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


751 


the  property  of  Eaton  Carpenter,  as  were  also 
his  parents.  Mr.  Carpenter,  by  his  will,  liber- 
ated his  human  chattels  in  1853,  and  some- 
what later  the  parents  of  Paul  Sandridge  came 
to  Ohio  and  located  near  Portsmouth,  where 
both  died. 

Paul  Sandridge  received  a  fair  education, 
on  reaching  the  free  soil  of  Scioto  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  at  farming,  near  Portsmouth, 
until  his  enlistment,  being  one  of  the  first  of 
his  race  to  offer  his  services  for  the  liberation 
of  his  people.  But  his  company,  which  was  a 
"colored"  company,  after  being  thoroughly 
drilled,  was  rejected  by  the  governor  of  Ohio, 
who,  at  that  time,  thought  he  had  no  author- 
ity to  accept  colored  troops.  After  president 
Lincoln's  emancipation  proclamation,  how- 
ever, Mr.  Sandridge  found  his  opportunity  to 
show  his  devotion  to  his  race  and  the  cause  of 
freedom,  and  enlisted,  January  1,  1864,  in 
company  C,  Twenty-seventh  regiment,  United 
States  colored  troops,  and  was  mustered  in  as 
first  sergeant  of  that  company.  This  regiment, 
under  Gen.  Burnside,  served  at  Petersburg, 
Va. ,  after  the  famous  mine  explosion.  The 
commissioned  officers  of  the  regiment,  how- 
ever, were  white  men,  while  the  subordinate 
offices  were  held  by  colored  men.  At  the  South 
Side  fight  Mr.  Sandridge  was  so  seriously 
wounded  that  he  was  disabled  for  further  duty 
and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
where  he  was  honorably  discharged  July  27, 
1865,  having  been  mustered  out  as  orderly- 
sergeant  of  company  C.  Returning  to  Ports- 
mouth, he  made  an  attempt  at  farming  for  a 
living,  but  soon  found  that  he  was  unable  to 
follow  the  plow  successfully,  and  therefore 
went  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  where  he  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade.  This  business  he  fol- 
lowed until  October,  1869,  when  he  came  to 
Dayton  and  entered  the  military  home  for  the 
purpose  of  continuing  his  education  in  its 
school,  at  which  he  was  a  constant  attendant 


for  at  least  three  years,  when  he  withdrew  and 
for  five  years  was  a  tutor  at  South  Charleston, 
Ohio,  in  a  free  school  for  colored  children. 
He  spent  a  year  thereafter  in  Portsmouth  and 
then  re-entered  the  soldiers'  home  at  Dayton, 
where  he  has  since  been  employed  the  greater 
portion  of  his  time,  being  early  placed  in  com- 
mand of  his  present  company. 

Capt.  Sandridge  has  command  of  the  only 
barracks  of  colored  men  in  the  military  home, 
and  has  accommodations  for  about  119  men. 
Not  less  than  seventy  per  cent  of  these  men 
were  born  in  slavery,  about  seventy  per  cent 
can  read,  and  about  fifty  per  cent  can  read 
and  write.  In  politics  the  captain  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  is  the  recipient  of  a  pension,  granted 
for  wounds  received  while  in  the  service.  One 
noticeable  feature  of  company  Ten  is  that 
everything  is  scrupulously  clean.  The  floors 
of  the  barracks  are  as  white  as  careful  scrub- 
bing can  make  them;  the  beds  are  clean  and 
handsomely  made  up;  no  boistrous  talk  is  ever 
indulged  in,  and  all  is  order  and  system.  An- 
other fact  worthy  of  mention  is  this:  A  red 
"pass"  is  a  badge  of  good  conduct.  Every 
soldier  who  passes  the  gates  on  a  "  red  pass  " 
is  considered  perfect  in  behavior,  as  the  badge 
of  honor  is  not  given  to  any  who  violate  the 
well-established  rules  of  the  institution.  Nearly 
every  colored  man  who  passes  the  gates  proudly 
shows  the  guards  a  red  card,  and  returns  in  as 
good  order  as  he  retires.  The  colored  sol- 
diers are  not  particularly  religious,  only  about 
twenty-five  per  cent  being  members  of  some 
church,  but  they  are  prompt  and  regular  in 
attendance  upon  religious  services  in  the  home. 
Concerning  the  early  lives  of  these  liberated 
slaves  and  the  universal  ignorance  prevailing 
among  them  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  the  ad- 
vancement made  in  their  education  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  good  citizenship  is  worthy 
of  all  praise.  It  not  only  evinces  a  desire  upon 
their  part  to  make  the  best  of  their  opportuni- 


752 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ties,  but  also  reflects  great  credit  upon  those 
having  in  charge  the  civilizing  and  disciplinary 
features  of  their  education.  As  a  factor  in  the 
development  of  their  latent  powers,  no  white 
man  has  accomplished  more  than  the  intelli- 
gent colored  man  who  has  so  long  had  charge 
of  the  colored  company. 

The  marriage  of  Capt.  Sandridge  took 
place  in  South  Charleston,  Ohio,  in  April,  1 874, 
to  Miss  Anna  Morgan,  a  native  of  that  town, 
the  result  of  the  union  being  a  daughter,  who 
is  deceased;  William,  who  is  employed  in  the 
hotel  of  the  soldiers'  home,  at  Dayton;  Clif- 
ford, who,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  is  the 
manager  of  his  father's  farm,  and  Paul,  aged 
eight  years,  who  is  attending  school. 

Capt.  Sandridge  is  a  member  of  the  colored 
branch  of  the  Masonic  order,  is  also  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church  since  1865.  He  has  always 
made  the  best  of  his  opportunities,  and  is 
to-day  an  intelligent  and  useful  citizen. 


aHARLES  WILLIAM  SALISBURY, 
M.  D.,'  one  of  Dayton's  successful 
physicians  and  surgeons,  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  since  1891.  He 
was  born  in  Russellville,  Ohio,  in  May,  1854, 
and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  J.  N.  and  Maria  (Payne) 
Salisbury,  who  are  now  living  in  Russellville, 
the  former  a  retired  physician,  after  an  active 
practice  of  some  forty  years.  J.  N.  Salisbury 
received  his  literary  education  at  Marietta  col- 
lege, Marietta,  Ohio,  after  graduating  from 
which  institution  he  attended  the  Ohio  Medi- 
cal college,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was  there- 
after engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his 
profession,  to  which  he  was  strongly  devoted. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  a  man  of  great  sympathy  for  human  suf- 
fering. He  reared  a  family  of  six  children, 
viz:     Emma,  wife  of  Dr.    A.  M.  Williamson, 


of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Charles  W.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Thomas  N.,  a  farmer  of  Brown 
county,  Ohio,  near  Russellville;  Ella,  wife  of 
Prof.  L.  O.  Thoroman  who  is  now  the  head 
of  a  normal  school  at  Salina,  Kans. ;  James 
A.,  physician  of  Dayton,  and  Lucy  B.,  wife  of 
Dr.  C.  W.  Evans,  of  Russellville,  Ohio. 

Charles  W.  Salisbury  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive place  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  later  at  the  National  normal  uni- 
versity at  Lebanon,  Ohio.  He  first  read  med- 
icine with  his  father,  and  then  attended  the 
Ohio  Medical  college,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but 
graduated  from  the  Starling  Medical  college, 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  the  class  of  18S2.  After 
graduating  he  located  in  Winchester,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  engaged,  until  1891,  in  general 
practice,  when,  as  before  stated,  he  removed 
to  Dayton,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  active  exercise  of  his  professional 
duties.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Adams  and 
Brown  county  medical  societies,  and  fraternal- 
ly is  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

Dr.  Salisbury  was  married,  in  1S82,  to 
Miss  Estella  McCoy,  of  Ripley,  Ohio,  by 
whom  he  has  had  two  children — Rena  and 
Ralph.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Wayne  avenue  Presbyterian  church,  he  hold- 
ing the  office  of  elder,  and  both  taking  great 
interest  in  the  work  of  their  church. 

J.  A.  Salisbury,  M.  D.,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  has  been  a  resident  of 
that  city  since  1893.  He  was  born  in  Brown 
county,  in  December,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  J.  N.  and  Maria  (Payne)  Salisbury,  men- 
tioned above  in  the  sketch  of  Dr.  Charles  W. 
Salisbury.  The  Salisbury  family  is  one  of  the 
oldest  of  New  England,  and  its  members  have 
for  the  most  part  turned  their  attention  to 
medicine.  J.  A.  Salisbury  read  medicine  with 
his  father,  and  secured  his  medical  education, 
first,  in  the  Starling  Medical  college  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  and   second,    in  the  Ohio   Medical 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


153 


college  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1890.  He  located  in  his  old 
home,  and  there  practiced  his  profession  until 
1 89 1,  when  he  removed  to  Winchester,  Adams 
county,  where  he  remained  until  he  came  to 
Dayton,  in  1893.  He  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  general  practice,  and  has  met  with 
much  success.  He  is  a  member  of  Russellville 
lodge,  No.  166,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Riverdale  lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  Junior  Order  of 
American  Mechanics  and  of  the  K.  A.  E.  O. 
Dr.  Salisbury  was  married  at  Winchester, 
Ohio,  in  1893,  to  Miss  Lola  Noble,  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  Arthur  and  Lee  Noble.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Riverdale  Presby- 
terian church,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  elders. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  recent 
additions  to  the  medical  fraternity  of  the  city, 
and  has  won  for  himself  a  secure  place  in  the 
esteem  of  the  community. 


a  APT.  FREDERICK  SCHAEFER,  of 
No.  1 160  West  Germantown  street, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Alpins- 
bach,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1837.  He  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  native  country,  study- 
ing French,  German,  botany,  natural  history, 
geometry,  etc.,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
came  alone  to  America,  landing  in  New  York 
October  20,  1853.  He  soon  afterward  went  to 
Philadelphia,  and  worked  in  that  city  and  sur- 
rounding country  at  the  copper  and  tinsmith 
trade  until  i860.  He  then  worked  as  bar- 
tender in  Philadelphia  until  April,  1861,  when 
he  enlisted  in  company  B,  Twenty-first  Penn- 
sylvania three-month  volunteers,  served  in  the 
battle  of  Falling  Waters  and  in  two  or  three 
skirmishes,  and  was  mustered  out  in  August, 
having  promised  to  re-enlist. 

The  second  enlistment  of  Mr.  Schaefer  was 
in  company  I,  Seventy-third  Pennsylvania  vol- 


unteer infantry,  for  three  years.  Assigned  to 
the  army  of  Virginia,  he  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Cross  Keys,  June  8,  1862,  and  was  pro- 
moted second  lieutenant  of  his  company;  he 
was  at  Slaughter  Mountain,  Bull  Run,  and  in 
the  skirmishes  around  Culpeper,  etc.,  and  Jan- 
uary 1,  1863,  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  of 
company  C,  for  gallant  conduct  at  Bull  Run. 
He  was  next  engaged  in  the  skirmishes  which 
preceded  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  and 
was  in  that  disastrous  battle,  under  Gen. 
Hooker.  Many  years  later  Capt.  Schaefer  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  a  prominent  comrade  in 
Philadelphia,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  Lieut. 
Schaefer's  company,  as  he  led  it  into  battle  at 
the  old  log  hut  in  Chancellorsville,  appeared 
as  if  on  "dress  parade."  Lieut.  Schaefer 
next  participated  in  the  campaign  in  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania,  which  culminated  in  the 
great  battle  of  Gettysburg,  in  which  he  com- 
manded his  company  on  Cemetery  Hill  and  in 
the  city.  Under  his  leadership  his  company 
made  a  charge  on  a  house  filled  with  rebel  sol- 
diers, and  drove  them  out  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  holding  the  place  during  the  next 
twenty-four  hours,  when  he  was  relieved  by 
Ohio  troops. 

Following  Lee's  army  back  into  Virginia, 
Capt.  Schaefer,  with  his  regiment,  was  trans- 
ferred in  the  following  September  to  Bridge- 
port, Ala.,  arriving  October  2,  1863,  and  be- 
came part  of  the  Twentieth  army  corps.  He 
here  served  principally  under  Gen.  Adolph  von 
Steinwehr,  who  became  greatly  attached  to 
Capt.  Schaefer,  asserting  that  he  was  an  officer 
upon  whom  he  could  always  depend.  At  a 
skirmish  in  Lookout  valley,  company  A  was 
on  the  right  wing,  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
and  company  I  was  called  upon  to  relieve  them. 
Capt.  Schaefer  took  the  lead  and  was  the  first 
to  leap  over  an  obstruction  that  impeded  the 
way,  followed  by  his  men  with  a  cheer.  He 
had  but  sixty-three  in   his  command,  and  sud- 


754 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


denly  he  came  upon  the  rebels  on  an  elevation 
of  land  in  his  front;  his  own  little  force,  how- 
ever, was  sheltered  by  heavy  timber.  Gen. 
Von  Steinwehr  now  sent  an  aid  to  inquire  what 
reinforcements  Capt.  Schaefer  needed;  there- 
ply  was  "Send  me  three  more  buglers. "  The 
aid  thought  the  captain  crazy,  but  the  general 
assured  him  the  captain  knew  exactly  what  he 
was  doing,  and  the  buglers  were  accordingly 
sent.  Capt.  Schaefer  stationed  them  as  he 
desired,  and  ordered  them  to  sound  the 
"charge."  This  was  done,  and  the  little  force 
of  sixty-three  men  made  its  charge,  outflanked 
the  superior  force  of  rebels,  drove  them  from 
the  field,  captured  fourteen  prisoners,  and  had 
but  four  of  their  own  men  wounded.  Capt. 
Schaefer  held  his  ground  from  two  o'clock  until 
five,  with  a  reinforcement  of  seven  men  only. 

Soon  after  these  events,  which  occurred  at 
the  foot  of  Lookout  mountain,  Capt.  Schaefer 
reported  to  Gen.  Howard,  through  Gen.  Von 
Steinwehr,  that  the  enemy  would  cross  Look- 
out creek  that  night,  if  it  were  not  heavily 
guarded.  This  timely  warning  proved  of  great 
value,  for  the  same  night  Hood  did  cross  the 
stream,  as  predicted  by  Capt.  Schaefer, -and 
an  all-night  battle  was  the  result. 

On  two  occasions  Capt.  Schaefer  was  sent 
to  make  sketches  of  the  enemy's  works  on 
Lookout  mountain,  and  in  each  case  reported 
valuable  facts  to  Gen.  Von.  Steinwehr,  for 
which  service  he  was  promised  the  majorship 
of  his  regiment,  and  in  this  capacity  he  served 
at  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  while  his 
regiment  was  attached  to  the  extreme  left  of 
the  Union  lines,  under  Gen.  Sherman.  No- 
vember 25,  1863,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  third 
day  of  the  battle,  while  leading  his  men,  Capt. 
Schaefer  received  a  wound  which  cost  him  the 
loss  of  his  left  leg.  Being  now  unfitted  for 
field  duty,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  July  5, 
1864,  and  was  finally  discharged  from  the 
service.      He  was  strongly  recommended  for  a 


position  as  captain  in  the  invalid  corps,  but 
declined,  and  from  the  time  of  his  discharge 
until  June,  1865,  was  employed  in  the  United 
States  sanitary  commission  at  Philadelphia. 

In  June,  1865,  Capt.  Schaefer  made  a  trip 
to  Europe  to  visit  his  friends  and  to  recuperate 
his  health,  having  been  a  constant  sufferer 
from  rheumatism  since  1862.  In  July,  1865, 
he  was  given  a  reception  by  the  king  of  Wur- 
temberg,  but,  having  failed  to  withdraw  his 
allegiance  when  he  first  left  Germany,  he  found 
that  he  was  still  liable  to  military  duty  in  that 
country.  His  father  "drew"  for  him,  and  his 
name  was  placed  upon  the  military  roll,  and, 
owing  to  his  failure  to  report  for  duty,  his  father 
was  forced  to  pay  600  florins  for  his  exemp- 
tion. This  sum,  however,  was  returned  to  the 
captain  by  the  king's  order,  on  occount  of  the 
injuries  he  had  sustained  in  America,  and  the 
king  also  complimented  him  for  the  prominence 
he  had  attained  in  the  volunteer  service  of  the 
United  States.  Capt.  Schaefer  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  January  4,  1866,  and  in  1867 
he  started  on  a  westward  tour  and  visited  Chi- 
cago, Saint  Louis,  Omaha,  Quincy,  111.,  Mil- 
waukee and  other  places  of  interest.  On  the 
recommendation  of  Gen.  Von  Steinwehr  he  was 
sent  to  the  soldiers'  home,  Dayton,  the  gen- 
eral being  temporarily  in  Saint  Louis  at  the 
time.  The  captain  entered  the  home  July  27, 
1874,  and  remained  until  November  1,  1878, 
being  employed  at  various  kinds  of  light  work, 
latterly  as  sergeant  of  barrack  No.  9.  He  re- 
ceives a  liberal  pension  from  the  government 
on  account  of  his  injury. 

The  marriage  of  Capt.  Schaefer  took  place 
June  7,  1878,  to  Miss  Marianna  Fix,  a  native 
of  Baden,  Germany.  Of  the  four  children 
born  to  this  union,  one  only  is  now  living — 
Maria  Louisa,  a  young  lady,  at  home;  the 
other  three — Annie,  Charlie  and  Joseph,  died 
in  childhood.  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Schaefer  have 
an  adopted  son,    however,  Frederick   R. ,  who 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


755 


is  also  at  home.  After  his  marriage  the  cap- 
tain located  in  Dayton,  and  for  the  past  eight 
years  has  been  engaged  as  pension  agent  or 
attorney,  and  has  rendered  very  efficient  aid 
to  many  deserving  comrades  in  preparing  and 
formulating  claims  against  the  government. 
The  captain  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  of  the  Union  Veteran 
Union,  served  as  colonel  of  the  latter  organiza- 
tion one  term,  and  was  once  elected  commander 
of  the  Grand  Army  post — an  honor  which,  on 
account  of  feeble  health,  he  was  compelled  to 
decline.  Capt.  Schaefer  was  the  founder  of 
the  Swabian  Benevolent  society,  which  was 
organized  in  October,  1879,  and  served  as  its 
president  for  seven  successive  years,  when  he 
declined  to  serve  further. 


eDMUND  J.  SCHWIND,  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Schwind  Brewing  Co., 
was  born  July  31,  1859,  He  is  a  son 
of  Celestine  Schwind,  formerly  pro- 
prietor of  the  Schwind  brewery,  which  has  ac- 
quired among  industries  of  this  nature  such  an 
enviable  reputation  for  the  excellence  of  its 
products.  It  was  founded  many  years  ago, 
and  by  careful  management  was  built  up  from 
small  proportions  to  be  one  of  the  largest  es- 
tablishments of  its  kind  in  the  city  of  Dayton, 
which  is  noted  for  its  many  successful  manu- 
facturing enterprises. 

The  proprietor  of  this  establishment  is  justly 
proud  of  the  reputation  of  Schwind  beer,  and 
in  order  to  sustain  that  reputation  will  not  al- 
low a  gallon  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  tap- 
ster that  is  not  fully  up  to  the  standard.  One 
of  the  rules  of  the  brewery  is:  "A  place  for 
everything  and  everything  in  its  place. "  Clean- 
liness prevails  throughout.  Material  is  first 
cleaned  and  purified,  and  a  year's  supply  of 
everything   needful   kept    constantly  on   hand. 


In  1880-81,  10,000  barrels  of  beer  were  made, 
and  in  1882  this  was  increased  to  15,000  bar- 
rels. At  this  time  Edmund  >J.  Schwind  was 
foreman  and  Louis  Schwind  manager.  The 
plant  was  enlarged  to  its  present  size  and  the 
business  increased  to  its  present  volume,  in 
1883.  This  plant,  as  it  stands  to-day,  covers  a 
frontage  of  275  feet,  and  the  buildings  extend 
back  to  the  river  from  the  street,  a  distance  of 
about  230  feet.  The  main  building  is  really 
four  stories  high.  The  ice  machine  has  a 
capacity  of  fifty  tons  per  day.  The  plant 
has  the  latest  improved  machinery,  and  taken 
all  in  all  it  is  one  of  the  model  breweries  of 
the  country.  The  capacity  is  60,000  barrels 
per  year,  and  all  the  actual  output  is  consumed 
in  the  city  of  Dayton,  this  firm  manufacturing 
as  much  as  any  other  concern  in  the  city.  In 
1895  the  output  reached  25,000  barrels. 

In  1893  the  company  became  an  incorpor- 
ated one,  with  C.  Schwind,  president;  Ed- 
mund J.  Schwind,  vice-president  and  general 
manager;  Edward  Hochwalt,  secretary  and 
treasurer.  When  Celestine  Schwind  died  his 
wife  succeeded  to  the  presidenc)'  of  the  com- 
pany. Having  now  outlined  the  business  with 
some  particularity  it  is  proper  to  turn  our  at- 
tention for  a  short  time  to  the  individuals  who 
have  built  it  up  from  small  beginnings. 

Celestine  Schwind,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Stadtfrazelten,  Bavaria,  Germany,  May  19, 
1825,  and  was  a  son  of  Ignatz  and  Elizabeth 
Schwind.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1850,  and  settled  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  in 
1854  he  started  a  brewery  on  Logan  street, 
which  he  conducted  for  fourteen  years.  In 
1865  he  founded  the  plant  that  has  been  de- 
scribed and  which  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous landmarks  and  one  of  the  greatest  in- 
dustries of  Dayton.  It  is  located  in  Dayton 
View,  on  the  banks  of  the  Miami  river.  When 
Mr.  Schwind  came  to  Dayton  he  was  a  poor 
man,  but  by  dint  of  hard  labor  and  strict  econ- 


(56 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


omy  he  succeeded  in  building  up  an  immense 
business  and  became  a  wealthy  man. 

Mr.  Schwind  was  married  in  Dayton,  Au- 
gust 28,  1856,  to  Miss  Christine  Latin,  also  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  who  survives  her  hus- 
band. To  them  there  were  born  eleven  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Schwind  was  a  member  of  the  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows  and  also  of  the  Society  of 
Druids.  He  attended  strictly  to  business  all 
through  his  life,  with  the  exception  of  the  last 
few  years,  which  he  spent  in  travel  and  enjoy- 
ment. His  death  occurred  April  24,  1893. 
He  left  a  widow  and  nine  children,  as  follows; 
Edmund  J.,  vice-president  of  the  Schwind 
Brewing  company;  Emma  T. ,  wife  of  Edward 
Hochwalt,  of  Dayton;  Edith,  wife  of  Frank 
Cable,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  a  shoe  dealer;  Ma- 
tilda, living  at  home;  Mary,  wife  of  William 
Makley,  of  Dayton;  Josephine,  living  at  home; 
Michael  J.,  bookkeeper  and  director  in  the 
Schwind  Brewing  company;  Clara,  at  home, 
and  Anna  L ,  also  at  home.  Two  sons  are 
deceased. 

Edmund  J.  Schwind,  vice-president  of  the 
Schwind  Brewing  company,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  after  which  he  spent  some 
three  years  in  traveling  for  the  brewery.  In 
1882  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  father,  as 
foreman,  which  position  he  occupied  until  1893, 
when  he  was  made  vice-president  of  the  com- 
pany. He  has  proven  himself  an  efficient 
manager  and  under  his  direction  the  business 
has  grown  and  prospered  exceedingly.  He 
has  excellent  business  capacity  and  is  now  well 
known  as  one  of  the  progressive  and  successful 
men  of  Dayton. 


V^^EORGE   E.   SHEPHERD,   treasurer 
■  ^\    of  the  National  Cash  Register  com- 
^^W    pany,  one  of  the  extensive  and  rep- 
resentative   manufacturing    concerns 
of    Dayton,    is    a    native    of    Alexandersville, 


Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  Oc- 
tober 22,  1 85 1,  a  son  of  George  and  Sarah 
(Elliott)  Shepherd,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Indiana  and  Maryland. 

George  Shepherd,  the  father,  came  to  Ohio 
in  early  manhood,  and  located  in  Butler  coun- 
ty, in  which  county  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Elliott,  and  for  many  years  kept  hotel.  In  his 
later  years  he  removed  from  Butler  county  to 
Alexandersville,  Montgomery  county,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  and  died,  not 
yet  an  aged  man,  in  1852,  his  widow  sur- 
viving until   1 89 1. 

George  E.  Shepherd  spent  all  his  boyhood 
days  in  his  native  town,  receiving  his  early 
education  in  the  district  school.  He  afterward 
attended  the  Lebanon  normal  school,  and  was 
there  prepared  for  the  active  duties  of  busi- 
ness life.  In  1870  he  entered  upon  his  career 
as  bookkeeper  for  Mead  &  Nixon,  paper  man- 
ufacturers of  Dayton,  and  that  he  had  been 
well  qualified  for  this,  his  first  ve'nture,  is 
proved  be  the  fact  that  he  held  his  position 
for  the  period  of  twenty-two  years.  January 
1,  1892,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his 
present  position,  that  of  treasurer  of  the  Na- 
tional Cash  Register  company,  and  this  he  has 
most  satisfactorily  filled,  responsible  as  it  is, 
and  requiring  a  wise  exercise  of  judgment  in 
all  the  details  of  a  complex  financial  system. 
In  poliltics,  Mr.  Shepherd  is  a  republican, 
and  in  religion  a  Lutheran.  Fraternally,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Shepherd  was  first  married,  in  1874, 
to  Miss  Eva  Harvey,  daughter  of  Jackson  Har- 
vey, of  Dayton,  to  which  union  were  born  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  viz:  George  H., 
who  is  now  an  able  assistant  to  his  father  in 
the  office  of  the  National  Cash  Register  com- 
pany, and  Harry,  Daisy,  and  Susie,  the  last  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Eva  Shepherd 
was  called  from  life  February  28,  1895,  and  in 
August,    1896,    Mr.    Shepherd    married    Miss 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


757 


Mary   E.  Spindler,    daughter  of  Jacob  Spind- 
ler,  also  of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Shepherd  is  quiet  and  domestic  in  his 
habits,  but  energetic  in  his  business,  and  stands 
among  the  foremost  of  the  accountants  of 
Dayton,  while  in  the  community  he  is  held  in 
the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  know  him, 
either  in  business  or  social  circles. 


@EORGE  W.  SHROYER,  of  the  firm 
of  G.  W.  Shroyer  &  Co.,  of  Dayton, 
was    born     in    Montgomery    county, 
Ohio,  September  26,  1865,  a  son  of 
Andrew  J.  and  Mary  Ann  (Oakes)  Shroyer,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  son  of  an  original  pio- 
neer of  the  county. 

John  Shroyer,  grandfather  of  George  W., 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  from  Mary- 
land to  this  county  when  Dayton  was  but  a 
mere  village,  the  wants  of  the  inhabitants  being 
fully  supplied  by  two  small  stores.  Later, 
other  members  of  the  family  also  found  a 
home  in  Montgomery  county.  John  owned  a 
large  farm,  two  miles  from  Dayton,  and  here 
his  son,  Andrew  J.,  was  born  December  29, 
1 830,  and  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  married, 
in  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Oakes,  and  this 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  sons,  viz: 
Edwin,  who  died  in  childhood;  Oliver  H.  P. ; 
Clarke  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years; 
George  W.,  and  Charles  O.,  the  latter  now  a 
resident  of  Texas.  In  politics  Andrew  J. 
Shroyer  is  a  democrat  and  held  the  office  of 
township  treasurer  and  other  local  officers  in 
Harrison  township,  where  he  continued  farm- 
ing until  1882,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton, 
having  lost  his  wife  in  1880.  For  the  past  five 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  certain  medical  remedies.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Reformed  church,  in 
which  he  has  been  an  elder  for  many  years. 
Oliver    H.    P.    Shroyer   was   born   on   the 


homestead  in  Harrison  township,  Montgomery 
county,  September  10,  1857,  was  educated  in 
the  district  school,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  came  to  Dayton,  where  he  engaged 
in  carpentering  and  house  building  for  four 
years  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  Barney 
&  Smith,  went  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  under  T.  A. 
Bissell,  and  passed  seven  years  in  the  finishing 
department  of  the  Wagner  Palace  Car  works. 
He  is  a  very  ingenious  mechanic  and  has  pat- 
ented several  valuable  inventions.  This  fac- 
ulty being  well  known  to  the  Queen  City  Cycle 
company  of  Buffalo,  he  was  employed,  in  1891, 
by  that  company  to  go  on  the  road  and  study 
the  wheel,  and  he  has  done  much  toward  im- 
proving and  perfecting  it.  He  is  now  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother,  George  W. ,  in  the  bi- 
cycle business  in  Dayton.  November  5,  1879, 
Mr.  Shroyer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margaret  M.  Bartholomew,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  nine  children,  viz:  Bessie  (deceased), 
Ellen,  Ollie  (deceased),  Clarke,  Robert,  Grace, 
an  infant  son  deceased,  Margueritte  and  an  in- 
fant daughter.  The  parents  are  members  of 
the  Reformed  church  and  reside  at  No.  944 
Steele  avenue. 

George  W.  Shroyer,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  a  good  common-school 
education  in  his  native  township,  and  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years  came  to  Dayton  to  assist 
his  father  in  the  agricultural  implement  busi- 
ness; when  seventeen  years  old  he  took  the 
road  for  the  Minneapolis  self-binders  and  har- 
vesters, his  territory  covering  Missouri,  Kansas 
and  Texas,  and  for  about  five  years  did  a  very 
successful  business;  he  then  took  the  road  for 
Joyce,  Cridland  &  Co. ,  with  whom  he  remained 
six  years,  traveling  over  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  selling  railroad  supplies.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1894,  he  opened  up  his  present  bicycle 
exchange  at  No.  23  West  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
under  the  firm  name  of  G.  W.  Shroyer  &  Co. 
This   firm    handles   the    Gendron,    Cleveland, 


758 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Victor  and  Winton  wheels,  and  also  carries 
an  assorted  stock  of  attachments,  supplies  and 
repairs,  and  in  the  winter  season  canvasses 
the  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Kentucky, 
making  a  specialty  of  pushing  the  sale  of 
Gendron  wheels.  Mr.  Shroyer  has  made  a 
success  of  his  venture  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  foremost  of  the  young  and  progressive 
business  men  of  the  city.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  Iola  lodge,  No.  83,  uniform  rank 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  His  marriage  took 
place,  in  1887,  with  Miss  Fannie  R.  Joyce, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  chil- 
dren— Hazel  and  Clifford.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  church  and  reside 
No.  6  Quitman  street. 


@USTAVE  STOMPS,  deceased.— Of 
those  worthy  of  prominent  mention 
in  any  biographical  work  on  Dayton, 
both  for  their  successful  business  ca- 
reers and  for  their  sterling  worth  as  men  and 
citizens,  was  the  late  Gustave  Stomps,  presi- 
dent of  the  Stomps-Burkhardt  company.  Mr. 
Stomps  was  a  native  of  Bocholt,  Westphalia, 
Prussia,  and  was  born  on  the  29th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1827.  His  parents  were  also  natives 
of  that  province,  where  for  years  his  father 
was  civil  engineer  and  land  appraiser  for  Prince 
Salm,  the  then  reigning  ruler  of  that  principal- 
ity. After  receiving  the  customary  education 
in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  land,  Mr. 
Stomps  learned  the  trade  of  leather  tanning, 
and  in  1848,  during  the  political  disturbances 
then  agitating  his  country,  and  having  lost  his 
father  by  death,  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  New  York  city  in  the  spring  of  that 
year.  Upon  the  day  he  landed  he  searched 
out  some  friends  whose  addresses  he  had,  and 
the  following  day  found  him  in  quest  of  em- 
ployment. Not  being  able  to  find  work  at  the 
tanning  trade  he   took   the   next  best  thing  he 


could  get,  and  went  to  work  crimping  boots. 
He  spent  about  six  months  in  New  York  city, 
and  then  came  west  to  Cincinnati,  where  his 
eldest  brother,  Joseph,  who  had  preceded  him 
to  America,  was  living.  There  he  found  em- 
ployment in  McCabe's  tannery,  in  which  es- 
tablishment he  subsequently  became  a  foreman, 
and  so  continued  until  he  was  taken  ill  with 
smallpox.  During  this  time  Mr.  Stomps  made 
his  home  with  his  brother,  who  had  married 
some  time  before.  After  recovering  from  his 
illness,  which  occurred  during  the  year  1850, 
Mr.  Stomps  gave  up  the  tanning  trade,  and 
began  to  learn  that  of  chairmaking,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  1851  he  and  his  brother  Joseph 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs  at  Law- 
renceburg,  Ind.,  but  the  high  water  of  the  Ohio 
river  in  the  following  year  drowned  out  almost 
the  entire  town,  and  the  brothers,  becoming 
discouraged,  sold  out  their  factory  and  came 
to  Dayton. 

Mr.  Stomps  worked  at  the  chairmaking 
trade  for  different  employers  in  Dayton  until 
1859,  in  which  year  he  became  one  of  seven 
chairmakers  who  organized  the  Chairmakers' 
Union  for  the  manufacture  of  chairs.  In  i860, 
however,  Mr.  Stomps  disposed  of  his  interest 
in  the  union,  and  established  the  firm  of  G. 
Stomps  Bro.  &  Company,  the  other  members 
of  the  firm  being  Joseph  Stomps  and  Martin 
Brabec.  Their  chair  factory  stood  on  the  site 
of  what  is  now  the  west  factory  of  the  Stomps- 
Burkhardt  Co.'s  plant,  and  was  the  building 
formerly  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Estabrook  & 
Phelps,  Dayton's  old-time  wholesale  grocers. 
On  November  2,  1869  R.  P.  Burkhardt 
purchased  Mr.  Brabec's  interest  in  the  com- 
pany, and  on  December  2,  of  the  same  year 
Mr.  Stomps  bought  out  his  brother  Joseph's  in- 
terest, and  the  firm  became  that  of  G.  Stomps 
&  Co.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  the  firm  put 
in  a  plant  of  machinery  and  power  and  began 
the  manufacture   of    chairs   by   machinery  in- 


/S^; 


>^^/^/ 


j£ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


761 


stead  of  by  hand.  In  1890  the  Stomps-Burk- 
hardt  company  was  formed  with  Mr.  Stomps 
as  president  and  R.  P.  Burkhardt,  Sr. ,  as  vice- 
president  and  general  manager,  J.  M.  Kramer, 
secretary,  Gustave  Stomps,  Jr.,  treasurer,  and 
Charles  Vogel,  superintendent.  Mr.  Stomps 
continued  president  of  this  company  until  his 
death. 

In  1852  Mr.  Stomps  was  married  in  Cin- 
cinnati to  Miss  Catherine  Mahrt.  Mrs.  Stomps 
was  born  in  Wetter,  near  Marburg,  Hessia, 
Germany,  on  April  7,  1828.  She  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1850  in  the  company  of 
friends,  with  whom  she  remained  in  Philadel- 
phia for  some  time.  Her  sister  had  preceded 
her  to  this  country  and  had  become  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Stomps.  It  being  the  desire  of  the 
sisters  to  be  together,  Mr.  Stomps  was  dele- 
gated to  go  to  Philadelphia  and  escort  the 
newly  arrived  sister  to  Cincinnati.  Thus  they 
met  for  the  first  time,  and  their  marriage  soon 
followed.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stomps  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born:  Mary  Adelaide, 
born  in  Dayton,  on  August  27,  1853,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  R.  P.  Burkhardt,  Sr. ,  and 
died  on  May  12,  1893;  Catherine,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Charles  Vogel;  Elizabeth,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  John  Stengel;  Theresa,  who 
became  the  wife  of  John  M.  Kramer;  Anna, 
who  became  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Mahrt;  Francis, 
Gustave  and  Rose. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Stomps  occurred  on  the 
26th  day  of  June,  1890,  away  from  home, 
and  under  unusually  distressing  circumstances, 
rendering,  doubly  sad  the  bereavement  of  his 
family  and  friends.  His  youngest  daughter,  a 
student  at  the  Immaculate  Conception,  Olden- 
burg, Ind.,  was  to  graduate  with  first  honors 
as  valedictorian  of  her  class,  and  it  was  to 
witness  the  exercises  at  the  convent  that  Mr. 
Stomps,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  Mrs. 
Burkhardt,  left  home  never  to  return.  The 
weather  was  extremely  warm  and  Mr.  Stomps 

28 


was  overcome  with  the  heat  and  died  at  Bates- 
ville,  Ind.,  before  reaching  his  destination,  and 
without  seeing  his  daughter. 

Mr.  Stomps  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word 
a  self-made  man.  When  he  landed  in  New 
York  city  it  was  a  but  a  few  cents  in  his  pock- 
ets. But  his  training  had  been  of  the  right 
sort,  to  which  was  added  a  naturally  industri- 
ous and  frugal  disposition.  His  was  a  life  of 
unceasing  application  to  business  affairs,  and 
so  uniformly  successful  were  his  efforts  that  at 
his  death  he  left  a  fortune.  Mr.  Stomps  was 
of  a  quiei,  calm,  even  temperament,  not  easily 
excited  or  confused,  and  he  always  kept  his 
head  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  He 
was  a  man  of  strong  dislikes,  warm  hearted 
and  genial,  and  when  he  won  friends  he  kept 
them  ever  afterward.  He  possessed  fine  busi- 
ness talents,  and  was  careful,  painstaking  and 
conservative  in  his  methods.  He  was  un- 
swerving in  his  honesty  and  integrity,  just  to 
friend  and  foe  alike,  and  during  all  his  life 
enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  busi- 
ness associates,  and  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  a  Roman  Catholic  in  religion  and  for 
years  was  an  influential  member  of  Emanuel 
Catholic  church  of  this  city. 


HLFRED  H.  SHRY,  a  member  of  the 
engineer  department,  of  the  national 
military  home  near  Dayton,  was  born 
in    McArthur,    Vinton   county,    Ohio, 
February  9,   1847,  and  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  his  native  town. 

Amos  Shryand  his  wife,  Mary  (Bobo)  Shry, 
of  German  descent,  were  natives  of  Virginia 
and  were  born,  respectively,  in  1808  and  18 10, 
were  married  in  that  state,  and  shortly  after- 
ward removed  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  or  near 
McArthur.  To  their  marriage  were  born  four 
sons  and  five  daughters,  and  of  this  family  of 
children  five  are  still  living,  viz:  William,  who 


762 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


follows  the  calling  of  his  deceased  father — that 
of  farming — at  McArthur;  Catherine,  Mar- 
garet, Harriet  and  Alfred  H.  The  eldest  born 
of  this  family  of  nine  was  Jonathan,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Jacob,  the  third  in 
order  of  birth,  served  in  company  D,  second 
West  Virginia  cavalry,  and  died  after  the  close 
of  the  Civil  war;  Mary  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  died  when  sixteen  years  old. 

Alfred  H.  Shry  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  McArthur,  but  quit  his  school  to 
become  a  soldier  and  he  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  having  been  one  of  the  youngest  soldiers 
who  carried  a  musket  in  defense  of  his  native 
land  in  the  late  Civil  war.  His  enlistment 
took  place  April  25,  1862,  at  the  early  age,  it 
will  be  perceived,  of  fifteen  years,  in  company 
C,  Eighty-eighth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  for 
three  months,  but  served  one  month  longer, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  His  next 
enlistment  took  place  June  15,  1863,  in  com- 
pany H,  First  Ohio  volunteer  heavy  artillery, 
in  which  he  served  until  the  Rebellion  was 
quelled.  He  served  under  Burnside  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee  and  under  Gen.  George 
H.  Thomas  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland. 
A  great  part  of  the  time  during  his  second  en- 
listment was  spent  in  garrison  duty  in  North 
Carolina,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Alabama, 
and  he  was  finally  mustered  out  at  Greenville, 
Tenn.,  August  4,  1865.  He  then  returned  to 
the  place  of  his  birth,  and  was  engaged  in  mer- 
chandizing for  about  fifteen  years. 

In  1872  Mr.  Shry  married  Miss  Lydia  A. 
Eakin,  of  Vinton  county,  Ohio — a  union  that 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children, 
viz:  Joseph  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een months;  Lottie  M.,  Archie  L.  and  Lucy 
F, — the  latter  three  living  in  McArthur  with 
their  mother.  By  reason  of  failing  health, 
Mr.  Shry  was  compelled,  November  26,  1886, 
to  seek  at  the  military  home  that  rest  and 
treatment   which    he   had    well   earned   bv   his 


service  in  the  army,  and  here  he  has  ever  since 
been  employed  in  some  light  but  lucrative  em- 
ployment, although  he  has  been  permitted  to 
enjoy  a  great  deal  of  his  time  with  his  family. 
Mr.  Shry  in  his  political  proclivities  is  a  demo- 
crat. In  religion  he  does  not  confine  himself 
to  the  doctrines  of  any  church,  neither  does  he 
affiliate  with  any  secret  brotherhood,  except 
the  Union  Veteran   Legion. 


(D 


AJ.  WILLIAM  W.  SHOEMAKER, 
ex-soldier,  and  court  bailiff  of  the 
police  court,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  January 
31,  1839,  and  is  descended,  on  both  sides, 
from  ante-Revolutionary  stock.  He  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Dayton  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years,  and  has  lived  in  the  same  house, 
No.  141  South  Williams  street,  for  over  forty- 
two  years.  His  parents  were  Isaac  and  Han- 
nah (Maxton)  Shoemaker,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  in  18 10,  where 
his  parents,  who  came  from  Canada,  had  set- 
tled prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Isaac 
Shoemaker  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  The  Maxton  family 
was  of  Scotch  ancestry,  was  also  established 
in  Pennsylvania  previous  to  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  the  maternal  grandmother  of  the 
major  had  several  times  seen  both  Washington 
and  Cornwallis.  remembered  many  of  the  stir- 
ring events  of  their  time,  and  died  in  Dayton 
at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  Mrs.  Hannah 
(Maxton)  Shoemaker,  mother  of  the  major, 
was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  in  181 7,  and 
died  in  Dayton,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two, 
the  mother  of  eight  children,  of  whom  two 
died  in  infancy;  those  who  have  lived  to  ma- 
turity are  named  Jacob,  who  was  the  first  born 
of  the  family,  is  a  printer  by  trade,  served  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  vol- 
unteer   infantry,  and    now   resides  in    Dayton; 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


763 


William  W. ,  was  the  second  born;  Sarah  is 
the  wife  of  William  Miller,  and  resides  on  a 
stock  farm  near  Bardstown,  Ky. ;  Isaac  K. 
was  a  soldier  for  three  years  in  company  K, 
Ninety-third  Ohio  infantry,  was  wounded  at 
Chickamauga,  and  died  in  Dayton  in  1893; 
Emma  is  the  widow  of  George  Martin,  and 
has  her  home  in  the  Gem  City;  Charles  D.,  is 
a  native  of  this -city  and  is  a  merchant. 

William  W.  Shoemaker  was  early  taught 
the  carpenter's  trade  and  was  engaged  in  this 
calling  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  He 
had  joined  the  Dayton  Zouaves  in  i860,  and 
was  thoroughly  drilled  when  enlistment  in  the 
volunteer  service  became  the  order  of  the  day, 
when  he  left  the  zouaves  and  on  April  15, 
1 86 1,  joined  the  Dayton  Light  Guards  (of 
whom  further  mention  may  be  found  in  the 
sketch  of  Capt.  Winder),  and  was  thus  one  of 
the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  for  75,000  three- 
months  men.  The  guards  were  mustered  in 
as  company  C,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
went  on  to  Washington,  took  part  in  the  some- 
what extended  skirmish  at  Vienna,  Va. ,  and 
then  in  the  great  opening  battle  of  the  war  at 
Bull  Run,  on  the  21st  of  July.  The  term  of 
enlistment  had  expired  July  16,  and  the  boys 
were  invited  to  join  in  the  fray,  and  it  was  al- 
most unanimously  voted  to  do  so. 

August  5,  iS6i,  Mr.  Shoemaker  re-enlisted, 
was  elected  second  lieutenant -of  company  H, 
Fourth  Ohio  cavaly,  and  on  the  1 5th  was  hon- 
orably discharged  from  his  old  company,  and 
with  his  new  company  took  part  in  its  first 
battle,  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky. ,  under  Gen. 
Mitchell;  then  went  to  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  and 
thence,  with  Mitchell's  division,  to  Huntsville, 
Ala.,  where  the  regiment  captured  seven  loco- 
motives, a  large  amount  of  stores,  and  prison- 
ers from  the  recent  battle  field  of  Corinth. 
They  then  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  on  a 
burning  bridge  at  Decatur,  Ala. ;  went  as  far 
as    Stevenson,    and    then  returned  to   Hunts- 


ville and  joined  Gen.  Buell  on  his  retreat  into 
Kentucky;  took  part  in  the  fight  at  Perryville, 
Ky. ;  went  to  Lexington,  near  which  point,  on 
the  previous  day,  at  Clay's  farm,  the  greater 
portion  of  the  Ohio  cavalry  had  been  captured 
by  the  raider,  John  Morgan.  Lieut.  Shoe- 
maker was  provost  guard  at  Lexington,  in 
command  of  128  men,  whom  he  had  quartered 
in  the  courthouse.  When  called  upon  to  sur- 
sender,  he  flatly  refused,  unless  convinced  that 
all  the  other  cavalry  had  been  captured. 
"What  evidence  do  you  require?"  was  asked. 
"Bring  the  colonels  of  the  regiments  you  say 
you  have  captured,"  was  the  answer.  On  this 
request  being  complied  with,  Lieut.  Shoe- 
maker surrendered  his  men.  This  action  had 
been  strongly  urged  by  the  mayor  of  Lexing- 
ton, who  wished  to  save  the  city  from  being 
shelled  and  probably  burned.  An  incident  of 
this  surrender,  tending  to  show  Lieut.  Shoe- 
maker's tenacity,  may  here  be  related.  He 
had  been  presented  with  a  very  handsome 
sword-belt,  with  which  he  refused  to  part, 
though  threatened  with  death  if  he  refused; 
while  the  controversy  was  going  on,  Gen. 
Breckinridge,  the  Confederate,  rode  up  to  as- 
certain the  cause  of  the  trouble,  and,  on  learn- 
ing the  circumstances,  ordered  the  hot-headed 
Texan  captor  to  restore  the  belt.  The  lieuten- 
ant was  paroled  on  the  spot  and  returned  to 
Frankfort,  and  thence  to  Indianapolis. 

Having  been  exchanged,  Lieut.  Shoemaker 
returned  to  the  front  in  time  to  take  part  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  River  (December  31,  1862,  and 
January  1  and  2,  1863).  Later,  while  on 
staff  duty  under  Gen.  Turchin,  and  while  on 
the  Tullahoma  campaign,  in  searching  for  a 
ford  across  Stone  river,  the  lieutenant  was 
shot  through  the  shoulder,  the  ball  coming  out 
near  the  elbow;  but  he  remaiued  on  Gen. 
Crook's  staff  until  after  the  Chickamauga 
campaign;  then  returned  to  Tullahoma  and 
thence  went  to  Murfreesboro;    at  the  battle  of 


764 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Farmington,  while  making  a  saber  charge, 
he  was  shot  through  the  right  lung,  the  ball 
being  removed  from  under  the  shoulder  blade. 
He  was  conveyed  to  a  private  dwelling  to- 
gether with  seven  wounded  men,  who  where  left 
there  to  die,  and  the  next  morning  five  of  the 
seven  were  actually  dead.  He  had  but  little 
hope  of  recovery,  under  the  indifferent  treat- 
ment of  his  rebel  host;  at  the  end  of  thirty 
days,  however,  he  secured  a  horse  and  was 
able  to  ride  to  Wartrace  station,  on  the  Nash- 
ville &  Chattanooga  railroad,  and  take  a  train 
for  Deckard,  where  he  found  the  Federal 
cavalry  headquarters,  to  learn  that  he  had 
been  reported  as  dead,  and  to  encounter  much 
difficult}-  in  convincing  his  fellow-officers  that 
he,  the  dirty,  emaciated  soldier,  was  the 
former  robust  officer  they  had  mourned  as  lost. 
He  here  received  a  furlough  for  thirty  days, 
which  was  extended  to  sixty,  but  the  wound 
was  not  entirely  healed  until  two  years  later. 
Reporting  to  Gen.  Crook  at  Pulaski,  Tenn., 
Lieut.  Shoemaker  was  appointed  recruiting 
officer  of  the  Second  cavalry  division  and  lo- 
cated at  Nashville.  This  duty  ended,  he  was 
mustered  in  as  captain  of  company  F,  Fourth 
Ohio  cavalry,  and  went  home  on  a  thirty-day 
veteran  furlough,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
he  rejoined  the  army  at  Nashville,  and  the 
main  army  at  Rome,  Ga. ,  to  enter  upon  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  At  Decatur,  Ala.,  he  had 
a  fight  with  the  rebel,  Roddy,  and  captured 
some  prisoners;  was  detailed  as  assistant  in- 
spector on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Girard,  at  Decatur, 
and  went  on  the  Atlanta  campaign;  was  on 
the  Jonesboro  raid,  and  with  Kilpatrick  in  the 
rear  of  Atlanta.  After  the  fall  of  that  city, 
the  cavalry  division  was  placed  under  the 
corhmand  of  Gen.  Thomas,  at  Nashville; 
Lieut.  Shoemaker  served  on  staff  duty  until 
Gen.  Girard  was  relieved;  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment and  remained  with  it  until  after  the  fight 
at  Nashville:  went  to  Eastport,  Tenn.,  under 


Gen.  Wilson;  was  detailed  as  aid-de-camp  to 
Gen.  Long,  and  remained  with  him  until  the 
battle  of  Selma,  where  Long  was  wounded; 
then  returned  to  his  regiment  and  took  com- 
mand, he  being  the  ranking  officer;  crossed  the 
Alabama  river  at  Selma,  captured  i,  800  prison- 
ers, and  then  moved  on  to  Montgomery; 
thence  went  to  Columbus,  Ga. ,  and  after  a 
hard  struggle  captured  that  city;  thence  he 
went  to  Macon,  where  he  captured  Gen. 
Howell  Cobb  and  his  army.  The  Fourth  Ohio 
cavalry  was  then  constituted  provost  guard  of 
Macon,  and  was  upon  this  duty  when  the  Con- 
federacy collapsed.  Maj.  Shoemaker  then 
took  part  in  the  pursuit  of  Jefferson  Davis,  and 
was  near  at  hand  when  he  was  captured  by 
the  Fourth  Michigan  cavalry.  Maj.  Shoe- 
maker then  marched  from  Macon  to  Atlanta, 
visiting  all  battle  fields  en  route,  and  at  the 
latter  city  met  Col.  Thompson,  who  had  been 
released  from  a  rebel  prison  and  who  now  took 
command  of  the  regiment.  Maj.  Shoemaker 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  July  15,  1865,  as  captain,  butwas  sub- 
sequently enrolled  by  the  war  department  at 
Washington  as  major  of  his  regiment. 

Returning  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  Maj.  Shoe- 
maker was  married,  August  10,  1865,  to  Miss 
Vesta  J.  Congdon,  a  native  of  Grafton,  Mass., 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  This 
marriage  has  been  blessed  with  two  children, 
viz:  William  H.,  who  is  chief  deputy  of  the 
common  pleas  court,  and  Edwin  Stanton, 
who  is  a  plumber,  is  married,  and  is  the  fa- 
ther of  two  children.  In  1867,  Maj.  Shoe- 
maker was  appointed  to  the  police  force  of 
Dayton,  on  which  he  has  since  filled  every  po- 
sition, but  for  several  years  has  been  on  light 
duty.  When  he  was  first  appointed,  there 
were  but  twenty-one  men  on  this  force;  there 
are  now  over  eighty.  In  politics,  the  major 
was  formerly  a  whig,  but  has  been  a  member 
of  the  republican  party  ever   since   its  organi- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


765 


zation;  he  has  never  been  a  seeker  after  office, 
however,  nor  ever  held  official  positions,  ex- 
cept as  stated  above.  He  is  a  member  of  Old 
Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  a  Knight  of 
Pythias,  and  he  and  his  family  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


K^\  ERT  D.  SHROYER,  loan  agent  of 
|(^^  No.  120  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
J^9  Ohio,  was  born  in  Mad  River  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 6,  1873.  His  parents,  Ephraim  and 
Mary  Jane  (Cotterill)  Shroyer,  were  natives  of 
Montgomery  county.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  eight  sons  and  one  daughter, 
as  follows:  William  Albert,  Perry  H.,  Rolla 
L. ,  Charles  E.,  Anna  May,  Ellsworth  B.  and 
Elmer  E.,  twins,  Bert  D.  and  Frank. 

Ephraim  Shroyer  was  reared  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  for  nine  years  was  a  member 
of  the  Dayton  city  fire  department.  He  and 
his  wife  are  still  living  in  Dayton.  Mr. 
Shroyer  served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the 
late  Civil  war,  as  a  member  of  the  Ninety- 
third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  for 
some  months  confined  in  Libby  and  Belle  Isle 
prisons.  Mrs.  Shroyer  is  a  member  of  Christ 
church,  the  oldest  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
in  the  city. 

William  Shroyer,  the  father  of  Ephraim 
Shroyer,  was  a  native  of  Frederick  county, 
Md. ,  by  trade  a  blacksmith,  and  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  came  to  Ohio  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  located  in  Mad 
River  township,  and  served  there  for  many 
years  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  dying  in  1846. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Lorenzo  Dow  Cot- 
terill, was  also  a  native  of  Maryland.  He  was 
among  the  first  settlers  in  Dayton,  and  died 
about  1874,  in  his  seventieth  year. 

Bert  D.  Shroyer  grew  to  manhood  in  Day- 
ton and   in   the   vicinity.      His   education   was 


received  in  the  city  schools,  and  he  made  the 
most  of  the  excellent  opportunities  they  af- 
forded him.  He  was  married  on  January  13, 
1893,  to  Miss  Nora  Loy,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Louise  (Campbell)  Loy,  and  to  this  mar- 
riage has  been  born  one  child,  Earl  McKinley, 
September  19,  1896.  Politically,  Mr.  Shroyer 
is  a  republican.  He  is  a  descendant  and  a 
worthy  representative  of  two  of  the  oldest  and 
best  known  families  of  the  county. 

Of  the  brothers  of  Bert  D.  Shroyer,  Al- 
bert married  Miss  Jennie  Hemler,  and  has 
three  children  living,  viz:  William  Albert, 
John  and  Victor.  Rolla  L.  married  Jane  Butt, 
and  has  one  child,  Clyde.  Charles  E.  mar- 
ried Martha  Kendig,  and  has  three  children, 
Ralph,  Frank  and  Anna.  Ellsworth  married 
Emma  Traud,  and  has  one  child,  Leona,  and 
Perry  Harrison  married  Miss  Ann  May  Terry, 
and  has  two  children,  Perry  and  Charles. 


WOHN  A.  SMITH,  house  mover  and 
M  raiser,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Lan- 
A  1  caster,  Pa.,  August  22,  1828.  He  is  a 
son  of  Richard  and  Catherine  (Allbright) 
Smith,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
London,  England,  coming  to  the  United  States 
when  he  was  seven  years  old,  and  the  latter 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  four  of  the  six  still  surviving,  as 
follows:  John  A.,  Isaac  M.,  Jacob  A.,  and 
David.  Richard  Smith  was  a  teamster  by  oc- 
cupation, driving  a  six-horse  team  between 
Philadelphia  and  Pittsburg  before  there  was 
any  railroad  in  that  part  of  the  country.  His 
death  occurred  in  Lancaster  when  he  was 
thirty-eight  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived 
him  until  1880,  and  died  at  eighty-one  years 
of  age.  Both  were  members  of  the  Dunkard 
church,  and  both  were  people  of  excellent 
character    and    disposition.      Richard   Smith's 


766 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


father  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  dying  in  Eng- 
land.     Richard  was  his  only  son. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  John  A.  Smith 
was  named  Jacob  Allbright.  He  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  married  Miss  Rebecca 
Moon.  Both  died  near  Efferty,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  brushmaker  by  trade 
and  died  when  about  eighty-seven,  she  dying 
when  about  sixty. 

John  A.  Smith  was  reared  on  a  farm  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  when  seven  years 
of  age  his  parents  hired  him  to  a  Mr.  Jacob 
Bolinger,  a  Dunkard  preacher,  for  seventy-five 
cents  per  month.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Bo- 
linger for  seven  years,  in  the  meantime  attend- 
ing school  to  some  extent.  When  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to  northern 
Ohio,  and  went  to  work  for  an  uncle  in  Seneca 
county,  remaining  with  him  for  about  five 
years.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he  entered 
the  employment  of  Mr.  Wallace,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Mad  River  railroad,  the  first  road 
built  from  Sandusky  to  Springfield,  Ohio,  his 
work  being  to  measure  the  wood  and  timber 
for  the  road.  He  then  served  a  three  years' 
apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  after 
which  he  dealt  for  some  time  in  horses.  In 
185 1  he  went  to  Marshall,  111.,  and  assisted  in 
building  there  the  Presbyterian  college,  and 
while  thus  engaged  was  married,  June  27, 
1852,  to  Miss  Amelia  C.  Boyer,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Joshua  and  Susannah  Boyer  of  that  place. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  five 
children,  as  follows:  Frances  Loretta,  Amanda 
Alfaretta,  Dora  Ellen,  Dayton  Wilbert  and 
Hattie  May.  Frances  Loretta  married  Jacob 
Haynes  and  with  her  husband  lives  in  Dayton. 
Amanda  Alfaretta  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years.  Dora  Ellen  married  Martin  Messier, 
and  they  have  five  children,  viz:  Grace,  Ed- 
ward, Harry,  Martha  and  John.  Dayton  Wil- 
bert married  Miss  Emma  Bartel;  they  live  in 
Dayton,  and  have   four    children,    as  follows: 


Mabel,  Harry,  Richard  and  Bessie.  Hattie 
May  married  Otto  Jones.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Jones  was  killed  by  the  cars  in 
1894  while  driving  across  the  railroad. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  he  being  a  trustee 
and  treasurer  of  the  congregation.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, company  F,  and  served  in  the  late  Civil 
war  for  over  three  years.  At  the  battle  of  Vicks- 
burg  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm.  He  was 
also  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  Corinth  and 
Parker's  Cross  Roads.  Having  acquired  some 
knowledge  of  medicine,  he  was  engaged  in  the 
dispensary  at  Nashville  twenty-one  months, 
and  it  was  while  in  that  city  that  he  received 
his  discharge. 

The  war  having  come  to  an  end,  Mr.  Smith 
returned  to  Dayton  and  began  building  houses, 
continuing  thus  engaged  for  a  few  years,  but 
for  the  last  twenty  years  he  has  given  his  at- 
tention exclusively  to  moving  and  raising 
houses,  having  filled  contracts  on  a  large  scale 
in  various  cities — in  Cincinnati,  Springfield, 
Troy,  Piqua,  Hamilton,  and  elsewhere,  as  well 
as  in  Dayton. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  in  1S52  came 
to  Dayton  and  has  lived  in  this  city  ever  since 
— thirty-five  years  in  his  present  home.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  republican,  but  is  in  no  sense  a 
politician  or  office  seeker. 


<V^V  ANIEL  L.  SMITH  is  one  of  the  long 
I  established  carpenters  and  builders 
S^^J  of  Dayton.  He  was  born  in  the  Mid- 
dletown  valley,  Frederick  county, 
Md.,  April  20,  1 83 1,  and  there  he  lived  until 
the  spring  of  185 1,  when  he  came  to  Day- 
ton, which  has  ever  since  been  his  home. 
His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Esther  (Sheffer) 
Smith.  They  were  natives  of  the  same  county 
in  which  their  son  was  born,  the  husband  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


767 


father  having  been  born  in  1787,  and  the 
mother  in  1801.  Joseph  Smith  was  a  farmer, 
and,  though  living  in  a  slave  state,  was  opposed 
to  slavery  from  profound  conviction,  and  none 
of  the  family  ever  owned  a  slave.  Both  par- 
ents were  descended  from  German  stock. 
They  left  nine  children,  all  but  one  of  whom 
are  now  living.  There  were  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  and  the  eldest  daughter  was  also 
the  first  child  of  the  family,  and  the  only  one 
as  yet  deceased.  This  daughter,  Mary,  mar- 
ried Philip  Baker,  of  Middletown,  Md.,  and 
died  in  Springfield,  Ohio;  Joshua  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Springfield,  and  has  retired  from  active 
business;  Martin  is  a  farmer  in  Miami  county, 
and  Jonas  is  a  photographer  at  Springfield;  in 
that  city  Susan,  who  is  unmarried,  has  her 
home;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Elliott, 
and  resides  at  Wapakoneta;  Hamilton  is  at 
Richmond,  Ind.,  where  he  has  a  responsible 
situation  as  superintendent  of  the  Louck  Sash 
&  Door  company;  Elizabeth  married  Edward 
Young,  and  resides  in  Springfield. 

Daniel  L.  Smith  received  a  common-school 
education  in  the  typical  log  school-house  of 
the  pioneer  days.  He  has  vivid  remembrance 
of  the  puncheon  floors,  the  greased  paper  win- 
dows, the  wide  fire-places,  the  big  back-logs, 
and  the  extreme  readiness  of  the  teacher  to 
wield  the  birch  for  the  most  trivial  offense. 
Mr.  Smith  was  the  first  of  the  children  to  leave 
the  parental  roof;  but  soon  after  the  death  of 
their  father  the  family  began  to  scatter,  most 
of  them  coming  to  Springfield,  Ohio.  He 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native 
state,  serving  three  years  as  apprentice,  and 
receiving  the  modest  compensation  of  $25  a 
year.  In  those  early  days  every  process  in 
the  art  of  building  was  accomplished  by  hand. 
The  almost  entire  absence  of  machinery  made 
the  skilled  carpenter  of  great  importance  in 
every  new  community.  When  Mr.  Smith 
reached  Dayton,  he   found    his  labor  in  great 


demand,  and  though  it  had  not  been  his  inten- 
tion to  remain  here,  he  soon  decided  that  this 
prosperous  town  was  a  good  place  in  which  to 
cast  his  lot.  After  seven  years  of  industry, 
with  a  corresponding  measure  of  success,  Mr. 
Smith  was  enabled  to  marry.  On  May  6, 
1858,  he  wedded  Miss  Sarah  Bollinger,  a  na- 
tive of  New  Carlisle,  in  this  state,  where  she 
was  born  January  8,  183S.  They  have  reared 
a  family  of  three  children.  William,  the  eld- 
est, a  resident  of  Dayton  View,  is  foreman  pat- 
tern-maker in  the  Computing  Scale  works  in 
this  city,  and  is  a  finished  worker  in  wood. 
He  married  Miss  Isadora  Gunckle,  of  this  city, 
and  is  regarded  as  a  rising  young  man.  Annie 
is  the  wife  of  Eugene  Carter,  superintendent 
of  the  paint  department  of  the  National  Cash 
Register  Co.  They  have  a  young  daughter, 
named  Elsie.  Claude  Rutherford,  who  is  un- 
married, is  a  capable  mechanical  draughtsman, 
and  is  now  an  engineer  in  the  United  States 
service,  located  at  Fort  Wingate,  N.  Mex. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  building  interests  of  Dayton  for  more 
than  forty-five  years.  He  has  erected  many 
handsome  buildings,  and  finished  many  others. 
The  finishing  of  the  Beckel  House  is  a  good 
sample  of  his  interior  work.  One  of  the  most 
responsible  and  important  duties  ever  entrusted 
to  Mr.  Smith,  was  the  reconstruction  of  the 
old  Newcom  tavern,  which  figured  so  promi- 
nently in  Dayton's  centennial  celebration  of 
April,  1896.  This  was  a  labor  requiring  vast 
patience  as  well  as  great  skill,  the  object  being 
to  reproduce  the  old  log  building  as  perfectly 
as  possible.  Parts  of  the  building  had  to  be 
replaced,  the  steps  being  hewn  from  solid  logs. 
The  work  was  a  great  success,  and  much  praise 
was  given  Mr.  Smith  for  so  perfectly  accom- 
plishing such  a  bold  scheme  of  reconstruction. 

His  family  have  been  identified  with  the 
republican  party  from  the  beginning,  having 
been  whigs  in   the   last  generation.      He    has 


768 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


been  a  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows 
for  thirty-five  years,  and  has  filled  all  the  offi- 
cial stations  in  his  home  lodge,  and  also  has 
served  for  a  number  of  years  as  trustee  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  temple.  All  the  family  are  lib- 
eral in  their  religious  views,  and  have  never 
been  identified  with  any  church.  Mr.  Smith's 
youngest  brother,  Hamilton,  served  over  three 
years  as  a  soldier  in  a  Maryland  regiment,  and 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness. 


aHARLES  A.  STARR,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Thompsonville, 
N.  Y. ,  and  was  born  on  the  17th  of 
March,  1834,  being  the  son  of  George 
B.  and  Rebecca  P.  (Schriver)  Starr.  In  the 
paternal  line  his  ancestry  is  of  English  origin, 
the  first  American  representative  having  been 
one  Dr.  Starr,  who  emigrated  from  Great 
Britain  to  the  American  colonies  early  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  The  family  contributed 
its  quota  of  loyal  defenders  in  both  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  and  that  of  the  late  Rebellion. 
The  religious  faith  to  which  adherence  has 
been  very  largely  given  is  that  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  while  politically  the 
support  of  the  Starrs  has  been  given  in  turn  to 
the  whig  party  and  its  natural  successor,  the 
republican. 

George  B.  Starr,  father  of  Charles  A.,  left 
his  eastern  home  in  1836  and  came  to  Ohio. 
He  settled  at  Middletown,  Butler  county, 
where  he  opened  a  tannery  and  gave  his  at- 
tention to  its  operation  for  some  little  time, 
later  transferring  his  business  to  a  point  near 
Greenville,  Darke  county,  where  he  continued 
tanning  until  another  field  of  activity  opened 
to  him  as  a  contractor  for  the  building  of  gravel 
or  turnpike  roads.  In  this  work  he  was  en- 
gaged until  1846,  when  he  came  to  Dayton, 
where  he  resumed   tanning.      Subsequently  he 


became  identified  with  the  coal  industry,  and 
it  is  certain  that  he  shipped  the  first  carload  of 
coal  that  was  brought  into  Dayton.  He  con- 
tinued in  business  in  Dayton  until  failing  health 
rendered  imperative  his  retirement  from  active 
pursuits,  whereupon  he  placed  his  interests  in 
the  hands  of  his  son  Charles. 

George  B.  Starr  was  a  man  of  quiet  and 
unassuming  character,  but  of  unimpeachable 
integrity  and  honor.  He  was  a  zealous  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
took  a  lively  interest  in  Sunday-school  and 
mission  work.  His  death  occurred  December 
26,  1869,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  June, 
1890.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  Catherine  S.  is  the  widow 
of  D.  W.  Schaeffer,  of  Dayton;  Mary  A.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Joseph  Hammond,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
of  this  section  of  the  state,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased; Charles  A.  is  the  subject  of  this  review; 
Rev.  David  J.  is  a  clergyman  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  has  a  pastoral  charge  at 
Cincinnati;  Cordelia  R.  is  the  wife  of  B.  B. 
Christie,  of  Dayton;  George  R.  is  a  prominent 
commission  merchant  of  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
and  Hattie  E.  is  the  wife  of  D.  M.  Stewart,  of 
Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Charles  A.  Starr  received  very  limited  edu- 
cational advantages  in  his  youth,  but  he  has 
profited  by  privileges  granted  him  in  later  years 
and  stands  to-day  a  well  informed  and  intelli- 
gent man.  He  was  not  far  advanced  in  years 
when  he  assumed  the  practical  duties  of  life  by 
entering  the  employ  of  his  father,  purchased 
his  coal  and  wood  business  very  soon  after  at- 
taining his  majority,  and  carried  the  same  suc- 
cessfully forward.  In  the  year  1864  he  went 
to  the  defense  of  the  Union,  enlisting  as  a 
member  of  company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-first  Ohio  national  guard,  and  serving 
for  three  months  in  the  command  of  Col.  Lowe. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  again  turned  his  at- 


fajL-^b? ,  c2,    $6&^. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


771 


tention  to  the  handling  of  coal,  wood  and 
building  material.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade 
and  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  all  details  per- 
taining to  the  allied  departments  of  his  busi- 
ness. The  office  headquarters  of  this  enter- 
prise are  located  at  131  Wayne  avenue. 

In  the  year  1891,  Mr.  Starr  became  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Bailey  Soap  company,  of 
which  corporation  he  is  president.  The  others 
of  the  official  corps  comprise  the  following: 
John  F.  Baker,  vice-president,  and  Charles  A. 
Lucius,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  officers, 
together  with  C.  W.  Schaeffer,  constitute  the 
directory  of  the  company.  The  concern  has  a 
plant  which  is  finely  equipped  with  the  latest 
approved  mechanical  devices  and  other  facili- 
ties requisite  to  the  enterprise,  and  the  output 
includes  all  kinds  of  soap,  special  attention  be- 
ing given  to  the  manufacture  of  laundry  soaps, 
in  which  line  the  products  of  the  establishment 
have  gained  an  enviable  reputation  throughout 
a  very  extended  trade  territory.  The  industry 
is  one  which  has  important  bearing  upon  the 
industrial  activities  of  the  Gem  City,  and  the 
success  which  has  attended  it  has  been  con- 
served by  the  wise  methods  and  unswerving 
business  integrity  of  the  interested  principals, 
who  are  recognized  as  being  among  the  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Starr  takes  a  broad-minded  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and,  though  in  no  sense  a  seeker 
of  political  office,  he  renders  a  firm  allegiance 
to  the  republican  party.  In  religion  he  clings 
to  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  having  been  for  the 
past  forty  years  a  member  of  the  Raper  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  one  of  the  most 
active  workers  in  the  same.  In  both  church 
and  Sunday-school  work  he  has  had  a  most 
loyal  and  effective  coadjutor  in  his  estimable 
wife.  In  his  fraternal  relations  our  subject  is 
identified  with  Wayne  lodge,  No.  10,  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  of  which  he  has  been  the  treasurer  for  the 
past  eighteen  years  and  a  member  for  full  two 


score  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Dayton 
encampment  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  order  and 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  American  Mechanics. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Starr  to  Miss  Emaline 
A.  Smart,  a  native  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  was 
solemnized  October  24,  1855;  she  was  born 
December  9,  1833.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  one  child,  who  died  in   infancy. 


a  APT.  ROBERT   C.   SNEAD,  an  offi- 
cial of  the   national    soldiers'  Home, 
was   born  in   Heathsville,  Northum- 
berland county,  Ya. ,    December  28, 
1842,  and    is   the    son    of    Rev.  James   A.  and 
Mary  Snead,    natives   respectively   of   Georgia 
and  Yirginia. 

James  A.  Snead  was  born  in  the  year  1804, 
received  a  liberal  education  in  Baltimore,  Md., 
entered  the  university  of  Yirginia,  and  while  a 
young  man  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  became  a 
prominent  and  influential  preacher.  He  was 
a  typical  southern  gentleman  of  the  old  school, 
fearless  in  his  denunciation  of  wrong  where- 
ever  and  whenever  found  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing opponent  of  the  institution  of  slavery,  in 
consequence  of  which  he  was  obliged  to  leave 
his  native  state  and  seek  a  field  of  labor  in 
northern  conferences.  He  served  as  chaplain 
of  the  Fortieth  Kentucky  mounted  infantry  in 
the  late  war  and  died  in  the  year  1866.  His 
wife  was  Mary  Christopher,  who  was  born  of 
English  parentage  in  Northumberland  county, 
Va. ,  about  the  year  1802.  The  family  of  Mrs. 
Snead  were  residents  of  the  Old  Dominion 
state  during  the  war  of  18 12,  in  which  struggle 
her  father  took  an  active  part  as  an  independ- 
ent scout.  She  died  at  Ashland,  Ky.,  October 
20,  1890.  James  A.  and  Mary  Snead  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  there  are  liv- 
ing at  this  time  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Capt.  Robert   C.  Snead   was   taken  by  his 


772 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


parents,  when  a  child  of  four  years,  to  Wells- 
ville,  Ohio,  thence  in  1S56  to  Ashland,  Ky. , 
where  he  grew  to  maturity  and  where  he  re- 
ceived an  academic  education.  He  became  a 
very  proficient  bookkeeper  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  joined  the  home  guards  of  Kentucky, 
a  loyal  organization,  with  which  he  served  un- 
til 1863,  in  August  of  which  year  he  enlisted 
in  company  E,  Fortieth  Kentucky  mounted  in- 
fantry. Three  weeks  after  enlistment  the  cap- 
tain was  made  regimental  quartermaster-ser- 
geant, and  within  a  month  thereafter  was  pro- 
moted to  second  lieutenant  of  company  C,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  discharged  De- 
cember 30,  1864.  His  service  with  the  For- 
tieth was  principally  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee 
and  Virginia,  scouting  and  fighting  the  rebel 
guerrillas  who  overran  portions  of  those  states. 
Capt.  Snead  was  in  three  engagements  with 
John  Morgan's  band  and  took  part  in  numerous 
skirmishes  with  rebel  forces  on  the  Cumberland 
near  Fort  Donelson,  doing  much  desultory 
fighting  with  guerrillas  and  marauders  through- 
out Kentucky  and  along  its  borders.  He  re- 
entered the  service  in  April,  1865,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fifty-fifth  Kentucky  mounted  infan- 
try, and  was  discharged  therefrom  as  adjutant 
on  the  19th  day  of  September  following — the 
period  of  this  enlistment  being  spent  in  the 
work  of  reconstructing  the  state  of  Kentucky, 
as  the  war  was  being  practically  ended  about 
that  time. 

Severing  his  connection  with  the  army, 
Capt.  Snead  resumed  his  vocation  as  book- 
keeper, first  with  the  Iron  Valley  Iron  works 
in  Stewart,  Tenn. ;  thence  he  went  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  he  was  similarly  employed, 
going  from  the  latter  place  to  Saint  Helena, 
Mich.,  where  he  became  superintendent  of  a 
lumbering  and  manufacturing  establishment. 
During  the  period  between  1880  and  1886  the 
captain  was  more  or  less  an  invalid,  being  un- 


able to  engage  in  his  usual  vocations  by  reason 
of  a  partial  paralysis  of  the  left  side,  which  in- 
duced him  to  enter  the  national  soldiers' home 
at  Dayton  in  June  of  the  latter  year.  Four 
weeks  after  becoming  an  inmate  of  the  home 
he  was  appointed  clerk  at  the  headquarters 
and  continued  in  that  capacity  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  until  1895,  m  October  of 
which  year  he  was  appointed  captain  of  com- 
pany thirty-three  a  position  he  held  until  Octo- 
ber, 1896,  when  he  was  transferred  to  company 
Thirty-five. 

Capt.  Snead  is  a  man  whose  record  is  with- 
out a  stain,  and  his  high  character  and  upright 
conduct  have  made  him  an  object  of  esteem, 
alike  in  public  and  private  life.  His  religious 
creed  is  represented  by  the  liberal  faith  of  the 
Unitarian  church  and  in  politics  he  is  and  al- 
ways has  been  a  conservative  republican.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, in  the  deliberations  of  which  body  he 
ever  manifests  an  active  interest. 


HNDREW  J.  SMITH,  of  Dayton,  is  a 
native  of  Logan  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  October  31,  1847,  his  par- 
ents being  John  and  Maria  (Weeks) 
Smith,  both  natives  of  this  state.  Mrs.  Smith 
died  when  young  Andrew  was  about  eight 
years  old,  and  his  father  died  eight  years  later. 
After  the  death  of  his  mother,  he  went  to  live 
with  an  uncle  on  a  farm  in  Logan  county, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until  he 
had  reached  his  majority.  He  had  the  ordi- 
nary opportunity  of  Ohio  farm  lads,  a  good 
common-school  education,  but  he  profited  by 
what  was  offered  him,  and  possesses  a  wide 
and  useful  range  of  information.  When  he 
was  a  lad  of  only  sixteen  years,  he  enlisted,  in 
1864,  in  the  100  days'  service  as  a  member  of 
company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second 
regiment,    Ohio    volunteer    infantry,    and   the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


773 


conclusion  of  his  term  of  enlistment  brought 
him  well  toward  the  termination  of  the  Civil 
war.  The  solid  character  of  his  education 
was  attested  by  his  teaching  school  for  two 
terms  when  he  was  only  eighteen  years  old, 
but  he  had  studied  to  learn  and  to  know,  and 
thus  early  manifested  a  strength  of  mind  and 
a  maturity  of  judgment  that  have  enabled  him 
to  make  that  success  in  life  which  is  recorded 
in  this  memoir. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  married  Miss 
Nancy  E.  Moore,  who  was  born  on  the  farm 
adjoining  that  of  his  birth,  the  wedding  occur- 
ring September  7,  1869.  The  spring  of  the 
next  year  witnessed  the  removal  of  the  young 
couple  to  Kansas,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm, 
and  followed  an  agricultural  life  for  the  next 
three  years.  But  Kansas  farming  did  not 
promise  a  satisfactory  career,  and  in  1873  they 
returned  to  Logan  county,  where  Mr.  Smith 
had  charge  of  a  grain  warehouse  for  the  next 
five  years.  He  was  then  engaged  for  a  time 
in  a  bakery  and  restaurant  business.  In  1883 
he  secured  a  lucrative  position  as  city  sales- 
man for  a  Dayton  milling  firm,  and  removed 
to  this  city.  This  position  he  has  held  for  the 
past  thirteen  years  with  satisfaction  to  his  em- 
ployers and  credit  to  himself. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  republican  in  his  political 
proclivities,  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  prominent 
and  reliable  leaders  and  workers  for  the  party, 
and  now  represents  it  in  the  Dayton  board  of 
education.  He  is  much  interested  in  fraternity 
matters  and  is  actively  interested  in  one  of  the 
patriotic  orders  of  the  veteran  soldiery  of  the 
land,  as  well  as  in  other  bodies.  He  is  now 
senior  vice-commander  of  the  Old  Guard  post, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  recording  secre- 
tary of  Crown  council,  No.  35,  Junior  Order 
of  United  American  Mechanics,  and  also  holds 
membership  in  Gem  City  lodge,  795,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  of  which  he  has  been  treasurer  for  five 
years  past.      To    Mr.    and    Mrs.    Smith  there 


have  been  born  four  children,  of  whom  the 
eldest,  Wilminnie,  is  the  wife  of  Elliott  S. 
Burns  of  this  city;  Eunettie  is  the  widow  of  the 
late  William  F.  Cain,  and  Howard  D.  and 
Paul  R.  are  still  children  at  home.  Father 
and  mother  are  members  of  St.  Paul  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  the  family  is  highly 
respected  in  its  social  and   religious  relations. 


EACKMAN  A.  SMITH,  justice  of  the 
peace  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Phillipsburg,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  August  29,  1857.  He  is  a  son 
of  Samuel  R.  and  Lottie  L.  (Kolp)  Smith,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  Samuel  R.  Smith  was  a  Union 
soldier  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
served  in  the  Sixty-third  regiment  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry.  His  death  occurred  in  1886. 
His  widow  now  resides  at  West  Milton,  Miami 
county,  Ohio.  The  father  of  Samuel  R.  Smith 
was  Peter  Smith,  who  came  to  Ohio  from 
Pennsylvania  between  sixty-five  and  seventy 
years  ago.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county,  settling  about  one  mile 
south  of  Phillipsburg,  in  Clay  township. 

The  education  of  Hackman  A.  Smith  was 
received  first  in  the  common  schools,  later  at 
the  Euphemia,  Preble  county,  Normal  school, 
and  completed  at  the  Miami  commercial  col- 
lege. For  eight  years  during  his  earlier  busi- 
ness life  he  was  a  school-teacher.  He  was  as- 
sessor in  Clay  township  in  1881-83,  an(3  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  Clay  township 
in  1885,  for  three  years.  Mr.  Smith  located 
in  Dayton  in  1887,  and  has  resided  here  ever 
since.  He  soon  made  many  friends  in  the  city, 
and  in  1894  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  as 
the  candidate  of  the  republican  party,  of  which 
he  has  always  been  an  active  member.  Fra- 
ternally he  has  reached  the   thirty-second  de- 


774 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


gree  in  Masonry,  and  among  the  various  other 
fraternal  orders  to  which  he  belongs  may  be 
mentioned  the  Gem  City  lodge.  No.  795,  I.  O. 
O.  F. ,  Dayton  encampment,  No.  2,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
Daytonia  Rebecca  lodge,  No.  342,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
Canton  Earl,  No.  16,  Patriarchs  militant,  I. 
O.  O.  F.;  Grand  lodge  of  Ohio,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
O.  F.  N.  B.  A.;  Linden  lodge,  No.  412,  K.  of 
P.;  Carpenter's  Union,  No.  396;  Young  Men's 
Christian  association;  The  Seniors;  Tribe  of 
Ben  Hur:  Garfield  club  and  the  O.  S.  C.  A. 
His  rehgion  is  that  of  the  Christian  church. 

Hackman  A.  Smith  was  married  December 
24,  1879,  to  Mary  E.  Lees,  of  Phillipsburg, 
Ohio,  and  to  this  marriage  there  have  been 
born  three  children,  as  follows:  Edna  D., 
wife  of  Miles  Boyer,  of  Dayton;  Leon  E.,  and 
Earl  R. 


eLI  NEWTON  SNYDER,  member  of 
the  firm  of  Snyder,  Tejan  &  Co., 
dealers  in  hay  and  other  feed  in  Day- 
ton, was  born  in  Alpha,  Greene  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  September  27,  1855,  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Kerschner)  Snyder,  natives  of 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  lived  in  his  native 
county  until  about  thirty-one  years  of  age. 

The  Snyder  family  is  of  German  origin 
and  was  established  in  Maryland  by  Jonathan 
Snyder,  grandfather  of  Eli  N.  John  Snyder, 
father  of  Eli  N.,  was  born  in  1821,  and  when 
a  young  man  moved  to  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
married  there,  and  passed  the  greater  part  of 
his  mature  life  in  farming  in  that  county.  His 
death  took  place  in  Dayton  in  his  sixty-ninth 
year.  His  widow,  who  was  born  in  1823,  is 
now  a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  has  her  home 
with  her  son,  Owen  K.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  the  eldest 
of  whom,  Emma,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years;  the  elder  son,  Owen   Kerschner,  is  em- 


ployed as  an  assistant  lumber  buyer  for  the 
Barney  &  Smith  car  shops,  which  position  he 
has  held  for  eleven  years.  He  is  married  to 
Miss  Martha  Barney,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Barney,    of  Greene  county. 

Eli  N.  Snyder  was  educated  in  the  graded 
schools  of  Beaver  Creek  township,  Greene 
county,  and  his  first  business  step  was  the  pur- 
chase and  operation  of  a  sawmill  in  Xenia, 
which  he  ran  from  1850  until  1885,  when  he 
disposed  of  his  business  by  sale,  came  to  Day- 
ton, and  here  secured  a  position  as  yard  fore- 
man with  the  Barney  &  Smith  car  company, 
holding  this  situation  for  six  years,  when  he 
met  with  an  accident  which  compelled  his 
retirement.  He  was  then  variously  employed 
for  two  or  three  years,  principally  in  teaming, 
and  November  16,  1894,  engaged  in  his  pres- 
ent business,  under  the  style  of  Snyder,  Te- 
jan &  Co.,  the  firm  being  composed  of  E.  N. 
Snyder,  F.  Tejan  and  E.  Eckman.  This  firm 
deals  extensively  in  hay  and  all  kinds  of  grain 
and  feed,  and  is  well  located  for  business,  re- 
ceiving a  full  share  of  public  patronage. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Snyder  took  place  in 
Xenia,  November  r,  1883,  with  Miss  Lizzie 
Pettigrew,  a  native  of  that  city  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Medskerj  Petti- 
grew, also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state.  Will- 
iam Pettigrew  was  an  undertaker  by  vocation, 
and  is  now  deceased;  his  widow  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Xenia.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Snyder  has  been   blessed   by  the  birth  of 

I  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  named,  in  order 
of  birth:  Fred  P.,  John  and  Elsie  M.  The 
parents  are  steadfast  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  church,  and  in  his  political  views  Mr. 
Snyder  is  a  strong  republican,  although  he  is 
not  a  partisan  in  the  office-seeking  sense  of 
the  word.  The  social  relations  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Snyder  are  very  pleasant,  the  respect 
in  which  they   are    held   by    their   friends   and 

i    associates  being  sincere  and  well  merited. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


775 


*w  *  ENRY  BENTON  SORTMAN,  con- 
|r%  tractor  for  all  kinds  of  brick  mason- 
F  ery,  was  born  in  Middleburg,  Union 
county,  Pa.,  January  12,  1840.  He 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Maria  C.  (Bossier) 
Sortman,  both  natives  of  the  same  place  in 
Pennsylvania.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Henry  B.,  Jacob  W.,  George  A., 
and  Charles  C.  George  Sortman,  the  father, 
was  by  trade  a  chairmaker.  He  came  to  Day- 
ton, December  10,  1853,  and  here  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  November  2,  1861, 
when  he  was  sixty-nine  years  old.  His  wife 
died  at  Kent,  111.,  July  10,  1875,  aged  fifty- 
nine  years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed church.  Upon  locating  in  Dayton  he 
for  a  time  followed  teaming  for  a  living,  and 
afterward  worked  in  agricultural  implement 
warehouses  until  his  death.  The  paternal 
grandparents  of  Henry  B.  Sortman  reared  a 
family  of  seventeen  children;  the  grandfather 
lived  and  died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  ma- 
ternal grandfather  also  died  in  that  state. 

Henry  Benton  Sortman  was  thirteen  years 
old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Dayton. 
When  he  was  sixteen  years  old  he  began  learn- 
ing the  brickmason's  trade,  which  trade  he 
continuously  followed  until  recent  years,  and 
in  these  later  years  he  has  given  his  attention 
to  contracting.  He  has  built  four  or  five  large 
school  houses,  the  high  school  building,  and 
some  of  the  buildings  at  the  soldiers'  home, 
besides  hundreds  of  residences.  His  work  all 
stands  the  test  of  time,  and  of  the  most  scruti- 
nizing criticism. 

At  Dayton,  Ohio,  April  18,  1861,  Mr.  Sort- 
man  enlisted  in  Capt.  Calvin  Child's  company 
A,  Eleventh  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
for  three  months'  service,  under  the  first  call 
for  75,000  men,  made  by  Abraham  Lincoln, 
and  was  discharged  at  Camp  Dayton,  Ohio, 
August  26,  1861.  He  then  re-enlisted  Octo- 
ber   5,    1 86 1,    in   company    F,    Birge's  sharp- 


shooters, which  was  changed  to  company  H, 
and  to  company  G,  western  sharpshooters, 
April  20,  1862.  His  regiment  was  changed  to 
the  Fourteenth  Missouri  volunteer  infantry, 
and  from  the  Fourteenth  Missouri  to  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  western  sharp- 
shooters, November  26,  1862,  by  order  of 
secretary  of  war,  E.  M.  Stanton. 

Henry  B.  Sortman,  who  was  a  brave  and 
efficient  soldier,  participated  in  all  the  engage- 
ments enumerated  in  the  biography  of  his 
brother,  James  W.  Sortman,  and  with  him 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  After  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he  returned  to 
Dayton  and  began  contracting.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  Dayton  for  forty-three  years,  and 
it  was  he  that  offered  the  first  resolution  pro- 
viding for  the  erection  of  the  beautiful  soldiers' 
monument  at  Dayton,  near  the  Miami  river  on 
Main  street. 

On  Febrauary  14,  1865,  Mr.  Sortman  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Lehman,  daughter 
of  David  and  Eliza  (Brandenburg)  Lehman, 
who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Day- 
ton, having  located  there  when  the  place  was 
but  nine  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sortman 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  as  follows:  Nettie  L., 
Grove  S.,  Miles  R.,  and  Clifford  L.  Grove  S. 
married  Blanche  A.  Ambrose,  by  whom  he 
had  one  child,  Earl  C. ,  and  died  April  22,  1 889. 

Mrs.  H.  B.  Sortman  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  While  Mr.  Sort- 
man's  parents  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
church,  he  has  never  identified  himself  with 
any  denomination.  Fraternally  he  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a  member  of 
Old  Guard  post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.  Politically 
he  is  a  republican,  and  as  such  has  served  one 
term  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education. 
His  home  is  at  No.  208  Dutoit  street,  where 
he  has  lived  for  twenty-nine  years,  his  house 
having  been  erected  in    1866.      Where  he  now 


776 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


lives  an  orchard  stood  at  the  time  he  built  his 
residence,  and  this  orchard  was  surrounded  by 
a  cornfield. 


«y    ■*  ON.  WILLIAM  EDWARD  SPARKS, 

j^\    state  senator  Irom  the  third  Ohio  sen- 

F    atorial   district,  and    a  representative 

citizen    of    Dayton,    was    born    near 

Springfield,  Clarke  county,    Ohio,    August  25, 

1853,  and  is   the    son   or    Ephraim   and   Mary 

(Ellwell)  Sparks. 

Ephraim  Sparks,  the  father,  was  a  native 
of  Ohio,  born  in  1809,  near  Bellbrook,  Greene 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  wagon- 
making  and  blacksmith  business  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Coon,  Fryant  &  Sparks.  Later 
in  life  he  lived  near  Clifton,  and  thence  re- 
moved to  Springfield,  dying  in  the  latter  city 
on  March  12,  1880.  The  mother,  Mary  (Ell- 
well) Sparks,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1809, 
and  when  a  child  was  brought  to  Ohio,  the 
family  making  the  journey  from  Pittsburg  down 
the  Ohio  river  on  a  flat-boat.  Her  death  oc- 
curred May  19,  1884.  To  these  parents  there 
were  born  the  following  children:  Simon,  a 
resident  of  Dayton;  Mrs.  Abbie  Aughe  and 
Mrs.  Hannah  Littleton,  both  of  Springfield; 
Mrs.  Sallie  A.  Bachman,  of  Clear  Water  Har- 
bor, Fla. ;  Mrs.  Ella  Gifford,  of  Bloomington, 
Ills,  (died  July  30,  1896);  Mrs.  Lydia  J.  Slack, 
of  Springfield,  Ohio;  Derostus  F.  L. ,  of  Chi- 
cago, and  William  E. 

Senator  Sparks  spent  his  boyhood  days  at 
work  and  in  attending  the  common  schools. 
Aside  from  the  education  thus  secured  he  had 
the  advantage  of  a  thorough  course  at  a  com- 
mercial school  at  Springfield.  Later  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  machinist  at  Richmond,  Ind., 
which  trade  he  has  since  followed,  sparing 
only  such  time  away  from  it  as  has  been  re- 
quired for  his  attendance  upon  the  sessions  of 
the  state  senate   at  Columbus   in    1893-4  and 


1895-6.  He  removed  to  Dayton  in  1873,  and 
has  always  been  recognized  as  a  representative 
of  the  workingmen  of  this  city,  and  has  for 
years  been  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  re- 
publican party.  In  the  spring  of  1892,  Mr. 
Sparks  was  elected  to  the  city  council  of  Day- 
ton from  the  First  ward,  at  a  special  election. 
In  1893  he  was  nominated  by  the  republican 
party  as  its  candidate  for  the  state  senate  from 
the  Third  district,  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Montgomery  and  Preble.  At  that  time  the 
normal  democratic  majority  in  this  district  was 
1,200,  yet  so  popular  was  Mr.  Sparks  that, 
against  a  strong  opponent,  he  was  elected  by 
a  majority  of  2,411  votes.  In  1895  he  was 
again  nominated  and  elected  to  the  state  senate, 
this  time  running  ahead  of  his  ticket  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  receiving  a  total  majority 
of  3,052  votes.  He  is  the  first  republican  who 
has  been  elected  and  re-elected  to  the  state 
senate  from  Mohtgomery  county  since  1S64, 
when  a  similar  honor  was  conferred  on  the 
Hon.  L.  B.  Gunckel,  of  Dayton.  During  the 
Seventy-first  general  assembly  Mr.  Sparks  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  sanitary  laws 
and  regulations,  was  second  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  municipal  corporations  No.  2, 
and  a  member  of  the  committees  on  the  Sol- 
diers' &  Sailors'  Home;  manufactures  and 
commerce;  labor;  mines  and  mining;  fees  and 
salaries,  and  public  expenditures.  In  the  Sev- 
enty-second general  assembly  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  municipal  corporations 
No.  2,  and  a  member  of  the  committees  on 
universities  and  colleges  (of  which  he  was  sec- 
retary), manufacturers  and  commerce,  labor, 
military  affairs  (of  which  also  he  was  secre- 
tary), public  expenditures,  medical  societies 
and  colleges.  Being  a  workingman  himself, 
and  well  equipped  for  the  duties  of  senator, 
Mr.  Sparks  has  made  a  fine  record  in  the  high- 
est legislative  body  of  the  state.  He  has  never 
missed  an  opportunity  to  advance  the  cause  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


777 


his  constituents,  and  especially  of  the  working 
class.  His  views  on  public  and  important 
questions  have  alvVays  been  broad  and  prac- 
ticable, and  he  has  had  the  courage  to  make 
known  his  convictions. 

For  five  years  Senator  Sparks  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Champion  City  guards,  O.  N.  G., 
and  served  during  the  strikes  of  1877.  He  is 
at  present  a  member  of  Linden  division,  uni- 
formed rank,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  has 
served  both  as  captain  of  the  same  and  as  col- 
onel on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Weidner;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Wayne  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  of  Dayton 
encampment.  No.  2;  of  Gem  City  lodge.  United 
American  Mechanics,  and  of  Columbia  lodge, 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor. 

On  May  6,  1890,  Mr.  Sparks  was  married 
to  Miss  Minnie  A.  Kimes,  a  daughter  of  Frank 
and  Melissa  Kimes,  of  Dayton.  During  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1896,  Senator  Sparks 
organized  the  Workingmen's  McKinley  cam- 
paign club,  which  had  a  membership  of  over 
3,000,  was  the  largest  laboring  men's  club  in 
the  United  -States,  and  of  this  club  he  was 
elected  president. 


QAURICE  L.  SPEAR,  of  the  national 
military  home,  near  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  White  Marsh,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.,  December  25, 
1843.  His  parents,  Daniel  and  Barbara 
Spear,  both  died  at  the  family  home  in  White 
Marsh — the  father  in  1883,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years,  and  the  mother  ten  years 
later,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five. 

Maurice  L.  Spear,  at  the  early  age  of  four- 
teen years,  ran  away  from  his  home  and  en- 
deavored to  enlist  in  the  United  States  navy, 
but  was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth.  He 
then  bound  himself  to  a  blacksmith  in  Beverly, 
N.  J.,  and  with  him  he  worked  until  the  out- 
break   of    the    Rebellion,    when    he    enlisted, 


August  6,  1 86 1,  at  Philadelphia,  in  company 
K,  known  as  Birney's  Zouaves,  of  the  Twenty- 
third  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  Remain- 
ing at  Washington,  D.  C,  until  early  in  March, 
1862,  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  army 
of  the  Potomac;  and  was  embarked  on  trans- 
ports at  Alexandria  to  steam  to  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, Va.  Mr.  Spear  then  took  part  in  the 
siege  of  Yorktown,  the  battle  of  Williamsburg, 
and  under  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan,  fought 
throughout  the  war  of  the  peninsula;  was 
under  Gen.  Pope  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  again  under  McClellan  at  South  Moun- 
tain and  Antietam,  and  at  Fredericksburg 
under  Burnside,  being  in  Gen.  Franklin's  di- 
vision, which  opened  this  disastrous  battle. 
Gen.  Burnside  having  been  relieved  of  his 
command  and  Gen.  "Fighting  Joe"  Hooker 
placed  in  his  stead,  and  the  Twenty-third  Penn- 
sylvania infantry  having  been  merged  with  the 
Sixth  army  corps,  Mr.  Spear  became  a  partici- 
pant in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  in  which 
Gen.  Lee  and  "  Stonewall  "  Jackson  badly  de- 
feated Hooker.  Here  Jackson  was  accidently 
killed  by  one  of  his  own  men — the  fight  having 
lasted  two  days,  May  2-3,  1863.  Gen.  Meade 
being  now  placed  in  command,  the  Sixth  army 
corps  made  the  longest  march  known  to  mili- 
tary history  and  reached  Gettysburg,  Pa. ,  tak- 
ing its  place  in  the  second  day's  fight  of  that 
famous  battle  as  "fresh"  troops,  July  3,  1863. 
Here,  while  standing  at  the  side  of  Mr.  Spear, 
his  brother  lost  his  right  hand.  Meade  fol- 
lowed the  retreating  Confederates  for  a  time, 
then  made  the  expedition  against  Mine  Run, 
Ya.,  and  there  went  into  winter  quarters.  In 
the  winter  of  1863  Mr.  Spear  re-enlisted,  was 
given  a  veteran  furlough  home,  and  in  May 
1864,  rejoined  the  army  at  North  Anna  river, 
Va. ;  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor 
June  1,  1864,  and  there  lost  his  left  arm  be- 
low the  elbow,  sustained  a  severe  wound  in  his 
right  leg,  a  wound   in   his  side,  and   a  second 


778 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


wound  in  his  disabled  arm — four  wounds  in 
one  battle.  His  arm  was  amputated  on  the 
field  June  3,  and  the  day  following  he  was 
conveyed  to  White  House  Landing;  on  the 
10th  he  reached  Alexandria,  Va. ,  and  was 
thence  sent  to  David's  island,  in  New  York 
harbor,  where  he  was  treated  in  hospital  until 
August,  1864,  when  he  was  allowed  again  to 
go  home  on  furlough.  September  1,  1864,  he 
reported  at  McClellan's  hospital,  Philadelphia, 
did  duty  until  September  6,  1865,  when  he 
was  finally  discharged  from  Moyer  hospital, 
Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Spear  then 
returned  to  his  parental  home  in  White  Marsh, 
where  for  a  time  he  was  employed  by  the 
Reading  railroad  company,  and  later  by  the 
Union  Street  Car  company  of  Philadelphia, 
until  March,  1873,  when  he  came  to  the  sol- 
diers' home  in  Dayton.  Here  he  has  been  em- 
ployed in  various  positions,  part  of  the  time  as 
a  guard  and  part  of  the  time  as  commander  of 
a  company.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
had  charge  of  the  "order"  department  of  the 
Home  beer  hall,  which  none  but  inmates  are 
permitted  to  enter,  and  these  only  under  rigid 
restrictions. 

The  parents  of  Lieut.  Spear  had  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  of  whom  nine  were  living 
at  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war.  David,  the 
only  brother,  lost  his  hand  at  Gettysburg,  as 
heretofore  mentioned,  and  is  now  living  in  re- 
tirement at  Gloucester,  N.  J, ;  two  of  his  sis- 
ters, Mrs.  Amanda  Woods  and  Miss  Cecelia 
Spear,  reside  in  Philadelphia;  another,  Mrs. 
Aletia  Anderson,  lives  near  Camden,  N.  J.; 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Jern  is  a  resident  of  Cambridge, 
Washinton  county,  N.  Y.,  and  Mrs.  Adeline 
McCauley  died  in  Philadelphia.  The  family 
being  of  German  descent,  Mr.  Spear  took  his 
religious  vows  in  the  German  Reformed  church 
on  reaching  his  majority.  In  politics  he  is 
republican,  but  for  several  years  past  he  has 
not  been  active  in  matters  political. 


^"^EORGE   W.    HOUR,   deceased,  was 

■  G\    born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  on 

\^_^    September    25,    4825.       His    father, 

Adam  Houk,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
1 

county,  to  which  his  father,  Adam  Houk,  Sr., 
had  removed  during  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. In  1827  Adam  Houk,  Jr.,  removed  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  in  this  city  George  W. 
Houk  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The 
education  of  George  W.  Houk  was  secured 
in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Day- 
ton academy.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Peter  P.  Lowe,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1847,  following  which  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  preceptor.  A  year  or  so  later, 
however,  he  dissolved  this  relation  and  entered 
into  a  like  one  with  the  Hon.  George  B.  Holt. 
In  1 860  he  formed  a  partnership  with  the  Hon. 
John  A.  McMahon,  which  lasted  for  twenty 
years,  and  from  1880  on  Mr.  Houk  practiced 
on  his  sole  account. 

In  1852,  though  but  twenty-seven  years  of 
age,  Mr.  Houk  was  sent  to  the  Ohio  legislature, 
and  was  distinguished  by  being  made  chairman 
of  the  judiciary  committee.  In  i860  he  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  national  democratic 
convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  at  which 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  nominated  for  presi- 
dent. In  1876  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  demo- 
cratic national  convention  at  Saint  Louis,  when 
Samuel  J.  Tilden  was  nominated  for  the  presi- 
dency. In  1884  he  was  nominated  a  district 
elector.  In  1890  Mr.  Houk  was  elected  to 
congress  from  the  Third  Ohio  district,  and  in 
1892  was  re-elected.  His  death  occurred  sud- 
denly in  Washington,  on  February  9,  1894, 
during   his  second  congressional  term. 

On  December  25,  1856,  Mr.  Houk  was 
married  to  Eliza  P.  Thruston,  daughter  of 
Robert  A.  Thruston,  a  granddaughter  of  Ho- 
ratio G.  Phillips,  and  a  sister  to  Gen.  Gates 
P.  Thruston,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.  Mr.  Houk 
left  a  widow  and  three  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


781 


Harry  E.  Mead  is  since  deceased,  and  Mrs. 
Harry  Talbot  and  Thruston  Houk  reside  in 
Dayton  city. 

Mr.  Houk  was  possessed  of  strong  intel- 
lectual powers  and  of  literary  tastes  and  ability, 
which  manifested  themselves  in  the  writing  of 
essays,  philosophical  treatises  and  public  ad- 
dresses upon  subjects  covering  a  wide  range. 
Much  of  his  best  work  of  this  character  was 
done  solely  for  the  love  of  writing  and  in  order 
to  fix  in  his  mind  the  result  of  his  extensive 
reading.  While,  therefore,  some  of  his  most 
valuable  literary  productions  remained  in  man- 
uscript and  without  publication,  his  fine  gift  of 
expression  and  wealth  of  knowledge  were 
known,  outside  his  library,  chiefly  through  his 
addresses  upon  public  occasions.  In  this  di- 
rection, his  dignity,  his  fine  presence,  his  rich 
fund  of  information  upon  public  questions,  and 
his  thorough  command  of  the  best  graces  of 
oratory,  combined  to  make  George  W.  Houk 
one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  the  past 
fifty  years  of  Dayton's  history.  Added  to  his 
equipment  as  a  scholar  and  thinker  were  most 
delightful  social  qualities,  humor,  urbanity,  un- 
failing courtesy  and  genuine  hospitality.  In 
both  private  and  public  life  Mr.  Houk  was  a 
fine  type  of  the  high-minded,  upright,  useful 
citizen.  His  sudden  death  came  as  a  severe 
blow  upon  the  community  in  which  he  had  so 
long  been  loved  and  honored,  bringing  the 
sense  of  personal  loss  to  a  great  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  whom  for  many  years  he 
had  charmed  with  his  personality  and  im- 
pressed with  his  strength  of  mind  and  high 
moral  character. 


aHARLES    ALBERT    STAINROOK, 
brick  contractor  and    president  of  the 
Dayton    Pressed    Brick    company,  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia October  16,   1852.      He  is   a  son  of  Will- 

29 


iam  and  Anna  (Housel)  Stainrook,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  are  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  are  still  living: 
Emma,  Virginia,  Kate,  Charles  A.,  Lewis, 
Clara  and  Maggie.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren is  a  bricklayer  by  trade  and  still  lives  in 
Philadelphia,  with  all  the  family  except 
Charles  A.  Formerly  he  was  a  contractor, 
but  has  lived  retired  for  several  years.  His 
wife  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

David  Stainrook,  the  father  of  William 
Stainrook,  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  of 
German  parents,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  David 
Stainrook,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  lived  all  his 
life,  dying  when  eighty  years  of  age.  He  and 
his  wife  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  Charles  A.,  was 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  settled  at  York,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  hotel  keeping.  He  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Charles  A.  Stainrook  was  reared  in  Phila- 
delphia, received  a  common-school  education, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  learning  the 
brickmason's  trade.  This  trade  he  followed 
some  four  years,  and  in  1880  removed  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  became  engaged  in  con- 
tract work.  He  has  erected  a  large  number 
of  buildings  in  Dayton,  among  them  the  Dea- 
coness hospital,  the  Davies  building,  the  Bar- 
ney building,  and  the  Dayton  Club  building. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Dayton 
Pressed  Brick  company  in  1894,  and  is  now 
its  president.  This  company  gives  employ- 
ment to  an  average  of  twenty-five  men,  and  is 
carrying  on  a  prosperous  business. 

On  January  18,  1882,  Mr.  Stainrook  was 
married  to  Miss  Margaret  Hagerman,  daugh- 
ter of  Christopher  and  Eliza  Jane  (Breen) 
Hagerman.  To  this  marriaga  there  have  been 
born  four  children,  as  follows:      Mildred,  Mar- 


782 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


garet,  Bessie  and  Clara.  Politically  Mr. 
Stainrook  is  a  republican,  but  is  not  in  any 
sense  an  office  seeker.  He  lives  at  No.  149 
High  street,  and  is  well  known  throughout  the 
county  as  a  reliable  contractor  and  a  straight- 
forward, honest  man,  kind  and  generous  in 
disposition  and  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  the 
community  in  which  he  has  earned  an  ample 
business  success. 


a  APT.  JACOB  C.  STALEY,  one  of 
the  honored  and  prominent  ex-sol- 
diers of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
this  city,  February  25,  1842.  His 
parents,  Solomon  and  Susan  B.  Staley,  were 
natives  of  Frederick,  Md.,  were  born  No- 
vember 21,  1S06,  and  March  7,  18 14,  re- 
spectively, were  married  in  Frederick,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1 83 1,  and  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
in  1832.  The  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade, 
and  died  in  Dayton,  May  3,  1855;  his  widow 
survived  until  December  8,  1S95,  when  she 
died  in  her  eighty-second  year.  Of  their  ten 
children  four  only  are  living,  and  of  these, 
three  served  with  honor  and  credit  in  the  late 
Civil  war.  The  Staley  family  was  of  Dutch 
and  Swiss  descent,  and  for  several  generations 
was  resident  of  Maryland,  Solomon  Staley, 
mention  above,  having  been  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  Ohio. 

Capt.  Jacob  C.  Staley,  the  eldest  of  the 
four  surviving  children  born  to  his  parents,  first 
enlisted  for  three  months,  April  16,  1861,  in 
company  C,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
served  at  the  battles  of  Vienna,  Va.,  and  of 
Bull  Run,  was  honorably  discharged  August 
16,  of  the  same  year,  and  immediately  re-en- 
listed for  three  years,  entering  company  F, 
Second  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  as  sergeant. 
He  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, took  part  in  the  skirmish   at  West  Lib- 


erty, Ky. ,  and  then  in  the  battle  of  Ivy  Mount- 
ain, November  8,  1S61.  His  regiment  then 
became  part  of  Gen.  Mitchell's  division,  and 
went  to  Huntsville,  Ala.,  and  was  first  in  the 
skirmishes  at  Widow's  Creek  and  at  Bridge- 
port, then  followed  Bragg's  army  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  from  the  Tennessee  river,  and  next 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky., 
October  8,  1862.  The  battle  of  Stone  River 
followed  December  31,  and  here  Mr.  Staley 
had  command  of  his  company,  having  been 
commissioned  second  lieutenant;  the  regiment 
then  lay  at  Murfreesboro  until  June,  1863, 
when  it  started  on  the  Tullahoma  campaign 
under  Gen.  Rosecrans,  of  Rousseau's  division; 
Hoover's  Gap  battle  followed,  then  Chickamau- 
ga,  September  19  and  20,  1863.  Remaining  at 
Chattanooga  until  November  24,  1863,  the  reg- 
iment was  in  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
followed  by  Missionary  Ridge,  November  25; 
and  the  enemy  was  next  met  at  Ringgold,  Ga. 
The  regiment  then  started,  May  7,  1863,  on 
the  Atlanta  campaign  under  Sherman,  and 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Tunnel  Hill,  Buz- 
zard's Roost  and  Resaca.  At  the  last-named 
place,  May  15,-1864  (second  day's  fight),  Capt. 
Staley  received  a  wound  across  the  crown  of 
his  head,  fracturing  his  skull  and  leaving  a 
depression  so  deep  that  even  at  the  present 
time  two  fingers  may  easily  be  laid  therein. 
He  was  placed  in  a  field  hospital  for  some 
time,  was  then  furloughed  home,  and  partially 
recovered;  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  in  September,  and  on  October 
10,  1864,  was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Chase, 
Ohio,  as  first  lieutenant,  although  he  held  a 
captain's  commission,  received  too  late  for 
active  service  thereunder.  Politically,  an  un- 
comproming  republican,  Capt.  Staley,  after 
returning  to  Dayton  from  the  service,  served 
as  constable,  deputy  sheriff ,  etc.,  and  for  a  few 
years  was  in  the  restaurant  business,  but  of 
late  has  not  been  actively  engaged   in  any  oc- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


783 


cupation.  In  religion,  he  adheres  to  the  faith 
of  his  parents — that  of  the    Reform  church. 

The  marriage  of  Capt.  J.  C.  Staley  took 
place  October  31,  1866,  with  Miss  Rachael 
McCafferty,  a  native  of  Dayton,  who  died  in 
May,  1886,  the  mother  of  one  child — Jacob  G. 
Staley,  a  printer  by  occupation,  living  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio. 

Henry  J.  Staley,  brother  of  Capt.  Jacob  C, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Sixty-sixth  Illinois  volun- 
teer infantry,  served  three  years,  and  died  in 
Dayton.  Joseph  P.  Staley,  another  brother, 
was  captain  of  company  I,  Eleventh  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  incurred  disability  while  in  the 
service,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  resignation 
and  the  eventual  cause  of  his  death,  which 
also  occurred  in  Dayton.  The  captain  has 
two  unmarried  sisters,  still  living,  and  one  mar- 
ried sister,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Case,  of  Newport, 
Ky.,  and  these,  with  himself,  comprise  the  sur- 
vivors of  the  family  born  to  his  parents.  Capt. 
J.  C.  Staley  is  at  present  lieutenant-colonel  of 
encampment  No.  145,  Union  Veteran  Legion 
of  Dayton. 


SOBERT  STEIN,    M.  D.,  of  No.   110 
East  Van  Buren    street,    Dayton,  and 
one    of    the    city's    most    successful 
physicians,    was    born    in    Germany, 
October  18,   1861,  and  since  July  3,   1873,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Louis  and  Johanna  (Kuehne)  Stein,  his  par- 
ents, came  from  Berlin,  bringing  their  small 
family,  in  the  year  1873,  and  the  father,  being 
a  mechanic,  upon  reaching  Dayton,  found  im- 
mediate employment  as  foreman  for  Zwick  & 
Daniels,  with  whom  he  continued  until  his 
death  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years. 
To  his  marriage  were  born  five  children,  of 
whom  Robert  is  the  eldest;  John  is  foreman 
for  the  Paper  Novelty  company  of  Dayton; 
George  is  spoke  inspector  for    the   Pinneo  & 


Daniels  Wheel  factory  of   Dayton,  and  Mary 
and  Anna  are  at  home  with  their  mother. 

After  coming  to  Dayton,  Robert  Stein  was 
placed  under  private  instruction  and  also  at- 
tended night  school,  in  order  to  improve  him- 
self in  his  knowledge  of  the  English  tongue, 
and  when  sufficiently  •  prepared  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  A.  H.  Iddings  as  a  student  of 
medicine.  He  then  attended  the  Miami  Med- 
ical college  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1886,  and  first  lo- 
cated for  practice  in  North  Dayton,  where  he 
remained  until  the  fall  of  1S89,  when  he  went 
to  Vienna,  Austria.  Here  he  studied  at  the 
renowned  university  of  that  city  for  one  year; 
returning  to  Dayton,  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education,  and  after  passing 
eleven  months  in  the  city  made  another  trip  to 
Europe,  and  for  ten  months  was  a  student  in 
the  university  of  Berlin,  devoting  himself 
chiefly  to  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  surgery  and 
of  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  women.  On 
his  return  from  Berlin  he  engaged  in  general 
practice  in  Dayton,  and  has  met  with  gratify- 
ing success.  He  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of 
his  professional  brethren,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
public,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Medical  association,  and  of  the  D.  O. 
H.  Since  his  return  he  has  been  re-elected  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education.  On  Jan- 
uary 9,  1897,  Dr.  Stein  was  appointed  United 
States  pension  examining  surgeon  for  Dayton. 


HOMAS  L.  STEWARD,  agent  of  the 
Royal  Insurance  company  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  near  Emmittsburg, 
Frederick  count}',  Md. ,  July  5,  1833, 
and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  paternally  and 
of  German  descent  maternally.  His  grand- 
father, John  Posey  Steward,  married  Miss  Mary 
Beam,  and  was  flour  inspector  for  the  port  of 
Baltimore  for  many  years.     John  Beam  Stew- 


784 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ard,  son  of  John  Posey  Steward  and  father  of 
Thomas  L.,  was  a  miller  by  vocation,  and 
August  30,  1832,  married  Miss  Ann  Mary  Link, 
Rev.  David  Schaeffer,  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
officiating.  To  this  union  were  born  six  sons 
and  one  daughter,  two  in  Frederick  county, 
Md.,  the  others  in  Ohio,  and  of  this  family  the 
mother  and  four  of  the  children  are  still  living, 
the  latter  being  Thomas  and  John,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio;  D.  Minor,  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and 
Mrs.  V.  C.  Gelwicks,  of  Delphi,  Ohio.  Thomas 
Link,  the  father  of  Mrs.  John  Beam  Steward, 
married  Miss  Anna  M.  Fout.  He  was  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  of  Maryland  and  a  slave  owner, 
but  in  his  heart  was  opposed  to  holding  human 
beings  in  bondage  and  eventually  emancipated 
his  living  chattels.  In  politics  the  forefathers 
of  Thomas  L.  Steward  were  all  anti-slavery 
democrats,  and  all  American  patriots,  some 
having  served  in  the  wars,  and  one  aunt  of 
our  subject  drew  a  pension  as  the  result  of  her 
husband's  services  in  the  war  of  1812.  John 
B.  Steward  was  thoroughly  loyal  to  his  native 
land  and  ever  inculcated  in  his  children  the 
motto:  "Your  country,  right  or  wrong.''  In 
the  fall  of  1837  he  came  to  Ohio  and  settled 
in  Lewisburg,  Preble  county,  saying  that  a  slave 
state  was  no  place  for  a  man  who  had  to  work 
with  his  hands.  Schools  in  those  days  were 
taught  only  in  winter,  and  the  instruction  given 
was  of  an  elementary  character;  the  school- 
buildings  were  far  apart,  and  that  which  our 
subject  attended  was  two  miles  from  his  home. 
In  December,  1846,  John  B.  Steward  had  the 
misfortune  to  fall  through  a  hatchway  in  his 
mill,  the  accident  resulting  in  his  death  on  the 
fourth  day  of  the  same  month. 

Thomas  L.  Steward,  being  the  eldest  child 
in  the  family,  was  now  called  upon  to  aid  in 
the  support  of  his  mother  and  the  younger 
children,  the  estate  of  his  father  being  lost 
through  bad  investments  by  the  administrator. 
In  1847  a  friend  secured  for  him  a  situation  as 


driver  on  the  Miami  &  Erie  canal  at  a  com- 
pensation of  $15  in  gold  per  month.  This 
proved  of  great  aid  to  the  mother  and  little 
ones,  and  later  he  was  promoted  to  be  steers- 
man at  $30  per  month.  In  1850  he  began 
learning  the  trade  of  carriage  blacksmith  with 
a  Mr.  Woodmansee,  on  St.  Clair  street,  Day- 
ton, and  this  vocation  he  followed  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  in  1861. 

August  10,  1856,  Mr.  Steward  was  married 
to  Miss  Frances  A.  Garber,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  by  Rev.  George  W.  Williard,  of  the 
First  Reformed  church,  of  Dayton.  This  union 
has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children — 
Carrie  M.,  on  March  11,  1858,  and  LeRoyT., 
March  24,  i860.  The  daughter  is  deceased, 
but  the  son,  LeRoy  T. ,  passed  through  the 
Dayton  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  has  risen  to 
considerable  distinction,  having  been  president 
of  the  Marquette  republican  club,  and  being 
the  present  lieutenant-colonel  and  inspector 
of  the  First  brigade,  Illinois  national  guard; 
in  fact,  he  has  been  identified  with  the  state 
militia  since  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
is  well  prepared  to  take  part  in  the  defense  of 
his  country  should  he  ever  be  called  upon  for 
that  purpose,  as  were  his  forefathers. 

In  politics  Thomas  L.  Steward  was  at  first 
an  anti-slavery  democrat,  and  voted  for  John 
C.  Fremont,  as  the  representative  of  the  anti- 
slavery  principles,  for  president  of  the  United 
States,  in  1856.  In  local  politics  he  voted 
with  the  democrats,  but  in  i860  cast  his  vote 
for  Lincoln  in  the  presidential  election.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Washington  (Dayton) 
light  artillery,  and  when  the  call  to  arms  was 
sounded  at  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter,  his 
company,  of  which  he  had  been  elected  second 
lieutenant,  went  to  Columbus  and  was  as- 
signed, as  company  A,  to  the  Ohio  volunteer 
militia,  served  four  months,  and  was  then 
mustered    out.      After  working  at  his  trade,  on 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


785 


his  return  to  Dayton,  until  July,  1862,  Mr. 
Steward,  as  second  lieutenant  of  a  company  of 
thirty  men,  intended  to  enter  the  regular 
army,  but  this  step  was  opposed  by  the  county 
military  committee  and  he  was  assigned  as 
second  lieutenant  of  company  I,  Eleventh  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  to  serve  three  years.  He 
was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Dennison,  August  9, 
1862,  joined  his  regiment  in  West  Virginia, 
was  with  his  company  at  the  battle  of  Hoover's 
Gap,  Tenn.,  and  was  mustered  out  as  first 
lieutenant  June  24,  1863,  although  he  had 
commanded  his  company  at  Chickamauga  and 
Missionary  Ridge.  After  a  leave  of  absence  of 
twenty  days  he  rejoined  the  army  at  Chatta- 
nooga, was  appointed  to  the  command  of  com- 
pany K,  and  fought  at  Resaca,  which  was  the 
last  battle  in  which  his  regiment  took  part. 
After  that  battle  Capt.  Steward  was  taken 
sick  and  was  brought,  on  his  way  home,  as  far 
as  Cincinnati,  flat  on  his  back.  The  regiment 
was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Dennison,  June  20, 
1864,  and  Capt.  Steward  was  offered  a 
lieutenant-colonelcy,  but  was  refused  the  pro- 
motion by  the  examining  surgeon,  who  decided 
him  to  be  unfit  for  further  active  duty. 

Light  employment  was  difficult  to  procure, 
but  in  November,  1864,  Capt.  Steward  secured 
a  responsible  position  with  the  United  States 
and  American  Express  companies,  with  whom 
he  served  seven  years,  when  he  resigned  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  May  ro,  1873,  he  was 
sworn  in  as  chief  of  the  Dayton  Metropolitan 
police  force,  but  resigned,  and  for  two  years 
was  a  traveling  salesman  for  John  Dodds&Co., 
then  for  ten  and  a  half  years  acted  in  the  same 
capacity  for  Greer  &  King,  stove  manufactur- 
ers. In  1887  he  accepted  his  present  position 
as  agent  for  the  Royal  Insurance  company,  in 
which  he  has  been  very  successful. 

Fraternally  Capt.  Steward  is  a  member  of 
the  Loyal  Legion;  also  of  Old  Guard  post,  No. 
23,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  which  he 


has  filled  the  offices  of  quartermaster's  sergeant 
and  trustee  for  two  years,  quartermaster  two 
years,  post  commander  one  year,  and  one 
year  inspector  on  the  state  staff  for  two  coun- 
ties. In  religion  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  First  Reformed  church  since  about  1858. 
The  captain  had  two  brothers  who  served  in 
the  Eleventh  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  one 
cousin  in  the  Ninety-third,  two  cousins  in  an 
Ohio  cavalry  regiment,  and  one  in  an  Illinois 
regiment  of  infantry.  In  longevity,  the  span 
of  life  of  the  family  is  somewhat  beyond  the 
ordinary,  the  mother  of  the  captain  being  now 
in  her  eighty-eighth  year,  and  he  and  his  wife 
in  their  sixty-fourth.  In  the  respect  of  the 
community  none  stand  higher. 


a  APT.  JOHN  R.  STEWART,  who 
holds  an  important  official  position  at 
the  national  soldiers'  home,  is  the 
son  of  Neil  and  Mary  (Barker)  Stew- 
art, natives  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  on  the  29th  of  June,  1844,  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  father,  a  silversmith 
by  trade,  died  when  his  son  John  was  a  small 
child,  and  after  the  mother's  re-marriage,  her 
three  sons,  William,  Robert  and  John  R. ,  left 
the  parental  roof,  seeking  their  fortunes  in 
different  parts  of  the  country;  William  en- 
tered the  regular  army  before  the  Civil  war, 
and  Robert  went  to  California,  where  he  still 
makes  his  home. 

Capt.  Stewart  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive city,  where,  on  the  12th  of  April,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  what  was  known  as  the  Guthrie 
Grays,  afterward  designated  as  the  Sixth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  for  the  three  months'  serv- 
ice. He  re-enlisted  in  the  field  prior  to  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  the  regiment 
retaining  its  original  organization,  but  his  com- 
pany being  changed  from   E  to  A.      Nicholas 


786 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


S.  Anderson  was  made  colonel  of  this  regi- 
ment, which  shared  the  vicissitudes  of  war  for 
three  years  under  Gens.  Nelson,  Buell  and 
Grant,  and  took  part  in  many  of  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  the  southwestern  campaigns. 
In  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  152  of  its  men 
were  reported  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
out  of  383  men  and  officers  engaged;  a  heavy 
loss  was  also  sustained  at  Chickamauga,  where 
125  brave  men  failed  to  respond  at  roll  call 
after  the  battle,  Col.  Anderson  being  among 
the  number  severely  wounded.  The  loss  at 
Stone  River  aggregated  seventy-seven,  of  whom 
fifty-one,  or  thirteen  per  cent,  were  killed — a 
greater  loss  than  that  sustained  by  any  other 
regiment  engaged  in  that  battle,  except  the 
Twenty-first  Illinois. 

Capt.  Stewart  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  June  23,  1864,  and  shortly  thereafter 
engaged  in  railroading,  accepting  the  position 
of  conductor,  which  he  filled  for  a  period  of 
five  years.  During  the  twelve  succeeding 
years  he  was  connected  with  the  fire  depart- 
ment of  Cincinnati,  in  which  he  filled  every 
official  station,  and  while  thus  employed  met 
with  a  painful  injury  by  falling  from  a  ladder 
from  the  fourth  story  of  a  building.  He  was 
picked  up  for  dead  and  resuscitated  only  after 
long  and  skillful  treatment.  After  his  recov- 
ery, he  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of 
another  company  with  lighter  duties,  but 
finally,  on  account  of  his  injuries,  retired  from 
the  fire  department,  and,  being  unable  by 
reason  of  his  disabilities  to  engage  in  any  active 
employment,  he  became  an  inmate  of  the 
national  soldiers'  home,  where,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years,  he  has  held  official  po- 
sitions of  various  kinds  since  1886. 

Capt.  Stewart  was  a  brave  soldier  and 
earned  a  reputation  for  gallantry  upon  fields 
made  memorable  by  reason  of  fierce  struggle 
and  great  effusion  of  blood.  He  is  proud  of 
his  record,  which  is  indeed  without  a  stain,  as 


is  also  his  official    career  since  becoming  iden- 
tified with  the  home. 

The  captain  takes  great  interest  in  Masonry, 
in  which  he  holds  high  rank,  having  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree.  He  belongs  to  Mys- 
tic lodge,  No.  405;  Dayton  Unity  chapter, 
No.  16;  Reese  council,  No.  9,  royal  and  select 
Masons;  Reed  commandery,  No.  6,  K.  T., 
and  A.  A.,  Scottish-rite,  No.  32,  Cincinnati. 
In  February,  1896,  he  was  honored  with  the 
shriners'  degree;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Syrian 
temple,  Cincinnati,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Union  Veteran  Legion,  the  G.  A.  R. ,  and  en- 
campment 82,  W.  V.  S.  In  religion  and 
politics  the  captain  is  most  liberal,  not  being 
bound  by  creed  or  party. 


BRANK  A.  STETSON,  telegraph  oper- 
ator at  the  national  military  home, 
near  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Mat- 
tawamkeag,  Penobscot  county,  Me., 
May  17,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  W.  and 
Margaret  Stetson,  the  former  of  whom  died 
when  Frank  A.  was  but  six  years  of  age  and 
the  latter  while  he  was  in  the  Civil  war.  Of 
the  six  sons  born  to  these  parents,  four  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war  and  one  a  sutler,  or 
military  storekeeper;  all  five  returned,  but  of 
these,  two  have  since  died ;  one  brother,  Charles 
W. ,  is  a  merchant  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  one, 
Alfred,  resides  in  Hodgedon,  Me.;  two  sisters 
are  still  living — Mrs.  George  Elkins,  in  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Hilton,  in  Cam- 
bridge, Mass. 

Frank  A.  Stetson  received  his  education  in 
Lincoln,  Me.,  and  in  Holton,  Me.,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  fourteen  years  and  seven  months 
enlisted  in  the  Seventeenth  United  States  in- 
fantry. Sixty  of  his  boyhood  associates — most 
of  them  his  own  age — enlisted  at  the  same 
time,  and  of  these  but  eight  returned,  of  whom 
two  or  three  were  musicians  and  for  that  reason 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


787 


were  not  required  to  enter  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fray.  Mr.  Stetson's  regiment  was  assigned 
to  the  Fifth  army  corps,  regular  division,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Sykes.  He  joined  the  army 
at  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  after  its  defeat  in 
the  Peninsular  campaign.  He  fought  at  sec- 
ond Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  Antietam,  Gettysburg,  through  the  Wil- 
derness, in  the  Petersburg  campaign,  and  in 
the  Weldon  railroad  campaign.  In  a  battle 
fought  by  the  First  and  Second  divisions  of  the 
Fifth  corps,  at  a  place  locally  known  as  Squir- 
rel Level  road,  young  Stetson  and  fifteen  com- 
rades, with  two  officers,  were  captured  from 
an  aggregate  of  thirty-two  men  then  in  his 
regiment  and  detailed  for  duty.  The  sappers 
and  miners  had  felled  trees,  forming  an  impen- 
etrable obstruction  to  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
but  by  some  means  the  rebels  managed  to  se- 
crete in  front  of  this  abattis  a  body  of  infantry, 
who  found  it  an  easy  matter  to  capture  the 
Federals,  who  were  deployed  for  skirmish  duty 
— Mr.  Stetson  being  among  the  number.  This 
was  the  last  battle  in  which  he  took  part,  as 
he  was  first  sent  to  Libby  prison,  thence  to 
Danville,  and  finally  to  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He 
was  held  from  October  10,  1864,  until  Febru- 
ary 22,  1865,  when  he  was  paroled  and  sent 
to  Annapolis,  Md.,  to  await  exchange.  He 
was  there  discharged  April  5,  1865,  when  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Lincoln,  Me. 

Mr.  Stetson  now  began  the  study  of  teleg- 
raphy, and  was  for  thirteen  years  employed 
as  an  operator  on  the  European  &  North 
American  railroad — the  last  nine  years  of  this 
period  being  passed  in  his  native  town.  He 
was  then  employed  for  one  year  in  a  machine 
shop  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  for  four  years  in 
the  same  business  in  New  York  city.  In  1883 
he  entered  the  national  military  home  at 
Hampton,  Va.,  having  been  led  to  take  this 
step  from  having  lost  his  right  leg  above  the 
knees,  and  finding  in  difficult  to   make   a  good 


living  as  a  mechanic,  in  competition  with  able- 
bodied  men.  At  the  Hampton  home  he  was 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  artificial  limbs, 
and  after  passing  three  years  in  this  manner, 
he  came  to  the  Central  branch  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  where,  for  several  years,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  same  occupation.  For  the  past 
three  years,  however,  he  has  had  charge  of  the 
Western  Union  telegraph  office  at  the  home 
and  has  performed  his  duties  in  a  most  satis- 
factory manner. 

Mr.  Stetson  has  never  married.  He  was 
reared  in  the  religious  faith  of  his  parents — 
that  of  the  Methodist  church — and  politically 
has  been  a  life-long  republican.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Veteran  Union 
encampment  of  Dayton.  He  has  been  so  long 
separated  from  his  relatives,  and  was  so  young 
when  bereft  of  his  parents,  that  his  genealogy 
has  been  lost.  It  may  be  added,  in  regard  to 
Mr.  Stetson,  that  his  habits  of  life  have  been 
those  of  morality  and  industry,  and  that  he  en- 
joys the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  officials 
of  the  home  and  of  his  comrades. 


*w    *  ENRY   STODDARD,    deceased,    was 
1^\    among  the  prominent,  and,  by  many, 
W    well-remembered    pioneer  citizens  of 
Dayton,  who  contributed  greatly  to- 
ward the  growth  and  development  of  the  Gem 
City  and  her   institutions,  and   who   left  their 
impress  upon  the    history  of    the   community, 
and  for  over  half  a  century  was  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  interests  and  affairs  of  this  grow^ 
ing  city,    and  for  almost  that   length  of  time 
ranked  as  one  of  the   foremost  and  most  suc- 
cessful   members    of   the  Montgomery  county 
bar  association. 

Mr.  Stoddard  was  born  on  the  1 8th  day  of 
March,  1788,  at  Woodbury,  Conn.,  and  was 
descended  from  prominent  Pilgrim  and  Revo- 
lutionary ancestry.      His  father,  Asa  Stoddard, 


788 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


was  a  direct  descendant  from  the  Rev.  Anthony 
Stoddard,  of  London,  England,  who  settled  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  in    1670,  and  whose  many  de- 
scendants have  for  over  two  centuries  occupied 
honorable  and  responsible  positions  in  the  New 
England,    eastern   and    middle  states.       After 
attending  the  common   schools    and    securing 
such  education  as  was  to  be  obtained  from  that 
source  in  that   day,  and  after  spending  about 
five  years  clerking  in   a    store,    Mr.    Stoddard 
began  reading  law,  and   in   the  year  1812  was 
admitted  to   the  bar.     Four   years    later,    in 
company  with  the  late   Hon.  George  B.  Holt, 
he   came   west  on  horseback,  and  in  18 17  lo- 
cated permanently  in   Dayton.      At  that  time 
Dayton  was  but  a  village  of  not  over  600  peo- 
ple, situated  in  the  center  of  a  vast  and  almost 
unbroken  wilderness,  and  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  Mr.  Stoddard  made  the  circuit   on 
horseback,  attending  court  in  the  surrounding 
counties,  in  doing  which   he    was  compelled  to 
undergo    many    hardships     and     often    perils. 
Success  attended  his  efforts,  however,  and  for 
many  years  he   ranked  as  one   of   the  leading 
lawyers  in  this  part   of   the  state.      During  the 
years  from  1840  until  his  retirement  from  prac- 
tice, Mr.  Stoddard  was  the  law  partner  of  the 
late  Judge  D.  A.  Haynes,  and  between  the  two 
there  always  existed  terms  of  intimacy  and  cor- 
diality.     Having   acquired   a  competency,  and 
having  reached  an  age  when  one  who  has  lived 
an  active  life  begins  to  seek  rest,   Mr.   Stod- 
dard retired  from  active  practice  of  the  law  in 
1846,  and  thereafter  gave  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  private  affairs.      His  death  occurred 
at  his  home  in  this  city  on  the  1st   day  of  No- 
vember, 1869.      For  many  years  Mr.  Stoddard 
was  quite  active  in   church  work,  having  been 
a  ruling  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
of  Dayton.      He  was  also  for  years  vice-presi- 
dent and  a  life  director  of  the  American  Coloni- 
zation society. 

Mr.  Stoddard   was  twice  married,  his   first 


wife  having  been  Harriet  L.  Patterson,  who 
died  on  the  1st  day  of  October,  1822,  leaving 
one  son,  Asa  P.  Stoddard,  now  a  citizen  of 
Saint  Louis.  His  second  wife  was  Susan  Will- 
liams,  who  died  on  the  5th  day  of  April,  1861, 
leaving  the  following  children:  Mrs.  Samuel 
B.  Smith,  of  Dayton;  Henry  Stoddard,  now  a 
resident  of  California;  John  W.  Stoddard, 
president  of  the  Stoddard  Manufacturing  com- 
pany, of  Dayton,  and  E.  Fowler,  deceased. 
Sketches  of  the  two  latter  sons  may  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


/^^f  FOWLER  STODDARD  (deceased) 
U  I  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
\^^  popular  of  the  younger  class  of  repre- 
sentative business  men  of  Dayton. 
He  was  born  in  this  city  on  July  16,  1845, 
and  was  the  son  of  the  late  Henry  Stoddard, 
of  whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he 
was  graduated  from  Yale  college,  in  the  class 
of  1867;  and  in  i8468  was  married  to  Miss  Bes- 
sie W.  Lowe,  daughter  of  Col.  John  G.  Lowe, 
of  Dayton. 

After  a  varied  business  experience  in  Day- 
ton of  several  years,  Mr.  Stoddard  became 
connected  with  his  brother,  John  W.,  in  the 
manufacturing  business,  where  his  superior 
business  capabilities,  mechanical  aptitude,  and 
excellent  principles  soon  became  of  inesti- 
mable value,  and  led  to  his  promotion  to  the 
position  of  vice-president  and  general  manager 
of  the  concern. 

Mr.  Stoddard  was  an  active  participant  in 
everything  that  tended  to  promote  the  general 
business  interests  of  the  city  and  was  a  highly 
esteemed  and  valuable  member  of  the  Dayton 
board  of  trade.  He  was  in  attendance  at  one 
of  the  regular  meetings  of  the  board  on  the 
evening  of  Tuesday,  May  31,  1887,  and  after 
the  adjournment,  at  about  nine  o'clock,  pass- 


From  "  Early  Dayton," 

COL.    GEORGE  NEWCOM. 


1 


fee  y 


ISM'WjMmlm 


From  "  Early  I  »aj  t<  n 


SEW<  OM'S    fc'IUST    l  OG    CA  BIN    IN     I  fHfi. 


#%%- 


NEWCOM'S  TAVEKN   IN   1799 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


789 


ing  down  the  east  stairway  from  the  city  build- 
ing to  Jefferson  street,  paused  for  a  few  min- 
utes, under  the  shelter,  in  conversation  with  a 
fellow-member  of  the  board  before  passing  out 
upon  the  sidewalk,  to  await  the  cessation  of  a 
heavy  shower  of  rain.  He  had  been  standing 
there  but  a  few  minutes  when  a  flash  was  sud- 
denly reflected  from  the  water  on  the  pave- 
ment, accompanied  by  the  report  of  a  pistol. 
A  young  man  at  the  same  instant  was  seen 
running  by  in  the  rain,  but  who,  a  few  minutes 
afterward,  hurried  back  to  pick  up  the  pistol, 
which  had  accidentally  fallen  from  his  pocket, 
and  upon  striking  the  pavement  had  exploded. 
The  ball,  thus  driven  from  its  chamber,  un- 
aimed  by  any  human  hand  or  eye,  struck  Mr. 
Stoddard,  some  twenty  feet  distant,  imme- 
diately below  and  in  the  rear  of  the  left  ear, 
and,  ranging  upward,  lodged  in  the  base  of  the 
brain.  He  was  sufficiently  conscious  to  realize 
the  probable  fatal  character  of  the  injury.  His 
first  thought  was  that  his  wife  should  be  spared 
the  shock,  his  next,  that  his  brother  should  be 
called  to  his  side.  His  last  coherent  words 
were  that  he  had  "  tried  to  live  square  with  the 
world."  He  was  quickly  removed  to  his  home 
and  the  most  skillful  surgical  aid  was  at  once 
in  attendance.  He  gradually  became  uncon- 
scious, and  before  the  morning  of  June  i, 
1887,  breathed  his  last  upon  the  same  spot 
where,  forty-two  years  before,  he  was  ushered 
into  existence.  It  would  be  impossible  to  ex- 
aggerate the  deep  and  heart-felt  sorrow  that 
pervaded  the  community  upon  this  most  tragic 
occurrence,  which  had  cut  short  a  life  and 
business  career  replete  with  every  promise  of 
happiness,  usefulness  and  success. 

Mr.  Stoddard  was  always  an  active  Chris- 
tian, as  enthusiastic  in  church  work  as  he  was 
in  business.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  versa- 
tility in  church,  in  society  and  in  business;  and 
in  the  world  of  field  sports,  his  excellencies  of 
character  was  alike   displayed,    and  their  su- 


perior influence  recognized.  His  mental  fac- 
ulties were  well  trained.  He  possessed  a  great 
power  of  concentration  with  a  large  degree  of 
enthusiasm  in  whatever  he  undertook.  He 
was  remarkably  quick  in  his  perceptions, 
and  rapid,  though  not  unsafe,  in  arriving  at 
conclusions. 

As  the  general  manager  of  the  large  manu- 
facturing establishment  of  which  he  was  also 
vice-president,  Mr.  Stoddard  was  conspicuous 
for  his  intelligence,  promptness  and  straight- 
forward dealing  with  the  men  under  his  man- 
agement. He  always  commanded  their  in- 
stant respect.  With  the  innate  instinct  of  a 
gentleman  his  intercourse  with  the  employees 
was  uniformly  such  as  to  inspire  each  of  them 
with  a  sentiment  of  personal  esteem — in  many 
instances  of  affection.  He  was  at  once  affable, 
kind  and  firm,  and  scores  of  these  men,  who 
were  assembled  at  the  manufactory  on  the 
morning  when  they  learned  the  sad  intelligence 
of  his  death,  gave  free  vent  to  their  sorrow  in 
tears.  No  more  touching  tribute  was  ever 
paid  to  the  memory  of  any  man  than  was  wit- 
nessed at  his  funeral,  when  several  hundred  of 
these  plain,  unpretentious  laboring  men,  whom 
he  had  greeted  daily  with  friendly  words,  and 
who  had  long  been  performing  their  daily  tasks 
under  his  supervision,  followed  on  foot  his  re- 
mains to  the  grave,  and  there  stood  with  un- 
covered heads  and  tearful  eyes  to  testify  their 
appreciation  of  his  worth  and  their  sorrow  for 
his  untimely  death. 


>t-»OHN  H.  STOPPELMAN,  one  of  the 
m  venerable  and  honored  citizens  of  Day- 
/•  1  ton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Dochren,  parish  of  Riemsloh,  amt 
Groenenberg,  Osnabruck,  Westphalia,  king- 
dom of  Hanover,  on  the  11th  of  August,  1826. 
His  parents  were  Peter  H.  and  Catherine  Ma- 
rion (Hazelhorst)  Stoppelman,  the  father  being 


790 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


a  native  of  the  same  province  where  the  son 
was  born,  the  mother  coming  from  West 
Kiloer,  parish  of  Roedinghausen,  amt  Buende, 
Westphalia,  kingdom  of  Prussia.  The  father 
died  in  his  native  land,  on  February  23,  1841, 
and  his  wife  survived  him  until  November  13, 
1854.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows  :  John  Frederick  died  in 
Germany,  in  1857  ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  who  came 
with  the  family  to  America  in  1858,  met  her 
death  as  the  result  of  an  accident,  in  Dayton, 
on  the  28th  of  December,  i860,  having  been 
the  wife  of  C.  H.  Althoff,  who  also  is  deceased  ; 
Catherine  Mary  died  in  the  fatherland  in  1857, 
having  been  the  wife  of  John  F.  Pape  ;  Her- 
man H.  emigrated  to  America  in  1853,  but  re- 
turned to  Germany  two  years  later  and  there 
died  in  1S68  ;  Catherine,  who  died  in  her  na- 
tive land  in  1873,  was  the  wife  of  John  F. 
Budde  ;  John  H.  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Flora  became  the  wife  of  C.  H.  Kaeseman, 
and  her  death  occurred  in  Germany  in  1878  ; 
and  Charles  H.  died  November  10,  1892,  on 
the  old  homestead. 

John  H.  Stoppelman  was  reared  on  the 
parental  farm  in  Westphalia,  and  received  his 
educational  discipline  in  the  excellent  schools 
of  his  native  land,  remaining  upon  the  old 
homestead  until  the  time  of  his  emigration  to 
America.  He  landed  in  New  York  on  the 
5th  of  May,  1849,  being  the  first  of  the  family 
to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  world.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  work  on  a  canal  boat.  On  December 
6,  1849,  he  left  New  York  for  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  arriving  in  the  Queen  City  on  the  18th 
of  the  same  month,  making  the  journey  by 
canal,  stage,  railway  and  the  Ohio  river.  He 
remained  in  Cincinnati  until  June,  1850,  when 
he  went  to  Middletown,  this  state,  where  he 
was  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of  Adam 
Foster,  a  popular  hotel  keeper.  In  August, 
1 85  1 ,  Mr.  Stoppelman  made  his  advent  in  the 


city  of  Dayton,  which  has  ever  since  been  his 
home  and  the  scene  of  his  earnest  and  useful 
endeavors.  He  secured  employment  with 
Daniel  Beckel,  beginning  his  labors  in  the 
humble  capacity  of  hostler  ;  but  such  was  his 
intelligence  and  his  manifest  capacity  for  af- 
fairs of  greater  breadth  that  he  was  given  a 
position  in  Mr.  Beckel's  bank,  where  he  acted 
in  a  clerical  capacity.  After  the  failure  of  this 
enterprise  our  subject  continued  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Beckel,  becoming  a  salesman  in  a  dry- 
goods  establishment  which  his  employer  had 
opened.  Mr.  Stoppelman  was  faithful  to  his 
employer  and  for  a  period  of  two  years,  while 
Mr.  Beckel  was  absent  in  Michigan,  where  he 
was  building  a  railroad,  his  entire  business  in 
Dayton  was  committed  to  the  charge  of  our 
subject,  who  handled  the  same  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  principal.  He  remained  for 
nine  years  with  Mr.  Beckel,  and  was  a  trusted 
friend  and  confidant  of  the  man  who  had  thus 
given  him  an  opportunity  to  secure  a  start  in 
the  world. 

In  i860  Mr.  Stoppelman  became,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  actively  concerned  in  local  politics, 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  the  city.  He  was  next  given  a  position  in 
the  office  of  the  county  auditor,  in  1861,  re- 
taining this  place  for  one  year.  In  1862  he 
was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  for  the  full  term  of  three 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness, being  one  of  the  projectors  and  organizers 
of  the  Teutonia  Insurance  company,  of  which  he 
was  the  first  secretary,  holding  that  office  for 
more  than  two  years.  Within  this  time  he 
engaged  in  the  brewing  business,  in  company 
with  William  Sander,  and  they  operated  the 
City  brewery  for  a  period  of  five  years.  This 
venture  proved  unsuccessful,  and  through  it 
Mr.  Stoppelman  lost  considerable  money.  He 
next  turned  his  attention  to  the  life  insurance 
business,  in  which  he  continued  for  four  years. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


791 


For  over  thirty  years  he  has  been  a  notary 
public,  and  since  1873  has  given  most  of  his 
attention  to  this  calling. 

In  1870  and  1872  Mr.  Stoppelman  again 
served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education, 
and  was  returned  to  this  important  department 
in  the  centennial  year.  In  the  same  year 
(1876)  he  was  also  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  equalization,  in  which  capacity  he 
rendered  service  for  one  year.  In  1881  he  was 
elected  to  the  city  council,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1883,  while  in  1886  he  was  again  elected  a 
member  of  the  board  of  equalization,  and,  in 
1 89 1,  to  the  decennial  board  of  equalization. 
In  the  various  official  capacities  in  which  he  has 
served  Mr.  Stoppelman  has  been  alert  and 
conscientious,  holding  the  interests  of  the  pub- 
lic at  heart  and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  fur- 
ther wise  municipal  government  and  general 
prosperity.  His  life  has  been  one  of  unswerv- 
ing integrity  and  honor,  and  within  the  long 
years  of  his  residence  in  Dayton  he  has  not 
faiied  to  gain  and  retain  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  the  community. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Stoppelman  was 
solemnized  on  the  4th  of  October,  1855,  when 
he  was  united  to  Miss  Margaret  B.  Schirmer, 
of  Wapakoneta,  Auglaize  county,  this  state, 
she  being  a  native  of  the  county  mentioned. 
To  this  union  ten  children  have  been  born,  and 
of  the  number  six  are  living,  namely:  Susan, 
wife  of  Henry  F.  Logel,  of  Dayton;  Margaret 
C. ,  a  teacher  in  the  Dayton  public  schools; 
John  H.,  Jr.,  secretary  of  the  Weston  Paper 
company;  Charles  F.,  in  the  employ  of  W.  L. 
Adamson  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers  of  this  city; 
William  S.,  assistant  secretary  of  the  Dayton 
water  works,  and  Daniel  W.,  at  home.  Three 
children  died  in  infancy,  and  Flora  A.,  who 
was  born  August  27,  1875,  died  September  10, 
1886.  The  religious  connections  of  the  family 
are  with  Saint  Paul's  Lutheran  church,  on 
Wavne  street. 


>-TT»OSEPH  STRAUB,  merchant,  of  Day- 
M  ton,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  the  city,  a  son 
A  1  of  parents  who  were  among  the  early 
settlers  here  and  of  the  most  sturdy 
German  stock.  He  conducts  a  successful  re- 
tail grocery  at  the  corner  of  Boltin  and  McLain 
streets,  where  he  has  been  located  for  a  term 
of  years.  He  was  born  September  25,  1854, 
in  that  portion  of  Dayton  then  known  as 
Frenchtown.  His  father,  Joseph  Straub,  Sr. , 
who  is  still  living  and  who  is  honored  as  one  of 
the  patriarchs  of  Dayton,  which  has  been  the 
scene  of  his  honest  and  active  endeavors  for 
so  many  years,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany, 
whence,  in  the  early  '50s,  he  emigrated  to 
America.  Upon  reaching  the  United  States 
the  young  German  made  his  way  directly  to 
Dayton,  which  has  ever  since  been  his  home, 
his  arrival  here  dating  back  to  1852.  In  the 
fatherland  he  had  learned  the  trades  of  cooper- 
ing and  brewing,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  in 
Dayton  he  built  the  old  brewery  on  Third 
street  and  operated  the  same  for  several  years, 
after  which  he  resumed  work  at  the  cooper's 
trade.  In  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  ren- 
dered loyal  service  in  the  Fifty-eighth  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  being  a  member  of  Capt. 
Diston's  company.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Kunigunda  Maier.  By  her  marriage 
to  Joseph  Straub,  Sr. ,  she  became  the  mother 
of  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Joseph  Straub,  Jr.,  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  review,  passed  his  youthful  days  in  Day- 
ton, receiving  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  assumed  the  practical 
duties  of  life  by  securing  a  clerkship  in  the 
grocery  of  John  Wenz,  in  whose  employ  he 
remained  four  years,  after  which  he  held  a  sim- 
ilar position  in  the  dry-goods  establishment  of 
Bunstine,  Moses  &  Boyer  for  a  period  of  three 
years.  His  next  employment  was  as  a  sales- 
man in  the  clothing  house  of  Chamberlain  & 
Parker,  with  whom   he  remained  only   about 


792 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


nine  months,  when  he  became  identified  with 
the  wholesale  notion  trade  in  the  establish- 
ment of  C.  C.  Moses,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  two  years.  He  then  engaged,  on  his  own 
account,  in  the  confectionery  business,  and 
continued  this  enterprise  with  increasing  suc- 
cess for  a  period  of  five  years,  after  which  he 
disposed  of  the  same  and  accepted  a  position 
with  William  Focke  &  Sons,  meat  dealers, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  three  years.  In 
October,  1886,  he  established  his  present  suc- 
cessful business  by  opening  a  well-equipped 
and  attractive  grocery  at  the  location  already 
noted,  and  here  he  has  since  continued,  hold- 
ing a  representative  patronage  and  the  best 
class  of  trade.  He  has  other  interests  which 
demand  a  part  of  his  time  and  attention,  and 
among  these  it  may  be  noted  that  for  the  past 
five  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  direct- 
ory of  the  Permanent  Building  &  Savings  as- 
sociation, of  Dayton,  and  for  the  past  two 
years  has  been  vice-president  of  the  same. 

In  his  political  faith  Mr.  Straub  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  democratic  party.  Fraternally,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  order  known  as  the  Amer- 
ican Sons  of  Columbus  and  is  also  identified 
with  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  C.  K.  of  O. 

In  the  year  1876  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Straub  to  Miss  Josephine  Clemens, 
a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Clemens,  of  Dayton. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  daughters,  viz: 
Henrietta,  Ida,  Marie  and  Helen.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  Holy  Trinity  Roman 
Catholic  church. 


at 


'AYLAND  P.  SUNDERLAND, 
treasurer  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  near  Centerville, 
Washington  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  on  February  11,  1853.  He  is  a 
son  of  Aaron  and  Minerva  (Irwin)  Sunderland, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  the  same  locality, 


the  father  in  the  year  1809,  and  the  mother  in 
1 8 19.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  vocation, 
and  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years.     The  mother  is  still  living. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Wayland  P. 
was  Peter  Sunderland,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, of  English  descent,  and  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  in  Montgomery  county. 
The  maternal  grandfather  was  William  Irwin, 
also  an  early  settler  of  this  county. 

Wayland  P.  Sunderland  was  reared  on  the 
farm.  He  attended  the  district  schools  and 
finished  his  education  at  the  college  in  Leb- 
anon, Ohio.  He  followed  farming  exclusively 
for  several  years,  and  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  stock-raising,  and  for  about  ten  years 
was  one  of  the  leading  stockmen  of  the  county. 
In  the  fall  of  1894  he  was  elected  treasurer  of 
Montgomery  county  as  the  candidate  of  the  re- 
publican party,  and  in  1896  was  re-elected. 
He  is  also  city  treasurer  of  Dayton.  In  1873 
Mr.  Sunderland  was  married  to  Lucy  Reich- 
stetter,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Dayton. 
Mr.  Sunderland  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  fraternity. 


a  APT.  CHARLES  J.  TERWILLI- 
GER  is  descended  from  families  .of 
English  and  Scotch  origin  that  have 
been  represented  for  several  genera- 
tions in  the  state  of  New  York.  His  father 
was  Charles  Terwilliger,  who  died  when  the 
son,  Charles,  was  a  mere  child",  and  his  mother, 
Keziah  Shaw,  who  has  since  re-married,  is 
still  living  at  an  advanced  age  in  her  native 
state.  There  were  four  sons  and  one  daughter 
born  to  Charles  and  Keziah  Terwilliger,  eldest 
of  whom,  Col.  William  H.,  is  connected  with 
the  U.  S.  custom  house  in  New  York  city;  he 
was  colonel  of  the  Sixty-third  New  York  in- 
fantry during  the  Civil  war  and  fought  with 
the  celebrated  Irish  brigade  in  the  army  of  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


793 


Potomac;  Thomas  Peter,  the  second  son,  died 
in  January,  1895,  h's  place  of  residence  at  the 
time  being  Makanda,  Ills. ,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  flour;  Moses  S. 
is  station  and  express  agent  for  the  New  York 
&  Erie  railroad  at  Susquehanna,  Penn.,  and 
the  only  daughter,  Sarah,  wife  of  William 
Vedenberg,  resides  at  Newark,  N.  J. 

Charles  J.  Terwilliger,  the  third  in  order  of 
birth,  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  the  town  of 
Bloomingburg,  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y. ,  on  the 
1st  day  of  November,  1840.  His  early  life 
was  spent  very  much  like  that  of  other  boys  of 
his  time,  working  at  different  occupations  and 
attending  school  during  the  years  of  his  minor- 
ity. He  early  learned  the  miller's  trade  and 
followed  the  same  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted,  in  1861,  at 
Middletown,  N.  Y.  in  company  C,  Fourth 
New  York  cavalry,  with  which  he  served  in 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  under  division  com- 
mander, Gen.  Blinker.  He  was  first  under 
fire  at  Rose  Hill,  Va.,  and  in  May,  1862, 
received  a  severe  wound,  which  necessitated 
his  removal  to  the  U.  S.  general  hospital  at 
Grafton,  Va.,  where  he  remained  until  the  22d 
of  July  following,  when  he  was  pronounced 
sufficiently  cured  to  rejoin  his  command. 

The  same  year  he  re-enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-eighth  New  York  infantry 
for  nine  months,  which  time  he  served  with 
Gen.  Keyes,  doing  garrison  duty  principally  at 
Yorktown;  subsequently  he  went  further  south 
with  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  army  corps 
under  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard,  and  was  in  Sher- 
man's army  until  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  enlistment,  receiving  his  final  discharge  at 
Newburg,  N.  Y. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  the  captain  again  en- 
tered the  army,  enlisting  in  company  E,  Sixty- 
third  New  York  infantry;  this  regiment  was 
attached  to  the  celebrated  Irish  brigade  which 
formed   a   part  of  the    famous    Second    corps 


under  Gen.  Hancock.  Capt.  Terwilliger  was 
with  his  command  in  all  the  maneuvers  of  the 
corps  during  the  final  campaigns  of  the  war, 
and  took  part  in  a  number  of  celebrated  bat- 
tles; he  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  the 
Confederate  forces  of  Gen.  Lee  at  Appomat- 
tox, and  took  part  in  the  grand  review  of  the 
victorious  armies  of  the  Union  at  Washington, 
in  May,  1865.  It  was  during  the  period  of 
his  third  enlistment  that  he  was  promoted 
from  the  ranks  in  January,  1864,  first  lieuten- 
ant of  company  E,  and  on  the  2d  day  of 
April,  1865,  was  made  captain,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  the  grand  review  at  the  national  capital  the 
captain  commanded  the  "color  company"  of 
the  right.  He  held  every  position  in  the  Sixty- 
third  from  private  to  captain,  and  at  one  time, 
by  reason  of  the  absence  of  other  officers,  he 
filled  the  positions  of  quartermaster  and  of  ad- 
jutant; toward  the  close  of  the  war,  the  right 
being  weakened  by  casualties,  promotions  were 
not  made  to  fill  vacancies,  as  had  formerly 
been  the  custom,  which  accounts  for  the  im- 
portant places  with  which  he  was  entrusted 
at  different  times.  The  captain  received 
his  final  discharge  July  8,  1865,  at  Hart's 
Island,  N.  Y.,  and  shortly  thereafter,  turned 
his  attention  to  railroading,  finding  employ- 
ment with  the  New  York  &  Erie  company, 
with  which  he  remained  eighteen  years,  filling 
during  that  time  various  positions,  from  that 
of  section  foreman  to  that  of  conductor. 
Severing  his  connection  with  the  road,  the 
captain  next  entered  the  employ  of  the  War- 
der, Bushnell  &  Glessner  Manufacturing  com- 
pany of  Springfield,  O.,  and  for  several  years 
traveled  over  the  greater  part  of  the  United 
States,  as  an  expert  machinist.  He  was  finally 
compelled  to  relinquish  this  arduous  employ- 
ment on  account  of  injuries  received  while  in 
the  service;  these,  intensified  by  advancing 
years,  induced  him  in    1893    to  become  an  in- 


794 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


mate  of  the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Volun- 
teers, where  ever  since  his  admission  his  worth 
has  been  recognized,  and  he  has  been  entrusted 
with  lucrative  employment  suited  to  his  abili- 
ty. In  November,  1895,  he  was  appointed 
captain  of  company  Thirty-one,  which  posi- 
tion he  now  holds.  The  captain  gave  the  best 
years  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his  country, 
and  his  military  record  covers  a  period  of  over 
forty -two  months  of  the  most  active  period  of 
the  Rebellion;  he  proved  true  to  every  trust, 
was  never  known  to  flinch  in  time  of  danger, 
and  now,  in  his  declining  years,  while  enjoying 
the  comfort  and  protection  of  the  government 
he  so  nobly  defended,  looks  back  to  the  stir- 
ring scenes  through  which  he  passed,  as  the 
most  useful,  if  not  the  most  agreeable,  part  of 
his  life.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
fraternity,  an  active  worker  in  the  G.  A.  R., 
and  politically  wields  an  influence  for  the 
democratic  party.  The  captain  was  married, 
in  his  twenty-second  year,  to  Miss  Charlotte 
Wilson,  who  departed  this  life  at  Port  Jervis, 
N.  V.,  in  1870,  leaving  a  daughter,  who  at  this 
time  is  a  resident  of  Springfield,  Ohio. 


BRANK  LEOPOLD  SUTTER,   archi- 
tect  of    Dayton,    Ohio,    was   born    in 
this  city  August   22,   1866,  and  is  one 
of  the  four  children  born  to  Leopold 
and  Adeline  (Nowak)  Sutter. 

Leopold  Sutter,  father  of  Frank  L.  Sutter, 
was  born  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden,  Ger- 
many, October  10,  1832,  came  to  America  in 
1852,  and  for  six  months  lived  in  Circleville, 
Ohio  ;  he  then  came  to  Dayton  and  at  once  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Ladow  &  Winder,  as  a  mar- 
ble cutter,  and  was  thus  employed  for  fifteen 
years,  when  he  was  made  foreman  of  the  works 
of  Webber  &  Lehman,  cut-stone  contractors. 
This  firm  sold  out  to  William   Huffman,  who, 


in  turn,  sold  to  L.  H.  Webber ;  but  Mr.  Sutter 
was  not  disturbed  in  his  position  of  foreman. 
In  1 88 1,  however,  Mr.  Sutter  engaged  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  with  his  eldest  son, 
Benjamin,  as  a  partner;  but  the  son  died  in 
1S90,  when  the  father  returned  to  Mr.  Webber, 
by  whom  he  is  still  employed  as  a  cut-stone 
contractor. 

Mrs.  Adeline  (  Nowak  )  Sutter,  also  a  native 
of  Baden,  Germany,  was  born  July  4,  1832, 
came  to  America  in  1852,  and  married  Leopold 
Sutter  in  Dayton  in  1855.  Of  the  three  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  beside  our  subject,  one 
died  in  infancy  ;  Benjamin  Bernard,  alluded  to 
above  as  having  been  the  business  partner  of 
his  father,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years, 
leaving  his  widow  with  one  son  —  the  latter 
also  now  deceased  ;  Mary  is  the  widow  of 
Anthony  Kramer,  who  was  a  merchant  of  Day- 
ton and  died  February  3,  1895,  leaving,  beside 
his  widow,  two  children — Albert  A.  and  Julia 
Marie — the  former  of  whom  is  employed  in 
the  office  of  Mr.  Sutter. 

Frank  L.  Sutter,  after  receiving  a  solid 
common-school  education,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  entered  the  office  of  Matthew  Bur- 
rovves,  architect,  as  a  student  ;  five  months 
later  he  entered  the  office  of  C.  I.  Williams, 
where  he  continued  his  studies  and  remained 
until  1889,  when  he  embarked  in  business  on 
his  own  account.  On  January  1,  1893,  he 
entered  into  a  partnership  with  Joseph  C. 
Peters,  which  continued  until  September  1, 
1896,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sutter  took  place  in 
Dayton  April  30,  1889,  to  Miss  Catherine  Mun- 
ger,  a  native  of  the  city  and  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Mary  Munger.  The  mother  of 
Mrs.  Sutter  tlied  in  1881,  and  the  father,  who 
was  a  brickmaker,  died  in  1889 — the  year  of 
his  daughter's  marriage.  To  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Munger  were  born  eight  children, 
viz:    Martin,  John,  Frank,  Joseph,  George  (de- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


795 


ceased),  Mary,  Magdalene  and  Katie  (Mrs. 
Sutter).  Of  this  family,  Martin  is  engaged  in 
the  real-estate  and  insurance  business;  John 
served  three  terms  as  county  commissioner  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  is  now  living  in  re- 
tirement; Frank  and  Joseph  are  manufacturers 
of  brick;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Matthias  Kammer, 
a  manufacturer,  and  Magdalene  is  the  wife  of 
John  Uschold.  To  the  felicitous  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutter  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Helen  Margaret  died  when  six 
months  old,  the  survivors  being  Horace  Ben- 
jamin, Ruth  and  Naomi — all  three  beneath  the 
parental  roof. 

Mr.  Sutter  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Architects'  association  and  of  several  of  the 
secret  fraternal  societies  of  Dayton,  and  polit- 
ically is  democratic  in  his  proclivities.  As  an 
architect  he  keeps  well  abreast  of  his  profession, 
is  a  subscriber  to  all  the  standard  journals  pub- 
lished in  the  interest  of  his  art,  and  possesses 
a  well  filled  library  of  works  on  architecture 
and  collateral  sciences.  Previous  to  forming 
his  late  partnership  he  had  designed  the  plans, 
ground  and  elevation,  of  several  fine  church 
buildings  and  private  residences  in  Dayton  and 
elsewhere,  and  had  achieved  a  fine  reputation 
as  a  master  of  his  art. 

Allusion  may  also  be  made  here  to  some 
of  the  stone  work  superintended  or  executed  by 
Leopold  Sutter,  above  named,  which  includes 
that  in  the  Dayton  public  library  building,  the 
court  house,  the  Huffman  block,  and  Col. 
Mead's  residence,  in  Dayton;  the  Warren 
county  jail,'  as  well  as  in  many  structures  in 
Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and  Columbus.  He  per- 
sonally laid  the  stone  work  of  the  Troy  high 
school  building,  built  the  chapel  at  the  na- 
tional soldiers'  home,  and,  indeed,  was  con- 
nected with  the  erection  of  nearly  all  the 
churches  and  public  buildings  of  the  Gem  City, 
and  is  still  actively  engaged  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  life-long  occupation. 


^y^V  ICHOLAS  THOMAS,  prorpietor  of 
m  the  Hydraulic  brewery,  of  Dayton, 
r  Ohio,  was  born  in  Germany  in  1825, 
the  son  of  John  and  Rickey  (Machias) 
Thomas,  both  of  whom  died  in  Germany.  In 
1848,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  N. 
Thomas  landed  in  New  Orleans,  came  up  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  by  boat  as  far  as 
Cincinnati,  walking  from  that  city  to  Dayton, 
and  thence  to  the  home  of  an  uncle  in  Decatur, 
Ind.,  with  whom  he  remained  one  winter.  He 
then  worked  on  the  Wabash  canal  until  the 
close  of  the  following  summer,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Dayton  and  worked  for  three  years  in 
the  Dickey  stone  quarry,  from  which  has  been 
taken  the  stone  of  which  many  of  the  fine 
business  blocks  and  residences  of  the  city  are 
constructed.  He  then,  in  1852,  engaged  with 
Daniel  Beckel  in  his  teaming  business,  and 
was  one  of  those  who  assisted  in  the  work 
of  excavation  for  the  cellar  of  the  Beckel  house. 
In  1855  Mr.  Thomas  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Higlerfoot,  who  was  born  in  Oldenburg, 
Germany,  in  1S25,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  three  children  —  John  H.,  Katie  and 
Henry  A.,  the  last  named  being  the  only  one 
married.  In  1855  Mr.  Thomas,  having  saved 
a  sufficient  sum  from  his  earnings,  purchased 
a  team  and  for  fourteen  years  drove  his  own 
wagon.  He  was  then  for  four  years  appointed 
watchman  of  the  Dayton  banks.  In  1873  he 
established  a  grocery  and  saloon,  corner  of 
Front  and  Third  streets,  conducting  a  success- 
ful business  for  some  years.  Mr.  Thomas  then 
took  an  important  step,  and  one  which  has 
exerted  a  favorable  influence  upon  his  later 
fortunes.  In  1881  he  embarked  his  hard- 
earned  capital  in  the  present  enterprise,  the 
outcome  of  which  might  well  have  been  con- 
sidered doubtful,  as  the  plant  where  he  located 
had  been  controlled  during  the  previous  eight 
years  by  three  distinct  firms.  Its  present 
sound  condition  is  owing  to  the  ability  of  one 


796 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


man,  who,  meeting  the  sharpest  competition, 
increased  a  business  of  2,000  barrels  in  1881 
to  5,000  barrels  in  1885,  to  9,000  barrels  in 
1890,  to  10,000  barrels  in  1891,  to  14,000 
barrels  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  July  1,  1893, 
and  to  about  20,000  barrels  for  1896. 

This  business  has  been  conducted  without 
change  of  location  since  Mr.  Thomas  took  it 
in  1 88 1.  The  first  firm  name  was  N.  Thomas 
&  Co.,  the  present  title  being  adopted  in  1892. 
George  Weddle,  who  was  long  connected 
with  Mr.  Thomas  in  the  brewery,  withdrew  in 
1892.  He  was  a  conscientious  business  man, 
of  personal  reliability,  and  secured  his  large 
knowledge  of  brewing  wholly  through  his  ex- 
perience and  training  in  this  plant. 

John  H.  Thomas,  son  of  the  proprietor, 
was  born  in  Dayton  in  1859.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  this  city  at  the  public  schools,  finish- 
ing at  the  Miami  Commercial  college.  When 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  assisted  his  father  in 
the  grocery  and  afterward  in  the  office  of  the 
brewery,  manifesting  from  the  first  decided 
financial  ability.  All  his  business  experience 
has  been  with  his  father,  who  has  found  in  hjm 
an  apt  pupil,  and  one  who  may  be  relied  upon 
in  the  future  to  take  up  the  work  of  carrying 
an  already  large  business  to  even  greater  mag- 
nitude. Undoubtedly  the  continued  success  of 
this  brewery  depends  to  a  large  extent  upon 
John  H.  Thomas  by  reason  of  the  age  of  his 
father.  Henry  A.  Thomas,  brother  of  John 
H.,  was  born  in  Dayton  in  1864.  Like  his 
brother  he  has  a  public  school  education,  at- 
tending also  the  Miami  Commercial  college. 
After  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  business  at  the 
grocery  and  the  brewery,  being  desirous  to  be- 
come an  expert,  he  engaged  in  1885  with  the 
Herman  Lackmann  brewery,  and  afterward 
with  J.  G.  Sohn  &  Co.,  being  with  these  Cin- 
cinnati breweries  four  years.  While  manifest- 
ing great  skill  in  the  brewing  department,  he 
was   so    apt    in    mechanics   that,  in    1890,  the 


machinery  of  the  brewery  of  his  father  was 
placed  under  his  contral.  Conversant  with  all 
departments  of  the  business,  his  skill  and 
knowledge  are  invaluable  in  promoting  the 
best  interests  of  the  concern. 

In  politics  Mr.  Thomas  is  a  democrat,  and 
in  religion  he,  and  all  the  members  of  his  fam- 
ily, are  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  His 
residence  is  at  No.  1732  East  Third  street,  and 
he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  solid  busi- 
ness men  of  the  Gem  City. 


(D 


AJ.  MILTON  McCOY,  civilian 
and  soldier,  was  born  December  9, 
1838,  near  Tarlton,  Pickaway  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  is  descended  from 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneer  families  of  the 
county  of  Ross.  His  father,  James  McCoy, 
was  a  son  of  William  and  Drusilla  (Brown- 
ing) McCoy,  who  emigrated  from  near  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  to  Flemingsburg,  Ky. ,  in  1795,  and 
in  1797  moved  to  the  Northwest  territory, 
settled  north  of  Chillicothe,  on  the  banks  of 
Kinnikinnick  creek,  and  there  reared  a  family 
which  has  been  identified  with  that  part  of  the 
state  for  nearly  if  not  quite  a  century.  James 
McCoy  married,  in  the  county  of  Ross,  Eliza- 
beth Entrekin,  whose  father,  also  a  prominent 
pioneer  resident,  served  with  distinction  in  the 
war  of  1 8 12  as  lieutenant  in  what  was  known 
as  the  "  Irish  Gray"  company.  James  McCoy 
and  family  emigrated  about  the  year  1826  to 
Pickaway  county,  locating  upon  a  farm  not  far 
from  Tarlton,  and  in  November,  1839,  moved 
to  the  city  of  Circleville,  where  Mr.  McCoy 
died  January  10,  1 881,  his  wife  having  departed 
life  on  the  23d  of  August,  1872. 

Maj.  McCoy  attended,  in  youth,  the  public 
schools  of  Circleville,  Ohio,  and  later  com- 
pleted a  course  at  South  Salem  academy. 
From  boyhood  his  predilection  was  for  a  mili- 
tary life,  and  as  soon  as   age  permitted,  he  be- 


^y^^r^L 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


799 


came  a  member  of  the  Ohio  state  militia 
organization,  serving  as  second  sergeant  in  the 
Pickaway  guards  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  Civil  war.  When  President  Lincoln  is- 
sued his  first  call  for  volunteers,  Mr.  McCoy 
at  once  responded,  enlisting  April  16,  1861, 
as  a  private,  but  upon  the  assembling  of  the 
company  at  Camp  Jackson,  Columbus,  for  the 
purpose  of  effecting  an  organization,  he  was 
chosen  second  lieutenant.  The  company 
designated  as  company  G,  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  Ohio  regiment,  which  proceeded  to 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  thence  to  Lancaster  and 
Philadelphia,  where  some  time  was  spent  in 
company  drill.  From  the  latter  city  the  regi- 
ment went  to  Washington  city  by  way  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  going  into  camp  north  of  the 
capitol  building  and  forming  a  part  of  the  bri- 
gade commanded  by  Gen.  Robert  C.  Schenck, 
the  other  regiments  being  the  First  Ohio  and 
Second  New  York.  This  brigade  was  assigned 
to  Gen.  Tyler's  division,  which,  on  the  same 
night  that  Col.  Ellsworth  was  killed  at  Alex- 
andria, crossed  the  Long  bridge  into  Virginia. 
At  daylight  on  the  following  morning  the  com- 
mand went  into  camp  near  Alexandria,  but 
soon  afterward  moved  farther  north  along  the 
railroad  and  established  Camp  Upton,  Va. , 
where  the  regiment  remained  doing  picket 
duty  until  the  advance  upon  the  rebels  at  Bull 
Run.  While  in  Camp  Upton,  Lieut.  McCoy 
was  made  provost  marshal  of  Gen.  Schenck's 
brigade,  having  under  his  command  thirty 
men,  one  from  each  company  in  the  brigade. 
On  the  2 1st  day  of  July,  the  provost  guard 
being  near  the  hospital,  established  on  the 
Warrenton  road,  while  having  in  charge  a  lot 
of  prisoners,  a  charge  was  made  by  a  company 
of  Confederate  cavalry,  which  he  with  the 
guard  and  quite  a  number  of  stragglers  on  the 
hunt  for  water,  succeeded  in  repulsing  after  a 
sharp  and  sanguinary  engagement. 

After   the    battle  of  Bull  Run,  the  Second 

30 


Ohio  proceeded  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service   several  days  after  the 
expiration  of  its  period  of  enlistment.      Imme- 
diately   thereafter  Lieut.    McCoy  recruited  a 
company  for  the   three    years'  service,  which 
was  designated    as   company  I,  and  formed  a 
part  of  the  Second  Ohio,  then  being  organized 
at   Camp  Dennison,  and   commanded   by  the 
late  Col.  L.  A.  Harris.      This  regiment  moved 
into  Kentucky  as  far  as   Paris,  thence  through 
the  eastern  part  of  the   state   under  Gen.  Nel- 
son, participating  in  a  number  of  engagements 
during  that  memorable  campaign,  and  advanc- 
ing to  a  point  near  Pound  Gap,  thence  to  the 
mouth  of  the    Sandy    river,    where   the  troops 
took  steamers  and  proceeded  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
arriving  there  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  No- 
vember, 1 86 1 .    After  remaining  for  a  short  time 
at  the  latter  place,  the  command  proceeded  to 
a  point    south   of   Elizabethtown,   going    into 
winter   quarters   at  Bacon  Creek,  Ky.,  and  was 
assigned   to    a    brigade    commanded  by   Gen. 
Joshua  Sill.      In  the  early  spring  the  troops  took 
up  their  line  of  march  for  Bowling  Green,  Ky. , 
and  Nashville,  Tenn.,  under   the   command  of 
Gen.    O.  M.    Mitchell,    commanding    division, 
arriving  at    the   latter  place   at   the  same  time 
with  the   army  which   effected   the    capture  of 
Forts  Henry  and  Donelson;   continuing  the  ad- 
vance  they  succeeded    in   capturing   Murfrees- 
boro,     Shelbyville,     Fayetteville,    Tenn.,    and 
Huntsville,  Ala.      At   the   last   named   place   a 
large  amount  of  rolling  stock  of  the  Memphis 
&    Charleston    railroad,    consisting    of    seven- 
teen locomotives  and  nearly  400  cars,  fell   into 
the  hands  of  the  Federals,  resulting  in  the  cut- 
ting of  the   lines,  thus  preventing  the   enemy 
from   transporting   troops   from    Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  to  Corinth,  Miss. 

Capt.  McCoy  served  at  the  head  of  his 
company  at  the  capture  of  Stephenson  and  the 
attack  upon  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and  later  was 
with   Buell    in    the   celebrated   pursuit  of    the 


800 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


rebel  forces  under  Gen.  Bragg.  He  was  de- 
tailed with  his  company  to  escort  batteries 
over  the  mountains  from  Battle  Creek  to  Mur- 
freesboro,  thence  with  his  command  to  Louis- 
ville, where  the  regiment  was  placed  in  Gen. 
Rosecran's  division,  Gen.  A.  McD.  McCook's 
corps.  Proceeding  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  Gen. 
Bragg,  the  two  forces  finally  met  October  8, 
1862,  on  the  bloody  field  of  Perryville,  Ky. , 
where  Capt.  McCoy  received  two  painful 
wounds  in  the  arm  and  hand;  he  also  narrowly 
escaped  being  killed  by  a  musket-ball  which 
flattened  itself  against  his  scabbard,  battering 
the  latter  so  as  to  unfit  it  for  further  use. 
Capt.  McCoy  still  has  in  his  possession  this 
old  scabbard,  which  he  carefully  preserves  as 
a  memento  of  that  bloody  day  of  '62,  and 
which  he  prizes  more  highly  than  any  of  his 
many  relics  of  the  war.  On  account  of  his  in- 
juries he  asked  for  and  was  granted  a  furlough, 
which  was  spent  in  the  vain  effort  to  obtain  re- 
lief from  suffering.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  he 
returned  to  the  regiment,  but,  after  a  careful 
examination  of  his  wounds  by  skillful  surgeons, 
at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  they  were  pronounced 
very  obstinate  and  exceedingly  difficult  to  heal, 
and  Capt.  McCoy  resigned  his  command  and 
returned  to  the  peaceful  vocations  of  civil  life. 
For  some  years  following  the  war,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming,  stock  raising  and  shipping 
grain,  in  all  of  which  he  met  with  encouraging 
success.  He  followed  agriculture  until  1888, 
at  which  time  he  was  chosen  to  the  position  of 
treasurer  of  the  Central  Branch,  which  he  now 
occupies  in  the  National  Home  for  Disabled 
Volunteer  Soldiers. 

Maj.  McCoy  has  proved  himself  a  capable 
and  painstaking  official,  and  since  his  connec- 
tion with  the  national  home  has  discharged  his 
duties  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  those  under  his  charge 
and  to  gain  the  approbation  of  his  superiors. 
He  is  a  great  lover  of  books,  and   his  library, 


made  up  of  the  choicest  products  of  the 
greatest  minds  in  the  field  of  literature,  is  one 
of  the  chief  attractions  of  his  delightful  home. 

The  major  has  given  much  time  as  well  as 
considerable  means  in  adding  to  his  collection 
such  books  as  have  value  on  account  of  age, 
and  a  lover  of  books  could  desire  no  greater 
pleasure  than  to  linger  awhile  among  the  old 
and  rare  volumes  upon  his  shelves,  some  of 
which  represent  the  earliest  stage  of  the  art 
preservative.  Maj.  McCoy  was  twice  elected 
to  the  Ohio  legislature  from  Ross  county,  serv- 
ing continuously  from  1871  to  1875,  the  sec- 
ond term  as  speaker  pro  tern,  of  the  house. 
He  was  elected  as  a  democrat  and  took  an 
active  part  as  a  member,  serving  on  a  number 
of  important  committees  and  carrying  through 
important  legislation,  the  wisdom  of  which 
has  been  abundantly  demonstrated  by  the 
years  which  have  since  intervened.  He  intro- 
duced the  first  "school  book  bill"  in  an  Ohio 
legislature. 

Maj.  McCoy  was  married  March  19,  1863, 
to  Catherine  Crouse,  daughter  of  John  and 
Lydia  Crouse,  and  a  native  of  the  county  of 
Ross,  where  the  Crouse  family  settled  as  early 
as  the  year  1798.  Major  and  Mrs.  McCoy  have 
three  living  children,  namely:  Alfred  C,  who 
married  Mary  Volmer  and  resides  on  the  home 
farm  in  Ross  county;  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  Dr. 
S.  S.  Wilcox,  formerly  first  assistant  surgeon 
in  the  Central  Branch,  and  now  of  Columbus, 
Ohio;  and  Lincoln  D.,  a  student  in  the  Cin- 
cinnati Academy  of  Music.  The  deceased 
members  of  the  family  are  George  \V.  and 
Catherine,  both  of  whom  died   in  childhood. 

Maj.  McCoy  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  the  G.  A.  R. ; 
belongs  to  Dayton  lodge,  No.  147;  Unity  chap- 
ter, No.  16,  and  R.  &  S.  M.  council,  No.  9, 
Ohio  grand  commandery.  He  was  reared  in 
the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and, 
while  not  a  member  of  any  religious  organiza- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


801 


tion,  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  christian  and 
moral  movements.  Mrs.  McCoy  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


EENRY  THEOBALD,  Jr.,  secretary 
of  the  National  Cash  Register  com- 
pany, at  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
this  city  September  28,  1865.  His 
father,  Henry  Theobald,  Sr. ,  is  one  of  Day- 
ton's oldest  citizens,  is  an  ex-soldier,  has  been 
prominent  in  religious  matters,  and  has  always 
taken  a  keen  interest  in  the  development  of 
the  Gem  City. 

Henry  Theobald,  Sr. ,  was  born  in  Doncas- 
ter,  Yorkshire,  England,  November  9,  1826, 
and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Alice  Theobald, 
natives  of  Nottinghamshire.  The  deaths  of 
William  and  Alice  occurred,  respectively,  at 
Doncaster  in  1869  and  1873.  Their  son, 
Henry,  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years,  found  employment  in  Mor- 
ristown,  N.  J.,  in  1844,  at  painting  and  grain- 
ing, and  there  remained  for  eighteen  months. 
He  went  to  New  York  city  in  the  summer  of 
1846,  but  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  returned 
to  New  Jersey,  following  his  calling  of  painter 
in  Asbury,  Warren  county,  in  summer,  and 
in  winter  teaching  a  district  school  at  Broad- 
way, in  the  same  county.  May  4,  1848,  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  Maria  Dunham,  who  was 
born  in  Asbury,  June  28,  1827,  a  daughter  of 
Cyrus  and  Mercy  Dunham,  also  natives  of  New 
Jersey.  After  marriage  Mr.  Theobald  returned 
to  Morristcwn,  where  he  remained  until  De- 
cember 23,  1848,  when  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Dayton.  Here  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  painting  business  until  1862,  when 
he  enlisted,  as  a  musician,  in  company  A, 
Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  At  the 
battle  of  Stone  River  the  band's  instruments 
were  captured  by  the  enemy,  from  which  time 
forward  Mr.  Theobald  acted   as  a   member  of 


the  ambulance  corps,  and  also  as  bugler,  and 
was  present  at  all  engagements  in  which  his 
regiment  took  part.  The  night  before  the  bat- 
tle of  Franklin,  while  on  a  forced  march  and 
acting  in  his  capacity  of  bugler,  his  foot  was 
crushed  and  his  ankle  dislocated  by  the  fall  of 
his  horse  through  a  bridge,  and  he  suffered  for 
the  thirty-six  hours  following  before  his  wounds 
were  properly  treated.  He  was  then  sent  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  thence  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
and  thence  to  New  Albany,  Ind.,  where  he 
was  placed  in  hospital  No.  8,  and  remained 
until  honorably  discharged  in  May,  1865, 
reaching  Dayton  May  28.  Mr.  Theobald  was 
too  sorely  injured,  however,  to  resume  his 
trade  as  a  painter,  and  on  the  5th  day  of  June, 
1865,  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
brewery  of  J.  W.  Harries,  and  remained  there 
until  August,  1877,  when  Mr.  Harries  went 
out  of  business.  Mr.  Theobald  was  then  for 
a  number  of  years  employed  as  bookkeeper  at 
the  Phillips  Cotton  mill,  after  which  he  be- 
came secretary  to  George  L.  Phillips,  who  was 
at  that  time  manager  for  the  Bell  Telephone 
company  for  the  western  and  southern  states. 
Mr.  Theobald  held  this  position  until  the  office 
was  transferred  to  Chicago,  111.,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  in  comparative  retirement, 
occasionally  auditing  accounts  for  various  busi- 
ness firms  in  Dayton. 

Henry  Theobald,  Sr. ,  has  four  living  chil- 
dren, viz:  William  D.,  of  Canton,  Ohio; 
John  L.,  with  L.  D.  Reynolds  &  Co.,  of  Day- 
ton; Emma  L. ,  school  and  music  teacher  of 
Dayton:  and  Henry,  Jr.,  whose  name  opens 
this  article.  Mr.  Theobald  is  prominent  as  a 
teacher  of  vocal  music,  and  for  forty  years  has 
been  tutor  of  this  art  in  the  Sunday-schools  of 
Dayton.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Saint 
John's  lodge,  No.  .13,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Unity 
chapter,  No.  16,  R.  A.  M.;  Reese  council, 
No.  9,  R.  &  S.  M.,  and  Reed  commandery. 
No.  6,  K.  T.      In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


802 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Henry  Theobald,  Jr.,  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Dayton  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Central  high  school  in  1882  with  the  highest 
honors,  being  valedictorian  of  his  class.  With 
the  energy  and  determination  which  have 
always  marked  him,  Mr.  Theobald  at  once 
entered  earnestly  into  business.  His  first 
position  was  that  of  assistant  bookkeeper  in 
a  papermaking  establishment.  He  soon  re- 
moved, however,  to  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  employed  again  as  bookkeeper.  He  did 
not  find  here,  however,  the  opportunity  of  ad- 
vancement which  he  desired  and  returned  to 
Dayton,  where  he  took  a  thorough  course  in 
stenography  and  typewriting. 

When  this  course  was  completed,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1884,  Mr.  Theobald  entered  the  employ 
of  the  National  Cash  Register  company.  His 
career  since  that  time  has  shown  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  hard  work,  steady  application 
and  a  conscientious  endeavor  to  do  one's  best 
under  all  circumstances.  For  two  years  Mr. 
Theobald  served  as  a  stenographer.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  his  ability  was  recognized  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  was  practically  made 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  company,  all  of 
the  correspondence  being  under  his  charge. 
In  June,  1891,  Mr.  Theobald  was  elected  gen- 
eral secretary  of  the  company,  which  position 
he  has  since  held,  yet  in  addition  to  the  duties 
of  that  place  Mr.  Theobald  has  devoted  much 
time  and  work  to  the  advancement  of  the  com- 
pany's interests  in  other  directions.  About 
two  years  ago  he  temporarily  left  his  work  as 
secretary,  and  with  the  president  of  the  com- 
pany devoted  himself  to  re-organizing  the  fac- 
tory, and,  as  a  result  of  their  work,  the  factory 
of  the  National  Cash  Register  company  stands 
to-day  as  the  model  institution  of  its  kind  in  the 
world.  Mr.  Theobald  also  spent  some  time  in 
New  York  city  organizing  a  sales  agency  for  the 
company,  but  his  most  creditable  work  is  the 
one  which   he  has  lately  completed. 


In  the  early  summer  of  1895,  President 
John  H.  Patterson  and  Mr.  Theobald  went  to 
Europe,  where  for  some  time  the  company  had 
done  an  irregular  and  somewhat  unsatisfactory 
business.  President  Patterson  remained  but  a 
short  time  and  returned  to  America,  leaving 
Mr.  Theobald  to  execute  the  great  work  of  or- 
ganizing the  European  trade:  The  results  of 
this  work  were  shown  at  the  recent  interna- 
tional convention  of  the  sales  agents  of  the 
company  which  was  held  in  October  last.  At 
this  convention  sales  agents  were  present  from 
France,  Germany,  England,  Belgium,  Holland 
and  Denmark.  The  favorable  impressions 
which  they  produced  is  emphasized  by  the  fact 
that  the  orders  from  European  territories  have 
been  quadrupled  since  Mr.  Theobald  crossed 
the  water. 

Mr.  Theobald  is  again  at  the  factory  and 
actively  employed  as  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee,  which,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
president  and  vice-president,  controls  all  this 
great  business.  Mr.  Theobald  was  married 
on  June  25, 1890,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  McCullough, 
of  Dayton,  daughter  of  Rev.  P.  M.  McCullough, 
one  of  the  old  citizens.  To  this  union  one  son, 
Robert  R. ,  was  born  December  7,  1891. 


eVAN  OWEN  THOMAS,  superintend- 
ent of  markets  of  the  city  of  Dayton, 
was  born  in  Newport,  Ky. ,  February 
7,  1836.  His  father,  a  native  of 
Wales,  was  also  named  Evan  Owen  Thomas, 
and  came  from  his  native  country  to  the  United 
States  in  1825.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1799 
and  learned  the  trade  of  weaver,  becoming  a 
practical  factory  hand  in  the  old  country. 
Upon  arriving  in  the  United  States  he  located 
in  Indianapolis,  where  he  married  Jane  Mayes, 
widow  of  John  Hamarman,  who  was  born  and 
reared  near    Delaware,    Ohio.      From   Indian- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


803 


apolis  they  removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and 
thence  to  Newport,  Ky.,  finally  coming  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1838,  to  take  charge  of  what 
is  now  the  Kratochwill  mill.  Mr.  Thomas  was 
not  only  a  practical  factory  man,  but  was  also 
a  man  of  genius  and  an  inventor  of  note.  He 
died  in  Dayton  in  1892,  his  wife  having  died 
some  time  before.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living, 
and  beside  these  eight  the  mother  had  three 
children  by  a  former  marriage. 

Evan  Owen  Thomas,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  in  Dayton,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  excellent  public  schools  of  that 
city.  In  September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany E,  Fifty-ninth  regiment  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  until  mustered  out  No- 
vember 1,  1S64.  He  was  captured  at  Cyn- 
thiana,  Ky. ,  July  22,  1862,  but  after  being  a 
prisoner  two  days  was  paroled.  In  October, 
1863,  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  while 
guarding  an  ammunition  train,  he  was  again 
taken  prisoner,  but  after  three  days  was  pa- 
roled at  McMinnville,  Tenn. 

Having  returned  from  the  war  Mr.  Thomas 
began  working  on  December  26,  1864,  for  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railroad  com- 
pany as  brakeman,  was  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  conductor  on  a  passenger  train,  and 
for  twenty-eight  years  was  in  the  employ  of 
that  company.  On  August  1,  1894,  he  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  markets  for  Day- 
ton and  was  re-appointed  in  1S95.  Mr. 
Thomas  is  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  post, 
No.  23,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  December  20, 
1854,  to  Isabella  Marshall,  of  Newport,  Ky. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  four 
children,  as  follows  :  Albert,  superintendent 
of  the  Dayton  Electric  Light  company;  Mary, 
who  died  in  her  twenty-first  year  ;  John  E. ,  of 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  Evan  Owen,  who  died 
when  seven  years  of  age.      Mr.   Thomas  is  a 


man  of  intelligence  and  integrity,  and  is  dis- 
charging the  responsible  duties  of  his  office 
with  personal  credit  and  to  the  approval  of  the 
people  of  the  city. 


*w  *  ENRY  E.  THOMAS,  chief  guide  at 
l^\  the  national  military  home,  Dayton, 
j|^  P  Ohio,  was  born  in  Medford,  Burling- 
ton county,  N.  J.,  July  16,  1846,  and 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza  (Yost)  Thomas,  of 
whom  the  former  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  in  1800,  and  the  latter  in  New  Jersey  in 
1802.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children, 
born  in  the  following  order:  Esther,  now 
Mrs.  Hollingsworth  and  residing  in  Camden, 
N.  J.  ;  Jacob,  who  served  in  the  Tenth  New 
Jersey  volunteer  infantry  three  years,  and 
died  in  a  southern  prison  pen  after  his  term  of 
enlistment  had  expired;  Stephen,  who  served 
one  year  in  the  navy  in  the  late  war,  and  then 
for  nine  months  in  the  Thirty-third  New  Jer- 
sey infantry;  George,  who  served  three  years 
in  the  New  Jersey  cavalry,  is  living  in  Clayton, 
N.    J.,    and    Henry    E.,  twin   of  George. 

Henry  E.  Thomas  enlisted  February  5, 
1862,  in  company  I,  Second  Pennsylvania 
heavy  artillery,  served  three  years,  five  months 
and  twenty  days,  and  took  part  in  many  of  the 
severest  engagements  of  the  Civil  war.  He 
was  attached  to  the  Sixth  army  corps,  and 
fought  through  the  Wilderness,  at  Spottsyl- 
vania,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg  (battles  and 
siege),  was  at  the  mine  explosion  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  and  on  September  29,  1864,  was 
shot  through  the  right  shoulder  and  left  leg  at 
the  battle  of  Chapin's  farm,  being  so  severely 
wounded  as  to  incapacitate  him  for  further 
military  duty.  June  29,  1865,  "he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  by  reason  of  his  wounds  and 
has  ever  since  been  a  pensioner.  His  father 
died  in  1861,  and,  upon  his  discharge,  Henry 
returned  to  the  home  of  his  mother,  who  sur- 


804 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


vived  until  July  3,  1873.  Mr.  Thomas  worked 
in  rolling-mills  at  various  points  until  1886, 
when  he  came  to  the  national  military  home 
near  Dayton,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  em- 
ployed at  light  work,  and  for  the  past  two 
years  has  filled  the  position  of  chief  guide. 
This  office  is  intended  to  gratify  the  curiosity 
of  visitors  and  sight-seers,  and  Mr.  Thomas  is 
called  upon[jto  acquaint  many  hundreds  with 
the  beauties  and  interesting  features  of  this  un- 
rivaled institution. 

In  January,  1894,  Mr.  Thomas  married 
Mrs.  Ella  Craft,  a  native  of  Saint  Louis,  Mo. ; 
he  has  a  pleasant  home,  purchased  almost 
wholly  with  savings  from  his  pension.  He  is 
an  honored  member  of  encampment  No.  145, 
Union  Veteran  Legion,  of  Dayton,  votes  the 
republican  ticket,  adheres  to  the  Methodist  re- 
ligion, in  which  he  was  reared,  and  enjoys  the 
sincere  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 


HLBERT  THOMAS,  superintendent  of 
the  Dayton  Electric  Light  company, 
was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
June  26,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Evan 
Owen  Thomas,  one  of  the  old  and  well  known 
residents  of  Dayton,  and  who  is  at  the  present 
time  city  market  master.  Evan  Owen  Thomas 
brought  his  wife  and  family  to  Dayton  in  1861, 
having  previously  for  many  years  been  a  con- 
ductor on  the  Dayton  &  Michigan  railroad,  his 
family  residing  either  at  Lima  or  at  Toledo, 
according  to  the  convenience  and  interest  of 
Mr.  Thomas.  It  was  in  the  public  schools  of 
Toledo,  Lima  and  Dayton  that  Albert  received 
his  education.  While  the  family  was  living  at 
Lima  he  began  his  career  in  railroading,  taking 
a  position  as  brakeman  on  the  passenger  train 
of  which  his  father  was  conductor.  At  this 
time  he  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age.  After 
a  short  experience  in  this  line   he   entered  the 


grammar  school  at  Toledo,  then  under  the 
management  of  S.  C.  Crumbaugh,  who  had 
been  a  teacher  in  Dayton.  Still  later  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  in  Toledo,  afterward 
returning  to  the  railroad  as  brakeman.  In 
course  of  time  he  was  promoted  to  a  position 
as  fireman  on  a  locomotive  under  Master  Me- 
chanic John  Black  at  Lima.  This  position  he 
held  for  five  years  and  eleven  months,  and  at 
the  end  of  this  period  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  locomotive  engineer  on  the  Dayton 
&  Michigan  railroad.  After  two  years'  service 
in  this  capacity  on  that  railroad,  he  accepted  a 
similar  position  on  the  Nickel  Plate  railroad, 
then  in  course  of  construction,  remaining  on 
this  road  as  an  engineer  for  fifteen  months. 

Retiring  from  railroad  life,  he  came  to  Day- 
ton and  established  himself  in  the  retail  grocery 
business,  which  he  conducted  for  three  years, 
and  then  took  a  place  as  stationary  engineer 
with  the  Troy  Laundry  company,  remaining 
with  this  concern  for  about  two  years  and  a 
half.  Upon  the  erection  of  the  Dayton  Elec- 
tric Light  company's  plant  in  1S87,  he  became 
chief  engineer  for  that  company,  and  at  the 
end  of  two  years  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  superintendent,  which  office  he  still  retains. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  steady  promotion  has 
been  the  history  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Thomas, 
which  can  have  been  the  result  only  of  faith- 
fulness and  efficiency  in  the  several  positions 
he  has  filled. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  member  of  Iola  lodge. 
No.  83,  Knights  of  Pythias;  of  Iola  division, 
uniform  rank;  of  Earnshaw  camp,  Sons  of 
Veterans;  of  the  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic 
Order,  and  of  Mystic  lodge,  No.  405,  F.  &  A. 
M.  He  was  married  October  25,  1877,  to  M'ss 
Maggie  Kirby,  youngest  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Kirby,  old  citizens  of  Dayton.  To 
this  marriage  there  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Mary,  Isabella,  Arthur  and 
Albert  O.      Both  sons  died   while  young.      Mr. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


805 


and  Mrs.  Thomas  are  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Dayton,  which  was  organ- 
ized May  29,  1824. 


%y^\  EV.  HENRY  ADAMS  THOMPSON, 
1^  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
P  was  born  in  Center  county,  Pa. ,  March 
23.  1 837,  and  traces  his  paternal  de- 
scent to  an  old  family  of  Tyrone,  Ireland,  the 
American  branch  of  which  was  founded  by  his 
great-grandfather. 

John  Thompson,  the  father  of  Henry  A., 
was  also  a  native  of  Center  county,  Pa.,  and 
was  born  May  13,  1798.  He  was  early  left  an 
orphan  and  was  reared  by  a  Quaker  family, 
whose  religious  tenets  he  adopted  as  his  own. 
He  became  a  leading  man  in  his  county  and 
served  two  terms  as  its  sheriff,  being  a  demo- 
crat in  his  politics  and  strongly  anti-slavery. 
He  married  Miss  Lydia  Blake,  who  was  born 
March  19,  1799,  and  died  in  the  Methodist 
faith  May  7,  1871,  the  mother  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, while  his  own  death  occurred  January 
22,  1876,  near  the  place  where  he  was  born. 
Of  their  children,  three  died  in  infancy;  of  the 
nine  that  grew  to  maturity,  six  are  still  living. 

Henry  Adams  Thompson,  having  been 
fully  prepared  by  a  common-school  and  aca- 
demic training  in  his  own  county,  entered  Jeffer- 
son college,  at  Cannonsburg,  Pa.  (now  Wash- 
ington &  Jefferson  college),  in  1856,  and  in 
1858  graduated  with  the  degree  of  bachelor  of 
arts.  He  then  entered  the  Western  Theolog- 
ical seminary,  of  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  where 
he  studied  for  two  years.  In  1861  he  was 
made  professor  of  mathematics  in  Western 
college,  Iowa,  and  in  1872  became  president 
of  Otterbein  university,  at  Westerville,  Ohio 
— which  dignified  position  he  held  for  fourteen 
years.  In  1873  his  alma  mater  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  and  that  of  LL. 
D.  was    conferred,  in    1886,  by   the  Westfield 


(111.)  college.  He  has  rendered  much  valuable 
service  to  his  church,  and  was  its  delegate  to  the 
Methodist  Ecumenical  Conference  held  in  Lon- 
don, England,  at  which  he  read  a  paper  on 
the  "Training  of  Children  in  Sunday-school 
and  Church."  Dr.  Thompson  has  also  de- 
voted much' of  his  time  and  talents  to  matters 
educational,  outside  of  his  profession.  He 
delivered  the  dedicatory  address  of  the  Union 
Biblical  seminary,  organized  the  board  of 
education  within  the  church,  designed  to  aid 
in  preparing  young  men  for  the  ministry;  he 
has  occupied  the  position  of  associate  editor 
of  the  Sunday-school  literature  of  the  church 
since  May,  1893,  and  in  this  line  contributes 
to  Our  Bible  Teacher,  Our  Bible  Lesson 
Quarterly,  Our  Intermediate  Quarterly,  The 
Children's  Friend,  Lessons  for  the  Little  Ones, 
etc.  In  addition  to  this  labor,  he  has  found 
time  to  prepare  a  work,  which  will  soon  be 
published  under  the  title  of  Women  of  the 
Bible,  which  will,  no  doubt,  add  to  his  former 
reputation  as  editor  and  publisher  of  A 
Demand  for  an  Educated  Ministry,  The 
Schools  of  the  Prophets,  Power  of  the  In- 
visible, and  Our  Bishops.  Dr.  Thompson  has 
likewise  written  extensively  for  the  relig- 
ious and  reform  press,  and  his  contributions  to 
the  latter  upon  temperance  topics  have  led  him 
somewhat  into  politics.  He  was  nominated 
by  the  prohibition  party  for  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of  Ohio  in  1874,  was  chairman  of  the 
national  prohibition  convention  in  1876,  was 
his  party's  candidate  for  governor  in  1887, 
was  on  the  ticket  for  vice-president  in  connec- 
tion with  Neal  Dow  in  1880,  and  has  been 
chairman  of  the  Ohio  prohibition  executive 
committee  for  many  years. 

In  1862  Rev.  H.  A.  Thompson  was  united 
in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Miss  Harriet 
E.  Copeland,  a  native  of  Galena,  Ohio,  and 
of  New  England  descent.  Mrs.  Thompson 
was  educated  at  the  Granville  Female  college, 


806 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


and  was  a  trained  artist  and  a  teacher  of  draw- 
ing and  painting  in  a  female  seminary  near 
Cincinnati.  To  the  felicitous  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  been  born  three 
children,  viz:  Jessie  Fremont,  who  gradu- 
ated from  Otterbein  university  and  from  the 
Woman's  Medical  college  of  Philadelphia,  and 
is  married  to  Charles  L.  Bogle,  an  attorney, 
formerly  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  but  now  located 
in  New  York  city;  Clara  Barton,  who  was  also 
educated  at  Otterbein  university,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Walter  B.  Huffman,  bookkeeper 
for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  company  in 
Dayton;  and  Louis  Agassiz,  also  a  graduate 
from  Otterbein  and  now  a  student  in  his  sec- 
ond year  at  the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
college,  New  York  city. 

Dr.  Thompson  is  a  profound  scholar  and  is 
the  possessor  of  a  magnificent  library,  in  which 
he  passes  much  of  his  time  with  his  books. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Ohio 
State  Archaeological  &  Historical  society,  and 
has  been  a  director  thereof  since  its  organiza- 
tion, in  1885;  was  the  assistant  secretary  and 
aided  largely  in  the  preparation  of  the  Ohio 
state  exhibit  at  the  late  Columbian  exposition, 
or  world's  fair,  at  Chicago,  and  has  done 
much  other  public  service  in  which  erudition 
and  sound  judgment  were  essential  factors. 


^y-j»ILLIAM     HENRY    TOMLINSON, 

MM  one   of   the  recent  additions    to    the 

\%J  distingi  hedbarof  the  city  of  Day- 
ton, was  born  in  that  city  January 
28,  1 86 1.  He  is  a  son  of  W.  R.  and  Margaret 
(Needham)  Tomlinson,  both  natives  of  Guil- 
ford county,  N.  C,  who  were  taken  early  to 
Indiana  by  their  parents,  and  there  married, 
and  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  i860.  Mrs. 
Margaret  Tomlinson  died  August  20,  1895,  in 
her  seventy-fourth  year,  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.      Mr.   Tomlinson 


was  for  a  number  of  years  a  merchant  in  In- 
diana, following  that  branch  of  business  with 
success;  and  he  was  also  an  influential  member 
of  the  Indiana  state  bar.  He  is  still  living  in 
Dayton  and  is  in  his  seventy-second  year. 

William  Henry  Tomlinson  was  reared  in 
Dayton,  and  received  an  excellent  education  in 
the  schools  of  that  city,  attending  first  the  ele- 
mentary and  grammar  schools  and  graduating 
later  from  the  Central  high  school  in  1 88 1 . 
He  was  an  honor  pupil  of  his  class,  having  as- 
signed to  him  the  salutatory  oration.  The 
year  of  his  graduation  was  the  first  year  of  the 
honor  pupil  system.  In  the  first  part  of  the 
year  1882  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Hon. 
John  A.  McMahon,  well  known  as  having  been 
for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
able  lawyers  of  the  state,  and  remained  there  a 
student  for  two  and  a  half  years.  Owing  to 
ill  health  and  other  unfavorable  circumstances, 
however,  he  did  not  continue  his  studies  to  the 
point  of  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884,  as 
he  otherwise  would  have  done;  but,  instead, 
spent  several  years  in  other  pursuits,  having  to 
earn  his  own  living  and  assist  others  who  were 
dependent  upon  him.  Therefore  he  was  not 
admitted  to  the  bar  until  1892.  In  1890, 
however,  he  had  been  appointed  mayor's 
clerk  under  the  Hon.  J.  E.  D.  Ward,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  held  for  two  years,  or  until 
April,  1892,  when  the  office  of  mayor's  clerk 
was  abolished  in  Dayton,  through  the  estab- 
lishment by  the  general  assembly  of  the  police 
court.  Of  this  court  he  was  elected  the  first 
clerk  in  the  city  of  Dayton  by  the  largest  ma- 
jority of  any  candidate  on  the  democratic 
ticket.  This  position  he  held  for  three  years, 
and  in  April,  1895,  he  was  nominated  by  the 
democratic  party  for  the  office  of  police  judge, 
but  was  defeated  by  fifty-one  votes,  the  candi- 
dates upon  the  ticket  being  defeated  by  major- 
ities ranging  from  1,000  to  1,600.  The  day 
following  his  defeat  he  rented  an  office,  and, 


>HillWf,ft'?«H'lli:« 


l|llfjlf|tt 

'llllili 


From  "Early  Dayton.' 


STEEL   HIGH   SCHOOL 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


807 


as  soon  as  his  term  of  office  as  clerk  of  the 
police  court  expired,  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  the  law. 

Mr.  Tomlinson  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  the  order  of  Forest- 
ers, of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  of 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  of  the  Bicy- 
cle club  and  of  the  Comus  club,  fie  was  mar- 
ried October  12,  1892,  to  Laura  L.  Thorniley, 
she  being  the  daughter  of  Capt.  T.  Wallace 
Thorniley,  of  Gallipolis,  Ohio.  At  present 
Mr.  Tomlinson  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
elections.  His  career  as  above  briefly  nar- 
rated shows  that  he  is  one  of  Montgomery 
county's  trusted  citizens,  and  that  he  is  popu- 
lar outside  of  party  lines. 


QHARLES  R.  THOMAS,  a  successful 
grocer,  located  at  No.  428  East  Fifth 
street,  was  born  on  Fifth  street,  be- 
tween Main  and  Jefferson  streets,  in 
what  was  then  known  as  the  Arnold  row,  Day- 
ton, August  28,  1858.  Arnold  row  stood  on 
the  present  site  of  the  Park  theater.  The 
father  of  Mr.  Thomas  was  William  H.  Thomas, 
who  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  a  shoe  dealer  on  Jefferson  street, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  Dayton  in  June, 
1 886,  in  his  fifty-third  year.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
Jane  Ewing,  a  native  of  Indiana.  She  died 
in  1 871  in  her  thirty-fifth  year.  She  and  her 
husband  were  the  parents  of  four  children. 
The  eldest  was  Rev.  William  N.  Thomas, 
a  Baptist  minister  of  Lewiston,  Me.,  who  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  and 
afterward  at  Dennison  university,  Granville, 
Ohio.  He  completed  his  education  at  Hamil- 
ton college,  a  non-sectarian  institution,  estab- 
lished in  1822,  and  situated  at  Clinton,  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.  After  taking  up  his  ministerial 
work  he  remained  in  the  east.  The  other  chil- 
dren were  Hattie  N.,    wife  of  George  Bailey, 


of  the  Rike  dry-goods  house  of  Dayton;  Charles 
R.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  R.  Thomas  was  reared  in  Dayton 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  city.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
found  employment  in  a  grocery  store,  and 
afterward  at  various  occupations  until  his  sev- 
enteenth year,  when  he  began  working  in  a 
printing  office.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  be- 
gan an  apprenticeship  at  the  printer's  trade, 
serving  three  years;  but  after  completing  his 
apprenticeship  he  decided  not  to  follow  that 
calling.  For  three  years  he  was  occupied  as 
a  confectioner,  then  became  engaged  with  G. 
Durst  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  pur- 
chased from  his  employer  after  eight  years' 
service.  Under  Mr.  Thomas'  careful  man- 
agement his  business  has  been  marked  with 
much  success. 

In  the  spring  of  1S94  Mr.  Thomas  was 
elected  from  the  Second  ward  as  a  republican 
to  the  board  of  education  for  a  term  of  two 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  Dayton  lodge,  No. 
273,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Earnshaw  camp 
of  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  his  father  having 
served  in  the  late  Civil  war  as  a  member  of 
company  G,  Second  regiment,  Ohio  national 
guard,  under  Capt.  W.  H.  Wells.  He  served 
three  years  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
May  1,  1866. 

On  February  20,  1884,  Mr.  Thomas  was 
married  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Josie 
Rome,  who  was  born  in  Germantown,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  August  28,  1 861,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  A.  F.  and  Sarah  (Coombs) 
Rome.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  at  twelve  years  of  age  came  to  the  United 
States  with  an  aunt.  Mr.  Rome's  father  was 
one  of  the  king's  officers,  and  in  1876  came  to 
visit  his  sons  in  this  country,  where  he  died. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Thomas  located  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  but  later  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where 


808 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


for  years  he  has  followed  the  cigar  and  tobacco 
business. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  there  have  been 
born  two  children,  as  follows:  Ada  Jane,  born 
April  15,  1885,  and  Charles  Russell,  born 
March  12,  1S89.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  are 
members  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  which 
was  organized  May  29,  1824.  They  reside  in 
a  comfortable  home  at  No.  800  West  Fifth 
street,  and  enjoy  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  their  friends  and  neighbors. 


>-r,OSEPH  ROBB  THOMSON,  justice 
■  of  the  peace  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
<%  J  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  August  3,  1833, 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  reared  on 
a  farm  and  attended  the  common  district 
school,  but  not  more  than  two  months  in  a 
year,  that  being  the  length  of  the  school  year 
when  he  was  a  boy.  Remaining  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  then 
attended  a  select  school  in  Union  county,  Ohio, 
for  one  term,  and  afterward  graduated  from 
Bryant,  Stratton  &  Felton's  Commercial  col- 
lege in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Almost  immediately  after  arriving  at  his 
majority,  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  having  completed  his  apprentice- 
ship he  began  business  for  himself,  and  con- 
tinued to  follow  his  trade  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  Union 
county,  Ohio,  in  company  H,  Eighty-second 
regiment  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  on  Novem- 
ber 22,  1 86 1.  He  remained  in  the  service 
about  one  year,  being  then  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  an  injury  received  in  the  line  of  his 
duty.  Returning  to  his  home,  and  having  suf- 
ficiently recovered  from  his  injury,  he  taught 
two  terms  of  school;  but  finding  that  profes- 
sion unsuited  to  his  taste,  he  engaged  in  other 
business,  subsequently  going  on  the  road  as 
traveling  agent  for  a  boot   and  shoe  house  lo- 


cated in  Dayton,  which  position  he  held  for 
four  and  a  half  years,  and  for  a  year  and  a 
half  thereafter  he  was  similarly  employed  by  a 
Cincinnati  boot  and  shoe  house.  Then,  on 
account  of  the  ill  health  of  his  family,  he  re- 
tired from  the  road  and  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building,  for  which  his  early  experience 
had  well  fitted  him.  This  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  ten  years,  and  in  that  time  over  200 
buildings  in  Dayton  were  constructed  by  him, 
among  them  some  of  the  best  in  the  city.  Re- 
tiring from  the  building  business,  he  engaged 
in  buying  and  selling  real  estate,  continuing 
thus  engaged  until  1S94,  when  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  for  Dayton.  This  position 
he  now  holds. 

For  thirty  years  Mr.  Thomson  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  for  forty 
years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic for  many  years.  He  was  married  February 
12,  1S60,  to  Almira  A.  Davis,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  A.  S.  Davis,  of  Summerville,  Ohio.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  party  in  his  township.  He 
was  judge  at  the  first  election  held  in  his  town- 
ship in  which  the  republican  party  took  any 
interest,  and  he  deposited  the  first  republican 
ballot  cast  in  that  township. 

He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Dayton 
board  of  education,  and  in  his  present  respon- 
sible position  is  most  industrious  and  painstak- 
ing. He  holds  and  deserves  the  good  opinion 
of  the  members  of  the  bar  as  well  as  of  liti- 
gants who  come  into  his  court. 


s 


ents, 


AMUEL  D.   TRONE,    plasterer    and 
contractor,  of    447    May  street,  Day- 
ton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pa.,   December    5,    1840.      His    par- 
John    and    Caroline    (Melhorn)    Trone, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.      They  were  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


809 


parents  of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living,  as  follows  :  Cyrus,  Mary  and 
Samuel  D. 

John  Trone,  the  father,  was  a  cooper 
by  trade,  and  followed  this  calling  all  his 
life  until  he  retired  from  active  labor  in 
1884.  He  died  in  his  native  town,  Hanover, 
Pa.,  in  February,  1896,  at  eighty-five  years  of 
age.  His  wife  died  December  25,  1889,  when 
she  was  seventy-nine.  Mrs.  Trone  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  though  both 
she  and  her  husband  attended  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Jacob  Trone,  paternal  grandfather  of  Sam- 
uel D.,  was  of  Scotch  descent,  but  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  By  trade  and  occupation  he 
was  a  cabinetmaker  and  undertaker.  He 
reared  a  large  family  of  children,  eleven  in 
number,  and  died  in  1859,  when  sixty-eight 
years  of  age.  The  maternal  grandfather,  An- 
drew Melhorn,  lived  and  died  in  Adams  county, 
Pa.  He  was  also  of  German  descent  and  a 
cabinetmaker  by  trade. 

Samuel  D.  Trone  was  reared  in  Hanover, 
York  county,  Pa.  In  the  early  part  of  the  Civil 
war  he  enlisted  in  company  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-fifth  Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry, 
and  served  eleven  months  as  corporal  of  his 
company.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks  and  Black  Water.  Beside 
the  above-named,  he  was  in  the  battles  of 
White  House  Landing,  Sussex,  Franklin,  Suf- 
folk, Va.,  and  many  other  minor  engagements 
and  skirmishes. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
for  a  time  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  plas- 
terer, and  in  1867  came  to  Dayton,  where  he 
has  ever  since  been  engaged  as  a  plastering 
contractor.  August  16,  i860,  he  married  Miss 
Susan  Heiss,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lydia 
(Stabley)  Heiss,  of  York  county,  Pa.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  born  eight  children, 
four    sons     and    four   daughters,    as    follows  : 


Sarah,  John,  Anna,  Carrie,  William,  George, 
Charles  and  Susie.  The  last  named  died  in 
infancy  ;  Sarah  married  J.  W.  Mclntyre,  of 
Cincinnati,  and  has  one  daughter,  Irma;  John, 
who  has  charge  of  the  Smith  &  Vaile  Manu- 
facturing company's  works,  married  Miss  Car- 
rie Dady,  and  has  three  children,  viz  :  Ed- 
ward, John  and  Eugene  ;  Carrie  married  Frank 
Young,  of  Piqua,  Ohio  ;  William  married 
Sarah  Reigel,  and  has  one  child,  Lowell. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trone  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Insurance  Union  and  of  the  Ameri- 
can Mechanics.  He  belongs  to  the  Old  Guard 
post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is,  in  politics,  a 
republican.  For  two  years  Mr.  Trone  repre- 
sented the  Seventh  ward  in  the  city  council. 
When  he  first  located  in  Dayton  he  was  for 
some  thirteen  years  foreman  for  Daniel  Slentz, 
and  thereafter,  for  seven  years,  the  two  men 
were  in  partnership.  For  the  past  eight  years 
he  has  been  in  business  for  himself.  In  1875 
he  erected  his  present  substantial  and  com- 
fortable residence.  While  Mr.  Trone  does  all 
kinds  of  plastering,  he  makes  a  specialty  of 
ornamental  plastering  and  terra  cotta  work. 
He  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Dayton 
Lumber  &  Manufacturing  company.  Beside 
his  immediate  interests  in  Dayton  he  is  largely 
interested  in  the  fruit  business  in  Georgia  and 
Kentucky,  being  a  member  of  five  different 
companies,  as  follows  :  The  Albaugh  com- 
pany ;  the  Ohio  Fruit  Land  company  ;  the 
Diamond  Fruit  company,  of  which  he  is  pres- 
ident ;  the  Kentucky  River  Fruit  company, 
and  the  Woodstock  Fruit  company,  of  which 
he  is  treasurer.  The  first  three  companies 
have,  in  the  aggregate,  3,200  acres  of  land, 
and  the  last  two,  500  acres.  These  3,700 
acres  of  land  have  on  them  more  than  a  quar- 
ter million  trees.  One  pear  orchard  alone 
contains  10,000  trees.  The  fruit  is  shipped 
principally  to   New   York,  and  in    1S95   there 


810 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


were  shipped  as  many  as  nineteen  car  loads  in 
a  day.  When  the  season  is  favorable  the 
business  done  by  these  five  companies  is  very 
large,  and  correspondingly  profitable.  Mr. 
Trone  has  always  been  fortunate  and  success- 
ful, and  is  a  man  whose  integrity  of  character 
has  earned  for  him  the  confidence  of  all  who 
know  his  true  worth. 


IHOMAS  EDWARD  TUCKER,  presi- 
dent of  the  Gem  City  Boiler  com- 
pany, was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in 
1864,  the  son  of  Thomas  Tucker. 
While  he  was  yet  a  child  his  parents  removed  to 
Erie,  Pa. ,  and  there  he  was  reared,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  later 
entering  the  Northeast  college,  in  that  state, 
where  he  completed  a  course  of  study  and 
graduated  with  honors.  Immediately  after 
leaving  college,  with  a  view  to  acquiring  that 
practical  knowledge  which  he  believed  would 
best  fit  him  for  a  successful  career,  he  secured 
employment  in  a  boiler  manufactory  in  Erie, 
and  devoted  himself  earnestly  and  intelligently 
to  learning  the  trade.  He  made  rapid  progress 
in  his  chosen  field  of  endeavor,  and  soon  se- 
cured promotion  to  a  responsible  position  as 
foreman  of  the  Pennsylvania  Boiler  works  at 
Erie,  which  place  he  retained  from  1888  until 
1892.  In  this  year  he  came  to  Dayton,  and 
upon  his  arrival  in  this  city  associated  himself 
with  the  Brownell  company  in  the  work  of 
contracting  for  and  superintending  the  erec- 
tion of  stand-pipes  for  water  works  systems, 
being  thus  concerned  until  the  fall  of  1895, 
when  he  organized  the  enterprise  with  which 
he  is  now  identified  as  president  and  which  has 
been  pushed  forward  to  notable  success  within 
a  short  time.  In  this  business  he  is  associated 
with  F.  D.  Morrison,  who  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  corporation.  Both  interested 
principals  are   practical    and   scientific  experts 


in  their  line,  and  are  able  to  pass  judgment  on 
every  production  of  the  establishment.  All 
departments  of  the  business  are  under  their 
direct  supervision,  their  principal  output  com- 
prising boilers  and  standpipes. 

The  plant  of  the  Gem  City  Boiler  company 
is  located  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Mont- 
gomery streets,  and  in  its  mechanical  accesso- 
ries and  equipments  it  has  a  capacity  for  turn- 
ing out  the  very  best  class  of  work  with  de- 
spatch. It  affords  employment  to  a  corps  of 
about  sixty  skilled  workmen,  and  is  in  opera- 
tion night  and  day  in  order  to  meet  ever  in- 
creasing demands.  It  is  equipped  with  the 
latest  and  most  approved  mechanical  devices 
for  expediting  the  work  of  production,  and  is 
located  on  the  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, so  that  its  shipping  facilities  are  unex- 
celled. The  enterprise  is  young  in  years,  but 
is  forging  rapidly  to  the  front  and  its  project- 
ors and  operators  are  recognized  as  young  men 
of  business  sagacity  and  integrity,  whose  suc- 
cess is  the  just  reward  of  steady  application 
and  well-directed  efforts.     • 

Mr.  Tucker's  parents  still  reside  in  Erie, 
Pa.,  as  do  also  their  other  children,  there  hav- 
ing been  six  in  the  family.  Mr.  Tucker 
traces  his  lineage  to  pure  Irish  sources,  though 
the  family  history  is  one  of  long  and  close 
identification  with  American  interests. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Tucker  is  a 
member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  Dayton  lodge,  No.  58;  and  of 
the  A.  S.  of  C. 


BRED  L.   TURNER,    instructor    upon 
the  banjo,  mandolin  and  guitar,  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born   in   Syracuse,  N. 
Y.,    December    17,     1864,    a    son    of 
Chauncey   B.   and    Marial   ( Horton )   Turner. 
The   father   was   a   minister  of  the  gospel  and 
died  at   the   age  of  forty-two  years,   and  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


811 


mother  soon  followed,  expiring  from  the  shock 
occasioned  by  her  husband's  death,  which  oc- 
curred about  1868.  Their  three  sons,  thus 
early  bereft  of  parental  care,  were  soon  separ- 
ated and  were  reared  by  relatives.  The  eldest, 
Charles  W.,  was  an  artist  by  natural  endow- 
ment, and  is  now  married  and  living  in  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  while  Frank,  the  second  born,  is 
located  in  Seattle,  Wash. 

Fred  L.  Turner  was  only  four  years  of  age 
when  he  lost  his  parents,  but  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  fall  under  the  care  of  Philonzo  H. 
Palmer  and  wife,  whom  he  remembers  with 
feelings  of  gratitude  for  their  unselfish  kind- 
ness. Under  their  roof  in  Syracuse  he  was 
reared  to  manhood,  and  through  them  re- 
ceived his  education.  He  had  early  manifested 
a  taste  for  music,  and  in  1886  became  a  stu- 
dent under  competent  instructors,  until  he 
developed  into  an  expert  performer  on  the 
instruments  of  his  choice.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  found  employment  in  the  alligning  room 
of  the  Smith  Premier  Typewriter  factory,  and 
continued  in  that  occupation  and  in  his  musical 
studies  until  he  came  to  Dayton,  in  1895. 
Here  he  has  since  devoted  his  entire  attention 
to  the  teaching  of  the  use  of  the  instruments 
named  at  the  opening  of  this  notice,  being  the 
only  professional  instructor  in  their  use  in  this 
city.  He  has  a  large  number  of  pupils  and 
has  established  himself  in  a  substantial  and 
rapidly  growing  business. 

Mr.  Turner  was  united  in  marriage  April  4, 
1893,  with  Miss  Clara  Van  Duyne,  a  native  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. ,  where  she  had  always  lived 
until  coming  to  Dayton.  Her  parents  are 
Henry  Eugene  and  Augusta  C.  (Fisher)  Van 
Duyne,  and  still  reside  in  Syracuse,  the  father 
having  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the 
ministry.  Beside  Mrs.  Turner  they  have  two 
other  children  —  both  residents  of  Syracuse  — 
viz:  Ada  F.,  married  to  Robert  Rowe,  and 
Arthur  H.,  an  electrician.      Mrs.  Clara  Turner 


is  also  an  accomplished  musician,  and  as  an 
assistant  to  her  husband  in  his  professional 
work  has  proven  to  be  invaluable. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  worship  in  the  faith 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Tur- 
ner is  a  republican.  They  have  gained  many 
friends  during  their  residence  in  Dayton,  and 
their  reputation  as  teachers  of  music  is  thor- 
oughly deserved. 


WAMES  C.  TURNER,  a  well-known  ac- 
m  countant  and  bookkeeper,  of  Dayton, 
(•  J  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  this  city  and  was 
born  April  15,  1841,  a  son  of  William 
and  Mary  (Stockel)  Turner,  both  natives  of 
Kidderminster,  England. 

William  Turner,  the  father,  was  born  in 
1 801,  came  to  America  in  1834,  locating  in 
Dayton  in  1836,  and  was  the  first  superintend- 
ent of  the  first  ingrain  carpet  factory  erected 
west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  About  1846 
he  went  into  the  business  on  his  own  account 
and  conducted  it  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1 86 1,  in  Dayton,  in  which  city  his 
wife  also  died.  These  parents  had  born  to 
them  a  family  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  viz:  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery, of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Jane,  wife  of 
Andrew  Chamberlain,  of  Dayton,  Ohio;  James 
C. ;  Richard,  employed  in  the  carriage  manu- 
facturing business  in  Dayton,  and  Frances, 
wife  of  Isaac  Moore,  of  the  same  city;  the  de- 
ceased children  were  named  John  H.  (the  eld- 
est), William  and  Samuel,  all  of  whom  died 
in  Dayton. 

James  C.  Turner  passed  his  youthful  days 
in  attending  school  and  working  in  his  father's 
factory.  When  President  Lincoln  issued  his 
first  call  for  volunteers  for  the  Civil  war,  April 
15,  1861,  Mr.  Turner  enlisted,  but  the  quota 
for  three-months  men  had  already  been  filled; 
in  1862,  however,  he  succeeded  in  enlisting  in 


Si  2 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


company  I,  Eighty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Chase,  and 
soon  afterward  promoted  to  be  orderly  sergeant 
of  his  company.  The  regiment  was  assigned 
to  Gen.  Wool's  division,  was  first  stationed  at 
Cumberland,  Md.,  on  guard  duty,  and  five 
months  later  was  ordered  to  New  Creek,  Va., 
and  thence  to  Camp  Delaware,  Ohio,  where, 
four  months  later,  it  was  mustered  out.  Ser- 
geant Turner  received  a  commission  as  first 
lieutenant,  with  authority  to  re-organize  the 
company,  but,  through  political  chicanery,  was 
superceded,  and,  as  a  consequence,  he  re- 
signed and  quit  the  service.  On  his  return  to 
Dayton  he  was  employed  by  the  United  States 
Express  company,  which  he  served  in  various 
capacities  until  1891,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years — 1882-84 — which  were  spent  as  tel- 
ler of  the  City  National  bank,  of  Dayton. 

Lieut.  Turner  was  united  in  marriage,  Au- 
gust 18,  1864,  with  Miss  Aldah  H.  Snevely, 
daughter  ofCapt.  Christ  and  Sarah  A.  Snevely, 
early  settlers  of  Dayton — the  Snevely  family 
having  been  represented  in  the  war  of  1812. 
To  this  happy  marriage  have  been  born  four 
children:  Catherine,  who  is  unmarried  and  is 
stenographer  for  the  American  Strawboard 
company,  at  Chicago,  111.  ;  Idelette,  a  young 
lady  of  recognized  musical  and  literary  ability, 
and  a  teacher  in  the  Dayton  public  schools; 
Joseph  Brown,  employed  as  clerk  in  Dayton, 
and  Robert  H.,  attending  school  in  the  city. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Turner  stands 
very  high  in  the  Masonic  order,  having  at- 
tained the  thirty-second  degree,  which  is  next 
to  the  highest  under  the  Scottish  rite;  he  is 
also  active  in  the  Knight  Templar  degree — the 
uniform  rank  of  the  same  brotherhood.  Lieut. 
Turner  is  likewise  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Relig- 
iously, the  relations  of  Mr.  Turner  and  his 
family  are  with  the  Episcopalians,  while  in 
politics  Mr.   Turner  is   quite   independent,  al- 


though his  proclivities  are  strongly  democratic. 
The  health  of  Mr.  Turner  is  indifferent,  and 
when  employed  his  labors  must  necessarily  be 
of  a  light  character.  For  the  past  six  months 
he  has  acted  as  accountant  for  the  plumbing 
establishment  of  W.  T.  Stewart,  and,  being 
an  expert,  is  never  unemployed  in  his  calling 
when  his  health  permits  him  to  labor.  His 
father's  family  and  that  of  Mrs.  Turner's  hav- 
ing been  among  the  earlier  residents  of  Day- 
ton, he  is  prominent  in  social  circles,  and  has, 
beside,  won  many  warm  personal  friends 
through  his  own  intrinsic  merits. 


>-j,AMES  TURPIN,  secretary  and  treas- 
m  urer  of  the  Kratochwill  Milling  com- 
rtt  1  pany,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
this  city  February  6,  1855,  a  son  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Griffith)  Turpin,  both 
natives  of  England,  the  father  having  been 
born  in  1817  and  the  mother  in  1820. 

The  marriage  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Tur- 
pin took  place  in  New  York,  in  1841,  after 
which  they  immediately  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio. 
James  Turpin  was  a  professor  of  music,  and  is 
credited  with  having  been  the  first  teacher  of 
the  art  in  the  Gem  City,  teaching  both  vocal 
and  instrumental  music  to  private  pupils  and  in 
the  public  schools.  For  many  years  he  con- 
ducted a  music  store  on  Third  street,  and  was 
well  known  throughout  southwestern  Ohio, 
being  especially  popular  with  the  music-loving 
people  of  Dayton  and  this  neighborhood.  His 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  fifty-seven 
years  old,  was  the  occasion  of  great  grief  to 
his  large  circle  of  friends,  who  esteemed  him 
as  a  man  of  bright  and  genial  disposition,  be- 
nevolent to  a  fault  and  free  in  the  distribution 
of  his  means  among  the  worthy  poor.  His 
widow,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  Dayton,  is 
highly  honored  by  all  who  know  her.  The 
children   born   to   Mr.    and   Mrs.    Turpin   were 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


813 


nine  in  number,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy  ; 
of  the  survivors,  George  is  the  eldest,  is  in  the 
employ  of  the  Kratochwill  Milling  company  ; 
Clara  is  the  wife  of  W.  F.  Gebhart,  of  the 
Simon  Gebhart  Milling  company  ;  Jeanette  is 
an  accomplished  and  successful  music  teacher  ; 
Fannie  is  married  to  Joseph  Huston,  a  well-to- 
do  agriculturist  in  a  suburb  of  Dayton  ;  Kate  is 
the  wife  of  P.  H.  Gunckel,  an  attorney-at-law 
of  Minneapolis,  Minn. ;  James  is  the  subject  of 
this  memoir ;  Harry  B.  is  also  a  successful 
music  teacher  of  Dayton. 

James  Turpin,  whose  name  opens  this  bi- 
ography, was  quite  well  educated  in  the  Day- 
ton public  schools,  and  began  his  business  life 
as  a  clerk  in  the  banking  house  of  Gebhart, 
Harman  &  Co.,  now  known  as  the  City  Na- 
tional bank,  and  there  passed  eight  months;  he 
then  entered  the  employ  of  Van  Ausdal  &  Har- 
man, and  for  five  years  had  entire  control  of 
the  financial  part  of  their  extensive  business; 
he  next  engaged,  with  two  associates,  in  the 
manufacture  of  blank  books  and  commercial 
stationery,  and  in  this  business  he  continued 
for  five  years.  In  November,  1887,  the  firm, 
which  had  been  very  successful,  sold  out,  and 
Mr.  Turpin  purchased  a  third  interest  in  the 
Kratochwill  Milling  company,  which  was  in- 
corporated in  that  year  and  Mr.  Turpin  elected 
its  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  capital  stock 
of  the  company  is  $'100,000,  the  capacity  of 
the  mills  500  barrels  of  flour  daily,  and  the 
employees  number  twenty-five,  exclusive  of  the 
proprietors.  Mr.  Turpin's  practical  business 
associate  is  George  P.  Huffman,  the  president 
of  the  company.  Mr.  Turpin  has  also  other 
business  interests  in  Dayton  and  has  been  very 
successful  financially.  His  prosperity  is  due 
entirely  to  his  fine  business  abilities  and  care- 
ful management,  as  he  began  with  no  pecuni- 
ary aid  and  with  no  capital,  and  to-day,  after 
a  devotion  of  nineteen  years  only  to  business 
pursuits,  he   stands,  while   yet    a  young  man, 


among  the  prosperous   and   successful  citizens 
of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Turpin  was  married  on  October  26, 
1 88 1,  to  Miss  Louise  M.  Gebhart,  daughter  of 
Joseph  R.  and  Maria  (Hoagland)  Gebhart. 
Mr.  Gebhart  is  one  of  the  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial business  men  of  Dayton  and  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  early  familes  of  the  city, 
whose  name  appears  on  many  of  the  pages  of 
this  volume.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Turpin  have  been  born  five  children,  of  whom 
James  Clifford,  Helen  Louise  and  Joe  Gebhart 
still  live  to  gladden  the  home,  while  Grace  and 
Ellen  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turpin 
are  consistent  members  of  the  First  English 
Lutheran  church  of  Dayton,  of  which  Mr. 
Turpin  has  been  a  communicant  for  twenty 
years,  he  and  his  wife  being  active  workers  in 
both  church  and  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Turpin 
is  a  Freemason,  but  finds  his  chief  enjoyment 
in  the  home  circle.  In  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, but  takes  little  part  in  political  affairs. 


*y*     EONIDAS     HAMLIN     VAUGHAN, 
r    contractor  and  builder,  at  the  corner 

_^J^  of  Wayne  and  Park  streets,  Dayton, 
was  born  in  Bellbrook,  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  November  3,  1854,  and  in  his  infancy 
was  brought  to  Dayton  by  his  parents,  since 
which  time  he  has  always  lived  very  near  his 
present  location. 

Harrison  Vaughan,  his  father,  was  born  in' 
Sugar  Creek  township,  Montgomery  county,  in 
1812,  and  was  the  son  of  a  Virginian,  whose 
father  came  from  Wales.  Harrison  always 
lived  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  time  he  was  serving  his  appren- 
ticeship in  Chillicothe.  He  first  married  Miss 
Charlotte  Snowden,  who  died  within  a  year 
after  the  wedding  ;  his  second  marriage  was 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Wilson,  who  was  born  in 
Waynesville,  Warren  county,  Ohio  ;  this  union 


814 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


resulted  in  the  birth  of  Leonidas  H.,  their  only 
child.  Harrison  Vaughan  was  also  a  contrac- 
tor and  builder  ;  among  other  of  his  works  he 
largely  constructed  the  town  of  Centerville, 
and  after  fifty-eight  years  of  industrious  and 
intelligent  devotion  to  his  calling,  he  died  in 
Dayton  in  April,  1890  ;  his  widow  still  resides 
at  the  old  homestead,  on  Park  street. 

Leonidas  H.  Vaughan  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  left  the  high  school  to  learn  the 
building  business  under  instructions  from  his 
father.  For  about  fifteen  years  father  and  son 
conducted  the  business  conjointly,  or  in  part- 
nership, and  on  the  father's  death  Leonidas 
assumed  entire  control  of  the  business  of  the 
former  firm.  This  trade  comprises  contracting 
and  building  according  to  plans  and  specifica- 
tions ;  and  Mr.  Vaughan,  being  an  architect  as 
well  as  builder,  prepares  many  designs  for 
others,  and  invariably  prepares  the  plans  and 
diagrams  for  those  buildings  which  he  con- 
structs under  contract  or  erects  on  his  own 
account  for  selling  purposes.  Since  1888  he 
has  built  and  sold  forty -nine  houses — prompted 
by  a  keen  foresight  and  close  observation  of 
the  needs  of  the  growing  city.  Beside  con- 
tracting for  and  superintending  the  erection  of 
a  number  of  fine  private  dwellings  and  busi- 
ness houses,  Mr.  Vaughan  has  had  a  fair  share 
of  city  work,  having  built  the  Eighteenth  dis- 
trict schoolhouse  and  the  houses  for  hose  com- 
panies Nos.  8  and  9  ;  also  the  superb  twin 
dining  rooms  of  the  southern  Ohio  hospital 
for  the  insane. 

March  1,  1876,  Mr.  Vaughan  married  Miss 
Luella  B.  McLean,  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ind. , 
but  reared  from  infancy  in  Dayton,  Ohio.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Swainey) 
McLean,  who  died  in  Dayton  in  1893,  but  a 
few  weeks  apart  ;  her  grandmother  Swainey 
was  the  first  white  female  child  brought  to 
Dayton,  having  come  here  with  her  mother  at 


the  age  of  nine  years.  Mrs.  Vaughan  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  schools  of  Dayton,  and  gained 
all  these  schools  could  impart  in  the  matter  of 
instruction.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vaughan  have 
been  born  six  children,  named  Charles  H., 
Harry  H.,  Florence  M.,  Nellie  Edna,  Alice  B. 
and  Edith  M.,  all  of  whom  are  attending 
school  except  the  youngest.  Incidentally  it 
may  be  said  that  two  of  the  teachers  of  these 
children  were  class-mates  of  their  father  in  the 
high  school  of  Dayton.  Although  his  father 
was  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  Leonidas  H.  Vaughan  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Oak  street  United  Breth- 
ren church,  in  the  faith  of  which  they  are  rear- 
ing their  children.  Politically  Mr.  Vaughan 
is  a  stout  republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Dayton  Builders'  exchange,  and,  being  a  me- 
chanic of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  stands 
high  in  the  esteem  of  the  other  members  of 
that  influential  business  organization,  as  well 
as  in  that  of  the  community  at  large. 


^y-j»ILLIAM      BELVILLE      ANDER- 
Mm  SON,  one  of  the    leading  business 

\JL>f  men  ol  Dayton,  is  not  only  conspic- 
uously identified  with  the  manu- 
facturing interests  of  the  city,  being  secretary 
of  the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass  works,  one  of 
the  Gem  City's  most  important  industries,  but 
is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  and  hon- 
ored pioneer  families  of  the  Buckeye  state  and 
of  Montgomery  county,  the  family  having  been 
identified  with  the  history  of  the  common- 
wealth from  the  days  when  this  section  was 
still  a  wilderness. 

William  Belville  Anderson  was  born  in  Cen- 
terville, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
30th  of  January,  1856,  being  the  son  of  Robert 
M.  and  Elizabeth  M.  (Belville)  Anderson,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Montgomery  county, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


817 


the  former  having  been  born  in  the  year  1827, 
and  the  latter  in  1831.  His  grandfather  was 
Thomas  Anderson,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
who  emigrated  to  the  west  with  his  parents  at 
an  early  day,  locating  temporarily  in  Kentucky, 
whence  they  made  their  way  to  Cincinnati, 
the  journey  being  effected  in  the  true  pioneer 
style,  with  team  and  wagon.  They  even- 
tually settled  near  the  present  city  of  Dayton. 

Robert  M.  Anderson  was  engaged  in  general 
merchandizing  at  Centerville  for  a  full  score  of 
years,  having  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  that  section  of  the 
county.  He  retired  from  active  business  pur- 
suits in  the  year  1870,  and  in  the  year  1871 
took  up  his  residence  in  Dayton,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his  death 
occurring  January  6,  1889.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  mentality  and  undubitable  honor  in 
every  relation  of  life,  and  held  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
On  the  28th  of  February,  1855,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  M.  Belville,  daughter  of  Rev. 
John  L.  Belville  (a  Presbyterian  clergyman) 
and  Elizabeth  M.  Belville.  Of  the  five  chil- 
dren born  to  Robert  M.  and  Elizabeth  M. 
Anderson  only  two  survive — our  subject,  who 
is  the  eldest,  and  his  sister  Cora  B.,  who  is 
the  youngest.  The  mother  died  suddenly 
September  14,  1896,  at  Bemis  Point,  Chau- 
tauqua Lake,  N.  Y. 

William  B.  Anderson  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton  and  the 
Cooper  academy,  having  matriculated  in  the 
latter  institution  after  his  second  year  in  the 
high  school.  He  continued  his  studies  at  the 
academy,  under  the  guidance  of  Prof.  J.  A. 
Robert,  until  the  year  1876,  in  June  of  which 
year  he  became  connected  with  the  Buckeye 
Iron  &  Brass  works,  with  which  concern  he 
has  ever  since  been  identified.  The  following 
year  he  was  elected  to  the  responsible  office  of 
secretary   of   the    company  and  has  held   this 

31 


place  ever  since,  having  done  much  to  advance 
the  prosperity  of  the  enterprise.  He  has  been 
signally  alert  and  progressive  in  his  business 
operations,  and  has  important  industrial  asso- 
ciations aside  from  that  above  mentioned.  He 
was  the  first  president  of  the  Dayton  Fan  & 
Motor  company,  with  which  corporation  he  was 
connected  from  the  time  of  its  organization 
until  about  1893. 

In  his  political  proclivities  Mr.  Anderson 
has  always  been  a  loyal  member  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  but  the  only  office  he  has  ever  con- 
sented to  accept  was  that  of  a  member  of 
the  board  of  police  commissioners,  to  which 
position  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Campbell, 
and  even  this  preferment  he  resigned  at  the  expi- 
ration of  three  months.  Mr.  Anderson  holds  a 
leading  rank  in  fraternal  circles — particularly 
in  the  time-honored  order  of  Freemasonry. 
He  is  a  member  of  Dayton  lodge,  No.  147,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  having  been  master  of  the  same 
for  two  years;  of  Unity  chapter,  No.  16,  R. 
A.  M.,  and  of  Reese  council,  No.  9,  R.  cS:  S. 
M.,  of  which  he  is  also  past  thrice  illustrious 
master.  He  is  also  illustrious  grand  con- 
ductor of  the  grand  council  of  Ohio.  He  re- 
tains membership  in  Reed  commandery,  No. 
6,  Knights  Templar,  of  which  he  is  past  emi- 
nent commander,  having  held  this  office  at  the 
time  of  the  great  triennial  encampment  in  the 
city  of  Washington.  In  the  ancient  and  ac- 
cepted Scottish-rite  he  has  attained  the  thirty- 
second  degree,  and  is  a  noble  in  Syrian  temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  For  several  years  Mr. 
Anderson  was  prominently  connected  with  the 
Ohio  state  militia,  being  a  member  of  the  Har- 
ries guard  during  the  strike  in  the  Jackson 
county  coal  fields,  and  later  adjutant  of  the  old 
Fourth  regiment,  previous  to  its  disbandment, 
at  which  time  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge from  the  governor  of  the  state.  He  is 
known  as  one  of  the  public-spirited  citizens  of 
Dayton,    and    his     influence    is     at    all    times 


818 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


thrown  in  favor  of  any  project  which  has  as  its 
object  the  advancement  and  stable  prosperity 
of  the  city  of  his  home. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Anderson  was  cele- 
brated, in  Dayton,  on  the  14th  of  November, 
1883,  when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Harriet  E. 
Cooper,  daughter  of  the  late  David  Cooper, 
one  of  Dayton's  most  influential  and  promi- 
nent business  men,  who  had  been  in  the  whole- 
sale mercantile  trade  here  for  a  long  term  of 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  the  par- 
ents of  one  son,  Robert  Cooper,  who  was  born 
on  the  1st  of  September,   1884. 


^y-j»ILLIAM    H.  VAN   RIPER,    one  of 
Ma  the  members  of  the  board  of  infirm- 

\JL>fl  an  directoj  of  Dayton  and  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  the  West  Side, 
was  born  in  Seneca  county,  N.  Y.,  March  20, 
1 S  5 1 ,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Van  Riper,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  county  in  1824,  and 
who  died  January  3,  1863.  Henry  was  a  son 
of  Garret  and  Ann  Van  Riper,  and  was  one  of 
triplets,  all  boys,  and  who,  upon  arriving  at 
mature  years,  were  each  of  remarkable  stature 
and  weight.  Their  resemblance  one  to  another 
was  so  great  as  to  make  it  difficult  to  distin- 
guish them.  The  two  of  the  triplets  that  sur- 
vive are  Richard  and  Peter.  The  grandparents 
of  William  H.  Van  Riper  were  natives  of  New 
Jersey,  from  which  state  they  emigrated  to 
New  York,  where  they  lived  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  Henry  Van  Riper  married  Sarah  Ann 
Gunn,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  who 
came  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  She 
died  in  January,  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years. 

William  H.  Van  Riper  was  reared  in  the 
town  of  Waterloo,  Seneca  county,  N.  Y. ,  and 
there  attended  the  common  school.  When 
fourteen  years  cf  age  he  began  serving  an  ap- 


prenticeship at  the  tinner's  trade  in  Waterloo 
with  I.  N.  Thorn,  with  whom  he  remained 
three  years,  after  which  he  worked  for  Mr. 
Thorn  for  five  years  in  Waterloo.  At  that 
time  his  employer  removed  to  Dayton,  and 
Mr.  Van  Riper  came  with  him  and  continued 
in  his  employ  for  fifteen  years  more,  thus  mak- 
ing a  continuous  service  of  twenty  years  with 
one  man. 

In  18S5  he  retired  from  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Thorn  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  on 
the  West  Side,  in  company  with  his  father-in- 
law,  Christian  Becker,  and  continued  occupied 
for  about  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  time  he  purchased  a  tin  and  jobbing  shop 
on  West  Third  street,  and  in  1890  erected  a 
shop  on  his  home  premises,  at  No.  127  South 
Williams  street,  where  he  now  conducts  a  gen- 
eral tin,  jobbing  and  contracting  business.  In 
this  business  he  has  been  unusually  successful. 

Mr.  Van  Riper  has  for  years  been  actively 
identified  with  the  public  affairs  of  the  city  of 
Dayton,  and  has  occupied  a  prominent  position 
as  a  politician  of  the  West  Side.  In  the  spring 
of  1875  he  became  a  candidate  for  director  of 
the  city  infirmary  on  the  republican  ticket,  and 
after  a  heated  campaign  was  elected  by  the 
largest  majority  of  any  candidate  on  the  city 
ticket,  viz:  810  votes.  He  took  possession  of 
his  office  April  10,  1895,  and  during  the  first 
six  months  of  his  connection  with  the  board  of 
infirmary  directors,  the  expenses  of  running 
the  infirmary  were  reduced  forty  per  cent, 
showing  that  one  man  has  sometimes  great 
power  for  good. 

Mr.  Van  Riper  was  married  Decembar  21, 
1882,  to  Miss  Isora  Becker,  a  daughter  of 
Christian  Becker,  of  Dayton.  She  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  March  16,  1861,  and 
her  father  was  born  in  the  same  county  in 
1838.  He  located  in  Dayton  in  1880,  and  for 
some  years  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, but  is  now  retired    from   active  life.      To 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


819 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Riper  there  have  been  born 
two  children:  Clayton,  born  February  24,  1884, 
and  Carrie,  born  March  18,   18S6. 

Mr.  Van  Riper  is  a  member  of  Hope  lodge, 
No.  227,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  Saint  John's  Eng- 
lish Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  In  his 
business  career,  his  reliance  has  been  entirely 
upon  his  own  industry  and  judgment,  and  he 
has  made  his  way  in  the  world  without  assist- 
ance from  any  quarter.  Perseverance,  enter- 
prise and  determination  to  succeed  have  been 
his  best  capital.  On  public  matters  he  is  in- 
clined to  liberality  of  view,  and  is  always  ready 
and  willing  to  lend  his  aid  morally  and  finan- 
cially to  any  public  movement  looking  to  the 
good  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


aHARLES  H.  WARFORD,  dealer  in 
building  supplies  and  general  con- 
tractor, rooms  17  and  18  Kuhns 
building,  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  oldest  and  best  known  families  of  Dayton. 
His  father,  Henry  S.  Warford,  was  a  native 
of  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.,  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  E.  Slaght, 
was  born  on  Main  street,  Dayton,  where 
her  parents  located  as  early  as  1812.  Four 
children  were  born  to  Henry  S.  and  Mary 
E.  Warford,  of  whom  Charles  H.  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  dying  in  early  childhood. 

Charles  H.  Warford  was  born  in  Dayton, 
February  5,  1867,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  city,  in  the  public  schools  of  which  he 
received  a  fair  English  education.  He  first 
found  employment  as  a  clerk  in  the  Fireman's 
Insurance  company,  in  which  capacity  he  con- 
tinued three  years.  The  succeeding  seven 
years  were  spent  in.  the  employ  of  the  Third 
National  Bank,  of  Dayton,  where  he  began  as 
a  messenger  boy  and  rose  within  a  short  time 
to  the  position    of   assistant   bookkeeper.      On 


quitting  the  bank,  Mr.  Warford  embarked  in 
his  present  business,  handling  pressed  brick, 
structural  iron  and  many  other  articles  of 
furnishing,  beside  a  general  line  of  building 
material. 

Mr.  Warford  has  met  with  well  deserved 
success  in  his  present  occupation.  The  Pres- 
byterian church  represents  his  religious  creed, 
and  ever  since  obtaining  his  majority  he  has 
acted  with  the  republican  party.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  February  27,  1S96,  to  Miss 
Belle  Case,  of  Boston,  Mass.  Mr.  Warford's 
paternal  ancestors  settled  in  New  Jersey  many 
years  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which 
state  the  ancestors  on  the  mother's  side,  who 
came  from  Holland,  also  found  homes  at  a 
very  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  colonies. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Warford  departed  this  life 
in  188 1 ;  his  mother  is  still  living  in  the  city 
where  all  her  life  has  been  passed.  The  family 
of  mother  Warford  is  noted  for  longevity,  her 
grandmother  having  died  at  the  age  of  100 
years.  Mrs.  Warford  is  one  of  nine  children, 
but  two  of  whom,  beside  herself,  are  now 
living,  Mrs.  Sallie  Rea,  of  Zanesville,  and  Miss 
Nancy  Slaght,  a  resident  of  Dayton. 


eLIHU  R.  WATROUS,  proprietor  of 
the  Glenview  Pleasure  resort,  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Conn.,  December  8,  1843,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Eveline  (Ackley)  Watrous, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Nutmeg 
state  and  of  Scotch  descent.  The  latter  died 
in  Taunton,  Mass.,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two 
years,  and  the  former  in  Stone  county,  Mo., 
in  1875.  Their  children  numbered  four,  of 
whom  Elihu  R.  was  the  eldest.  Two  brothers, 
William  and  George,  and  one  sister,  Eveline 
A.,  constituted  the  remainder  of  the  family. 

When  a  small' lad,  Elihu   R.  Watrous  im- 
bibed a  liking  for  a  seafaring  life.     The  broth- 


820 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ers  of  his  mother  were  seamen  and  were 
chiefly  engaged  in  coasting  on  Long  Island 
sound,  and  these  uncles,  whose  ancestors  came 
over  in  the  Mayflower,  doubtless  inspired 
Elihu  with  his  desire  for  a  seafaring  life.  He 
first  shipped  as  a  cabin  boy  on  an  ocean 
steamer,  and  later  served  before  the  mast  on  a 
sailing  vessel,  passing,  all  told,  two  years  at 
sea,  during  which  time  he  made  two  trips  to 
the  West  Indies. 

Mr.  Watrous  later  acquired  a  good  com- 
mon-school education  in  his  native  state,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty,  in  1863,  enlisted  as  a 
musician  in  the  Twenty-fifth  Connecticut  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  served  under  Gen.  Banks 
until  nearly  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  While 
on  the  expedition  up  the  Red  river,  he  was 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  April  16,  1864, 
and  sent  to  Jackson,  Miss.  Two  or  three 
times  he  essayed  escape,  was  as  often  recap- 
tured, but  finally  succeeded,  and  was  in  hiding 
in  a  cave  in  Washington  county,  Va.,  when  the 
war  closed.  He  remained  in  that  region  for 
four  or  five  years  after  the  cessation  of  hostili- 
ties, and  in  1 870  went  to  Missouri.  From 
Missouri  Mr.  Watrous  went  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  trainer  of  trotting  horses 
for  some  months,  and  in  the  fall  of  1878  came 
to  Dayton,  Ohio. 

On  reaching  Dayton,  Mr.  Watrous  worked 
at  sign  writing  and  ornamental  painting  for 
some  years,  and  still  occupies  a  part  of  his  time 
in  that  manner,  although  the  management  of 
his  riverside  resort  claims  his  chief  attention. 
In  September,  1890,  he  bought  his  present 
place,  most  beautiful  and  picturesque,  on  the 
bank  of  the  Stillwater  river.  Here  he  has 
erected  his  dwelling  and  also  summer  quarters 
for  visitors,  and  established  a  general  pleasure 
resort  for  boating  and  picnic  parties,  where  he 
has,  during  the  summer  season  of  each  year, 
many  guests  who  appreciate  courteous  and  ef- 
ficient service  and  attractive  surroundings. 


Mr.  Watrous  married  Miss  Eva  Fackley,  a 
native  of  Dayton,  but  to  this  union  no  chil- 
dren have  been  born. 

Mr.  Watrous  is  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  also  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Politically  he 
has  been  a  life-long  republican,  but  never  an 
office-seeker.  His  religious  views  accord  with 
those  of  the  Baptists,  while  his  wife  is  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ. 


eLMER  E.  WATSON,  a  deputy  sheriff 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  about  five  miles  west  of  Dayton, 
on  the  Eaton  pike,  August  22,  1868, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Bow- 
ser) Watson,  both  also  natives  of  Montgomery 
county — the  former  born  near  Liberty  in  1843, 
and  the  latter  in  1846. 

Ephraim  Watson,  father  of  John  W.  and 
grandfather  of  Elmer  E.  Watson,  is  a  native 
of  Maryland,  born  in  1 8 1 8 ;  when  a  boy  he 
was  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  the  shoemaking 
trade,  and  while  yet  a  young  man  came  to 
Ohio,  settled  in  Montgomery  county  and  was 
here  married.  He  is  still  living  about  two 
miles  west  of  Liberty,  has  followed  his  trade 
all  his  life,  and  even  now  makes  his  own  shoes 
and  does  his  own  repairing  or  cobbling.  He 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin,  of  Springbor- 
ough,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  but  whose  par- 
ents came  from  Kentucky  and  were  early  set- 
tlers of  the  "  dark  and  bloody  ground."  She 
died  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1889,  in 
her  sixty-third  year. 

John  W.  Watson,  father  of  Elmer  E. , 
when  nineteen  years  of  age,  enlisted  in  com- 
pany H,  Fourth  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  cav- 
alry, and  served  until  the  close  of  the  Civil 
war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  with 
the  rank  of  corporal.      On  his  return  he  began 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


821 


working  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  in  1865  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Bowser,  whose  parents  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania and  are  now  deceased.  To  this  mar- 
riage have  been  born  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, in  the  following  order:  Edith,  now  Mrs. 
John  S.  Getter;  Elmer  E.,  Orlando,  Henry 
Wilson  (deceased),  John  E.,  Daisy  E.,  Jessie 
Fremont,  Hester,  Josephine  and  Victoria. 

Elmer  E.  Watson  attended  the  district 
school  of  his  neighborhood  in  his  youthful 
days,  during  the  winter  season,  in  the  summer 
employing  himself  in  farm  work,  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  he  be- 
gan teaching  school  in  Montgomery  county, 
and  followed  this  vocation  for  seven  years.  In 
September,  1894,  he  came  to  Dayton,  having 
accepted  a  position  in  the  county  treasurer's 
office.  This  position  he  retained  until  the 
month  of  December  following,  performing  ex- 
cellent service,  and  on  January  7,  1895,  was 
appointed  a  deputy  sheriff  by  Sheriff  Anderton, 
an  office  which  he  still  fills. 

On  Christmas  day,  1892,  Mr.  Watson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Zelina  A.  Dieter, 
a  daughter  of  Charles  W.  Dieter,  of  Dayton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  are  members  of  the 
First  Reformed  church,  and  are  highly  re- 
garded in  both  church  and  social  circles. 


BREDERICK  T.  G.  WEAVER,  a  well- 
known  contractor  and  builder  of  Day- 
ton,   Ohio,    was    born    in    Abington, 
Wayne  county,     Ind.,   February    18, 
1S41,  and  is  of  remote  German  descent. 

John  Weaver,  his  father,  was  born  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  April  8,  18 10,  and  is  to-day  one  of 
the  best-known  citizens  of  Montgomery  county, 
and  probably  the  oldest  native-born  resident 
thereof.  The  cabin  in  which  he  first  saw  the 
light  in  the  backwoods  of  Ohio  was  one  of  the 
most  primitive  order,  built  of  round  logs,  and 


consisting  of  one  room  only,  which  answered 
all  the  purposes  of  domestic  life,  being  parlor, 
kitchen,  bed-room,  all  in  one.  The  floor  was 
the  bare  earth  ;  the  windows  were  apertures 
cut  in  the  logs  and  covered  with  dressed  deer 
skin.  The  pioneer  subscription  school  of  the 
neighborhood  afforded  him  his  education,  and 
his  attendance  there  was  limited  to  three 
months.  In  1835  he  was  elected  and  com- 
missioned by  Gov.  Robert  Lucas  ensign  of  the 
Sixth  company,  First  regiment,  First  brigade, 
Fifth  division,  Ohio  militia  ;  in  October,  1836, 
was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Lucas  captain  of 
the  Eleventh  company,  First  regiment,  First 
brigade,  Fifth  division,  Ohio  militia.  In  1838 
John  Weaver  went  to  Indiana,  returned  to 
Dayton  in  1S58,  and  now  resides  within  four 
miles  of  his  birthplace.  While  in  Indiana  he 
dealt  largely  in  real  estate,  and  was  also  en- 
gaged in  contracting,  and  was  very  successful, 
being  at  one  time  quite  wealthy,  although  he 
began  his  business  life  with  but  moderate 
means  at  his  command. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
was  under  "Mad"  Anthony  Wayne,  when, 
with  a  force  of  500  men  against  3,000  Hes- 
sians, he  captured  the  fort  at  Stony  Point, 
N.  Y. ,  at  midnight,  July  15,  1779,  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet,  without  firing  a  gun.  Mr. 
Weaver  was  also  at  the  surrender  of  Lord 
Cornwallis,  at  Yorktown,  Va. ,  in  July,  1781. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  where  the  family  resided  for  sev- 
eral generations,  both  before  and  after  the 
Revolution,  but,  in  1805,  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio. 

John  Weaver  first  married  Miss  Eve  Hocker, 
a  native  of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  born  in  181 1. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  leaving 
a  family  of  ten  children,  viz  :  John  Edward, 
Susanna,  David,  Andrew,  Frederick  T.  G., 
Rebecca,  James  K.  P.,  Jacob,    Elizabeth  and 


822 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Franklin  Pierce.  The  second  marriage  of 
John  Weaver  was  with.  Annie  Dorsey,  of  Mary- 
land, who  has  borne  him  three  children : 
Jennie  May,  Wilber  and  Maude. 

Frederick  The  Great  Weaver,  as  he  named 
himself  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  was  the  fifth 
of  the  ten  children  born  to  John  and  Eve 
(Hocker)  Weaver.  His  education  was  secured 
by  a  few  months'  attendance  at  a  log  school- 
house  in  Wayne  county,  Ind.,  but  he  has  al- 
ways been  an  omnivorous  reader,  being  espe- 
cially fond  of  historical  and  biographical  works. 
His  first  independent  effort  at  bread-winning 
was  made  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  which 
also  contained  the  post-office;  he  was  next  em- 
ployed in  a  dry-goods  store,  on  a  farm,  in  a 
sawmill  and  in  a  rlouring-mill.  In  1863  he 
entered  the  army  as  a  pioneer  for  ninety  days, 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  under  Capt.  Wood  and 
without  oath ;  but  was  detained  seven  months, 
and  although  not  required  to  bear  arms  except 
as  a  matter  of  self-protection  while  at  work, 
he  not  having  taken  the  oath  of  a  soldier,  was 
not  entitled  to  any  of  the  privileges  afforded  to 
the  enlisted  men.  He  participated,  however, 
in  the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Stone 
River  and  Nashville.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he 
started  west  to  the  gold  fields  of  Montana,  out- 
fitting at  Saint  Joseph,  Mo.,  with  ox-teams 
and  mining  implements,  passing  through  Kan- 
sas to  Fort  Kearney,  up  South  Platte  to  Jules- 
burg  through  the  Black  Hills,  headed  for  Fort 
Vancouver  and  passing  through  Idaho.  He 
was  six  months  crossing  the  plains  with  ox- 
teams — fighting  Indians  all  the  way.  After 
passing  the  winter  in  Boise  City,  Idaho,  Mr. 
Weaver  went  into  the  Rocky  Bar  mining  coun- 
try, traveling  over  tree-tops  that  were  buried 
in  snow  from  sixty  to  100  feet  deep.  He 
passed  through  the  great  lava  bed  country  in 
Idaho,  which  he  explored  to  a  very  consid- 
erable extent. 

At  Rocky  Bar,  Mr.  Weaver,  in  partnership 


with  John  H.  Guenther,  of  Dayton,  who  had 
been  a  comrade  in  the  army  and  was  his  com- 
panion in  this  expedition,  established  a  bakery, 
but,  the  mines  failing,  the  enterprise  was  not 
successful.  From  Bar  City,  Idaho,  Mr.  Weaver 
passed  around  the  headquarters  of  the  Missouri 
river  to  Helena,  Mont.,  there  being  at  that 
time  but  three  cabins  in  that  city,  which  now 
has  a  population  of  over  20,000;  thence  he 
went  to  Confederate  Gulch,  or  Diamond  City, 
Mont.,  where  he  found  the  mines  to  be  un- 
usually rich,  and  in  thirteen  months  cleared 
$30,000,  but  invested  this  in  mining  stock  and 
lost  it  all.  In  1869  he  went  on  a  ranch  near 
Bozeman,  Mont.,  and  in  the  fall  of  1870  went 
into  the  Yellowstone  country,  traveling  at 
night,  in  order  to  avoid  the  hostile  Indians — 
this  being  before  the  National  park  and  the 
lands  environing  the  springs  were  reserved  by 
the  government.  He  was  among  the  first  white 
men  to  visit  this  romantic  country,  within 
forty  miles  of  the  springs. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Weaver,  late  in  the  fall,  faced 
homeward  from  Bozeman,  Mont.,  and  for 
forty  days  suffered  intensely  from  cold  and 
snow.  On  his  arrival  at  home,  he  went  into 
partnership  with  his  father  in  carpenter  work, 
employing  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  men.  In 
1876  he  went  to  Paris,  111.,  where  he  passed  a 
year,  and  then  returned  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
where,  December  20,  1877,  he  married  Miss 
Mollie  E.  Owen,  a  native  of  the  Gem  City, 
born  June  13,  1852,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Hannah  (Love;  Owen.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  three  children,  viz:  Eve  Re- 
becca, born  April  19,  1879;  Charles  Owen, 
born  July  24,  1881,  and  Gracie  May,  born 
March  19,   18S7. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Weaver  made  Day- 
ton his  permanent  home,  and  at  first  worked 
as  a  journeyman;  within  two  years  his  savings 
were  sufficient  to  form  the  nucleus  of  his  pres- 
ent thriving  business.     He  employs  from  twelve 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


823 


to  twenty  men,  and  within  the  last  five  years 
has  done  work  amounting  to  $150,000.  He 
works  from  his  own  drawings  and  specifica- 
tions, furnishes  the  material,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  most  solid  contractors  and  build- 
ers of  Dayton. 

Mr.  Weaver  is  a  member  of  Dayton  lodge, 
No.  48,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen; 
of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  being  a  charter  member  of  Linden 
lodge,  No.  412,  of  the  last-named  fraternity; 
is  also  a  member  of  Gem  City  lodge,  No.  795, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  of  Fidelity 
lodge.  No.  83,  Senior  Order  American  Mechan- 
ics; Dayton  council,  No.  132,  the  National  Union, 
and  of  the  Select  Knights  of  America.  Mrs. 
Weaver  is  a  member  of  Columbia  lodge,  No. 
1280,  Knights  &  Ladies  of  Honor.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Weaver  has  served  his  fellow-citizens 
as  the  democratic  member  of  the  city  council 
from  the  Seventh  ward  for  one  term,  1890-91. 
His  father,  who  was  an  old-line  democrat,  was 
a  member  of  the  same  body  from  the  Sixth 
ward  for  three  terms,  1866-68-70. 


BRANK  W.  WEGLAGE,  member  of 
the  board  of  education  of  the  city  of 
Dayton,  and  also  of  the  board  of 
health,  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  this  important  city.  Mr.  Weglage 
is  a  native  Daytonian,  and  was  born  May  1, 
1855.  His  parents  were  Henry  and  Mary 
(Bonenkamp)  Weglage,  both  natives  of  Prussia. 
Their  early  life  was  marked  by  a  pleasant 
romance.  They  left  the  fatherland  in  1836, 
both  bound  for  the  United  States;  and,  cross- 
ing the  ocean  in  the  same  ship,  they  became 
acquainted,  a  mutual  attraction  followed,  and 
shortly  after  landing  they  were  married  in  the 
city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  In  that  city  the 
young  husband  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and 
working  at  it  with  old-country  energy,  he  was 


soon  able  to  support  his  little  family.  After  a 
time  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  nine  years.  But  the  growing 
possibilities  of  Dayton  as  a  place  of  business 
were  drawing  enterprising  spirits,  and  the 
young  Prussian,  now  quite  thoroughly  Ameri- 
canized, came  to  Dayton  in  1852.  He  first 
located  his  family  in  what  was  known  as  North 
Dayton,  but  afterward  made  his  home  on 
First  street,  where  he  and  his  wife  resided  for 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father  died 
in  1870,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years,  the 
mother  surviving  until  1886,  and  passing  away 
in  her  sixty-seventh  year.  Mr.  Weglage  was 
a  member  of  the  Harugari  lodge,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  honored  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Henry  is 
the  eldest  and  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Riverdale;  Rudolph  is  dead;  John  and 
William  are  molders,  making  their  home  in 
North  Dayton  and  in  Riverdale;  Frank  W.  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Merkle,  city  engineer  of  the  Dayton 
water  works  department,  while  the  two  younger 
children,  Charles  and  Caroline,  are  dead. 

Frank  W.  Weglage  spent  his  early  life  in 
Dayton,  where  he  was  a  student  in  the  public 
schools  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve 
years.  Then  the  necessities  of  a  large  family 
and  hard  times  compelled  his  father  to  call 
him  from  school  and  to  set  him  at  work  in  the 
cooper  shop.  Later  he  spent  two  and  a  half 
years  at  the  molder's  trade.  But  this  not 
proving  what  he  had  hoped,  he  sought  an  en- 
gagement with  the  Barney-Smith  Car  works, 
and  was  set  to  work  in  their  paint  shop.  This 
was  a  labor  that  was  more  to  his  liking,  and 
he  has  become  an  expert  and  proficient  painter. 
In  1878  he  spent  a  year  in  Missouri,  going 
thence  into  Kansas,  where  the  Sante  Fe  rail- 
road gave  him  employment  for  three  years. 
Coming  back  to  Dayton,  he  passed  two  years 


824 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


with  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  rail- 
road, after  which  he  again  went  into  the  car 
works,  where  he  has  since  been  employed. 

Mr.  Weglage,  on  April  7,  1881,  married 
Miss  Lizzie  Osterhaus,  and  this  union  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Flora  May, 
born  February  12,  1882.  Mr.  Weglage  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  has 
been  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  support  of  true 
democracy.  In  May,  1895,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  Dayton  board  of  health,  and  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year  was  called  to  serve 
on  the  board  of  education.  He  is  much  inter- 
ested in  all  movements  and  organizations  that 
look  to  the  public  good  as  the  result  of  their 
efforts,  and  especially  in  those  social  orders  cal- 
culated to  weld  their  members  in  a  closer 
brotherhood.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  associated  with  Saint  John's 
lodge,  No.  13.  He  is  also  a  worker  in  the 
Odd  Fellows,  his  membership  being  in  Mont- 
gomery lodge,  No.  5,  and  is  a  member,  beside, 
of  Dayton  encampment,  No.  2,  and  of  can- 
ton Earl,  No.  13,  P.  M.,  of  which  he  is  cap- 
tain at  the  present  time. 


^/^VETER  WEIDNER,  a  prominent  Ger- 
1  m  man  citizen  of  Dayton,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  city  affairs,  is  a 
native  of  Germany,  born  in  1839. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  when  quite 
young,  and  received  his  education  in  this  coun- 
try. He  located  in  Dayton  in  1853,  and  has 
since  resided  here.  He  enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  was  mustered  out  a  captain,  his 
promotions  having  been  won  by  many  acts  of 
bravery  upon  the  field  of  battle.  Returning 
from  the  war  he  engaged  in  the  butcher  busi- 
ness, which  he  followed  for  several  years  with 
success.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  pub- 
lic matters  and   politics   for   many  years,  and 


has  been  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  dem- 
ocratic party.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  city  workhouse  from 
1885  to  1890,  and,  in  1893,  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  board  of  city  affairs,  which 
important  position  he  now  holds.  Gen.  Weid- 
ner  has  long  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  uniform  rank  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
his  title  of  general  coming  from  that  source. 


HUGUST  WEHNER,  formerly  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  living  at  No.  119 
Zeigler  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  April  26, 
1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Anna  Mary 
(Grassmuck)  Wehner,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, and  the  parents  of  three  children,  as 
follows:  Agnes,  deceased  wife  of  Joseph 
Schwindt;  August  and  Julius. 

Michael  Wehner,  the  father,  was  a  soldier 
and  an  officer  in  the  German  army  for  thirty- 
four  years,  in  the  service  of  the  kings  of  Ba- 
varia. In  1854  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Dayton,  but  dying  two  days 
after  his  arrival,  when  he  was  sixty-one  years 
of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two.  Both  were  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  August  was  a 
tailor  in  his  native  country,  and  by  reason  of 
his  superior  skill  and  workmanship,  he  was 
called  "schoen  Schneider."  He  reared  a  family 
of  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  was  widely 
known  and  respected  as  an  upright  man  and  a 
good  citizen.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
August,  Sebastian  Grassmuck,  was  a  surgeon 
in  Germany,  and  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

August  Wehner  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  Three 
years  previously  he  began  to  learn  the  glazier's 
trade,  and  upon  arriving  in  Dayton  he  went  to 
work  at   the   carpenter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 


DAYTON   PUBLIC  LIBRARY  AND  COOPER   PARK 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


825 


lowed  for  many  years.  In  1861  he  went  to 
Darke  county,  and  for  ten  years  followed  farm- 
ing in  Greenville  township,  working  also  at  his 
trade  of  carpenter,  during  the  entire  time.  Re- 
turning to  Dayton  in  1872  he  worked  as  a 
journeyman  for  three  years,  and  then  began 
taking  contracts  on  his  own  account.  This  he 
continued  until  1894,  when  he  retired  from  act- 
ive business  life. 

Mr.  Wehner  was  married  June  1,  1857,  to 
Miss  Mary  Helen  Sifferman,  daughter  of  John 
George  and  Catherine  (Weaver)  Sifferman.  To 
this  marriage  there  have  been  born  twelve  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  John  Henry,  George  Jacob, 
Katie  Genevieve  (deceased),  Joseph,  William, 
Barbara  Anna,  Mary  Agnes,  Ida,  deceased;  Ed- 
ward, Amelia,  Rosa  Louisa,  and  Frank  An- 
thony. Of  these  John  Henry  married  Louisa 
Hermann,  and  has  by  her  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Luella,  Mary,  Elnora,  Walter  and  Ber- 
tha. George  Jacob  married  Elizabeth  Reich- 
mann,  by  whom  he  has  six  children,  viz: 
Maria,  Julius,  Carl,  Oliver,  Hubert  and  Albert. 
Joseph  married  Clara  Brink  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Raymond  and  Vincent.  Barbara  Anna 
married  John  Sackstatter,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Hugo  and  Norberd.  Amelia  married 
William  Anderson,  and  has  one  child,  Florence 
Louise. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wehner  and  their  children 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Liebersbund,  a  German 
Catholic  benevolent  society.  Mr.  Wehner  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Veisenverein  fraternity 
— Freundschaftsbund.  Politically  he  is  a  free- 
silver  democrat,  though  he  has  not  been  a 
seeker  after  office  or  political  honors.  During 
his  forty-four  years'  residence  in  Dayton  he 
has  contributed  his  share  to  the  upbuilding  and 
growth  of  the  city.  He  assisted  to  build  the 
first  house  in  Browntown,  and  has  built  a  great 
many  structures  in  Dayton,  among  them  some 
of  the  largest  factories. 


Mrs.  Wehner's  father,  John  George  Siffer- 
man, came  to  Dayton  in  1832,  and  aided  in 
digging  the  canal.  At  the  same  time  there 
came  to  this  city  a  number  of  families  who 
afterward  became  well  known  in  the  place, 
becoming  in  different  ways  and  degrees  identi- 
fied with  its  interests  and  growth.  Among 
them  were  the  following:  The  Makleys,  the 
Weavers,  the  Hodapps,  the  Kochs,  the  Zinks, 
the  Pauls  and  the  Suchers.  Mr.  Sifferman  lived 
in  Dayton  a  large  portion  of  his  time;  but  his 
death  occurred  in  Darke  county,  when  he  was 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  his  wife  having  died 
previously  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

Mr.  Wehner  is  one  of  the  most  popular  of 
of  the  German-American  residents  of  Dayton, 
having  been  a  most  successful  business  man, 
and  having  been  during  his  entire  career  well- 
known  as  a  square-dealing,  upright  and  honor- 
able citizen. 


aHRISTOPHER  F.  WEINMAN,   one 
of  the  active  and  leading  business  men 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  well  known  as 
a  wagon  and  truckmaker,  is  a  native 
of  this  city,  born  January  8,  1855. 

Christopher  H.  Weinman,  his  father,  was 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years,  in  1853,  came  to  America, 
settled  in  Dayton,  and  here  married  Miss  Bar 
bara  Werner,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Wur- 
temberg. This  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are  still  Jiving, 
viz:  Christopher  F. ;  Christian  J.,  formerly  a 
machinist  and  vice-president  of  the  Dayton 
Gasoline  Engine  works  and  at  present  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Weinman  &  Euchenhofer; 
William  C,  manager  of  the  Postal  Telegraph 
company;  and  Anna  B.,  wife  of  Adam  Menges, 
carriagemaker,  of  Dayton.  The  father  of  these 
children  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  in 
1866  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in  Dayton, 


m'i; 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


carried  on  this  business  for  fifteen  years  and 
then  retired  to  private  life.  Mrs.  Barbara 
Weinman,  who  died  March  30,  1889,  was  a 
devout  member  of  the  German  Evangelical 
church,  of  which  religious  body  Mr.  Weinman 
is  still  a  consistent  adherent. 

Christopher  Frederick  Weinman,  whose 
name  opens  this  sketch,  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Dayton  until  thirteen  years  of  age, 
and  then,  for  three  years,  worked  in  the  cot- 
ton factory  of  T.  A.  Phillips  &  Son.  He  next 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  at  car- 
riagemaking  with  DeCamp  Brothers,  of  Day- 
ton, then  worked  for  a  year  with  Murray  & 
Ogier  as  a  journeyman,  and  for  nine  years  fol- 
lowing was  in  the  employ  of  W.  W.  Phillips 
as  wagon-body  builder.  Mr.  Weinman  next 
had  charge  of  the  wheelroom  of  Pinneo  & 
Daniels  for  five  or  six  years,  leaving  that  firm 
to  form  the  partnership  of  Kramer  &  Wein- 
man, which  carried  on  the  wagonmaking  busi- 
ness until  1894.  The  name  was  then  changed 
to  that  of  Kramer,  Weinman  &  Co.,  but  the 
business  of  this  firm  is  now  being  closed  out 
by  Mr.  Weinman.  Although  the  original  firm 
began  with  a  small  capital,  the  superiority  of 
their  trucks  and  wagons  gained  for  them  a 
widespread  reputation,  each  member  being  an 
expert  in  wagonmaking,  and,  as  an  evidence 
of  their  skill,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  they 
constructed  no  less  than  ten  hose  carriages  for 
the  Dayton  fire  department.  They  employed 
an  average  of  twenty  men.  Upon  the  close 
of  active  business  by  the  above  firm,  on  May 
1,  1896,  Mr.  Weinman  became  a  member  of 
the  firm  known  as  the  Pioneer  Wagon  works, 
he  buying  the  interest  of  Mr.  Pfeiffenberger, 
the  firm  becoming  Weinman,  Geiser  &  Co., 
manufacturers  of  wagons  and  trucks,  and  doing 
also  general  repair  work. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Weinman  is  a  member  of 
Dayton  lodge,  No.  272,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ;  Gem  City 
encampment,    No.    116;    Patriarchs    Militant, 


canton  Daytonia,  No.  82;  Isaac  and  Rebekah 
lodge,  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  No.  178.  He 
is  captain  of  canton  Daytonia,  also  a  member 
of  Humboldt  lodge,  K.  of  P.,  and  is  vice- 
president  of  the  Franklin  Building  association. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Weinman  took  place 
April  27,  1S79,  with  Miss  Sophia  C.  Wies- 
math,  of  Dayton,  daughter  of  the  late  George 
Wiesmath.  Three  children  have  blessed  this 
union  and  are  named  Emma  C,  Mar)-  S.,  and 
Minnie  C.  The  family  worship  at  the  German 
Lutheran  church  and  enjoy  the  esteem  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends. 


£~V*TARK     &     WECKESSER,   who    are 
*\^^fcT    concerned  in  a  mercantile   enterprise 

N^J  which  is  now  one  of  importance  in  any 
city,  that  of  dealing  in  bicycles,  sport- 
ing and  athletic  goods  and  supplies,  have  their 
finely  equipped  quarters  at  No.  113  East  Fifth 
street,  Dayton,  and  though  the  business  had 
its  inception  as  recently  as  February  1,  1895, 
it  has  shown  a  rapid  and  gratifying  growth. 
The  members  of  the  firm  are  William  H. 
Stark  and  Albert  A.  Weckesser,  both  of  whom 
are  practical  mechanics  and  thereby  enabled  to 
give  direct  attention  to  all  the  details  of  their 
business.  The  firm  handle  all  standard  makes 
of  guns  and  sporting  goods,  while  the  list  of 
bicycles  for  which  they  are  agents  includes  the 
Dayton  and  other  well-known  makes.  Aside 
from  their  retail  trade  the  firm  also  conduct 
a  large  jobbing  business  all  through  this 
section  of  the  state. 

Albert  A.  Weckesser  is  a  native  son  of 
Dayton,  was  born  on  the  15th  of  November, 
1870,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  P.  and  Mary  A. 
(Wenz)  Weckesser,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in 
the  year  1880.  The  father  is  a  prominent 
clothing  merchant  of  Dayton,  where  he  has 
been  established  in  business  for  many  years. 
Albert  A.  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  city 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


827 


of  his  birth,  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
began  the  work  of  preparing  himself  for  the 
practical  duties  of  life  by  entering  the  employ 
of  James  Dodds,  in  the  capacity  of  salesman 
and  assistant  in  the  repair  shop.  This  place  he 
retained  until  February,  1895,  when  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  Mr.  Stark  in  the  establish- 
ing of  their  present  business. 

Mr.  Weckesser  is  a  member  of  the  A.  S. 
of  C.  and  also  of  the  Catholic  organization  of 
St.  Joseph's  Institute.  His  religious  affilia- 
tions are  with  Emanuel  Catholic  church,  in 
Dayton.    His  home  is  at  120  West  Fifth  street. 


SEV.  EDWARD  THOMPSON 
WELLS,  A.  M.,  presiding  elder 
of  the  Dayton  district,  Cincinnati  con- 
ference, Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
was  born  in  Norwalk,  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
July  29,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Wesley  J. 
and  Olive  (Clark)  Wells,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  native  of  York  county,  Pa.,  born  Octo- 
ber 14,  181 1,  and  the  latter  of  New  York 
state,  born  April  14,  1805.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  1839,  and  there 
were  born  to  their  union  two  children,  viz: 
Edward  Thompson  and  a  daughter,  now  Mrs. 
O.  M.  Cary — the  latter  a  resident  of  Toledo, 
Ohio.  The  father  was  an  itinerant  minister 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  the  north  central 
Ohio  conferences  for  thirty-three  years,  when 
he  retired  to  Toledo,  where  his  death  took 
place  in  August,  1885,  and  that  of  his  widow 
in  December,   1S90. 

Edward  T.  Wells  was  primarily  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  towns  of  Ohio, 
wherever  his  father  happened  to  be  stationed 
during  his  ministerial  appointments,  and  his 
first  independent  efforts  for  a  livelihood  were 
made  in  Findlay,  where  he  became  a  dry- 
goods  clerk  as  well  as  a  drug  clerk.  In  his 
seventeenth  year  he   entered   the  university  at 


Delaware,  Ohio,  and  while  there,  pursuing  his 
studies,  he  enlisted,  in  May,  1862,  in  the  Eighty- 
fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  under  Col. 
Lawrence,  in  the  three  months'  service,  but 
filled  out  a  term  of  four  months,  doing  guard 
duty  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  then  resumed 
his  studies,  graduating,  in  1864,  with  the 
degree  of  bachelor  of  arts.  In  the  summer 
of  1864,  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  Will- 
iams street  church,  of  Delaware,  licensed  Mr. 
Wells  to  preach,  and  he  immediately  entered 
the  Christian  commission  service  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  preached 
his  first  sermon.  The  duties  of  this  position 
required  him  to  visit  the  sick,  to  attend  to  the 
physical  and  spiritual  wants  of  the  wounded 
soldiers,  and  to  lecture  each  Sunday;  after  a 
short  time  he  was  transferred  to  Rome,  Ga. , 
where  the  same  class  of  duties  awaited  him, 
and  in  the  fulfillment  of  these  duties  he  wit- 
nessed more  suffering  than  if  he  had  been 
himself  in  the  ranks.  These  services  were, 
of  course,  rendered  without  any  remuneration 
of  a  pecuniary  character. 

Returning  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1864,  Rev. 
E.  T.  Wells  entered  upon  itinerant  labor,  and 
at  the  same  time  engaged  to  teach  a  school  in 
Hancock  county;  but  his  parishioners  objected 
to  his  performance  of  a  double  duty,  and  in 
consequence  he  resigned  his  pastorate — but  did 
not  relinquish  preaching;  on  the  contrary,  he 
conducted  a  protracted  meeting  which  resulted 
in  the  conversion  of  twenty-one  souls.  In  the 
spring  of  1865  he  taught  a  school  in  Oceola, 
Warren  county,  and  filled  in  his  leisure  hours 
with  the  study  of  law;  but  the  latter  was  soon 
abandoned,  as  there  arose  a  demand  for  his 
services  as  a  local  preacher.  He  next  taught 
for  two  years  at  Newbury,  Clermont  county, 
opening  a  seminary  at  that  place;  he  next  went 
to  Toledo,  where  he  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  and  also  did  some  preaching.  He 
here,    through    a    recommendation    from   the 


828 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


quarterly  conference  of  Saint  John's  church, 
became  a  member  of  the  Cincinnati  conference, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1867  entered  upon  regular 
pastoral  labors,  his  first  charge  being  the  East 
Pearl  street  church  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  re- 
mained one  year;  his  next  charge  was  Grace 
church,  at  Piqua,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  and  here  he  also  built  a  church  edifice. 

While  in  the  performance  of  his  ministerial 
functions  in  Piqua,  Mr.  Wells  was  married  Au- 
gust 3,  1869,  to  Miss  Lucia  M.  Moorehouse,  a 
native  of  Shelburne,  Vt.,  a  school-teacher, 
who  graduated  from  the  New  Hampton  insti- 
tute of  Fairfax,  Vt.  Her  parents  were  Frank- 
lin H.  and  Maria  (Webster)  Moorehouse,  both 
natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  state  and  born 
respectively  in  1804  and  18 14.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years  in  Shelburne,  Vt. ,  where,  also,  the  mother 
died  when  sixty-three  years  of  age.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moorehouse.  Ed- 
ward was  conducting  a  sheep  ranch  in  Texas 
when  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  was  drafted  into 
the  Confederate  army,  but  escaped  into  Mex- 
ico and  enlisted  later  at  San  Antonio,  N.  M., 
in  the  Union  army,  served  throughout  the  war, 
then  went  to  Kansas,  was  elected  to  the  legis- 
lature, and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty,  in  Topeka; 
Roderick  Dhu  entered  the  army  as  lieutenant,  in 
Malone,  N.  Y. ,  rose  to  the  rank  of  major,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Bos- 
ton and  resides  at  Newtonville,  Mass. ;  Rev. 
George  C.  served  in  the  Second  Vermont  in- 
fantry all  through  the  war  and  is  now  an  act- 
ive minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
in  Salem,  N.  Y. ;  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Prof. 
George  C.  Edwards,  of  Boston,  Mass. ;  Clark 
W.  is  president  of  the  New  England  &  Bos- 
ton Christian  alliance  and  is  also  engaged  in 
evangelistic  work. 

Reverting  to  the  life  work  of  Rev.  E.  T. 
Wells,  it  should  here  be  stated  that  he  was 
called  from  Piqua  to  the  charge  at   Madison- 


ville,  Hamilton  county,  and  that  during  the 
year  he  officiated  there,  the  noted  woman's 
crusade  took  place,  in  which  Mrs.  Wells  was 
an  active  participant.  Rev.  Wells  was  next 
called  to  the  Central  church  at  Springfield,  and 
during  his  three  years  stay  there  conducted  an 
extensive  revival,  through  which  over  200  ac- 
cessions were  made  to  his  congregation;  his 
next  charge  was  the  Raper  church,  at  Dayton, 
for  three  years,  and  following  this  he  was  for 
two  years  in  charge  of  the  First  church  at 
Xenia.  Thence  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Mulberry  street  church  at  Troy,  and  three 
years  later  to  Grace  church,  Urbana,  where  he 
preached  another  term  of  three  years;  he  then 
returned  to  the  Green  street  church  at  Piqua 
for  four  years,  the  limit  having  been  changed, 
and  here,  in  1892,  was  appointed  presiding 
elder  of  the  Dayton  district,  having  supervi- 
sion of  thirty-four  appointments,  with  about 
sixty  preaching  places.  The  full  membership 
of  the  Dayton  district  reaches  10,311,  exclu- 
sive of  509  probationers;  the  number  of  church 
buildings  is  sixty -six,  valued  at  $438,700;  the 
parsonages  number  twenty-six,  valued  at 
$60,000;  there  are  sixty  Sunday-schools,  with 
1,094  officers  and  teachers,  and  a  total  attend- 
ance of  scholars  reaching  8,711.  Rev.  Wells 
conducts  three  quarterly  meetings  each  Sunday 
for  ten  weeks,  his  manifold  duties  requiring  a 
large  expenditure  of  mental  and  physical  labor. 
To  the  union  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Wells  have 
been  born  nine  children,  of  whom  four  were 
lost  in  infancy  ;  the  survivors  are  named  Eth- 
elwyn  Olive,  who  was  born  at  Mechanicsburg  ; 
Reginald  Warren,  who  was. born  July  4,  1878, 
in  Dayton  ;  Paul  Morley,  Bertram  Whittier 
and  Lillian  Frances.  Of  these  Ethelwyn  Olive 
graduated  from  the  Piqua  high  school,  finished 
her  education  at  the  Cook  county  normal 
school,  of  Chicago,  and  taught  a  private  school 
for  a  time.  Her  death  occurred  June  12,  1896, 
at  her  home  in   Dayton.      Reginald   graduated 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


829 


from  the  Steele  high  school,  Dayton,  in  June, 
1896,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  class  of 
1900  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  of  Del- 
aware, Ohio,  and  the  other  children  are  in 
attendance  at  school  elsewhere.  Mrs.  Wells 
is  ex-president  of  the  Emerson  club  of  Dayton, 
and  is  also  president  of  the  district  branch  of 
the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  society,  of 
the  M.  E.  church,  and  was  president  of  the 
first  woman's  crusade  of  Hamilton  county. 

Rev.  Wells  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  post  of  Dayton  ; 
but  his  chief  interest  lies  in  his  church  and  his 
life  is  marked  by  an  undivided  attention  to 
church  and  ministry.  Since  his  incumbency 
of  the  position  of  presiding  elder  he  has  made 
his  home  in  Dayton,  and  under  his  superin- 
tendency  two  new  congregations  have  been 
organized — the  Plainview  and  the  Riverdale. 
Both  are  at  present  under  one  pastorate,  but 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  they  will  be 
erected  into  two  separate  charges. 

Rev.  Wells'  ministerial  life,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  passed  in  Hamilton 
county,  has  been  spent  within  a  radius  of  three 
miles  of  Dayton,  which  fact  speaks  volumes 
for  his  popularity  and  efficiency,  and  the  work 
of  himself  and  his  wife  in  the  church  and  Sun- 
day-school, while  highly  commended,  cann  ever 
be  fully  appreciated  except  by  their  own  per- 
sonal friends  and  by  the  friends  of  the  church. 


aHRISTIAN  J.  WEINMAN,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Weinman  & 
Euchenhofer,  machinists,  Nos.  22-24 
Canal  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Dayton  May  14,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of 
Christopher  H.  and  Anna  B.  (Werner)  Wein- 
man, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany, 
and  of  whom  only  the  former  is  still  living, 
Mrs.  Weinman  having  been  called  to  rest  in 
March,  1889. 


Christopher  H.Weinman  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  a  young  man  of  eighteen  or  nineteen, 
and  for  a  few  years  lived  in  Cincinnati,  whence 
he  came  to  Dayton,  and  for  many  years  carried 
on  a  shoe  store  at  No.  8  South  Main  street. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  republican, 
and  in  religion  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  on  Commercial  street,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  trustee  for  years.  To  his  marriage 
were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are 
still  living,  viz:  Frederick,  a  carriage  and 
wagonmaker;  AnnaB.,  wife  of  Adam  Menges; 
Christian  J.,  and  William  C. ,  manager  of  the 
Postal  Telegraph  company,  all  residents  of 
Dayton. 

Christian  J.  Weinman  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city, 
and  was  about  eleven  years  of  age  when  he 
began  working,  during  vacation,  at  anything 
he  could  find  to  do.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  the  Buckeye  Iron  &  Brass  works, 
served  an  apprenticeship,  then  worked  as  a 
journeyman  until  1882  or  1883,  when  he  es- 
tablished the  Novelty  Machine  works  on  Third 
street,  and  a  year  later  admitted  Edward  >E. 
Euchenhofer  as  a  partner.  This  business  was 
continued  by  the  firm  for  about  seven  years, 
when  it  was  made  a  stock  concern  under  the 
name  of  the  Dayton  Gas  &  Gasoline  Engine 
company.  In  March,  1895,  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Dayton  Gas  Engine  &  Manu- 
facturing company,  which  was  continued  until 
May,  1896,  when  both  Mr.  Weinman  and  Mr. 
Euchenhofer  sold  out  their  stock  in  the  com- 
pany and  established  their  present  business. 
Mr.  Weinman  is  an  inventor  of  rare  ability 
and  his  patents  have  received  the  seal  of  public 
approbation  wherever  introduced,  the  produc- 
tions of  the  firm  being  welcomed  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States,  as  well  as  in  other  countries. 

The  marriage  of   Mr.  Weinman  took  place 

June  28,  1888,  with  Miss  Lizzie  Darst,  a  daugh- 

1  ter  of   Henry   Darst,    and  to   this  union  have 


830 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


been  born  three  children,  named  Edna,  Leli 
and  Bessie,  the  latter  deceased.  The  family 
reside  at  No.  55  Perrine  street,  Dayton,  and 
occupy  a  high  social  position  in  their  quarter 
of  the  city.  Fraternally  Mr.  Weinman  is  a 
member  of  lodge  No.  273,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  the 
Gem  City  encampment,  uniform  rank  of 
Patriarchs  Militant,  and  of  the  Rebekah  lodge; 
in  politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  has  never 
sought  for  public  office,  being  contented, 
rather,  with  the  pursuit  of  the  study  of  such 
labor-saving  and  economical  mechanical  de- 
vices as  will  inure  to  the  benefit  of  mankind. 


j/'VROF.  FRANK  WERKMEISTER, 
|.  M  leader  of  the  Metropolitan  band,  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
*  many,  October  17,  1846,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
country.  His  parents,  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
(Rauh)  Werkmeister,  were  also  natives  of 
Saxony.  Henry  Werkmeister  was  a  teacher 
of  music,  in  which  he  was  proficient,  was  of 
robust  constitution,  temperate  in  habit,  and 
never  had  occasion  to  call  a  physician  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  in  1873,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  His  widow  survived  until  1 893, 
and  died  in  Germany  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  Of  their  family  of  five  children, 
Christina  is  married  and  is  living  in  Saxony; 
George  died  at  twenty-six  years  of  age;  Caspar 
is  a  merchant;  Frank  is  the  only  member  of 
the  family  to  come  to  America,  and  Joseph 
died  in  early  manhood. 

Prof.  Frank  Werkmeister  received  his  ele- 
mentary musical  training  under  his  father, 
and  later  attended  the  Annaberg  college  of 
Saxony,  which  school  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  government.  His  first  specialty 
iwas  the  volin,  but  he  afterward  adopted  the 
cornet,  which  is  still  his  preference,  although 


he  readily  manipulates  any  wind  instrument. 
He  filled  several  important  engagements  as  a 
musician  in  his  native  country,  and  also  one 
season  in  Denmark,  and  another  season  in 
London,  England,  and  then  returned  to  Ger- 
many. In  the  spring  of  1877  he  accompanied 
the  Hessian  band  to  America,  and  here  the 
band  remained  one  year,  playing,  under  the 
management  of  Mr.  Werkmeister,  six  months 
in  Cincinnati,  and  the  remaining  six  months  in 
Michigan,  Ohio,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Iowa, 
Colorado  and  other  western  states.  All  of  the 
members  of  the  band  excepting  Mr.  Werk- 
meister, then  returned  to  Germany,  and  the 
cause  of  his  remaining  may  perhaps  be  found 
in  the  circumstance  that,  in  1877,  while  giving 
concerts  in  Dayton,  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  the  lady  who  is  now  his  wife.  After 
seeing  his  comrades  safely  embarked  for  Ger- 
many, the  professor  returned  to  Dayton,  which 
city  has  ever  since  been  his  home. 

In  September,  1878,  Prof.  Werkmeister 
was  united  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Lena  Ebel- 
ing.  This  lady  is  a  native  of  Dayton,  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  and  has  borne  her  husband  four 
children,  Ella,  Clara,  Frank  and  Dora,  the 
eldest  of  whom  is  a  student  in  the  Steele 
high  school,  while  the  other  three  are  pupils 
in  one  of  the  district  schools. 

Prof.  Werkmeister,  soon  after  settling  in 
Dayton,  became  a  member  of  the  old  Fourth 
regiment  band,  but  after  a  year's  experience 
therewith  resigned,  and  organized  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  band,  which  he  managed  for  four 
years.  Finally  the  manager  of  the  Fourth 
regiment  band  made  a  proposition  to  Mr. 
Werkmeister  to  consolidate  the  two  organi- 
zations and  to  utilize  only  the  best  artists  of 
each.  This  scheme  was  adopted,  and  the 
new  organization  was  for  a  time  known  as 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  band,  but  this  title  was 
dropped,  and  that  of  Metropolitan  substituted. 
About  1884,    Prof.  Werkmeister  assumed  con- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


831 


trol  of  the  consolidated  band,  a  position  which 
he  still  holds.  In  this  capacity  he  has  at- 
tended the  conclaves  of  the  Knights  Templars 
at  Chicago,  Boston,  Cincinnati,  Akron,  Lan- 
caster, Springfield,  Indianapolis,  Evansville, 
Sandusky,  Columbus  (a  number  of  times), 
Wheeling,  and  at  other  places.  On  one  occa- 
sion the  Metropolitan  band  was  paid  the  high 
compliment  by  Harper's  Weekly,  of  being 
' '  second  to  none  in  the  western  states.  "  This 
band  has  been  awarded  several  valuable 
prizes  in  competition  with  other  musical  or- 
ganizations of  note,  and  some  of  its  members, 
who  were  selected  from  the  parent  band,  are 
wealthy  and  prominent  citizens  of  Dayton. 

In  1889,  the  Metropolitan  was  regularly 
enlisted  as  the  Thirteenth  regiment  band,  O. 
N.  G.,  and  at  the  centennial  celebration  ac- 
companied the  regiment  to  New  York  city, 
where  it  was  royally  received  by  the  musicians 
of  the  metropolis.  On  the  return  to  Dayton, 
however,  its  members  withdrew  from  the 
national  guard. 

Prof.  Werkmeister  is  a  recognized  author- 
ity in  the  musical  circles  of  Dayton.  He  has 
been  instrumental  in  leading  the  people  to  ap- 
preciate a  high  standard  of  music,  and  is 
thoroughly  qualified  to  filled  the  prominent 
position  he  holds.  He  was  selected  to  conduct 
the  musical  features  of  the  centennial  celebra- 
tion in  Dayton  in  1896.  His  work  in  this  city 
has  been  rewarded  in  a  practical  way,  and  he 
has  prospered  financially.  He  is  prominent, 
also,  in  various  fraternal  and  social  organiza- 
tions in  Dayton,  being  a  member  of  Humboldt 
lodge,  No.  58,  Knights  of  Pythias;  also  of  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  the  German 
Lutheran  society,  the  Elsass  Lothringer  Un- 
terstuetzungs  Verein,  and  of  Tentonia  lodge,  No. 
21,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  The 
family  worship  at  Saint  John's  German  Lu- 
theran church,  and  in  politics  the  professor  is 
independent. 


Mrs.  Werkmeister  is  one  of  the  most  ex- 
perienced and  successful  milliners  in  Dayton. 
She  opened  her  present  place  of  business  at 
No.  337  East  Xenia  avenue  when  she  was  but 
seventeen  years  of  age,  and  has  profitably 
managed  it  for  twenty-seven  consecutive  years, 
and  it  may  be  added  that  to  her  skill  and  taste 
are  largely  due  the  material  prosperity  of  the 
estimable  family. 


\S~\  ICHARD    WHITCOMB,    city  weigh- 

I  /^     master  and  wood  measurer  of   Day- 

M      P    ton,  Ohio;   was   born  in  the  town  of 

Dorchester,    Suffolk    county,    Mass., 

August   15,    1 S 14.      His  parents  were  Richard 

and  Susan  (Littlefield)  Whitcomb,  the  former 

of  whom  was   a  native   of  Massachusetts  and 

the  latter  of  Maine. 

Richard  Whitcomb  in  his  youth  learned 
the  trade  of  molder,  but  when  nineteen  years 
old  went  to  sea  as  a  sailor  on  board  a  whaling 
vessel  bound  for  the  Pacific  whaling  grounds. 
For  twelve  years  he  followed  the  sea,  during 
which  time  he  sailed  twice  around  the  world, 
and  visited  nearly  every  country  on  the  globe. 
In  1S54  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Cin- 
cinnati, but  some  time  later  he  went  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  lived  for  six  years, 
and  was  there  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 
Leaving  Nashville,  he  came  to  Dayton,  and 
on  November  25,  1864,  enlisted  for  one  year 
in  company  K,  Sixtieth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
being  mustered  out  of  service  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  July  28,   1865. 

Returning  to  Dayton  he  began  working 
at  his  trade,  which  he  followed  until  1886, 
and  in  April,  1894,  he  was  elected  to  his 
present  office  for  a  term  of  two  years.  He 
was  married  December  31,  1839,  to  Anna 
Haller,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  To 
their  marriage  there  have  been  born  eight 
children,  three  of  whom   are   still  living,  viz  : 


832 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Edward,  a  molder  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
June  7,  1842  ;  Lydia,  wife  of  Gerhard  Lauten- 
schlager,  a  railroad  man  of  Cincinnati,  and 
Louis,  who  is  now  in  the  west.  Mr.  Whit- 
comb  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  of  the  American  Protective  asso- 
ciation. His  wife  is  still  living,  and  is  in  her 
seventy-sixth  year. 


IHEOBALD  D.  EICHELBERGER, 
one  of  the  representative  business 
men  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Pa.,  August  6,  1822, 
and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Rowland) 
Eichelberger,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania — the  father  in  1768  and  the 
mother  in  1786,  of  German  descent,  the  father 
of  Daniel  Eichelberger  having  been  the  found- 
er of  the  family  in  the  Keystone  state  some- 
time in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Both  the  father  and  the  mother  of  T.  D. 
Eichelberger  were  twice  married.  There  were 
four  sons  and  four  daughters  born  to  the  fa- 
ther's first  marriage — all  being  now  dead.  The 
mother's  first  husband  was  Jacob  Gantz,  by 
whom  she  became  the  mother  of  two  sons  and 
two  daughters — all  now  deceased.  To  the 
marriage  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Eichelberger 
were  born  three  children — Theobald  D.,  and 
two  sisters;  of  these,  Susan  Higby  is  a  widow, 
now  living  in  Cincinnati;  the  other  sister, 
Magdalene  Hemrick,  died  at  her  brother's 
home  in  June,  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years.  The  father  died  in  Farmersville,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  the  mother 
in  Cincinnati,  in  1869;  our  subject  and  his  sis- 
ter, Mrs.  Higby,  are  the  only  survivors  of  this 
old  Pennsylvania  family. 

Theobald  D.  Eichelberger  was  a  mere 
child — not  yet  five  years  of  age — when  brought 
from  Pennsylvania  to   Ohio   by   his    parents, 


who  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  in  1827, 
occupying  a  farm.  He  has  a  vivid  recollection 
of  the  pioneer  log  schoolhouse  which  he  at- 
tended in  his  infantile  days — with  its  slab 
benches,  puncheon  floor  and  huge  fireplace;  he 
also  remembers  the  homespun  apparel  of  the 
pupils,  while  he  has  not  forgotten  the  size  and 
effect  of  the  birches  when  wielded  by  the  strong 
arm  of  the  teacher. 

Mr.  Eichelberger  worked  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years,  al- 
though he  was  compelled  to  earn  his  living 
from  his  twelfth  year,  and  also,  at  that  early 
age,  to  assist  in  the  support  of  his  father's 
family.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  came 
to  Dayton  and  opened  a  cooper-shop  on  the 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Clay  streets,  where  he  had 
quite  a  successful  trade  in  the  manufacture  of 
flour  barrels  in  the  winter;  but  worked  at  paint- 
ing, at  home,  during  the  summer,  giving  em- 
ployment to  several  men  in  both  branches  of 
his  business.  In  i860,  he  entered  into  the 
grocery  business  with  John  W.  Butt  as  a  silent 
partner;  this  connection  was  maintained  three 
years,  or  perhaps  four,  when  he  embarked  in 
the  real-estate  business,  in  which  he  also  met 
with  great  success. 

In  January,  1879,  he  entered  into  cement- 
pipe  manufacturing,  which  still  occupies  his 
attention,  together  with  the  handling  of  build- 
ers' general  supplies,  paving  brick,  cement  for 
paving,  etc.,  being  associated  in  the  business 
with  two  sons,  Andrew  W.  and  John  W. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Eichelberger  took 
place  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  April  8,  185 1, 
with  Miss  Melinda  Wolf,  a  native  of  Bath 
township,  that  county,  and  daughter  of  John 
W.  and  Mary  (Hawker)  Wolf,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  November 
23,  1 791 ,  and  the  latter  in  Ohio,  November 
17,  1800.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolf  were  married 
December  31,  1S1S,  and  became  the  parents 
of  ten   children,    of  whom    the   names   of   the 


T.    D.    EICHELBERGER. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


835 


following  nine  are  recalled  :  Israel,  Andrew, 
Catherine,  Abram,  Susannah,  George,  Mary, 
Melinda  and  Louisa.  Andrew,  the  only  living 
son  of  this  family,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Stockton,  Cal.,  since  1849  ;  Catherine,  now 
Mrs.  Haynes,  lives  in  Dayton,  Ohio  ;  Susan- 
nah is  Mrs.  Snyder  and  resides  in  Indiana  ; 
Louisa  is  married  to  a  Mr.  Visher  ;  Melinda  is 
Mrs.  Eichelberger  ;  Israel  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  ;  the  others  all  lived  to  mature 
years,  but  are  now  deceased.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  in  Greene  county  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six  years,  and  the  father  died  in  the 
same  county,  June  25,  1877,  in  his  eighty- 
fourth  year. 

John  W.  Wolf,  father  of  Mrs.  Eichelberger, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  on  com- 
ing to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  assisted  in  cut- 
ting a  road  through  the  swampy  country  for  the 
passage  of  a  portion  of  the  army  over  the  spot 
where  the  Montgomery  county  court  house 
now  stands. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Eichelberger  has  been 
blessed  with  two  sons — Andrew  Wilford  and 
John  William — both  associated  with  their 
father  in  business,  as  has  already  been  men- 
tioned, and  both  married,  with  families  of  their 
own.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eichelberger  have  been 
church  members  from  early  youth.  In  1840 
Mr.  Eichelberger  joined  the  Lutheran  church. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  Mrs.  Eichelberger 
united  with  the  Reformed  church,  but  after 
marriage  withdrew  from  this  body  and  joined 
the  congregation  with  which  her  husband  had 
united.  Mr.  Eichelberger  is  also  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Fraternally,  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  for 
about  forty  years  ;  and  politically,  has  been  a 
republican  ever  since  the  birth  of  that  party, 
his  sons  also  being  stalwart  in  that  faith.  He 
has,  however,  always  declined  to  accept  public 
office,  although  positions  of  honor  and  trust 
have  frequently  been  offered  to  him. 

32 


When  Mr.  Eichelberger  became  a  resident 
of  Dayton,  in  1842,  the  city  contained  but 
6,000  inhabitants,  but  he  has  lived  to  see  it 
grow  to  a  city  of  85,000  population,  and  has 
grown  with  its  growth,  has  been  a  factor  in  its 
progress,  and  now,  after  having  made  his  home 
here  for  over  half  a  century,  maintains  a  proud 
position  in  business,  social  and  religious  circles. 


>Y*OSEPH  C.  WHALEY,  well-driver  and 

■      dealer   in    pumps    and  well  fixtures,  of 

Al      Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born    in  Defiance, 

Ohio,  May    13,  1855,  and  is   a   son  of 

Albert  and  Martha  (Taylor)  Whaley. 

Albert  Whaley  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  but  in  early  manhood  became  identified 
with  Dayton  and  its  interests.  He  assisted  in 
constructing  the  Miami  &  Erie  canal,  which 
runs  through  this  city,  and  ran  one  of  the  first 
canal  packets  placed  thereon.  After  a  life  of 
industry  and  usefulness,  he  was  called  from 
earth  in  1866.  Mrs.  Martha  Whaley  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  in  early  childhood  was 
brought  to  America  by  her  parents,  who  set- 
tled in  Dayton,  her  father,  Jonathan  Taylor, 
being  still  remembered  by  the  old  settlers  of 
the  Gem  City.  The  parents  of  Joseph  C. 
Whaley  were  married  in  Kentucky,  whither 
they  went  for  that  purpose  in  conformity  with 
a  marriage  contract  prepared  and  approved  by 
the  bride's  mother.  Of  the  eleven  children 
born  to  this  union  two  only  are  now  living — 
Jonathan  T.  and  Joseph  C. ,  the  others  having 
all  died  in  infancy,  except  two — James  S.  and 
Lewis — who  reached  man's  estate  and  died  in 
Dayton.  The  mother  of  this  family  survived 
until  1890,  when  she,  too,  ended  her  days  in 
this  city. 

Joseph  C.  Whaley  lived  in  his  native  town 
until  the  death  of  his  father,  and  in  1866  ac- 
companied his  mother  to  this  city,  where  he 
was  employed  from  1867  until  1880  in  operat- 


836 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ing  wood-working  machinery.  In  1881  he  be- 
gan his  present  business  of  driving  wells,  at 
which  he  is  more  than  an  ordinary  expert. 
About  1893  he  began  to  deal  in  real  estate, 
buying,  building  and  selling,  and  has  thus 
materially  assisted  in  the  improvement  of  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  city. 

In  1877,  Mr.  Whaley  was  united  in  wed- 
lock with  Miss  Amy  P.  McCandless,  a  native 
of  Dayton  and  a  daughter  of  James  McCand- 
less, an  early  settler.  To  this  marriage  have 
been  born  nine  children,  of  whom  five  are  still 
living.  The  eldest,  James  Samuel,  is  now 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  is  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship with  the  Dayton  Manufacturing 
company;  Lewis  W.  is  a  polisher  in  the  works 
of  the  same  company;  Martha  Elizabeth,  Jo- 
seph Harrison  and  Amy  May  Catherine  Marie 
are  at  home  or  in  school.  The  family  attend 
the  Baptist  church,  of  which  Mrs.  Whaley  is  a 
consistent  member.  Mr.  Whaley  is  a  member 
of  various  trades  unions.  In  politics  he  has 
been  a  life-long  republican,  of  which  party  his 
father  was  one  of  the  founders,  he  having 
previously  been  a  whig  and  a  knownothing. 

Jonathan  T.  Whaley,  brother  of  Joseph 
C. ,  served  for  three  years,  faithfully  and  gal- 
lantly, in  the  late  Civil  war,  and  is  now  living 
in  retirement  in  the  city  of  Dayton. 

Joseph  C.  Whaley  has  always  been  an  en- 
ergetic, hard-working  citizen,  whose  own  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  have  brought  him 
success  and  prosperity  in  his  business  life  and 
the  respect  of  the  community,  and  has  built 
up  for  himself  a  solid,  prosperous  trade. 


eLIAS  WEINREICH,   cigar  manufac- 
turer of  Nos.   1114-1118    East  Fifth 
street,    Dayton,    Ohio,    was    born    in 
Bavaria,    Germany,    September     19, 
1857.      He  is  a  son  of  David  and   Phillipine 
(Katz)  Weinreich,  both  of  whom  were  natives 


of  Germany,  and  who  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daughters. 
Nine  of  these  twelve  children  are  still  living, 
as  follows  :  Rachel,  Caroline,  Lena,  Isaac, 
Amelia,  Wolf  A.,  Mary,  Joseph  and  Elias. 

David  Weinreich  was  a  cattle  dealer  and  a 
butcher  by  occupation  in  his  native  country, 
and  in  1870  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
coming  directly  to  Ohio  and  locating  in  Day- 
ton. He  was  then  retired  from  business,  and 
lived  in  Dayton  until  1883,  when  he  died,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His  wife,  who 
still  survives,  is  eighty-four  years  of  age.  He 
was,  and  Mrs.  Weinreich  still  is,  a  member  of 
the  Jewish  church,  and  both  belonged  to  that 
sturdy  German  class  from  which  the  people  of 
this  country  draw  so  much  of  good  citizenship. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Elias,  Isaac 
Weinreich,  died  in  Germany  when  his  son 
David  was  quite  young.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, whose  name  was  Elias  Katz,  lived  and 
died  in  Germany. 

Elias  Weinreich,  when  he  was  brought  to 
the  United  States,  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  had  received  his  education  in  his  native 
land.  In  1872  he  began  learning  the  cigar- 
maker's  trade,  following  it  for  one  year,  and 
then  established  a  buisness  of  his  own.  This 
business,  started  on  a  small  scale,  has  so  pros- 
pered and  grown  that  at  the  present  time  Mr. 
Weinreich  employs  1 50  persons,  of  both  sexes. 
He  manufactures  goods  for  the  jobbing  trade, 
and  that  he  has  been  successful  is  sufficiently 
indicated  by  the  statement  made  above  as  to 
the  number  of  people  in  his  establishment. 

On  April  28,  1880,  Mr.  Weinreich  was 
married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Cohn,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Miriam  (Israel)  Cohn.  To  this 
marriage  have  been  born  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  Bertha,  David,  Solomon,  Samuel, 
Miriam  and  Bessie.  Mr.  Weinreich  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United    Workmen,    and    of    the    Commercial 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


837 


Travelers'  association,  while  Mrs.  Weinreich  is 
a  member  of  the  Jewish  church  or  synagogue, 
of  the  Hebrew  Aid  society,  and  also  of  the 
Daughters  of  Rebekah.  Mr.  Weinreich  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Hebrew  congregation.  Kilo 
Kodish,  B'Nai  Jeshuren,  which  was  organized 
in  1850.  Politically  Mr.  Weinreich  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, but  has  never  sought  office  or  any  kind 
of  political  preferment.  He  has  spent  some 
time  in  traveling,  having  visited  most  of  Europe 
and  of  the  states  of  the  Union.  He  is  a  thor- 
ough business  man,  and  ranks  among  the  lead- 
ing tobacconists  of  Dayton,  his  goods  being 
popular  in  all  parts  of  the  country  where  in- 
troduced. It  is  not  too  much  to  say  of  Mr. 
Weinreich  that  he  is  one  of  the  self-made  men 
of  the  city  of  Dayton  ;  that  he  has  been  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune.  His  home  is  at 
No.  27  Maple  street,  Dayton,  where  he  and 
his  family  are  surrounded  by  a  large  circle  of 
ever  welcome  friends. 


aOL.  WILLIAM  J.  WHITE,  for  the 
past  eight  years  superintendent  of  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Uniontown,  Muskingum  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  April  1,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
R.  and  Isabella  M.  (Simms)  White,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Culpeper  county,  Va. 
They  came  into  Ohio  in  1801,  and  located  first 
in  Perry  county,  whence  they  removed  to 
Muskingum  county,  where  they  lived  until 
their  death,  the  former  dying  in  1876,  the  lat- 
ter in  1874.  John  R.  White  was  a  lawyer  by 
profession,  and  a  successful  and  influential  man. 
William  J.  White  was  reared  in  Muskingum 
county,  and  secured  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  passed  through  the  graded 
schools  of  his  native  town.  In  December, 
1 86 1,  he  became  a  private  soldier  in  the  Fed- 
eral army,  enlisting  in  company  B,  Seventy- 
eighth    regiment   Ohio   volunteer  infantry,   of 


which  M.  D.  Leggett  was  colonel.  His  first 
experience  of  note  was  at  Fort  Donelson, 
Tenn.,  and  his  next  at  Shiloh,  Tenn.,  his  reg- 
iment being  then  in  Gen.  Lew  Wallace's  divi- 
sion. He  went  thence  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  then 
to  Iuka,  Miss.,  and  then  to  Bolivar,  Tenn., 
where  he  became  a  member  of  what  was  known 
as  the  "mule  cavalry."  This  was  a  body  of 
fifty  men  selected  from  the  regiment  because 
of  their  fitness  for  special  duty,  or  any  emer- 
gency that  might  arise,  requiring  courage  and 
discretion.  Their  first  assignment  was  to  the 
work  of  scouring  the  country  in  search  of  cot- 
ton burners  and  guerrillas,  and  they  were  to 
respond  to  the  bugle  call.  For  personal  brave- 
ry and  gallant  conduct  during  an  engagement 
with  the  rebel  forces  under  Gen.  Van  Dorn, 
August  30,  1862,  Mr.  White  was  promoted  to 
a  position  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Leggett,  and 
remained  with  him  through  all  the  battles, 
skirmishes,  etc.,  for  some  time,  including  the 
capture  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  of  Grand  Junction, 
Tenn.,  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  the  advance  on 
Vicksburg,  by  way  of  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  and 
to  Water  Valley,  Miss. 

When  at  Water  Valley  it  became  Mr. 
White's  fortune  to  be  sent  back  with  a  com- 
munication to  Gen.  McPherson,  commanding 
the  Seventeenth  corps,  from  Gen.  Logan's  di- 
vision, informing  him  of  the  fact  that  a  large 
body  of  rebel  cavalry  was  moving  northward 
around  the  flank  of  the  Union  forces,  which 
body  of  cavalry  proved  to  be  Van  Dorn's,  which 
captured  Holly  Springs,  and  cut  off  communi- 
cation with  the  Union  army's  base  of  supplies 
and  compelled  Gen.  Grant  to  order  a  retreat 
to  Memphis,  Tenn.  This  communication  Col. 
White  carried  through  rebel  territory,  a  per- 
fect wilderness  for  miles,  in  advance  of  the 
army.  On  this  retreat  the  Union  army  was 
under  constant  fire  from  the  pursuing  rebels, 
and  was  compelled  to  subsist  on  parched  corn. 
Memphis  was  reached  in  December,  1862,  and 


838 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


from  there  the  Union  forces  went  to  Lake 
Providence,  where  they  cut  the  levee,  letting 
the  Mississippi  run  into  Lake  Providence. 
They  then  attempted  to  go  up  Bayou  Baxter, 
and  by  a  roundabout  course  get  into  Vicksburg. 
This  attempt,  however,  failed,  and  the  only 
result  was  to  flood  the  country. 

The  army  then  went  down  the  Mississippi 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  above  Young's  Point,  oppo- 
site Vicksburg,  camping  on  the  levee  and  await- 
ing the  opening  of  Grant'scanal  across  Young's 
Point,  which  was  expected  to  allow  the  trans- 
ports and  gunboats  to  pass  through.  This 
failing,  the  command  began  the  movement 
across  Young's  Point,  early  in  April,  1863,  to 
a  point  opposite  Grand  Gulf,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  forty  miles  below  Vicksburg  and 
well  fortified.  At  this  time  the  transports 
were  manned  by  volunteers  from  the  division 
and  ran  the  blockade  with  safety,  landing  on 
the  shore  opposite  Grand  Gulf.  By  means  of 
these  transports  Col.  White's  brigade  and  di- 
vision were  the  first  to  cross  the  river,  reach- 
ing the  Mississippi  side  in  the  early  morning 
of  May  1,  and  proceeding  to  Port  Gibson,  a 
town  some  miles  in  the  rear  of  Grand  Gulf. 
Here  a  severe  battle  occurred,  in  which  the 
Union  troops  were  victorious,  driving  the  rebels 
toward  Vicksburg  and  compelling  the  surrender 
of  Grand  Gulf.  The  line  of  march  was  then 
taken  up  toward  Raymond,  fighting  continu- 
ously with  the  retreating  rebels  in  front.  At 
Baker's  Creek,  on  the  6th  of  May,  a  very  se- 
vere battle  took  place,  in  which  Col.  White's 
regiment  suffered  greatly,  but  succeeded  in 
driving  the  rebel  forces  in  disorder  from  the 
field.  Proceeding  then  to  Clinton  and  thence 
to  Jackson,  where  they  found  the  rebels 
strongly  fortified,  they  succeeded  in  capturing 
the  city,  together  with  a  large  number  of  pris- 
oners and  an  abundance  of  stores,  on  May  12. 
Turning  then  toward  Vicksburg,  with  the  rebel 
Gens.  Johnston  in   the  rear   and  Pemberton  in 


front,  the  Union  forces  were  harassed  continu- 
ously, both  in  front  and  rear,  but  succeeded 
finally  in  driving  Pemberton  within  the  fortifi- 
cations at  Vicksburg,  passing  through  Clinton 
and  reaching  Edward's  Depot  on  the  night  of 
the  15th,  and  on  the  1 6th  fought  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills,  famous  as  one  of  the  decid- 
ing battles  of  the  war.  The  division  in  which 
Col.  White  was  then  serving  was  on  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  line,  and  Gen.  Hovey  was 
on  its  left.  The  battle  began  about  9  A.  M. 
and  raged  until  3  p.  m.  with  great  severity. 
Gen.  Hovey's  division  on  the  left  giving  way 
before  the  terrible  onslaughts  of  the  rebel 
forces,  and  causing  the  division  on  the  right 
to  become  a  sort  of  nucleus  for  a  reforming  of 
the  lines,  both  in  front  and  flank.  Through 
the  bravery  and  gallantry  of  Gen.  Logan,  who 
rode  between  the  retreating  division  of  Gen. 
Hovey  and  the  advancing  rebels,  triumphant 
up  to  that  time,  the  broken  ranks  of  Hovey 
were  re-formed  and  were  personally  led  by 
Gen.  Logan  to  a  successful  charge  upon  the 
rebel  lines,  which  sent  them  in  confusion  from 
the  field.  Following  up  this  victory,  the  next 
day  Gen.  Pemberton  was  compelled  to  con- 
tinue his  retreat,  and  on  the  night  of  the  1 8th 
was  driven  within  the  fortifications  of  Vicks- 
burg, and  on  the  19th  Grant's  army  took  up 
its  position  around  the  city  and  commenced 
the  regular  siege,  Gen.  Leggett  being  placed 
in  command  of  Gen.  John  E.  Smith's  division, 
the  latter  taking  command  of  Gen.  McCler- 
nand's  corps.  On  the  22d  a  general  assault 
was  made  on  the  rebel  works,  with  the  view 
of  carrying  them  by  storm,  Col.  White's  horse 
being  shot  under  nim  on  this  occasion,  and  a 
portion  of  the  troops  entering  the  fortifica- 
tions; but,  being  unable  to  hold  them,  the 
army  settled  down  to  a  regular  siege,  which 
lasted  from  that  day,  May  19.  to  July  3,  the 
troops  being  during  all  of  that  time  under  fire 
from    the    rebel    forces    within    the    city.      On 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


839 


the  morning  of  July  3  a  flag  of  truce  appeared 
in  front  of  Leggett's  division,  asking  for  an 
armistice.  Here  an  interview  took  place  be- 
tween the  commanding  generals,  Grant  and 
Pemberton,  under  what  was  afterward  known 
as  the  Pemberton  oak  tree,  a  representation 
of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  rotunda  of  the 
capitol  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  All  the  communi- 
cations between  Grant  and  Pemberton  leading 
up  to  and  including  the  surrender  of  Vicks- 
burg  were  borne  back  and  forth  by  Col.  White. 
At  noon  of  July  4,  1863,  the  Union  forces 
inarched  into  Vicksburg,  Gen.  Leggett's  divi- 
sion, in  which  Col.  White  was  serving,  in  ad- 
vance, and  receiving  the  surrender  of  the 
city,  together  with  a  vast  army  and  military 
supplies. 

After  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Col.  White 
accompanied  Gen.  Leggett  on  an  expedition  to 
the  Washita  river  to  clear  the  country  of  rebels 
there  collected.  In  December,  1864,  Col. 
White  received  a  commission  as  second  lieuten- 
ant, and  was  afterward  promoted  to  a  captaincy 
in  the  Fifth  United  States  heavy  artillery, 
which  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  defense  of 
Vicksburg,  and  there  Col.  White  remained  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  appointed 
acting  assistant  inspector-general  on  the  staff 
of  Gen.  Morgan  L.  Smith,  commanding  the  fort 
of  Vicksburg,  and  afterward  was  appointed 
aid-de-camp  and  acting  assistant  adjutant- 
general  to  Maj.-Gen.  Thomas  J.  Wood,  com- 
manding the  department  of  the  Mississippi. 
While  on  Gen.  Wood's  staff  at  Vicksburg,  it 
became  the  duty  of  Col.  White  to  escort  Ben- 
son J.  Lossing,  the  celebrated  historical  writer, 
over  the  battle  fields  in  and  around  Vicksburg, 
while  he  was  collecting  data  for  his  Field 
Book  of  the  War,  and  other  historical  works. 
Two  weeks  were  thus  spent,  Col.  White  point- 
ing out  the  different  positions  occupied  by  the 
several  commands  in  the  engagements  referred 
to  in  this  sketch.      Mr.  Lossing  took  prismatic 


views  and  made  careful  notes  on  the  exact  spot 
where  each  event  took  place,  and  thus  a  pecu- 
liar value  was  given  to  that  historian's  writing 
which  is  seldom  found  in  such  works.  Mr. 
Lossing  pays  Col.  White  a  very  high  compli- 
ment in  his  history  of  the  war  for  these  serv- 
ices, and  Col.  White  was  now  given  the  rank 
of  major  by  brevet  by  the  president  of  the 
United  States  for  gallant  and  meritorious  con- 
duct during  the  war. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  army  he  en- 
tered, in  September,  1866,  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
university,  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  so  assidu- 
ous was  he  in  his  studies  that  he  completed  the 
five  years'  course  in  four  years,  graduating  in 
June,  1870.  In  November,  1870,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Bertha  A.  Butterfield,  of  Bucyrus, 
Ohio,  and  in  January,  1871,  was  appointed 
principal  of  the  high  school  at  Pana,  111., 
which  position  he  held  a  year  and  a  half,  when 
he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
the  same  city.  This  position  he  held  until  June, 
1874,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  principalship 
of  the  high  schools  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  where 
he  had  charge  of  125  pupils,  and  taught  all  the 
subjects  or  branches  of  the  high-school  course, 
with  but  one  assistant.  In  June,  1875,  ne  was 
elected  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Springfield,  Ohio,  which  position  he  held  con- 
tinuously until  February,  1887,  when  he  re- 
signed because  of  business  arrangements  which 
required  his  presence  in  North  Carolina.  Hav- 
ing adjusted  affairs  in  that  state,  he  returned 
to  Ohio  and  was  elected  superintendent  of  the 
public  schools  in  Dayton,  in  June,  1888,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  been  continuously  serv- 
ing, by  successive  re-elections,  in  this  position. 
While  in  Springfield,  Col.  White  was  invited 
to  the  superintendency  of  the  schools  of  Leav- 
enworth, Kas.,  but  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  accept  that  position. 

Col.  White  has  served  as  city,  county  and 
state  examiner,  being   appointed  to  the  state 


840 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


board  of  examiners  by  Dr.  John  Hancock, 
who  gave  ten  of  the  best  years  of  his  life,  from 
1874  to  1884,  to  the  public  schools  of  Dayton, 
as  superintendent.  Col.  White  was  offered, 
by  Gov.  Foraker,  the  appointment  of  state  com- 
missioner of  public  schools,  upon  the  death  of 
Commissioner  Tappan;  but  having  just  then 
assumed  the  superintendency  of  the  public 
schools  of  Dayton,  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to 
accept,  but  recommended  Dr.  Hancock  for 
the  position,  and  he  was  appointed. 

Col.  White  has  served  as  president  of  the 
County  Teachers'  association  of  Clarke  county, 
as  president  of  the  Central  Ohio  Teachers'  as- 
sociation, and  also  of  the  State  Teachers'  as- 
sociation. At  present  he  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  National  Teachers' 
association.  He  has  been  continuously  en- 
gaged in  school  work  for  the  past  twenty-five 
years,  giving  to  that  work  all  his  time,  energy 
and  talent. 

He  was  elected  colonel  of  the  Seventh 
regiment,  O.  N.  G.,  in  1885,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  for  five  years.  He  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  regiment  at  Carthage  at  the  time 
of  the  second  riot  in  Cincinnati.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  of 
the  Loyal  Legion,  commandery  of  Ohio.  He 
has  taken  thirty-two  degrees  in  Masonry,  and 
is  a  member  of  all  the  Masonic  orders.  He  is 
a  member  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  for  years  has 
been  superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school. 


eAUL  WELDON  WHITE,  of  com- 
pany Four,  soldiers'  home,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  county  Wexford, 
Ireland,  August  15,  1832,  and  came 
to  America  with  his  parents  when  a  child  of 
four  years.  These  parents,  Nicholas  and  Mary 
( Brown )  White,  also  natives  of  county  Wex- 
ford, established  their  home,  on  reaching  Amer- 


ica, in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  where  the 
mother  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years,  and  the  father  in  1868,  aged  about  eighty 
years.  Their  children  were  seven  in  number 
and  in  order  of  birth  were  named  Richard, 
James,  Patrick,  Paul,  William,  John  and  Anna 
Maria.  Of  this  family  James  died  on  the  voy- 
age to  America  and  was  buried  at  sea,  and 
William  was  killed  in  the  late  Civil  war. 

Paul  Weldon  White  passed  his  early  boy- 
hood in  assisting  his  father,  who  was  a  dairy- 
man, and  in  his  later  youth  was  bound  out  to 
a  gardener.  He  was  in  Virginia  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war,  where  he  was  arrested 
and  imprisoned  for  expressing  his  Union  senti- 
ments, but  his  extensive  acquaintance  with 
prominent  secessionists  secured  him  his  liberty. 
About  this  time  he  was  present  at  the  execu- 
tion of  John  (  Ossawatomie  )  Brown,  who  was 
hanged  at  Charlestown,  (now)  W.  Va.,  De- 
cember 2,  1859,  for  his  raid  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
Va.  Returning  to  Baltimore,  via  Washington, 
he  went  thence  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
enlisted  in  company  K,  Forty-eighth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteer  infantry,  and  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Burnside,  then  in  the 
vicinity  of  Roanoke,  Va. ;  he  accompanied 
this  commander  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  at  Cedar  Mount- 
ain, and  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
where  Mr.  White  was  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  He  was  paroled  on  the  field  seven 
days  later  and  sent  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  where 
his  wound  was  treated,  and  he  was  exchanged 
and  sent  back  to  his  regiment  in  time  to  share 
in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December  13, 
1862.  On  Burnside's  being  relieved  of  the 
command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  Mr. 
White  accompanied  his  regiment  to  Kentucky 
and  was  detailed  to  guard  duty  at  Lexington, 
then  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Wilcox,  the 
camp  being  in  close  proximity  to  the  estate  of 
the  notorious  rebel  raider,  John  Morgan.    From 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


841 


Kentucky  an  advance  was  made  into  Tennes- 
see, where  Mr.  White  was  in  the  battle  of 
Greenville,  in  various  skirmishes,  and  at  the 
siege  of  Knoxville,  and  here  he  was  again  taken 
prisoner,  but  escaped  before  his  captors  could 
reach  the  rebel  lines. 

The  second  enlistment  of  Mr.  White  was  in 
January,  1864,  at  Blain's  Cross  Roads, 
Tenn.,  when  he  was  granted  a  furlough  of 
thirty  days  and  visited  his  friends  near  Balti- 
more. He  rejoined  the  army  at  Annapolis, 
thence  went  to  Washington,  where  he  was 
encamped  on  Arlington  Heights  across  the 
Potomac,  in  Virginia,  for  a  couple  of  weeks, 
had  a  fight  at  Catlett's  Station  in  April,  1864, 
and  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Wilderness  campaign.  He  was 
at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Cold  Harbor, 
North  Anna  and  South  Anna  rivers,  but  be- 
fore crossing  the  James  river  was  prostrated 
by  an  accident  in  laying  pontoon  bridges,  and 
was  sent  to  the  hospital  in  Philadelphia,  at 
Chestnut  Hill.  After  his  partial  recovery  he 
was  given  employment  in  the  hospital,  and 
served  as  orderly,  etc.,  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  received  his  discharge  in  July, 
1865.  After  the  war  was  over  he  went  to  New 
Orleans  and  to  other  points  in  the  south, 
working  at  whatever  employment  was  most 
convenient,  and  at  Lexington,  Ky. ,  was  en- 
gaged in  gardening  for  about  a  year  and  a  half. 
He  then  visited  Cincinnati  and  Baltimore,  and 
in  1870  was  admitted  to  the  soldiers'  home 
at  Dayton,  and,  in  point  of  residence  here,  is 
now  the  oldest  inmate. 

When  a  young  man  Mr.  White  was  of 
strong  constitution  and  great  physical  strength; 
but  his  injuries,  a  wound  through  the  left  leg, 
another  dangerous  wound  in  the  forehead,  and 
a  leg  crushed  in  the  pontoon  accident,  although 
treated  as  being  trivial  at  the  time,  all  con- 
spired to  render  him  unfit  for  life's  battle. 
Although    enrolled    at  the    soldiers'    home    in 


1870,  he  has  not  been  continuously  an  inmate, 
as  he  is  industrious  and  frugal,  and  has  been 
employed  outside  the  home  for  about  half  the 
time  since  his  enrollment.  Mr.  White  has 
never  married.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  radical 
republican,  and  in  religion  is  a  Catholic.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  encampment  No. 
82  Union  Veteran  Legion,  and  socially  he  bears 
the  reputation  of  being  a  reliable,  intelligent 
and  trustworthy  man. 


>-r*0HN  G-  WILL-  one  of  the  popular 
m  merchants  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
(%  J  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  August  2,  1850, 
a  son  of  John  G.  and  Margaret  (Hip- 
pier)  Will.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town  until  they  were  abandoned, 
completing  his  education  by  attending  the 
schools  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  finally  those  of 
Dayton,  Ohio. 

John  G.  Will,  Sr. ,  was  a  native  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  born  May  7,  18 12,  and  came  to 
America  in  1845.  He  found  work  in  the  ore 
mines  of  Maryland,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  war  enlisted  and  served  through- 
out the  struggle.  He  then  located  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  married  Mrs.  Smithutz,  a  widow, 
to  which  union  was  born  one  child,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir.  Mr.  Will  worked  in  the 
arsenal  at  Harper's  Ferry  until  it  was  destroyed 
by  the  Confederates,  and  then  followed  ex- 
pressing until  September,  1865,  when  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  liquor  business,  at  the  corner  of 
Warren  and  Joe  streets,  until  his  death  on 
May  9,  1 87 1,  his  widow  surviving  until  Feb- 
ruary 1 1,  1896. 

John  G.  Will,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  began 
working  in  Barney  &  Smith's  car  shops  in 
Dayton,  where  he  was  employed  in  different 
departments  for  twelve  years.      For  a  number 


842 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


of  years  thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  the  meat 
business  at  the  corner  of  Warren  and  Joe 
streets,  and  in  1880  he  purchased  property  at 
the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Perry  streets, 
erected  a  brick  business  block  and  dwelling 
combined,  and  here  conducts  a  successful 
grocery  business  and  meat  market. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Will  took  place  Oc- 
tober 20,  1874,  to  Miss  Caroline  Wise,  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Barbara  Wise,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Seven  children, 
all  still  living,  have  been  born  to  this  marriage 
in  the  following  order:  George  Edward,  Au- 
gust 25,  1875;  Louisa  Mary,  June  12,  1878; 
Leo  John,  July  17,  1880;  Cornealie  Catherine, 
August  31,  1882;  Charles  Alvin,  October  3, 
1884;  Elmer  Vincent,  November  3,  1887,  and 
Viola  Marie,  June  2,  1890.  The  family  are 
devout  members  of  the  Emanuel  Catholic 
church,  Franklin  street,  Dayton.  Mr.  Will  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Saint  George,  com- 
mandery  No.  115,  of  the  Emanuel  church,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  also  a 
trustee  for  a  number  of  years;  he  served  as  first 
lieutenant  until  the  resignation  of  Capt. 
Schnieble,  when  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy  and  served  for  eight  years.  Mr.  Will 
is  likewise  a  member  of  commandery  No.  225, 
of  the  Holy  Rosary  church,  and  Knights  of 
Saint  George  of  St.  John's  church.  At  the  na- 
tional convention  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of 
Saint  John,  held  at  Dayton,  in  June,  1896,  Mr. 
Will  was  honored  with  the  position  of  colonel 
and  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  the  Third  regi- 
ment— an  evidence  of  his  popularity  with  that 
organization.  In  politics  Mr.  Will  is  a  demo- 
crat, in  which  party  he  is  also  quite  prominent, 
and  which  he  represented  in  the  Dayton  city 
council  for  a  term  of  two  years,  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  market  committee,  for  which 
position  he  was  peculiarly  fitted.  As  a  busi- 
ness man,  Mr.  Will  has  been  very  success- 
ful,   through    industry  and    sound  judgment. 


His  social  position  is  a  pleasant  one,  and  he  is 
rearing  his  family  to  become  useful  members 
of  Dayton  society. 


•""'V'AMUEL    SEARS,     member    of     the 
*^^%T    Dayton    board    of    education    and    a 

K^_y  well-known  dealer  in  wind  engines 
and  pumps,  with  his  place  of  busi- 
ness at  No.  319  East  Fifth  street,  was  born  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  April  10,  1845.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  G.  Sears,  a  native  of  Prince 
George  county,  Va. ,  who  came  to  Ohio  about 
1830,  locating  in  the  southern  part  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Winder, 
was  a  native  of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Abner  and  Hope  Winder,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  New  Jersey. 

The  grandparents  of  Samuel  Sears  were 
Paul  and  Hulda  Sears,  the  former  of  whom 
was,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of 
England.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  were  members  of 
the  Quaker  church,  and  Hulda  Sears  was  an 
active  worker  in  that  church  and  a  preacher, 
her  services  in  this  capacity  and  her  fame  ex- 
tending over  Virginia,  Maryland,  Kentucky, 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  She  was  also  well  known  in 
England,  as  she  preached  in  that  country  two 
years,  as  well  as  in  Scotland,  Ireland  and 
Wales.  Samuel  Sears  has  several  relics  given 
as  presents  to  his  grandmother,  such  as  a  bull's 
eye  watch,  presented  to  her  in  England.  All 
her  labors  were  performed  without  compensa- 
tion, and  without  expense  to  her,  the  church 
taking  care  of  her  during  her  travels. 

John  G.  Sears  and  Elizabeth  Winder  were 
married  in  Champaign  county,  and  came  imme- 
diately to  Montgomery  county,  where  they  re- 
sided for  about  six  years,  when  they  located  on 
a  farm  near  North  Lewisburg,  the  farm  being 
situated  in  the  three  counties  of  Champaign, 
Logan  and  Union.     Their  house  was  a  station 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


843 


on  the  "underground  railroad  "  for  many  years 
before  the  war,  and  they  assisted  many  slaves 
on  their  road  to  liberty.  Samuel  Sears  re- 
members several  instances  of  escaping  slaves, 
one  case,  in  particular,  where  dogs  were  used 
in  tracking  fugitives,  the  hounds  tracing  them 
to  his  father's  house.  John  G.  Sears  died  on 
the  above-mentioned  farm  in  1850,  his  widow 
remaining  on  the  farm  until  1866,  when  she 
gave  up  her  home  and  lived  the  rest  of  her  life 
with  her  children,  being  with  a  daughter  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1894. 


Samuel  sears. 

Samuel  Sears  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Champaign  county,  remaining  there 
until  his  father's  death,  when  he  went  to  live 
with  an  uncle  in  Logan  county,  remaining  with 
this  uncle  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age. 
Then  going  to  Clarke  county  he  spent  a  year 
and  a  half  on  a  farm,  and  then  he  and  his 
brother  took  charge  of  the  old  home  farm. 
After  this  he  went  to  the  uncle  with  whom  he 
had  previously  lived  and  worked  for  him  a  part 
of  a  year,  but  returned  to  his  mother  on  the 
home  farm. 


In  1864  he  enlisted  in  company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-second  regiment  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  serving  until  the  following 
September.  Up  to  this  time,  with  the  rest  of 
the  family,  he  had  adhered  to  the  Quaker 
church,  but  on  account  of  his  going  to  war, 
and  because  he  refused  to  express  regret  for 
this  action,  he  was  disowned  by  his  church. 
Subsequently  he  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  he  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  1866,  when  he  went  to 
Greene  county,  rented  a  farm  and  remained 


Mrs.    Samuel    Sears. 

there  engaged  in  farming  two  years.  While 
there  he  purchased  the  right  for  Montgomery 
county  to  a  patent  pump.  Removing  from  the 
farm  he  located  in  Cedarville,  Greene  county, 
and  was  engaged  in  selling  pumps  one  year, 
and  in  1869  removed  to  Xenia,  which  place  he 
made  his  home  until  18S1,  when  he  finally  lo- 
cated in  Dayton,  and  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  city  ever  since. 

Politically  Mr.  Sears  has  always  been  a  re- 
publican, but  he  has  never  sought  office. 
While   a   resident   of   Greene    county  he  was 


844 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


elected  constable;  but  the  election  was  entirely 
without  his  seeking  and  was  unanimous.  In 
1895,  m  order  to  maintain  the  ward  organiza- 
tion, but  without  hope  of  success  in  the  elec- 
tion, his  ward  being  heavily  democratic,  he 
consented  to  accept  the  nomination  for  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education,  and  after  quite 
an  active  campaign,  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  four  votes,  for  a  term  of  two  years,  the  nor- 
mal democratic  majority  being  326. 

Mr.  Sears  was  married  in  Xenia,  Ohio, 
June  20,  1870,  to  Leonora  A.  Martin,  born 
February  5,  1849,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Laura  Martin.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Courtland 
M.,  deceased;  Frederick  H.,  member  of  the 
Dayton  bar;  an  infant,  deceased;  and  Walter 
E.,  now  attending  school  in  Dayton.  Mr. 
Sears  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  frater- 
nity and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  and  is  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
cause  of  good  schools.  In  religious  circles  and 
in  the  business  world  he  is  in  high  standing, 
and  his  character  is  unquestioned  for  probity 
and  integrity. 

Fred  H.  Sears,  junior  member  of  the  law 
firm  of  Peebles  &  Sears,  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
February  5,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
Sears,  the  well-known  citizen  and  member  of 
the  Dayton  board  of  education,  of  whom  men- 
tion is  made  above. 

Fred  H.  Sears  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Dayton  and  at  DePauw  university, 
at  Greencastle,  Ind.,  entering  that  institution 
in  1890  and  graduating  in  1893.  He  read  law 
with  the  regular  course  at  DePauw,  and  while 
there  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Indiana.  In 
March,  1894,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  bar, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  practicing  his 
profession  in  Dayton,  meeting  with  success, 
and   establishing  a   reputation   as  one  of  the 


progressive,  able  and  successful  of  the  city's 
younger  attorneys.  Mr.  Sears  is  a  member  of 
the  Phi  Gamma  Delta  and  of  the  Delta  Chi 
college  fraternities,  and  also  of  the  Ancient 
Essenic  order.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics, 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker. 


HLBERT  C.  WHITE,  member  of  the 
Dayton  city  council  from  the  Tenth 
ward,  and  clerk  in  the  freight  office 
of  the  Erie  Railroad  company,  was 
born  in  Hillsdale  county,  Mich.,  August  2, 
1844.  His  parents  were  F.  S.  and  Amelia 
White,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey. 
After  their  marriage  in  Ohio  they  removed  to 
Michigan,  and  there,  six  months  after  the 
birth  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  his  mother 
died.  In  1867  his  father  returned  to  Ohio, 
locating  at  Chillicothe.  Later  in  life  he  went 
to  Alabama,  and  died  near  Mobile,  that  state, 
about  1880. 

Albert  C.  White  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  later  spent  two  years  in  the 
Agricultural  college  in  Michigan.  In  1861  he 
received  an  appointment  to  a  position  in  the 
United  States  treasury  department  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ,  and  in  that  city  he  spent  the 
years  of  the  late  Civil  war.  In  1865  he  was 
sent  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  to  take  a  place  in  the 
revenue  department,  his  uncle,  F.  W.  Kel- 
logg, an  ex-member  of  congress,  from  Michi- 
gan, being  at  that  time  collector  of  internal 
revenue  for  the  Mobile  district.  He  spent 
two  years  in  the  south,  returning  north  in 
1 867  and  joining  his  father  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  for  nineteen  years.  During 
this  time  he  filled  various  clerical  positions. 
In  January,  1886,  he  removed  to  Dayton,  and 
in  December  following  entered  the  freight  office 
of  the  New  York,  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio  division 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


845 


of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Rail- 
road company,  in  which  position  he  is  still 
retained. 

Politically,  Mr.  White  has  been  a  life-long 
republican,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  affairs.  In  April,  1896,  he 
was  elected  as  a  republican  to  the  city  council 
of  Dayton  from  the  Tenth  ward,  his  official 
term  expiring  in  the  spring  of  1898.  While 
living  in  Chillicothe  he  was  elected  to  the 
council  from  a  democratic  ward,  notwith- 
standing that  he  was  a  republican,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  two  republican  members  of  that 
body. 

Fraternally  Mr.  White  is  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  order,  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics. 
He  is  a  member  of  Saint  Paul's  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  located  at  the  corner  of  Huff- 
man avenue  and  May  street,  and  established 
in  1884. 

Mr.  White  was  married  in  March,  1872, 
to  Miss  Jane  Baldwin,  of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Baldwin,  deceased,  a  well 
known  citizen  of  Ross  county.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  there  has  been 
born  one  child,  F.  Clifford  White,  who  was 
born  in  Chillicothe  in  1875.  He  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  is  now  in  the 
employ  of  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton 
Railroad  company,   with  his  office  in  Dayton. 


•HOMAS  WILL,  engineer  at   the  na- 
tion    military     home,    near    Dayton, 
Ohio,     was    born     in    Germantown, 
Wayne  county,    Ind.,  June   9,    1853, 
and  was  educated  and   reared  to   manhood  in 
his  native  state. 

Thomas  and  Margaret  (Senger)  Will,  his 
parents,  were  natives  of  the  kingdom  of  Ba- 
varia,   and  immediately  after  their    marriage 


came  to  the  United  States,  and  about  1845 
settled  in  the  village  mentioned  above.  To 
their  marriage  were  born  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  eldest  died  in  infancy,  unnamed  ; 
the  others  were  born  in  the  following  order  : 
Johan  Henry,  who  is  a  mechanical  engineer, 
residing  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  John  and 
George  Louis,  «both  farmers  of  Delaware 
county,  Ind. ;  Thomas  ;  Mary  Annie,  wife  of 
William  Lewick,  of  Delaware  county,  Ind.; 
Daniel,  a  traveling  salesman,  with  his  home  in 
Minneapolis  ;  Samuel,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
about  twenty-eight  years  ;  Adam,  a  salesman 
and  farmer,  residing  in  Huntington,  Ind.,  and 
Louisa,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  one- 
half  years.  Thomas,  the  father  of  this  family, 
died  in  Indiana  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years, 
and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  forty-eight. 

Thomas  Will,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch, 
worked  at  farming  until  he  attained  man's  es- 
state,  when  he  learned  engineering,  and  since 
1873  has  acted  as  engineer  in  sawmills, 
flouring-mills,  wagon  factories,  and  in  other 
places  where  steam  was  used  as  motive  power. 
In  April,  1888,  Mr.  Will  came  to  Dayton  and 
was  selected  as  fireman  for  the  pumping  ma- 
chinery of  the  military  home,  and  this  position 
he  filled  until  1891,  when  he  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  lake  pump  house,  which  position  he  has 
since  filled. 

December  18,  1884,  Mr.  Will  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  Adams,  a  native 
of  Franklin,  Ohio,  the  ceremony  taking  place 
at  Winchester,  Randolph  county,  Ohio.  Two 
children  have  come  to  bless  this  union  and  are 
named  Carl  Edward  and  Albert  Royce,  both 
now  at  school.  Mr.  Will  has  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence near  the  military  home,  where  he  passes 
the  hours  of  leisure  and  rest.  He  has  not  lost 
one  day  from  duty  since  taking  his  present 
place  eight  years  ago,  although  the  managers 
allow  ten  days  "  off  duty  "  each  year  with 
pay.      In  politics  Mr.    Will  leans  toward  the 


846 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


principles  of  the  democratic  party;  and  frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows. 


HLBERT  MILTON  WILLIAMSON, 
M.  D.,  of  No.  122  South  Broadway 
street,  Dayton,  was  born  at  Russell- 
ville,  Brown  county,  Ohio,  April  28, 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  J. 
(Henry)  Williamson,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  the  latter  of  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  and  daughter  of  John  C.  Henry,  who 
was  born  in  this  state  of  Irish  parents.  John 
Williamson,  the  grandfather  of  Dr.  William- 
son, moved  from  Amwell,  N.  J.,  to  Kentucky, 
and  later  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Brown 
county,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He 
married  a  Miss  Dalrymple,  of  New  Jersey, 
who,  like  himself,  was  of  English  ancestry. 

John  Williamson  and  Nancy  J.  Henry  were 
married  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  all  of  whom 
became  useful  members  of  society,  namely: 
Albert  M.,  of  this  mention;  Martha  E.,  wife  of 
Amos  McKinley,  of  Russellville,  Ohio;  J. 
Henry,  deceased;  A.  Wilson,  who  is  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Peck-Williamson  Heating 
&  Ventilating  company,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio; 
Samantha  J.,  wife  of  John  D.  Seip,  of  Russell- 
ville, Ohio;  Lizzie  E.,  who  became  the  wife  of 
George  E.  Sidwell,  of  Russellville,  and  died  in 
April,  1893;  and  William  C. ,  who  is  president 
of  the  Helmig,  Williamson  Shoe  company,  of 
Cincinnati. 

The  father  of  this  family  was  for  several 
years  a  successful  farmer  and  speculator,  but 
later  in  life  engaged  in  hotel  keeping.  He 
died  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  January  29, 
1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  His 
widow  is  still  living,  and  is  an  honored  resi- 
dent of  the  county  in  which  she  was  born. 
Albert    M.    Williamson    was    reared    on  a 


farm,  receiving  his  elementry  education  in  the 
public  schools  before  the  war,  and  afterward 
in  higher  schools.  In  June,  1862,  being  then 
but  eighteen,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  inde- 
pendent company  of  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry, 
in  which  he  served  with  honor  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  During  the  last  year  of  his  serv- 
ice, he  was  on  detached  duty  at  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  commanded 
by  Gen.  McPherson,  and  later  by  Gen.  O.  O. 
Howard,  and  was  the  messenger  who  bore  the 
dispatch  to  Gen.  Grant,  informing  him  of  the 
battle  of  Champion  Hills.  He  was  a  member 
of  a  detail  to  carry  prisoners  to  the  rebel  lines 
in  exchange  for  Gen.  Grant's  adjutant,  Gen. 
Rawlins,  who  was  captured  at  Holly  Springs, 
Miss.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  after  participating  in  the 
grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  service,  young 
Williamson  began  preparation  for  his  life 
work,  attending  high  school,  and  later  the  Na- 
tional Normal  university  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  time. 
He  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J. 
N.  Salisbury,  of  Russellville,  and  attended  the 
Starling  Medical  college,  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Thence  he  went  to  the  Medical  College  of 
Ohio,  at  Cincinnati,  receiving  his  degree  from 
that  institution  in  March,  1871.  Soon  after 
his  graduation  he  located  at  Russellville,  Ohio, 
and  there  successfully  practiced  his  profession 
for  sixteen  years,  and  in  May,  1887,  removed 
to  Dayton,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  practice. 

Dr.  Williamson  is  a  close  student  of  his 
profession  and  keeps  himself  well  abreast  of 
the  times.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Brown 
county  Medical  society,  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Medical  society,  of  the  state  Medical 
association,  and  of  the  American  Medical  as- 
sociation. The  doctor  was  the  last  surgeon 
of  the  Thirteenth  regiment,    O.    N.    G.,  pre- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


847 


vious  to  its  consolidation  with  the  Third  regi- 
ment. In  social  and  fraternal  orders  he  takes 
an  active  interest,  being  a  member  of  Russel- 
ville  lodge,  No.  166,  F.  &  A,  M. ;  of  George- 
town chapter,  No.  52,  R.  A.  M. ;  of  Fraternal 
lodge,  No.  510,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  of  Hope  lodge, 
No.  277,  Knights  of  Pythias;  and  of  Hiram 
Strong  post,  No.  79,  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Dayton. 
Politically,  he  is  a  republican,  and  has  held 
several  minor  offices,  serving  for  six  years  as  a 
member  of  the  city  board  of  health. 

Dr.  Williamson  was  married,  March  23, 
1 87 1,  at  Russellville,  to  Miss  Emma  Salisbury, 
a  daughter  of  Dr.  Salisbury,  and  a  native  of 
that  city.  To  this  union  three  children  have 
been  born,  namely:  Frederick  E.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Dayton;  Pliny  W.,  a  stu- 
dent at  Oberlin,  and  Florence,  at  home.  Dr. 
Williamson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  take  an  active  inter- 
est in  all  religious  work.  The  doctor  is  es- 
sentially a  self-made  man,  and  his  success  in 
life  is  the  result  of  his  enterprise,  industry  and 
integrity.  He  is  a  valued  citizen,  who  enjoys 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  community 
in  which  he  lives. 


ISAIAH  B.  WILSON,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  with  his 
office  at  No.  66  East  Jones  street,  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  city  for  the  past 
nineteen  years.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  December  28,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of 
Bartholomew  and  Margaret  A.  (Brenner) 
Wilson. 

Isaiah  B.  Wilson  was  educated  at  the  Otter- 
bein  university,  Westerville,  Ohio,  and  after- 
ward studied  medicine  with  Dr.  A.  R.  Moist, 
now  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  but  then  of  Sulphur 
Grove,  Montgomery  county.  Afterward  he 
attended  and  graduated  from  the  Miami  Med- 
ical college,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  being  a  mem- 


ber of  the  class  of  1877.  He  immediately 
afterward  located  in  Dayton,  on  Jones  street, 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  gen- 
eral practice,  and  has  met  with  much  success. 
Dr.  Wilson  was  married  February  5,  1891, 
to  Mrs.  Emma  Giles,  a  daughter  of  Absalom 
Westfall.  She  was  born  in  Shelby  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Dr.  Wilson  is  one  of  the  broad- 
minded,  practical  citizens  of  Dayton,  and  is 
doing  his  part  in  advancing  her  best  interests. 


(D 


ILTON  E.  WILLIAMSON,  M.  D. , 
residing  at  126  North  Jefferson 
street,  Dayton,  and  one  of  the  rising 
young  physicians  of  the  state,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  August  29, 
1859,  and  is  a  son  of  Eleazar  and  Eliza  (Aber- 
crombie)  Williamson,  both  members  of  Mont- 
gomery county's  oldest-settled  families. 

Milton  E.  Williamson's  early  boyhood  and 
manhood  were  passed  on  his  father's  farm,  as- 
sisting in  arduous  agricultural  labor,  developing 
his  muscle  and  expanding  his  brain.  After  a 
full  preparatory  course  of  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  he  attended  Xenia  college  two 
years  and  also  spent  three  years  in  the  Wes- 
leyan  university,  Delaware,  Ohio,  meanwhile 
reading  medicine  under  Dr.  John  Turnbull,  of 
Bellbrook,  Ohio.  He  then  entered  the  Ohio 
Medical  college,  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  March  5,  1885,  at  the  head  of 
his  class,  having  devoted  all  of  ten  years  of 
hard  study  in  preparing  himself  for  his  chosen 
profession.  He  then  took  a  special  course  in 
the  study  of  diseases  of  the  eye,  in  the  treat- 
ment of  which  he  has  since  met  with  decided 
success  and  established  for  himself  a  most 
enviable  reputation.  He  first  opened  his 
office  for  practice  in  New  Paris,  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  ability  soon  won  for  him  a 
large  patronage  in  general  practice,  and  where 


848 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


he  performed  a  number  of  complicated  and 
difficult  operations  in  surgery,  being  at  the 
time  surgeon  for  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
company.  But  the  field  of  his  practice  was 
somewhat  cramped,  and,  with  a  view  of 
enlarging  its  scope,  he,  on  March  19,  1889, 
came  to  Dayton,  where  his  recognized  skill 
has  gained  for  him  a  large  and  lucrative  list  of 
reliable  and  constant  patrons. 

The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  interna- 
tional congress  of  physicians  and  surgeons;  is 
examining  physician  for  the  Prudential  Life 
Insurance  company;  and  also  chairman  of  the 
district  examining  board.  He  is  a  strong 
advocate  of  morality  in  all  its  phases,  and  is 
ever  ready  to  direct  the  young  in  the  paths  of 
virtue  and  right.  In  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  in  religion  affiliates  with  the  Third 
street  Presbyterian  church.  His  popularity  in 
his  profession  has  been  and  is  of  steady  growth, 
and  in  Dayton's  social  circles  he  is  always  a 
most  welcome   visitor. 


at 


TLLIAM  L.  WINCHELL,  residence 
1 326  Wayne  avenue,  one  of  the  old- 
est and  best  known  citizens  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  was  born  in  North  East, 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  August  31,  1827,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Laura  E.  (Lawrence) 
Winchell,  of  English  ancestry.  The  father, 
William,  was  a  merchant,  and  lived  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-two  years,  and  the  mother 
lived  until  eighty-two  years  old,  both  dying  in 
Springfield,  Ohio.  Their  family  comprised, 
beside  William  L.,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, viz:  James  Frank,  of  Springfield,  who 
is  noted  for  his  many  inventions  of  farming 
implements  and  mechanics'  tools;  Flora  A.,  a 
member  of  the  family  of  her  brother  William 
since  the  death  of  her  parents,  whom  she  fili- 
ally cared  for  until  their  end;  Elizabeth,  who 
was  married  to  E.  P.  H.  Capron,  a  contractor 


in  machinery,  but  died  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  in 
May,  1896;  and  Helen,  the  wife  of  Capt.  J. 
V.  Davis,  who  has  had  charge  of  the  National 
cemetery,  at  Alexandria,  Va. ,  for  twenty-three 
years. 

William  L.  Winchell  was  educated  at  the 
Sheffield  Collegiate  institute.  Conn.,  studied 
medicine,  but  did  not  enter  upon  its  practice; 
he  then  prepared  himself  for  the  profession  of 
teacher,  and  for  twelve  years  taught  school  in 
his  native  state.  He  was  then  elected  county 
superintendent 'of  schools  of  Dutchess  county, 
held  the  position  for  about  five  years,  when  he 
resigned  and  came  to  Ohio,  in  1853,  locating 
in  Yellow  Springs,  Greene  county.  Here  he 
took  charge  of  the  Christian  Publishing  house 
for  two  years,  being  for  a  portion  of  that  time 
editor  of  the  Gospel  Herald.  He  then  came 
to  Dayton  and  married  Miss  Lidie  A.  Reesor, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Reesor,  a  pioneer  business 
man,  extensively  engaged  in  packing  and  favor- 
ably known  to  all  the  old  residents  of  Dayton. 
This  marriage  was  solemnized  October  18, 
1855,  and  the  following  six  months  were  spent 
in  traveling  throughout  the  east.  On  his  re- 
turn Mr.  Winchell  joined  his  father-in-law  in 
business,  which  connection  continued  until 
about  i860. 

War  being  now  imminent,  in  i860  Mr. 
Winchell  joined  the  Dayton  Light  Guards,  and 
was  engaged  in  drilling  recruits  for  the  front 
until  1863,  and  of  thirty-five  men  who  passed 
under  his  instruction,  twenty-eight  afterward 
held  commissions  above  the  rank  of  captain. 
In  1864  Mr.  Winchell  entered  the  service  as 
first  lieutenant  of  company  B,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
was  sent  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was  at 
once  detached  from  his  company  and  placed 
on  the  military  commission  authorized  by  the 
president  for  the  trial  of  deserters,  bounty 
jumpers,  and  traitors  who  aided  the  enemy, 
and  his  entire  term  was  spent  in   this  service. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


849 


On  his  return  to  Dayton  he  entered  on  his 
duties  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education, 
to  which  position  he  had  been  elected  and 
qualified  prior  to  his  enlistment.  He  served 
ten  years  on  this  board,  and  during  this  period 
edited  the  first  manual  or  graded  course  of 
study  for  the  city  schools  ;  also  prepared  a 
graded  course  in  German  —  intermediate  and 
higher  —  which  is  still  in  force.  He  was  dep- 
uty county  auditor  in  1864,  and  had  charge  of 
the  school  department  ;  in  1867  or  1868  he 
was  elected  clerk  of  the  first  metropolitan 
police  force,  but  the  law  authorizing  this  or- 
ganization was  repealed  two  years  later  and 
the  city  returned  to  the  old  police  system.  Mr. 
Winchell  also  served  as  police  clerk  under 
Mayor  Baumann  and  then  under  Mayor  Morri- 
son, and  was  next  made  chief  deputy  under 
Recorder  Owen  for  three  years.  For  the  past 
eighteen  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  book- 
keeping, principally  for  the  undertaking  firm 
of  Berk  &  Fry,  but  is  frequently  employed  as 
an  expert  in  adjusting  complicated   accounts. 

Mrs.  Lidie  A.  Winchell  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  in  1889,  leaving  surviving  her  four 
sons  and  one  daughter,  viz :  Charles  R.,  a 
machinist,  who  has  .been  employed  by  Smith 
&  Vaile  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  is  mar- 
ried;  Jennie  L. ,  wife  of  Jacob  Perrine,  a  pat- 
ternmaker; Ward  P.,  a  graduate  of  Annapolis 
Naval  academy  and  past  assistant  engineer  of 
the  United  States  navy,  now  making  a  trip 
around  the  world  with  fifty  cadets  ;  Willie  T., 
a  trunkmaker  by  trade,  married,  and  a  resident 
of  Columbus;  Harry  L.,  of  Dayton,  married, 
and  a  painter  and  decorator  by  trade. 

Mr.  Winchell  has  been  an  active  and  prom- 
nent  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  for  twenty- 
eight  years,  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs  of  the 
subordinate  lodge  ;  he  has  also  been  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  grand  lodge  of  Ohio  two  terms, 
and  holds  membership  at  present  in  Dayton 
lodge,  No.    273,  and  Gem   City  encampment, 


No.  116,  of  which  he  is  a  past-chief  patri- 
arch ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Old  Guard  post, 
G.  A.  R. ,  of  Dayton.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  city  board  of  health,  and  no  man  in 
Dayton  has  taken  greater  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters.  He  united  with  the  Baptist 
church,  in  his  native  state,  in  1842,  and  trans- 
ferred his  membership  to  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Dayton,  in  1853. 


a  APT.  JOHN  H.  WINDER,  a  retired 
business  man  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Funkstown,  Washington  coun- 
ty, Md.,  October  22,  1832.  His  par- 
ents, John  and  Rebecca  (Schlencker)  Winder, 
were  also  natives  of  Maryland,  and  of  German 
descent.  John  Winder  was  born  in  18 12  and 
his  wife  in  1808,  and  in  1835  they  came  to 
Ohio  and  located  oh  a  farm  twelve  miles  north 
of  Dayton,  whence  they  removed  to  Center- 
ville,  Ind.,  but  returned  to  Dayton  in  1847. 
Of  their  children,  beside  John  H.,  one  son  and 
one  daughter  are  still  living — Silas  D.,  a  brick- 
layer, and  Julia  A.,  widow  of  William  Snell, 
both  residents  of  Dayton.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  this  city  in  1888,  but 
the  father  survived  until  1892,  when  he,  too, 
was  called  away,  both,  it  will  be  seen,  having 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 

John  H.  Winder  was  a  mere  babe  when 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  and  a  lad  of 
about  fifteen  years  when  they  settled  in  Day- 
ton permanently.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Indiana  and  of  this  city,  and 
his  earlier  business  life  was  begun  in  the  whole- 
sale shoe  and  notion  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Coffman,  Winder  &  Co.  His  first 
enlistment  took  place  in  April,  1861,  for  the 
three  months'  service  with  the  Dayton  Light 
Guards,  with  which  organization  he  had  been 
connected  for  ten   years  prior  to  the  opening 


850 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  the  war,  and  which  was  one  of  the  first 
militia  companies  to  leave  Dayton  for  the  front 
as  Ohio  volunteers.  Mr.  Winder  was  made 
orderly  sergeant  of  his  company,  and  when 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at 
Lancaster,  Pa. ,  was  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant. The  company  was  the  first  to  report 
to  the  governor  of  Ohio  and  was  given  the 
position  of  honor — that  of  company  C,  First 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  The  First  and  Sec- 
ond Ohio  regiments  were  the  only  ones  repre- 
senting the  west  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
and,  in  this  opening  fight  of  the  great  Rebel- 
lion, Lieut.  Winder  covered  there  treat  in  line 
of  battle  from  Manassas  to  Washington.  After 
the  expiration  of  his  three  months'  term,  the 
lieutenant  returned  to  Dayton,  sold  out  his 
business,  and  accepted  a  position  as  clerk  in 
the  office  of  the  county  treasurer,  but  kept  up 
the  Light  Guards  organization. 

Early  in  1862  Lieut.  Winder  re-entered 
the  army  as  captain  of  company  I,  Eighty- 
fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  also  for  three 
months,  served  chiefly  in  guarding  the  fords 
along  the  upper  Potomac  river,  and  was  in 
Cumberland  when  the  rebels  made  a  dash  and 
captured  Gen.  Kelley  at  a  hotel  in  that  town. 
In  1863  Capt.  Winder  entered  the  Fourth  in- 
dependent battalion,  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry, 
known  as  Tod's  Scouts,  to  serve  six  months; 
but  the  duty,  mostly  scouting,  was  extended 
to  nine  months.  He  commanded  company  B, 
of  this  regiment,  having  declined  a  major's 
commission,  feeling  in  honor  bound  to  stand 
by  the  company  with  which  he  had  entered  the 
regiment.  The  service  of  this  regiment  was 
chiefly  rendered  in  the  vicinity  of  Cumberland 
Gap,  and  Capt.  Winder  commanded  the  first 
Union  force  that  ever  entered  Tazewell  road, 
in  southern  Virginia.  These  three  enlistments, 
which  were  nominally  to  cover  one  year  only, 
were  prolonged  to  a  period  of  about  one  year 
and  a  half.      On  his  return  to  Dayton,  Capt. 


Winder  engaged  in  the  marble  trade  until 
1876.  In  1876-77  he  served  as  chief  of  the 
Dayton  fire  department,  and  then,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Huber  &  Winder,  he  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  until  1881,  when 
he  sold  out  his  interest,  and  the  following  year 
was  one  of  leisure.  He  then  engaged  as  book- 
keeper and  superintendent  of  a  wholesale  and 
retail  furniture  establishment  until  April,  1895, 
when  the  proprietor  died  and  the  business  was 
discontinued,  since  which  time  the  captain  has 
lived  in  retirement. 

Capt.  Winder  was  most  happily  united  in 
marriage  September  1,  1853,  with  Miss  Joanna 
Kinney,  a  native  of  Clear  Spring,  Va. ,  and  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Kinney,  a  former  resi- 
dent of  Dayton.  This  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  two  children,  viz:  Charles  A.,  who 
is  married  and  carries  on  a  collection  agency 
in  Dayton,  and  Ella  M.,  who  is  still  under  the 
parental  roof  and  unmarried.  Both  these 
children  have  enjoyed  very  superior  educa- 
tional advantages. 

Capt.  Winder  is  very  prominent  in  his  so- 
ciety relations,  being  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
post,  G.  A.  R. ;  Dayton  lodge,  No.  273,  I.  O. 

0.  F.,  of  which  he  is  a  past  grand  ;  is  also  a 
member  of  the  encampment  ;  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  Miami  lodge,  No.  32,  K.  of  P.,  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  has  been  commander  of 
Dayton  division,  No.  5,  uniform  rank,  for  the 
past  eight  years;  he  held  membership  with  the 

1.  O.  R.  M.,  and  is  a  past  grand  officer  in  the 
Knights  of  Honor  ;  he  also  affiliated  with  the 
order  of  American  Mechanics  while  that  organi- 
zation existed  ;  of  the  last-named  order  he  was 
the  first  candidate  initiated  in  Dayton  lodge. 
No.  273,  and  during  his  forty  years'  member- 
ship was  never  reported  sick.  In  politics  the 
captain  is  an  active-working  republican  ;  in 
religion,  Mrs.  Winder  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  while  Miss  Winder  is  a  member  of 
the  Reform  church.      Socially,  the  family  stand 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


85$ 


very  high,  and  the  captain  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  useful  and  substantial  of  Dayton's 
soldier  citizens. 


ar 


'ILSON  G.  TANNER,  late  of  the 
shoe  firm  of  Diers  &  Tanner,  of  104 
South  Main  street,  Dayton,  was 
born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  April 
7,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  L.  and  Mary 
(Banta)  Tanner,  the  former  of  whom  is  now 
deceased. 

Michael  L.  Tanner,  a  Virginian,  was  a  mer- 
chant of  West  Manchester,  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1865  came 
to  Dayton,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  trav- 
eling salesman  for  a  wholesale  grocery  house, 
and  in  this  employment  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  dying  in  May,  1871,  being 
reputed  one  of  the  best  salesmen  that  ever 
traversed  Ohio  and  eastern  Indiana.  He  was 
very  prominent  in  the  circles  of  Odd  Fellow- 
ship, and  in  politics  was  a  republican.  His 
children  were  four  in  number  and  were  born 
in  the  following  order  :  Wilson  G. ;  William  H . , 
a  conductor  on  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  & 
Dayton  railroad  ;  Charles  F.,  floor  manager 
for  Diers  &  Tanner  ;  and  Flora,  deceased. 

Wilson  G.  Tanner  was  reared  in  Dayton, 
and  attended  the  public  schools  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  although  at  the  age  of  twelve  he 
began  clerking  during  the  summer  months,  or 
vacations,  and  from  fourteen  until  eighteen 
was  engaged  in  farming.  At  seventeen  he 
began  teaching  during  the  winter  months,  fol- 
lowing this  life  for  three  years,  and  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years  entered  the  employ  of  Ander- 
son &  Maxton,  as  bookkeeper,  which  position 
he  retained  three  years.  For  the  following 
eight  years  he  had  charge  of  the  books  of  the 
United  Brethren  Publishing  company,  and  was 
then,  for   four   years,    cashier   for   the    Mutual 

Home    &    Savings    association.      In    1892    he 
33 


formed  a  partnership  with  August  F.  Diers,  ini 
the  shoe  trade,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  andf 
Jefferson  streets,  whence  the  business  was  re- 
moved, in  1893,  to  its  present  quarters,  at  104 
South  Main  street,  this  salesroom  being  mod- 
ern and  commodious  and  stocked  with  the 
largest  assortment  of  the  various  styles  of  foot- 
wear to  be  found  in  Dayton.  Here  a  very 
active  and  prosperous  trade  has  beerrbuilt  up 
through  the  united  energies  of  the  two  young 
partners  ;  but  a  short  time  since  Mr.  Tanner 
was  obliged,  by  reason  of  ill  health,  to  retire 
from  the  firm,  selling  his  interest  to  Mr.  Diers. 

For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Tanner  was  recording 
secretary  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  association,  and  is  still  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  ;  he  is  a  Knight  Templar  in 
the  Free  &  Accepted  Masonic  fraternity,  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  having  passed  all  the  chairs 
in  the  latter  order  ;  is  a  member  of  the  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  of  the 
Garfield  club  and  of  the  board  of  trade. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Tanner  took  place 
April  20,  1882,  to  Miss  Emma  Miller,  daughter 
of  William  C.  and  Mary  ( Shuey  )  Miller,  the 
union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  two  children  — 
Mary,  now  deceased,  and  Flora.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tanner  are  members  of  the  High  street 
United  Brethren  church,  in  which  Mr.  Tanner 
is  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  is  also 
a  class  leader.  The  home  of  the  family  is  at 
No.  37  High  street,  where  their  social  com- 
panionship is  of  the  most  agreeable  character. 


>^OSEPH  MILTON  WINE,  M.  D.,  phy- 
■  sician  and  surgeon,  of  Dayton,  having 
(9  1  his  office  at  No.  1833  East  Fifth  street, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
December  11,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  D.  D. 
and   Susie   (Miller)   Wine,  both   of   whom   are 


854 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


living  in  Covington,  Miami   county,  Ohio,  the 
family  being  one  of  the  oldest  in  that  county. 

D.  D.  Wine  was  born  in  Harrisonburg, 
Rockingham  county,  Ya.,  in  1839,  and  be- 
longed to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the 
state.  He  was  living  in  Virginia  when  the 
war  broke  out,  and  was  a  Union  man;  but 
being  drafted  into  the  southern  army  he  fought 
only  until  he  had  an  opportunity  to  desert, 
when  he  took  advantage  of  his  opportunity 
and  came  north  in  1862.  He  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  one  mile  west  of  Day- 
ton, and  there  engaged  in  farming.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Susie  Miller,  of  Dayton,  on  February 
1,  1865,  she  being  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Catherine  Miller,  old  settlers  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Wine  continued  to  follow  farming  in 
Montgomery  county  until  1874,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Miami  county,  locating  south  of  Cov- 
ington, where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He 
is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  his  locality, 
being  president  of  the  Crescent  Metallic  Fence 
company,  of  Covington,  Ohio,  and  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  Mutual  Insurance  company,  of 
Covington,  Ohio.  D.  D.  Wine  and  his  wife 
are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Joseph  M. ;  Wilford,  a  physician  of  Troy,  Ohio; 
Mary,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  living  at 
home;  Bertha,  Martha,  John,  Alice  and  Grace. 

Joseph  M.  Wine  was  educated  first  in  the 
public  schools,  and  afterward  attended  the 
Western  Normal  school  at  Ada,  Ohio.  After 
teaching  school  for  three  years,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine,  reading  with  Dr.  A.  S. 
Rosenberger,  of  Covington,  Ohio,  and  then  at- 
tended the  Chicago  Homeopathic  Medical  col- 
lege, graduating  from  that  institution  in  the 
class  of  1 89 1.  He  was  then,  for  eighteen 
months,  intern,  or  physician  and  surgeon,  of 
the  Cook  county  hospital,  securing  the  position 
in  a  competition  by  himself  and  eight  others. 
His  class  contained  sixty-six  members,  and  in 
this  class  Dr.  Wine  stood  second  at  graduation. 


He  received  a  diploma  of  honor  for  services  in 
the  hospital.  In  the  fall  of  1892  he  went  to 
Toronto,  Ontario,  where  he  served  as  house 
physician  in  a  hospital  for  six  months,  after 
which  he  spent  six  months  in  practice  in  Cov- 
ington, Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of  1893  located 
in  Dayton;  in  this  city,  in  the  comparatively 
short  space  of  two  years,  he  has  succeeded  in 
building  up  a  flourishing  practice.  Dr.  Wine 
is  a  member  of  the  Dayton  Homeopathic 
Medical  society  and  also  of  the  Miami  valley 
Homeopathic  Medical  society.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  German  Baptist  church,  takes 
great  interest  in  its  work  and  success,  and  is 
one  of  the  public-spirited  and  enterprising 
young  men  and  physicians  of  Dayton. 


a  APT.  WILLIAM  J.  WINTER  is 
the  son  of  Thomas  Winter,  a  native 
of  England,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
the  year  1784  and  who  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1819,  locating  near  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Here  he  married  Mary  Ann  Wingert, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  followed  the  tailor's  trade,  and  later  ac- 
cumulated a  competence  in  mercantile  business. 
Thomas  and  Mary  Ann  Winter  reared  a  family 
of  four  children,  one  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are 
living  at  this  time.  The  eldest  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth S.,  widow  of  Edwin  S.  Winter,  resides 
on  Price's  Hill,  a  suburb  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Capt.  S.  C.  Mclntyre,  lives 
at  Rossmoyne,  Ohio,  and  Ella  H.  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Monroe,  head  entry  clerk  in  the  ex- 
tensive mercantile  house  of  John  Shillito  & 
Co.,  Cincinnati. 

William  J.  Winter  was  born  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  August  5,  1839,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  .schools  of  the  city,  which  he 
attended  at  intervals  until  early  manhood.  His 
first  employment  was  in   the  Cincinnati  post- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


855 


office,  and  covered  a  period  of  about  five  years. 
Later,  he  spent  two  years  in  the  general  ticket 
office  of  the  O.  &  M.  railway,  where  he  was 
engaged  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war. 
With  patriotic  valor,  he  resigned  his  place  and 
responded  to  the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln 
for  three-month  volunteers,  enlisting  on  the 
19th  da}'  of  April,  1861,  in  company  G,  Fifth 
Ohio  infantry.  The  period  of  enlistment  was 
spent  principally  at  camps  Harrison  and  Den- 
nison,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  the  term,  the 
regiment  re-enlisted  at  the  latter  place  for 
three  years.  For  some  time  the  regiment  re- 
mained unassigned,  but  was  finally  attached  to 
the  command  of  Gen.  Shields  and  saw  its  first 
active  duty  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  partici- 
pating in  the  battle  of  Winchester.  August 
11,  1862,  Capt.  Winter  was  ordered  to  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in 
the  recruiting  service,  and  later  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  general  engineering  corps,  his 
duty  being  the  taking  of  photographs  and  mak- 
ing maps  and  drawings  of  fields,  buildings,  de- 
fenses, etc.  During  this  important  service,  in 
which  he  was  engaged  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  was  often  in  possession  of  information 
not  generally  had  by  subordinate  officers,  and 
he  rendered  valuable  assistance  to  his  supe- 
riors along  the  line  of  the  secret  service. 

Following  his  discharge,  which  he  received 
at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1865,  Capt.  Winter 
was  a  bookkeeper  in  Cincinnati  until  his 
father's  death,  at  which  time,  1866,  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in 
photography.  He  continued  business  until 
defective  eyesight  compelled  him  to  dispose  of 
his  gallery,  when,  in  February,  1891,  he  came 
to  the  National  Home,  D.  V.  S.,  to  have  his 
ailment  properly  treated.  As  soon  as  his  eyes 
were  sufficiently  benefited,  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  company  Twenty-nine,  and  had 
charge  of  the  same  until  transferred  in  August, 
1892,  to  the   command   of   company  Two,  his 


present  position.  The  captain  has  1 1 1  beds  in 
his  ward  and  carries  the  names  of  1 50  men 
upon  the  books  of  the  company  which  he  com- 
mands. His  record  while  in  the  active  serv- 
ice of  his  country  is  all  that  could  be  expected 
of  a  brave  and  conscientious  soldier,  and  since 
entering  upon  official  life,  he  has  discharged 
his  duty  with  commendable  fidelity  and  proven 
himself  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  his  supe- 
riors. In  politics  the  captain  is  a  democrat, 
but  not  an  aggressive  partisan;  he  was  for  some 
time  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he 
held  the  position  of  adjutant-general  of  Ohio 
for  three  years,  but  at  this  timeheisnot  identi- 
fied with  any  social  or  secret  organization.  He 
is  a  widower  and  the  father  of  two  children — 
Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  W.  Hornbrook,  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Maplewood,  Ohio,  and 
Frank  A.,  assistant  foreman  in  the  office  of  the 
Inter  Ocean,    Chicago. 


^  EWIS  W.  WINTERS,  who  is  a 
I      member  of  the  successful  firm  of  W. 

^^  F.  Haas  &  Company,  dealers  in  bicy- 
cles, in  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  to  be  noted 
as  one  of  the  enterprising  and  capable  young 
business  men  of  the  city. 

A  native  of  Carlisle,  Warren  county,  this 
state,  Mr.  Winters  was  born  on  the  22d  of 
August,  1874,  his  parents  being  John  C.  and 
Sarah  Amanda  (Hendrickson)  Winters,  repre- 
senting respective  ancestral  lines  of  German 
and  Scotch-French  extraction.  They  still  re- 
side in  Carlisle.  The  father  has  been  engaged 
in  railroading  and  express  business  the  greater 
portion  of  his  life.  He  began  work  as  a  tele- 
graph operator  when  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority, and  from  that  time  he  was  promoted  to 
higher  positions  of  trust  in  connection  with 
railway  affairs,  being  employed  in  various  ca- 
pacities. For  two  years  he  was  agent  of  the 
Erie     Express  company   in    Dayton,    and    for 


856 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


an  equal  length  of  time  acted  as  cashier  of  the 
Dayton  office  of  the  United  States  Express 
company.  During  many  years  he  has  made 
Carlisle  his  home,  though  his  duties  have  de- 
manded his  frequent  and  continued  absence. 
At  the  present  time  he  is  the  agent  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati, Jackson  &  Mackinaw  railroad  in  Frank- 
lin, Ohio.  He  was  born  June  17,  1846,  and 
his  marriage  to  Sarah  Amanda  Hendrickson 
was  consummated  in  Carlisle.  Lewis  W.  is 
the  only  child  born  to  them. 

Lewis  W.  Winters  passed  his  childhood 
years  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  gained  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  education,  supplementing  this  by 
a  course  of.  study  in  the  schools  of  Dayton. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Cincinnati,  Jackson  &  Macki- 
naw railroad  in  the  capacity  of  telegraph  oper- 
ator at  Franklin,  this  state,  and  occupied  that 
position  for  one  year,  after  which,  in  the  spring 
of  1894,  he  came  to  Dayton.  Here  he  was 
employed  as  bookkeeper  in  the  establishment 
of  A.  W.  Gump,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
the  time  when  he  associated  himself  with  Mr. 
Haas  in  the  purchase  of  the  business  with 
which  he  had  been  connected;  and  he  has 
since  had  the  management  of  the  enterprise, 
which  he  has  brought  to  a  highly  successful 
condition,  by  reason  of  his  interest,  progress- 
ive spirit  and  well  directed  efforts.  He  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  live  and  energetic 
young  business  men  of  the  city,  and  one  whose 
every  action  is  guided  by  principles  of  integ- 
rity and  honor.  Mr.  Winters  is  an  active  and 
zealous  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  his 
religious  affiliations  are  with  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  enjoys  a  large  acquaintanceship 
in  Dayton,  and  his  genial  nature  has  secured 
to  him  a  distinctive  popularity.  Of  the  busi- 
ness enterprise  with  which  he  is  identified 
specific  mention  is  made  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  the  life  of  his  associate,  Mr.    Haas. 


(D 


ILTON  WOLFE  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  of  Dayton  since  the 
centennial  year — 1876.  He  is  a 
native  son  of  Ohio,  having  been 
born  in  Logan  county  on  the  first  day  of  the 
year,  1848,  the  son  of  George  and  Olive  (Hen- 
dricks) Wolfe,  who  were  respectively  of  Ger- 
man and  New  England  stock  and  lineage.  The 
father  was  a  substantial  and  honored  farmer 
in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and  there  his  son 
Milton  was  reared  to  the  sturdy  and  invigorat- 
ing work  of  the  farm,  receiving  his  educational 
training  in  the  district  schools  of  the  vicinity. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  about  six- 
teen years  of  age,  when,  after  successfully 
teaching  a  district  school  for  one  term,  he  went 
to  Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  he  devoted  him- 
self to  the  study  of  the  photographic  art,  in 
which  he  became  highly  proficient.  In  1867 
he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  entered  one  of 
the  leading  studios,  whose  work  represented 
the  maximum  of  excellence  in  photographic 
processes.  He  remained  in  Chicago  for  about 
three  years,  during  which  time  he  attained  a 
high  degree  of  skill  in  every  branch  of  the 
artist's  work. 

Mr.  Wolfe  made  his  initial  business  venture 
by  opening  a  studio  at  Richmond,  Ind.,  and 
success  attended  his  efforts  in  this  old  Quaker 
city,  where  he  continued  for  about  four  years, 
after  which  he  came  to  Dayton  and  effected 
the  purchase  of  the  business  which  he  has 
since  continued  without  interruption  He 
stands  to-day  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession 
in  Dayton,  having  achieved  marked  artistic 
and  business  success.  He  does  all  kinds  of 
photographic  work  and  his  productions  com- 
pare favorably  with  those  of  the  leading  met- 
ropolitan studios.  In  1888  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  screen  plates  for  use  in  half- 
tone photographic  engraving  processes.  At 
that  time  there  were  but  few  engaged  in  this 
line  of  manufacture,  as  the    reproductive   pro- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


857 


cess  was  as  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  Mr.  Wolfe's  plates  are  known 
throughout  the  Union  for  their  superiority,  be- 
ing of  special  design  and  construction.  In  fact, 
the  Wolfe  screen  plates  are  known  in  every 
section  of  the  world  where  engraving  is  being 
done  by  the  photographic  process.  He  has 
built  up  a  most  extensive  business  in  this  di- 
rection, and  has  found  it  expedient  to  give  his 
attention  very'largely  to  this  branch  of  his  en- 
terprise. In  1895  he  still  further  increased  the 
facilities  of  his  establishment  by  engaging  in 
the  manufacture  of  plates  for  use  in  the  three- 
color  process,  utilizing  methods  which  have 
been  the  result  of  his  personal  investigations 
and  experiments.  The  results  secured  have 
been  gratifying  in  the  extreme,  and  he  is  pro- 
ducing some  most  excellent  work  in  this  ortho- 
chromatic  photography,  the  same  being  prin- 
cipally utilized  for  commercial  purposes.  The 
accessories  of  his  studio  are  of  the  most  mod- 
ern and  approved  order,  and  he  retains  in  his 
employ  only  the  most  capable  of  assistants. 

In  his  fraternal  associations  Mr.  Wolfe  has 
advanced  to  high  degrees  in  the  Masonic  order, 
having  taken  the  thirty-second  degree  of  the 
Scottish  rite.  He  is  a  member  of  Mystic 
lodge,  No.  405,  A.  F.  &A.  M. ;  Unity  chapter, 
No.  16,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Reed  commandery,  No. 
6,  Knights  Templar.  He  is  also  identified  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a  member  of 
Iola  lodge,  No.  83. 

Mr.  Wolfe  is  one  of  the  progressive  and 
public-spirited  business  men  of  Dayton,  whose 
advancement  and  material  prosperity  he  has 
closely  at  heart. 


@EORGE  H.    WOOD,  member  of  the 
Dayton    bar,    was   born    in    Dayton, 
Ohio,  on  November  3,    1867,  and  is 
the  son   of   Gen.   Thomas  J.   Wood, 
United  States  army,  retired,  one  of   Dayton's 


most  distinguished  citizens.  After  obtaining 
his  preliminary  education  George  H.  Wood 
entered  the  Sheffield  Scientific  school  of  Yale 
university,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1887.  He  next  entered  the  Cincinnati  Law 
school,  where  he  was  graduated  with  honors 
at  the  head  of  the  class  of  '89.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  February,  1890,  and  spent 
two  years  following  in  the  office  of  the  law  firm 
of  Young  &  Young  and  of  R.  D.  Marshall,  of 
Dayton,  since  which  time  he  has  practiced  law 
alone.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal 
Legion,  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  and  of  the 
Dayton  club. 


m 


ILLIAM  F.  WOLLENHAUPT, 
mail  carrier,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is 
a  native  of  this  city,  and  was  born 
December  10,  1854,  a  son  of  Henry 
A.  and  Carolina  C.  L.  (Waltemathe)  Wollen- 
haupt,  old  residents  of  Dayton. 

Henry  A.  Wollehaupt  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1830,  and  was  a  boy  when  brought 
to  America  by  his  parents,  who  came  direct  to 
Dayton.  He  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation in  Germany,  and  on  reaching  Dayton 
worked  at  tailoring  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  company  B, 
First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  for  three  years. 
His  brother,  Christ,  who  enlisted  at  the  same 
time  and  in  the  same  company,  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  in  November, 
1863,  but  Henry  A.  lived  to  take  part  in  all 
the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged, 
and  at  the  end  of  his  term  of  three  years  was 
honorably  discharged.  On  his  return  to  Day- 
ton he  found  employment  with  the  Dayton  Car 
works,  with  which  he  remained  several  years, 
when  he  was  employed  at  the  works  of  the 
Farmers'  Friend  company,  manufacturers  of 
agricultural  implements,  but  now  known  as  a 
part  of  the  Stoddard  Manufacturing  company, 


858 


CENTENNIAL.  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  with  this  company  he  worked  until  1892, 
when  he  retired  from  active  labor. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  A.  Wollenhaupt 
took  place  in  Dayton,  May  15,  1S51,  to  Caro- 
lina C.  L.  Waltemathe,  who  was  born  July  I, 
1833,  at  Krainhagen  by  Obernkirchen  Kurhes- 
sen,  Germany,  and  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 16,  1896,  themotherof  sixteen  children. 
Mr.  Wollenhaupt  is  a  member  of  Saint  John's 
Lutheran  church  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

William  F.  Wollenhaupt  received  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton, 
and  at  the  age  of  nine  years  began  work  in  the 
T.  A.  Phillips  &  Son's  cotton  mills,  where  he 
remained  until  the  fall  of  1869,  when  he  en- 
tered the  cigar  factory  of  Munday  &  Laubach 
as  an  apprentice;  was  one  year  confined  to 
stripping  tobacco,  and  then  advanced  to  the 
position  of  cigarmaker.  He  worked  for  this 
firm  until  1874,  when,  having  learned  the 
trade,  he  was  offered  the  foremanship  of  the 
Hanna  Bro.'s  cigar  manufactory,  which  he 
accepted  and  retained  until  October,  1889. 
November  1,  1889,  he  received  his  appoint- 
ment as  mail  carrier  under  the  Harrison  ad- 
ministration, and  is  still  faithfully  performing 
the  duties  of  that  office. 

Mr.  Wollenhaupt  was  married,  May  15, 
1877,  to  Miss  Anna  C.  Lang,  daughter  of 
George  and  Theresa  (Sebald)  Lang,  who  were 
both  born  in  Germany.  Mrs.  Wollenhaupt 
was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  December  27, 
1857,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  and 
parochial  schools.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  five  children — Blanche  Emma  (deceased), 
Laura  Agnes,  Clarence  Eugene  (deceased), 
Ralph  Joseph,  and  Irene  Antoinette.  The 
parents  are  members  of  Holy  Trinity  Roman 
Catholic  church,  and  Mr.  Wollenhaupt  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Saint  John,  being 
treasurer  of  commandery  No.  104  of  Holy 
Trinity  church,   having    held   the    office  since 


1891.  February  25,  1896,  he  was  elected 
second  vice-commander  of  commandery  No. 
104,  uniform  rank.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
twelfth  annual  convention  of  the  order  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio;  also  to  the  seventeenth  annual 
convention  at  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  the  eight- 
eenth annual  convention  at  Dayton,  and  has 
also  attended  other  conventions  of  the  order. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  of 
Dayton,  and  was  the  delegate  of  that  order  to 
the  convention  held  at  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  in 
February,  1896.  He  is  likewise  a  member  of 
Court  Cooper,  Independent  Order  of  Forest- 
ers, and  of  the  Catholic  Gesellen  Verein.  Mr. 
Wollenhaupt  is  also  a  member  of  the  National 
Association  of  Letter  Carriers  of  Dayton;  was 
elected  at  their  first  meeting  as  financial  secre- 
tary, and  later  chosen  to  represent  the  Dayton 
branch  at  the  seventh  annual  convention,  held 
at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  in  September,  1896. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Mr.  Wollenhaupt  resides  with  his  family  at 
No.  353  East  Xenia  avenue.  He  owns  his 
home,  and  also  the  old  home  of  his  wife.  No. 
250  South  Henry  street.  He  and  his  family 
stand  in  high  estimation  in  society  and  church 
circles,  while  as  a  citizen  his  name  is  with- 
out a  blemish. 


a  APT.  FRANCIS  MARION  WORK 
was  born  in  Perry  county.  Pa. ,  No- 
vember 14,  1840,  and  his  genealogy 
is  directly  traceable  to  ante-Revolu- 
tionary times,  and  to  relationship  with  noted 
actors  in  that  celebrated  struggle  for  independ- 
ence. The  paternal  branch  of  the  family, 
which  is  of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  settled  near 
Chambersburg,  Pa.,  as  early  as  1760.  The 
Works  and  Marions  were  closely  related,  and 
it  was  after  a  member  of  the  latter  family, 
Gen.  Francis  Marion,  a  patriot  of  national 
reputation,  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


859 


named.  In  the  annals  of  the  war  of  1812, 
the  name  of  Work  appears  frequently  upon 
the  numerous  muster  rolls,  and,  as  far  back  as 
the  history  of  the  family  can  be  traced,  the 
ancestors  appear  to  have  been  men  of  great 
personal  bravery  and  soldier-like  qualities. 

Andrew  Work,  the  father  of  Capt.  Work, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  in  that  state 
married  Hannah  Miller,  whose  ancestors  came 
to  America  from  Germany  at  a  period  long 
antedating  the  Revolutionary  struggle.  An- 
drew Work  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-second 
Pennsylvania  infantry  and  died  near  Washing- 
ton city,  D.  C,  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years;  his  wife  departed  this  life  in  1849. 
They  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  the  eld- 
est of  whom,  Alexander,  died  in  1848;  Joseph, 
a  soldier  in  the  Sixty-second  Pennsylvania 
infantry,  died  while  in  the  army;  Henrietta 
died  in  early  youth;  William  H.  H.  died  while 
young;  Rebecca  Jane  married  Daniel  Harman, 
deputy  United  States  marshal  for  the  northern 
district  of  Ohio,  and  the  youngest  child  died  in 
infancy,  unnamed. 

Francis  Marion  Work  was  fourth  in  order 
of  birth,  and  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  though  he  is  largely  self-educated. 
When  of  sufficient  age  young  Francis  entered 
upon  an  apprenticeship  at  Beaver,  Pa.,  to 
learn  the  molder's  trade,  and,  after  becoming 
proficient  in  the  same,  worked  for  some  time 
in  that  city,  and  later,  about  i860,  engaged  in 
the  oil  business  on  the  Little  Kanawha  river, 
in  Virginia,  where  he  remained  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war.  In  May,  1861,  he 
became  a  member  of  Hill's  Rangers,  a  mili- 
tary organization  for  home  protection,  which 
afterward  became  company  C,  of  the  First  Vir- 
ginia cavalry,  the  muster  dating  from  August 
28  of  that  year.  Capt.  Work's  military  ex- 
perience began  in  the  winter  of  1 861-2  under 
Gen.  Milroy  on  the  Fremont  campaign  in  the 
Shenandoah    valley,    during    which     time    he 


served  as  sergeant  of  orderlies  at  the  general's 
headquarters,  discharging  the  duties  of  the  po- 
sition in  a  most  acceptable  manner.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  valley  during  the  Peninsula  cam- 
paign and  participated  in  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  was  under  Burnside  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  served  under  Hooker  at  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  was  with  Gen.  Kilpatrick's 
cavalry  at  Gettysburg.  In  the  winter  of  1863 
the  regiment  re-enlisted,  and  took  part  with 
Gen.  Sheridan  in  the  battles  of  the  Shen- 
andoah, including  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek, 
and  numerous  other  engagements  oi  that 
memorable  campaign,  which  resulted  in  the 
final  reduction  of  the  Confederacy.  The  battle 
list  during  this  period  is  a  long  one  and  the 
captain's  record  is  replete  with  duty  well  dis- 
charged and  with  gallant  conduct  which  won 
the  approbation  of  his  superiors.  He  was  with 
Sheridan  from  Winchester  to  Appomattox, 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Sailor's  Creek  and 
Five  Forks  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Gen.  Custer,  and  was  an  eye-witness  of  the 
final  surrender  of  the  rebel  chieftain,  which 
terminated  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He 
passed  through  the  various  official  stations 
from  private  to  captain,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  was  put  in  command  of  a  squadron 
consisting  of  two  companies. 

He  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain July  8,  1865,  and  immediately  thereafter 
returned  to  Pittsburg,  but  did  not  long  remain 
in  that  city,  going  thence  to  Saint  Louis,  Mo., 
where  he  worked  at  the  molder's  trade  until 
1867.  In  January  of  that  year  he  enlisted  in 
company  H,  Thirty-sixth  United  States  infan- 
try, with  which  he  served  at  Forts  Sanders  and 
Bridger,  Wyo.,  a  part  of  the  time  as  clerk  in 
the  adjutant's  and  quartermaster's  department; 
on  account  of  injuries  received  during  his 
previous  service,  he  did  not  complete  his  pe- 
riod of  enlistment,  but  received  his  discharge 
on  the  2 1st   day  of  April,  1869.      On  leaving 


•860 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  army  the  captain  became  a  member  of  the 
engineer  corps  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad, 
and  while  thus  engaged  was  employed  to  meas- 
ure and  receive  all  the  lumber  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  snow  fences  along  the  line  between 
Cheyenne  and  Ogden.  He  continued  in  the 
employ  of  the  company  until  the  completion 
of  the  road  and  its  acceptance  by  the  govern- 
ment, after  which  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  road  for  about 
one  year  during  the  construction  of  that  line 
through  Kansas.  From  the  latter  state  he 
went  to  Michigan,  where  he  was  for  some  time 
bookkeeper  for  N.  B.  Day  &  Co.,  contractors 
on  the  Menominee  extension  of  the  C.  &  N.  W. 
railway,  and  later  was  a  member  of  the  en- 
gineer corps,  having  in  charge  the  surveying 
and  constructing  of  short  lines  of  road  in  the 
Ishpeming  country  to  the  iron  mines. 

Retiring  from  railroading,  the  captain  aft- 
erward followed  agricultural  pursuits  and  cler- 
ical work  for  several  years,  and  for  some  time 
resided  in  the  city  of  Toledo,  not  actively  en- 
gaged in  any  kind  of  employment.  Subse- 
quently he  worked  at  his  trade  in  Pittsburg  for 
a  limited  period,  and  afterward  sold  agricul- 
tural implements,  following  the  latter  business 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  until  1886,  in 
which  year  he  entered  the  southern  branch  of 
the  national  military  home  at  Hampton,  Va. , 
where  he  soon  became  commander  of  a  com- 
pany. In  this  capacity  he  continued  until 
transferred  two  years  later  to  the  northwest- 
ern branch,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  he  ac- 
cepted a  clerical  position  in  the  quartermas- 
ter's department.  In  addition  to  his  duties  as 
clerk,  the  captain  was  also  sergeant-major  in 
the  Milwaukee  branch  for  about  two  years, 
and,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  took  a  discharge 
and  visited  the  eastern  states,  where  for  a  pe- 
riod of  one  year  he  worked  at  various  kinds  of 
employment.  Finally  he  went  to  the  sol- 
diers' home   at   Marion,  Ind.,  and   was   made 


captain  of  the  hospital  and  colonel  of  the 
Union  Veteran  Legion,  remaining  there  until 
transferred,  in  March,  1894,  to  the  Central 
branch,  Ohio.  Capt.  Work  has  held  various 
official  positions:  First,  as  wardmaster;  and 
later,  in  September,  1S95,  as  captain  of  com- 
pany Seventeen,  by  promotion,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  has  since  discharged.  As  will 
be  seen  from  the  foregoing  brief  sketch,  Capt. 
Work  has  had  a  varied  experience,  his  record 
as  a  soldier  being  one  of  which  he  feels  justly 
proud.  In  his  official  station  he  has  proved 
faithful  and  competent,  and  the  home  numbers 
among  its  inmates  no  more  painstaking  and 
conscientious  public  servant. 


>j*OSEPH  A.  WORTMAN,  lawyer,  of 
J  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Berlin, 
/»  1  Prussia,  September  11,  1863.  With 
his  parents  he  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1868,  they  coming  direct  to  Dayton, 
and  in  this  city  Mr.  Wortman  has  since  re- 
sided. He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  Central  high  school  in 
June,  1 88 1,  when  he  was  seventeen  years  old. 
He  then  took  a  course  of  study  at  the  Miami 
Commercial  college,  A.  D.  Wilt,  principal, 
after  completing  which  he  began  reading  law 
in  the  office  of  James  Linden,  of  Dayton,  and 
upon  the  removal  of  Mr.  Linden,  from  the 
city,  Mr.  Wortman  went  into  the  office  of  O. 
F.  Davisson,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1889,  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884. 
In  1889  he  began  the  practice  of  law  by 
himself,  and  has  since  thus  continued  with 
most  gratifying  success.  Mr.  Wortman  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  as  such  was  a  can- 
didate for  mayor  of  Dayton  in  the  spring  of 
1 891,  and  upon  the  first  count  of  the  votes 
cast  was  declared  elected  by  a  majority  of  two 
votes  ;  but  upon  a  recount  of  the  ballots  he 
was  declared  defeated  by  an  adverse  majority 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


861 


of  two  votes.  He  has,  however,  served  two 
years  as  tax  commissioner  of  Dayton.  Mr. 
Wortman  is  a  member  of  all  the  Masonic 
bodies — is  a  Knight  Templar,  a  member  of  the 
Scottish-rite  Masons,  a  .thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  and  is  also  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  He 
was  married  January  i,  1885,  to  Miss  Cornelia 
Woodhull,  of  Dayton,  a  daughter  of  Lam- 
bert Woodhull,  who  was  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  L.  &  M.  Woodhull,  otherwise  known  as 
the  Dayton  Buggy  company,  which  is  one  of 
the  largest  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  state  of 
Ohio.  Mr.  Wortman  has  five  children,  viz  : 
Adolph,  Robert  P.,  Joseph  A.,  Jr.,  Marguerite 
and  Cornelia.  The  family  are  connected  with 
the  Memorial  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Wort- 
man was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Teutonia 
National  bank,  and  a  stockholder  and  director 
for  several  years  ;  he  is  also  secretary  and  at- 
torney of  the  Mechanics'  Loan  &  Savings  as- 
sociation, and  is  also  largely  identified  with  the 
building  up  of  the  northern  end  of  the  city, 
known  as  North  Dayton. 


K^~\  fSHOP  MILTON  WRIGHT,  D.  D., 
If'^L    of  the  United   Brethren  church,  and 
JK^J    at  present  a  resident  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Rush  county,  Ind.,  No- 
vember  17,  1828. 

He  received  his  preliminary  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  later  attended  Harts- 
ville  (Ind.)  college.  In  1853  he  was  admitted 
into  the  White  River  conference  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  and  was  ordained  minister  in 
1856.  Soon  after  this  event  he  was  sent  by 
the  board  of  missions  to  Oregon,  where  for  a 
time  he  was  principal  of  Sublimity  college, 
Marion  county,  that  state,  and  in  1859  re- 
turned to  Indiana,  and  in  the  same  year  mar- 
ried Miss  Susan  Catherine  Koerner,  a  resident 
of  Union  county.  He  passed  several  years  as 
pastor  and  presiding  elder  in  the  White  River 


conference,  and  in  1869  was  elected  by  the 
general  conference  to  the  editorship  of  the 
Religious  Telescope,  which  position  he  filled 
with  marked  ability  for  eight  years.  In  1877 
he  was  elected  bishop  ;  the  degree  of  doctor  of 
divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  in  1878,  by 
Westfield  college,  and  he  continued  to  perform 
the  functions  of  bishop  until  1881.  In  that 
year  he  became  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Richmond  ( Ind.)  Star,  but  terminated  his 
connection  with  that  journal  in  1885,  when  he 
was  elected  bishop  of  the  Pacific  coast.  In 
1889,  with  fourteen  associate  ministers,  he  re- 
fused to  accept  as  being  lawful  the  action  of 
the  general  conference  at  York,  Pa.,  in  pass- 
ing under  a  new  confession  of  faith  and  consti- 
tution, and  with  them  claimed  to  continue  the 
true  general  conference  of  the  church.  This 
schism  of  the  general  conference  resulted  in 
two  churches,  both  claiming  precisely  the  same 
name.  At  this  conference  in  1889  he  was 
elected  bishop,  and  publisher  of  church  litera- 
ture. At  the  general  conference  at  Hudson, 
Ind.,  in  1893,  he  was  re-elected  bishop,  which 
position  of  honor  and  prominence  he  has  now 
held  for  fifteen  years.  Dr.  Wright  has  attend- 
ed every  general  conference  of  his  church  since 
1865,  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  mis- 
sions, of  the  board  of  education,  and  a  trustee 
of  the  Union  Biblical  seminary,  and,  in  fact, 
has  been  a  zealous  worker  in  the  church  ever 
since   1855. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Wright  were  Dan  and 
Catherine  (Reeder)  Wright — the  name  Dan. 
being  that  also  of  his  grandfather,  Dan  Wright. 
His  father  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Vt. , 
September  3,  1791,  and  was  reared  a  farmer. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  he  moved  to 
the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  passed  one 
year,  and  then,  in  18 16,  came  to  Ohio,  and 
resided  in  Montgomery  county  until  1821, 
when  he  moved  to  Indiana  and  cleared  up  a 
farm  in  the  wilds  of  Rush  county,  and  nineteen 


862 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


years  later  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  Fayette 
county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  There  were  born  to  Dan  Wright  and 
wife  six  children,  beside  Milton,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  of  whom  three  sons  and  one 
daughter  lived  to  raise  families.  Of  these,  the 
eldest,  Samuel  S.,  was  a  teacher,  who  died  at 
the  early  age  of  twenty-three  years  ;  Rev. 
Harvey  lives  on  his  farm  in  Rush  county,  Ind. , 
and  has  been  a  Baptist  minister  for  over  forty- 
five  years  ;  Rev.  William  was  a  minister  in  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  died  in  1868,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-six  years,  and  the  daughter, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Harris,  was  a  resident  of  Franklin 
county,  Ind.,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  which 
took  place  in  1868. 

The  Wright  family  are  of  English  origin, 
but  for  several  generations  have  lived  in  Amer- 
ica, the  family  name  having  been  established 
in  Springfield,  Mass.,  by  Samuel  Wright, 
about  the  year  1639.  Dan  Wright,  paternal 
grandfather  of  the  bishop,  was  a  farmer  and 
carpenter,  and  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution,  having  taken  part  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Saratoga.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Sarah  Freeman,  and  was  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire,  having  descended  from  one 
of  the  most  eminent   New  England  families. 

The  Reeder  family,  the  maternal  ancestors 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Wright,  were  of  German  descent, 
but  went  to  England  previous  to  the  year  1600. 
They  came  to  America  (Long  Island)  about 
the  year  1650.  George  Reeder,  the  subject's 
maternal  grandfather,  was  captain  of  militia 
and  baggage-master  in  the  early  days  of  Ohio. 
George  Reeder  was  born  on  the  James  river, 
Va.,  and  about  1792  settled  in  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  at  Columbia,  now  a  suburb  of 
Cincinnati.  John  Van  Cleve,  Bishop  Wright's 
maternal  great-grandfather,  was  descended 
from  a  Holland  family  that  settled  in  New 
York  eight  generations  back.  He  was  also  a 
soldier    of    the    war    of    the    Revolution,    and 


while  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth  his  dwelling 
was  burned  by  the  retreating  British.  During 
this  battle,  or  just  previous  to  it,  Mrs.  Van 
Cleve  escaped  from  the  house  with  her  three 
children,  but  all  else  was  left  behind  and  car- 
ried off  or  destroyed  by  the  British  excepting 
a  few  minor  articles  that  had  been  placed  in 
concealment.  One  of  the  three  children  alluded 
to  above  as  having  been  rescued  by  their 
mother,  was  Benjamin  Van  Cleve,  for  many 
years  afterward  county  clerk  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio.  In  the  early  part  of  1790,  John 
Van  Cleve  came  to  Ohio  and  located  at  Cin- 
cinnati (then  Losantiville),  but  met  with  an 
untimely  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians  on 
June  1,  1 791.  His  widow  was  married  to 
Samuel  Thompson  two  years  later  and  left 
Cincinnati  in  a  keel  boat  with  her  husband 
and  her  children,  and  settled  in  Dayton,  ar- 
riving here  April  i,  1796,  and,  with  the  New^ 
com  family,  erected  a  double  log  cabin — prob-. 
ably  on  the  site  of  what  is  now  known  as  Van 
Cleve  park.  Here  her  death  occurred  in  1837, 
but  her  descendants  are  still  well  known  and 
prominent  citizens  of  Dayton. 

Mrs.  Susan  Catherine  (Koerner)  Wright  was 
born  in  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  in  1831,  but 
was  reared  from  childhood  in  Indiana.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Saxony,  and  her  mother 
a  Virginian  by  birth.  To  the  marriage  of 
the  bishop  have  been  born  seven  children,  of 
whom  there  are  living  four  sons  and  one  daugh-* 
ter:  Reuchlin,  now  married,  is  a  clerk  in  a 
general  railroad  office  in  Kansas  City,  Mo. ; 
Lorin  is  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  the  John 
Rouzer  Manufacturing  company;  Wilbur  and 
Orville,  now  engaged  in  job  printing  and  in 
conducting  a  bicycle  store,  still  make  their 
home  under  the  parental  roof,  and  Katherine 
is  in  her  fourth  year's  course  of  study,  at  Ober- 
lin  college.  The  mother  of  this  family  died 
July  4,  1889,  and  her  loss  was  most  keenly  felt 
in  the  home  circle  and  deeply  mourned  by  her 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


863 


many  acquaintances.  She  was  a  lady  of  edu- 
cation and  refinement;  of  a  quiet,  unassuming 
disposition;  ready  of  speech  and  an  able  coun- 
selor, whose  advice  was  always  sought  and 
heeded  by  her  husband.  She  died  in  the  faith 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  she 
had  been  a  pious  and  consistent  member  since 
early  childhood.  In  politics,  Bishop  Wright 
has  always  been  allied  with  the  republican 
party,  and  his  church  record,  of  which  the 
salient  facts  have  been  given  in  this  memoir, 
furnishes  its  own  best  commendation. 


WOHN  A.    WRIGHT,    a    deputy    sheriff 

m      of  Montgomery    county,    was    born   in 

*I      Springfield,    Ohio,    June    28,    1857,    a 

son  of  Robert  and  Catherine  (Ritter) 

Wright. 

Robert  Wright,  a  native  of  England,  came 
to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years,  located  in  Ohio,  and  here  married,  and 
became  a  successful  and  well-known  railroad 
man,  rising  from  the  place  of  section  "  boss  " 
to  that  of  roadmaster  of  the  old  C.  S.  &  C. 
railroad.  The  latter  position  he  held  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  at  Osborn,  Ohio,  in  1868, 
his  widow  being  now  a  resident  of  Dayton, 
and  there  having  been  born  to  their  marriage 
five  children. 

John  A.  Wright  was  about  one  year  old 
when  his  parents  came  fron  Springfield  to 
Dayton,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
has  passed  his  entire  life,  with  the  exception 
of  about  nine  years,  which  were  spent  at  Os- 
born, where  his  father  died.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  both  Dayton  and 
Osborn,  but  had  early  to  relinquish  his  studies, 
and,  after  his  father's  decease,  worked  on  a 
farm  for  a  year  and  a  half,  in  order  to  reduce 
the  family  expenses  of  his  mother,  who  had 
been  left  in  widowhood  with  three  of  her  five 
children.      He  was  next  employed  in  a  nursery, 


where  he  passed  three  or  four  years,  and  in 
both  situations  was  faithful  and  attentive  to 
his  duties.  His  next  step  was  the  learning  of 
the  machinist's  trade  at  the  Globe  Iron  works 
in  Dayton,  where  his  devotion  to  the  interests 
of  his  employers  secured  him  constant  work 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-two  years.  Jan- 
uary 7,  1894,  he  was  appointed,  by  Sheriff 
Anderton,  as  one  of  his  deputies,  a  position  he 
has  since  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  sheriff 
and  of  the  general  public. 

Mr.  Wright  was  married,  October  17,  1878. 
to  Miss  Phebe  Tressler,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Daniel  Tressler,  well  known  residents  of 
Dayton.  To  this  union  there  have  been  born 
three  children,  Effie,  Edward  O.,  and  Ambry 
Irene,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wright  are  attendants  of  the  First  United 
Brethren  church  of  Dayton,  of  which  they 
have  long  been  members,  and  to  the  tenets  of 
which  they  strictly  conform. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Wright  is  a  member  of. 
the  National  Union  and  of  the  Patriotic  Order 
of  the  Sons  of  America,  also  of  the  Interna- 
tional Association  of  Machinists.  He  served 
as  president  of  the  Dayton  Trades  &  Labor 
assembly  in  1892  and  1893,  and  has  ever  held 
dear  to  his  heart  the  material  interests  of  the 
workingman  as  well  as  his  moral  welfare.  He 
and  his  family  have  a  pleasant  place  in  social 
life,  and  the  respect  paid  them  is  well  deserved. 


BREDERICK  WUNDERLICH,  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Wunderlich 
Bros. ,  sculptors  and  manufacturers  of 
and  dealers,  in  granite  and  marble 
monuments  at  No.  1225  East  Fifth  street,  was 
born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  September  15,  1864. 
His  parents,  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Kupp) 
Wunderlich,  were  born  in  Germany,  the  for- 
mer coming  to  this  country  in  1847,  the  latter 
in    1862.      Henry   Wunderlich  first  settled   in 


864 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Auglaize  county,  but  came  to  Dayton  in  March, 
1848.  He  was  a  stone-cutter,  and  followed 
this  trade  until  1873,  when  he  established  the 
business  now  being  carried  on  by  his  (our  sons. 
His  death  occurred  in  Dayton,  February  23, 
1889,  in  his  seventieth  year.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  en- 
campment, and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
German  order  of  Druids.  He  was  a  successful, 
honorable  man,  and  one  of  the  best  known 
and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  east  end  of 
the  city  of  Dayton.  His  widow  died  in  March, 
1896,  in  her  seventy-third  year.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  Mr.  Wunderlich  left  four  sons  and 
one  daughter,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  Otto 
Alstaeter.  The  sons  are  John,  Henry,  Fred- 
erick and  William,  comprising  the  firm  of 
Wunderlich  Bros. 

Frederick  Wunderlich  was  educated  in  the 
Dayton  public  schools,  and,  having  completed 
his  education,  learned  of  his  father  his  present 
business.  The  firm  was  first  known  as  Wun- 
derlich &  Sons,  but  upon  the  death  of  the  fa- 
ther the  name  was  changed  to  Wunderlich 
Bros.  This  enterprise  has  been  built  up  from 
a  small  beginning,  and  it  is  by  strict  attention 
to  business  and  by  fair  and  honorable  dealing 
that  the  firm  has  established  its  reputation  and 
acquired  its  present  high  standing  and  large 
and  prosperous  trade. 

Mr.  Wunderlich  has  always  been  a  repub- 
lican in  politics  and  for  many  years  has  been  a 
leading  member  of  that  party  in  the  Ninth 
ward.  In  April,  1895,  he  was  elected  to  the 
board  of  education  for  a  term  of  two  years, 
taking  his  place  on  the  board  in  May.  He  was 
married  in  May,  1887,  to  Miss  Emma  Gayer 
of  Riverdale,  and  to  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  two  sons,  Elmer  O.  and  Howard  F. 
Mr.  Wunderlich  is  a  member  of  all  the  branches 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  and  of  the  Gem 
City  senate  Knights  of  the  Ancient  Essenic 
order.      He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 


Third  street,  or  Saint  John's,  German  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  church,  which  was  organized 
in  1838  or  1839.  Mr.  Wunderlich  and  his 
brothers  are  among  the  most  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  the  Gem  City. 


HOMAS  YENNY,    of    Dayton,  Ohio, 

is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  born  July 

27,  1844.      He  came   to    the   United 

States  in    the   year    1866,  and    is  the 

only  member  of  his   family   who   ever  came  to 

America. 

Before  leaving  his  native  land  Mr.  Yenny 
had  secured  a  good  education  in  the  common 
branches  of  study,  and  had  also  prepared  him- 
self for  the  practical  duties  of  life  by  learning 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He  passed  the  summer 
of  1866  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment at  his  trade,  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  came  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where 
he  has  ever  since  lived,  and  where  he  has  been 
continuously  employed  at  his  trade,  being  an 
expert  workman  and  recognized  as  a  skilled 
mechanic.  He  secured  a  position  in  the 
Barney-Smith  Car  works  on  his  arrival  in  Day- 
ton in  1866,  and  has  remained  with  that  con- 
cern until  the  present  day,  with  the  exception 
of  the  interim  from  1872  to  1879,  when  he 
was  employed  in  the  shops  of  the  Farmers' 
Friend  Manufacturing  company.  His  industry 
and  good  management  have  brought  to  him  a 
due  measure  of  success,  and  he  is  well  known 
and  highly  esteemed  in  the  city  where  he  has 
made  his  home  for  so  many  years. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Yenny  left  Switzerland 
both  of  his  parents  were  living,  but  are  now 
deceased.  Two  sisters  and  one  brother  still 
remain  in  the  land  of  their  birth,  and  he  him- 
self has  twice  visited  the  home  of  his  childhood 
— once  in  1869,  and  again  in  1890. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1871,  Mr. 
Yenny  was  united   in   marriage   to   Miss  Mary 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


865 


Freitag,  who  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
and  to  them  has  been  born  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Margaret.  All  of  the  family  are  de- 
voted members  of  St.  John's  German  Lutheran 
church. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Yenny  is 
identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Druids.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  loyal  sup- 
porter of  the  democratic  party  and  for  six  years 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Mad 
River  township.  The  esteem  and  confidence 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens  was 
also  shown  in  April,  1896,  when  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  city  council  from  the  Third 
ward,  as  the  candidate  of  the  democratic  party. 


K^~\  RUNO  ZIMMERMAN,  timekeeper  at 
1/^^  the  national  military  home  at  Dayton, 
J^_J  Ohio,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany, 
November  23,  1827,  and  was  educated 
in  an  agricultural  college.  He  was  the  only 
child  born  to  his  parents,  and  when  about  six- 
teen years  of  age,  in  1843,  ran  away  from  a 
pleasant  home  and  came  to  America.  Here 
he  employed  himself  in  any  honest  labor  his 
hands  could  find  to  do,  first  working  for  some 
time  in  New  York  and  then  going  to  Connect- 
icut, whence,  in  1853,  he  went  overland  to 
California,  where  he  drove  a  United  States 
mail  coach,  on  the  Santa  Fe  route,  for  three 
years.  This  task  was  beset  with  dangers,  and 
finally  a  train  of  several  hundred  wagons,  to 
whicn  his  vehicle  was  attached,  was  attacked 
by  ambushed  Indians,  and  in  the  battle  which 
ensued  Mr.  Zimmerman  received  a  severe 
wound  in  the  head,  which  rendered  him  un- 
conscious for  several  weeks  and  disabled  him 
from  further  service  as  a  mail  coach  driver. 
On  recovering  from  his  wound  he  went  to 
Cincinnati,  where  he  engaged  in  teaming.  He 
enlisted  in   April,   1861,  for  the  three  months' 


service,  and  acted  as  orderly  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Planker.  Immediately  after  the  expira- 
tion of  this  term  of  service  he  enlisted  in  Huff- 
man's Ohio  battery,  in  which  he  became  first 
sergeant.  He  filled  out  his  two  years'  term 
with  this  battery  and  then  re-enlisted  in  the 
field,  becoming  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eleventh  Pennsylvania  infantry,  company 
B,  from  which  he  received  his  final  discharge. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  served  in  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth  army  corps,  and  took  part  in 
many  of  the  sanguinary  battles  under  Gen. 
Hooker,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  that 
of  South  Mountain,  where  he  was  wounded. 
He  was  also  at  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg; 
went  with  his  command  to  the  southwest, 
where  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  were  merged 
into  the  Twentieth  army  corps,  and  took  part 
at  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Ringgold.  June  15,  1864,  at 
Pine  Mountain,  Ga.,  he  received  a  disabling 
wound  through  the  leg  and  ankle,  and  for  this 
reason  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp 
Dennison,  Ohio,  in  August,   1865. 

After  his  discharge,  Mr.  Zimmerman  went 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
and  coal  business.  He  there  found  among  the 
discharged  rebel  soldiers  many  warm  friends, 
and,  disabled  Yankee  soldier  though  he  was, 
they  apparently  thought  none  the  less  of  him. 
But  disaster  overtook  him,  and  in  1882  his 
property  and  business  were  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  he  sought  refuge  in  the  military  home  at 
Dayton.  Here  he  was  first  employed  as  bread- 
cutter,  then  as  clerk  and  store-keeper  in  the 
tailor  shop,  next  served  as  assistant  timekeeper 
for  several  years,  and  since  February,  1896, 
has  been  timekeeper. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Zimmerman  was 
with  Miss  Emma  Sarah  Meade,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  and  to  this  union  were  born  twelve 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living.  Two 
of  these  reside  in    Chicago,  111.,  and   three   in 


866 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  while  the  location  of  the  other 
two  is  not  known.  The  second  marriage  of 
Mr.  Zimmerman  took  place  in  Lexington,  Ky. , 
in  1876,  with  Mrs.  Katherina  Piot,  a  soldier's 
widow,  but  to  this  union  no  children  have  been 
born.  Mrs.  Zimmerman  was  the  mother  of 
five  children  by  her  first  marriage  and  these 
have  been  reared  in  the  Zimmerman  house- 
hold, which  occupies  a  very  pleasant  home  on 
Fifth  street,  Dayton. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a  member  of  Dister 
post,  No.  444,  Grand  Army  Republic,  of  Day- 
ton, and  was  a  charter  member  of  encamp- 
ment No.  82,  Union  Veteran  Legion.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  devout  Roman  Catholic,  and  in 
politics  has  always  been  a  republican.  He  is 
a  typical  German,  is  frugal,  and  during  his 
earlier  and  more  productive  years  economized 
sufficiently  to  enable  himself  to  provide  the 
means  for  a  good  and  comfortable  home  for 
his  family. 


WOHN  FOWLER  YOUNG  is  a  native 
M  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  April  28, 
/»  1  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth (Fowler)  Young.  The  father  was 
born  in  Germany,  served  under  Blucher  in  the 
war  with  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  was  still  a 
comparatively  young  man  when  he  came  to 
America. 

Henry  Young  was  a  gardener  and  nursery- 
man, and  for  a  time  was  an  overseer  on  a 
plantation  in  Louisiana;  he  came  to  Dayton 
about  1838,  and  was  soon  afterward  married 
to  Miss  Fowler.  He  owned  a  tract  of  three 
acres  in  North  Dayton,  on  which  he  carried 
on  his  business  as  a  gardener  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  1846.  His  widow  sur- 
vived until  1883,  when  she  was  called  away 
at  the  age  ot  eighty-three  years,  dying  in  the 
faith  of  the  German  Reformed  church. 

Abel  Fowler,  the   maternal   grandfather  of 


Mr.  Young,  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  brought 
his  family  from  Reading,  Pa.,  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
about  the  year  1835,  or  soon  afterward.  He 
purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Dayton  View.  There  were  five  chil- 
dren in  his  family,  of  whom  four  came  with 
him  to  Dayton,  and  here  his  daughter  Eliza- 
beth was  married  to  Mr.  Young.  Mr.  Fowler 
died  about  the  year  1852,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-nine  years. 

John  Fowler  Young  was  reared  to  garden- 
ing in  Dayton,  to  which  he  devoted  himself 
until  1876,  when  he  opened  business  as  a  flor- 
ist, locating  his  greenhouse  at  Dayton  View. 
In  November,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Herby,  daughter  of  George  and  Lydia 
(Corby)  Herby,  natives  of  England.  Mrs. 
Herby  and  two  of  her  children  died  in  Eng- 
land, and  in  1853  Mr.  Herby  and  his  only  re- 
maining child,  now  Mrs.  Young,  came  to 
America,  from  Earls  Barton,  England,  where 
the  father  had  been  employed  in  a  large  mill. 
On  reaching  Dayton  Mr.  Herby  engaged  in 
teaming,  draying,  etc.  His  life  here,  how- 
ever, was  very  short,  as  he  died  in  1858,  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty-seven  years,  leaving  his 
daughter,  then  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  alone 
in  a  strange  land.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Young  have  been  born  six  children. 
The  home  and  greenhouse  of  Mr.  Young  are 
at  No.  105  Holt  street,  and  he  also  has  a  fine 
piece  of  property  on  the  corner  of  Holt  street 
and  Young  avenue;  the  store  is  at  No.  21  East 
Fifth  street,  where  Mrs.  Young  has  charge  of 
the  cut  flowers  and  takes  care  of  the  office 
business,  while  Mr.  Young  cares  for  his  well- 
equipped  greenhouses,  supplying  all  kinds  of 
floral  decorations.  The  Young  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  frater- 
nally Mr.  Young  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.  They  have  a  pleasant  home  in  Dayton 
View,  and  enjoy  the  association  and  esteem  of 
a  large  circle  of  friends. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


867 


OTTO  ZEIL,  engraver  in  metal,  die 
sinker,  etc.,  and  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful mechanics  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  De- 
cember 10,  1844,  and  was  a  lad  of  eight  or 
nine  years  of  age  when  he  was  brought  to 
America  by  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Anna  Zeil, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Baden.  Joseph  Zeil 
was  a  weaver  of  woolen  goods,  and  after  set- 
tling in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  followed  his  calling  until  advancing 
years  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  retire.  He 
lost  his  wife  in  Cincinnati  in  1862,  and  in  that 
city  his  own  death  occurred  some  years  later, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  There  were 
but  two  sons  born  to  Joseph  and  Anna  Zeil, 
Otto  and  his  brother  Joseph,  the  latter  now  a 
farmer  in  Indiana.  Joseph  Zeil  served  entirely 
throughout  the  Civil  war,  first  enlisting  in  the 
Eighth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  later  in 
the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana  infantry,  and  since  the 
war  has  served  three  years  in  the  regular  United 
States  army. 

Otto  Zeil  received  a  very  good  common- 
school  education  in  Cincinnati  and  was  then 
apprenticed  to  the  general  (metal)  engraver's 
art,  and  while  thus  engaged  enlisted  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  was  sent  to  the  front,  and  with 
his  regiment  was  taken  prisoner  at  Hartsville, 
Tenn.,  but  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  for  exchange.  Here  Mr.  Zeil  was  pros- 
trated by  sickness  and  was  discharged  for  dis- 
ability; but  on  recuperating  he  enrolled  himself 
as  a  member  of  the  Tenth  Ohio  militia,  which 
was  later  called  into  active  service  for  100 
days  and  was  placed  on  guard  duty  over  pris- 
oners at  Johnson's  Island,  Lake  Erie,  Ohio, 
and  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  elsewhere.  At 
the  conclusion  of  this  service  he  returned  to 
Cincinnati  and  re-.engaged  in  his  early  vocation 
until  April,  1890,  when  he  came  to  Dayton 
and  established  himself  in   business. 


Mr.  Zeil  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss 
Sophia  Troendle,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  to 
this  marriage  have  been  born  five  children, 
viz:  Otto,  a  partner  with  his  father  in  busi- 
ness; Louis,  a  resident  of  Cincinnati;  Tillie, 
Albert  and  William,  still  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  Zeil  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Dayton. 

Otto  Zeil,  Jr.,  son  of  Otto  and  Sophia  Zeil, 
and  the  partner  of  his  father,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Otto  Zeil  &  Son,  is  almost  the  equal 
of  his  father  in  the  art  of  metal  engraving. 
The  firm  turn  out  to  order,  as  specialties,  em- 
bossing plates  for  book-binders;  blank  gilding 
rolls  and  tools;  box  pirnting  plates;  copper 
plates;  steel  stamps  and  everything  pertaining 
to  die  sinking  and  stamping  known  to  the  art. 
Both  father  and  son  are  skilled  in  the  calling, 
and  control  almost  the  entire  trade  in  their  art 
in  southwestern   Ohio  and  adjacent  territory. 


HUGUST  ZWIESLER,  superintendent 
of  the  Burkhardt  Furniture  company 
of  Dayton,  is  a  native  of  the  city, 
born  on  the  20th  of  July,  1859,  and  is 
a  son  of  Constantine  and  Marguerite  (Schimel) 
Zwiesler,  the  former  of  whom  is  still  living,  at 
an  advanced  age,  while  the  mother  passed  away 
in  the  year  1893.  Constantine  Zwiesler  was 
born  in  the  province  of  Bavaria,  Germany,  in 
May,  1820,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years 
emigrated  to  America  and  forthwith  made  his 
way  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
has  ever  since  resided.  He  is  a  tailor  by  trade 
and  followed  this  vocation  until  he  was  fifty- 
five  years  of  age,  when  he  retired  from  active 
business.  In  the  early  years  of  his  residence 
here  he  held  for  some  time  the  office  of  assess- 
or. He  has  long  been  a  zealous  member  and 
communicant  of  the  Catholic  church.  Constan- 
tine and  Marguerite  Zwiesler  became  the  par- 
ents of  six   children,  of   whom  Christina  is  the 


stis 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


wife  of  Michael  Wise,  of  Dayton;  Charles  J. 
died  in  May,  1885;  John  H.  is  a  resident  of 
the  state  of  Washington;  Lewis  lives  at  Kansas 
City,  Mo. ;  August  is  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  review;  and  Annie  still  remains  at  the  pa- 
ternal home. 

August  Zwiesler  received  his  early  educa- 
tional training  in  the  excellent  Catholic  schools 
(Saint  Mary's  parish),  of  Dayton,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Stomps-Burkhardt  Chair  company,  where 
he  remained  for  eleven  years.  He  was  then 
for  two  years  in  the  service  of  Parrott  &  Gil- 
bert, and  subsequently  for  eight  years  with 
John  Stengel  &  Company,  resigning  his  posi- 
tion with  this  concern  to  become  one  of  the 
organizers  and  incorporators  of  the  Burkhardt 
Furniture  company.  Mr.  Zwiesler  is  one  of 
stockholders  of  the  corporation  and  its  super- 
intendent. He  is  a  member  of  Saint  Joseph's 
Orphan  society,  and  is  identified  also  with  the 
Knights  of  Saint  John,  of  Emanuel  Catholic 
Knights,  and  a  member  of  Holy  Rosary  church. 

Mr.  Zwiesler  was  married  on  the  19th  of 
February,  1888,  to  Miss  Philomena  Hunn, 
daughter  of  Adolph  Hunn,  and  they  are  par- 
ents of  four  children,  Aloyes.  Joseph,  Elenora 
and  Charles. 


aHARLES  WORTHINGTON  RAY- 
MOND, second  son  of  George  M.  and 
Eliza  (Bonte)  Raymond,  was  born  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  on  the  17th  day  of 
January,  1851.  George  McMullen  Raymond, 
his  father,  was  an  Ohioan  whose  place  of  na- 
tivity was  near  Cincinnati,  and  who  married 
Eliza  Ann  Bonte,  of  Cincinnati,  some  time  in 
the  'twenties.  To  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reside  in  Indianapolis  ex- 
cept Charles  W.,  who  lives  in  Dayton. 

George   M.   Raymond   was   well  known  in 
former  days  as  a  leader  of   music   and  was  an 


unusually  sweet  singer.  He  was  the  first  per- 
son to  introduce  in  Dayton  what  are  known  as 
round  notes.  He  was  a  member  of  Wesley 
chapel,  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  later 
one  of  the  founders  of  Raper  chapel,  of  East 
Fifth  street;  was  the  first  Sunday-school  super- 
intendent of  that  church  and  always  an  es- 
teemed member,  as  well  as  a  faithful  christian 
citizen.  He  was  a  member  of  Wayne  lodge, 
No.  10,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  of  the  encampment, 
and  represented  his  lodge  at  one  time  in  the 
grand  lodge.  He  died  in  Indianapolis  on  the 
1 6th  of  August,  1893,  six  years  after  the  death 
of  his  wife. 

Charles  W.  Raymond  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Dayton.  After  his  school 
life  he  associated  himself  with  his  father  in 
business.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith- 
ing  and  wagonmaking,  which  trade  afterward 
proved  the  foundation  upon  which  his  exten- 
sive business  interests  were  built.  In  early 
life  Mr.  Raymond  developed  an  unusual  fac- 
ulty for  business,  and  this,  with  an  inventive 
mind  and  habits  of  application,  soon  gained 
for  him  recognition  as  a  prudent,  careful  busi- 
ness man,  and  success  early  crowned  his  efforts. 
During  his  entire  life  Mr.  Raymond  has  been 
an  ardent  devotee  of  out-door  and  athletic 
sports,  and  has  done  much  to  foster  harmless 
amusements  of  this  class  among  the  younger 
generation.  He  has  always  been  a  lover  of 
music,  inheriting  this  taste  from  his  father, 
and  for  many  years  affiliated  with  the  various 
musical  societies  of  the  city. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Raymond  is  a  member  of 
Wayne  lodge,  No.  10,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  of  the 
Essenic  order;  likewise  a  charter  member  of 
Linden  lodge,  K.  of  P.  He  is  an  influential 
member  of  the  board  of  trade,  associated 
charities  and  other  kindred  organizations. 
He  has  done  as  much  towards  the  material 
and  industrial  progress  of  the  city  of  Dayton 
as  any  man  of  his  age.      Besides  his   extensive 


/^  T^T^Y^^^^^-- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


871 


manufacturing  interests,  Mr.  Raymond  is  the 
owner  of  ten  or  twelve  business  and  residence 
buildings  in  Dayton.  As  a  citizen  and  a  busi- 
ness man,  his  standing  in  the  community  is 
very  high,  he  being  widely  esteemed  for  his 
strong  integrity  and  reliability.  It  is  but  just 
to  say  that  Mr.  Raymond  inherits  from  both 
his  father  and  mother  a  disposition  of  unusual 
energy  and  perseverance,  which  was  character- 
istic of  both  families,  tje  was  married,  in 
1872,  to  Miss  Viola  Palmer,  also  of  Dayton. 
To  them  were  born  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Ellis  Palmer,  Eliza  Ann,  George  McMul- 
len  and  Charles  Herbert.  Ellis,  the  eldest 
son,  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business 
and  has  proven  himself  of  great  value,  being 
the  inventor  of  several  very  useful  machines. 
He  is  also  a  musician  of  much  merit.  George 
has  also  started  at  the  beginning,  and  promises 
a  successful  business  career.  Herbert,  the 
youngest  son,  is  pursuing  his  studies  in  the 
Steele  high  school  of  Dayton. 

In  1880  George  M.  Raymond  and  his  son, 
Charles  W.  Raymond,  established  the  present 
brick  machine  works,  under  the  firm  name  of 
G.  M.  Raymond  &  Son.  Upon  the  retire- 
ment of  G.  M.  Raymond  in  1888,  by  reason  of 
age,  Charles  W.  Raymond  bought  his  interest 
and  established  the  business  under  the  name  of 
C.  W.  Raymond  &  Co.,  clay  working  ma- 
chinery, with  shops  on  the  corner  of  First  and 
Taylor  streets. 

Entering  the  market  with  a  machine,  a  re- 
versal of  old  ideas,  and  an  addition  of  new 
ones,  at  a  time  when  the  market  was  ripe  for 
it,  he  soon  reaped  the  merited  reward  of  his 
ingenuity,  and  to-day  is  at  the  head  of  a  busi- 
ness, which  manufactures  machinery  for  the 
production  of  building  brick,  fire  brick,  pressed 
and  ornamental  brick,  and  terra  cotta,  also 
brick  for  the  paving  of  streets,  and  shingles 
for    the    roofing   of    houses.      Mr.    Raymond's 

first   invention,    in    1886,  was    a    machine    for 
34 


pressing  terra  cotta  and  ornamental  brick,  in- 
stead of  making  them  by  hand  as  formerly, 
which  increased  the  production  of  thirty  pieces 
per  day  to  about  3,000  pieces  per  day;  later  he 
invented  a  power  re-press  for  the  manufacture 
of  paving  blocks,  by  which  10,000  blocks  per 
day  were  produced,  and  still  later  he  invented 
the  Columbian  special  re-press,  capable  of 
pressing  30,000  paving  blocks  per  day,  a  won- 
der in  this  line  of  work.  These,  however, 
form  only  a  small  part  of  his  inventions,  which 
followed  closely  one  upon  another.  It  has 
been  his  good  fortune  to  design  and  invent 
much  of  the  machinery  which  now  goes  to 
make  up  a  modern  brick  plant. 

The  output  of  the  Raymond  factory  is  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  United  Slates  and  it 
has  also  a  large  export  demand.  The  firm 
takes  contracts  for  equipping  the  largest 
plants  with  all  necessary  machinery,  which  is 
set  up  and  guaranteed,  and  no  charge  is  ever 
made  of  inadequacy  to  do  all  that  is  claimed 
for  it.  This  is  the  only  concern  of  the  kind 
in  Dayton,  and  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Raymond 
has  secured  to  it  almost  a  monopoly  of  its  pe- 
culiar products. 


>-j*OSEPH    ZIZERT,     contractor    and 
m      builder,    of    Dayton,    Ohio,    was    born 
/»  1      near   Salem,    Ohio,   October    16,   1859. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Elizabeth 
(Pflum)  Zizert,  both  natives  of  Germany,  and 
who  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  seven 
sons  and  four  daughters,  ten  of  whom  are  still 
living,   as  follows  :     John,  Joseph,    Christian, 
David,  Samuel,  Henry,  Charles,  Emma,  Nettie 
and  Mary.     The  one  that  is  dead  was  named 
Lizzie,  and  she  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 
Christian  Zizert  was   a   farmer   by  occupa- 
tion, and,  coming  to  the  United  States,  located 
twelve  miles  west  of  Dayton,  where  he  lived 


872 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


until  1848,  when  he  made  an  overland  trip  to 
California,  traveling  by  means  of  an  ox-team, 
and  requiring  105  days  to  make  the  journey. 
Remaining  there  until  1851,  engaged  in  gold 
mining,  he  returned  by  water  to  New  York,  and 
thence  came  again  to  Dayton,  and  located  on 
the  old  farm  at  Salem,  where  he  died  in  1882 
at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  His  wife  is  still  living 
on  the  old  homestead.  Her  husband  was,  and 
she  is,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
standing  high  in  religious  circles  and  in  gen- 
eral society. 

The  father  of  Christian  Zizert  was  a  stone- 
cutter by  trade,  and  lived  in  Germany  all  his 
life,  dying  when  nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  Joseph  Zizert 
was  named  Charles  Pflum,  and  also  died  in 
Germany.  Mrs.  Mary  Piium,  his  grandmother 
on  his  mother's  side,  died  in  Montgomery 
county  in  1872,  when  she  was  nearly  seventy- 
four  years  of  age.  She  was  one  of  the  excel- 
lent women  of  pioneer  days,  and,  dying,  left 
many  sincere  friends  to  mourn  her  loss. 

Joseph  Zizert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  upon  the  farm  and  received  his 
early  education  in  the  district  school.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  he  began  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade,  working  eight  years  for  Daniel 
Stouffer.  After  retiring  from  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Stouffer  he  was  a  journeyman  workman 
until  1890,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton  and 
began  contracting  upon  his  own  account.  Dur- 
ing the  time  he  has  lived  in  Dayton  he  has 
erected  many  substantial  residences  and  other 
buildings  in  this  city. 

In  August,  1888,  Mr.  Zizert  was  married  to 
Miss  Kate  Beekler,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Matilda  (  Bouser)  Beekler.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  three  children  :  Lottie, 
Charles  and  Robert.  Mr.  Zizert  is  a  member 
of  Riverdale  Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  639, 
and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  Mr.  Zizert  and 
his  family  are  among  the   substantial   citizens 


of  Dayton,  standing  high  in  all  relations,  and 
enjoy  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  that 
know  them. 


<V^VROF.   J.   EMIL  ZWISSLER,  one  of 
1     m    the  leading  musiciansof  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was    born    in    Urach,  Germany,  July 
14,  1867,  a    son  of    G.  A.  and   Mary 
Zvvissler,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  musician 
in  the  Theological  university.    Subject  was  pre- 
pared for  his  chosen  profession  by  some  of  the 
finest    masters   of   Europe,  seven   years  of  his 
life  having  been  spent   in   preparatory  study  at 
the    Stuttgart     Royal    conservatory    of    music 
under    Profs.    Von    Faisst,    Perry    Goetschius 
and  W.  Speidel. 

From  this  famous  institution  he  was  grad- 
uated in  organ,  piano  and  'cello  instrumenta- 
tion and  in  musical  composition,  and  later 
took  a  two  years'  course  at  the  Royal  high 
school  for  music  in  Berlin,  under  such  famous 
masters  as  Haupt  for  the  organ,  Bargiel  for 
composition,  and  Hausmann  Joachim  for  the 
'cello.  Among  some  of  Prof.  Zwissler's  pro- 
ductions which  have  been  played  in  Berlin 
with  unqualified  approbation  may  be  men- 
tioned a  concert  overture  for  large  orchestras, 
two  string  quartets,  and  several  studies  for  the 
piano.  For  some  time,  also,  Prof.  Zwissler 
was  engaged  as  director  of  a  mixed  chorus  in 
his  native  historical  city  of  Urach,  where  his 
ma/ked  musical  talent  and  his  success  as  a 
teacher  of  his  art  were  widely  recognized. 

In  March,  1892,  Prof.  Zwissler  came  to 
America,  located  at  once  in  Dayton,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  career  as  a  tutor  in  music,  which 
has  placed  him  at  the  head  of  his  profession. 
He  has  large  classes  of  pupils  in  all  his  depart- 
ments of  musical  study,  and  is  master  of  the 
male  choruses  in  the  Harmonia,  Schwaebischer 
Saengerbund  and  Harugari  Liederkranz,  all  mu- 
sical organizations  of  Dayton.      He  is  also  em- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


873 


ployed  every  alternate  week,  as  'cellist  in  the 
Cincinnati  Symphony  orchestra.  Since  coming 
to  America,  Prof.  Zwissler  has  written  several 
high-class  scores,  including  a  string  quintet 
and  a  symphony  for  large  orchestras.  The 
professor  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church 
of  Dayton,  and  is  prominent  in  social  circles, 
having  won  many  friends  both  by  his  personal 
qualities  and  by  his  professional  successes. 


f\  EORGE  V.  ALLEN,  manager  of  the 
■  ^\  Dayton  agency  of  the  Indiana  Bicycle 
^L^F  company,  at  12  West  Second  street, 
is  a  native  son  of  Dayton,  and  was 
born  on  the  20th  of  August,  1864,  the  son  of 
James  J.  and  Maggie  (Knapp)  Allen,  both  of 
whom  are  living.  His  lineage  is  of  English 
and  Scotch  derivation.  Mr.  Allen  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Dayton,  and  at  the  age  of 
about  fifteen  years,  entered  the  mercantile  es- 
tablishment of  his  father,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  for  three  or  four  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  ex- 
tensive wholesale  establishment  of  Hibbard, 
Spencer,  Bartlett  &  Co.,  dealers  in  hardware 
and  milling  and  mining  supplies.  Here  he 
remained  for  about  three  years,  after  which  he 
went  out  as  a  commercial  traveler  for  the 
house,  representing  its  interests  through  Mon- 
tana, Washington,  Oregon  and  other  sections 
of  the  northwest.  Mr.  Allen  was  thus  em- 
ployed for  a  period  of  two  years,  when  impaired 
health  compelled  him  to  seek  other  employ- 
ment. He  accordingly  resigned  his  position 
and  returned  to  Dayton,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  bicycle  business,  to  which  he  has  ever 
since  devoted  his  attention  and  in  which  he 
has  advanced  to  a  prominent  position  among 
the  bicycle  agents  of  the  state. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1894,  Mr.  Allen  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Daisy  M.  Rockey, 
daughter  of  Henry  Rockey,  of  Dayton.      They 


are  members  of  Raper  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  their  home  is  located  on  Reuben 
avenue. 

The  Indiana  Bicycle  company,  of  Indiana- 
polis, whose  wheel,  the  Waverley,  Mr.  Allen 
represents,  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  con- 
cerns of  the  sort  in  America,  and  its  plant  is 
one  which  will  bear  comparison  with  any  in 
the  world  in  matters  of  facilities  for  rapid  pro- 
duction, extent  of  mechanical  equipment  and 
character  of  its  output.  Mr.  Allen  is  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  popular  representa- 
tives of  wheeling  interests  in  this  section  of 
the  Buckeye  state,  and  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  bicycle  business  in  Dayton,  having  es- 
tablished a  local  agency  for  different  wheels  in 
1888  and  ever  since  devoted  his  attention  to 
this  now  important  line  of  industry.  He  is 
personally  an  enthusiastic  wheelman,  and  this 
is  evident  in  the  fact  that  he  has  been  a  rider 
for  the  past  sixteen  years.  In  the  year  1894 
Mr.  Allen  assumed  the  agency  for  the  Waverley 
wheels  in  Dayton,  and  he  also  attends  to  the 
management  of  the  company's  affairs  through- 
out a  considerable  portion  of  the  state,  visiting 
the  outside  trade  during  the  winter  months. 


ORION  L.  BOUCK,  contractor  and 
builder,  of  Dayton,  was  born  July  6< 
1853,  in  Greene  county,  Ohio.  His 
parents  were  James  Henry  and  Sarah 
(Aley)  Bouck,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  of  German  descent,  was 
a  farmer  and  mill  owner,  and  died  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  when  Orion  was  but  eight  years 
of  age  ;  his  widow  lived  to  reach  the  age  of 
fifty-nine  years,  and  died  in  Dayton.  Of  their 
two  children,  Orion  is  the  elder  ;  his  brother, 
Charles  A.,  is  a  prosperous  business  man  and  a 
resident  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Orion   L.    Bouck  received    his   elementary 
education   in    the  country  schools  of    Greene 


874 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


county,  came  to  Dayton  when  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  at  the  carpenter's  trade  under  Abraham 
Cosier;  he  then  worked  one  year  as  a  journey- 
man in  the  shops  in  which  he  learned  his  trade, 
also  one  year  as  superintendent.  Being  now 
prepared  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, he  formed'  a  partnership  with  Jacob 
Perrine,  in  the  contracting  and  building  in- 
dustry. This  continued  for  about  three  years, 
when,  following  its  dissolution,  Mr.  Bouck 
alone  carried  on  a  similar  business  until 
1884.  He  then  erected  a  planing-mill,  which 
he  operated,  in  connection  with  contracting, 
until,  in  1894,  the  O.  L.  Bouck  company  was 
incorporated,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $75,000, 
and  of  this  company  Mr.  Bouck  was  chosen 
president  and  manager.  In  January,  1896,  he 
retired  from  the  presidency,  but  still  retains 
an  interest  as  stockholder  in  the  concern. 
In  October,  1896,  Mr.  Bouck  withdrew  from 
active  relations  with  the  Bouck  company, 
and  entered  upon  his  present  extensive  busi- 
ness as  contractor  and  builder,  operating  a 
planing  mill  in  connection  therewith,  at  No. 
107  Commercial  street. 

April  19,  1877,  Mr.  Bouck  married  Martha 
L.  Meyers,  a  native  of  Dayton,  and  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Martha  Meyers,  the  former 
of  whom  is  a  native  of  Germany,  but  came  to 
America  and  located  in  Dayton  in  early  youth, 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bouck  have  two  children — Clifford 
R.  and  Margaret  Dale.  The  son  was  educated  in 
the  city  schools  of  Dayton  and  at  Otterbein 
university,  and  has  also  been  well  trained  in 
music  ;  he  is  an  athlete  of  more  than  ordinary 
strength  and  skill,  and  is  now  assistant  book- 
keeper in  his  father's  office.  The  daughter  is 
a  bright  little  girl  of  seven  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bouck  and  their  son  are 
members  of  the  First  United  Brethren  church, 
in  which  Mr.  Bouck  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 


school,  a  class  leader  and  a  member  of  the  of- 
ficial board.  In  politics,  Mr.  Bouck  affiliates 
with  the  republican  party,  and  is  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  temperance.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  Dayton  lodge.  No.  273,  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  and  formerly  held  membership  in  the  en- 
campment, but  has  withdrawn  from  his  con- 
nection with  the  latter  body. 


5>^Y    H.  BROOKINS,  member  of  the  Day- 
■    ton  city  council  from  the  Fourth  ward, 
r     and    secretary    and    treasurer  of    the 
Mathias  Planing    Mill    company,  was 
born  in  Madison  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  October  14,  1858.      He  is  a  son  of  Rich- 
ard R.   and  Christina    (Holsapple)    Brookins, 
the    former    having   been    born    in    Maryland 
of  Scotch  parents,  and  the  latter   in  Madison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 

Richard  R.  Brookins  came  to  Montgomery 
county  when  a  boy,  and  here  grew  to  manhood. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  and  brick  man- 
ufacture until  his  enlistment,  in  1861,  in  com- 
pany I,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry.  On  the  first  day's  fighting  at  Chick- 
amauga  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  was  incar- 
cerated in  Libby  prison  at  Richmond,  Va.  , 
where  he  died  January  21,  1864.  His  wife 
survived  him  until  July  21,  1893.  There  were 
five  children  born  to  the  parents,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living:  Joseph  H.,  of  Anderson,  Ind.; 
Martha  A.,  now  the  wife  of  A.  F.  Allaman,  of 
Montgomery   county,    Ohio,  and    our   subject. 

N.  H.  Brookins  was  reared  on  a  farm  in 
Madison  township,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools;  he  also  attended  the  National 
normal  college  at  Lebanon,  and  while  there 
taught  school  during  the  winters.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  years  he  began  teaching,  and  con- 
tinued for  nine  years,  in  Montgomery  county. 
While  teaching  he  learned  bookkeeping  and 
shorthand  at  A.  D.  Wilt's  Commercial  college, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


875 


and  in  1889  took  a  position  with  S.  N.  Brown 
&  Co.,  of    Dayton,  where  he   continued   until 

1893,  when  he  became  interested  in  the  Ma- 
thias  Planing  Mill  company,  being  made  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Brookins  was  married  in  1880  to  Clara 
Belle  Spitler,  of  Perry  township,  Montgomery 
county.  To  them  four  children  have  been 
born,  viz:  Alpharetta,  John  C,  Walter  R. 
and  N.  Orville.  Mr.  Brookins  was  first  elect- 
ed to  the   Dayton  city  council   in  the  spring  of 

1894,  for  the  term  of  two  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Hope  lodge,  No.  277,  K.  of  P., 
and  of  Oak  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New  Leb- 
anon, and  of  Dayton  lodge,  No.  147,  F.  &  A. 
M.  Mr.  Brookins  is  one  of  Dayton's  de- 
servedly successful  young  business  men,  and, 
in  his  service  in  public  office,  has  become 
known  as  one  of  her  most  useful  and  reliable 
citizens.  He  and  his  family  occupy  a  pleas- 
ant and  prominent  place  in  the  social  life  of 
the  West  Side,  which  is  almost  a  city  by  itself 
and  whose  people  are  among  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  prosperous  to  be  found  in  Dayton. 


kS^I  ENJAMIN  F.  McCANN,  attorney,  of 
1^*^  Dayton,  was  born  near  Zanesville, 
J^J  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  January 
22,  1 861,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  A. 
and  Jane  (McKee)  McCann.  The  mother  was 
born  near  Cadiz,  in  Harrison  county,  and  the 
father  in  Muskingum.  Both  parents  are  now 
deceased.  Their  grandparents  came  from  the 
old  country. 

Benjamin  F.  McCann  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Ohio  in  June,  1890,  and  then  went  to 
Europe,  remaining  until  the  following  October, 
when  he  returned  and  began  practice.  He 
was  appointed  police  prosecutor  of  Dayton  in 
1892  and  re-appointed  in  1895,  the  term  of 
the  office  being  three  years.  Mr.  McCann  is 
one  of  the  best  known  of  the  younger  members 


of  the  Dayton  bar  and  enjoys  not  only  a  high 
professional  standing,  but  a  position  of  strength 
and  influence  in  the  general  community.  His 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office  has  been 
marked  by  fidelity  and  efficiency,  and  his  se- 
lection by  the  board  of  police  directors  for  a 
second  term  met  with  public  approbation. 


ax 


ILLIAM  L.  DARROW  (deceased), 
who  resided  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  for 
more  than  fifty  years,  was  born  in 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  October  15, 
1 8 16.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and  Betsey 
(Pease)  Darrow,  both  natives  of  western  New 
York.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children, 
one  of  whom  is  still  living,  viz:  Harriet,  widow 
of  Jonas  Butterfield  of  Cincinnati.  James 
Darrow  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  W.  L.  Darrow's  mother  died 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  his  father 
living  for  many  years  in  Warren  county,  where 
he  died  June  11,  1875,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12, 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  The  Darrow 
family  is  of  Scottish  origin,  and  the  earliest 
ancestor  in  this  country  settled  in  New  Lon- 
don, Conn.,  in  1696;  thence  the  family  moved 
to  western  New  York,  where  most  of  the  de- 
scendants now  reside,  and  where  they  hold  an 
annual  reunion. 

William  L.  Darrow  was  reared  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 
as  a  farmer's  boy,  and  then  began  the  serious 
work  of  life  for  himself.  He  started  a  tan- 
nery on  Jefferson  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
continued  this  for  some  years,  also  operating 
another  tannery  in  Marion.  On  account  of 
scarcity  of  bark  in  this  region  he  removed  his 
tannery  to  Vanceburg,  Ky.,  where  his  brother, 
James,  managed  the  business  for  him.  While 
the  business  was  being  conducted  in  Kentucky, 
William  L.  Darrow  continued  to  reside  in  Day- 


876 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ton,  where  for  forty-five  years  he  also  had  a 
leather  store.  His  death  occurred  in  this  city, 
February  i,  1891. 

William  L.  Darrow  was  married  to  Miss 
Permilla  John,  daughter  of  John  and  Virginia 
(McFarland)  John.  To  this  marriage  there 
were  born  six  children,  as  follows:  James 
Madison;  Harriet  A.  E.,  who  died  while  at- 
tending high  school  in  Dayton;  Millie,  wife  of 
John  R.  More,  formerly  of  St.  Louis,  but  for 
the  past  ten  years  of  Dayton;  Lucretia,  who 
died  in  infancy,  William  J.,  who  died  March, 
1877.  The  wife  of  William  J.  Darrow,  who 
still  survives  him,  resides  in  Springfield,  Ohio, 
and  has  one  child,  Millie,  wife  of  Harry  H. 
Sellers,  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sellers  have  two  children,  Darrow  and  Joseph. 
The  youngest  child  of  William  L.  Darrow, 
Harmon  P.  Darrow,  died  in  1884,  leaving  one 
son,  Willie  H.  Darrow,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  now 
the  only  living  descendant  of  W.  L.  Darrow, 
who  bears  the  name. 

Mrs.  Permilla  Darrow  died  in  1867.  Her 
father,  John  John,  was  a  son  of  Thomas  John, 
who  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  who  came  to 
America  in  1750,  settling  first  on  Welch  Run, 
in  Chester  county,  Pa.  Thomas,  Jr.,  the 
youngest  son,  married  Elizabeth  Pierpont,  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  lived  near  Morgantown, 
now  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  there  they 
reared  their  family  of  ten  children.  They  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  1797,  purchased  a  section  of 
land  in  Greene  county,  from  the  government, 
at  $2  per  acre,  later  located  six  miles  east  of 
Dayton,  and  lived  there  until  their  death,  Mr. 
John  dying  in  1S01.  At  his  death  the  prop- 
erty was  divided  among  his  ten  children,  John 
John  remaining  on  the  part  that  fell  to  him 
until  his  death.  John  John  served  in  the  war 
of  1812,  having  enlisted  at  Dayton;  the  gun 
he  carried  is  still  preserved.  There  is  still 
living  on  his  farm  his  daughter,  Rebecca 
John,  a  maiden  lady,  eighty-eight  years  of  age, 


the  only  one  of  the  family  remaining  in  this 
part  of  the  country. 

William  L.  Darrow  was  married  to  his 
second  wife,  Miss  Sarah  R.  Stewart,  January 
20,  1870.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Alexander 
and  Rebecca  (Clark)  Stewart,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  the 
latter  of  English  and  Scotch  descent.  The 
name  Stewart  was  originally  spelled  Stuart. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darrow  were  members  of  the 
First  Baptist  church,  and  she  is  still  a  mem- 
ber. She  resides  at  his  late  residence,  No. 
390  West  First  street.  Her  grandmother 
Clark  came  to  Ohio  in  1805,  when  her  mother 
was  a  young  woman.  Her  grandfather  Stuart, 
or  Stewart,  also  came  to  this  state  about  the 
same  time,  both  families  settling  in  Warren 
county,  where  her  father  died.  Mrs.  Darrow's 
mother,  who  was  a  widow  for  a  number  of 
years,  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  when  ninety-six 
years  and  six  months  old. 

Mr.  Darrow  was  unusually  modest  and  re- 
tiring; but,  notwithstanding  this,  he  had  a 
large  acquaintance  and  was  well  and  widely 
known  as  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  in- 
fluential men  in  Dayton.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  business,  and  his  death  was  deeply 
mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  aside  from 
the  members  of  his  family. 

Maj.  John  R.  More,  who  married  Miss  Mil- 
lie Darrow,  was  formerly  a  wholesale  grocer 
of  St.  Louis.  When  Mr.  Darrow's  last  son 
died,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  More  removed  to  Dayton. 
Mr.  More  then  became  associated  with  Mr. 
Darrow  in  business,  and  so  continued  until  the 
latter  died,  Mr.  More  becoming  his  successor 
in  the  leather  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  More 
live  on  the  old  home  place  occupied  by  Mr. 
Darrow,  at  No.  400  First  street.  They  have 
two  children,  Mildred  and  Richard.  Mildred 
is  now  the  wife  of  Harvey  Conover,  and  has 
one  child,  a  daughter,  named  Dorothy. 

Mr.  Darrow's  son,  James  Madison,  was  a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


877 


soldier  in  the  late  Civil  war,  and  after  serving 
a  few  months  died  from  the  effects  of  a  severe 
cold  contracted  while  in  the  line  of  his  duty. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Dayton  zouaves,  and 
served  under  Col.  King.  The  mother  of  Mr. 
Darrow,  Betsey  Pease,  was  a  daughter  of  Capt. 
Abner  Pease,  of  the  northern  part  of  Ohio. 
He  married  Abigail  Blackman,  daughter  of 
Maj.  Blackman,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  family  of 
Mr.  Darrow,  in  all  its  relations  and  connec- 
tions, was  full  of  patriotism,  and  that  it  repre- 
sented the  noble  stock  of  the  pioneer,  now 
seldom  found,  except  in  the  western  states, 
but  to  whom  the  state  of  Ohio  owes  so  much 
of  her  present  development  and  prominence 
in  the  affairs  of  the  nation  and  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world. 


WOHN  WESLEY  MUNDORFF,  super- 
■  intendent  of  the  Foglesong  Horse  Col- 
m  1  lar  Machinery  company,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
November  2,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Mary  (Young)  Mundorff,  both  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state.  Adam  and  Mary  Mun- 
dorff are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Eliza, 
wife  of  D.  H.  Hensley,  and  John  Wesley. 

Adam  Mundorff  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
was  a  Baptist  in  religion,  and  died  in  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pa.,  in  1850,  aged  thirty-two  years. 
His  wife,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  still  survives.  William  Mundorff,  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  John  Wesley  Mundorff, 
was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  a  teacher 
by  profession,  teaching  school  twenty-eight 
winters  in  succession,  and  served  in  the  Mex- 
ican war.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of 
eleven  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  he  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  little  is  now  remembered  of  him. 


The  mother  of  John  Wesley  Mundorff, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  married,  for 
her  second  husband,  William  Hamil.  To  this 
marriage  there  was  born  one  child,  William, 
who  is  at  the  present  time  superintendent  of 
the  gas  company  at  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Hamil  died  in  1890,  and  Mrs.  Hamil,  his 
widow,  now  sixty-nine  years  of  age,  resides  at 
Hamilton,  Ohio. 

John  Wesley  Mundorff  spent  his  youth 
chiefly  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  receiving 
there  a  good  common-school  education.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  learning  the  trade 
of  machinist  at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  remaining  at 
that  place  until  1866,  when  he  came  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio.  For  five  or  six  years  previous  to 
his  present  employment  he  was  foreman  of  the 
Davis  Screw  company,  and  for  the  past  eight 
years  he  has  filled  his  present  position,  that  of 
superintendent  of  the  Foglesong  Horse  Collar 
Machinery  company.  During  the  thirty  years 
of  his  residence  in  Dayton  he  has  earned  the 
reputation  of  being  a  careful  and  competent 
man  and  has  discharged  every  duty  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  employers. 

December  24,  1861,  Mr.  Mundorff  was 
married  to  Mary  Jane  Marts,  daughter  of  Solo- 
mon and  Elizabeth  (St.  Clair)  Marts.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  born  three  children, 
as  follows:  Elmer  A.,  Earle  Augustus,  and 
Flora.  Elmer  A.  was  killed  in  1892  by  the 
White  Line  street  railway  cars,  when  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age.  The  other  children 
are  living  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mundorff 
are  excellent  citizens  and  are  members  of  the 
Hartford  street  United  Brethren  church,  as 
also  are  the  children.  Mr.  Mundorff  is  stew- 
ard and  treasurer  of  his  church. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity,  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the 
American  Mechanics.  Politically,  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  republican.      His  residence   is  at 


878 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


No.  25  Portland  avenue,  where  he  lives  sur- 
rounded by  many  sincere  friends  who  appre- 
ciate the  value  of  Mr.  Mundorff  as  a  citizen, 
and  of  his  family  as  members  of  the  church 
and  of  general  society. 


eLIHU  THOMPSON,  member  of  the 
Dayton  bar  and  president  of  the  city 
board  of  police  commissioners,  was 
born  about  ten  miles  north  of  Dayton, 
in  Randolph  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  October  13,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  James 
F.  and  Mary  Ann  (Riley)  Thompson,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  were 
brought  to  Montgomery  county  by  their  par- 
ents about  1820.  James  F.  Thompson  was  a 
son  of  Aaron  Thompson,  of  Allegheny  county, 
Pa.,  and  Mary  Ann  Riley  was  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  Riley,  who  died  in  Bedford  county,  Pa., 
his  widow  afterward  removing  to  Montgomery 
county,  this  state. 

James  F.  Thompson  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  and  was  a  very  prominent  and  useful 
citizen.  For  about  fifteen  years  he  served  as 
constable  for  Randolph  township,  and  was 
justice  of  the  peace  for  six  years  in  Jackson 
township.  He  was  twice  land  appraiser  and 
once  a  member  of  the  Ohio  legislature,  all  of 
which  indicates  the  respect  in  which  he  was 
held  by  his  fellow -citizens,  and  the  confidence 
they  placed  in  him.  His  death  occurred  De- 
cember 10,  1890,  when  he  was  nearly  eighty 
years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1887,  aged 
seventy-four  years. 

Elihu  Thompson  was  reared  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  his  early 
education  having  been  secured  in  the  country 
schools.  Afterward  he  attended  the  National 
normal  school  at  Lebanon,  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  began 
teaching  school,  following  this  profession  for 
eight  years,  and  attending  school  during  his  va- 


cation. While  teaching  and  attending  school, 
having  provided  himself  with  law  books,  he 
fitted  himself  largely  by  private  study  for  the 
legal  profession,  entering  the  law  college  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated  May 
26,  1862. 

On  August  4,  1862,  he  enlisted  at  Miamis- 
burg,  Ohio,  in  company  E,  Ninety-third  regi- 
ment Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  cap- 
tured at  Lexington,  Ky. ,  when  the  Union 
forces  were  defeated  by  Gen.  Kirby  Smith,  Mr. 
Thompson  being  at  the  time  an  inmate  of  the 
hospital.  After  being  held  a  captive  for  about 
a  week  he  was  paroled,  but  was  held  within 
the  rebel  lines  for  ten  days  longer.  At  length 
he  made  his  way  out  of  their  lines,  being  at 
the  time  near  Patriot,  Switzerland  county,  Ind. , 
whence  he  made  his  way  to  Columbus,  Ohio, 
reporting  at  Camp  Chase,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability, 
October  29,  1862.  On  December  9,  1863,  he 
was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Tod  as  adjutant  of 
the  Second  regiment  of  Ohio  militia,  with  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant,  and  that  position  he 
held  as  long  as  the  organization  was  maintained. 

Soon  after  graduating  from  the  Cleveland 
Law  school  Mr.  Thompson  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and,  after  returning  from  the  war, 
opened  an  office,  March  10,  1864,  for  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Dayton,  and  has 
practiced  continuously  since  that  time.  He 
was  in  partnership  for  five  years  with  W.  H. 
Belville,  for  three  years  with  James  P.  Whit- 
more,  and  for  about  one  year  with  James  A. 
Mumma,  and  since  the  dissolution  of  the  last 
partnership  he  has  been  practicing  alone. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  democrat, 
and  as  such  was  elected,  in  1869,  prosecuting 
attorney  for  Montgomery  county,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1 87 1,  thus  holding  the  office  for 
four  years.  He  has  twice  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education  of  the  city,  is 
now  a    member    of  the    city    board   of  police 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


885 


compelled  him  to  relinquish  all  active  pursuits. 
He  came  to  Dayton  from  Maryland  in  1806, 
located  southeast  of  the  place,  and  lived  there 
until  April,  1825.  He  lived  in  Dayton  until 
he  was  over  eighty-nine  years  of  age,  his  wife 
having  died  in  1864,  in  her  seventy-first  year. 
She  was  one  of  the  good,  motherly  pioneer 
women  of  the  early  day,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  John  Ensey,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  reared  a  large  family  of 
children,  and  died  in  Ohio,  near  Beavertown. 
The  maternal  grandfather  was  Samuel  Thomp- 
son. He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  moved 
to  Cincinnati  and  there  married  Mrs.  Cather- 
ine- Van  Cleaf,  widow  of  Capt.  Van  Cleaf, 
who  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  In  1796  he  and 
his  wife  came  up  the  Miami  river  and  settled 
in  Dayton.  Afterward  he  was  drowned  in  Mad 
river,  just  above  its  mouth,  and  his  wife  sur- 
vived him  until  1837.  when  she  died. 

Dennis  Ensey  grew  to  manhood  in  Dayton, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  has 
lived  there  all  his  life.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  there 
learned  the  bricklayer's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  some  years,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  contracting.  He  was  one  of  the  contractors 
for  the  erection  of  the  first  of  the  asylum 
buildings,  and  beside  this  he  built  many  of 
the  substantial  structures  of  Dayton.. 

On  April  10,  1845,  ne  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Wilson,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane 
(Shirley)  Wilson.  To  this  marriage  there 
were  born  four  children,  as  follows  :  Lila  G. , 
Orvis  B.,  Charles  W.  and  Jennie  S.  Lila  G. 
married  Thomas  De  Armon,  and  has  three 
children,  viz:  Margaret,  Helen  and  Robert. 
Orvis  B.and  Charles  W.  are  also  married,  and 
Jennie  S.  is  single,  and  is  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Ensey  formerly  was  a  very  active 
Mason,  but  of  late  years,  on  account  of  failing 
eyesight,  has  been  compelled  to  forego  attend- 


ance on  the  meetings.  His  present  home  was 
erected  in  1852,  a  handsome  brick  residence  at 
No.  35  South  Tecumseh  street,  where  he  and 
his  wife  have  lived  since  June,  1855.  Mrs. 
Ensey  is  a  member  of  the  Third,  formerly  the 
Park,  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  a  most  excel- 
lent woman,  wife  and  mother.  Mr.  Ensey 
can  remember  when  most  of  the  present  site 
of  the  city  of  Dayton  was  covered  with  timber, 
and  he  has  seen  it  grow  up  from  the  condition 
of  a  wilderness  to  that  of  a  large  and  prosper- 
ous manufacturing  city.  His  great  age  and  his 
remarkable  physical  strength,  together  with 
his  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  country, 
tend  to  render  him  an  object  of  great  interest 
to  all  citizens,  young  and  old,  and  all  manifest 
toward  him  that  tender  regard  and  friendship 
to  which  his  character  and  useful  career  so 
clearly  entitle  him. 


s 


AMUEL    W.     HOOVER    was    born 
April     16,    1837,    near   Liberty,    west 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  thirty   years  of 
his  life  were  spent  in  that  vicinity  as 
a  farmer. 

January  26,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Cath- 
arine Basore.  To  them  were  born  three  sons 
— Anthony  Webster,  Oliver  Perry,  and  Will- 
iam I.  T.  Anthony  died  in  infancy;  the  other 
two  and  the  mother  survive,  and  the  latter  oc- 
cupies the  family  residence  on  the  West  Side, 
Dayton. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Hoover  entered  into  part- 
nership with  J.  W.  Gaines  in  the  nursery 
business,  at  Kinsey,  Ohio,  the  two  previous 
years  having  been  spent  in  the  employ  of  Kin- 
sey &  Gaines.  Ten  years  later  they  were  able 
to  purchase  the  present  fine  site  on  the  West 
Side,  known  as  Star  Point.  To  this  place  the 
plant  was  moved  in  August,  1879.  The  firm 
was  incorporated  into  the  Hoover  &  Gaines 
company  in  January,  1882,  and  of  this  com- 


886 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


pany  Mr.  Hoover  remained  the  president  until 
his  death.  He  was  president,  also,  of  the 
Mathias  Planing  Mill  company.  This  change 
marked  the  end  of  his  active  business  life.  He 
had  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Brethren 
church  in  August,  1882,  and  this  was  the  be- 
ginning of  the  third  period  of  his  life — first  a 
farmer,  then  a  business  man,  and  last  a  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel.  Although  now  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  he  took  into  the  pulpit  the  en- 
ergy of  youth,  and  an  indomitable  spirit. 
His  voice  gave  no  uncertain  sound,  "growth," 
"progress,"  "development" — these  were  the 
key-words  of  his  sermons.  He  saw  clearly  the 
needs  of  his  church  in  missionary  and  educa- 
tional lines.  He  embraced  these  causes  whole- 
heartedly and  set  to  work  to  create  sentiment 
in  favor  of  advancement.  His  active  ministry 
was  spent  as  pastor  of  the  West  Dayton 
Brethren  church.  The  pastoral  duties  re- 
quired much  time,  but  he  gave  all  absolutely 
without  compensation,  and  contributed  regu- 
larly to  the  church  needs  beside.  In  the 
church  council  he  was  prompt  and  fearless  in 
asserting  the  right  of  individual  opinion.  He 
made  no  boast  of  his  independence,  yet  in  the 
highest  sense  was  independent.  If  for  the 
time  he  submitted  to  the  judgment  of  others, 
in  spirit  he  never  yielded  the  cause  he  sought 
to  advance.  Whatever  were  the  reforms  he 
advocated,  whatever  were  his  failures  in  judg- 
ment or  expedients,  never  can  it  be  said  that 
he  contended  for  anything  unworthy. 

He  was  chief  in  organizing  the  Brethren's 
book  and  tract  work.  The  general  confer- 
ence located  it  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  but  without 
any  means  to  begin  the  work.  A  few  solicit- 
ors were  appointed  to  secure  contributions  in 
the  churches  of  the  brotherhood,  some  of 
whom  refused  to  act  at  all,  others  did  but  lit- 
tle, while  the  majority  cried  failure,  but  he  se- 
cured a  sufficient  sum  from  friends  outside  the 
fraternity   to    print   a   few    tracts;   and   in   five 


years  the  endowment  fund  reached  over  $50,- 
000.  He  was  president  of  the  institution  until 
its  consolidation  with  the  general  mission 
board  in  1894,  whereupon  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  its  executive  committee  and  subse- 
quently the  board  placed  him  in  charge  of  the 
mission's  large  orange  farm  in  California.  He 
served  one  year  also  as  president  of  the  Nur- 
seryman's Protective  association.  One  of  the 
fundamental  principles  of  faith  of  his  brother- 
hood, is,  that  the  members  do  not  use  the  civil 
laws  against  each  other.  Their  differenced  are 
adjusted  among  themselves  on  the  basis  of 
Matthew,  xviii,  or  by  arbitration,  and  many 
were  the  times  that  he  was  called  to  adjust 
some  unpleasant  case  in  family  or  church,  and 
rarely  did  he  fail  to  reach  an  amicable  settle- 
ment. The  day  previous  to  his  death  was 
spent  in  thankless  work  of  this  kind.  The 
case  was  aggravated,  but  he  returned  home 
that  evening  with  a  happy  heart  because  he 
had  brought  peace  to  an  unhappy  family. 
His  strength  was  almost  exhausted,  yet  in  this 
condition  he  dared  to  prepare  for  the  morrow's 
services,  which  proved  to  be  too  much  for  his 
mortal  powers. 

Rising  from  poverty  to  wealth  did  not  close 
his  heart  to  the  needs  of  the  unfortunate.  He 
gave  liberally  and  no  one  was  ever  turned  from 
his  door  hungry.  He  gave  a  handsome  en- 
dowment to  the  missionary  interests  of  the 
church,  and  aided  five  colleges  in  all.  He  had 
the  ability  to  make  money,  and  no  doubt  would 
have  become  wealthy,  if  he  had  not  left  busi- 
ness for  the  church's  work. 

He  had  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  will 
remember  him  for  his  genial  social  qualities. 
Children  were  his  fast  friends,  in  whom  he  took 
great  delight.  With  all  his  social  qualities  he 
was  not  a  home  man  in  the  full  sense  of  the 
word,  but  withal  took  a  pardonable  pride  in 
his  family.  His  active  life  either  took  him 
from  home,  or  he  spent  it  in  reading,  study  or 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


ss7 


attention  to  other  duties.  If  for  these  reasons 
his  home  life  was  imperfect,  yet  his  best  influ- 
ences were  not  lost  in  his  children — both 
sought  eagerly  a  college  education,  which  he 
gave  them,  and  both  entered  the  ministry  of 
his  church.  When  he  saw  clearly  a  principle 
involved,  he  contended  firmly  for  it  and  the 
triumph  of  the  cause  was  a  vindication  of  his 
purposes.  It  was  his  delight  to  preach,  and 
he  sought  the  opportunity,  though  he  well 
knew  that  he  was  no  sermonizer.  Most  men 
would  have  considered  that  old  age  had  set  in 
when  he  entered  the  ministry,  but  he- entered 
upon  that  sacred  calling  with  the  vigor  of 
youth.  What  he  lacked  in  manner  he  gained 
in  practicability,  for  if  he  was  not  earnest  and 
practical  he  was  nothing.  He  had  no  teach- 
ers, he  imitated  none,  his  methods  were  his 
own.  During  the  earlier  years  of  his  ministry 
he  conducted  revivals  during  the  winter  season, 
and  met  with -fair  success.  No  preacher  is 
equally  strong  in  all  lines,  so  he  gave  up  re- 
vival work,  after  becoming  a  member  of  the 
general  missionary  board,  finding  that  work 
more  suited  to  him. 

The  one  word  which  expresses  best  the 
sum  of  his  characteristics,  is  action.  He  did 
nothing  slowly,  .and  knew  not  how  to  conserve 
his  powers.  He  would  press  on  to  the  point 
of  exhaustion  if  he  saw  that  anything  depended 
upon  him.  He  was  always  a  prominent  figure 
on  the  street,  because  of  his  quick  step.  His 
outward  activity  was  the  reflex  of  a  life  within. 
He  lived  and  worked  faster  than  most  men, 
and  thus  reached  his  end  before  the  allotted 
length  of  life.  He  was  not  great  as  men  look 
upon  greatness,  but  he  filled  an  important  po- 
sition, and  was  a  leader  among  his  people. 

He  was  not  overtaken  by  old  age  or  in- 
firmity. He  was  not  ripe  for  the  grave.  He 
was  pressing  on  with  indomitable  will  into 
larger  usefulness.  He  had  often  expressed  a 
desire  to  die  in   active  work,  but  never  did  he 


suppose  that  his  would  be  a  tragic  end — not 
to  say  sacred,  for  God  had  erected  a  pulpit  for 
his  death-bed.  On  that  last  Sunday,  March 
10,  1 89 5,  he  preached  with  unusual  energy  in 
the  morning.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in 
study  for  the  evening  service,  upon  which  he 
entered  somewhat  weary,  but  with  the  energy 
and  will  that  were  so  characteristic  of  him. 
His  text  was,  ' '  Whatsoever  a  man  soweth 
that  shall  he  reap."  As  he  was  nearing  the 
end  his  words  became  prophetic,  "One  by 
one  we  are  passing  over, "  and  in  an  instant 
his  great  soul  stepped  into  the  eternal  world. 
Two  weeks  later,  after  the  return  of  his 
eldest  son  from  the  university  at  Leipzig,  Ger- 
many, his  body  was  laid  away  in  the  family 
burying-ground. 

Jacob  Hoover,  born  in  181  3,  died  in  1895, 
the  father  of  S.  W.  Hoover,  was  a  pioneer  in 
Montgomery  county.  He  came  from  Morri- 
son's Grove,  Pa.,  in  1821,  and  settled  west  of 
Dayton.  His  first  wife  died  thirty-two  years 
ago.  The  last  few  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  S.  Bock,  of  the  West 
Side.  He  died  October  22,  1895.  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine Hoover,  wife  of  S.  W.  Hoover,  was 
born  May  31,  1S41.  She  occupies  the  home 
residence  on  the  West  Side. 

Oliver  Perry  Hoover,  to  whom  the  pub- 
lishers are  indebted  for  this  memoir,  born 
March  31,  1864,  was  the  second  son  of  S.  W. 
and  Catherine  Hoover.  He  married  Ida  Alice 
Klepinger  March  3,  1886;  entered  the  ministry 
of  the  Brethren's  church  July  31,  1890,  grad- 
uated at  DePauw  university,  Greencastle,  Ind., 
in  June,  1894,  and  later  studied  in  the  uni- 
versity of  Leipzig,  Germany.  He  is  now  a 
teacher  and  pastor  of  West  Dayton  Breth- 
ren's church.  His  residence  is  on  North  West- 
ern avenue. 

William  I.  T.  Hoover,  born  March  8,  1869, 
was  the  third  son  of  S.  W.  and  Catherine 
Hoover;    he  married  Carrie  May  Yundt,  June 


888 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


1 6,  1892;  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Breth- 
ren's church  April  30,  1892;  graduated  in  June, 
1894,  at  DePauw  university,  and  is  a  teacher 
and  preacher.  His  residence  is  on  North 
Western  avenue. 


HOMAS  J.  FARRELL,  superintend- 
ent of  police  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  whose 
efficient  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office  has  done  much  to  advance  the 
police  department  of  this  city  to  a  leading  po- 
sition in  the  state  of  Ohio  and  in  the  country, 
has  had  a  life  long  experience  in  his  profession. 
He  first  became  identified  with  police  work 
some  twenty  years  ago,  when  he  entered  the 
service  of  his  uncle,  Capt.  M.  J.  Farrell,  of 
New  Orleans,  the  founder  of  the  Farrell 
Detective  agency.  He  remained  with  the 
Farrell  agency  until  the  death  of  his  uncle  in 
1883,  when  he  joined  the  Pinkerton  service  of 
Chicago,  and  at  once  sprang  into  prominence 
in  the  north  by  his  success  in  various  cases. 
In  1888  he  made  a  wide  reputation  by  his  suc- 
cessful work  in  the  famous  tally-sheet  forgery 
case,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  which  a  number 
of  politicians  of  that  city  were  arrested  and 
indicted  for  participation  in  the  crime,  which 
aimed  at  the  overthrow  of  the  Hon.  John  Sher- 
man, then  United  States  senator  from  Ohio. 
It  was  hoped  to  prevent  the  election  of  Mr. 
Sherman  to  the  United  States  senate,  by 
forging  the  tally  sheet  and  thus  seating  enough 
members  in  the  legislature  to  render  it  numer- 
ically democratic. 

Mr.  Farrell  has  been  identified  with  some 
of  the  most  important  cases  with  which  the 
Pinkerton  agency  has  had  to  deal,  and  his 
work  in  this  respect  is  reported  as  being  of  the 
highest  character.  He  has  been  detailed  very 
often  upon  train  robberies  in  the  southern 
states,  and  also  upon  difficult  cases  in  the 
mining  regions  of  Colorado  and  Montana. 


Mr.  Farrell  was  appointed  to  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  the  police  department  of 
Dayton,  May  3,  1892,  while  he  was  yet  in  the 
employ  of  the  Pinkerton  agency,  and  while 
engaged  elsewhere  throughout  the  country,  an 
honor  seldom  conferred  upon  an  officer  outside 
of  the  city  in  which  he  may  live.  He  is  forty 
years  of  age,  having  been  born  in  the  province 
of  Leinster,  Ireland,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  at  the  early  age  of  ten  years.  He  set- 
tled with  his  people  in  New  Orleans,  where 
he  entered  school  and  was  educated  at  Saint 
Vincent's  academy,  which  is  located  at  Jeffer- 
son City,  La.,  and  afterward,  as  indicated 
above,  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  uncle, 
Capt.  M.  J.  Farrell,  of  New  Orleans. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Farrell  is  illustrative  of 
the  fact  that  energy  and  an  eye  single  to  the 
purpose  in  hand,  must  necessarily  lead  to  suc- 
cess and  recognition. 


>-j*OHN  O'CONNOR,  one  of  the  well- 
J  known  citizens  of  Dayton,  and  for  the 
ft  1  past  ten  years  superintendent  of  re- 
pairs of  the  middle  division  of  the 
Miami  &  Erie  canal,  was  born  in  county  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  on  January  11,.  1836.  He  was 
reared  at  Abbeyfeale,  and  was  educated  in  the 
parochial  schools.  In  1851,  when  the  famine 
came  on  in  Ireland,  the  family  were  evicted 
from  their  leased  lands,  and  removed  to  Eng- 
land. Our  subject  worked  on  a  farm  in  Eng- 
land until  1854,  when  he  joined  the  English 
navy  at  Chatham.  The  same  year  he  went 
with  Admiral  Napier's  fleet  to  the  Baltic  sea, 
and  was  with  the  naval  brigade  that  attacked 
Bomasund,  in  July.  His  ship  returned  to  Eng- 
land in  November,  and  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Hannibal,  commanded  by  Capt.  Dalrymple, 
which  dropped  anchor,  in  the  following  De- 
cember, in  front  of  Sebastopol.  He  remained 
with  the  Black  sea  squadron,  his  vessel  taking 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


891 


part  in  the  engagement  with  the  allied  fleet  in 
the  sea  of  Azov.  He  was  at  Constantinople, 
Smyrna,  and  the  Ionian  islands,  returning  to 
England  in  the  winter  of  1856. 

Mr.  O'Connor  has  two  medals  and  the  Se- 
bastopol  clasp  from  the  British  government  for 
services  in  the  Crimean  war,  and  a  medal  from 
the  Turkish  government. 

Mr.  O'Connor  was  married  in  England  in 
1  86 1 ,  and  in  1 862  came  to  America  and  located 
first  at  Lima,  Ohio,  where  he  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  railroads.  In  1866  he  went  to  Can- 
ada as  first  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Lawlor's  com- 
pany, but  returned  ten  days  later,  the  invasion 
having  come  to  an  end.  He  came  to  Dayton  in 
1869,  and  secured  the  contract  for  building  the 
Big  Four  railroad  between  Miamisburg  and 
Carrollton.  He  subsequently  had  a  similar 
contract  on  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chi- 
cago and  Lake  Erie  &  Western  roads.  In  1 886 
he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position. 

Mr.  O'Connor  was  president  of  division 
No.  1,  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  for  the 
first  three  years  after  that  order  was  organized, 
and  is  still  a  member.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Emmet  club,  and  a  member  of  the  Sa- 
cred Heart  Catholic  church.  Mr.  O'Connor 
was  married,  as  stated,  in  England,  June  29, 
1861,  to  Miss  Catherine  Brennan,  who  was  a 
native  of  Athlone,  Ireland.  To  them  ten  chil- 
dren have  been  born. 


>j,OHN  HENRY  PRINZ,  the  well-known 
A  contractor  and  builder,  of  142  East 
(•  /  Jones  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  Hes- 
sian by  nativity,  and  was  born  Novem- 
ber 2,  1838.  His  parents  were  John  and  Marie 
( Gungles )  Prinz.  The  father,  in  (lis  early 
manhood,  was  also  a  mechanic,  but  in  later 
years  became   a    farmer,  and   was  engaged  in 

that  calling  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
35 


Germany  some  little  time  after  the  arrival  of 
his  son,  John  Henry,  in  America  ;  the  mother 
had  died  prior  to  the  departure  of  the-  son  for 
this  country.  Of  their  three  living  children 
the  history  of  John  Henry  is  given  in  this 
memoir  ;  George,  a  carpenter,  resides  in  Day- 
ton, and  Adam  is  a  cabinetmaker,  living  in 
California. 

John  H.  Prinz  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  excellent  public  schools  of  his 
native  land,  and  on  coming  to  the  United 
States,  in  1854,  at  once  settled  in  Dayton, 
where  he  learned  both  the  cabinetmaker's  and 
carpenter's  trades.'  For  a  number  of  years  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman,  at  either  or  both  of 
these,  and  finally  drifted  into  the  contracting 
business,  which,  for  the  past  twenty-three 
years,  he  has  followed  with  unvarying  success, 
erecting  some  of  the  finest  edifices  in  the  Gem 
City.  Commencing  without  a  dollar,  save  that 
earned  by  his  own  labor,  he  now  owns  four 
fine  residences  in   Dayton. 

In  1863  Mr.  Prinz  married  Miss  Minnie 
Degenhardt,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  but 
was  a  child  when  brought  to  America  by  her 
parents,  who  settled  in  Dayton  and  here  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  To  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prinz  have  been  born  nine 
children,  viz  :  George  B.,  an  architect,  living 
in  Omaha,  Neb.,  and  a  widower;  Louis,  a 
carpenter,  working  with  his  father  ;  Charles,  a 
wood  carver,  working  for  the  Rouzer  Manu- 
facturing company,  of  Dayton  ;  Harry,  a  jew- 
eler, of  New  Castle,  Pa. ;  Conrad,  a  machinist 
in  Dayton  ;  Arthur,  at  school  ;  Annie,  wife  of 
John  Wahn,  of  Cincinnati  ;  Caroline,  married 
to  Mr.  Schubert,  a  cabinetmaker,  and  living 
in  Dayton,  and  Lizzie,  who  is  stili  under  the 
parental  roof.  The  Prinz  family  attend  wor- 
ship at  Saint  John's  German  Lutheran  church, 
connected  with  which  is  a  benefit  order,  known 
as  the  Saint  John's  Men's  association,  of  which 
Mr.  Prinz  is    a   member.      He  is  also  an  Odd 


892 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Fellow,  and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  and  politically  has  always 
been  a  democrat. 


Wl 


ILLIAM  L.  BATES,  one  of  the  well- 
known    citizens    of    Dayton,    Ohio, 
was    born    in    Cincinnati,    Ohio,    in 
1844,  and  is  a  son  of    Richard    and 
Nancy   (Trotter)   Bates.      Richard  Bates  was 
a   native   of    Lincolnshire,  England.      He   was 
one  of  the  old  time    merchants   of   Cincinnati, 
having  been  the  proprietor   of   the  first  whole- 
sale grocery  house  on   Walnut  street,  in  that 
city.      His  death  occurred  in  Clifton,  a  suburb 
of   Cincinnati,  in  1855.      Nancy  Trotter  was  a 
native   of    Steubenville,    Ohio.      In    1S58  she, 
with    her    family,    removed    to     Dayton,    her 
eldest    daughter    having    previously     married 
John    H.    Winters,  the  prominent  citizen   and 
banker   of  this   city.      Mrs.    Bates's  death  oc- 
curred in  Dayton  in  1870.      She  was  a  woman 
of    unusual   attainments,  and  charity  and   be- 
nevolence were  among  her   strong  characteris- 
tics.     She  was  the  founder  of  the  first  orphans' 
asylum  in  Dayton,  and  she    and  Mrs.  Parrott, 
mother  of  Col.  E.  A.  Parrott,  raised  the  money 
by  subscription  to  purchase  the  land  (the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Deaconess  hospital)  upon  which 
the  orphans'  asylum  was  situated.      The  num- 
ber of  inmates  became  so  large  that  Mrs.  Bates 
was  instrumental  in  having  a  bill  passed  by  the 
Ohio  legislature  establishing    a   county  orphan 
asylum,  and  the  original   asylum  was  removed 
to  the  West  Side   and   made    a  county  institu- 
tion.     The    widows'    home   was    subsequently 
established  upon  the  site  of   the  orphans'  asy- 
lum, and  of  that  institution  Mrs.  Bates  became 
first    president,    and    so    continued    until    her 
death,  being  succeeded   in  the   presidency  by 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Winters.      In    1868  the  in- 
creasing number    of   inmates  of    the  widows' 
home  necessitated  the  establishment  of   a  new 


and  more  commodious  home,  and  following  its 
removal  to  another  location  the  present  Dea- 
coness hospital  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
first  orphans'  asylum. 

Three  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born 
to  Richard  Bates  and  wife,  as  follows:  Rich- 
ard J.,  Adolphus  S.,  William  L.,  Susan  and 
Ella.  The  eldest  daughter  married  John  H. 
Winters,  and  the  youngest  married  Charles  T. 
Huffman.  All  of  the  children  reside  in  Day- 
ton except  Adolphus,  who  is  a  resident  of  Saint 
Paul,  Minn. 

W.  L.  Bates  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Cincinnati  and  Dayton.  At  the  end  of 
his  third  year  in  the  high  school,  in  1 862,  he  en- 
tered the  army.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
Dayton  and  became  interested  in  the  grocery 
business,  and  has  ever  since  been  associated 
with  that  industry.  He  engaged  in  the  broker- 
age business  in  1877.  Mr.  Bates  was  made  a 
master  Mason  in  Mystic  lodge,  in  1871.  He 
was  made  a  Knight  Templar  of  Reed  corn- 
mandery  in  1874,  and  received  the  Scottish- 
rite  thirty-second  degree  in  1881.  He  served 
as  commander  of  Reed  commandery  in  1885, 
and  as  captain-general  of  Reed  commandery 
for  eleven  years.  He  was  elected  presiding 
officer  of  Dayton  chapter  of  Rose  Croix,  Scot- 
tish rite,  in  1891,  and  served  as  such  until 
1894.  He  was  elected  grand  warden  of  the 
grand  commandery  of  Ohio  in  1893,  and  has 
been  promoted  each  year  since  and  is  now 
grand  junior  warden.  He  is  a  member  of  Old 
Guard  post,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Bates  was  married 
in  October,  1868,  to  Belle,  daughter  of  the 
Hon.  Warren  P.  Noble,  of  Tiffin,  Ohio. 


>-j*ESSE  BOOHER.— This  venerable  na- 

m      tive-born  citizen  of  Dayton  first  saw  the 

A  1      light  in  the  embryo  days  of  what  is  now 

a  great  center  of  trade  and  population. 

His  father,  Samuel  Booher,  settled  in   Dayton 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


893 


in  1806,  was  a  wagonmaker  by  trade,  and 
died  in  1857  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  He 
married  Miss  Susan  Lehman,  who  was  the  first 
person  baptized  into  a  church  in  this  city,  and 
was  connected  with  the  Christian  church  the 
remainder  of  her  life.  She  became  the  mother 
of  thirteen  children  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  Of  her  large  family  four  are 
still  living.  Gideon  is  a  farmer  in  Kansas; 
Mrs.  Catherine  Ware,  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Ware,  has  her  home  in  this  city;  Mrs.  Susan 
Beachler  has  her  residence  in  Salem,  in  this 
county;  and  the  fourth  is  the  subject  of  this 
biography.  Jesse  Booher's  birth  occurred 
February  15,  1821,  in  a  frame  structure  which 
stood  on  East  Second  street,  next  east  of  the 
present  Windsor  hotel,  and  which  was  later 
known  as  the  Schieble  house.  Being  only  a 
quarter  of  a  century  behind  the  birth  of  the 
city,  he  has  had  the  privilege  of  watching  its 
growth  from  an  insignificant  village  of  less  than 
a  thousand  people  to  its  present  proud  place 
as  the  fifth  city  in  the  state  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  Booher  is  a  man  of  clear  mind  and  ob- 
serving eye,  and  there  is  no  one  better  in- 
formed upon  Dayton  affairs.  He  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  being  the  oldest  living  male  born 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  city.  It  is  cur- 
rently believed  and  reported  by  the  younger 
residents  of  the  city,  those  who  get  their  infor- 
mation from  tradition,  that  the  old  Newcom 
tavern  was  the  first  house  erected  upon  the 
present  site  of  Dayton.  This,  Mr.  Booher 
says;  is  not  true.  He  states  from  positive 
knowledge  that  the  first  house  erected  here 
was  brought  on  a  raft  by  a  Marylander  named 
Watson,  and  was  located  on  the  east  part  of 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Steele  high 
school. 

Mr.  Booher  has  been  a  carpenter  and  mas- 
ter mechanic  all  his  days,  occupying  the  same 
shop  on  Booher  alley  for  half  a  century.  For 
the  centennial  celebration   of   April,    1896,    he 


constructed,  out  of  timber  taken  from  the  huge 
logs  of  the  Newcom  tavern,  a  miniature  cabin 
which  remains  an  heirloom  in  the  hands  of 
John  Cotterill,  the  owner  of  the  old  tavern  at 
the  time  of  its  removal  to  Van  Cleve  park. 

Mr.  Booher,  when  a  mere  boy,  had  the 
opportunity  of  seeing  a  steamboat,  then  a  new 
invention,  and  an  object  of  curious  interest  to 
a  person  of  his  inventive  genius.  He  was 
given  a  lithograph  of  the  boat;  and  from  this, 
after  a  year's  toil,  he  succeeded  in  producing 
a  model.  This  he  named  Lucretia,  No.  2, 
the  original  having  been  Lucretia,  No.  1. 
This  model  frequently  changed  hands,  and  is 
now  preserved  in  the  Dayton  Library  & 
Museum  building  in  Cooper  park. 

The  Booher  family  was  a  sturdy  one,  inured 
to  toil,  and  generally  of  long  life.  The  ma- 
ternal grandmother  of  Jesse  Booher  attained 
the  remarkable  age  of  100  years,  lacking  only- 
two  weeks.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of  fine 
physique,  though  not  above  the  medium 
height.  He  is  the  embodiment  of  bodily  health 
and  endurance.  Though  past  seventy-five 
years  of  age,  he  still  takes  delight  in  skating, 
in  which  art  he  has  been  the  envy  of  the  boys 
of  three  generations. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion,  he 
was  among  the  first  to  enter  the  three  months' 
service.  He  enlisted  under  the  president's 
first  call  for  volunteers  in  company  A,  Eleventh 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  serving  four  and  a 
half  months.  He  offered  himself  for  enroll- 
ment in  the  three  years'  service,  but  was  re- 
jected on  account  of  a  crippled  hand.  Mr. 
Booher  was  married  in  this  city,  April  26, 
1 841,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Ann  Reynolds,  a  native 
of  Philadelphia,  born  in  1822.  To  this  union 
there  have  come  seven  children,  four  of  whom 
are  still  living,  viz:  Lucretia  Creamer,  the 
wife  of  a  conductor  in  Indiana;  Belle,  now 
Mrs.  Gager  of  New  York  city;  Emma  Rule, 
living  in  Portland,    Ore.,  and  William  Orvis, 


894 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


who  is  connected  with  a  circus.  Mrs.  Booher, 
who  is  still  living,  is  in  feeble  health,  largely 
as  the  result  of  a  fall. 

Mr.  Booher  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
post,  G.  A.  R.  Politically  he  is  a  republican, 
served  for  twenty-eight  years  as  city  sealer  of 
weights  and  measures,  and  has  held  other 
official  positions. 

In  1852  he  made  the  journey  to  California 
via  Cape  Horn.  On  the  way  out  he  visited 
the  cities  of  Rio  de  Janeiro  and  Valparaiso. 
He  returned  to  Dayton  in  1854,  and  engaged 
in  pine  coopering,  which  he  followed  very  ex- 
tensively for  several  years,  employing  as  many 
as  forty  men  at  times;  but  he  could  not  make 
head  against  labor-saving  machinery,  and  after 
a  time  retired  from  the  business.  He  prepared 
a  model  for  a  steam  fire  engine  as  early  as 
1849,  thus  being  among  the  first  to  discover 
a  practical  way  of  fighting  fire.  This  model 
was  destroyed  in  a  fire  in  Cincinnati,  and  the 
idea  was  never  patented  by  him. 


@EORGE  W.  HOUR.— The  ancestors 
of  George  W.  Houk  came  from  Hol- 
land to  Cumberland  county,  Pa., 
where  his  grandfather  and  father  were 
born.  The  former  was  a  man  of  large  prop- 
erty for  that  day,  owning  five  or  six  adjoining 
farms,  skirting  the  Alleghany  mountains  upon 
the  east,  and  also  opened  iron  mines  and  built 
a  forge  at  a  cost  of  $60,000.  His  wife,  Salome 
Line,  was  of  French  ancestry.  They  had  a 
large  family.  Adam,  the  third  son,  married 
Katherine  Rnisely,  a  beautiful  girl,  educated 
at  York,  the  nearest  city  to  the  Cumberland 
county  farms,  affording  the  best  educational 
advantages  at  that  time.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, Mary,  Adam,  David  and  George.  Dis- 
satisfied with  financial  and  educational  pros- 
pects, and  averse  to  rearing  his  children  to  horse 
and  hound — the  rude    though    manly  sports  of 


the  mountains — deer  hunting  being  the  favorite 
past- time,  Adam  Houk  and  his  wife  started 
on  horseback  for  the  Ohio  valley.  Graceful  and 
fearless  in  the  saddle,  the  mother  carried  George 
before  her,  the  other  children,  with  the  house- 
hold wares,  following  in  the  wagon.  After 
several  weeks  of  varied  experiences  through 
fields  and  forests,  over  mountains  and  rivers, 
they  crossed  Mad  river,  near  Dayton,  upon 
George's  second  birthday,  September  25,  1827, 
wintering  at  Knisely's  Mills  and  coming  into 
Dayton  the  following  spring. 

George  began  his  studies  in  the  public 
schools,  but  attributed  his  love  for  study  and 
intellectual  pursuits  to  the  admirable  training 
of  E.  E.  Barney,  who  had  the  rare  faculty  of 
imparting  an  ardent  desire  for  learning.  He 
inculcated  the  principle,  that  as  the  Creator 
and  His  creature  are  infinite,  the  text  books 
of  school  days  were  but  to  initiate  gleams  of 
thought  in  each  branch,  which  were  to  be  fol- 
lowed up  by  life-long  progress — to  continue 
through  the  great  forever — for  only  eternity 
could  suffice  to  follow  in  this  infinite  pathway 
of  Life,  Truth  and  Love. 

Thus  equipped  for  a  beginning,  George  be- 
came a  teacher  before  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  In  the  summer  he  assisted  his  father  in 
his  work  as  superintendent  of  the  construction 
of  the  Miami  canal,  through  the  Montgomery 
county  division. 

In  early  manhood  he  was  distinguished  for 
graceful,  accomplished  horsemanship,  and  for 
athletic  feats  and  vigor  of  mind  and  body. 
Lithe,  and  tall  and  slender,  he  could  bend  back- 
ward and  pick  up  a  small  coin  from  the  Moor 
with  his  mouth — a  striking  contrast  to  his  form 
in  later  years.  Mr.  Houk  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  Peter  P.  Lowe,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1847,  an^  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  preceptor.  Later  he  was  associated  with 
the  Hon.  George  B.  Holt.  In  1S60  he 
formed   a    partnership    with    the    Hon.    John 


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OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


895 


A.  McMahon,  which  lasted  for  twenty  years, 
and  from  18S0  Mr.  Houk  practiced  on  his  sole 
account. 

In  1852,  though  but  twenty-seven  years  of 
age,  Mr.  Houk  was  sent  to  the  Ohio  legisla- 
ture, and  was  distinguished  by  being  made 
chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee.  In  i860 
he  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  national  dem- 
ocratic convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C. ,  at 
which  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  nominated  for 
president.  In  1876  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
democratic  national  convention  at  Saint 
Louis,  when  Samuel  J.  Tilden  was  nominated 
for  the  presidency.  In  1884  he  was  nominat- 
ed a  district  elector.  In  1S90  Mr.  Houk  was 
elected  to  congress  from  the  Third  Ohio  dis- 
trict, and  in  1892  was  re-elected.  His  death 
occurred  suddenly  in  Washington,  on  Febru- 
ary 9,  1894,  during  the  period  of  his  second 
congressional  term. 

December  25,  1856,  Mr.  Houk  was  mar- 
ried to  Eliza  Phillips  Thruston,  daughter  of 
Robert  A.  Thruston,  a  grand-daughter  of  Hor- 
atio G.  Phillips,  and  a  sister  of  Gen.  Gates  P. 
Thruston,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.  Mr.  Houk  left 
this  lady  a  widow  with  three  children,  viz:  Mrs. 
Harry  E.  Mead,  who  resides  at  Runnymede, 
her  father's  residence  for  thirty-eight  years, 
overlooking  a  wide,  beautiful  stretch  of  the 
Miami  valley  and  the  city  of  Dayton;  Mrs. 
Harry  E.  Talbot,  and  Robert  Thruston  Houk, 
residing  near  the  homestead,  south  of  the 
city's  limits. 

Mr.  Houk's  brother,  David,  is  still  living. 
He  has  had  repeated  calls  to  positions  of  trust 
and  honor,  and  is  distinguished  as  a  criminal 
lawyer,  for  true  nobility  of  character  and  un- 
impeachable integrity. 

His  brother,  Adam,  died  in  his  country's  serv- 
ice in  September,  1864.  He  has  one  son — 
now  living  in  South  Dakota.  His  sister  Mary, 
who  married  William  Ramsey,  has  passed  to 
her  reward  after  a  most  exemplary  and    useful 


life,  her  warm-hearted  benevolence,  intelli- 
gence and  practical  interest  in  all  good 
works  endearing  her  to  many  friends. 

George  W.  Houk  was  possessed  of  strong 
intellectual  powers  and  of  literary  tastes  and 
ability,  which  manifested  themselves  in  the  writ- 
ing of  essays,  philosophical  treatises  and  public 
addresses  upon  subjects  covering  a  wide  range. 
Much  of  his  best  work  of  this  character  was 
done  solely  for  the  love  of  writing  and  in  order 
to  fix  in  his  mind  the  result  of  his  extensive 
reading.  While,  therefore,  some  of  his  most 
valuable  literary  productions  remained  in  man- 
uscript and  without  publication,  his  fine  gift  of 
expression  and  wealth  of  knowledge  were 
known,  outside  his  library,  chiefly  through  his 
addresses  upon  public  occasions.  In  this  di- 
rection, his  dignity,  his  fine  presence,  his  rich 
fund  of  information  upon  public  questions,  and 
his  thorough  command  of  the  best  graces  of 
oratory,  combined  to  make  George  W.  Houk 
one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  the  past 
fifty  years  of  Dayton's  history.  Added  to  his 
equipment  as  a  scholar  and  thinker  were  most 
delightful  social  qualities,  humor,  urbanity, 
unfailing  courtesy  and  genuine  hospitality.  In 
both  private  and  public  life  Mr.  Houk  was  a 
fine  type  of  the  high-minded,  upright,  useful 
citizen.  His  sudden  death  came  as  a  severe 
blow  upon  the  community  in  which  he  had  so 
long  been  loved  and  honored,  bringing  the 
sense  of  personal  loss  to  a  great  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  whom  for  many  years  he 
had  charmed  with  his  personality  and  im- 
pressed with  his  strength  of  mind  and  high 
moral  character. 


OBED  W.    IRVIN,    judge   of  the   pro- 
bate court     of    Montgomery    county, 
and  one  of    the    most   prominent    of 
the  younger  citizens   of  Dayton,   was 
born  in  this  city  January   12,  1866,  and  is  the 


S'.Hi 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


son  of  James  B.  and  Ellen  (Montfort)  Irvin. 
Judge  Irvin  passed  through  the  public  schools 
of  Dayton,  and  in  1883  entered  Yale  college, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1887.  Following  this  he  accepted  a  position 
as  teacher  in  the  Dayton  high  school,  being 
thus  engaged  for  four  years,  and  having  charge 
of  classes  in  mathematics  and  Latin.  In  1889 
he  entered  the  senior  class  of  the  Cincinnati 
Law  School,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1892.  He  at  once  began  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  Dayton,  but  in  1893  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  republican  party  for  the  office 
of  probate  judge,  to  which  position  he  was 
elected  in  the  following  fall,  overcoming  at 
the  time  a  large  democratic  majority.  The 
administration  of  the  office  by  Judge  Irvin 
was  endorsed  in  1896  by  a  renomination  and 
re-election  by  an  increased  majority,  and  he 
is  now  serving  his  second  term. 


K^\  EV.  EDMUND  SIMON  LORENZ, 
l/^  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  the 
_9  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Edward  and  Bar- 
bara (Gueth)  Lorenz,  of  whom  a  me- 
moir is  given  on  page  351,  and  was  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  July  13,  1854.  His  ele- 
mentary education  wa'S  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  at  the  Toledo 
high  school,  from  which  latter  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1870.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching 
for  some  time;  in  1880  he  was  graduated  from 
Otterbein  university  with  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
followed  in  1883  with  that  of  A.  M.;  from 
1880  to  1 88 1  he  was  a  student  in  Union  Bib- 
lical seminary  of  Dayton,  and  from  1881  to 
1883  in  Yale  Theological  seminary,  receiving 
from  the  latter  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  di- 
vinity; from  1S83  to  1884  he  studied  in  the 
university  at  Leipzig,  Germany,  giving  special 
attention  to  philosophy  and  church  history. 
Mr.    Lorenz   joined    the    United  Brethren 


church  in  1871;  in  1877  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Miami  conference,  and  ordained 
in  1882.  After  his  return  from  Europe  he 
rilled  the  pastorate  of  the  High  street  church 
of  Dayton  from  1884  to  1886,  and  during  the 
following  year  served  as  German  Protestant 
chaplain  of  the  national  military  home  near 
Dayton.  In  1887  he  was  chosen  president  of 
Lebanon  Valley  college  at  Annville,  Penn. 
He  entered  upon  this  work  with  zeal  and  de- 
votion, to  which  was  dui;  great  progress  in  the 
development  and  usefulness  of  the  institution. 
During  his  first  year  he  secured  an  attendance 
of  over  fifty  per  cent,  above  that  of  any  pre- 
ceding year.  But  his  physical  constitution, 
undermined  by  his  double  work  during  his  col- 
legiate and  theological  training  and  the  sever- 
ity of  his  pastoral  duties,  suddenly  gave  way  in 
1888,  and  he  was  completely  prostrated.  The 
next  three  years  were  passed  in  weary  invalid- 
ism, and  he  is  still  a  sufferer,  being  compelled 
to  relinquish  all  public  ministerial  labor  and  to 
avoid  general  society.  He  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  music,  which  had  been  his  diversion 
previously,  and  in  the  theory  of  which  art  he 
had  been  thoroughly  grounded. 

Issuing  his  first  book  in  1875,  Mr.  Lorenz 
has  published  many  musical  compositions, 
which  have  been  hailed  with  gladness  in  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  homes,  not  only  in 
America,  but  in  England  and  Germany.  His 
books  are  wholly  of  a  religious  character. 
Some  of  them  were  prepared  in  conjunction 
with  other  gentlemen  of  acknowledged  talent; 
as,  for  instance,  in  conjunction  with  Rev.  W. 
H.  Lanthurn,  Praise  Offering;  conjointly  with 
Rev.  I.  Baltzell,  Heavenly  Carols,  Songs  of 
Grace,  Gates  of  Praise,  Holy  Voices,  Songs  of 
the  Kingdom,  Notes  of  Triumph,  Songs  of  Re- 
freshing, Garnered  Sheaves,  Songs  of  the  Morn- 
ing, and  The  Master's  Praise;  with  W.  A.  Og- 
den  he  was  joint  editor  of  Notes  of  Victory; 
was  associated  with  President  J.  E.  Rankin,  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


897 


Howard  university,  in  the  publication  of  Mur- 
phy's Temperance  Hymnal;  with  Kev.  W.  F. 
McCauley,  in  the  Christian  Endeavor  Hymnal, 
Songs  for  Christ  and  the  Church.  Beside 
these,  Mr.  Lorenz  has  issued  alone,  Songs  of 
the  Cross,  Missionary  Songs,  Otterbein  Hym- 
nal (the  authorized  United  Brethren  Hymnal), 
The  People's  Hymnal,  Tried  and  True,  Spirit 
and  Life  (Nos.  i  and  2),  the  anthem  books 
Gloria,  Festal  Anthems,  and  the  Anthem  Prize, 
an  infant  class  song  book  in  English  and  one 
in  German  and  two  books  for  male  voices. 
He  has  also  issued  scores  of  exercises  for 
Christmas,  Easter  and  other  special  occasions, 
of  which  millions  of  copies  have  been  sold,  and 
publishes  two  periodicals  in  this  interest,  one 
entitled  Festal  Days  in  English,  and  a  Ger- 
man one,  Fest-Tage. 

In  1886  Mr.  Lorenz  projected  a  series  of 
books  on  revival  work,  and  in  1887  issued  the 
Coming  Revival,  a  handbook  for  laymen,  and 
also  the  Gospel  Worker's  Treasury  of  Hymns 
and  Revival  Anecdotes,  which  also  contains 
suggestive  revival  texts,  sermon  outlines  and 
Scripture  readings,  and  this  work  is  now  a 
standard  with  preachers  of  all  denominations. 
In  1 888  appeared  his  Getting  Ready  for  a  Re- 
vival, which  also  occupies  a  high  place  in  re- 
vival literature.  After  somewhat  recovering 
from  his  nervous  collapse  he  began  the  publi- 
cation of  sacred  music  in  a  small  way  under 
the  firm  name  of  Lorenz  &  Co.,  and  this  firm 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  houses  in  its  line  in 
the  country,  its  trade  extending  from  ocean  to 
ocean  and  into  foreign  lands.  In  1894  he 
founded  the  Choir  Leader,  a  monthly  period- 
ical, devoted,  of  course,  to  choral  music,  and 
this  is  now  recognized  as  being  the  leading 
publication  of  its  class  in  the  world,  and  has 
at  this  time  over  10,000  subscribers. 

Rev.  E.  S.  Lorenz  was  united  in  marriage, 
October  1,  1877,  with  Miss  Florence  L.  Kum- 
ler,  daughter  of  Henry  F.  and    Catherine   E. 


(Zehring)  Kumler  and  granddaughter  of  Bishop 
Henry  Kumler,  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
She  is  a  native  of  Lewisburg,  Ohio,  was  for 
some  years  a  student  in  Otterbein  university, 
is  a  lady  of  fine  social  spirit,  and  a  companion 
meet  for  her  husband.  Of  the  six  children 
born  to  this  happy  union  four  are  still  living — 
Karl  Kumler,  Justina,  Mary  and  Edward 
Henry;  Paul  Shuey  and  Catherine  E.  died  in 
early  childhood.  Politically,  Mr.  Lorenz  des- 
ignates himself  as  an  independent  republican. 
Personally,  Mr.  Lorenz  is  extremely  genial 
and  companionable.  Intelligent,  earnest  and 
discriminating,  an  hour  spent  in  his  company 
is  both  enjoyable  and  profitable.  Of  many  of 
his  best  songs  he  is  author  of  both  words  and 
music.  His  hymns,  which  always  appear  un- 
der a  nom  de  plume,  are  free  from  the  com- 
monplace jingle  that  has  been  too  common  in 
recent  years,  showing  thought  and  a  cultivated 
mind,  and  breathing  a  spirit  of  worshipful  de- 
votion that  naturally  commends  them  to  those 
who  desire  to  use  music  which  can  be  sung 
"  with  the  spirit  and  with  the  understanding 
also,"  and  thus  are  very  popular. 


SEV.  EDWARD  HERBRUCK,  DD., 
Ph.  D.,  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Peter  Her- 
bruck,  DD.,  late  of  Canton,  Ohio. 
His  father's  life  was  one  of  constant 
activity  in  the  ministry,  retiring  at  an  advanced 
age  only  when  compelled  to  do  so  by  the  in- 
firmities of  his  years.  Rev.  P.  Herbruck  was 
probably  one  of  the  most  widely  known  minis- 
ters in  Ohio,  and  his  labors  in  the  Reformed 
church  were  most  flatteringly  successful.  He 
was  born  in  Hengsberg,  Germany,  February 
8,  1 S 1  3 .  From  early  youth  he  had  decided 
upon  the  ministry  as  his  life  work.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  came  to  America,  and, 
after  many  hardships,  finally  reached  Canton, 
Ohio.      He  lived  with  a  family  named  Wirt,  a 


898 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


short  distance  west  of  the  then  hamlet  of  Can- 


ton,   and    taught    school    during    1831. 


Hi 


pastor,  Rev.  Faust,  saw  the  possibilities  of  a 
preacher  in  the  young  man,  and  aided  him  in 
his  education,  Riving  him  private  instruction  in 
theology.  Rev.  Faust  died  in  the  latter  part 
of  1832,  and  young  Herbruck  was  elected  his 
successor,  and,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years, 
became  the  pastor  of  a  church,  and  from  1833 
until  1883  hj  was  pastor  of  the  same  church 
by  regular  appointment — a  period  of  fifty  years 
— and  served  the  same,  periodically,  for  sev- 
er?.! years  later.  During  that  time  he  per- 
formed 2,611  marriages,  attended  2,560  fu- 
nerals, baptized  5,938  people,  and  confirmed 
2,917  novitiates. 

He  was  married,  in  1832,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Holwick,  and  of  the  thirteen  children  born  to 
them,  ten  are  living,  several  of  them  being 
ministers  of  the  gospel;  othere  are  business 
men  and  all  honored  and  respected  citizens. 
The  death  of  Rev.  Herbruck  occurred  at  Can- 
ton, September  22,  1895;  his  widow  still  re- 
sides in  Canton,  she  being  a  native  of  Stark 
county,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Edward  Herbruck  was  born  in  Can- 
ton, Ohio,  May  11,  1849.  His  elementary 
education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools 
of  Canton  and  his  collegiate  education  in 
Heidelberg  university,  Tiffin,  Ohio,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1868,  as  valedictorian  of 
his  class.  As  a  minister,  he  was  stationed 
four  years  at  Akron,  and  eight  years  at  Can- 
ton. In  1 88 1,  he  was  elected  by  the  synod  of 
the  Reformed  church  as  associate  editor  of  the 
Christian  World,  continuing  thirteen  years  in 
this  work.  Since  1884  he  has  devoted  his 
time  and  attention  to  researches  into  the  his- 
tory of  Egypt,  and  lecturing  upon  the  land  of 
the  Pharaohs,  or  the  story  of  a  Long  Lost 
Nation.  He  has  not  only  visited  Egypt 
personally,  but  has  given  many  years  of  study 
to  the  subject.     Being  one  of  the  honorary  local 


secretaries  of  the  Egypt  Exploration  society, 
he  is  in  position  to  obtain  all  the  latest  facts 
regarding  the  discoveries  made  by  that  society. 
The  lecture  abounds  in  graphic  descriptions  of 
the  land  of  the  Nile,  and  its  buried  cities,  as  it 
was  four  thousand  years  ago.  The  life  and 
literature  of  that  ancient  people,  and  the  won- 
ders which  have  been  turned  up  by  the  spade 
of  the  excavator,  bear  witness  to  the  fact  that 
Egyptian  civilization  was  not  surpassed  by  that 
of  any  other  ancient  people. 

Dr.  Herbruck  was  united  in  marriage,  No- 
vember 21,  1872,  with  Miss  Clara  A.  Burrowr>, 
daughter  of  J.  A.  Burrowes  and  granddaughter 
of  the  reverend  pastor,  D.  Winters.  She  is  a 
native  of  Fairfield,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  at 
Springfield  Female  seminary.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Herbruck  have  three  children:  Nellie  B., 
Ralph  and  Hilda;  the  former,  a  graduate  of 
Dayton  high  school,  attended  Wilson  college 
one  year;  Ralph  is  a  commercial  student,  and 
Hilda  is  a  student  in  the  city  schools.  Dr. 
Herbruck  is  devoted  wholly  to  literary  pur- 
suits, and  from  the  many  press  and  individual 
criticisms  and  notices  of  his  scholarship  and 
lectures,  the  following  clipping  is  made: 

The  Rev.  Dr.  E.  Herbruck  enjoys  the  very 
high  esteem  of  the  clergy  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 
His  ripe  scholarship,  his  finished  oratory,  his 
wide  travel,  with  the  most  decided  success  of 
his  lectures  on  ancient  Egypt,  have  confirmed 
his  position  in  the  very  front  rank  of  platform 
speakers.  It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  we 
have  witnessed  Dr.  Herbruck's  growth,  both 
as  a  close  student  and  in  increasing  favor  with 
the  public.  It  is  the  reward  of  honest  toil, 
and  our  good  opinion,  formed  of  our  friend  and 
brother  twenty-five  years  ago,  has  only  inten- 
sified as  the  years  have  passed.  We  confi- 
dently predict  that  he  will  always  please  and 
instruct,  and  the  preacher  who  has  always  met 
the  demands  of  the  occasion  will  more  than 
please  the  scholarly  and  cultured  audience. 

Wm,  A.   Hale, 
Pastor  First  Re  formed  Church. 
Dayton,  Ohio,  May   22,   1895. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


899 


At  the  meeting  of  the  synod  of  Ohio  of  the 
Reformed  church  in  October,  1896,  Dr.  Her- 
bruck  was  elected  professor  of  historical  the- 
ology for  Heidelberg  theological  seminary. 


BREDERICK  BRENNER,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Fred  Brenner  & 
Son,  proprietors  of  cooperage  works, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  December  31,  1842.  He  is  a 
son  of  Michael  and  Christina  (  Rau  )  Brenner, 
both  natives  of  Germany,  and  who  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living,  as  follows  :  Jacob,  Rosanna  and 
Frederick.  Michael  Brenner  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  as  was  his  father  before  him.  He  died 
in  Germany  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight,  his  wife 
dying  in  1861  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  Both 
were  consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Fred- 
erick was  John  Brenner.  He  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  and  he  died  when 
well  advanced  in  years.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  Frederick  Brenner  was  named  Michael 
Rau,  and  he  also  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

Frederick  Brenner  was  reared  in  Germany, 
receiving  there  the  education  commonly  given 
the  youth  of  that  country,  and  also  learning 
the  cooper's  trade.  In  i860  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  settling  in  Cincinnati,  and  car- 
rying on  the  cooper's  trade  until  1892,  with 
the  exception  of  the  time  he  spent  in  the  army 
of  the  Union  in  the  late  Civil  war.  He  en- 
listed in  1 86 1  in  company  C,  Twenty-eighth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  serving  three  years 
and  two  months.  He  was  in  some  of  the  most 
important  battles  of  the  war,  among  them 
those  of  Carnifax  Ferry,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Troop  Mountain,  Frederick,  Md. ,  South  Mount- 
ain, Antietam,  and  Piedmont,  W.  Va.,  beside 
many  others  of  minor  importance. 

When  the   war  was  over  Mr.  Brenner  re- 


turned to  Cincinnati,  and  there  for  a  time 
worked  in  a  brewery  cooperage  shop,  at  length, 
however,  starting  a  shop  of  his  own.  In  1892 
he  removed  to  Day  ton,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since 
resided  and  carried  on  a  successful  business. 

On  July  15,  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  Kimmerlin,  daughter  of  Mathias  and 
Dora  ( Schenck )  Kimmerlin.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  b'orn  eleven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows  :  Jo- 
hanna, John,  Caroline,  Dora  and  Michael. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brenner  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  active  workers  in  aid  of 
the  church  organization.  Fraternally,  Mr. 
Brenner  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  Politically, 
he  is  independent,  taking  greater  interest  in 
the  success  of  proper  principles  than  in  the 
success  of  either  party  at  the  polls.  Mr. 
Brenner  employs  from  sixteen  to  twenty  men 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  the  manufacture  of 
large  casks,  storage  vats,  tubs,  tanks,  etc., 
his  work  in  this  line  being  noted  throughout 
the  country  for  its  excellent  construction  and 
workmanship.  He  has  also  recently  furnished 
large  casks  and  storage  vats  for  Mexican  and 
South  American  breweries  and  wine  cellars. 


?^~\  R.  LEE  CORBIN  was  born  April 
I  18,  1845,  on  a  farm  near  Point 
/^^J  Pleasant,  Clermont  county,  Ohio. 
He,  like  other  country  boys,  went  to 
school  in  winter  and  helped  on  the  farm  in  the 
summer.  He  trudged  along  to  school  with  his 
elder  brother  (now  Col.  H.  C.  Corbin,  U.  S. 
A.)  over  a  road  three  miles  long,  and  as  bad 
as  could  be  found  among  the  Ohio  river  hills. 
The  winter  school  days  and  summers  on  the 
farm  came  and  went  until  the  war  times  of 
the  '60s.  By  this  time  young  Corbin  was 
in  his  "'teens,"  and  having  passed  through 
the  course  of  the  district  schools,  was  now  at 


900 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Clermont  academy,  Prof.  James  K.  Parker, 
proprietor  and  principal.  As  the  war  pro- 
gressed the  big  boys  enlisted  in  twos,  threes 
and  squads,  until  the  school  might  very  prop- 
erly have  been  termed  a  girl's  academy.  Lee 
Corbin,  though  somewhat  tardy  in  enlisting 
(on  account  of  age),  did  don  the  blue  and  was 
off  for  the  war,  where  he  remained  until  he 
was  mustered  out  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  came  home  with  the  rest  of  the  boys 
and  again  took  up  his  books,  teaching  and 
going  to  school  for  about  ten  years.  During 
the  last  three,  years  of  his  pedagogic  experi- 
ence, which  was  at  Osborn,  the  thriving  vil- 
lage to  the  north  of  Dayton,  he  read  medicine, 
his  chosen  profession. 

On  the  2nd  day  of  March,  1876,  he  grad- 
uted  as  one  of  the  prize  winners  of  a  class  of 
102,  at  the  Medical  college  of  Ohio,  at  Cin- 
cinnati. Soon  after  completing  his  medical 
course  Dr.  Corbin  was  married  to  Annie  A. 
Martin  of  Osborn,  Ohio,  and  commenced 
housekeeping  as  well  as  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  Hamilton,  Ohio.  His  wife  died  one 
year  afterward  and  he  continued  practice  in 
Hamilton  for  two  years  longer.  He  then 
married  Bell  Robison,  of  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
and  located  anew  at  the  village  of  Vandalia,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Montgomery  county,  nine 
miles  from  Dayton.  Here  he  played  the  part 
of  "village  doctor"  for  ten  years,  varying 
the  monotony  of  practice  by  mixing  in  local 
politics,  being  an  active  republican.  Under 
the  Harrison  administration  Dr.  Corbin  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  pension  examiner, 
his  being  one  of  the  appointments  made  by 
ex-CommissionerTanner  during  his  brief  period 
of  office.  This  appointment  necessitated  the 
removal  of  the  doctor  to  Dayton,  which  took 
place  in  the  late  autum  of  1889.  The  pension 
board  of  which  Dr.  Corbin  was  a  member 
probably  examined  more  applicants  for  pen- 
sions   than    any    other  board    in    the    United 


States.  It  was  known  as  the  soldiers'  home 
board.  In  the  fall  of  1894  Dr.  Corbin  was 
nominated  and  elected  coroner  of  Montgomery 
county,  for  two  years.  He  was  renominated 
and  re-elcted  in  the  fall  campaign  of  1896, 
and  is  now  serving  his  second  term.  When 
the  doctor  came  to  Dayton  he  located  in  the 
thrifty  suburb  of  Riverdale  and  built  a  com- 
fortable home,  No.  625  North  Main  street, 
where  he  now  resides,  enjoying  an  extensive 
practice,  and  surrounded  by  a  happy  family. 
Dr.  Corbin  has,  since  the  close  of  the  war, 
taken  an  active  part  in  G.  A.  R.  matters. 
He  is  an  ex-post  commander  and  has  for  sev- 
eral years  filled  the  chair  of  surgeon  in  Old 
Guard,  one  of  the  largest  posts  in  the  state. 


^^USTAVE  A.  HOCHWALT,  M.  D., 
■  ^\  a  rising  young  physician  of  Dayton, 
^lW  Ohio,  was  born  in  this  city  May  13, 
1872,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Theressa  (Lothammer)  Hochwalt,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  the 
latter  of  Canton,  Ohio.  They  were  married 
in  Dayton,  and  here  George  Hochwalt  was 
for  many  years  one  of  the  most  successful  shoe 
merchants  of  the  city,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
earliest  established  in  that  industry.  He  was 
attentive  to  his  business,  realized  a  compe- 
tence, and  retired  from  the  cares  of  active  life 
in  1890.  His  death  occurred  April  25,  1894, 
and  his  widow  still  has  her  residence  in  Day- 
ton. Of  the  six  children  born  to  George  and 
Theressa  Hochwalt,  the  doctor  is  the  young- 
est. In  order  of  birth  they  were  as  follows: 
Edward  A.,  who  resides  in  Dayton;  Charles 
C. ,  of  Cleveland;  Emma,  wife  of  Frank  Burk- 
hardt:  Anna,  deceased;  Albert,  of  the  Grim 
Furniture  company,  Dayton;  and  Dr.  Gus- 
tave  A. 

Dr.  Hochwalt  received  his  elementary  edu- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


901 


cation  in  the  Brothers'  school  of  Saint  Mary's, 
in  Dayton,  from  which  he  graduated  in  his 
eighteenth  year.  He  then  entered  the  office 
of  Dr.  George  Goodhue,  an  experienced  phy- 
sician of  Dayton,  under  whom  he  read  assidu- 
ously for  two  years,  qualifying  himself  to  enter 
Starling  Medical  institute,  of  Columbus,  in 
1892,  and  from  this  institution  he  graduated 
after  three  years  of  faithful  study,  receiving 
his  diploma  in  1895.  He  at  once  returned  to 
Dayton  and  entered  upon  practice,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful. 

The  Hochwalt  family  are  all  devout  Cath- 
olics, and  are  members  of  Emanuel  parish, 
and  socially  stand  very  high  in  the  esteem  of 
the  community.  In  politics  the  doctor  is  a 
democrat,  but  is  not  a  partisan,  being  more 
concerned  in  the  study  of  his  profession  than 
in  any  interests  foreign  to  it. 


HS.  BYRNE  NELLIS,  M.  D.,  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Mount  Vernon,  Canada, 
October  5,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam G.  and  Mary  E.  (Byrne)  Nellis,  both  now 
residents  of  Dayton. 

Dr.  Nellis  resided  in  Canada  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  receiving  in  the  meantime  his  ele- 
mentary education  at  the  district  school  and  at 
Wesleyan  college  of  Tilton,  N.  H.,  and  was 
thus  prepared  for  the  study  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  William  Nichol,  of  Brantford.  After  a  due 
course  of  reading  under  this  capable  preceptor, 
young  Nellis  entered  the  university  of  Michi- 
gan at  Ann  Arbor,  and  after  a  special  course  of 
study  in  the  medical  department  of  that  famous 
institution,  completed  his  medical  studies  at 
the  Homeopathic  college  of  Chicago,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  the  class  of  1882. 
He  then  began  practice  at  Knightstown,  Ind., 
where  his  initiatory  experience  was  quite  satis- 


factory, and  in  October,  1883,  came  to  Dayton, 
where  he  has  met  with  abundant  success,  not 
only  as  a  general  practitioner  but  as  a  special- 
ist in  the  treatment  of  throat  and  lung  affec- 
tions— having  taken  a  post-graduate  course  of 
study  in  this  branch  of  therapeutics  in  a  New 
York  hospital  college  in  1895.  He  has  been 
honored  by  being  selected  physician  to  the 
Deaconess  hospital  of  Dayton,  and  he  also 
holds  membership  in  the  Montgomery  county 
and  Dayton  Medical  associations.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Nellis  took  place  in 
Brantford,  Canada,  February  27,  1889,  to 
Miss  Hattie  Lyons,  a  daughter  of  Woods  and 
Abbie  (Colder)  Lyons,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child — William  Lyons.  The 
doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a  re- 
spected official. 


t  y^V  ARIUS  WETZEL,  carpenter  and  con- 
■  tractor,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born 
J^^f  in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  June  4, 
1839,  came  to  Dayton  with  his  par- 
ents in  1847,  and  this  city  has  ever  since  been 
his  home.  He  here  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  his  youth,  and  enlisted,  April  14,  1861, 
in  company  B,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  for 
the  three  months'  service.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  he  re-enlisted,  in  July,  1861,  this 
time  in  company  E,  Sixtieth  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  but  on  March  17,  1864,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Seventy-fourth  Ohio  infantry, 
company  E,  in  which  regiment  he  served  until 
July  10,  1865.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  as  sergeant  —  having  served  over 
four  years. 

Among  the  many  severe  engagements  in 
which  Mr.  Wetzel  took  part  during  this  long 
period  of  service,  the  most  important  may  be 


902 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


thus  enumerated  :  Stone  River,  Mission  Ridge, 
Chickamauga,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Resaca, 
Dalton,  Atlanta,  Savannah,  Goldsboro,  and 
Jonesboro  (N.  C).  He  served  faithfully  in  all 
the  marches,  skirmishes  and  engagements  in 
which  his  commands  took  part,  and  passed 
through  all  without  a  wound.  On  his  return 
to  Dayton,  Mr.  Wetzel  resumed,  and  has  ever 
since  followed,  the  peaceful  pursuit  of  his  trade. 

Daniel  and  Mary  A.  (  Coover )  Wetzel,  the 
parents  of  Darius  Wetzel,  were  natives  of 
Maryland,  and  of  German  descent,  Jacob 
Wetzel,  the  father  of  Daniel,  being  the  foun- 
der of  the  family  in  America.  Louis  Wetzel, 
an  uncle  of  Darius,  was  the  founder  of  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  and  maternally  Darius  is  a  nephew 
of  Daniel  Boone,  the  famous  Kentucky  pioneer. 

Darius  Wetzel  was  united  in  marriage, 
March  4,  1861,  with  Miss  Mary  C.  Tobias,  a 
native  of  Greene  county,  Ohio.  To  this  mar- 
riage have  been  born  six  children,  viz  :  Luella, 
wife  of  John  B.  Ankeney,  a  carpenter  and  build- 
er, of  Dayton;  John  H.,  who  is  a  carmaker,  in 
the  employ  of  Barney  &  Smith  ;  George  B., 
an  architect  and  foreman  for  his  father;  Charles 
Edward,  a  graduate  of  Miami  Commercial  col- 
lege, and  now  bookkeeper  for  a  mercantile 
house  in  Dayton  ;  Mary  O,  who  is  an  organist, 
a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief  corps,  and 
living  with  her  parents  ;  and  Darius,  working 
with  his  father  as  a  carpenter.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Wetzel  has  been  a  deacon  for  many  years. 
In  politics  Mr.  Wetzel  is  a  republican,  and  for 
twelve  years  served  as  constable  in  Dayton. 

Mr.  Wetzel  has  been  identified  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  as  an  active  and 
enthusiastic  worker  in  the  order,  and  for  two 
years  has  been  commander  of  Dister  post, 
No.  446.  He  is  a  member  of  Harris  lodge. 
No.  331,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  having  united  with  the 
fraternity  many  years  ago,  and  is  the  present 
past  grand  of  his  lodge. 


*rj»ONATHAN  WEAVER,  D.  D.— This 
&3  venerable  pioneer  in  the  history  of  the 
rtj  ■  Inited  Brethren  church  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  served  the  church  for 
a  longer  period  of  time  than  any  other  living 
bishop.  In  fact,  it  is  doubtful  if  any  layman 
or  preacher  can  far  exceed  him  in  actual  years 
of  service.  But  this  is  not  by  any  means 
Bishop  Weaver's  only  distinction.  Coming 
into  existence  before  the  first  quarter  of  this 
century  was  completed,  born  of  humble  par- 
entage in  the  thick  backwoods  of  Ohio,  he  has 
successfully  arisen  through  the  various  grada- 
tions of  life,  and  has  fully  demonstrated  that 
"  there  is  always  room  at  the  top  of  the  ladder 
of  fame."  His  birth  occurred  on  the  23d  of 
March,  1824,  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  and  he 
was  the  youngest  of  twelve  children,  all  of 
whom  save  himself  and  one  sister  have  passed 
to  the  eternal  beyond. 

His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Washing- 
ton county.  Pa.,  and  both  were  born  the  same 
year — probably  about  1775.  No  reliable  fam- 
ily records  were  kept,  as  the  parents  were  un- 
educated save  in  the  elements  of  the  German 
language,  and,  like  their  pioneer  neighbors, 
gave  little  heed  to  anything  except  the  clear- 
ing up  of  their  farm  and  providing  for  the  com- 
fort of  their  large  family. 

The  paternal  grandfather  came  from  Ger- 
many about  the  year  1750  and  lived  for  a  time 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  About  1752  he 
moved  to  Washington  county,  Pa. ,  where  he 
died.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  born  in 
this  country,  of  German  origin,  and  also  set- 
tled in  Washington  county,  Pa.,  in  an  early 
day.  The  parents  of  Bishop  Weaver  were 
married  in  Washington  county,  Pa.,  about 
1798,  and  immigrated  to  Ohio  twelve  years 
later.  The  father  was  a  moral  and  upright 
man,  but  never  professed  religion  until  he  was 
sixty  years  of  age.  and  died  three  years  later. 
The  mother  was  converted    at  about  the  same 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


905 


age,  though  she  had  always  been  religiously 
inclined  and  was  a  faithful  and  persistent  Bible 
reader.  After  her  conversion  she  was  a  very 
devoted  and  earnest  Christian;  and  during  the 
declining  years  of  her  life,  spent  much. of  her 
time  in  reading  and  prayer.  She  was  excep- 
tionally well  informed  upon  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  Scriptures  and  rendered  much 
valuable  assistance  to  her  son  as  a  young 
Christian  and  embryonic  minister,  he  inherit- 
ing her  temperament  and  much  of  her  nature. 
The  mother  died  in  her  eighty-seventh  year. 

Jonathan  Weaver  was  reared  on  a  farm 
amid  the  trials,  privations,  ignorance  and  hard 
labor  of  early  pioneer  days.  There  were  no 
social  castes  in  those  days;  all  were  upon  the 
same  level,  equal  in  possessions,  equal  in  am- 
bition, and  equal  in  incentives  to  hard  labor. 
Amid  these  conditions  young  Weaver  grew  to 
manhood,  having,  as  associates,  the  farmers' 
sons  and  daughters  of  the  neighborhood,  most 
of  whom  had  no  aspirations  beyond  those  in- 
duced by  their  surroundings.  The  school- 
houses  of  those  days  were  built  of  round  logs, 
with  a  huge  fire-place  across  one  end  of  the 
school-room  and  light  admitted  through  greased 
paper  pasted  over  apertures  left  in  the  walls. 
The  prevalent  garb  of  the  students  was  the  red 
"womus,"  and  other  garments  made  of  the 
product  of  the  home  loom,  which  was  placed 
in  the  "parlor"  of  nearly  every  cabin.  The 
scholars  stood  around  the  huge  fireplace,  filled 
with  blazing  logs  contributed  by  the  patrons  of 
the  school,  and  studied  their  lessons  from  the 
United  States  Spelling-book,  or  the  West- 
ern Calculator,  according  to  advancement. 
The  little  ones  sometimes  had  their  A.  B.  C's 
pasted  or  printed  on  a  paddle  and  were  ex- 
pected to  study  diligently.  The  teachers 
made  no  pretentions  to  teaching  any  subject 
except  those  included  in  the  "three  R's,"  and 
a  scholar  was  presumed  to  have  graduated 
when  he  could  figure  through  the  single  rule  of 


three.  Discipline  was  maintained  by  the  ap- 
plication of  birch  or  hickory  "oil,"  and  the 
stronger  th^  teacher  or  master,  the  better  the 
discipline.  Often  there  was  no  floor  except 
the  earth,  and  the  seats  consisted  of  slabs  or 
puncheons,  smooth  side  up,  with  holes  bored 
in  the  bottom  corners  at  proper  angels,  and 
wooden  legs  driven  in.  It  did  not  matter, 
then,  ifthe  feet  of  the  littleonesdangled  afoot  or 
two  from  the  floor.  In  a  school  of  this  kind  our 
subject  learned  to  read,  write  and  cipher.  He 
early  cultivated  a  taste  for  reading,  and  occa- 
sionally saw  a  newspaper,  but  books  were 
scarce,  and  those  to  be  had  were  not  suited  to 
young  minds  and  desires. 

There  were  no  churches  within  reach,  so 
that  he  never  attended  church  or  Sunday- 
school  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age. 
Occasionally  a  Methodist  or  United  Brethren 
circuit  rider  would  preach  in  some  neighbor's 
cabin,  often  in  his  father's;  but  their  discussion 
of  spiritual  affairs  only  mystified  him;  he  could 
not  understand  the  plan  of  salvation,  and 
though  sincerely  seeking  the  light,  he  knew  of 
no  one  to  whom  he  could  go  for  counsel. 

By  reason  of  his  father's  misfortune  in  his 
financial  affairs  it  became  necessary  for  the  fam- 
ily to  seek  a  new  home,  and  this  change  neces- 
sarily brought  a  change  of  surroundings,  and 
while  the  loss  of  the  old  home  was  considered 
a  great  calamity  to  the  family,  it  nevertheless 
proved  a  blessing  in  disguise  to  the  young  man. 
The  change  brought  him  in  contact  with  rather 
better  schools  and  decidedly  better  teachers. 
By  reason  of  the  family  reverses,  his  labors 
were  more  than  ever  required  on  the  little 
farm  which  they  were  able  to  purchase  with 
the  remnant  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the 
former  and  larger  one;  but  he  managed  to  get 
three  months'  schooling  each  year,  and  em- 
ployed all  his  leisure  moments  in  reading  and 
study.  When  he  was  about  twenty-one  years 
of  age — his  father  being  now  dead — his  mother 


906 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


increased  his  little  store  of  funds  until  he  was 
able  to  attend  a  five-months'  term  at  a  Pres- 
byterian academy,  located  at  Hagerstown, 
Ohio.  This  was  the  sum  total  of  his  education 
as  far  as  the  schools  were  concerned,  though 
he  never  relinquished  his  efforts  to  inform 
himself  at  all  times,  and  of  course  it  is  need- 
less to  add  that  he  is  to-day  a  man  of  extensive 
reading  and  general  information.  His  religious 
career  took  tangible  shape  in  his  seventeenth 
year,  while  he  was  attending  a  camp-meeting. 
The  first  time  the  "  mourners'  bench  "  was  of- 
fered, he  accep'ed  the  invitation  without  solic- 
itation, being  himself  scarcely  able  to  tell  why 
he  went.  During  the  progress  of  the  meeting 
he  became  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  His  religious  life  for  several  years 
following  was  not  satisfactory  to  himself,  and 
he  had  no  one  to  whom  he  could  go  for  much 
needed  counsel.  Within  a  year  after  he  began 
his  religious  life,  he  had  the  great  satisfaction 
of  seeing  the  most  of  his  father's  family  con- 
verted and  united  with  the  church. 

When  about  nineteen  years  of  age  Mr. 
Weaver  was  elected  class  leader  and  served  for 
two  years.  From  the  time  of  his  conversion 
(in  1841)  he  felt  that  he  ought  to  enter  the 
ministry,  but  realized  that  he  had  no  special 
qualification  for  the  high  calling;  yet  in  those 
days  an  educated  ministry  was  neither  re- 
quired nor  desired  among  the  common  people. 
Fortunately  he  had  a  brother-in-law  who  was 
a  young  minister,  and  through  his  help  he  re- 
ceived some  light  on  the  doctrines  of  the  gos- 
pel. He  read  what  he  could  and  studied  more 
or  less  when  about  his  work.  When  twenty 
years  of  age  he  was  licensed  to  exhort,  and 
six  months  afterward  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel.  His  first  exhortations  and  first 
sermons — if  sermons  they  could  be  called — 
were  studied  for  the  most  part  while  following 
the  plow.  The  conviction  grew  upon  him  that 
he  must  give  his  life  to  the  ministry,  but  how 


creditably  to  fill  that  place  he  could  not  see. 
He  had  little  to  start  with,  except  good  health, 
a  strong  voice  and  an  abundance  of  zeal — all 
desirable  qualifications  in  the  preacher.  His 
term  at  the  academy,  which  gave  him  a  little 
start  in  educational  matters,  had  also  enabled 
him  to  form  better  habits  of  systematic  study, 
or,  rather,  had  taught  him  how  to  study. 

In  1845  he  was  placed  on  a  circuit  by  the 
presiding  elder  to  fill  a  vacancy.  During  1846 
he  taught  school  for  a  few  months,  studied, 
and  worked  on  the  farm  the  balance  of  the 
year  ;  in  February,  1847,  he  united  with  the 
Muskingum  conference,  under  Bishop  Russell  ; 
at  this  conference  he  received  his  first  regular 
appointment,  the  name  of  the  charge  being 
Lake  Erie  mission.  The  mission  was  200 
miles  round,  had  seventeen  appointments,  and 
there  were  twenty-three  members.  He  says: 
"When  time  came  to  start  for  the  mission, 
which  was  distant  over  100  miles,  I  felt  some 
misgivings,  but  would  not  suffer  even  my 
mother  to  know  that  my  mind  was  in  the  least 
cloudy.  I  packed  up  my  effects  in  an  old- 
fashioned  pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  took  a  hasty 
leave  of  home  and  friends  and  set  my  face 
toward  the  north."  He  soon  increased  the 
number  of  appointments  to  twenty-three,  and 
rilled  them  every  three  weeks.  Eighty  mem- 
bers were  received  into  the  church  during  the 
year,  and  eighty  dollars  was  paid  him  for  his 
year's  work. 

Though  a  young  man  of  robust  constitu- 
tion, the  rigors  of  the  winter  spent  on  this 
work  have  never  been  forgotten.  It  was  a 
year  of  trials  and  struggles,  yet  of  great  profit. 
At  times,  when  awakening  in  the  morning,  he 
would  find  a  half  inch  or  more  of  snow  spread 
on  his  bed,  which  had  drifted  in  through  the 
crevices  in  the  cabin  walls.  Yet  he  was  buoyed 
up  with  the  knowledge  that,  in  his  own  distant 
home,  a  dearly  beloved  mother  was  praying 
for  him.      He  says  :   "  You  may  call  me  weak, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


907 


but  during  all  the  years  I  have  spent  in  the 
ministry,  I  have  always  held  sacred  in  my 
memory  this  thought  :  Mother  prays  for  me. 
I  presume  to  go  to  my  grave  with  the  fond  and 
closely  cherished  recollections  of  a  kind  chris- 
tian mother." 

Bishop  Weaver  continued  to  serve  the 
church  of  his  choice  as  an  itinerant  minister 
until  1 85 1,  when  he  was  elected  presiding 
elder,  and  was  three  times  re-elected,  declin- 
ing a  fourth  re-election.  As  a  pastor  he  was 
always  more  than  ordinarily  successful,  his 
manner  as  a  pulpit  orator  and  companionable 
friend  being  such  as  to  draw  people  to  him 
and  through  him  to  seek  for  a  higher  life. 

In  1857  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  general 
conference  held  at  Cincinnati,  and  was  by  that 
body  elected  soliciting  agent  for  Otterbein 
university.  Having  been  a  friend  of  the  uni- 
versity for  some  years,  he  well  knew  its  needs, 
and  was  very  successful  in  raising  the  funds  to 
perpetuate  its  existence.  Though  not  entirely 
in  sympathy  with  the  management  of  the  insti- 
tution at  that  time,  he  was  usually  able  to 
defend  its  policy  and  to  show  that  it  was  the 
best  that  could  then  be  done.  He  has  always 
taken  a  firm  stand  on  the  question  of  higher 
education,  and  earnestly  advocated  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  church  theological  school  long 
before  that  was  thought  possible.  In  fact,  it 
is  believed  that  the  Union  Biblical  seminary 
is  largely  the  outgrowth  of  his  earnest  labors. 

His  first  election  to  the  office  of  bishop 
occurred  in  1861,  but  he  resigned  the  office 
without  entering  upon  its  duties  on  the  Pacific 
coast.  In  1865  he  was  again  elected  and  was 
placed  upon  the  east  Mississippi  district,  com- 
prising the  states  of  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Mich- 
igan. Four  years  later  he  was  placed  in  the 
east  district,  which  comprised  the  states  of 
Pennsylvania,  eastern  Ohio,  Maryland,  Ten- 
nessee and  Virginia.  During  this  quadrennial 
he  visited  the   Pacific  coast,  and   held   confer- 


ences in  California,  Oregon  and  Washington 
territory,  traveling  about  1 ,  300  miles  by  stage. 
At  the  general  conference,  held  in  Dayton  in 
1873,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  bishop's 
office,  Ohio  district,  which  included  the  states 
of  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  the  dominion  of 
Canada.  In  1877  he  was  elected  to  the  same 
office  and  placed  in  the  east  Mississippi  dis- 
trict. In  1 88 1  he  was  elected  and  assigned  to 
the  northwest  district — the  districts  having 
been  changed  since  the  last  conference.  This 
district  extended  from  Detroit,  Mich.,  west, 
including  Colorado.  His  sixth  election  occurred 
in  1885,  and  he  has  been  elected  at  each 
quadrennial  period  since,  having  served  over 
thirty  years  as  one  of  the  official  heads  of  a 
great  and  prosperous  church. 

Bishop  Weaver  is  still  in  active  work, 
though,  in  deference  to  his  age,  his  labors  are 
made  as  light  as  possible,  he  having,  in  1893, 
been  elected  bishop  emeritus;  however,  in 
1895,  he  held  conferences  on  the  Pacific  coast 
and  was  active  in  his  official  duties.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  his  ministerial  work  has  ex- 
tended over  a  period  of  fifty  years  in  all,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  has  traveled  nearly  all  over 
the  United  States  and  Canada.  Bishop 
Weaver  has  been  officially  connected  with  the 
legislation  of  the  church  for  over  thirty  years, 
and  perhaps  no  man  in  the  United  States  is 
better  informed  upon  its  history  than  he.  His 
policy  has  always  been  conservative  and  con-, 
ciliatory,  though  firmly  believing  in  and  aiding 
in  the  recent  reforms  and  changes  in  the  con- 
stitutional law  of  the  church.  He  believes  that 
the  period  of  prohibition  of  Freemasonry  with- 
in the  church  has  passed,  though  convinced 
that  the  time  was  when  it  was  a  wise  provision 
of  the  church  curriculum.  As  a  writer,  Dr. 
Weaver  is  plain  and  terse.  No  one  can  mis- 
understand his  meaning.  Beside  being  a 
regular  contributor  to  the  different  church 
papers,  he    has    written  some  pamphlets  and 


908 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


several  books  which  have  been  published  in 
permanent  form.  The  first  of  these  was  on 
the  Resurrection  of  the  Human  Body;  the 
second  was  entitled  Divine  Providence,  a 
smaller  volume  Veated  of  Ministerial  Salary; 
while  Universal  Restoration  is  the  title  of 
another.  He  is  the  author  of  a  work  on 
Christian  Baptism,  and  of  another  on 
Christian  Theology.  Throughout  his  writings 
ings  there  is  apparent  a  vein  of  the  humorous, 
which  makes  his  work  readable  with  that  large 
class  who  are  not  specially  interested  in  ab- 
stract theology.  A  characteristic  of  the  man 
is  his  entire  freedom  from  formality.  He  will 
meet,  with  a  pleasant  smile  and  hearty  hand- 
shake, the  lowest  of  God's  creatures,  and  seek 
to  win  them  to  a  new  life  by  acts  of  love  and 
brotherly  kindness. 

Bishop  Weaver  has  been  twice  married. 
The  bride  of  his  youth  was  Miss  Keziah  L. 
Robb,  of  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  whom  he 
wedded  on  the  24th  of  February,  1847.  They 
lived  together  pleasantly  and  happily  until  she 
was  removed  by  death  about  four  years  after 
marriage,  leaving  two  daughters.  In  1854  he 
married  Miss  Mary  E.  Forsyth,  of  Canton, 
Ohio.  She  is  a  most  estimable  lady  and  a 
valued  helpmate.  Nine  children  have  blessed 
this  second  marriage. 

In  his  younger  years,  the  bishop  had  been 
a  most  perfect  specimen  of  physical  manhood, 
and  although  now  past  the  ' '  threescore  and 
ten  years"  allotted  to  man,  he  stands  erect, 
and  shows  his  full  stature  of  six  feet  four  and 
a  half  inches,  and  bids  fair  to  continue  his 
useful  labors  for  years  to  come. 


K^%  ERNHARD   MESCHER,   of  Dayton, 

I C^L     was    born    in    Cincinnati,  Ohio,    June 

g^^_J     10,   1855.      His  parents,    Joseph   and 

Mary    A.     Mescher,    were    natives  of 

Germany,    and    came    to    this    country    while 


young,  their  marriage  occurring  in  Cincinnati, 
whence  they  came  to  Dayton  in  1856.  The 
father  engaged  first  in  the  shoe  business  on 
Second  street  the  same  year,  but  in  1869  re- 
linquished the  shoe  trade  and  opened  a  gro- 
cery on  Washington  street.  In  1890  he 
closed  out  his  business  and  retired,  and  in 
July,  1891,  his  death  occurred.  He  was  a 
member  of  St.  Emanuel's  Catholic  church. 
His  widow  still  lives  in  Dayton,  residing  at 
1  J}  Washington  street.  To  the  parents  nine 
children  were  born,  six  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Bernhard;  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Hoban,  ex-president  of  the  Dayton  city  coun- 
cil, and  at  present  a  member  of  that  body: 
Joseph,  a  molder  of  Dayton;  Clara,  wife  of 
Raymond  Lachey,  a  brass  finisher;  Henry,  also 
a  brass  finisher,  and  George,  a  machinist,  all 
of  Dayton. 

Bernhard  Mescher  was  reared  in  Dayton, 
and  was  educated  at  St.  Emanuel  parochial 
school.  He  learned  the  machinist's  trade  with 
the  Davis  Sewing  Machine  company,  and  after 
three  years'  time  was  made  shipping  clerk  and 
foreman  of  the  sorting  and  packing  department 
of  the  works,  remaining  with  that  company 
seven  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  he  left  Dayton,  going 
to  Cincinnati,  where  he  took  a  position  as  clerk 
in  the  clothing  house  of  J.  H.  Richter,  with 
whom  he  remained  nine  years,  being  manager 
of  one  of  the  departments  the  last  two  years 
of  that  time.  In  the  fall  of  1885  he  returned 
to  Dayton,  and  took  a  half  interest  in  his  fath- 
er's grocery  business  on  Washington  street, 
and  thus  continued  until  the  fall  of  1887,  when 
they  dissolved,  and  he  went  into  the  grocery 
business  for  himself  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Cincinnati  and  Albany  streets.  He  conducted 
that  business  until  the  spring  of  1888,  when 
he  sold  it  out,  and  opened  his  present  business 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  same  streets. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


909 


Mr.  Mescher  was  married  on  October    13, 

1880,  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Kemper,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Margaret  Kemper,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  in  which  city  she  was  born  February 
22,  1 861 .  To  this  marriage  two  children  have 
been    born,    as    follows:     Joseph,    August    13, 

1881,  in  Cincinnati;  and  Louis,  June  10,  1884, 
in  Covington,  Ky. 

Mr.  Mescher  has  always  been  a  member  of 
the  democratic  party.  In  1891  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  Decennial  Equaliza- 
tion board  of  Dayton,  which  board  inspected 
every  piece  of  property  in  the  city.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Emanuel's  Catholic  church, 
and  of  Carroll  commahdery,  No.  225,  Catholic 
Knights  of  St.  John;  also  of  the  St.  Joseph's 
Catholic  Orphans'  society.  In  September, 
1894,  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  McMillin  to 
the  board  of  city  infirmary  directors,  to  fill  a 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Charles  Spatz, 
and  served  until  the  following  spring. 


•~>TAMUEL    CRAIGHEAD,    late    a    dis- 
•y^^kT    tinguished  member  of  the  bar  of  Mont- 

\^J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  June 
16,  1 S 1 7,  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa. 
In  his  youth  he  went  to  New  York  city,  where 
he  was  for  several  years  in  the  employ  of  a 
large  publishing  house.  He  prepared  himself 
for  the  profession  of  the  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Ohio,  and  became  a  resident  of 
Dayton  in  1844.  Here  he  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice,  and  in  1848  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney,  which  he 
filled  for  two  terms. 

Mr.  Craighead  speedily  attained  promi- 
nence and  wide  reputation  as  a  criminal  law- 
yer, and  during  a  period  of  forty  years  he  was 
engaged  upon  one  side  or  the  other  of  well- 
nigh  every  criminal  case  of  importance  in  the 
courts  of  this  county,  his  practice  extending 
also  to  other  portions  of  the  state.      In   about 

36 


1854  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Wilbur 
Conover,  and  this  became,  and  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century  continued  to  be,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  most  successful  legal  firms  in  Ohio, 
when  it  was  dissolved  by  reason  of  Mr.  Con- 
over's  failing  health. 

In  February,  1853,  Mr.  Craighead  married 
Mrs.  Jeannette  A.  Schenck,  daughter  of  Judge 
William  Miller,  of  Cincinnati,  and  widow  of 
Lieut.  Woodhull  S.  Schenck,  of  the  United 
States  navy.  To  this  marriage  were  born 
three  children:  Robert  G.,  Emanuel  J.  and 
Charles  A.  Craighead. 

Samuel  Craighead  died  September  6,  1894. 
Rightly  to  estimate  the  place  he  held  in  the 
community,  and  especially  in  the  profession  to 
which  he  had  devoted  his  great  gifts  of  intel- 
lect and  eloquence,  we  turn  to  the  words  of 
the  tribute  paid  to  his  life  and  character  by 
his  associates  at  the  bar  of  Montgomery  county. 
We  quote  from  the  memorial  adopted  by  the 
Bar  association  following  Mr.  Craighead's 
lamented  death: 

"For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  was 
the  acknowledged  leader  of  this  bar.  In  these 
halls  others  contended  with  him  as  to  the 
soundness  of  legal  propositions  or  as  to  the 
effect  of  evidence,  but  no  one  hoped  to  triumph 
over  him  by  personal  superiority.  The  ele- 
ments of  his  great  professional  success  were, 
in  part,  the  generous  gifts  of  nature.  His 
presence  was  attractive,  his  capacity  for  work 
was  great,  his  mind  was  active  and  versatile, 
his  judgment  as  to  what  should  be  offered  or 
omitted  in  the  trial  of  a  cause  was  instinctive 
and  accurate,  and  his  power  of  dramatic  pres- 
entation could  hardly  have  been  acquired. 
But  these  native  qualities  were  strengthened 
and  supplemented  by  a  close  and  extensive 
study  of  the  law,  by  a  careful  preparation  of 
all  the  causes  in  which  he  appeared,  and  by 
the  zeal  and  fidelity  which  are  prompted  by 
an  accurate  appreciation  of  the  high  .duty 
which  a  lawyer  owes  to  his  client.  A  clear 
conviction  that  the  law  is  a  profession,  and 
not  a  trade,  lay  at  the  foundation  of  his  sue- 


910 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


cess  and  was  the  corner  stone  of  his  profes- 
sional character.  It  raised  hitn  to  those  intel- 
lectual-and  moral  heights  where  controversies 
are  courageous  and  honorable,  where  victories 
ennoble  and  defeats  are  not  followed  by  shame. 

"Most  of  us,  upon  our  admission  to  the 
bar,  found  him  in  full  practice,  engaged  in 
nearly  all  the  important  causes  that  were  tried 
here,  winning  favorable  judgment  in  most  of 
them  and  in  all  adding  to  his  reputation  as  a 
powerful  and  honorable  advocate.  Rejecting 
the  overtures  of  those  who  desired  to  place 
him  in  public  positions  for  which  his  talent  so 
admirably  fitted  him,  he  was  nevertheless  a 
public  man  by  virtue  of  his  ability.  In  our 
professional  circle  he  was  the  Great  Com- 
moner. We  have  all  respected  his  character 
and  emulated  his  success.  Those  of  us  have 
been  most  fortunate  who  have  most  clearly 
observed  that  honor  and  virtue  made  that 
success  possible. 

"In  the  trial  of  causes  he  was  fearless  and 
aggressive.  He  must  have  been  conscious  of 
his  great  powers  as  an  advocate,  though  he 
was  without  arrogance. 

"  Loyalty  and  fidelity  were  prominent  in 
his  character.  These  qualities  bound  him 
firmly  and  closely  to  profession,  to  clients,  to 
family,  to  friends,  to  truth,  to  country.  He- 
received  patriotism  by  inheritance,  and  throughT 
out  his  long  and  useful  life  he  nurtured  it  by 
the  faithful  performance  of  those  duties  which 
every  citizen  owes  to  the  state. 

■ '  In  his  later  years  his  life  showed  a  strange 
and  beautiful  blending  of  vernal  and  autumnal 
colors.  To  his  own  business  and  to  that  of 
his  clients  he  brought  the  ripe  fruit  of  long 
experience  and  much  observation.  But  at 
home  and 'office  his  friends  were  sure  of  a 
cheery  welcome,  and  at  the  meetings  of  law- 
yers his  favorite  place  was  among  the  younger 
members  of  the  bar,  whom  he  encouraged  by 
kind  words  and  delighted  with  the  sallies  of 
wit  which  so  often  enlivened  the  court  room 
and  the  social  circle.  It  seems  as  though  it 
were  but  yesterday  that  he  passed  among  us 
with  the  erect  figure,  the  elastic  step,  the  nat- 
ural vision  and  the  cheery  voice  of  youth. 

• '  But  age  brought  even  to  him  its  inevitable 
infirmities,  and  compelled  his  gradual  aban- 
donment   of   active   professional   duties.     Yet 


he  never  ceased  to  teach  us  by  his  exemplary 
conduct.  When  the  twilight  deepened,  his 
life  became  a  perpetual  benediction  upon  all 
whom  he  met  and  all  whom  he  had  ever 
known. 

• '  The  memory  of  his  talents,  his  virtues  and 
his  kindness  will  remain  to  us  a  valued  herit- 
age. But  we  cannot  cherish  the  hope  that  we 
shall  ever  meet  a  manlier  man." 


<a 


9 ILLIAM  LAWRENCE  BLOCHER, 
superintendent  of  the  manufactur- 
ing department  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Publishing  house,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Celina,  Ohio,  May  25,  1854,  and 
is  the  youngest  son  of  Judge  W.  L.  Blocher, 
who  lost  his  life  on  the  battle  field,  while  in 
the  Union  service  during  the  late  Civil  war. 
Left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  he 
worked  for  five  years  in  Logan  county  as  a 
farmer's  lad,  receiving,  as  compensation,  his 
board  and  clothing  and  three  months'  school- 
ing each  year,  during  the  winter  season,  and 
this  in  a  common  country  school. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Blocher  began  learning  the 
printing  trade  under  the  Hon.  A.  P.  J.  Snyder, 
proprietor  of  the  Mercer  County  Standard, 
served  until  1873,  and  in  the  latter  year  came 
to  Dayton,  and  went  to  work  for  the  United 
Brethren  Publishing  house.  In  1881,  he  was 
promoted  to  be  foreman  of  his  department, 
and  in  1893  was  advanced  to  his  present  po- 
sition— thus  making  a  continuous  term  of  serv- 
ice, to  date,  of  twenty-four  years. 

Mr.  Blocher  was  united  in  marriage, 
September  16,  1886,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  But- 
terfield,  daughter  of  A.  A.  Butterfield,  and 
this  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one 
daughter,  Helen.  Mr.  Blocher  enjoys  the 
sincere  regard  of  the  citizens  of  Dayton  and 
the  esteem  of  every  employee  under  his  juris- 
diction, as  well  as  the  thorough  confidence  of 
the  house  by  which  he  is  employed. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


911 


OTHO  EVANS  FRANCIS,  physician 
and  surgeon  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Dayton  since  1 88 1 . 
He  was  born  at  Franklin,  Warren 
count)-,  Ohio,  August  30,  1851,  and  is  a  son 
of  Adonijah  and  Cynthia  (Bergen)  Francis,  the 
former  of  whom  is  still  living  in  Warren  coun- 
ty, at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  the  latter 
of  whom  is  deceased.  The  family  is  of  New 
England  and  French  Huguenot  extraction. 
The  Francis  family  have  usually  turned  their 
attention  to  agriculture,  while  the  Bergen  fam- 
ily have  for  the  most  part  become  members  of 
some  one  of  the  professions. 

Adonijah  Francis,  father  of  Dr.  Francis, 
has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  he  and  his 
wife.  Cynthia,  reared  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Tobias,  a  farmer  and  auc- 
tioneer of  Carlisle,  Ohio;  Lydia,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Anderson,  of  Johnson  county,  Kans. ; 
Richard,  a  farmer  of  Preble  county,  Ohio; 
Mary,  deceased  wife  of  D.  Vandemire,  of 
Grinnell,  Iowa;  Cornelia,  wife  of  Joseph  Sum- 
mers of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Otho  E..  the  subject 
(it  this  sketch;  George  B..  a  farmer  of  Carlisle, 
Ohio,  and  Sallie,  wife  of  Clinton  Mitchell,  of 
Carlisle,  Ohio. 

Otho  E.  Francis  received  his  education  in 
the  academy  at  Birmingham.  Iowa,  conduct- 
ed by  his  uncle,  George  Bergen,  and  after- 
ward at  Mount  Pleasant  Normal  school  and  at 
Monmouth  college,  111.  Having  thus  acquired 
an  excellent  literary  education  he  began  the 
reading  of  medicine,  taking  one  course  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  university  of  Mich- 
igan, and  one  course  of  study  at  the  Ohio 
Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  then 
attended  the  college  of  Medicine  and  Surgery 
at  Cincinnati,  after  which  he  was  engaged  for 
three  years  in  practice  at  Camden,  Preble 
county,  Ohio.  In  order  further  to  prepare 
himself  for  his  professional  career  he  attended 
the  Medical   college    at   Louisville,  Ky.,  grad- 


uating in  the  class  of  1878.  Here  he  took  a 
special  course,  and  received  a  special  diploma, 
in  diseases  of  women.  Returning  to  Camden, 
Ohio,  he  remained  there  in  practice  four 
years,  and  in  1881,  as  stated  above,  removed 
to  Dayton,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
successful  practice. 

Dr.  Francis  is  a  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  Medical  society,  and  is  examining 
physician  for  the  Protected  Home  circle.  He 
was  married  August  13,  1871,  to  Miss  Lillian 
Woodside,  daughter  of  Robert  Woodside,  who 
was  born  in  Somerdale,  Butler  county,  but 
who  was  reared  in  Glendale,  Hamilton  count}', 
Ohio.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Francis  have  two  children, 
viz:  Paul  and  Adonijah,  both  students.  Dr. 
Francis  is  a  strong  republican  in  politics,  and 
has  acceptably  filled  the  position  of  city  phy- 
sician. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbvterian  church. 


aHARLES  F.  KIMMEL,  an  ex-soldier 
of  the  late  Civil  war,  and  now  residing 
in  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Langensalza,  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, October  15,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Au- 
gustus B.  and  Johanna  Louise  (Gentzle)  Kim- 
mel.  The  father,  Augustus  B.,  was  also  born 
in  Langensalza  in  1806 — that  city  being  fa- 
mous as  the  scene  of  one  of  the  great  battles 
between  the  German  and  Austrian  armies  in 
1S66.  Augustus  was  a  miller,  and  after  coming 
to  Dayton,  in  1846,  worked  at  his  trade  for 
some  years,  and  died  May  16,  1895.  His 
widow  survived  until  January  26,  1897,  when 
she  passed  away  aged  seventy-three  years,  and 
they  are  both  buried  in  Woodland  cemetery. 
They  had  five  children,  beside  Charles  F. ,  viz: 
Christian,  who  was  killed  at  Manteno,  111.,  in 
a  railroad  accident  while  returning  from  the 
world's  fair — his  wife  being  crippled  for  life  in 
the  same  accident;  a  son  who  died  in   infancy; 


912 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Caroline,  wife  of  George  W.  Fishbaugh,  died 
in  Roseville,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one; 
Harriet,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Stolz,  of  the 
Ninety-third  Ohio  infantry,  who  was  killed  at 
Stone  River,  December  31,  1862,  his  widow 
dying  September  5,  1865,  and  Mrs.  Roepken, 
a  widow  of  a  soldier  of  company  G,  Sixty-sixth 
Illinois,  who  died  October  3,   1895. 

Charles  F.  Kimmel  was  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  America  when  a  mere  babe,  and  Day- 
ton has  ever  since  been  his  home,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  time  he  was  in  the  army  or 
away  on  a  journey  through  the  west,  which 
lasted  five  years.  His  education  was  some- 
what neglected  in  youth,  but  he  has  since 
made  good  this  deficiency  by  hard  study.  At  the 
outburst  of  the  Rebellion  he  made  an  effort  to 
enlist  in  the  three-months  service,  but,  being 
then  a  minor,  his  father  prevented  him.  How- 
ever, on  October  I,  1861,  he  succeeded  in  en- 
listing in  John  W.  Birge's  regiment  of  sharp- 
shooters, which,  April  20,  1862,  became  known 
as  the  Western  sharpshooters,  and  was  at- 
tached to  the  Fourteenth  Missouri  infantry, 
but,  November  26,  1S62,  was  merged  into  the 
Sixty-sixth  Illinois  infantry.  With  this  regi- 
ment he  served  all  through  the  war,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  July  15,  1865,  at  Camp 
Butler,  near  Springfield,  111. 

Among  the  haps  and  mishaps  encountered 
by  Private  Kimmel,  while  in  the  army,  may 
be  mentioned  the  following:  He  captured  a 
rebel  mail  rider  at  Fort  Donelson,  February 
16,  1862;  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  head 
May  21,  1862;  captured  a  rebel  flag  May  31, 
1862,  at  Corinth;  was  captured  by  the  rebels 
at  Pine  Ridge,  but  escaped  within  eight  hours; 
was  slightly  wounded  in  the  thigh  at  Rome 
Cross  Roads,  May  16,  1864;  was  wounded  in 
the  leg  at  Dallas,  May  31,  1864;  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  right  knee  at  Kenesaw  Mount- 
ain, June  27,  1864,  and  was  the  first  man  of 
company  G,  Sixty-sixth  Illinois,  to  re-enlist  in 


the  veteran  service,  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  in  De- 
cember,  1863. 

After  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Kimmel 
was  appointed  as  an  assistant  in  collecting  and 
burying  the  remains  of  fallen  soldiers  at  Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh  and  Corinth,  but  in  a  few 
months  resigned.  He  then  devoted  his  time 
to  a  tour  in  the  south,  and  after  an  absence  of 
seventeen  months  returned  home  for  rest.  He 
then  started  on  a  tour  west,  which  lasted  over 
four  years,  and  during  which  he  visited  Leav- 
enworth, Hayes  City,  and  Marino,  N.  M., 
where,  from  March  until  August,  he  worked  in 
the  gold  mines;  had  fights  with  Indians  June 
28,  1868,  at  White  Pass,  N.  M. ;  at  Big  Tim- 
bers, Colo.,  August  28,  1868,  and  at  Kiowa 
Creek,  August  29;  went  to  Colorado  and 
worked  in  a  gold  mine  at  Central  City  for 
three  months;  then  went  on  foot  to  Cheyenne, 
Wyo. ;  thence  he  worked  his  way  on  the  Union 
Pacific  railroad  to  Ogden,  Utah,  in  1869; 
walked  to  Boise  City,  Idaho;  from  there  he 
went  on  foot  to  Walla  Walla;  thence  down 
the  Columbia  river  to  Portland,  Ore. ;  thence 
by  steamer  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  en- 
listed to  go  with  the  German  army  to  the 
Franco-Prussian  war,  but  was  stayed  by  the 
French  consul,  and  after  four  months  in  Cali- 
fornia returned  home. 

September  26,  1871,  Mr.  Kimmel  married 
Miss  Kate  Stephens,  a  native  of  Germany,  but 
who  was  brought  to  this  country  when  four 
years  old.  To  this  union  nine  children  were 
born,  viz:  Harriet  Pauline,  Elmer  Ellsworth, 
Mary  Willamette,  W.  T.  Sherman  and  James 
B.  McPherson  (twins  who  died  in  infancy), 
Ida  May,  Atlanta  Garfield  (deceased),  Joseph 
Donelson  and  Charlotte  Stephens.  The  liv- 
ing members  of  this  family  are  members  of  the 
German  Evangelical  church,  in  which  faith 
Mr.  Kimmel  was  reared.  In  politics  he  has 
always  been  a  strong  republican,  and  frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  Old  Guard   post,  No. 


COL.     ROBERT    PATTERSON. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


913 


23,  G.  A.  R.  For  a  time  he  served  on  the 
Dayton  police  force,  but  has  been  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  United  States  Express  company 
for  the  last  sixteen  years.  He  owns  a  beauti- 
ful home  at  No.  214  East  Adams  street,  and 
being  a  constant  reader,  possesses  a  fine 
library,  comprising  chiefly  historical  works  and 
books  of  reference.  He  has  been  true  to  every 
trust  as  citizen  and  soldier,  and  has  an  envia- 
ble military  record. 


aOL.  ROBERT  PATTERSON,  father 
of  Jefferson  Patterson  and  grandfather 
of  John  H.  Patterson,  of  Dayton,  and 
whose  name  was  so  closely  identified 
with  the  histories  of  the  states  of  Kentucky 
and  Ohio  during  the  latter  years  of  the  eight- 
eenth century,  was  born  in  1753,  in  Bedford 
county,  Pa.,  and  began  his  military  career  as 
a  member  of  a  company  of  rangers  raised  to 
protect  the  frontier  of  his  native  state  from 
Indians.  When  twenty-one,  he  and  several 
other  young  men  started  in  boats  from  Fort 
Pitt  for  Kentucky,  with  nine  horses  and  four- 
teen head  of  cattle,  and  supplies,  implements 
and  ammunition.  At  Limestone  Creek,  in 
Kentucky,  they  met,  "guarding  a  little  corn 
patch  with  their  tomahawks,"  Simon  Kenton 
and  Thomas  Williams,  the  only  white  men  in 
what  is  now  that  state.  In  1777  Patterson 
and  his  party  cleared  land  and  planted  corn 
near  a  big  spring,  naming  their  camp  "  Lex- 
ington," in  honor  of  the  Revolutionary  battle. 
Later  he  entered  land  and  laid  out  the  city  at 
this  point.  In  1787  he  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  Cincinnati.  He  accompanied  Gen. 
George  Rogers  Clark  in  the  Illinois  campaign 
in  1778,  and  Col.  Bowman  in  the  expedition 
against  the  Shawnee  towns  at  old  Chillicothe 
in  1779;  served  as  captain  in  1780  in  Gen. 
Clark's  raid  on  old  Chillicothe  and  old  Miami, 
was   in   command   of  a   company  of   Logan's 


regiment  in  Clark's  campaign,  in  1782,  against 
Indians  at  Piqua,  on  the  Miami,  and  at  Lara- 
mie. Col.  Logan's  command  camped  three 
days  at  the  mouth  of  Mad  river;  that  is  to  say, 
at  Dayton.  In  1786  Patrick  Henry,  governor 
of  Virginia,  commissioned  Robert  Patterson  a 
colonel  in  the  State  Line.  In  1786  his 
regiment  of  Col.  Logan's  division  marched  to 
destroy  the  Macacheek  towns  on  Mad  river. 
But  for  these  battles  and  victories  over  the 
Indians,  in  which  Col.  Patterson  was  for  many 
years  engaged,  the  Dayton  settlement  would 
have  been  an  impossibility.  His  part  in  the 
history  of  this  city  is  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance, for  he  helped  win  its  site  from  the  In- 
dians, and  secured  a  peaceful  and  prosperous 
home  for  the  pioneers.  He  was  present  with 
his  regiment  at  St.  Clair's  defeat  in  1791. 
In  the  war  of  1812  he  had  charge  of  trans- 
portation of  supplies  from  Camp  Meigs,  near 
Dayton,  north  to  the  army.  All  his  later 
years  he  was  a  sufferer  from  wounds  received 
in  his  campaigns.  The  above  facts  are  gleaned 
from  "Early  Dayton." 


WOHN  JACOB  SPATZ,  of  No.  445 
A  North  Main  street,  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a 
A  1  native  of  this  city  and  was  born  Sep- 
tember 25,  1866,  and  is  of  German 
parentage,  his  parents,  Sylvester  and  Frances 
(Schaffer)  Spatz,  having  both  been  born  in 
Bavaria. 

Sylvester  Spatz  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  came  to  America  a  single  man  and  shortly 
after  his  arrival  met  and  married  Miss  Schaffer, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  six  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Of  this  family  four  are  still 
living,  viz:  Carrie,  wife  of  George  Helmick, 
who  resides  on  Hickory  street,  Dayton;  John 
J.,  the  subject;  Alexander  is  a  grocer  of  Harri- 
son township,  Montgomery  county,  and  Frank 
is    employed    in  the    Davis    Mantel    &   Grate 


i»14 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


works  of  Dayton.  The  four  deceased  were 
named  Charles  J.,  Emile,  Mary  and  John,  the 
last  named  of  whom  died  in  early  infancy. 
The  mother  of  this  family  was  called  from 
earth  January  12,  1882,  dying  in  the  faith  of 
the  Catholic  church,  and  the  father,  who  in  his 
later  years  had  become  a  baker  and  had  made 
through  his  industry  a  snug  fortune,  died 
March  20,   1888,  in  the  same  religious  faith. 

John  J.  Spatz  was  educated  in  the  Dayton 
city  schools,  and  thoroughly  learned  the  baker's 
trade  under  his  father — a  business  he  followed 
fourteen  years.  June  25,  1890,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Sullivan,  a  native  of  Crawfordsville, 
Ind.,  and  a  daughter  of    Timothy  and   Mary 


;McCaffry)  Sullivan,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children — Marie  and  Helen — 
the  youngest  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen months.  Mr.  Spatz  owns  the  premises 
at  the  address  given  above,  and  in  1890  re- 
linquished the  baking  business  and  opened  a 
well-ordered  saloon,  which  his  pleasant  and 
genial  disposition  has  rendered  quite  popular. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spatz  are  respected  members  of 
Emanuel's  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  strictly 
conform  to  its  teachings.  In  his  politics  Mr. 
Spatz  is  a  democrat,  and  during  the  presiden- 
tial campaign  of  1896  was  a  strong  advocate 
of  free  silver. 


*  mm  * 


JOHN    A.     SHAUCK. 
Judge  Supreme  Court. 


OBEB    W.    IRVIN, 
Probate  Judge. 

CHARLES    W.     DUSTIN. 
lldge  I   ommon  Pleas  Court. 


OREN    BRIT    BROWN, 
Judge  Common  Pleas  Court. 

ALVIN     W.    KUMLER, 
Judge  Common  Pleas  Court. 


MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


i HE  MACY  FAMILY  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed 
families  of  Montgomery  count)',  Ohio, 
and  takes  a  just  pride  in  its  ancestral 
history,  compiled  in  a  large  volume,  contain- 
ing the  genealogy  of  the  Macy  family  in  Amer- 
ica. From  this  volume  it  is  learned  that  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  this  country  was 
Thomas  Macy,  who  came  from  near  Salis- 
bury, Wiltshire,  England,  a  county  named 
from  Wilton,  a  city  near  Salisbury,  which  was 
the  capital  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  kingdom  of 
Wessex,  and  which  has  for  many  years  been 
famous  for  its  manufacture  of  carpets.  Thomas 
Macy  came  to  America  about  1655.  In  re- 
ligious faith  he  was  a  Friend,  or  Quaker,  and 
it  is  believed  he  sought  this  then  new  country 
as  an  asylum  from  persecution,  where  he  could 
worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his 
own  conscience.  Through  his  worth  and  in- 
telligence he  acquired  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived,  which  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cape  Cod,  Mass.  He  was  known 
in  the  office  that  he  filled  as  a  "  selectman." 
Here  he  preached  for  some  time,  but  soon  re- 
ligious intolerance  gained  a  foothold,  and  he, 
with  nine  others,  in  1659,  took  possession  of 
the  island  of  Nantucket,  having  paid  to  Gover- 
nor Mayhew  ,£30  for  nine-tenths  thereof,  there 


being  in  the  whole  island  about  fifty  square 
miles.  From  this  independent  and  sturdy 
pioneer  and  early  colonist  has  sprung  all  of 
the  Macy  family  in  this  country. 

But  even  on  the  island  of  Nantucket  the 
family  was  not  free  from  persecution,  and  one 
of  the  Macys  fled  with  his  wife  to  the  main- 
land. Still  later,  but  yet  at  an  early  day, 
some  of  the  Macys,  together  with  others  of  the 
islanders,  went  from  Nantucket  to  North  Car- 
olina, and  settled  in  the  woods,  where  they 
prospered,  increased  in  numbers,  and  spread 
over  the  country. 

Paul  Macy  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Miami 
county,  with  his  son,  Thomas.  He  lived  to 
be  ninety-two  years  old,  and  died  in  Miami 
♦county.  Thomas  Macy  married  Annie  Gard- 
ner, by  whom  he  had  the  following  children: 
Mary  J.,  Thomas,  John,  Paul,  Nancy,  Eliza- 
beth, Phcebe,  Lydia,  Jonathan  and  Aaron. 
Thomas  Macy  and  his  wife  removed  with  their 
family  to  Tennessee,  lived  there  about  five 
years,  and  then  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Mi- 
ami county,  two  miles  west  of  where  Thomas 
Macy  now  lives,  in  Monroe  township.  Four  of 
their  children  were  born  in  North  Carolina, 
four  in  Tennessee  and  two  in  Ohio.  The 
journey  was  made  to  Ohio  by  means  of  teams 
and  wagons,  the  children  walking  and  driving 


'.nt; 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  cattle.  Thomas  Macy,  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land,  and  entered  the  eighty  acres  on  which 
his  grandson,  Thomas  Macy,  now  resides. 
This  land  he  cleared  of  its  surplus  timber, 
lived  on  it  some  years,  and  then  bought  the 
land  on  which  Davis  Macy  now  lives,  in  But- 
ler township,  Montgomery  county.  Upon  this 
farm  he  passed  his  remaining  days.  He  was 
a  Friend,  or  Quaker,  in  religion,  a  man  of 
strong  convictions  and  of  high  character.  He 
was  familiar  with  all  the  hardships  of  pioneer 
life,  and  was  accustomed  to  go  through  the 
woods  to  Cincinnati  to  market.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five. 

John  Macy,  his  son,  and  father  of  the  pres- 
ent Thomas  Macy,  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
August  8,  1795.  When  his  father  came  to 
Ohio  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  and 
he  was  brought  up  among  the  pioneers,  became 
a  farmer,  and  married  Nancy  Yount. 

Thomas  Macy  was  born  May  28,  1820,  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, Miami  county.  His  early  life  was  that 
of  the  pioneers,  hard  work  being  his  portion, 
though  not  unmixed  with  many  pleasures  which 
people  of  the  present  day  can  scarcely  appre- 
ciate; but  the  strongest  pleasure  of  those  early 
times  was  the  true  friendship  that  existed 
among  the  pioneers.  In  1845,  when  he  was 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  he  married,  in 
Butler  township,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Wagener,  who* 
was  born  March  2,  1827,  in  Morgan  county, 
Va.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Prill)  Wagener.  John  Wagener  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  of  German  ancestry,  and  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Miami  county  about  1831, 
and  remaining  there  for  a  short  time,  when  he 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Butler  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  which  he  cleared  of  its  timber, 
and  made  of  it  a  good  home.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children:  Frank,  Hiram, 
John,  William,  Ann,  Matilda,  Mary,  Nancy 
and  Jane.      Mr.    Wagener  lived   to    be    about 


fifty-eight  years  old,  dying  on  his  farm.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  a  most  worthy  citizen. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Macy,  after  their 
marriage,  settled  on  the  old  homestead.  This 
land  his  grandfather  had  originally  entered,  and 
his  father  had  lived  upon  it.  Here  they  have 
since  lived  and  prospered,  and  by  industry  and 
thrift  have  accumulated  a  handsome  property. 
They  have  had  the  following  children:  Salina, 
Mary,  Ellen,  Laura,  Carrie,  William  H.  and 
Warren  A.  William  H.  died  when  four  years 
of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  are  members  of 
the  Disciple  church,  of  which  Mr.  Macy  has 
been  a  deacon  for  the  past  twenty-five  years. 
In  his  earlier  life  he  was  an  old-line  whig,  and 
when  the  republican  party  was  organized,  be- 
came one  of  its  original  members,  voting  for 
Gen.  John  C.  Fremont  for  president  in  1856. 
Mr.  Macy  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  but 
has  held  the  office  of  supervisor,  and  has  al- 
ways enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  community. 

Davis  Macy,  a  leading  farmer  of  Butler 
township,  is  living  on  the  old  Macy  homestead. 
He  was  born  July  15,  1846,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  and  Abigail  (Weeks)  Macy.  Reared  a 
farmer,  he  has  followed  that  independent  and 
honorable  vocation  all  his  life.  His  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Weeks,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Ludlow  Falls,  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  who  located  there  in  18 10.  In  his 
youthful  days  Davis  Macy  was  well  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Friends.  When  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  old  he  married,  June  10,  1869,  in 
Miami  county,  Miss  Mary  Jane  Turner,  who 
was  born  November  18,  1847,  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Lydia  (Yount)  Turner.  Abraham  Turner 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y. ,  in  18 19, 
and  was  of  New  England  ancestry.  His  fath- 
er's children  were  George  W. ,  who  died  a  sol- 
dier in  the  late  Civil  war;   Levi,  Daniel,  Abra- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


917 


ham,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Sarah  and  Jennie. 
Abraham  Turner  was  by  trade  a  carpenter  and 
millwright.  He  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Miami  county  when  a  young  man,  and  in  1846, 
when  he  was  twenty-eight  years  old.  married 
Lydia  Yount,  who  was  born  June  15,  1825,  in 
Montgomery  county.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Nancy  (Insco)  Yount,  the  former  of 
whom  came  from  one  of  the  Carolinas  to 
Ohio,  where  he  became  a  prosperous  and  sub- 
stantial farmer.  He  was  engaged  also  in  the 
distillery  business  in  Little  York  and  in  the 
contracting  business  in  Dayton.  He  died  in 
Harrison  township  when  seventy-one  years 
old.  His  children  were  Daniel  W.,  Mary, 
Jane,  Lydia,  Eliza,  Sallie  and  Callie.  Mr. 
Yount  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  his 
day,  intelligent  and  influential.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  settled  on  the 
John  Yount  homestead.  He  then  bought  mill 
property  on  the  Stillwater  above  Milton,  op- 
erated the  mill  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
bought  a  farm  in  Miami  county  and  there 
worked  at  his  trade.  His  children  were  as 
follows:  Mary  J.,  Bell,  Sallie,  John,  Fremont, 
Emma,  Reeder,  Lulu,  Clifford  and  May. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  Macy,  after  their  mar- 
riage, settled  on  the  Mac}'  homestead,  upon 
which  they  are  still  living.  Here,  through 
thrift  and  judicious  management,  Mr.  Macy 
prospered,  and  now  has  a  most  excellent  farm. 
His  children  are  Dorsey  Clyde  and  Charles 
Leo.  Mrs.  Macy  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple 
church,  and  Mr.  Macy  has  been  for  years  an 
active  officer  in  the-Christian  church.  Politic- 
ally he  is  a  republican.  On  May  2,  1864,  he 
enlisted  as  a  member  of  company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  served  four  months,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged,  August  31,  1864.  His 
service  was  rendered  in  Virginia,  and  he  was 
with  his  regiment  when  Gen.  Jubal  Early 
made  his  raid   in   the  vicinity   of   Washington, 


D.  C.  Here  he  was  under  fire  for  two  days 
and  nights.  Mr.  Macy  was  an  active,  faithful 
soldier,  and  is  an  equally  active  farmer.  He 
takes  great  interest  in  the  education  of  the 
young,  and  is  giving  his  children  the  best  edu- 
cation in  his  power.  Charles  Leo  is  attending 
Antioch  college,  at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio. 
Dorsey  Clyde  married  Jennie  Pierson  and  is 
living  on  the  home  farm.  Mr.  Macy  well 
maintains  the  high  reputation  of  his  ancestors, 
whose  best  qualities  are  repeated  in  him,  and 
find  in  him  a  worthy  representative. 

Isaac  Macy  is  one  of  the  pioneers  and 
solid  farmers  of  Butler  township.  John  Macy, 
his  father,  was  born  in  Tennessee  August  8, 
1 79 15,  and  came  when  a  boy  with  his  father's 
family  to  Ohio.  He  grew  up  among  the  pio- 
neers, and  received  the  usual  education  and 
training  of  the  times.  He  was  always  a  farmer, 
and  married  Nancy  Yount,  who  was  born  in 
July,  1798,  in  North  Carolina  or  Tennessee. 
John  Macy  and  wife  settled  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, Miami  county,  where  Thomas  Macy  now 
lives,  and  this  farm  he  cleared  from  the  woods. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  he  removed  to  the 
old  homestead  in  Butler  township,  Montgomery 
county,  where  he  died  January  17,  1854,  aged 
fifty-nine  years.  His  children  by  his  first  wife, 
Nancy  Yount,  were  :  George,  Thomas,  Isaac, 
Mary,  Alexander,  Nancy  and  William.  The 
mother  of  these  children  having  died,  he  mar- 
ried Abigail  Weeks,  who  was  born  October 
31,  1805,  and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Weeks. 
By  his  second  wife  Mr.  Macy  had  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Benjamin,  Clarissa,  Phebe, 
Delilah,  John,  Davis  and  Annie.  Mr.  Macy 
was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
in  politics  an  old-line  whig  in  early  life,  and 
later  a  republican.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling 
honesty  of  character  and  sound  business 
methods,  and  a  prosperous  farmer. 

Isaac  Macy  was  born  May  22,  1822,  in 
Monroe  township,  Miami  county.      What   lit- 


918 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tie  education  he  received  was  gotten  in  an  old- 
fashioned  log  school-house  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  his  home.  He  was  trained  from  youth 
in  habits  of  industry,  which  he  has  followed 
through  life.  He  married  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  March  16,  1844,  Nancy  E.  Wagener, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia,  May  5,  1824,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Prill)  Wag- 
ener, the  former  of  whom  was  of  German  an- 
cestry and  came  from  Virginia,  settling  in 
Butler  township  on  eighty  acres  of  land.  His 
children  were  as  follows:  Hiram,  John,  Will- 
iam, Jane,  Nancy  and  Matilda.  In  religion 
Mr.  Wagener  was  a  Methodist,  lived  to  be 
about  sixty-five  years  of  age,  and  died  in  But- 
ler township. 

Isaac  Macy  and  wife  settled  on  a  rented 
farm  in  Union  township,  Miami  county,  upon 
which  they  lived  for  about  six  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  period  Mr.  Macy  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  128  acres,  which  he  has  materially 
improved,  having  now  one  of  the  best  farms  to 
be  found  in  the  county.  To  his  original  lands 
he  has  added  from  time- to  time,  until  he  now 
owns  468  acres,  beside  having  given  some  land 
to  his  children.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  there 
were  born  the  following  children:  Eli  P.,  Ad- 
die,  Jennie,  Lulu  and  Arthur.  Mrs.  Macy 
died  October  21,  1875,  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  a  most  excellent  woman.  Mr. 
Macy,  on  March  10,  1887,  married  Mrs.  Alice 
Bell  Hall,  who  was  born  April  14,  1857,  in 
Salem,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Amos  and 
Mary  (Stevenson)  Ardinger.  Mr.  Ardinger 
came  from  Williamsport,  Md. ,  was  a  cooper 
by  trade,  and  located  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  when 
nineteen  years  of  age,  afterward  removing  to 
Salem,  and  a  year  later  settling  in  Tippecanoe 
City,  where  he  has  been  an  honored  resident 
for  thirty-five  years.  His  children  are  Ade- 
laide, Sallie  G.,  Jacob,  Clyde,  Blanch,  Emma, 
Harry,  John  and  Leuetta,  of  whom  Clyde, 
Emma  and  Leuetta  have  died.      Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Ardinger  are  members  of   the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Mrs.  Macy  was  first  married  to  Willard  J. 
Hall,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  machinist,  by  whom 
she  had  one  child,  Mary  A.  Mr.  Hall  died  at 
Tippecanoe  City  in  October,  1885,  aged  about 
thirty-three  years,  a  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church  of  Frederick,  Ohio,  of  which 
Mr.  Macy  has  been  a  trustee  for  many  years. 
He  and  his  brother  Thomas  aided  largely  in 
founding  the  church.  Politically  Mr.  Macy  is 
a  republican,  but  has  never  sought  office.  He 
has  from  his  youth  up  been  a  hard  working 
and  industrious  man,  and  has  prospered  through 
his  own  perseverance  and  application.  He 
has  well  earned  the  honor  and  respect  in  which 
he  is  held  by  those  among  whom  he  has  passed 
his  long  and  useful  life. 

George  Macy,  one  of  the  oldest  living  res- 
idents of  Montgomery  county,  is  a  grandson  of 
Thomas  Macy,  one  of  the  original  pioneers, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Yount)  Macy. 
He  was  born  in  Monroe  township,  Miami  county, 
July  27,  181 8.  His  education,  though  limited  to 
what  could  in  his  boyhood  days  be  obtained 
in  the  common  schools,  has  always  been 
sufficient,  together  with  his  natural  ability,  to 
carry  him  successfully  through  life.  Brought 
up  on  a  farm,  he  became  a  fanner,  and  has  al- 
ways followed  that  honorable  occupation. 
When  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  on 
March  4,  1 841,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Abigail  Pierson,  who  was  born  in  Miami  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  February  11,  1821,  and  was  a  daugh- 
of  Abel  and  Mary  (Buffington)  Pierson,  Mary 
Buffington  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Pierson  being  a  widow. 

Abel  Pierson  was  a  native  of  North  Car- 
olina, in  which  state  he  was  first  married,  and 
between  1807  and  18 10  came  to  Ohio,  located 
in  Miami  county   and  settled  on    160  acres  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


919 


land.  Here  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  By  his  first  wife  his  children  were 
Sarah,  Olive,  Charles  and  James.  By  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Mary  Buffington,  whom  he  married 
in  Ohio,  he  had  the  following  children: 
John,  Samuel,  James,  Nancy  and  Hiram.  In 
religious  belief  Mr.  Pierson  was  a  Quaker  or 
Friend,  and  was  a  man  of  undoubted  integ- 
rity and  high  character. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy 
lived  for  two  years  on  the  old  homestead  farm, 
and  at  the  end  of  this  period  rented  land  a 
short  distance  east  of  Milton,  upon  which  they 
lived  four  years,  when  they  removed  to  Butler 
township,  where  Mr  Macy  bought  140  acres. 
This  was  in  1846,  and  upon  this  farm  he  and 
his  family  lived  twenty-five  years.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Austin,  Mary  Ellen,  Silas,  Nancy, 
Sarah  Jane,  James,  Augustus,  Elmira  (deceased ) , 
Annie,  Laura  A.  and  Eliza  C.  Mrs.  Macy, 
who  was  a  woman  of  many  excellent  traits  of 
character,  and  who  was,  as  Mr.  Macy  is,  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  died  in  [894. 
In  politics  Mr.  Macy  is  a  republican,  but  was 
formerly  an  old-line  whig.  During  his  entire 
life  he  has  been  a  man  of  industrious  habits, 
and  is  well  known  throughout  the  community 
in  which  he  lives  as  a  man  of  exalted  character 
and  sterling  worth.  During  the  late  Civil 
war  he  was  a  strong  Union  man,  and  had  two 
sons,  Austin  and  Silas,  in  the  army  of  the 
Union.  Silas  was  a  private  soldier  in  com- 
pany D,  Eighth  Ohio  cavalry,  served  three 
years,  and  participated  in  many  of  the  battles 
of  the.  war.  Austin  was  killed  in  a  skirmish 
near  Heckman's  Bridge,  in  Kentucky,  March 
25,   1863. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy  married 
as  follows:  Mary  Ellen  married  Eli  Sinks,  a 
carpenter  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren; Silas  married  Philora  Beck,  of  Butler 
township,  and  has  five  children;  Nancy  mar- 
ried William  Jester,  a  school-teacher,  and  died 


shortly  after  her  marriage.  She  had  been  a 
school-teacher  twelve  years.  Sarah  Jane  mar- 
ried William  M.  Long,  a  bookkeeper  of  Tip- 
pecanoe, and  has  one  child.  She  was  a  school- 
teacher in  Ohio  twelve  years.  James  A.  mar- 
ried Mary  Hoover,  who  died  two  years  after 
marriage,  leaving  one  child.  Annie  married 
Levi  Embree,  a  farmer  of  Union  township, 
and  has  three  children.  Laura  Alwilda  mar- 
ried C.  W.  Surface,  of  Preble  county,  and  died 
leaving  one  son.  Eliza  Caroline  married  D. 
W.  Embree,  railroad  agent  in  Miami  county, 
and  has  one  child. 

Silas  Macy,  one  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the 
late  Civil  war,  and  a  citizen  of  Montgomery 
county,  whose  post-office  is  Fidelity,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Thomas  Macy.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Abigail  (Pierson)  Macy,  and  was 
born  October  1,  1845,  in  Miami  county,  Ohio. 
Educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  day, 
which  had  by  the  time  he  attended  them 
greatly  improves!  over  those  attended  by  his 
ancestors,  he  was  better  equipped  than  many 
of  them  for  the  battle  of  life.  He  was  reared 
a  farmer  and  has  always  followed  that  occupa- 
tion. When  his  country  called  for  volunteers 
to  preserve  her  life  and  integrity,  he  enlisted, 
February  14,  1864,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  com- 
pany D,  Eighth  Ohio  cavalry,  to  serve  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  under  Capt.  Frank 
E.  Moore.  Serving  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  was  honorably  discharged,  June  1,  1865,  at 
Columbus,  Ohio.  His  service  was  in  West 
Virginia  and  Kentucky,  and  he  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Lynchburg,  Liberty,  Martins- 
burg,  Winchester  and  Kernstown,  a  place  four 
miles  north  of  Winchester,  at  which  place 
Gen.  Sheridan  made  his  famous  ride,  rallying 
his  forces,  and  of  which  memorable  scene  Mr. 
Macy  was  an  eye-witness.  Afterward  he  was 
in  several  skirmishes,  and  at  Beverly  he,  to- 
gether with  400  others,  was  captured  on  Janu- 
ary 11,  1865,  the  camp  being  taken  by  surprise 


920 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  surrounded  by  about  3,000  rebel  cavalry. 
The  prisoners  were  marched  through  the  coun- 
try 170  miles  to  Staunton,  Va.,  in  the  dead  of 
winter,  the  march  lasting  eight  days.  Half- 
starved  and  nearly  frozen,  they  at  length 
reached  Staunton,  where  the  prisoners  were 
searched,  and  all  extra  clothing,  money  and 
valuables  taken  from  them.  Not  long  after- 
ward they  were  placed  on  cattle  cars,  taken  to 
Richmond  and  confined  in  Libby  prison.  In 
a  few  days  Mr.  Macy  and  a  few  others  of  the 
private  soldiers  were  removed  to  a  corner  of 
Libby,  called  Pemberton  prison,  where  they 
remained  for  thirty-six  days,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  time  they  were  exchanged  and  sent 
to  Annapolis,  Md.,  the  exchange  taking  place 
on  Akins'  Landing  on  the  James  river. 

Mr.  Macy  received  a  thirty  days'  furlough, 
and  at  its  expiration  returned  to  Camp  Chase 
in  April,  and  was  there  discharged.  Mr. 
Macy  was  always  an  active  soldier,  who  served 
his  country  faithfully  and  well  and  is  justly 
proud  of   his  record. 

After  the  war  he  resumed  farming,  and  on 
April  29,  1 87 1,  was  married  to  Miss  Philora 
Beck,  who  was  born  in  Union,  Ohio,  April  16, 
1853.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
Jane  (Riley)  Beck,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Maryland  and  came  to  Ohio  when  a  single 
man.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Jane  Riley,  by  whom  he  had,  three 
children,  as  follows:  Mary  Adeline,  Leonida 
and  Philora.  Mr.  Beck  died  at  Union,  Ohio, 
when  seventy-eight  years  old.  In  politics  he 
was  a  republican,  and  was  a  citizen  of  public 
spirit  and  sterling  qualities. 

Ever  since  his  marriage  Silas  Macy  has 
lived  at  Fidelity,  Ohio,  in  Butler  township. 
He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Dorsey,  Owen,  Florence  B., 
Earnest  Clifford,  Dora  Aletta  and  Mary  Alice. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and  has  held  the 
offices   of  pike   commissioner    and   supervisor. 


He  is  a  member  of  Austin  Macy  post,  No.  671, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Union,  Ohio,  and  has  filled  all 
the  offices  up  to  that  of  commander.  He  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  influential  and  valua- 
ble citizens  of  the  county. 

Austin  Macy,  brother  of  Silas,  was  born 
in  Union  county,  in  March,  1841.  Educated 
in  the  common  schools,  he  was  reared  to  the 
practical  life  of  a  farmer.  As  a  private  sol- 
dier he  entered  the  three-years'  service  during 
the  late  Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  of 
company  D,  Forty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, under  Capt.  Tully.  After  participating 
in  many  battles  he  was  killed  in  April,  1863, 
at  Heckman's  Bridge,  while  taking  part  in  a 
skirmish,  and  his  memory  is  cherished  by  all 
that  knew  him  and  that  love  their  country. 


^Y'OHN  CARROLL,  of  Chambersburg, 
m  Ohio,  one  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the  late 
/»  1  Civil  war,  is  descended  from  an  old 
colonial  family  of  Maryland,  a  branch 
of  the  famous  family  of  that  name.  Charles 
Carroll  of  Carrollton,  who  was  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
belonged  to  a  branch  of  the  same  family. 

John  Carroll  was  born  in  Butler  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  August  31,  1831. 
Having  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, he  was  bound  out  in  November,  1844, 
to  Rev.  John  Berkner,  a  United  Brethren 
minister,  who  soon  afterward  removed  to  Illi- 
nois. Young  Carroll  lived  with  him  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  old.  He  enlisted  at  Ransas,  111., 
in  August,  1 861,  in  company  H,  Fifty-ninth 
Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Whiteside  Station,  Tenn.,  December  31, 
1863,  by  reason  of  re-enlisting  as  a  vet- 
eran in  the  same  organization,  also  to  serve 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  the  second  time  at  New 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY, 


921 


Braunsfield,  Tex.,  December  8,  1S65,  by 
reason  of  the  close  of  the  war.  He  served  in 
all  four  years  and  five  months,  and  was  in  the 
battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  siege  of  Corinth,  Bay 
Springs,  Miss.;  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Chick- 
amauga,  Chattanooga,  Wild  Cat  Mountain, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Ring- 
gold, Ga.;  Rocky  Faced  Ridge  or  Buzzard 
Roost  Mountain,  Resaca,  Dallas,  and  Kenesaw 
Mountain.  His  regiment  was  the  first  of 
Sherman's  army  to  enter  Marietta,  Ga. ,  he 
himself  being  the  first  Union  soldier  to  set 
foot  in  that  place.  He  was  in  the  battle  in 
front  of  Atlanta,  also  at  Lovejoy  station,  and 
returned  with  Gen.  Thomas  to  Tennessee, 
fighting  at  Columbia,  Duck  River,  Franklin 
and  the  second  battle  of  Nashville,  thus  mak- 
ing a  fine  record.  Mr.  Carroll  was  in  all  the 
campaigns,  marches,  battles  and  skirmishes 
in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
being  shot  in  the  hand,  and  in  consequence 
lay  in  the  hospital  nine  days.  Always  an  act- 
ive soldier,  he  performed  his  whole  duty  to 
his  country  promptly  and  cheerfully. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Carroll  returned  to   Illi- 
nois, being  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  January 

15,  1866.  Then  returning  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  he  settled  down  at  Chambers- 
burg,  and  married  on  January  25,  1866,  Miss 
Margaret  A.  Kennedy,    who    was  born   August 

16,  1826,  on  the  farm  on  which  she  and  her 
husband  now  live.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Martha  (Sloan  1  Kennedy.  William 
Kennedy  was  born  March  25,  1783,  and  was  a 
son  of  Gilbert  and  Isabel  (Snody)  Kennedy,  the 
Kennedy  family  being  of  Scotch-Irish  stock, 
and  an  old  Pennsylvania  family  of  the  days  be- 
fore the  Revolutionary  war.  Gilbert  Kennedy 
was  a  farmer  of  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and 
by  his  wife  had  the  following  children:  Joseph, 
William,  Margaret  and  Mary. 

Gilbert   Kennedy  removed  with   his   family 


to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1804,  settling 
in  the  Stillwater  valley,  where  he  died  an  aged 
man.  William  Kennedy  came  with  the  family 
in  1804,  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old, 
settled  in  Butler  township,  and  married  Martha 
Sloan,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  who 
was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Ramage) 
Sloan. 

John  Sloan,  father  of  Mrs.  Kennedy,  was 
a  farmer  in  Pennsylvania,  and  upon  coming  to 
Ohio  settled  first  in  Steubenville.  Afterward 
he  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  where  he 
entered  160  acres  of  land,  in  Butler  township, 
and  became  a  well-to-do  and  influential  citizen. 
His  children  were  Martin,  Jane,  Mary,  Eye- 
bright,  Margaret,  John  and  William.  Mr. 
Sloan  lived  to  be  an  old  man,  dying  sometime 
in  the  'sixties.  His  wife  was  struck  by  light- 
ning and  died  therefrom  in  1832. 

Mr.  Kennedy,  after  his  marriage,  settled  on 
the  farm  on  which  John  Carroll  now  lives. 
He  entered  this  land  in  1805,  and  his  deed  is 
signed  by  President  James  Madison.  In  1S12 
he  became  surveyor  of  Montgomery  county, 
and  in  18 18  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
serving  eight  years.  In  the  winter  of  1812 
and  1 8 1 3  he  surveyed  a  road  from  Eaton, 
Ohio,  to  Vincennes,  Ind.,  notwithstanding 
trouble  was  anticipated  with  the  Indians,  who 
were  numerous  and  hostile.  While  engaged 
in  this  survey  his  party  saw  no  white  men  be- 
tween Eaton,  Preble  county,  and  a  point 
within  five  miles  of  Vincennes,  when  they 
reached  a  French  settlement. 

Mr.  Kennedy  was  a  prominent  man  in 
Montgomery  county.  His  children  were  : 
Joseph,  who  died  when  fifteen  years  of  age; 
Jane,  who  died  in  1847;  James,  who  died  in 
1863;  and  Margaret  A.  In  politics  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy was  a  Jacksonian  democrat.  He  lived 
to  be  seventy-five  years  old,  dying  in  October, 
1858,  on   his  farm,  leaving  an  honored  name. 

After  his   marriage    Mr.    Carroll   settled  on 


922 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  old  homestead,  on  which  he  still  lives.  He 
is  vet  a  great  sufferer  from  the  wounds  he 
received  in  the  army.  At  the  battle  of  New 
Hope  Church  he  was  shot  in  the  left  side,  the 
ball  being  stopped  by  a  silver  half  dollar  he  had 
in  his  pocket.  On  July  4,  1864,  on  Chatta- 
hoochie  river,  a  ball  struck  the  U.  S.  plate  on 
his  shoulder  strap  and  slightly  wounded  him. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carroll  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church  at  Chambersburg.  Politic- 
ally Mr.  Carroll  is  a  republican.  Mrs.  Car- 
roll is  secretary  of  the  woman's  relief  corps 
of  Milton  Weaver  post. 


aHARLES  CROOK,  a   member  of  one 
of  the   most  distinguished   families  of 
the   Buckeye  state,  and   a  prominent 
citizen    of    Wayne    township,     Mont- 
gomery county,  was  born   October    17,    1830,' 
on  the  parental   homestead,  and  is  of   Scotch- 
German  origin. 

Thomas  Crook,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Baltimore  count)',  Md.,  in  November,  1788, 
and  was  the  third  of  the  name  in  the  family  by 
direct  descent  in  America,  his  ancestors  having 
come  from  Scotland  to  the  colonies  at  a  date 
too  remote  for  remembrance.  He  was  a  tan- 
ner by  trade,  and  served  in  the  war  of  18 12. 
He  married,  February  4,  18 12,  Elizabeth 
Mathews,  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Catharine  Mathews,  who  were 
the  parents  of  three  children — Elizabeth,  John 
and  Elias — all  of  whom  became  residents  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  After  residing 
two  years  in  Maryland,  where  their  first  child, 
Elizabeth,  was  born  February  18,  181 3, 
Thomas  Crook,  in  1S14,  brought  his  wife  and 
child  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Miami  river  in  what  is  now  Wayne 
township,  Montgomery  county,  the  tract  being 
entirely  in  the  woods.  Here,  in  due  course  of 
time,  he  built  a  two-story  log  house,  which  is 


still  standing,  cleared  a  fine  farm,  and  here  all 
his  children,  except  the  eldest,  were  born  and 
reared — the  sons,  as  they  grew  in  strength, 
assisting  in  the  development  of  the  original 
homestead.  These  children  were  born  in  the 
following  order  :  Maria,  Catherine,  Oliver, 
John,  Thomas.  Jr.,  Walter,  James,  George 
and  Charles.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a 
good  manager,  practical,  industrious  and  well- 
informed.  He  accumulated  340  acres  of  excel- 
lent land,  the  most  of  which  he  improved, 
although  he  suffered  from  the  inconvenience  of 
having  broken  his  right  thigh-bone  by  an  acci- 
dent; he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years,  and  was  otherwise  prominent  in  the 
affairs  of  his  township.  In  politics  he  was  first 
a  whig  and  afterward  a  republican,  and  re- 
tained his  mental  faculties  until  the  end,  hav- 
ing read  the  daily  paper  the  day  prior  to  his 
death,  which  took  place  January  11,  1875,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  six  months  and 
twelve  days.  Thomas  Crook's  name  will  go 
down  to  posterity  as  the  father  of  several  chil- 
dren who  have  shed  a  luster  upon  Wayne  town- 
ship through  the  prominence  they  received 
in  civil  and  military  life,  and  of  his  sons  special 
but  brief   mention   may  be   made    as  follows  : 

Dr.  Oliver  Crook  reached  eminence  as  one 
of  the  most  skillful  and  successful  physicians  of 
Dayton.  He  married,  in  1848,  Sarah  Traple, 
of  Brooklyn,  N.,  Y. ,  to  which  union  were  born 
Lida,  Maria,  Eveline,  Oliver  and  George. 
The  doctor  died  May  28,  1873,  aged  fifty-four 
years,  six  months  and  fourteen  days. 

Dr.  Thomas  Crook,  a  well-known  practi- 
tioner in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  in  In- 
diana, married  Lucy  A.  Worst,  became  the  fa- 
ther of  three  children — Oliver,  Maria  Annie 
and  Goldie,  and  died  December  20,  1881,  aged 
fifty-nine  years,  three  months  and  one  day. 

Dr.  James  Crook  practiced  medicine  for 
some  years  in  Dayton,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Dr.  Oliver,    made    a   fine    reputation, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


923 


and  died  unmarried  in  1856,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-nine  years,  two  months  and  twenty- 
three  days. 

Gen.  George  Crook,  who  so  distinguished 
himself  during  the  Civil  war  and  also  made  his 
name  great  as  an  Indian  fighter,  was  appointed 
to  West  Point  by  Hon.  Robert  C.  Schenck, 
and  graduated  July  1,  1852.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Daily,  of  Virginia,  and  died  in  Chicago, 
111.,  March  22,  1890.  His  military  record,  a 
matter  of  history,  is  familiar  to  the  people  of 
the  county  of  Montgomery  as  well  as  to  the 
entire  country,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

Capt.  Walter  Crook,  yet  living,  raised  a 
company  of  volunteers  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Civil  war,  served  in  the  Seventy-fourth 
Ohio  infantry,  and  was  a  gallant  soldier.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  J.  Bates.  He  has  served 
as  treasurer  of  his  township  and  one  term  as 
state  senator. 

Of  the  other  children  born  to  Thomas 
Crook,  John,  a  tailor  by  trade,  died  unmarried; 
Catherine  was  married  to  Thomas  Ater,  and 
died  May  6,  1891;  Maria  was  married  to  Sam- 
uel Sullivan,  November  4,  1S32,  bore  eight 
children — Thomas,  Martha,  Elizabeth,  James, 
John,  Theodore,  Oliver  and  George — and  died 
May  11,  1884;  Elizabeth  was  married  January 
10,  1839,  to  Dr.  Adam  Koogler,  bore  three 
children — William,  Mary  A.  and  Ellen  J. — 
and  died  February  9,   1844. 

Charles  Crook,  with  whose  name  this  mem- 
oir is  opened,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Wayne  township,  one  of  his  pre- 
ceptors having  been  'Squire  Henry  Cuppy, 
whose  biography  will  be  found  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  December  2  1,  1  854,  Mr.  Crook 
married,  in  Butler  township,  Miss  Eliza  A. 
Booher,  who  was  born  December  18,  1836,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Combes) 
Booher,  whose  family  history  may  also  be  found 
on  another  page.  It  may  be  added,  however, 
that  Samuel  Booher  was  a    native  of  Pennsyl- 


vania and  was  but  six  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  Butler  township,  Montgomery 
county,  married,  for  his  first  wife,  Mary  Beard- 
shear,  who  bore  him  five  children,  and  after 
her  death,  married  Elizabeth  Combes,  to  which 
latter  union  were  born  Eliza  A.,  Martha  J., 
David,  Jacob,  Samuel,  Henry,  Ellen  and  John. 
To  the  marriage  of  Charles  and  Eliza  A.  Crook 
have  been  born  three  children,  viz:  Laura  E., 
wife  of  James  Templeton;  Charles  W. ,  de- 
ceased, and  Thomas  Theodore,  who  lives  on 
the  parental  farm  of  186  acres. 


^j'ACOB  SMITH,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
fl  of  Butlertownship,  Montgomery  county, 
(%  1  Ohio,  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  first  of  the 
pioneers  of  Dayton.  He  is  of  an  ancient 
North  Carolina  family  which  was  of  German 
origin,  his  grandfather  having  been  born  in 
Germany,  and  having  come  to  this  country  and 
settled  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  lived  for 
many  years. 

Henry  Smith,  father  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Stokes  county,  N.  C,  in  1795.  When  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  packed  up  his  small 
possessions  in  a  hand  sachel  and  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Dayton.  At  this  time,  in  181-3, 
Col.  Reed  was  the  landlord  of  Newcom  tavern, 
and  for  him  Henry  went  to  work  as  a  hostler, 
also  performing  any  kind  of  work  about  the  vil- 
lage that  he  could  find  to  do.  He  remained  in 
Dayton  six  years  and  then  went  to  Springboro, 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  on  a 
farm  for  one  year.  At  Springboro  he  married 
Elizabeth  Deardorff,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Deardorff,  who  were  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock.  Jacob  Deardorff  was  a  pioneer 
farmer  of  Warren  county,  and  served  for  many- 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  coming  from 
Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day.  His  children 
were  :     Jacob,    John,    Abner,    Gregory,  Eliza- 


924 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


beth  and  Margaret.  Mr.  Deardorff  was  an  old 
Regular  Baptist  in  religion,  and  was  deacon  in 
his  church  for  many  years.  He  died  when 
about  seventy-three  years  of  age  and  his  wife 
when  she  was  ninety-one  years  old. 

Henry  Smith  and  wife  settled  the  next 
spring  after  their  marriage  on  a  lot  at  the 
corner  of  Wayne  and  Third  streets,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  which  was  then  all  covered  over  with 
timber.  Here  he  built  a  log  cabin,  and  for 
one  year  worked  at  such  labor  as  presented 
itself.  He  then  took  out  his  papers  for  six- 
teen acres  of  land  four  miles  out  on  the  New 
Troy  pike,  where  he  erected  a  log  cabin  in  the 
woods.  The  next  spring  he  and  his  wife  re- 
moved to  their  new  home,  and  he  engaged 
himself  industriously  in  clearing  up  the  land, 
and  by  thrift  and  good  management,  working 
his  little  farm  and  burning  charcoal,  which  he 
hauled  to  Dayton,  he  prospered.  Adding  to 
his  land  from  time  to  time,  he  finally  owned 
800  acres,  and  became  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Smith  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Hannah,  Jacob,  John, 
Benjamin,  Mary  J.,  Margaret,  William  H., 
Ellen,  Franklin  and  James  W.  The  parents 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Smith  was  an  old- 
line  whig  in  his  early  days,  later  in  life  becom- 
ing a  republican.  During  the  late  Civil  war  he 
was  a  strong  Union  man,  and  had  four  sons  in 
the  army,  viz:  William,  Franklin,  James  and 
Jacob,  all  in  Ohio  regiments.  William  served 
one  year  and  was  discharged  because  he  was 
wounded  by  a  shell  at  Chickamauga.  Frank- 
lin was  second  lieutenant  in  the  First  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  served  three  years  and  was 
in  many  battles,  among  them  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing. James  was  in  the  one  hundred  days' 
service. 

Jacob  Smith  was  born  on  the  home  farm 
September  24,   1826,  and   was  educated  in  the 


poor  common  schools  of  his  boyhood  days. 
He  began  early  to  work  on  the  farm,  clearing 
the  land,  holding  the  plow,  and  leading  the 
life  of  toil  of  the  pioneer.  On  March  23, 
1847,  he  married,  in  Wayne  township, 
Rosanna  Lowrey,  who  was  born  February  24, 
1828,  and  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Nancy 
(Stoker)  Lowrey.  James  Lowrey  was  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Wayne  township,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky about  1788,  and  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents.  He  died  in 
1835,  when  but  forty-seven  years  old.  His 
children  were  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  William, 
Catherine,  Sarah,  Grace,  James,  David  and 
Rosanna.  The  Lowrey  family  was  a  highly 
respected  one,  and  most  of  its  members  be- 
longed to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Three  days  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  settled  on  the  farm  on  which  they 
they  now  live.  It  then  consisted  of  fifty  acres 
of  land,  which  he  bought  of  his  father.  This 
he  cleared  and  at  length  purchased  the  remain- 
der of  the  tract,  and  then  had  160  acres, 
which  he  much  improved  in  every  way,  but 
especially  by  the  erection  of  good  buildings. 
His  children  were  as  follows  :  Henry,  George, 
Catherine,  Belle,  Arthur,  Lorena,  Lewis  K. 
and  Elmer.  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  died  January 
23.   1893. 

Politically  Mr.  Smith  is  a  republican. 
Enlisting  at  Chambersburg,  Ohio,  May  10, 
1864,  he  afterward  became  second  lieutenant 
of  company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  His  company  was 
consolidated  with  another  company,  and  he, 
losing  his  commission,  resigned.  As  a  repub- 
lican and  a  capable  citizen,  Mr.  Smith  served 
his  party  as  township  trustee  for  eleven  years, 
and  as  justice  of  the  peace  eighteen  months. 
He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  twenty-two  years.  Four  of  his  sons 
are  living  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 


&;fi.J(6~ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


927 


aHARLES  R.  ALLEN,  deceased,  for- 
merly a  prominent  business  man  of 
Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Cassville,  Ocean  (then  a  part  of  Monmouth) 
county,  N.  J.,  August  25,  1828.  The  Allen 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and  of  prolonged 
American  genealogy,  John  Allen,  the  grand- 
father of  Charles  R.,  having  been  a  son  of 
William  and  Susan  Allen,  of  New  Jersey. 
John  Allen  married  a  Miss  Haley,  and  from 
this  old  family  the  greater  part  of  the  Aliens 
of  New  Jersey  descends.  John  Allen  and  wife 
lived  at  Prospertown,  Ocean  county,  N.  J., 
where  all  their  children  were  born.  After  the 
children  grew  to  maturity  and  were  married, 
the  parents  moved  to  Goshen  (now  Cassville), 
Ocean  county,  where  they  lived  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  Their  remains  were  buried 
side  by  side  in  the  Methodist  cemetery  of 
that  place. 

Charles  R.  Allen  was  a  son  of  Isaiah  and 
Rebecca  (Rouse)   Allen,  who  came  to  Ohio  in 
1833,  and  located  in  Warren  county,  in  what 
was  known   as  the   Jersey  settlement,  but  in 
1840  removed  to  Miami   township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  where  for  several  years  the  father 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  milling,  but    later 
in   life    removed   to   Miami   county,  where   he 
died,  near  Piqua,   a  highly  respected  citizen. 
The  children  born  to  Isaiah  and  Rebecca  Allen 
were    named    in    order    of    dirth,    as    follows: 
Mary    (Mrs.    Dr.    Isaac  Treon),    Charles   R., 
Firman,    John,    Abram   (who  died   in  the  de- 
fense of  his  country  in  the  Civil  war),  Joseph, 
and  Josephine  (Mrs.  William  Bland). 

Charles  R.  Allen  was  married  June  10, 
1852,  to  Elizabeth  Hoover,  daughter  of 
David  H.  and  Catherine  (Houtz)  Hoover,  to 
which  union  were  born  three  children,  Elwood, 
David  H.,  and  Kate  (Mrs.  Arthur  Weaver). 
Mr.  Allen  enlisted,  in  1 861,  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
37 


of  which  he  was,  by  the  voice  of  the  regiment, 
chosen  major;  but,  the  reginent  being  merged 
with  another,  it  became  necessary  to  "draw 
cuts"  to  ascertain  whether  the  rank  should  fall 
to  him  or  to  the  major  of  the  other  regiment, 
and  in  this  contest  for  position  Maj.  Allen  was 
defeated.  Like  a  true  soldier,  however,  Mr. 
Allen  fell  into  the  ranks  and  went  to  the  front, 
and  took  a  gallant  part  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  acting  a  portion  of  the  time  in  the  capac- 
ity of  sutler — a  position  which  none  but  a  sol- 
dier can  fully  understand — until  honorably  dis- 
charged. Returning  to  his  home,  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  Maj.  Allen  engaged  in  the  grocery 
and  general  commission  business  at  the  old 
canal  basin,  in  which  business  he  held  an  in- 
terest until  1866,  when  he  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Hoover  &  Co.,  with  which  he 
was  connected  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
June  12,  1876.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  as  a 
Freemason  had  attained  the  degree  of  Knight 
Templar;  in  politics  he  was  a  republican,  and 
as  such  served  as  city  councilman,  as  township 
trustee,  and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation. He  died  an  honored  citizen  and  left, 
as  a  precious  heritage  to  his  famity,  an  honor- 
able name. 

David  H.  Allen,  second  child  of  Maj. 
Charles  R.  Allen  and  wife,  was  born  in  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  August 
6,  1859,  and,  after  passing  through  the  minor 
public  schools  of  Miamisburg,  graduated  from 
the  high  school  in  1879;  he  then  took  a  special 
course  at  the  Stevens  institute  of  technology, 
in  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  acquiring  both  a  theoret- 
ical and  practical  knowledge  of  the  mechanical 
arts,  and  after  his  graduation  returned  to  Mi- 
amisburg, and  has  ever  since  been  identified 
with  the  manufacturing  interests  of  this  thriv- 
ing young  city.  Since  1891  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Acme  Folding  Boat  company, 
which  is  engaged    in   the   production  of  a  boat 


ifJS 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


invented  by  himself,  with  the  co-operation  of 
W.  H.  Gamble.  This  boat  has  already  won 
for  itself  and  inventors  a  world-wide  reputa- 
tion and  is  in  constant  demand  on  account  of 
its  portableness  for  overland  transportation 
and  for  economical  storage.  Mr.  Allen  was 
one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  first  twine  fac- 
tory in  Miamisburg,  has  been  stockholder  in 
all  the  twine  factories  subsequently  established, 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Miamisburg  Twine 
&  Cordage  company;  he  is  also  a  stockholder 
and  director  in  the  Kauffman  Buggy  company, 
a  stockholder  in  the  Bookwalter  Wheel  works, 
and  a  director  in  the  Citizens'  National  bank. 
He  is  thoroughly  a  business  man  and  an  in- 
ventor far  above  mediocrity,  being  now  the 
owner  of  some  valuable  patents,  the  result  of 
his  creative  genius. 

The  marriage  of  David  H.  Allen  was  sol- 
emnized October  1 1,  1 893,  with  Alberta  Gray, 
daughter  of  Henry  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Dick) 
Gray,  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  the  union  being 
blessed  with  two  children,  Donald  Gray,  who 
died  August  26,  1896,  and  Charles  Henry. 
Mr.  Allen  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  live  in  strict  con- 
formance with  its  discipline;  in  his  fraternal 
relations  he  is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  has  at- 
tained the  thirty-second  degree,  in  Freemasonry 
(the  thirty-third  being  the  highest  that  this 
ancient  order  confers),  and  he  is  also  adjutant 
of  the  Fourth  regiment,  Ohio  brigade,  uniform 
rank,  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  his  politics  Mr. 
Allen  treads  in  the  footsteps  of  his  respected 
father,  being  a  republican  to  the  core. 


**S~\  EV.   CHRISTOPHER    ALBRECHT 

I  /*^     (deceased)    was    born    in     the   grand 

P    duchy  of  Baden,  Germany,  March  io, 

1824,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Catherine 

Albrecht.      In  1833  he  came  to  America   with 

his  parents,  landing  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  whence 


the  family  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Tiffin. 
There  young  Christopher  passed  his  early 
years,  and  while  still  a  youth,  after  having 
been  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity, 
was  received  by  confirmation  into  full  com- 
munion with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 
He  was  educated,  primarily,  in  Tiffin,  when, 
being  impressed  with  the  idea  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  become  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  he 
entered  upon  a  course  of  literary  and  theolog- 
ical instruction  at  the  Capital  university,  of 
Columbus,  Ohio.  He  was  a  diligent  and  ar- 
dent student,  and  graduated  with  high  honors. 
He  was  ordained  in  1843,  and  entered  at  once 
upon  the  active  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a 
minister  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church, 
and  most  ably  filled  five  different  pastoral 
charges  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  namely  :  The 
Amanda  charge  in  Fairfield  county,  which 
comprised  four  congregations,  for  five  years  ; 
the  Thornville  charge,  Perry  county,  in  1 848 
and  1849  ;  the  Circleville  charge,  in  Pickaway 
county,  for  six  months  ;  the  Miamisburg 
charge,  which  at  first  included  a  few  outside 
congregations,  from  April  1,  i860,  until  April 
1,  1883,  a  period  of  twenty-three  years,  and, 
lastly,  the  Salem  Lutheran  church  at  Ellerton, 
Montgomery  county,  from  August,  1883,  until 
the  close  of  his  life,  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  his  sixty-third  year,  being  sudden  and 
caused  by  paralysis. 

Rev.  Mr.  Albrecht  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  having  been  a  Miss  Conrad,  who  bore 
him  one  son,  Luther  M.,  now  deceased.  His 
second  marriage  was  with  Miss  Julia  A.Wagen- 
hals,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Wagenhals,  of 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
the  following  children  :  John  W.,  William 
H.,  Philip,  Julia  (Mrs.  Ralph  Dutcher),  Mag- 
gie (Mrs.  John  Schell),  George  and  Mary  C. 
(Mrs.  Granville  Shade). 

Rev.  Christopher  Albrecht  possessed  fine 
natural  endowments  and  an  inquiring  and  pene- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


929 


trating  mind,  and  improved  these  gifts  by  dili- 
gent and  persevering  study.  He  was,  there- 
fore, a  divine  of  scholarly  attainments,  well 
informed  in  matters  theological,  an  eloquent 
declaimer,  and  of  fine  executive  ability.  He 
was  an  efficient  worker  in  his  sacred  office, 
held  a  prominent  place  in  ecclesiastical  organ- 
izations, and  in  the  business  transactions  of 
his  church  often  served  on  important  com- 
mittees. He  was  well  fitted  in  all  respects  for 
thorough  work  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it,  and 
as  a  pastor  his  ministry  was  one  of  unqualified 
success  and  usefulness. 


<>^VHILIP  M.   ACKERET,   general  elec- 

E      9    trician     and    superintendent     of    the 

Miamisburg  electric   light    plant,  was 

born  at  Mount  Eaton,  Wayne  county, 

Ohio,  August    19,   1865,    a    son    of   Rev.    John 

and  Mary  B.  (Wise)   Ackeret,    both  natives  of 

Germany,  the  former  of  whom   was  a  minister 

of  the  German   Reformed  church,  and   died  at 

Millersburg,  Ohio,  in    1869,  his  son,  Philip  M., 

being  then  but  four  years  of  age. 

Philip  M.  Ackeret  was  reared  in  Millers- 
burg and  received  his  earlier  education  in  that 
city,  chiefly  in  the  public  schools.  March  6, 
1889,  he  graduated  from  the  International 
business  college  of  Altoona,  Pa.,  and  for  four 
months  following  was  employed  as  book- 
keeper by  a  business  firm  of  the  same  city; 
later  he  served  in  the  same  capacity  for  a 
wholesale  and  retail  house  in  Pittsburg,  Pa. 
In  1890  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  for  two 
years  was  employed  as  inspector  for  the  Lima 
Electric  Light  &  Power  company;  from  Lima 
he  went  to  Delphos,  where  he  resuscitated  the 
electric  light  plant;  he  was  next  employed  by 
the  electric  light  company  of  Winchester,  Ind., 
as  superintendent  and  general  manager  of  its 
electrical  and  mechanical  apparatus,  and  filled 
this     responsible     position    for    two    years;   in 


August,  1893,  he  located  in  Miamisburg, 
where  he  has  since  been  the  trusted  superin- 
tendent and  efficient  electrician  of  the  electric 
light  company. 

August  28,  1890,  Mr.  Ackeret  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Phebe  Maurer,  daughter  of 
John  Maurer,  of  Lima,  Ohio,  the  union  being 
blessed  with  one  son,  Mifflin  J.  In  his  relig- 
ious affiliations  Mr.  Ackeret  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  his 
fraternal  relations  is  a  Freemason  and  a 
Knight  of  Pythias.  He  is  conceded  to  be  one 
of  the  best  practical  electricians  in  the  state  of 
Ohio,  and  his  devotion  to  his  calling  has  se- 
cured for  him  a  high  standing  with  many  ob- 
servant members  of  other  corporations  beside 
those  by  which  he  has  been  employed. 


eLLWOOD  ALLEN,  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  energetic  young  business 
men  of  Miamisburg,  wks  born  in 
Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  December  31,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of 
Charles  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Hoover)  Allen,  of 
whom  a  full  genealogical  and  biographical 
memoir  is  printed  in  close  connection  with  this 
sketch,  and  further  mention  will  be  found  in 
the  history  of  the  life  of  David  H.  Allen,  a 
younger  brother  of  Ellwood,  attached  to  the 
biography  of  the  late  Charles  R. 

Ellwood  Allen  received  a  good  English 
education  in  the  schools  of  Miamisburg,  and, 
at  eighteen  years  of  age,  entered  the  foundry 
and  machine  shops  of  Hoover  &  Company, 
where  he  was  fully  instructed,  within  a  year, 
in  the  practical  use  of  iron-working  tools  and 
taught  the  trade  of  a  machinist.  He  next  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  for  a  year,  and 
then,  in  1879,  re-entered  the  employ  of  the 
Hoover  company  and  acted  as  shipping  clerk 
until  1883,  when,  as  a  capitalist,  he  entered 
upon  a  broader  field  of  business  enterprise,  in- 


930 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


vesting  a  part  of  his  means  in  numerous  insti- 
tutions of  industry  that  have  resulted  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  city  of  Miamisburg  and  the 
increase  of  its  population.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  all  the  companies  of  which  mention  is  made 
in  the  sketch  of  the  life  of  his  younger  brother, 
including  an  interest  in  the  Citizens'  National 
bank,  and  additional  interest  or  stock  in  the 
First  National  bank — both  of  Miamisburg. 

Mr.  Allen  is  also  the  owner  of  a  fine  stock 
farm,  four  miles  from  Miamisburg,  on  which 
he  finds  time  to  devote  attention  to  the  breed- 
ing of  Poland-China  hogs  and  Shropshire 
sheep,  as  well  as  other  choice  strains  of  live 
stock.  Beside  his  stockholding  and  director- 
ship in  the  various  industrial  corporations  al- 
luded to  in  the  sketch  of  his  brother,  Ellwood 
Allen  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Kauffman 
Buggy  company,  treasurer  of  the  Miamisburg 
Building  &  Loan  association,  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Allen  &  Ressler,  and  a  member 
of  the  Tivoli  Land  &  Fruit  company  of  Georgia. 

In  his  secret  society  relations  Mr.  Allen  is 
a  thirty-second  degree  Freemason,  beyond 
which  degree  very  few  Masons  care  to  advance. 
As  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Miamisburg 
he  did  faithful  duty  for  six  years,  having  been 
elected  to  the  office  by  the  republican  party, 
of  which  he  is  a  stanch  member.  His  marriage 
was  consummated  November  16,  1889,  with 
May  Belle,  daugher  of  George  A.  and  Sally 
(Mullendore)  Mutz,  of  Edinburg,  Ind. 


aHARLES  BAUM  (deceased),  late  pro- 
prietor of  the  Baum  house,  Miamis- 
burg, Ohio,  was  born  in  Rhinefaltz, 
Germany,  February  2,  1852,  a  son 
of  Philip  and  Caroline  (Retterbach)  Baum, 
and  was  the  third  child  of  a  family  of  five  sons 
and  two  daughters.  In  1869  he  came  to 
America  and  for  about  one  year  resided  in  New 
York  city,  in  the  fall  of  1S70  he  came  to  Ohio 


and  located  in  Miamisburg;  from  1874  to  1878 
he  conducted  the  Miami  house  for  Mrs.  Dr. 
John  Treon;  in  the  interval,  in  1875,  he  pur- 
chased the  lot  on  which  the  Baum  house  now 
stands,  began  the  erection  of  his  hotel  in  1877, 
opened  it  to  the  public  in  February,  1878,  and 
at  once  met  with  a  pronounced  success,  secur- 
ing for  the  place  a  reputation  which  has  never 
since  diminished.  In  the  winter  of  1884-85, 
he  erected  the  Star  City  opera  house,  with  a 
seating  capacity  for  800  persons,  one  of  the 
first  built  in  the  state  for  a  town  of  the  size  of 
Miamisburg.  He  was,  in  fact,  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  business  men  that  ever  lived 
in  Miamisburg,  and  his  death  was  a  great  loss 
to  the  community,  viewed  even  from  the  ma- 
terial standpoint  alone. 

February  11,  1873,  Mr.  Baum  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Dorothea  (Schmerz)  Schneider,  of  Hesse 
Cassel,  Germany,  and  the  marriage  was  blessed 
with  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  still  sur- 
vive, viz:  William,  Julia,  George,  Kate,  Jen- 
nie, Lewis  and  Charles.  The  death  of  the 
honored  father  of  this  family  took  place  Janu- 
ary 22,  1895,  and  since  that  lamentable  event 
the  Baum  house  has  been  conducted  by  his 
widow,  who  has  fully  maintained  its  high 
reputation. 

Probably  no  name  was  more  widely  known 
or  was  oftener  on  the  lips  of  the  people  than 
that  of  Charley  Baum,  either  as  proprietor  of 
the  Baum  house  or  of  the  opera  house,  and  his 
acquaintance  extended  throughout  Ohio  and 
adjoining  states,  and  yet  he  was  personally 
known  to  but  comparatively  few  of  the  resi- 
dents of  Miamisburg,  as  he  never  left  his  hotel, 
except  to  make  a  brief  trip  to  his  bank  once  a 
month,  and  this  covered  the  extent  of  his  ap- 
pearance on  the  streets.  This  close  attention 
to  his  business  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
hastening  causes  of  his  early  death.  He  was 
a  man  of  genial    and   ob'iging  disposition   and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


931 


was  possessed  of  indefatigable  energy  and  in- 
dustry, which  never  tired  in  making  his  guests 
happy  and  comfortable,  and  from  these  he 
made  hosts  of  friends.  He  was  always  best 
pleased  when  adding  means  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  his  guests,  or  when  adding  to  or  build- 
ing on  his  large  landed  property.  His  great 
energy  and  devotion  to  business  were  so  no- 
table that  the  remark  was  frequently  made  by 
those  capable  of  judging,  that  the  possession 
of  these  qualities,  coupled  with  his  native 
abilities,  would  have  made  him  one  of  the 
greatest  of  merchants,  had  he  embarked  in 
mercantile  trade  in  his  earlier  youth. 


y^^EORGE  W.  BEACHLER,  a  suc- 
■  Cj\  cessful  business  man  of  Miamisburg, 
^k^J  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohic,  February  19, 
1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  M. 
(Weaver)  Beachler,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Henry  Beachler,  was  originally  from 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  but  became  a  pioneer 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  settling  in  Ger- 
man township,  where  he  cleared  and  improved 
a  farm  and  where  he  lived  the  rest  of  his  life. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  Henry;  Chris- 
tiana, wife  of  Conrad  Iser;  Adam,  Jacob,  Peter, 
George,  John,  and  Mrs.  Peter  Weaver. 

Jacob  Beachler,  father  of  George  Wash- 
ington, came  with  his  parents  to  Montgomery 
county,  they  settling  in  German  township. 
In  early  manhood  he  removed  to  Jackson 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  death.  His  wife,  Mary  M.  Weaver,  was 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Gebhart) 
Weaver,  who  settled  in  Miami  township  in 
1805.  She  bore  him  seven  children,  as  follows: 
William;  Jonathan;  Magdalena,  wife  of  George 
Stine;  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  Peffley;  George 
W. ;  Jacob,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  John  A.  Recher. 


George  W.  Beachler  was  reared  on  the 
homestead  in  Jackson  township,  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  afterward  in  the 
National  Normal  university,  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
in  which  he  prepared  for  teaching.  Beginning 
life  for  himself  as  a  teacher,  he  followed  that 
vocation  for  eight  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1864  he  located  in  Miamisburg  and  established 
himself  in  the  grocery  business,  at  which  he 
continued  seventeen  years,  and  at  the  end  of 
this  time  engaged  in  the  sewing  machine,  gun 
and  fishing-tackle  business,  in  which  he  has 
ever  since  been  successfully  employed.  In 
1892  he  added  a  bicycle  department  to  his 
store,  and  in  this  branch  has  built  up  an  ex- 
tensive trade. 

Mr.  Beachler  has  been  twice  married;  first, 
in  1856,  to  Catherine  Heitman,  of  Miamisburg; 
who  bore  him  four  children,  as  follows:  Mary, 
Charles  W.,  George  Monroe  and  Laura.  His 
second  marriage  was  with  Elizabeth  N.  Ney, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  coming  to 
Ohio  in  early  womanhood.  Mrs.  Beachler  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  Beachler  also  is  an  attendant  and  sup- 
porter of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
for  many  years  has  conducted  the  Sunday- 
school  Bible  class.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  a  strong  and  consistent  republican,  and 
is  know  as  a  man  of  integrity,  uprightness  and 
honor. 


'^•j'ULIUS  F.  ALLEN,  an  accomplished 
C  machinist  and  a  member  of  the  Frank- 
/•  1  lin  Electric  &  Manufacturing  company, 
was  born  in  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 20,  1856,  a  son  of  Firman  and  Louisa 
(Plate)  Allen.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Isaiah  Allen,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
a  pioneer  farmer  and  miller  of  Miami  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  his 
maternal  grandfather,  John  F.  Plate,  a  native 


932 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  Germany,  married  Miss  Eliza  Craft,  and 
later  became  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of 
Miamisburg,  Ohio. 

Firman  Allen,  father  of  Julius  F.,  was  reared 
in  Miamisburg,  and,  while  a  miller  by  trade, 
passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  farming. 
To  his  marriage  with  Miss  Plate  were  born 
three  children,  viz:  Cora  P.  (Mrs.  Thomas  J. 
Kauffman),  Julius  F.  and  Walter  S. 

Julius  F.  Allen  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Miamisburg  and  was  well  grounded 
in  the  elements  of  a  sound  English  education. 
Beginning  in  1872,  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years  at  the  machinist's  trade 
with  Hoover  &  Gamble,  and  then  worked  as  a 
journeyman  up  to  April,  1896,  when,  being  an 
expert  mechanician,  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Franklin  Electric  &  Manufacturing  com- 
pany and  has  since  been  the  efficient  superin- 
tendent of  the  mechanical  operations  of  this 
extensive  industry. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Allen  occurred  June  4, 
1885,  with  Miss  Joanna  Emley,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Susannah  (Mullendore)  Emley,  re- 
spected residents  of  Miami  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Allen  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  their  social  relations 
are  most  excellent.  In  politics  Mr.  Allen  is  a 
republican,  and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Honor.  As  a  machinist  he  has 
few  equals,  and  it  may  safely  be  asserted  that 
he  has  no  superior  in  his  native  town. 


*y    *  ENRY    BEACHLER,    a    progressive 

j"^    farmer  of  Randolph  township,  and  a 

r    son    of    one    of    the    early    pioneers, 

sprang  from  sterling  German  ancestry. 

His    grandfather,    John    Beachler,    who    came 

from    Germany  and    settled    in    Pennsylvania, 

had  one  son,  John,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 

county,  Pa.,  in    1796,  near  Reading.      He  was 

educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  married, 


in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  Barbara  Stein,  a 
native  of  that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beachler 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows  : 
William  ;  Mary  ;  George  ;  John  ;  Katie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  ;  one  other  that 
died  quite  young  ;  Henry  and  Daniel.  The 
first  four  were  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
the  others  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Beachler  came  to  Ohio  in  1834  or  1835,  and 
here  worked  at  his  trade  of  blacksmith  for  a 
short  time,  when  he  purchased  144  acres  of 
land,  in  Madison  township,  which  his  son, 
Henry  Beachler,  now  owns.  The  most  of  this 
land  he  cleared  from  the  woods,  making  of  it 
a  well-cultivated  and  profitable  farm.  A  hard- 
working and  industrious  man,  John  Beachler 
was  a  representative  of  the  reliable  farming 
class  upon  whom  so  much  of  our  prosperity 
depends.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  By  thrift  and  honest  industry  he  ac- 
cumulated money  and  property  and  was  always 
ready  to  aid  his  neighbors  and  friends.  He 
lived  to  be  eighty-five  years  old,  and  died  in 
Phillipsburg,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  William, 
while  there  on  a  visit. 

Henry  Beachler,  son  of  John,  was  born 
January  25,  1840,  on  his  father's  farm  in  Mad- 
ison township.  He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools,  and  on  March  25,  1864,  when  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  he  married  Matilda 
Bowser,  who  was  born  in  February,  1846. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine 
(  Long)  Bowser,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  and  was  a  son  of  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  county.  Henry 
Bowser's  children  were  as  follows  :  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  John,  Kate,  Matilda  and  William. 
Mr.  Bowser  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  a  man  of  integrity  of  charac- 
ter, well  known  for  many  miles  around,  and 
died  on  his  farm  when  sixty-four  years  of  age. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beachler 


^ 


(jje^Ki^y  PvS&&/£t 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


933 


settled  on  the  Beachler  homestead,  of  which 
they  still  own  forty-two  acres,  and  in  addition 
to  this  Mr.  Beachler  has  purchased  125  acres 
and  now  owns  167  acres  of  good  farming  land, 
which  he  has  greatly  improved.  He  has 
always  been  a  careful  and  industrious  farmer, 
and  an  upright  man.  To  him  and  his  wife 
there  have  been  born  the  following  children  : 
Catherine  ;  Barbara  A.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eleven  years  ;  Sarah  B. ;  Cora  ;  Ida,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  ;  Lizzie  ; 
Bertha  ;  Jesse  and  Agnes.  Mr.  Beachler  pos- 
sesses strict  integrity  of  character,  is  honest 
and  reliable  in  his  dealings  with  men,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Re- 
alizing the  value  of  truth  and  probity  in  each 
man's  everyday  life,  he  is  bringing  up  his  chil- 
dren to  appreciate  the  value  of  these  qualities. 


EENRY  BECKER,    a  well-known  and 
substantial  farmer  of  Randolph  town- 
ship,   Montgomery    county,    Ohio,    is 
descended  from  an  old  Pennsylvania- 
German  family,  united  with  Swiss  stock. 

John  Becker,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
born  on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  the  father  of  John 
being,  in  fact,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America.  John  Becker,  the  grandfather  of 
Henry,  was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  was 
reared  a  miller,  lived  awhile  in  Lancaster 
county,  and  married  a  Miss  Snowbarger  ;  of 
the  children  born  to  this  marriage  the  follow- 
ing named  grew  to  maturity  :  John,  Jacob, 
Samuel,  Andrew,  Henry,  David,  Elizabeth, 
Nancy  and  Maria.  In  18 15  their  father 
brought  his  family  to  Ohio,  and  in  June  ar- 
rived in  Randolph  township,  Montgomery 
county,  settling  on  the  farm  now  partly  owned 
by  Henry  Becker.  With  Mr.  Becker  came 
William  Hart  and  family,  the  latter  compris- 
ing Mrs.  Hart,  their  son  Henry,  and  daughters 
Rebecca,     Catherine,     and    Eve,    all    born   in 


Lancaster  county,  Pa.  Mr.  Becker  bought 
section  No.  4,  on  which  was  a  small  clearing 
and  a  log  cabin,  and  Mr.  Hart  bought  section 
No.  5.  Mr.  Becker  bought  his  section  from 
several  parties,  and  for  a  portion  of  it  paid  as 
high  as  $10  per  acre,  and  on  this  land  he  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 

John  Becker,  father  of  Henry,  was  born  in 
Bedford  county,  moved  with  his  father  to  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa. ,  and  came  with  him  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where,  in  i8i5,he 
married  Rebecca  Hart,  daughter  of  William 
Hart,  alluded  to  above,  and  settled  on  the 
land  bought  by  his  father,  clearing  103  acres, 
and  also  bought  land  in  Darke  and  Shelby 
counties.  He  died  at  about  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
of  which  his  wife  was  likewise  a  member.  In 
politics  he  was  a  democrat,  had  served  as 
township  trustee,  and  was  a  well-known  and 
esteemed  citizen.  His  children  were  named 
Henry,  David,  Abraham,  Annie  and  Rebecca. 

Henry  Becker,  son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Hart)  Becker,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Randolph  township  May  13,  18 16,  and  ac- 
quired a  very  fair  education  in  a  subscription 
school,  taught  in  a  frontier  log  cabin  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  was  reared  to  the  hard 
work  of  the  farm,  and  also  assisted  his  father 
in  a  saw-mill  which  had  been  erected  on  this 
land  in  the  year  of  his  birth.  Henry  began 
work  in  this  mill  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
and  has  always  made  its  operation  his  chief 
business,  the  mill  being  now  on  his  home  farm. 
Here,  in  his  early  days,  were  sawed  huge 
black  walnut  logs  four  feet  through,  and  also 
the  great  poplars  and  oaks  of  the  virgin  forest. 

Henry  Becker  was  united  in  marriage,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1840,  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Shiltz,  who  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Pa.,  January  20,  18 19,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Myer)  Shiltz.  John  Shiltz  was 
a   farmer,    of   Pennsylvania-Dutch   stock,  and 


v)34 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  father  of  the  following  children:  Amos, 
John,  Cyrus  and  Sarah.  He  settled  in  Darke 
county  in  1830,  cleared  a  farm  of  120  acres, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  his 
widow  living  to  be  eighty-four  years  old.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Becker  settled  on  his  present 
homestead  and  continued  milling,  the  old  mill 
and  twenty-four  acres  of  land  having  been  de- 
vised to  him  by  his  father.  In  1865  he  built 
a  new  mill,  and  has  done  a  very  large  business 
in  shipping  black  walnut  lumber  to  distant 
points.  He  has  prospered,  and  now  owns  190 
acres  in  his  homestead,  170  acres  in  Miami 
county,  120  in  Darke  county,  and  a  forty-eight 
acre  tract  on  the  pike  in  Randolph  township, 
Montgomery  county,  or  a  total  of  about  528 
acres.  Mr.  Becker's  life  has  been  one  of  con- 
tinued activity,  and  at  the  age  of  eighty  he  is 
still  hale  and  strong,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
industry.  The  children  born  to  himself  and 
wife  were  named  Sarah  A.,  who  died  when 
twenty-two  years  old;  Catherine,  Thomas  J., 
John  S.,  Isaac  N.  and  Clement.  In  politics 
Mr.  Becker  is  a  democrat,  and  has  served  as 
township  trustee  for  several  years.  He  is  one 
of  the  oldest  living  of  the  native-born  citizens 
of  Randolph  township,  is  consequently  widely 
known,  and  is  honored  for  his  pioneer  work  as 
as  well  as  for  his  deeds  as  a  good  citizen. 


>-j'ESSE  A.  BINKLEY,  retired  farmer  of 
■  Clay  township,  Montgomery  county, 
f%  J  Ohio,  is  remotely  of  Swiss  ancestry,  his 
earliest  traceable  forefathers  having  been 
disciples  of  the  Mennonite  faith  in  their  native 
country,  and,  having  been  forced,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  persecution  which  was  inflicted 
upon  their  religious  sect,  to  seek  refuge  in  Ger- 
many, where  but  a  little  better  fate  awaited 
them,  and  later  their  descendants  turned  their 
eyes  toward  America. 


In  the  first  decade  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury one  Martin  Kindig,  a  Mennonite,  came 
from  the  Rhine  valley,  Germany,  secured  a 
home  in  Pennsylvania,  five  miles  south  of  Lan- 
caster, and  then  returned  to  Germany,  where 
he  created  an  intense  excitement  by  his  glow- 
ing description  of  the  new  country,  and  an  ex- 
odus was  the  result.  Among  the  many  who 
were  induced  by  Martin  Kindig  to  emigrate  to 
the  land  of  free  worship  were  John  Binkley  and 
Jacob  Beam  (the  latter  name  being  then 
spelled  Boehme);  also  a  Mr.  Herr,  a  Mr. 
Miley,  Benjamin  Whitner,  Jacob  Haines,  Jonas 
Yoner,  the  Rohrers,  the  Forrers  and  the 
Kneislys — all  of  whom  settled  in  the  same  part 
of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  all  connected  by 
ties  of  consanguinity  or  marriage  with  the 
present  Binkley  family  of  America. 

From  John  Binkley,  mentioned  above, 
descended  five  children — John,  Felix,  Chris- 
tian, Henry  and  Ann.  Of  these,  John,  the 
eldest,  was  killed  by  a  fall  from  ahorse  shortly 
before  the  day  fixed  for  his  marriage;  Felix, 
the  second  son,  and  great-grandfather  of  Jesse 
A.,  built  a  flouring  mill  three  miles  east  of 
Lancaster  in  1767,  which  was  in  operation  up 
to  a  late  date.  He  married  a  Miss  Miley,  and 
to  him  and  wife  were  born  three  children — 
John,  Johnson  and  Ann.  The  father  died 
many  years  before  the  decease  of  his  wife,  and 
the  son  John  inherited  the  mill,  with  fifty  acres 
of  land,  and  Johnson  inherited  the  farm,'  em- 
bracing nearly  200  acres. 

Johnson  Binkley,  son  of  Felix  and  grand- 
father of  Jesse  A.,  was  born  May  23,  1766, 
and  married  Elizabeth  Haines,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Haines,  who  married  Mary,  the  only 
child  of  Jonas  Yoner.  It  is  said  that  Johnson 
Binkley  was  named  after  a  Hollander,  Richard 
Janson,  who  was  also  called  Yanson  and  after- 
ward Johnson,  and  who  married  Ann,  the  only 
daughter  of  John  Binkley,  the  immigrant,  but 
to    whom    no    children    were    born.      Johnson 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


935 


Binkley  died  suddenly  on  January  28,  1813, 
at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  the  father  of  four 
children — Samuel,  Felix,  Mary  and  Ann. 

Samuel  Binkley,  son  of  Johnson  and  father 
of  Jesse  A.,  married  Catherine  Beam,  to  which 
union  were  born  the  following  children:  Eliza- 
beth, Johnson,  Jacob,  Samuel,  Jesse  A.,  Har- 
riet, Mary  A.,  Henry  and  Catherine.  The 
father,  Samuel  Binkley,  was  a  well-to-do  agri- 
culturist in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1837  brought 
his  family  to  Ohio  in  a  four-horse  wagon. 
In  1838  he  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres,  one 
mile  south  of  Dayton,  at  $50  per  acre — 
mostly  cleared  and  improved  with  a  good  brick 
house  and  other  buildings.  Here  Mr.  Binkley 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years;  his  widow  survived 
to  reach  the  great  age  of  ninety-seven  years, 
the  Beam  family  being  particularly  noted  for 
longevity.  The  old  homestead  near  Dayton  is 
still  in  the  hands  of  their  children,  who  have 
all  been  reared  in  a  most  exemplary  manner. 
Mr.  Binkley  was  a  most  upright  man  and  ever 
set  an  example  of  great  excellence  for  his  chil- 
dren, over  whom  he  held  a  loving  control. 

Jesse  A.  Binkley,  son  of  Samuel  and  Cath- 
erine (Beam)  Binkley,  was  born  near  Lancas- 
ter, Pa.,  December  7,  18 14,  and  was  about 
twenty-two  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents. 
He  was  the  driver  of  the  four-horse  team  on 
that  occasion,  and  still  remembers  driving  over 
the  national  road  to  Springfield  and  thence  to 
Dayton,  when  the  latter  city  was  but  a  small 
place,  with  a  floating  bridge  across  the  canal. 
He  lived  on  the  farm  at  Dayton  until  nearly 
thirty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  married,  No- 
vember 19,  1846,  Miss  Caroline  Whistler,  who 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  November 
27,  1823,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Polly  (Nible) 
Whistler,  both  members  of  pioneer  families. 
Daniel  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  but  died  a 
comparatively  young   man,  the  father  of    the 


following  children:  John,  William,  Noah,  Cath- 
erine, Martha,  Jane  and  Caroline. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Binkley 
were  born  the  following  children:  Henry,  Will- 
iam, Adeline,  Newton  (of  whom  a  full  biogra- 
phy is  elsewhere  given),  Jesse,  Caroline,  Alice, 
Jacob,  Phares,  Samuel,  Clara  (who  died  when 
two  months  old),  and  Ora. 

On  their  marriage,  Mr.  Binkley,  with  his 
wife,  settled  on  a  party  cleared  farm  of  160 
acres,  four  miles  north  of  Brookville,  where 
he  passed  all  the  really  active  years  of  his  life, 
and  then  retired  to  a  small  place  of  twenty-five 
acres  at  Sonora,  Preble  county,  on  which  he 
lived  about  eight  years.  In  1890,  he  bought  a 
residence  in  Brookville,  where  he  has  since 
lived  in  quiet  retirement.  After  nearly  fifty 
years  of  happy  married  life,  he  lost  his  beloved 
wife,  who  died  November  29,  1893,  a  devout 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr. 
Binkley  has  been  a  very  industrious  and  thrifty 
man  throughout  life  and  still  owns  his  farm 
and  residence  property  in  Brookville,  beside 
his  private  residence.  In  politics  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  republican  and  has  filled  the  office 
of  township  trustee.  He  has  done  much  in  aid 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  life-long  member,  and  his  life  has 
been  one  of  high  character  and  useful  results 
from  the  beginning  to  the  present  time. 


£~^*AMUEL    H.     BINKLEY,     of     Ran- 
*^^^KT    dolph  township,    is   a  son  of  Johnson 

P<J  and  Elizabeth  (Binkley)  Binkley. 
Johnson  Binkley  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  February  20,  1808,  and 
was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Beam) 
Binkley,  for  fuller  mention  of  whom  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  biography  of  Jesse  A. 
Binkley,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Johnson   Binkley  married  Miss  Mary  Nel- 
son, who  was   born   September  30,  1808,  and 


936 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Catherine  E. 
Mrs.  Binkley  died  March  11,  1834,  in  her 
twenty-sixth  year.  Mr.  Binkley  married  again, 
his  second  wife  being  Elizabeth  Binkley,  who 
was  born  September  21,  1804,  and  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children:  Mary,  born 
December  7,  1835,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years,  and  Samuel  H.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Binkley  died  March  6,   1S74. 

Johnson  Binkley  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and 
after  his  marriage  ran  a  mill  in  Pennsylvania 
on  the  Big  Conestota,  near  Safe  Harbor.  He 
there  bought  two  good  farms,  and  became  a 
man  of  property.  In  1848  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Montgomery  county,  settling  on 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  Samuel  H.  Binkley 
and  containing  104  acres.  This  land  he 
greatly  improved,  converting  it  into  a  good 
farm,  upon  which  he  lived  for  about  forty-six 
years,  until  his  death  in  1892,  in  his  eighty- 
fifth  year.  In  religion  he  was  a  member  of 
the  church  of  the  Brethren  in  Christ — later  in 
life,  however,  becoming  identified  with  the 
church  of  the  United  Brethren.  He  was  a 
much  respected  man,  and  well  known  for  his 
sterling  honesty  of  his  character. 

Samuel  H.  Binkley  was  born  September 
20,  1837,  near  Safe  Harbor,  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pa.  He  received  the  usual  common- 
school  education,  and  when  ten  years  of  age 
was  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  father.  The 
journey  was  made  by  wagon,  that  being  long 
before  railroads  were  introduced.  The  time 
required  to  make  this  journey  was  nearly  three 
weeks.  Upon  arriving  at  mature  years  Mr. 
Binkley  married  Elizabeth  Huddle,  who  was 
born  March  19,  1847,  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Barbara 
(Berry)  Huddle.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Binkley 
there  have  been  born  three  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Daniel;  Johnson,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  and  Rossetta  H.  Mr.  Binkley 
is  a  member  of  the    United   Brethren  church, 


and  has  served  as  trustee  for  many  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Binkley  has 
always  followed  farming,  and  he  purchased  the 
farm  of  his  father,  before  mentioned,  but  has 
traded  it  for  the  Arnold  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  Clay  township. 

Daniel  Huddle,  father  of  Mrs.  Binkley, 
was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  and 
came  to  Ohio  when  he  was  a  small  boy,  with 
his  parents,  they  settling  in  Fairfield  county. 
The  children  of  Daniel  and  Barbara  Huddle 
were  as  follows:  Noah,  John,  Solomon,  Sam- 
uel, Daniel,  Mary  A.,  who  died  when  two 
months  old;  Abraham,  Elizabeth,  Eli,  Cath- 
erine, Sarah  and  Lydia.  Mr.  Huddle  owned 
a  farm  of  180  acres  in  Fairfield  county,  which 
was  the  old  home  of  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hud- 
dle, Abraham  Berry,  who  cleared  up  the  farm 
from  the  woods.  Mr.  Huddle  died  in  Fairfield 
county,  October  14,  1877,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years  and  four  months.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  the  Brethren  in  Christ, 
and  an  honorable  and  useful  citizen. 


•"V'AMUEL  HAINES  BINKLEY,  M.  D., 
*^^WT    one    of   the    most   eminent    archasolo- 

K^^  gists  and  experienced  physicians  of 
Ohio,  and  now  residing  in  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Conestoga,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  October 
22,  1 812,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine 
(Beam)  Binkley,  and  is  of  the  fifth  generation 
descended  from  John  Binkley,  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  who  came  to  America  in  1712, 
and  settled  on  Mill  creek,  near  Lancaster,  Pa. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  doctor  was 
Johnson  Binkley,  who  was  a  son  of  Felix,  who, 
in  turn,  was  a  son  of  John,  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  America  ;  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  Dr.  Binkley  was  Jacob  Beam,  a  son  of  Mar- 
tin Beam,  one  of  the  first  bishops  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  in  America,  and  Martin  was  a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


937 


son  of  Jacob  Beam,  also  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, who  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  1712,  and  became 
the  progenitor  of  the  American  branch  of  the 
family  which  bears  his  name. 

Samuel  and  Catherine  Binkley,  in  1837, 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Dr.  Binkley,  and 
there  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  who 
were  born  in  the  following  order  :  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  John  Miller),  Johnson,  Jacob,  Samuel 
H.,  Jesse,  Harriet  (Mrs.  Stephen  J.  Emly), 
Mary  A.  (Mrs.  James  McGrew),  Henry  M. 
and  Catherine. 

Samuel  H.  Binkley,  whose  name  opens  this 
memoir,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  state, 
received  a  fine  classical  education,  and  studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  John  M.  Keagy.  Having 
become  proficient  in  this  science,  he  began 
practice  in  Middletown,  Ohio,  in  1835,  but  a 
year  later  returned  to  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
practiced  there  a  year,  and  in  1837  came  once 
more  to  Ohio,  and  has  since  then  made  his 
home  on  the  farm  originally  settled  upon  by  his 
parents,  in  Miami  township,  Montgomery 
county.  Aside  from  his  practice  as  a  physician, 
Dr.  Binkley  has  devoted  many  years  to  the 
study  of  geology  and  archaeology,  his  knowl- 
edge of  which  has  given  his  name  not  only  na- 
tional, but  international  prominence.  He  col- 
lected probably  one  of  the  finest  cabinets  of 
paleontological  specimens  ever  seen  in  the 
state  of  Ohio,  and  this  cabinet  he'  presented  to 
his  nephew,  J.  Franklin  McGrew,  the  renowned 
paleontologist,  of  Kankakee,  111.  The  doctor 
also  prepared  a  valuable  catalogue  of  his  col- 
lection of  1,066  specimens,  filled  with  minute 
descriptive  data,  which,  also,  he  presented  to 
his  nephew,  and  no  doubt  it  will,  in  due  course 
of  time,  be  made  public  as  an  almost  indispen- 
sable addition  to  the  scientific  archives  of  the 
world.      The  doctor  has  steadily   declined  ac- 


cepting membership  in  any  geological  or  arch- 
aeological society,  state,  national  or  foreign, 
but  his  fame  is  widespread  and  his  name  one 
in  which  the  citizens  of  the  state  of  Ohio  may 
well  take  pride. 


0 


EWTON  BINKLEY,  one  of  the  prac- 
tical farmers  of  Montgomery  county, 
is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early 
pioneers.  He  was  born  in  Clay 
township,  January  18,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jesse  A.  and  Caroline  (Whistler)  Binkley. 
Educated  in  the  common  schools  he  was  reared 
a  farmer's  boy,  and  brought  up  to  perform  all 
kinds  of  farm  labor  from  his  youth.  He  also 
learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade,  and  when 
about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  on  October  5, 
1875,  married,  in  Clay  township,  Martha  A. 
Welsh,  who  was  born  July  20,  1855,  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Wenger)  Welsh.  William  S. 
Welsh  is  a  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Halm) 
Welsh  and  was  born  in  Montgomery  county. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Binkley 
settled  in  Miami  county,  living  four  years  on  a 
farm.  Afterward  they  lived  two  years  on  a 
farm  in  Darke  county,  and  then  removed  to 
the  Binkley  homestead  in  Clay  county,  upon 
which  they  lived  eight  years.  In  1889  Mr. 
Binkley  purchased  his  present  farm  of  seventy- 
five  acres,  which  he  has  greatly  improved  and 
made  highly  productive.  It  is  in  thoroughly 
good  condition,  and  a  splendid  home  for  him- 
self and  family.  Mr.  Binkley  is  one  of  the 
progressive  farmers  of  his  county  and  a  leader 
in  agricultural  circles.  He  and  his  wife  had 
the  following  children;  Olive  P.,  Omer  L., 
Addie  F.,  and  Charles  C. ,  all  of  whom  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of 
which  Mr.  Binkley  is  himself  a  trustee.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  republican,  and  is  in  every  way  a 
worthy  citizen  of  the  county.      He  is  a  hard- 


938 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


working,  industrious  and  practical  farmer. 
His  aim  is  to  keep  fully  up  with  the  times  and 
to  be  known  as  a  good  and  useful  member  of 
the  community.  He  is  descended  from  the 
best  of  stock,  and  is  striving  with  great  success 
to  maintain  the  standing  of  his  family,  as  es- 
tablished by  a  long  line  of  honorable  ancestry. 


at 


'ALTER  A.  BLACK,  cashier  of  the 
First  National  bank,  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Dayton,  Febru- 
ary 13,  1867,  a  son  of  George  A. 
and  Mary  C.  (Hoff)  Black,  natives  of  Fred- 
erick, Md.,  and  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  respect- 
ively. The  paternal  grandfather,  Frederick 
Black,  was  born  in  September,  17S3,  died 
February  17,  1827,  and  his  wife,  Catherine 
Mouse,  was  born  July  2,   1785. 

George  Alexander  Black,  the  father,  was 
born  in  Frederick,  Md.,  November  19,  1823, 
and  was  reared  at  Alexanderville,  this  county, 
from  five  years  of  age.  He  began  his  business 
career  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  the  same 
place,  where  he  later  purchased  a  store,  and 
was  also  engaged  in  merchandizing  at  Miamis- 
burg. At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war 
he  located  in  Dayton,  where  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  a  clothing  and  dry-goods  business. 
In  1867  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  crock- 
ery business  in  the  same  city,  in  which  he 
successfully  continued  until  1895,  when  he  re- 
tired, and  died  in  Dayton  April  25,  1896.  His 
children,  who  grew,  to  maturity,  were  Walter 
A.,  Arthur  D.,  Edward  O.  and  Bessie  M. 

On  the  maternal  side,  Walter  A.  Black  is 
of  the  fifth  generation  from  John  George  and 
Justina  Margaret  (Schnerszel)  Hoff,  who  came 
from  Germany  to  America  in  the  ship  Polly, 
in  1765,  and  settled  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
John  George  Hoff  was  born  in  Westerburg, 
Germany,  October  22,  1733,  and  died  at  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  August  18,  1816.      Jacob  Hoff,  his 


son  and  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  February  4,  1784, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1 S 1 2,  and  by  occu- 
pation was  a  jeweler  at  Lancaster,  Pa.  His 
wife,  Margaret,  was  a  daughter  of  David  Neiss, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  in  1773.  William  Hoff,  son  of 
Jacob  and  Margaret  (Neiss)  Hoff,  and  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  subject,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  in  1808,  began  life  as  a  clerk  in 
a  general  store  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  working  in 
that  capacity  several  years  at  that  place,  My- 
erstown  and  Philadelphia.  In  1828  he  em- 
barked in  business  at  Myerstown,  Pa.,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Hoff  &  Stover,  contin- 
uing one  year,  and  then  located  at  Wormels- 
dorf,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where,  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Hoff  &  Deckert,  he  engaged  in 
merchandizing  until  1838,  when  the  firm  dis- 
solved. Mr.  Hoff  then  came  to  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  where,  in  1839,  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Hoff  &  Deckert,  he  engaged  in  merchandiz- 
ing, the  partnership  existing  until  1847,  when 
they  dissolved.  Mr.  Hoff  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  1 S 58,  when  he  erected  the 
brick  block  now  occupied  by  his  son,  George 
S.  Hoff,  having  taken  the  latter  into  partner- 
ship, and  the  firm  being  Hoff  &  Son  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Hoff,  in  1S76.  Mr.  Hoff  married, 
in  1828,  Elizabeth  Leis,  and  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  Mary  C. ,  mother 
of  our  subject,  was  the  fifth  child  and  third 
daughter. 

Walter  A.  Black  was  reared  in  Dayton, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  Deaver  preparatory  school. 
He  began  life  as  a  clerk  in  the  Merchants' 
National  bank,  Dayton,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1887  he  located 
at  Denver,  Colo.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business,  and  remained  in  that  state 
until  1890,  when  he  was  appointed  receiving 
teller  of  the  Third  National  bank  of  Dayton, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


939 


Ohio,  and  occupied  that  position  up  to  the 
spring  of  1892.  He  was  then  elected  cashier 
of  the  First  National  bank  of  Miamisburg, 
which  position  he  still  retains.  Mr.  Black  was 
married  March  6,  1888,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
William  I.  and  Marion  C.  (Carll)  Craddock, 
of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  has  two  daughters — 
Lulu  H.  and  Marion  C.  Mr.  Black  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  the  F.  & 
A.  M.,  R.  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.  and 
I.  O.  F. ;  politically  he  is  a  republican. 


a  APT.  B.  F.  BOOKWALTER,  who  for 
many  years  was  president  of  the  firm 
of  Bookwalter  Bros.  &  Co.,  and  who  is 
now  vice-president  of  the  Bookwalter 
Wheel  company,  of  the  growing  little  city  of 
Miamisburg,  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Pa., 
March  31,  1820.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (  Stump )  Bookwalter,  who  settled 
in  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  county, 
in  1823. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Bookwalter  was  reared 
in  Montgomery  county  until  sixteen  years  of 
age,  in  the  meantime  receiving  as  good  an 
education  as  the  common  schools  of  that  day 
could  furnish.  In  1836  he  located  in  Win- 
chester, Ohio,  where  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  four  years  at  the  carriage  and  wagon- 
maker's  trade.  In  1840  he  removed  to  Ger- 
mantown,  Montgomery  county,  and  there 
worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman  for  nearly 
a  year.  After  this  he  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  at  Paris,  Ohio,  and  continued  there 
three  years.  In  1848  he  established  himself 
in  the  dry-goods  business  at  Winchester,  and 
was  thus  engaged  for  one  year  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Halderman  &  Bookwalter,  selling 
out  at  the  end  of  that  time.  In  1852  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  carriages  at  Seven 
Mile,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  there 
in  business  until  1864.      He  then  removed  to 


Miamisburg,  and  there,  in  1865,  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bookwalter  Bros.  & 
Co.,  which  firm  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  carriages  and  light  wagons.  This  firm 
in  1868  began  the  manufacture  of  carriage 
wheels  exclusively,  and  in  1890  was  absorbed 
by  the  Standard  Wheel  company,  the  Book- 
waiter  Wheel  company  being  organized  in  1 89 1 . 
For  a  long  time  Mr.  Bookwalter  traveled  for 
the  company,  buying  stock  and  selling  the 
finished  products  of  the  factory.  When  the 
old  company  sold  out  to  the  Standard  Wheel 
company  Mr.  Bookwalter  was  its  president, 
and  upon  the  re-organization  of  the  company 
under  its  new  name  he  was  made  vice-presi- 
dent thereof,  a  position  which  he  still  retains. 

Mr.  Bookwalter  married  Decembers,  1844, 
Miss  Abigail  Gram,  daughter  of  Conrad  and 
Nancy  (House)  Gram,  of  Winchester,  Ohio. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three 
children,  as  follows:  Anna  E.,  Winfield  S., 
and  Charles  E.  During  the  late  Civil  war  Mr. 
Bookwalter  was  active  in  the  organization  of 
military  companies,  and  was  instrumental  in 
filling  three  regiments  for  the  war,  beside 
raising  a  company  for  the  100  days'  service. 
He  also  spent  considerable  time  in  the  south 
on  war  department  business,  and  performed 
noble  work  in  looking  after  the  sick  and  dis- 
abled soldiers  of  his  state.  He  was  captain  of 
company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth 
regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was 
widely  known  as  one  of  the  actively  patriotic 
men  of  Montgomery  county.  Mr.  Bookwalter 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  in  politics  is  a  republican.  Few  men  in 
the  county,  if  any,  stand  higher  in  business, 
social  and  religious  circles  than  does  Mr.  Book- 
waiter,  he  being  well  and  widely  known  as  a 
man  of  integrity  and  honor. 

Winfield  Scott  Bookwalter,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Benjamin  F. ,  was  born  in  Winchester,  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  August   26,   1849,  and  was  edu- 


V»40 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


cated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  of 
Hamilton,  and  of  Miamisburg.  He  also  at- 
tended Antioch  college,  at  Yellow  Springs,  and 
removed  to  Miamisburg  with  his  parents  in 
1865,  there  beginning  the  study  of  medicine  in 
1868,  and  graduating  from  Miami  Medical  col- 
lege, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1871.  He  immedi- 
ately located  at  Miamisburg,  where,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year  spent  in  Dayton,  he  has 
ever  since  been  engaged  with  success  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  Dr.  Bookwalter  was 
prominent  in  the  organization  of  the  board  of 
health  of  Miamisburg  in  1872,  was  health  offi- 
cer for  several  years,  and  is  now  clerk  of  the 
board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  the  Montgomery  county 
Medical  society  and  of  the  state  Medical  asso- 
ciation. Fraternally  he  is  a  Mason  and  in 
politics  a  republican,  and  is  in  all  respects  a 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Montgomery  county. 
The  Bookwalter  family  is  of  Swiss  origin 
and  was  founded  in  this  country  by  Francis 
Bookwalter,  great-grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  biography.  Francis  left  his  native  land 
on  account  of  religious  persecution  and  brought 
his  wife  to  America,  a  few  years  prior  to  1720, 
it  would  seem,  or  in  that  year.  He  bought 
land  on  the  Schuylkill  river,  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 


<^\  ANIEL  BOOKWALTER,  deceased, 
I  was  a  prominent  and  successful  man- 
S^^f  ufacturer  of  Miamisburg  and  founder 
of  the  Bookwalter  Wheel  company, 
and  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  January  18,  1824.  He 
was  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Stump) 
Bookwalter,  both  natives  of  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  who  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1823.  John  Bookwalter  built  the  first 
iron  works  at  Johnstown,  Pa.,  which  he  oper- 
ated    for    about    twenty-seven     years,    when 


they  were  totally  destroyed  by  a  severe  flood 
in  Stony  creek.  Soon  afterward  Mr.  Book- 
waiter  packed  up  his  few  household  goods, 
and  with  his  little  family  started  for  the 
west  in  search  of  fortune.  Traveling  down 
the  Ohio  river  he  at  length  reached  Cincinnati, 
from  which  place  he  and  his  wife  walked  to 
Miamisburg,  each  carrying  a  child  in  arms. 
Mr.  Bookwalter  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres 
in  Jefferson  township,  where  his  wife  died  in 
1824.  She  was  a  most  devout  and  religious 
woman,  with  full  belief  in  the  efficacy  of 
prayer,  and  before  her  death  she  placed  her 
children  in  religious  homes  in  order  that  they 
might- be  well  brought  up. 

Mr.  Bookwalter,  being  of  a  roving  disposi- 
tion, after  the  death  of  his  wife,  traveled  ex- 
tensively in  the  southern  states  and  the  West 
Indies,  and  in  (828  died  at  Hallsville,  Ross 
county,  Ohio.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  John,  Mary  (Mrs.  David 
Bowser),  Benjamin  and  Daniel.  The  Book- 
waiter  family  trace  their  origin  to  Switzerland, 
the  original  immigrants  from  that  country  to 
the  United  States  having  been  two  brothers, 
who  left  their  native  land  on  account  of  relig- 
ious persecution.  One  of  them  settled  in 
Philadelphia,  the  other  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  it  is  from  this  latter  brother  that 
Daniel  Bookwalter  is  descended. 

Daniel  Bookwalter  and  sister  were  reared  in 
the  family  of  Rev.  Michael  Moyer,  a  Dunk- 
ard  preacher,  in  Jefferson  township,  Montgom- 
ery county.  Daniel  remained  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Moyer  until  after  his  marriage.  In  1849  he 
began  his  business  career  in  Miamisburg,  first 
as  a  wagonmaker  with  Robert  McConnell, 
and  was  thus  engaged,  in  company  with  Mr. 
McConnell,  with  others,  and  alone,  until  1869. 
At  this  time  the  plant  was  absorbed  by  the 
Kauffman  Buggy  company.  In  1862  Mr.  Book- 
waiter  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of 
wheels    in    Dayton,    Ohio,    as    a    member    of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


941 


the  firm  of  Zwick  &  Bookwalter,  later  as 
.Zwick,  Bookwalter  &  Co.,  and  continued  in 
business  there  until  1864,  when  he  sold  his  in- 
terest, and  erected  a  wheel  factory  at  Miamis- 
burg,  which  he  operated  in  connection  with 
his  carriage  business  until  1866.  In  this  year 
his  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Subsequently 
he  organized  the  firm  of  Bookwalter  Bros.  & 
Co.,  which  engaged  exclusively  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wheels.  This  firm  was  afterward 
absorbed  by  the  Standard  Wheel  company,  in 
1890,  and  a  year  later  went  out  of  business. 
Knowing  that  there  was  a  demand  for  fine 
wheels,  Mr.  Bookwalter,  his  brother  Benja- 
min, and  Lee  Mitchell,  members  of  the  old 
concern,  re-organized  the  business  in  1 891 , 
formed  a  new  stock  company  and  established  a 
new  plant,  one  of  the  finest  of  the  kind  in  the 
country,  its  products  including  all  styles  and 
grades  of  buggy  and  light  wagon  wheels.  As 
president,  Mr.  Bookwalter  was  always  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  affairs  of  the  corporation 
and  also  of  the  manufacturing  community,  his 
power  of  organization  and  his  experience  in 
business  being  of  especial  value.  Notwith- 
standing the  great  demands  made  upon' his 
time  and  attention  by  his  private  interests,  his 
energy  was  largely  exerted  in  other  directions. 
To  his  efforts  and  public  spirit  is  due  the  suc- 
cessful prosecution  of  many  enterprises  for  the 
benefit  of  Miamisburg,  and,  as  an  instance,  it 
is  recalled  that  his  influence  and  financial  as- 
sistance gave  direct  impetus  to  the  movement 
which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  the  North 
river  bridge  in  1859.  This  bridge  was  built 
partly  by  private  subscription  and  partly  with 
public  money.  Since  that  time  he  has  always 
been  prominent  in  public  affairs.  His  most 
important  work  of  recent  years  has  been  the 
promotion  of  the  Enterprise  Carriage  com- 
pany, and  he  did  much  to  secure  that  valuable 
business  for  Miamisburg. 

Mr.    Bookwalter  was    married    September 


12,  1847,  to  Melinda  Weaver,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Magdalena  (Gebhart)  Weaver,  and 
granddaughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Geb- 
hart) Weaver,  the  latter  of  whom  settled  in 
Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1804.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bookwalter  had  seven 
children,  as  follows:  John  W.;  Emily  Fran- 
ces, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  two 
months  and  twenty-three  days;  Charles  L. , 
Luella,  who  died  when  two  years  and  two 
months  old;  Daniel  H.  ;  Edward  W.,  who  died 
March  21,  1886;  and  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Albert 
Mueller.  Mr.  Bookwalter  belonged'  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  does  his  widow. 
He  served  as  a  trustee  of  his  church,  and  as 
chairman  of  the  board.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  boord  of  health,  president  of  the 
board  of  trade,  and  a  director  of  the  Miamis- 
burg Building  &  Loan  association.  In  politics 
he  was  originally  a  whig,  but  after  the  organ- 
ization of  the  republican  party  supported  its 
men  and  measures.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
Mr.  Bookwalter  was  always  an  active  and  suc- 
cessful man,  standing  high  in  both  business 
and  religious  circles,  and  a  most  valuable  cit- 
izen of  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  He 
met  with  a  serious  injury  by  accident  on  the 
11th  of  March,  1896,  from  which  he  died  on 
the  28th  of  the  same  month. 


*>^V  AVID  BASORE.  of  the  firm  of  Ba- 
I  sore  &  Schlenker,  proprietors  of  the 
s^^J  Florentine  hotel,  Germantown,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  that  town  on  January  3, 
1847,  a  son  of  George  and  Sarah  (Monebeck) 
Basore.  His  father  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  afterthe  close 
of  which  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Ger- 
mantown, where  he  engaged  in  horse  dealing. 
He  died  in  1867  aged  seventy-five  years.  He 
was  reared  in  the  Dunkard  faith,  and  was  a 
democrat  in  politics.      He  was  twice  married; 


942 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


by  the  first  wife  he  had  six  children,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased.  In  1846  he  married  Sarah 
Monebeck,  of  Germantown,  who  died  in  1896. 
They  reared  five  children;  David;  Joseph,  of 
Germantown;  Cyrus,  of  Dayton;  Charles,  of 
Dayton,  and  Clara,  now  Mrs.  William  Shaffer, 
of  Germantown. 

David  Basore  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Germantown  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carriage  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  for 
twelve  years.  He  then  engaged  in  general 
blacksmithing  for  himself,  and  so  continued  for 
some  years,  and  for  twenty  years  dealt  exten- 
sively in  horses.  He  served  as  constable  of 
Germantown  for  twenty  years,  and  as  marshal 
of  the  town  for  twelve  years.  In  April,  1893, 
he  engaged  in  hotel  keeping,  in  1894  admitted 
Frederick  Schlenker  as  partner,  and  in  1895 
purchased  the  Florentine  hotel,  their  present 
location.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics  and  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Ba- 
sore was  married,  in  187 1,  to  Miss  Josephine 
Shertzer,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Lydia 
(Ripley)  Shertzer,  of  Germantown,  Ohio,  by 
whom  he  has  one  child,  Eva,  now  the  wife  of 
Frederick  Schlenker,  and  who  is  also  the 
mother  of  one  child,  David.  Mr.  Basore  and 
family  are  esteemed  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  church. 


(D 


AJ.  FLAVIUS  K.  BOWLES,  of 
Miamisburg,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
West  Carrollton,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, March  19,  1844,  a  son  of  James 
and  Cynthia  A.  (Brown)  Bowles,  Virginians, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Miami 
township.  Maj.  Bowles  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent. 

Maj.  Flavius  Kemper  Bowles  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Miami  township,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  in  a  select 
school    in    Miamisburg.       Left    an    orphan    at 


fourteen  years  of  age,  he  was  thrown  partially 
on  his  own  resources,  and  worked  on  a  farm 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  old.  On  July  30, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  E,  Ninety-third 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  after  nearly  three 
years  of  faithful  service  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  8,  1865. 
He  served  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  a'nd 
among  the  principal  engagements  in  which  he 
participated  were  Chickamauga,  Atlanta, 
Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  Nashville. 
He  was  badly  wounded  in  the  right  leg  at 
Chickamauga,  slightly  wounded  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  was  taken  prisoner  at  Lexington, 
Ky.,  in  September,  1862,  paroled  and  ex- 
changed in  December  of  the  same  year,  and 
rejoined  his  regiment  in  east  Tennessee  in 
January,  1863.  On  his  return  home  he  en- 
gaged as  agent  and  buyer  for  a  leaf  tobacco 
firm,  continuing  in  that  capacity  until  1870, 
when  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  shoe  store 
at  Miamisburg  for  three  years.  In  1872  Maj. 
Bowles  again  engaged  in  buying  leaf  tobacco, 
continuing  until  1877,  when  he  was  appointed 
a  United  States  gauger  under  Col.  Robert 
Williams.  He  served  in  that  capacity  until 
1883,  when  he  was  promoted  to  deputy  col- 
lector of  the  Third  revenue  district  of  Ohio, 
serving  until  1885,  when  he  returned  to  the 
leaf  tobacco  trade.  In  1886  he  represented 
Cotterill,  Fenner  &  Co.,  of  Dayton,  as  travel- 
ing salesman,  and  in  the  fall  of  1887  was 
nominated  on  the  republican  ticket  and  elected 
clerk  of  courts  for  Montgomery  county.  Al- 
though the  county  was  strongly  democratic 
Maj.  Bowles  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket  upwards 
of  1,500  votes.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  was 
re-nominated  and  re-elected  to  this  office, 
again  running  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  served 
as  clerk  longer  than  any  other  incumbent  of 
the  position,  owing  to  a  change  in  the  time  of 
taking  the  office,  his  service  covering  a  period 
of  six  years  and  six   months.      Since   that  time 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


943 


he  has  been  more  or  less  engaged  in  real-estate 
transactions,  as  well  as  in  other  enterprises. 
During  the  Cincinnati  riot  of  1884,  he  com- 
manded the  Fourth  regiment  of  militia,  having 
been  a  member  of  the  O.  N.  G. ,  for  two  years 
with  the  rank  of  major,  and  on  account  of 
services  rendered  during  that  exciting  period 
was  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  regiment,  O.  N.  G. 

Maj.  Bowles  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  having  been  Josephine  Wolf,  of  Mi- 
amisburg,  and  his  present  wife,  Charlotte  A., 
daughter  of  James  C.  and  Susannah  (Mullen- 
dore)  Emley,  of  Miami  township;  to  this  second 
marriage  have  been  born  two  children:  J. 
Edmund  and  Daisy  M.  Maj.  Bowles  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a 
member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M., 
and  G.  A.  R.,  having  been  the  organizer  and 
first  post  commander  of  Al  Mason  post,  G.  A. 
R. ,  of  Miamisburg.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Union  Veteran  Legion,  of  Dayton;  of  the 
order  of  K.  of  P.,  and  of  uniform  rank,  K.  of 
P.,  and  served  as  deputy  grand  chancellor  of 
Ohio  K.  of  P.  under  Grand  Chancellor  Her- 
bert W.  Lewis,  in  1893.  He  served  as  aid 
on  Gen.  -Wagner's  staff,  Ohio  brigade,  from 
1894  to  1896,  when  he  was  appointed  aid-de- 
camp on  the  staff  of  Gen.  J.  C.  Howes,  who 
succeeded  Gen.  Wagner. 

Politically,  Maj.  Bowles  has  always  been 
an  active  worker  in  the  interests  of  the  repub- 
lican party.  He  is  at  this  time  a  member  of 
several  charitable  committees  of  the  county. 
In  his  business  and  official  life  he  has  accumu- 
lated a  competency,  and  now  occupies  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  homes  in  the  city,  situated 
on  East  Linden  avenue.  Maj.  Bowles  is  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  citizens 
of  the  community  in  which  he  lives,  and  his 
official  career  has  given  him  an  extensive  ac- 
quaintance, not  only  in  his  county  but 
throughout  the  state. 


38 


>j*OSEPH  BRANDT,  one  of  the  most  sub- 
m  stantial  farmers  of  Madison  township, 
/•  J  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  October  6,  1842, 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Nancy  (Bachman)  Brandt. 
Joseph  Brandt,  Sr.,  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  state  and  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
was  of  German  descent,  and  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. On  attaining  manhood  he  married 
Mrs.  Nancy  Neisley,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Bachman,  and  who,  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage with  Mr.  Brandt,  was  the  widow  of  Mar- 
tin Neisley,  to  whom  she  had  borne  four  chil- 
dren— Daniel,  Christian,  Peter,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  forty-five  years,  and  Anna,  who 
died  young.  After  her  union  with  Mr.  Brandt 
she  became  the  mother  of  two  children — 
Joseph  and  Fannie.  Joseph  Brandt,  Sr. ,  died 
when  forty-five  years  old,  a  life-long  and  de- 
voted member  of  the  Mennonite  church. 

Joseph  Brandt,  whose  name  introduces 
this  biographical  notice,  was  reared  to  the 
business  of  milling  in  his  native  county,  where 
he  passed  his  early  manhood,  working  at  his 
calling  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  located  at  Stillwater.  Here 
he  was  employed  in  a  nouring-mill  for  seven 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Piatt  county,  111., 
where  he  worked  as  a  miller  for  two  years, 
finally  returning  to  the  mill  at  Stillwater  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Here,  December 
6,  1870,  Mr.  Brandt  married  Miss  Sarah  Kin- 
sey,  who  was  born  April  7,  1847,  m  Randolph 
township,  Montgomery  county,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Ananias  Frantz,  this  having 
been  the  old  homestead  of  her  parents,  Jacob 
and  Susan  (Boyer)  Kinsey.  For  three  years 
after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brandt  lived 
on  the  old  Kinsey  homestead,  one  and  a  half 
miles  south  of  Salem,  and  then  moved  to  Mad- 
ison township,  and  in  1884  bought  their  pres- 
ent farm  of  103  acres,  which  Mr.  Brandt  has 
thoroughly  improved  and  placed  in  a  state  of 


944 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


high  cultivation.  The  only  child  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brandt  was  a  daughter,  Olive,  who 
is  married  to  Irvin  P.  Hire,  real-estate  dealer 
of  Dayton,  and  is  now  the  mother  of  one  child, 
Mabel  Lenore. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brandt  are  conscientious 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church  and 
faithfully  observe  its  simple  teachings  but  rigid 
discipline.  In  politics  Mr.  Brandt  is  a  repub- 
lican, but  has  never  sought  office,  preferring 
to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  pri- 
vate affairs,  which  have  gained  him  a  fair 
competence  and  in  the  pursuit  of  which  he  has 
won  the  respect  of  his  neighbors. 


KENRY  P.  BREHM,  a  well-known 
and  popular  citizen  of  Miamisburg, 
and  foreman  of  David  Groby's  plan- 
ing mill,  was  born  in  Miami  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  February  10, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Leis) 
Brehm,  natives  of  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  but  who  came  to  Ohio  in  1837,  settling 
in  Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
where  Mr.  Brehm  engaged  in  farming.  This 
occupation  he  followed  until  1884,  when  he 
removed  to  Miamisburg,  where  he  died  April 
21,  1895,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  His  par- 
ents were  Henry  and  Christiana  (Bumgardner) 
Brehm,  who  were  both  of  German  parentage. 
Henry  and  Mary  (Leis)  Brehm  were  the  par- 
ents of  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom  grew 
to  mature  years,  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Jacob  Anspach;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Henry 
Paff;  George;  Catherine,  wife  of  Joshua  Null; 
Mary,  wife  of  John  P.  Weaver;  Wilhelmina, 
wife  of  Jacob  Baver;  Sarah,  wife  of  Henry 
Leis;  Margaret,  wife  of  Jacob  Miller;  Henry 
P.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  John  \V. 

Henry  P.  Brehm  was  reared  in  Miami 
township  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the   township,    and    in    the    public 


schools  at  Miamisburg.  When  he  was  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age  he  left  the  farm  and  has 
since  resided  in  Miamisburg,  where  he  has 
been  employed  in  the  planing  mill  of  David 
Groby  and  has  been  foreman  since  1877.  In 
1869  he  married  Sarah  C.  Groby,  daughter  of 
David  and  Eliza  (Warner)  Groby,  of  Miamis- 
burg, and  has  one  son,  Howard  B. 

Mr.  Brehm  is  a  member  of  the  First  Re- 
formed church,  and  has  occupied  high  posi- 
tions in  the  various  fraternal  organizations  of 
which  he  is  a  member.  He  is  past  grand  of 
Marion  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  past  chief 
patriarch  of  the  Odd  Fellows  encampment. 
He  is  past  chancellor  of  Miamisburg  lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  is  a  member  of  canton 
Groby,  and  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  and 
is  also  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  republican,  and  as  such  was  elected 
to  the  city  council  of  Miamisburg  in  1S94, 
showing  himself  in  the  service  of  the  public  to 
be  greatly  and  effectively  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  place.  Mr.  Brehm  has  won  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  men  of  all  parties  by 
his  faithful  discharge  of  his  official  duties. 


>tjOSEPH  ALFRED  BROWN,  M.  D., 
■  a  successful  physician  and  surgeon  of 
A  J  Germantown,  was  born  in  Camden, 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  January  19,  1855, 
a  son  of  William  and  Mary  A.  (Beall)  Brown, 
and  comes  of  Quaker  stock.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  of  English  extraction,  his  ancestors 
having  settled  in  New  Jersey  prior  to  the  Rev- 
olution. On  the  maternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  decent,  his  ancestor,  the  Rev.  Gideon 
Beall,  a  distinguished  Covenanter,  having  left 
Scotland  on  account  of  religious  persecution, 
and  settled  near  Washington,  D.  C„  in  the 
adjacent  suburb  of  Georgetown,  which  was 
named  in  honor  of  his  son,  George  Beall. 

Dr.  Joseph  A.  Brown  was  reared  and  edu- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


945 


cated  in  his  native  county,  and  in  1873  began 
the  study  of  medicine;  he  was  graduated  from 
the  Medical  college  of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  in 
187S,  and  at  once  located  at  Germantown, 
Ohio,  where  he  has  attained  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice.  He  married  March  5,  1878, 
Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Sarah 
(Zitzer)  Singer,  of  Lewisburg,  Ohio,  and  has 
two  children,  Edna  and  Helen. 

Dr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Medical  association,  the  Ohio  state  Medical 
society,  the  Mississippi  valley  Medical  society, 
and  the  Montgomery  county  Medical  society. 
He  was  a  delegate  from  the  state  of  Ohio  to 
the  American  Medical  association  in  1892,  is 
a  Scottish  rite  Mason,  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  encampment,  patriarchs  militant,  and  K. 
of  P.      Politically,  he  is  a  republican. 

The  doctor  has  contributed  many  papers  of 
value  to  the  various  medical  fraternities  to 
which  he  belongs,  and  some  of  his  professional 
essays  have  met  with  decided  approbation  for 
their  originality  and  strength. 


ORVON  GRAFF  BROWN,  president 
of  Twin  Valley  college  and  Miami 
Military  institute,  Germantown,  Ohio, 
was,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  the 
youngest  college  president  in  the  country.  He 
was  born  in  Greensburg,  Westmoreland  coun- 
ty, Penn.,  July  1,  1863,  within  sound  of  the 
cannons  at  Gettysburg.  His  father,  Rev.  W. 
Kennedy  Brown,  D.  D.,  of  Fayette  county, 
Penn.,  is  a  descendant  of  the  Chester  county 
(Penn.)  George  Brown  (Gentleman),  of  colo- 
nial times.  His  grandmother  Brown  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Adam  de  Saltsburg,  of  Bavaria, 
who  joined  with  William  the  Conqueror  at  the 
battle  of  Hastings.  His  mother,  Martha  Mc- 
Clellan  Brown,  LL.  D.,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  is 
a  direct  descendant  of  the  Scotch  Clan  Mc- 
Clellan.      She  founded  the  National   Woman's 


Christian  Temperance  union  at  Chautauqua, 
in  August,  1874 — a  movement  of  historic  in- 
terest and  moment.  Orvon  Graff  Brown  was 
well  taught  at  an  early  age,  although  he  was 
not  placed  in  school  until  nine  years  old.  At 
thirteen  he  began  to  evince  a  decided  talent 
for  scientific  experiment,  and  to  take  great  in- 
terest in  collecting  in  his  own  room  practical 
appliances  in  chemistry,  physics  and  electric- 
ity. His  parents  encouraged  his  tastes,  giv- 
ing him,  in  succession,  the  advantages  of 
Mount  Union  college;  special  school,  Pittsburg; 
university  of  Cincinnati;  and  Denver  univer- 
sity, as  well  as  private  instructions  under 
specialists  in  the  east.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  was  elected  professor  of  science  in  the 
Cincinnati  Wesleyan  college,  where  he  made 
a  successful  record  as  instructor,  and  as  invent- 
or of  apparatus  for  class  experiments.  He 
had  always  taken  great  interest  in  the  sciences 
of  geology  and  conchology,  and  made  at  this 
time  a  very  large  and  valuable  collection  of 
specimens.  When  about  twenty-two  years  of 
age  he  projected  the  Twin  Valley  college  (so 
named  from  its  location  in  the  Twin  valley,  an 
arm  of  the  Miami  valley),  and  on  February  4, 
1886,  five  months  after  his  twenty-third  birth- 
day, he  was  elected  its  president,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds. 

In  January,  1894,  Prof.  Brown  organized 
the  Miami  Military  institute,  as  a  preparatory 
school  of  Twin  Valley  college.  This  school 
practically  demonstrates  his  theory  that  indi- 
vidual instruction  is  essential  to  the  building  of 
manhood.  Class-work  and  group  instructions 
are  necessarily  mechanical  and  inefficient.  No 
two  students'  powers  are  alike  and  like  results 
should  not  be  sought  from  diverse  powers  or 
gifts.  He  recognizes  four  sides  to  every  manly 
structure,  the  moral,  physicial,  mental  and 
social;  and  erecting  these  according  to  their 
original  strength,  he  develops  a  scientific  man- 
hood.     Like  a  scientific  work,  his  method  ap- 


946 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


peals  to  common  sense.  Hence  his  experi- 
ment, which  has  been  so  successful,  is  now 
being  adopted  by  other  teachers  and  schools. 
This  method,  however,  cannot  be  applied  in 
very  large  schools,  as  in  them  it  is  manifestly 
impossible  to  study  each  student  separately 
and  to  cultivate  him  personally — and  the  ulti- 
mate personality  is  the  measure  of  his  indi- 
vidual manhood. 

Prof.  Brown  married,  April  5,  1887,  Miss 
Lulu  Reed,  of  Germantown,  Ohio.  She  is  a 
granddaughter  of  the  late  Samuel  Reed,  a 
pioneer  of  Montgomery  county,  and  through 
her  mother  (Martha  Zeller)  she  is  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Capt.  John  C.  Negley,  and  also  of 
Bishop  Andrew  Zeller  (of  the  United  Brethren 
church),  both  of  whom  have  contributed  to 
the  history  of  Montgomery  county.  The  chil- 
dren of  Orvon  Graff  Brown  and  wife  are  Reed 
McClellan  (born  January  28,  1888),  Samuel 
Kennedy  (born  December  2,  1890),  and  Mil- 
dred (born  May  28,  1894). 

Prof.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  has  served  as  an  official 
member  and  lay  delegate  to  the  annual  and  the 
lay  conferences  of  his  denomination  ever  since 
he  has  resided  in  the  community. 


lS~\  EV.    JESSE     K.    BRUMBAUGH,    a 

I  /^     leading  minister  of  the   German  Bap- 

P    tist  church,  with   which  he   united  in 

about    1865,  and  became    a   minister 

in    1880,    is   a    native   of   Randolph   township, 

Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and   a  grandson  of 

one  of  its  original  pioneers. 

Jacob  Brumbaugh,  great-grandfather  of 
subject,  it  is  surmised,  came  from  Germany, 
and  William  Brumbaugh,  grandfather  of  Rev. 
Jesse  K. ,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  a 
farmer,  married  a  Miss  Martin,  and  of  his  chil- 
dren the  names  of  the  following  are  remem- 
bered:  John,  William,    David,    Daniel,    Jacob 


and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cripe,  of  Clinton  county, 
Ind.  He  came  to  Ohio  with  his  family  about 
1805,  and  settled  near  Amity,  Montgomery 
county,  being  one  of  the  first  pioneers  and  set- 
tlers in  this  section,  where  he  cleared  up  a  farm 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  its  cul- 
tivation, dying  in  the  faith  of  the  German 
Baptist  church. 

Jacob  Brumbaugh,  father  of  the  Rev.  Jesse 
K.,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1794,  being 
eleven  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Ohio  by 
his  father.  He  was  reared  on  the  pioneer 
farm,  and  developed  marked  mechanical  in- 
genuity, being  a  good  carpenter,  blacksmith, 
shoemaker  and  tailor.  He  was  a  most  valua- 
ble man  in  a  new  settlement,  being  physically 
very  strong,  and,  at  the  raising  of  the  log  cabins 
of  that  day,  was  always  placed  at  the  corner, 
as  he  was  able  to  form  a  straight  joint  and  a 
true  right  angle  and  was  very  expert  with  the 
ax,  that  most  indispensable  tool  of  the  pioneer. 

Jacob  Brumbaugh  married  Miss  Catherine 
Wogaman,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1794,  and  after  marriage  settled  on  land  now 
owned  by  Rev.  Jesse  K.,  but  adjoining  the 
present  residence  of  the  latter  on  the  south. 
This  farm  contained  eighty-six  acres,  all  in  for- 
est, and  had  been  entered  by  John  Brumbaugh, 
brother  of  Jacob.  This  tract  Jacob  Brum- 
baugh cleared  up  thoroughly,  improving  it  at 
first  with  a  log  dwelling,  and  finally  converting 
it  into  a  fertile  farm,  upon  which  he  erected  a 
more  comfortable  residence.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brumbaugh  were  ten  in 
number  and  were  named  Elizabeth,  John, 
Jacob,  Samuel,  Mary,  David,  Noah,  Abraham, 
Jesse  K. ,  and  Daniel — the  last  named  dying  at 
the  age  of  seven  years. 

Jacob  Brumbaugh  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  and  was  possessed  of 
strong  religious  convictions.  Highly  intelli- 
gent and  of  an  observing  and  contemplative 
temperament,  he  won    the   respect  of   all  with 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


947 


whom  he  had  either  personal  or  business  rela- 
tions. His  reputation  for  integrity  was  with- 
out a  blemish,  and  it  was  well  said  of  him  that 
"his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond."  With 
a  foresight  inherent  in  his  nature,  he  bought 
at  an  early  day  400  acres  of  land  in  Elkhart 
county,  Ind. ,  near  Goshen,  and  this  property 
he  gave  to  his  sons;  he  also  owned  240.  acres 
on  the  Plymouth  road,  in  the  same  county,  and 
at  his  death,  May  11,  1881,  was  well  able  to 
provide  for  all  his  children,  who  remember  him 
with  a  well-deserved  affection  and  regret. 

Rev.  Jesse  K.  Brumbaugh  was  born  August 
26,  1837,  on  the  old  Randolphtownship  home- 
stead, and  has  passed  all  his  days  on  this  farm 
and  the  one  adjoining.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  school  of  his  district  and  at  a 
normal  school  in  Dayton,  and  began  teaching 
school  in  1858.  He  taught  in  Phillipsburg, 
Montgomery  county,  for  about  six  years,  in  his 
own  township  seven  years,  and  also  in  Miami 
county,  his  entire  experience  in  this  work  cov- 
ering the  period  of  fourteen  years.  December 
4,  1862,  he  married  Miss  Mary  K.  Hocker, 
who  was  born  two  miles  east  of  Salem,  Febru- 
ary 18,  1 84 1 ,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  and 
Catherine  (Sterling)  Hocker.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  of  German 
descent,  was  a  farmer,  came  to  Ohio  in  1S39, 
and  settled  on  230  acres  of  land  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  died  in  1867,  aged  over  sev- 
enty-nine years,  a  member  and  minister  of  the 
River  Brethren  church,  and  greatly  respected 
as  a  pioneer  and  useful  citizen.  His  children, 
born  in  the  following  order,  were  Adam, 
Anna,  Catherine,  Christian,  John  and  Mary  K. 

After  marriage  Rev.  Jesse  K.  Brumbaugh 
lived  on  the  old  homestead  until  1867,  when 
he  moved  to  a  farm  of  his  own,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  the  previous  year.  This  farm 
then  contained  sixty  acres,  to  which  he  added 
twenty-one,  also  purchasing  the  interesl  of  the 
heirs  in  the  old  homestead,  so   that  to-day  he 


owns  and  cultivates  a  farm  of  166  acres. 
Thrift  and  industry  have  brought  to  him  a  gen- 
erous measure  of  prosperity  and  success. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brumbaugh  have  been 
born  ten  children:  Granville  W. ,  Noah  J., 
Emma,  Jennie  and  Alice,  all  now  living,  and 
five  who  died  young.  Politically  Mr.  Brum- 
baugh, while  not  an  active  partisan,  is  in 
sympathy  with  and  supports  the  republican 
party.  His  children  are  all  well  educated: 
Noah  J.  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard  university, 
is  now  at  Hiilsboro,  Ohio,  a  teacher;  Gran- 
ville W.,  who  is  a  teacher  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
district,  is  a  young  man  of  high  culture,  having 
been  graduated  from  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  col- 
lege, has  been  superintendent  of  the  Randolph 
schools  and  principal  of  the  Brookville  schools, 
married  Lizzie  M.  Miller,  and  is  the  father  of 
three  children:  Glenn  M. ,  Paul  N.  and  Em- 
erson Webster.  Miss  Jennie  Brumbaugh  grad- 
uated from  the  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  college, 
June  18,   1896. 

The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Jesse  K.  Brum- 
baugh was  a  farmer  of  Pennsylvania,  lived  in 
Harrisburg,  and  reared  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, named  Adam,  George,  Jacob,  Benjamin, 
John  and  Anna,  all  of  whom  reached  matur- 
ity and  became  useful  members  of  society. 


>-j»OHN  BUEHNER  (deceased),  formerly 
■  a  well-known  contractor  and  builder  of 
f»  J  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Muehl- 
heim,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1807,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven- 
teen children.  He  passed  through  the  course 
of  study  of  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place  with  honor  and  credit,  and  afterward 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  several  years  at  the 
stonecutter's  and  mason's  trades  in  the  city 
of  Sulz.  On  May  26,  1832,  he  emigrated  to 
America,  having  traveled  on  foot  from  his  old 
home  to  the  seaport  of  Bremen,  where  he  was 


948 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


detained  almost  a  month  waiting  to  obtain 
passage  on  board  a  ship  for  the  new  world. 
After  a  rough  voyage  of  seventy-one  days,  he 
landed  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  September  3,  where 
he  found  the  Asiatic  cholera  prevailing  to  such 
an  extent  that  business  was  at  a  standstill,  and 
he  at  once  started  on  foot  for  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
only  to  find  that  the  dread  disease  had  made 
its  appearance  before  his  arrival.  Being  un- 
able to  obtain  a  night's  lodging  on  account  of 
the  unwillingness  of  the  people  to  receive  a 
stranger,  he  made  his  way  to  Germantown, 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment, remaining  there  until  the  spring  of 
1834.  He  then  removed  to  Miamisburg,  where 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  business  as  a  stone- 
mason, and  in  brick-laying,  contracting  and 
building,  up  to  1870,  when  he  retired,  turning 
over  his  business  to  his  eldest  and  youngest 
sons,  John  and  Frank.  Mr.  Buehner  was 
also  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick,  and  during  his  business  career 
erected  nearly  all  the  principal  buildings  in 
Miamisburg  and  vicinity.  His  wife,  Louisa, 
was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Peter  Dechant,  a  Ger- 
man Reformed  minister,  and  to  her  he  was 
married  November  rS,  1835  ;  she  bore  him 
eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity: 
John  M.,  George  H.,  Catherine  (Mrs.  John 
Pressler),  Charles,  Peter  D.,  Franklin  P., 
Candice  (Mrs.  George  Loesch),  Oletta  (Mrs. 
Albert  Zimmerman),  and  Anna.  In  politics 
Mr.  Buehner  was  originally  a  democrat,  but, 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  war, 
joined  the  republican  party,  with  whom  he  af- 
filiated up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
born  and  bred  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  and  died 
February  14,  1896,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year. 
Charles  Buehner,  son  of  John  and  Louisa 
(Dechant)  Buehner,  was  born  in  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  January  3,  1847,  and  here  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  received  a  public  school  educa- 
tion.     He  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  and 


a  half  years  at  the  machinist's  trade  with  D. 
H.  Hoover  &  Son,  and  in  1866  went  to  Cen- 
tralia,  111.,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Illi- 
nois Central  railroad  company  for  six  years. 
In  1872  he  returned  to  Miamisburg  and  worked 
for  Hoover  &  Gamble,  and  the  Miamisburg 
Cutlery  company,  up  to  1878  ;  from  1878  to 
1880  he  was  with  the  Woodsdale  Paper  com- 
pany, Woodsdale,  Ohio,  having  charge  of  their 
engine  and  machine  department  ;  in  1880  he 
located  at  Franklin,  where  he  was  employed 
four  years  by  the  Franklin  Paper  company, 
and  in  1884  embarked  in  business  for  himself 
in  general  job  work  as  a  machinist,  in  which 
he  has  since  successfully  continued. 

He  married  December  13,  1868,  Fannie 
Craig,  of  Centralia,  111.,  and  has  six  children 
living  :  Grace,  Minnie,  Carl,  Edna,  Robb, 
and  Fannie.  Mr.  Buehner  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  is  a  R.  A.  M. ,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  In  politics  he  is  a  re- 
publican, and  has  served  one  term  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  of  Franklin,  and  one 
term  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  As  a 
business  man  his  name  stands  without  a  blem- 
ish, and  as  a  citizen  he  holds  the  respect  of 
the  entire  community  in  which  he  resides. 


? 


ACOB  FREDERICK  BUEHNER,  who 
is  a  prominent  citizen  and  business  man 
of  Miamisburg,  was  born  on  the  Atlan- 
tic ocean,  May  20,  1847.  He  is  a  son 
cf  John  Martin  and  Christiana  (Guhl)  Buehner, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1847,  land- 
ing at  New  York  June  27,  from  Muehlheim, 
ober  amt  Sulz,  Wurtemberg.  They  arrived 
in  Toledo,  Ohio,  July  4,  having  journeyed  from 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  by  railroad  and  by  boat  on 
Lake  Erie,  reaching  Miamisburg,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  on  July  8,  1847. 

John  Martin    Buehner  was  a  son  of  John 
Frederick  Buehner  and  Anna  Catherine  Zeller, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


949 


his  wife.  The  former  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1858,  located  in  Miamisburg,  and 
died  while  on  a  visit  to  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
September  2,  1859.  He  was  born  May  15, 
1778,  and  was  at  his  death  in  his  eighty-first 
year.  He  was  the  father  of  seventeen  children, 
four  of  whom  came  to  the  United  States,  viz: 
John  (now  deceased),  in  1832;  Mary,  deceased 
wife  of  John  Schlotterbeck,  who  came  in  1847; 
John  Martin,  father  of  the  subject,  who,  as 
related  above,  came  to  this  country  in  1847, 
and  is  now  deceased;  and  Annie,  now  de- 
ceased, who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1858. 
John  M.  Buehner  was  a  carpenter,  and  fol- 
lowed that  trade  and  also  tobacco  raising  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Christiana  (Meyer)  Guhl, 
of  Germany,  and  bore  him  eleven  children,  of 
whom  eight  grew  to  mature  years,  as  follows: 
Ann  E.,  wife  of  Frederick  Gunter;  Mary  M. , 
wife  of  John  Schneider;  Jacob  F. ;  Mary  L., 
wife  of  Henry  Betz;  Catherine,  wife  of  Henry 
Schneider;  Christiana,  wife  of  Charles  O. 
Schuster;  Amanda  M.  and  Otto. 

Jacob  Frederick  Buehner  was  reared  in 
Miamisburg,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  began  life  for  himself,  on  attaining  his 
majority,  as  a  molder,  learning  his  trade  with 
D.  H.  Hoover  &  Son.  He  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  two  and  a  half  years,  and  continued 
to  follow  the  trade  until  December  28,  1874. 
On  January  3,  1876,  he  embarked  in  the  res- 
taurant business,  and  has  ever  since  then  been 
thus  successfully  engaged.  His  property  is 
one  of  the  finest  in  Miamisburg.  Mr.  Buehner 
was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  stockholders 
of  the  Miamisburg  Mowing  Machine  company, 
and  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Mays 
&  Buehner,  dealers  in  shoes,  in  Miamisburg, 
since  1892. 

Mr.  Buehner  was  married  August  19,  1869, 
to  Catherine  Schneider,  daughter  of  Henry 
and    Dorothea    (Schmerz)    Schneider,    of    the 


province  of  Hesse-Cassel,.  Germany.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  born  six  children,  as 
follows:  John  Henry;  John  F.,  deceased; 
Mary  M.,  deceased;  Amanda  C.  ;  Katie  E., 
deceased;  and  Otto  M.  Mr.  Buehner  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  the  Ger- 
man order  of  Harugari,  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  He  has  served  as  district  deputy 
and  representative  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the 
state  of  Ohio  of  the  latter  order.  Politically 
he  is  a  democrat,  and  is  a  citizen  of  most  ex- 
cellent and  admirable  qualities. 


OTTO     BUEHNER,     the    well-known 
shoe  dealer  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  that  place,   and  was  born 
January  12,  1S61,  a  son  of  John  Mar- 
tin and. Christiana  (Guhl)  Buehner,  whose  gen- 
ealogy will   be  found  in  the  biography  of  J.  F. 
Buehner  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Buehner  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Miamisburg,  and  here  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  which  he  has  followed  since  1876.  He 
became  manager  for  Mr.  Mays  in  the  shoe 
business  in  1892,  and  in  1894  bought  an  inter- 
est in  the  concern,  and  since  that  date  the 
firm  name  has  been  Mays  &  Buehner. 

Mr.  Buehner  was  united  in  marriage,  De- 
cember 31,  1889,  with  Miss  Charlotte  L. 
Wachter,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Hannah 
(Scheible)  Wachter,  of  Springboro,  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  but  formerly  of  Germany.  One 
child,  named  John  F.  Buehner.  has  been  born  to 
this  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buehner  are  de- 
voted members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr. 
Buehner  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  also  a 
member  of  the  D.  O.  H.  and  A.  O.  U.  W. 
In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

Mr.  Buehner  has  always  been  an  indus- 
trious man  and  upright  in  all   his  dealings;  he 


950 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


is  a  skillful  workman  and  possessed  of  excellent 
business  qualities.  .  In  all  the  walks  of  life  he 
has  been  discreet  and  conservative  and  has 
thereby  won  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
Although  thrifty  he  is  yet  liberal  in  all  things, 
and  is  prompt  in  his  aid  to  school  and  church  and 
to  the  fraternities  to  which  he  gives  adherence, 
as  well  as  to  all  projects  designed  to  benefit 
the  people  of  his  city  and  township. 

Mrs.  Buehner's  father,  John  C.  Wachter, 
was  born  in  Rodendorf,  Bavaria,  Germany, 
April  25,  1  8  17;  came  to  America  in  1846,  lo- 
cating in  New  York  city,  and  in  May,  1853, 
seitled  in  Springboro,  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade. 
He  died  there  November  26,  1891.  His  wife 
died  March  19,  1893. 


K^\  OBERT  W.  BURNS,  the  affable  and 
■  /^    energetic  secretary  of  the  Friend  Pa- 
¥    per  &  Tablet  company,  of  West  Car- 
rollton,    Montgomery   county,    Ohio, 
was  born  in  Lewistown,    Mifflin  county,  Pa., 
March  1,  1861,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Angeline 
(Major)    Burns.     The    paternal    grandfather, 
Hugh  Burns,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and 
was  a  farmer   near   Lewistown;   the   maternal 
grandfather,    Peacock     Major,    was    a    hotel- 
keeper  at  Lewistown  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  in  the  war  of    1812   took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Lake  Erie,  under  Com.  Perry. 

Robert  W.  Burns,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography,  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive city  and  educated  in  its  public  schools. 
In  1 88 1  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  for  seven  years 
filled  the  position  of  correspondent  for  S.  J. 
Patterson,  coal  dealer  at  Dayton.  In  1888  he 
formed  a  partnership  in  West  Carrollton  with 
Samuel  Johnson,  under  the  style  of  the  Amer- 
ican Tablet  company,  and  did  a  successful 
business  until  1894,  when  the  American  Tablet 
company  was  consolidated  with  the  George  H. 


Friend  Paper  cS;  Tablet  company.  Since  then 
the  concern  has  maintained  a  prosperous  trade 
under  its  present  title,  and  in  this  Mr.  Burns, 
as  its  secretary,  has  been  no  small  factor. 

Mr.  Burns  was  united  in  wedlock  October 
12,  1886,  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Williamson, 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  A.  (Jacobs) 
Williamson,  well  known  residents  of  Fairfield, 
Greene  count)',  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  four 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  James  F., 
Angeline,  Robert  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Burns  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  are  liberal  in  their  con- 
tributions toward  its  support,  as  well  as  to  the 
support  of  all  worthy  institutions  designed  for 
the  public  good.  In  politics  Mr.  Burns  is  a 
republican,  but  has  never  been  an  office 
seeker.  Fraternally  he  is  a  royal  arch  Mason, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Burns  is  quite  prominent  as  a  citizen 
of  West  Carrollton,  and  is  foremost  in  every 
enterprise  promising  to  advance  the  prosperity 
of  his  adopted  town,  which  has  become, 
largely  through  his  push  and  energy,  one  of 
the  prettiest,  as  well  as  most  thriving,  little 
hamlets  of  Montgomery  county. 


HBRAHAM  K.  BURTNER,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Germantown,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Mad  River 
township,  in  the  same  county,  June 
8,  1839,  a  son  °f  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Kemp) 
Burtner,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Mary- 
land, respectively.  His  paternal  grandparents, 
George  and  Catherine  (Hoke)  Burtner,  origi- 
nally of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  settled  in  Mad 
River  township  in  1828,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Their  children  were  Henry,  George, 
John,  Jacob,  Joseph,  Catherine  (Mrs.  Joseph 
Peffler)  and  Fanny  (Mrs.  Jacob  Kumler). 

Jacob  Burtner  of  the  above  family,  and  fa- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


951 


ther  of  Abraham  K.,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  in  1808,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Mad  River  township  in  1828.  He  was 
a  farmer,  and  in  1845  removed  to  Preble 
county,  and  thence  to  Germantown  in  1868, 
where  he  died  May  7,  1886.  His  children 
were  Julia  (Mrs.  Matthew  Coffman),  Lucinda 
(Mrs.  William  Zehring),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Aaron 
Zehring),  Abraham  K.,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Joshua, 
and  Francis. 

Abraham  K.  Burtner  was  reared  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  from  eight  years  of  age,  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  common  schools,  and  in  1861 
began  the  work  of  life  as  a  farmer  in  Jefferson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  where  he  lived 
two  and  one-half  years,  then  removed  to  Ger- 
man township  and  engaged  in  farming  until 
1868,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  Germantown.  He  married,  August  8,  1861, 
Sarah  C. ,  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Bruner)  Zeller,  of  Germantown,  and  has  five 
children — Emma,  Ida  (Mrs.  Rev.  W.  C. 
Mickey),  Carrie  (Mrs.  Dr.  F.  M.  Pottinger),  Ed- 
ward and  Myrta.  During  the  late  Civil  war 
Mr.  Burtner  was  a  member  of  company  F, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  100  days,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged.  Mr.  Burtner  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Politically  Mr.  Burtner  is  a  republican. 

Mr.  Burtner  has  prospered  in  life  through 
his  own  industry  and  skill,  and  is  well  deserv- 
ing of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by 
his  neighbors. 


HMOS    KENDALL   CLAY  (deceased), 
a   prominent   member  of  the  Mont- 
gomery   county    bar,    was     born     in 
Miamisburg,    Ohio,    May   9,    1847,    a 
son  of  Adam  and  Sophia  (Dubbs)  Clay,  natives, 
respectively,  of  Cumberland  and  Lehigh  coun- 
ties, Pa.      His  paternal  grandfather  was   one 


of  the  pioneers  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in 
which  county  he  lived  until  his  death.  After- 
ward his  family  removed  to  Saint  Mary's, 
Mercer  county,  Ohio.  His  maternal  grand- 
father, Daniel  Dubbs,  was  a  native  of  Lehigh 
county,  Pa.,  was  of  Swiss  descent,  and  set- 
tled in  Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
in  1836.  In  this  county  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  here  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life. 

Adam  Clay  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  November  12,  1819.  He 
was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  in  1832  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  locating  in  Wooster,  with  his 
father.  In  1839  ne  went  to  Saint  Mary's, 
Mercer  county,  Ohio;  in  1841  removed  to 
Dayton,  and  in  1842  to  Miamisburg,  where  he 
carried  on  the  shoe  business  until  1852,  when 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  From  this  time 
on  until  1885  he  continued  in  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  his  death  occurring 
June  25  in  that  year.  When  the  state  was 
keeping  up  a  militia  organization  he  was  cap- 
tain of  a  company.  In  1865  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  courts  of  the  United  States, 
and  was  a  delegate  to  the  constitutional  con- 
vention of  1873.  By  his  marriage  he  was  the 
father  of  the  following  children:  Amos  K., 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch,  and  Agnes, 
now  Mrs.  Frances  M.  Deardorff. 

Amos  K.  Clay  was  reared  in  his  native 
town  and  received  the  rudiments  of  his  educa- 
tion there.  Afterward  he  attended  Notre 
Dame  university  at  Notre  Dame,  Ind.;  studied 
law  with  his  father,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1868.  After  that  time  he  was  in  the 
active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Miamis- 
burg; met  with  unusual  success,  took  high 
rank  at  the  bar  of  his  native  county,  and  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competency  through  his 
known  ability  and  careful  attention  to  the  in- 
terests of  his  clients.  On  February  10,  1890, 
he    married    Etta    M.    Weaver,    daughter    of 


952 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Henry  and  Barbara  (Kauffman)  Weaver,  of 
Miamisburg.  To  this  marriage  there  was  born 
one  son,  Amos  W. 

Amos  Kendall  Clay  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  politics  a  democrat,  and 
by  appointment  served  as  city  attorney  of 
Miamisburg  for  many  years.  In  all  his  rela- 
tions with  his  fellow-men  he  observed  the  rules 
of  propriety  and  integrity,  and  as  a  result  was 
thoroughly  trusted  by  all  who  needed  the  serv- 
ices of  a  member  of  the  legal  profession.  Mr. 
Clay  was  called  from  earth  in  the  prime  of 
life  and  in  the  midst  of  useluluess.  Although 
up  to  nearly  his  final  hour  he  was  in  full  en- 
joyment of  perfect  health  and  bade  fair  to 
live  out  the  alotted  "three  score  and  ten 
years,"  on  the  14th  of  June,  1896,  he  died 
very  suddenly.  His  untimely  demise  cast  a 
gloom  over  the  whole  community,  and  his 
death  was  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 

In  early  manhood  Mr.  Clay  had  assumed 
an  enviable  place  among  the  members  of  his 
calling.  As  a  lawyer  and  counselor,  he  was 
recognized  as  capable,  faithful,  conscientious 
and  reliable.  As  a  man  and  citizen  none  stood 
higher  in  public  esteem  and  honor.  He  was 
unostentatious,  reserved  and  dignified — a  gen- 
tleman in  the  fullest  sense  of  that  term.  He 
was  exact  and  thoroughly  trustworthy  in  all  his 
business  and  professional  transactions. 

Mr.  Clay  was  baptized  in  his  youth.  In 
his  religious  convictions  he  was  a  believer  in 
evangelical  Christianity  and  paid  his  annual 
stipend  toward  the  support  of  the  church  of  his 
parents.  A  few  years  since  he  placed  a  memo- 
rial window  in  the  Reformed  church  in  Miam- 
isburg in  memory  of  his  father  and  mother. 

The  Montgomery  county  bar  association, 
at  his  decease,  met  in  the  court  room  at  Day- 
ton and  held  a  memorial  service  at  which 
were  passed  resolutions  of  commendation  and 
condolence.  The  pall  bearers,  selected  from 
the  bar  of  Montgomery  county,  were  as    fol- 


lows: Judge  Dennis  Dwyer,  Judge  W.  D. 
McKemy,  Oscar  M.  Gottschall  and  Judge  J. 
W.  Kreitzer.  The  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  resolutions  was  Judge  Elihu  Thompson. 
The  Masonic  fraternity,  through  their  commit- 
tee, consisting  of  Brothers  L.  H.  Zehring,  N. 
J.  Catrow  and  M.  G.  Bohn,  also  submitted 
appropriate  resolutions,  couched  in  tender  and 
feeling  terms  indicative  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  their  departed  brother  was  held. 


<>^V  EWTON  J.  CATROW.— The  pro- 
M  genitor  of  the  Catrow  family  in  Amer- 
r  ica  was  Charles  Catrow.  He  was  a 
native  of  Holland,  but  of  French 
descent,  and  in  early  manhood  came  to  this 
country.  Settling  in  Frederick  county,  Md., 
he  there  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children,  as 
follows  :  Charles,  George,  Jacob,  Joseph, 
Michael,  Peter,  Sallie,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Han- 
nan  and  Ann.  He  lived  in  that  county  until 
his  death  in  1793. 

Peter  Catrow,  the  sixth  child,  was  born 
March  1,  1781,  and  December  25,  1803,  settled 
in  Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio.  Marrying 
in  1805,  he,  the  same  year,  settled  in  Madison 
township,  Butler  county,  where  he  purchased 
160  acres  of  land  in  what  was  then  an  un- 
broken wilderness.  This  land  he  cleared  and 
improved  and  lived  upon  it  until  within  a  few 
years  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Sunbury, 
Ohio,  July  4,  1852.  His  family  consisted  of 
five  children,  as  follows  :  Zephaniah,  George 
C,  Middleton,  Catherine  and  Nancy.  All  of 
the  brothers  and  sisters  of  Peter  Catrow  were 
pioneers  of  Butler  and  Montgomery  counties, 
Ohio,  and  all  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age  in  the 
two  counties  mentioned. 

George  C.  Catrow,  second  son  of  Peter  and 
Christiania  (Loy)  Catrow,  and  their  only  sur- 
viving child,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Butler  county,    Ohio,    October    10,   1814,  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


953 


there  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  resided 
until  1856,  in  the  meantime  teaching  school' 
for  many  years.  In  the  last-named  year  he 
removed  to  Dayton,  where  he  was  employed 
as  clerk  in  the  offices  of  the  county  clerk  and 
county  recorder  for  several  years.  In  1886  he 
removed  to  Miamisburg,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  married  Mary  A.  Crider,  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Crider,  of  German  township, 
Montgomery  county,  and  their  children  were 
born  in  the  following  order:  Silas  P.,  de- 
ceased; William  R. ;  Newton  J.;  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  John  Selby. 

Newton  Jason  Catrow,  third  child  of  George 
C.  and  Mary  A.  (Crider)  Catrow,  was  born  on 
the  old  Catrow  homestead  in  Butler  county, 
April  24,  1845.  He  attained  to  manhood  in 
his  native  county,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  afterward  in  Greer's 
Commercial  college,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1866.  Locating  in  Miamisburg  in 
1858,  he  was  there  employed  as  clerk  in  the 
dry-goods  store  of  William  Huff  &  Son  for 
seven  years.  In  1866  he  entered  the  bank  of 
H.  Groby  &  Co.,  and  filled  the  position  of 
clerk  in  that  institution  until  1882,  when  he 
purchased  a  one-third  interest  in  the  bank.  In 
1886,  with  H.  Groby,  he  purchased  another 
third  interest,  and  the  bank  was  continued 
under  the  same  name  until  1888,  when  the 
First  National  bank  of  Miamisburg  was  organ- 
ized, the  bank  of  H.  Groby  &  Co.'  merged  into 
it,  and  Mr.  Catrow  elected  cashier  of  the  new 
bank.  This  position  he  held  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Groby,  April  19,  1891,  when  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  bank,  which  position 
he  still  occupies. 

In  addition  to  his  banking  interests,  Mr. 
Catrow  has  an  interest  in  the  lumber  and  coal 
firm  of  Grove  &  Catrow,  is  president  of  the 
Miamisburg  Twine  &  Cordage  company,  treas- 
urer of  the  Miamisburg  Paper  company,  and  is 
connected  with  the   Bookwalter  Wheel  com- 


pany, beside  being  concerned  in  various  other 
enterprises. 

In  1865  Mr.  Catrow  was  married  to  Melissa 
Groby,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Beck) 
Groby,  of  Miamisburg.  He  has  two  sons,  viz: 
Herbert  Groby,  a  graduate  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Military  college,  and  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Bartlett  &  Catrow,  of  Philadelphia, 
agents  for  European  steamships  and  directors 
of  foreign  tours;  and  Henry,  a  student  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Military  college.  Mr.  Catrow  is 
a  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  a 
Knight  Templar,  and  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason.  Politically,  he  is  a  republican,  and  in 
religious  affiliation  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 


EENRY    CRAUDER,   the  well-known 
farmer  and  tile   manufacturer  of  Ger- 
man township,    Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Hamilton  county, 
and  was   born   October   15,  1848,  of  German 
parentage. 

Jacob  Crauder,  his  father,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1 8 10,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
and  came  from  his  native  Germany  to  the 
United  States  in  1831.  For  a  few  years  he 
made  his  home  in  the  eastern  states,  but  later 
came  to  Ohio  and  located  near  Cincinnati, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  for  twenty  years, 
and  in  1855  came  to  Montgomery  county  and 
settled  in  German  township,  purchased  a  farm, 
and  here  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dy- 
ing April  12,  1 89 1.  He  had  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Dubler,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  seven  children,  of 
whom  six  grew  to  maturity,  viz:  Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  John  Myers;  Sophia,  now 
Mrs.  Cornelius  Michaels;  William  F.,  Jacob, 
Rebecca  and  Henry. 

Henry  Crauder  was  but  a  boy  of  some 
seven  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Montgom- 


5(54 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ery  county,  and  here,  from  that  age,  until  the 
present  time,  he  has  passed  his  life.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  German 
township,  and  began  life  as  a  farmer  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  where  he  lived  for  eighteen 
years.  He  then  returned  to  German  town- 
ship, and  in  1885  purchased  the  farm  of  twen- 
ty-three acres  on  which  he  now  resides,  en- 
gaged in  cultivating  the  soil  and  in  the  manu- 
facture of  tile.  In  this  latter  industry  he  has 
been  quite  prosperous,  and  is  equally  success- 
ful in  his  farming  operations. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Crauder  took  place 
in  1 87 1,  with  Miss  Ada  Hunter,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Matilda  (Boyer)  Hunter,  of  Jeffer- 
son township,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  twelve  children,  in  the  order  here  g'iven  : 
Lillie,  Theodore,  Clifford,  Annie,  Grigsby, 
Maud,  Chester,  Dona,  Victor,  Tillie,  Willie 
H.  and  Claude.  The  children  are  reared  in 
the  faith  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of 
which  the  parents  have  long  been  members. 

Mr.  Crauder,  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  has 
had  a  gratifying  business  career,  and  has  been 
a  useful  and  industrious  citizen.  His  success 
is  of  his  own  making,  and  his  standing  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  and  which  is  an 
enviable  one,  has  been  reached  through  his 
own  personal   qualities  and  merits. 


(D 


AJ.  ELIJAH  CULBERT,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  respected  citi- 
zens of  Madison  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  is  paternally 
of  Scotch  descent  and  maternally  springs  from 
Pennsylvania-German  ancestry. 

Elijah  Culbert,  father  of  the  major,  was  a 
native  of  New  York  state,  but  when  a  young 
man  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  clerk 
in  the  Washington  furnace,  at  Laurel  Hill,  in 
the  Alleghany  mountains.  He  married,  in 
Somerset  county,   Miss    Eva  Hicks,   a  native 


of  the  county  named,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
the  subject  of  this  biography.  Mr.  Culbert, 
at  the  early  age  of  twenty-two  years,  and  when 
his  son  was  but  fifteen  months  old,  met  with 
an  untimely  fate,  being  killed  by  a  falling  tim- 
ber in  the  furnace  while  superintending  some 
repairs.  He  was  a  well-educated  and  scholarly 
man,  and  his  death  was  deeply  deplored,  not 
only  by  his  young  widow,  but  by  his  employers 
and  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

Maj.  Culbert  was  born  in  Somerset,  Pa., 
March  1,  18 14,  and  the  log  house  in  which  he 
was  born  is  still  standing.  He  received  a  ru- 
dimentary education  in  the  common  schools, 
early  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  in 
1836,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-three 
years,  came  to  Ohio,  settled  in  Madison  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  and  voted  for  Gen. 
William  Henry  Harrison  for  the  presidency  of 
the  United  States  in  the  famous  log  cabin  and 
hard  cider  campaign.  September  25,  1838, 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Olinger,  of  Jefferson 
township,  born  August  13,  18 16,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  Olinger.  Mr.  Olinger  was  of 
German  descent,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  one  of  the  original  pioneers  of  Jeffer- 
son township,  where  he  cleared  up  a  farm 
from  the  forest,  on  which  he  ended  his  days. 
He  died  a  member  of  the  Dunkard  church  and 
a  respected  citizen,  and  there  were  left,  to 
mourn  his  sad  loss,  the  following  children: 
John,  Jacob,  David,  Elizabeth,  Barbara,  Mary, 
Nancy  and  Catherine. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culbert  lived  a 
year  with  the  wife's  father,  and  then,  in  1839, 
settled  in  Poast  Town,  where  Mr.  Culbert  en- 
gaged in  blacksmithing  on  his  own  account, 
prospered  and  erected  a  fine  residence,  in 
which  he  still  resides.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cul- 
bert were  born  five  children,  but  two  of  whom 
are  living — William  H.  and  Amanda.  Of  the 
younger  children,  Elijah  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-nine  years;  Jacob  at  ten,  and  Elizabeth 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


955 


at  the  age  of  six;  and  on  January  3,  1884,  Mr. 
Culbert  lost  his  beloved  wife,  she  dying  a 
devoted  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

As  early  as  i860,  Mr.  Culbert  was  enrolled 
in  the  Second  regiment,  Ohio  state  militia, 
and  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel,  but 
this  regiment  was  shortly  afterward  consoli- 
dated with  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
Ohio  national  guard,  and  when  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  at  the  opening  of 
the  Civil  war,  Col.  Culbert  was  reduced  in 
rank  to  major,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
100  days,  being  stationed  at  Baltimore  and 
Washington,  and  receiving  his  discharge  at 
Camp  Chase,  August  25,  1861.  The  major, 
however,  had  two  sons  who  also  served  in  the 
Civil  war — William  H.  and  Elijah.  William 
H.  was  a  sergeant  in  company  E,  Seventy- 
first  volunteer  infantry,  became  a  veteran  and 
served  four  years;  he  was  twice  wounded,  once 
at  Lovejoy's  station  and  once  at  Nashville. 
Elijah  was  a  sergeant  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-first  (his  father's;  regiment,  and  served 
100  days.  William  H.,  who  has  been  on  the 
Dayton  fire  department  for  about  eighteen 
years,  married  Miss  Eliza  Shafer,  and  is  the 
father  of  one  child — Clarence.  Amanda  C, 
the  major's  eldest  daughter,  was  married  to 
David  B.  Mumma,  now  deceased,  and  became 
the  mother  of  two  children — Harry  C.  and 
Willis,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years.  Harry  C.  Mumma  married 
Miss  Rosie  Arnold,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child,  Corinne. 

In  politics  Maj.  Culbert  is  a  republican. 
He  is  at  present  engaged  in  the  tile  business  in 
Post  Town  and  probably  no  man  in  the  town- 
ship or  county  is  more  widely  known  or  more 
respected  than  he.  His  progressiveness  is 
proverbial,  and  his  readiness  to  assist  in  the 
promotion  of  every  movement  designed  for  the 
public  weal  and  his  liberal  contributions  to 
such  purposes  are    as    household    words  in  the 


community  in  which  he  has  so  long  lived  and 
the  prosperity  of  which  he  has  so  strenuously 
striven  to  advance. 


>-j»OHN  J.  DETRICK,  one  of  the  well- 
J  known  farm  ers  of  Randolph  township, 
/%  1  and  a  deacon  in  the  German  Baptist 
church,  sprang  from  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock.  John  Detrick,  his  grandfather, 
was  the  descendant  of  one  of  three  brothers  of 
the  name  who  came  at  an  early  day  from  Ger- 
many, and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  John 
Detrick  removed  to  Rockingham  county,  Va. , 
and  had  children  as  follows:  Abraham,  John, 
Elizabeth,  Mary  and  Susan — all  whose  names 
can  now  now  recalled.  The  above  were  the 
children  of  his  first  wife.  After  her  death  Mr. 
Detrick  married  a  Miss  Snell,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  Jacob,  Daniel, 
Benjamin  and  Lydia.  John  Detrick,  who 
was  an  extensive  farmer  and  a  most  prosper- 
ous man,  died  in  Rockingham  county,  Va., 
aged  about  fifty  years. 

Abraham  Detrick,  father  of  John  J.,  was 
born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. ,  July  5, 
1818,  was  reared  a  farmer's  boy,  and  naturally 
adopted  that  vocation  as  his  own.  In  Hardy 
county,  Va.,  he  married  Mahala  Judy,  who 
was  born  in  Hardy  county,  March  1,  1816. 
Mr.  Detrick  lived  in  Rockingham  county  for 
about  six  years  after  he  was  married;  then 
removed  to  Hampshire  county,  where  he  lived 
for  about  twelve  years,  coming  in  1856  to  Ohio 
and  settling  in  Montgomery  county  on  a  farm 
adjoining  that  now  occupied  by  his  son.  After 
residing  in  Randolph  township  for  about 
twenty  years,  he  lived  in  Darke,  Auglaize  and 
Allen  counties  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
in  the  latter  county,  in  1892,  at  seventy-eight 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  devout  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  and  was  an  elder 
therein  for   many   years.      He    was    a    man  in 


956 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


whom  all  placed  the  utmost  confidence  and 
trust,  standing  high  in  the  estimation  of  the 
entire  community  in  which  he  lived. 

John  J.  Detrick  was  born  September  11, 
1847,  in  Hampshire  county,  Va. ,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
when  he  was  eleven  years  old.  Here  he  at- 
tended school  in  the  country,  and  received  a 
good  common-school  education.  Brought  up 
as  a  farmer,  he  learned  the  lessons  of  that 
calling  from  his  father,  beginning  work  on  his 
own  account  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  On  February  27,  1873,  he  married,  in 
Madison  township,  Miss  Catherine  Smith,  who 
was  born  October  6,  185  1,  in  the  same  town- 
ship. His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Smith,  who  was  born  and  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Madison  township,  Montgomery 
county.  Rev.  John  Smith  was  a  son  of  Abra- 
ham Smith,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  well-known 
pioneer,  whose  wife  was  a  Bowman.  John 
was  the  only  child  of  this  union,  his  mother 
dying  while  yet  young.  Mr.  Smith  lived  to  be 
eighty-four  years  of  age  and  was  a  quite  pros- 
perous farmer,  owning  200  acres  of  land.  In 
religious  belief  he  was  a  Dunkard,  or  German 
Baptist,  and  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of 
all  that  knew  him. 

Rev.  John  Smith  married  for  his  first  wife, 
Susan  Wolf,  by  whom  he  had  the  following 
children:  Catherine,  Andrew,  Lucinda,  Hattie, 
Oliver,  Emma  and  Elizabeth.  He  married 
again  Margaret  Garber.  He  has  been  for 
many  years  a  devout  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church  and  an  elder  of  the  church,  and 
for  several  years  has  been  an  acceptable  and 
successful   preacher. 

John  J.  Detrick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
settled  on  the  Smith  homestead  and  lived 
thereon  several  years,  when  he  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  and  which  con- 
tains 100  acres  of  land.  By  careful  attention 
to  correct  methods  and  by  constant  industry, 


he  has  brought  this  farm  up  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  improving  it  in  many  ways,  and 
has  added  to  it  sixteen  acres.  Mr.  Detrick 
has  been  a  devout  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and 
has  reared  his  family  in  the  same  faith  with 
himself.  To  him  and  his  good  wife  there  has 
been  born  one  son,  Perry  Oliver.  Mr.  Det- 
rick has  that  quality  of  thrift  and  habit  of  in- 
dustry that  made  good  citizens  of  his  Pennsyl- 
vania ancestry.  Ever  since  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age  he  has  been  identified  with 
the  church  and  with  religious  work.  He  is 
well  known  in  the  community  as  a  man  of  in- 
tegrity and  moral  worth. 


eLI  DIEHL,  of  Perry  township,  is  one 
of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  a  descendant  of 
one  of  its  oldest  pioneer  families.  His 
ancestry  were  of  the  stock  for  generations 
known  as  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  Jacob  Diehl, 
his  grandfather,  was  from  Huntingdon  county, 
Pa.,  and  married  a  Miss  Shipley.  To  their 
marriage  there  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: John,  Jacob,  Abraham,  Nancy  and 
Elizabeth.  Jabob  Diehl  settled  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  in  1806,  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, two  miles  west  of  Liberty,  entering  land 
which  was  covered  with  timber,  which  he 
cleared,  cultivated  and  made  into  a  productive 
farm.  After  some  years  he  removed  to  Perry 
township,  one-half  mile  west  of  the  present 
home  of  his  grandson  Eli.  He  completed  the 
clearing  of  this  tract,  converted  it  into  a  good 
farm,  and  lived  upon  it  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  nearly  eighty  years  of 
age.  Jacob  Diehl  was  an  industrious  man  and 
well  known  for  his  character  and  ability.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 
John  Diehl,  the  father  of  Eli  Diehl,  was 
born    in   November,   1789,  and   was  somewhat 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


957 


more  than  seventeen  years  of  age  when  brought 
by  his  father  to  Ohio.  The  journey  was  made 
part  of  the  way  on  horseback;  but  a  wagon  was 
occupied  by  the  women  of  the  family  and  the 
household  goods,  and  was  sent  down  the  Ohio 
river  to  Cincinnati  on  a  flat-boat.  Thence  the 
family  traveled  to  Miamisburg  by  wagon, 
going  through  the  woods  from  the  mouth  of 
Bear  creek  to  Jefferson  township,  where  they 
lived  for  some  years.  John  Diehl,  like  his 
father  before  him,  had  the  usual  pioneer  edu- 
cation. When  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  in  1 8 1 1  or  1812,  he  married,  in  Jefferson 
township,  Miss  Susan  Miller,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia  in  1 791 .  Moses  Miller,  her  father, 
moved  to  Jefferson  township  from  his  Virginia 
home  in  1804. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diehl 
removed  to  Perry  township  and  settled  on  land 
now  occupied  by  their  son  John,  and  consist- 
ing of  160  acres.  This  farm  Mr.  Diehl  cleared 
and  brought  under  a  higji  state  of  cultivation 
and  productiveness,  and  in  time  erected  a  good 
dwelling  house,  which  is  still  standing.  This 
house  succeeded  the  log  cabin  which  he  had 
built  upon  first  settling  on  his  land.  He  was 
always  known  as  a  man  of  high  character, 
industrious,  .  a  good  neighbor  and  a  worthy 
citizen.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Aaron, 
Jacob,  Samuel,  Abraham,  Elizabeth,  John, 
Eli,  Hannah,  Noah  and  Adam.  Noah  served 
his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  intestine 
war,  as  a  member  of  an  Ohio  regiment.  Mr. 
Diehl  was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  was  held  in  high  estimation  in  the 
community.  He  lived  to  be  eighty-five  years 
of  age,  dying  in  1874. 

Eli  Diehl  was  born  March  16,  1829,  in 
Perry  township.  The  schooling  he  received 
was  better  than  that  of  his  immediate  ances- 
tors, the  country  having  become  more  thickly 
settled,  and  the  people  generally  having  be- 
come more  interested  in  the  subject  of  educa- 


tion. He  attended  the  common  schools  in  the 
winter  season  until  he  became  of  age,  and 
then  taught  school  in  the  country  for  about 
ten  years,  mostly  in  Perry,  Madison,  Jefferson 
and  Jackson  townships.  Having  a  vigorous 
mind  and  a  retentive  memory,  he  was  more 
than  ordinarily  successful  in  the  profession  of 
teaching,  many  of  his  scholars  becoming  dis- 
tinguished men  and  women. 

Mr.  Diehl  married,  October  10,  1861,  Mary 
Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Wilson,  who 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  an  early  settler  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  a  blacksmith  by 
trade.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diehl  there  were 
born  two  children,  both  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mrs.  Diehl  died  in  1864,  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Diehl  was  again 
married  on  February  22,  1866,  his  second  wife 
being  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Bates,  a  widow.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Johnsey  and  Nancy  Randall.  Mr. 
Randall  was  born  in  Baltimore  county,  Md., 
in  1792,  and  was  of  Scotch  and  English  an- 
cestry. He  was  the  son  of  Johnsey  and  Re- 
becca (Dilworth)  Randall.  The  Dilworth 
family  were  Philadelphia  Ouakers.  Mr.  Ran- 
dall was  well  educated,  a  mechanic  by  trade, 
and  was  a  soldier  at  Fort  McHenry  in  the  war 
of  1 812.  On  July  15,  181 5,  he  married  in 
Maryland,  and  his  children  were  David  A., 
William,  Elizabeth  A.,  Anna  E.,  John  W. , 
Joseph  W.,  Mary  A.,  Thomas  B.  and  Edward 
S.  Mr.  Randall  came  to  Ohio  in  1S42,  set- 
tling in  Dayton,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade, 
and  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
dying  January  15,  1880.  An  excellent  citizen, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  politics  a  republican.  Two  of 
his  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  late  Civil  war — 
Joseph  W.  and  Edward  S.  Edward  S.  was  a 
sharpshooter,  and  served  in  the  several  battles 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  Mr.  Randall  be- 
longed to  the  same  stock  as  the  famous  Samuel 
Randall,    of  Philadelphia,    who   so   honorably 


958 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


distinguished  himself  as  a  democratic  member 
of  congress. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diehl 
settled  on  the  homestead  farm.  Their  children 
are  Edwin  R.  and  Nellie  E.  Both  parents 
are  members  of  the  German  Reformed  church, 
Mr.  Diehl  having  been  an  elder  for  many  years. 
Politically,  he  is  a  republican  and  as  such  has 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  three  years. 
Mr.  Diehl  is  one  of  the  respected  citizens  of 
Perry  township,  and  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has 
passed  all  the  chairs  of  his  lodge,  and  has 
served  as  noble  grand. 


aHARLES  W.  DODDS  was  born  in 
Miamisburg,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  December  15,  1857,  a  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Dodro)  Dodds. 
His  great-grandfather,  Gen.  William  Dodds,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  settled  near  Alexander- 
ville,  Montgomery  county,  in  1806,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  at  one  time  owned 
the  land  where  West  Carrollton  now  stands. 
His  wife  was  a  Miss  McGrew,  and  both  died 
in  Miami  township,  and  are  buried  in  the  old 
Presbyterian  cemetery  in  Washington  township. 
Their  children  were  Joseph,  Margaret  (Mrs. 
David  Lamme),  William,  John  M.,  Polly  (Mrs. 
Moses  Smith),  Sarah  A.  (Mrs.  James  McLain), 
James,  Thomas  and  Martha  (Mrs.  John  Smith). 
Of  these,  John  M.,  the  grandfather  of  Charles 
W. ,  having  inherited  land  from  his  father's  es- 
tate, was  for  nearly  twenty  years  engaged  in 
the  milling  business,  operating  a  mill  on  the 
Miami,  near  the  Pinnacles,  and  another  on 
Hole's  creek.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
181 2,  and  captain  of  a  company  of  light  infan- 
try in  the  days  of  militia.  In  1840  he  removed 
to  Washington  township,  where  he  died  in 
i860.  He  was  twice  married:  first,  to  Mary 
Parsons,  who  bore  him   four  children,  all  now 


deceased,  viz:  Auvilla,  David  L.,  Mary  and 
Kate  R.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Himes,  a  pioneer  of  Van 
Buren  township,  who  bore  him  seven  children: 
William,  John  H.,  Angeline  (Mrs.  Jerry  Ew- 
ing),  Thomas,  James,  Preston  C.  and  Moses 
S.  All  the  sons,  except  William  and  James, 
were  soldiers  in  the  late  war. 

William  Dodds,  the  eldest  son  of  John  M. 
and  Mary  Dodds,  and  father  of  Charles  W. , 
was  born  in  Miami  township,  February  7, 
1823.  As  a  boy  he  worked  in  his  father's  mill; 
later  boated  on  the  canal,  and  for  twenty-five 
years  was  a  resident  of  Miamisburg,  where  he 
was  engaged  as  a  contractor  on  house  painting, 
and  in  other  business.  His  wife,  Mary  was  a 
daughter  of  Conrad  and  Mary  (Lemon)  Dodro, 
formerly  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  pio- 
neers of  Dayton.  Conrad  Dodro  was  a  fuller 
and  carder  by  trade,  also  taught  school,  was 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  died 
while  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. William  Dodds  was  the  father  of  nine 
children,  viz:  Otto  F. ,  Perry,  Lizzie  (Mrs. 
Dr.  B.  F.  Mullen),  Charles  W.,  Ella  (Mrs. 
Lee  Silberman),  Emma  (Mrs.  S.  F.  Evans), 
Clay,  Clarence  and  Lehm.  Mr.  Dodds  died 
in  Miamisburg  in  1873  and  his  wife,  Mary, 
died  in  1881. 

Charles  W.  Dodds  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  Miamisburg,  where  he  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  two  years  at  cigarmaking,  after 
which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  several 
years  in  various  cities  and  towns  in  the  coun- 
try. In  1878  he  started  a  factory  of  his  own 
in  Miamisburg  on  a  small  scale,  also  retailing 
cigars  and  confectionery,  and,  as  his  means 
permitted,  gradually  enlarged  his  facilities, 
adding  a  stock  of  books,  papers,  notions,  etc., 
until  the  business  had  grown  to  considerable 
dimensions.  He  continued  in  this  occupation 
for  fourteen  years,  and    then  turned  it  over  to 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


959 


his  brother  Lehm,  whom  he  had  reared,  and 
in  1892,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Dodds  & 
Mays,  embarked  in  business  as  buyer  and 
packer  of  leaf  tobacco,  in  which  he  has  since 
successfully  continued. 

Mr.  Dodds  was  married  in  1881  to  Jennie, 
daughter  of  Samuel  B.  and  Fannie  (Northrup) 
Andrews,  of  West  Carrollton,  and  has  three 
children:  Willard,  Robert  and  Fannie.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Miamis- 
burg,  is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  encampment, 
U.  R. ,  Patriarchs  Militant,  Daughters  of  Re- 
bekah,  and  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason. 
He  has  been  treasurer  of  Marion  lodge,  No. 
18,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Miamisburg,  for  ten  years, 
and  is  also  treasurer  of  the  incorporation  of 
the  same  body.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Miamisburg  school  board  and  of  the  board 
of  cemetery  directors.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  republican. 

In  the  organization  of  the  board  of  trade 
of  Miamisburg  Mr.  Dodds  was  elected  one  of 
the  members  of  the  executive  board,  and  was 
always  one  of  its  leading  and  active  members. 
Through  his  efforts,  push  and  energy  the  En- 
terprise Carriage  Manufacturing  company,  one 
of  the  most  thriving  and  valuable  industries  of 
the  town,  was  located  in  Miamisburg. 


*  w   *      EHM  DODDS,  dealer  in  cigars,  news- 
f    papers  and  confectionery,    was  born 
^^    in   Miamisburg,   Ohio,  December  27, 
1870,    a   son   of    William    and    Mary 
(Dodro)  Dodds,  whose  history  will  be  found  in 
the  preceding  sketch  of    C.   W.    Dodds.      He 
was  reared  in  Miamisburg  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  started  in  life  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  his  brother,  Charles  W.,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  until  1862,  when  he  became  a 
member  of   the  firm  of  Dodds  &  Andrews,  by- 
purchasing  the  cigar,    newspaper  and  confec- 
39 


tionery  business  of  C.  W.  Dodds,  his  brother. 
He  continued  the  partnership  up  to  January  1, 
1896,  when  he  purchased  his  partner's  interest, 
and  has  since  successfully  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone. 

He  married,  September  25,  1895,  Mary 
Edith,  daughter  of  Jacob  H.  and  Martha  E. 
(Snoderly)  Johnson,  of  Miamisburg.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dodds  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church  and  have  been  members  of  the  choir 
for  several  years.  Mr.  Dodds  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  O.  U.  A.  M.,  Wayne  council,  No. 
90;  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  Marion  lodge,  No.  18,  and 
encampment,  and  Daughters  of  Rebekah.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  has  never 
sought  or  held  office.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  merchants  in  Miamisburg,  and  socially 
he  and  his  wife  enjoy  the  regard  of  a  large  cir- 
cle of  acquaintances. 


t/\ETER  W.  EAGLE,  a  highly-respect- 
1  m  ed  business  man  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
1  and  a  gallant  ex-soldier,  was  born  in 

Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
November  15,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Wetzel)  Eagle,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Staunton,  Va. ,  and  Guilford  Court  House,  N.  C. 
Peter  Eagle,  paternal  grandfather  of  Peter 
W.,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  settled 
in  Miami  township  in  1809,  locating  two  miles 
east  of  Miamisburg,  where  he  cleared  up  and 
improved  a  farm.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
Hanger,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of 
the  following-named  children  :  Polley  (Mrs. 
Daniel  Gebhart),  Ann  (Mrs.  John  Hoover), 
Sarah  (Mrs.  John  DeRush),  Saloma  (Mrs. 
Jacob  Wise),  Henry,  Jacob,  George,  David, 
John  and  Peter.  Of  these  children,  Peter, 
the  father  of  the  subject,  was  reared  in  Miami 
township  from  the  age  of  five  years.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Wetzel,  daughter  of  Tobias  and    Mary   (Gift) 


960 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Wetzel,  and  second  cousin  of  Lewis  Wetzel, 
the  noted  Indian  fighter,  who  was  with  Adam 
Poe  when  the  latter  killed  the  celebrated  In- 
dian chief,  Big  Foot.  Tobias  Wetzel  settled 
in  Miami  township  in  1806,  two  miles  west  of 
Miamisburg,  and  resided  in  the  township  until 
his  death.  Peter  Eagle  reared  a  family  of  five 
children,  named  David,  Anna  (Mrs.  Alexander 
Fox),  Catherine  (Mrs.  Jonathan  Reedy),  Peter 
W.  and  Mary,  and  died,  in  1884,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  his  son,  Peter  W.,  in  his  ninety-first 
year  ;  his  wife  died,  in  1885,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  four  years. 

Peter  W.  Eagle  reached  manhood  on  the 
home  farm  in  Miami  township,  followed  farm- 
ing until  1856,  and  then  engaged  in  the  leaf  to- 
bacco trade,  a  business  he  still  pursues.  In  No- 
vember, 1 86 1 ,  he  enlisted  in  company  D,  Fourth 
regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry,  and  served 
until  honorably  discharged,  on  account  of  dis- 
ability, on  surgeon's  certificate,  in  1863.  He 
had  been  captured  by  the  enemy  on  the  courier 
line  between  Huntsville,  Ala.,  and  Shelby, 
Tenn.,  in  May,  1862,  and  sent  to  Macon,  Ga. 
In  June  of  the  same  year  he  managed  to 
successfully  escape,  but  after  seventeen  days 
of  liberty,  was  recaptured  and  sent  to  Savan- 
nah, in  the  same  state,  where  he  was  confined 
three  months  in  jail,  then  sent  back  to  Macon, 
and  thence  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  whence,  after 
six  months'  confinement,  he  managed  to  get 
home,  and  was  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Since  1872  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Miamis- 
burg, and  engaged  in  the  tobacco  trade. 

Mr.  Eagle  was  first  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Fox,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Link)  Fox,  of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and, 
after  her  decease,  married  Miss  Katie,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Flaherty)  Stanton, 
of  Liverpool,  England.  To  this  second  union 
have  been  born  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are 
still  living,  viz:  Peter  W.,  Jr.,  Harry,  Thomas, 
Beatrice,  Stanley  and  Genevieve.      The  family 


are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in 
politics  Mr.  Eagle  is  a  democrat.  Mr.  Eagle 
is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. He  is  greatly  respected  socially,  while 
as  a  business  man  he  enjoys  the  confidence  of 
both  the  city  and  farming  communities,  with 
whom  he  has  had  extensive  business  relations 
for  so  many  years. 


ISAAC  EARLY,  a  retired  farmer  of  much 
prominence,  was  born  in  Miami  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1836,  a  son  of  John  and 
Magdaline  (Byerly)  Early,  and  is  of  the  fourth 
generation  of  this  family  in  America,  his  great- 
grandfather having  come  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania;  while  the  paternal 
grandfather  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  set- 
tle in  Ohio,  and  made  his  residence  in  Preble 
county  until  his  death,  his  remains  being  in- 
terred at  West  Alexandria.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  Isaac  Early  was  Joseph  Byerly, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia  and  was  also  of  Ger- 
man descent. 

John  Early,  father  of  Isaac,  was  a  native 
of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  but  passed  forty 
years  of  his  life  in  the  state  of  Virginia,  and  in 
1830  came  to  Ohio;  he  lived  in  Preble  county 
until  1*836,  when  he  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  settled  in  Miami  township  and  fol- 
lowed farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1854.  His  children  were  born  in  the  fol- 
lowing order:  John,  David,  Lydia  (the  pres- 
ent wife  of  John  F.  Fox),  Sarah  (the  deceased 
wife  of  John  F.  Fox),  Joseph,  Jacob,  and  Isaac. 

Isaac  Early  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Miami  township,  and  was  reared  to 
farming,  which  vocation  he  followed  until  1894, 
when  he  retired  to  Miamisburg,  his  present 
home.  With  the  exception  of  twelve  years, 
during  which  period  he  lived  in  Warren  coun- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


961 


ty,  Ohio,  all  his  life  has  been  spent  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  in  Miami  and  Washington 
townships,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  lived  for 
thirty-two  years. 

In  i860  Mr.  Early  was  most  happily  united 
in  matrimony  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Pence, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Pence,  of  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children,  viz:  Charles  F. ,  Howard  P.,  Will- 
iam A.,  and  Cora  P.  Mrs.  Early's  parents, 
Joseph  and  Barbara  Ann  (Null)  Pence,  were 
natives  of  Virginia,  and  pioneers  of  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Pence  was  a  farmer  and 
at  one  time  dealt  largely  in  pork.  He  was 
prominent  in  public  affairs  and  served  for 
many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  and 
his  wife  passed  the  last  years  of  their  lives  near 
Springboro,  Warren  county,  and  their  remains 
were  interred  in  Springboro  cemetery.  They 
had  a  family  of  nine  children,  namely:  Ed- 
ward H.,  deceased;  George  S.,  a  farmer  of 
Madison  county,  111.;  Sarah,  deceased;  John 
W.,  who  was  a  prominent  and  wealthy  resi- 
dent of  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  where  he  died  a 
few  years  ago;  Harriet,  widow  of  Archibald 
See,  living  at  Lebanon,  Ohio;  Cynthia  Jane, 
deceased;  Martha  D.,  living  in  Springboro; 
Charles  N.,  a  retired  farmer  of  Springboro, 
and  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Early.  Mr. 
Early  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  in  his  politics  is  a 
democrat.  He  has  been  a  very  successful 
farmer,  has  attained  a  place  of  prominence  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  has  won 
for  himself  a  name  that  is  honored  throughout 
the  country. 

@EORGE     M.      EBLING,     the    well 
known    blacksmith     of     Miamisburg, 
Montgomery    county,    was    born    in 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  April  28,  1859, 
and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Margaret  (Gouk) 
Ebling,  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 


John  Ebling,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
George  M.,  with  his  wife,  Mary,  and  their 
four  children,  Henry,  Christian,  George  and 
Michael,  came  to  America  in  1851,  and  settled 
in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  where  John  followed 
the  vocation  of  gardener  until  his  decease. 
Michael  Ebling,  son  of  John  and  father  of 
George  M.,  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  father,  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  Darke  county.  On  attaining 
his  majority  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  New  Madison,  where,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  four  years  passed  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  he 
has  ever  since  resided,  and  where  he  is  still  in 
the  lumber  trade.  He  early  married  Margaret 
Gouk,  daughter  of  Valentine  and  Marie  Gouk, 
who  came  from  Germany,  and  settled  in  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  in  1852.  For  twenty-five  years 
prior  to  coming  to  the  United  States,  Valen- 
tine Gouk  had  been  a  member  of  the  police 
force  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  and  was  a  man  of 
strong  nerve  and  marked  individualism.  The 
children  born  to  the  marriage  of  Michael  and 
Margaret  Ebling  were  five  in  number  and  were 
named  in  order  of  birth:  George  M.,  Chris- 
tian, Michael  C,  Adam  and  Katie,  all  of 
whom  still  survive.  George  M.  Ebling  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  of 
Darke,  received  an  excellent  common-school 
education,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  at  the  blacksmith  trade  in  New 
Madison.  For  ten  years  after  learning  his 
trade  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  various 
parts  of  the  United  States,  but  finally  settled 
in  Miamisburg,  and  in  1891  embarked  in  busi- 
ness as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Simonton  & 
Ebling,  which  firm  had  a  continuous  existence 
of  five  years,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the 
mutual  consent  of  the  partners,  in  September, 
1896.  Since  that  date  Mr.  Ebling  has  con- 
ducted the  business  on  his  sole  account,  and 
has  now  one  of  the  best  blacksmith  shops  in 
the  city  of  Miamisburg. 


962 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ebling  took  place 
October  3,  1880,  to  Miss  Laura  E.  Brown, 
daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Christina  (Beachler) 
Brown,  of  New  Madison.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ebling  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Ebling  is  a  democrat.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  A.  O. 
U.  W.,  D.  O.  H.  and  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  and 
few  young  men  have  a  larger  circle  of  warm 
friends  than  George  M.  Ebling. 


<^~\  R-    THEODORE    P.    EBY,    one   of 

I  the  leading  dentists  of  Montgomery 
J^^J  county  and  a  man  of  education  and 
culture,  springs  from  Pennsylvania 
ancestors,  the  family  having  originated  from 
one  of  two  brothers  that  about  200  years  ago 
came  from  either  Switzerland  or  Prussia,  set- 
tling in  Pennsylvania  at  that  time.  The  prob- 
ability is,  however,  that  the  family  comes  of 
Swiss  extraction. 

Jacob  Eby,  the  grandfatner  of  Dr.  Eby, 
was  born  at  Mannheim,  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  was  a  maker  of  the  old-fashioned 
English  pattern  clocks,  clockmaking  having 
been  carried  on  in  the  family  for  several  gen- 
erations. Christian  Eby,  brother  of  Jacob, 
was  a  famous  clockmaker,  clocks  of  his  make 
being  still  extant  and  highly  valued.  His 
clocks  were  of  brass  mechanism  and  so  con- 
structed that  the  face  showed  the  phases  of 
the  moon.  One  of  Jacob's  clocks  is  now 
owned  by  Joseph  E.  Boyer,  of  Dayton,  and 
one  of  Christian  Eby's  clocks,  now  belonging 
to  architect  C.  I.  Williams,  of  Dayton,  is  still 
keeping  good  time  and  bids  fair  to  continue  to 
do  so  for  a  century. 

Jacob  Eby  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  Han- 
nah Parkinson,  a  lady  of  English  ancestry. 
To  him  and  his  wife  there  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children :  George.  Jacob,  Eliza,  Maria, 
Hannah,  Peter  (who  died  young),  and  Rebecca. 


Jacob   Eby   lived  to   be   about  fifty-five  years 
old,  dying  in  Mannheim,  Pa. 

George  Eby,  the  eldest  son  of  Jacob,  was 
born  at  Mannheim,  Pa.,  in  January,  1802,  and 
of  his  father  learned  the  art  of  making  clocks. 
In  1827  he  married  Dorothy  Fritchey,  near 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  located  in  that  city.  His 
wife's  parents  were  John  G.  and  Dorothy 
Fritchey.  After  some  time  they  removed  to 
Mannheim,  where  they  lived  until  1846,  when 
they  removed  to  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and 
there  Mr.  Eby  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, continuing  therein  until  1849.  In  this 
year  he  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
locating  in  the  town  of  Union  and  engaging  in 
the  same  business  in  partnership  with  D.  K. 
Boyer.  They  remained  in  this  connection  for 
many  years,  and  were  quite  successful.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eby  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  he  serving  as  church  trus- 
tee. In  his  native  town  of  Mannheim  he  was 
a  member  of  the  town  council,  and  was  also 
one  of  the  school  directors.  He  lived  to  be 
about  fifty-six  years  old,  dying  in  1858.  He 
was  a  business  man  of  ability  and  integrity  and 
a  consistent  Christian.  In  politics  he  was  a 
democrat,  and  served  as  postmaster  at  Mann- 
heim under  President  Polk's  administration. 

By  the  marriage  of  George  and  Dorothy 
(Fritchey)  Eby,  there  were  the  following  chil- 
dren: Theodore  P.,  Christian,  Hannah  A., 
Mary  E.,  George  W.,  Edwin  J.  and  Thomas 
V.  Mr.  Eby  had  two  sons  in  the  late  Civil 
war,  viz:  George  W.  and  Thomas  V.,  both  in 
an  Ohio  infantry  regiment. 

Dr.  Theodore  P.  Eby  was  born  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  December  28,  1828,  and  was  three 
months  old  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Mannheim.  He  began  his  business  life  with 
his  father  when  quite  young,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  came  with  the  rest  of  the  family 
to  Ohio,  locating  in  Union,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty,   in    1S49.      The    journey    was    made    from 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


963 


Harrisburg  to  Pittsburg  by  way  of  the  canal, 
down  the  Ohio  river,  to  Cincinnati  by  steam- 
boat, and  thence  to  Montgomery  county  by 
canal,  and  from  Dayton  to  Union  by  wagon. 
It  was  a  long  and  tedious  undertaking,  because 
of  the  slow  means  of  travel,  a  journey  which 
would  then  take  two  or  three  weeks  being  now 
accomplished  in  a  day.  Young  Eby  entered 
the  employ  of  Boyer  &  Eby,  Mr.  Boyer  being 
his  uncle  by  marriage,  and  he  remained  with 
this  firm  for  five  years.  Then  beginning  the 
study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  Samuel  Hawkins, 
he  remained  thus  engaged  for  two  years.  On 
April  9,  1856,  in  Randolph  township,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Hikes,  who  was  born  July 
3,  1834,  in  that  township,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Susan  Hikes.  John  Hikes  was  born 
in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Bartlett)  Hikes.  Jacob 
Hikes  emigrated  at  an  early  day  as  a  pioneer 
to  Montgomery  county  and  settled  in  or  near 
Dayton,  and  had  a  distillery  on  his  farm.  He 
was  a  man  well  known  for  many  miles  around 
for  his  uprightness  and  manliness  of  character. 

John  Hikes  married  in  Montgomery  county, 
and  was  a  miller  and  distiller  by  occupation. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  William,  Henry 
C,  Alfred,  Chailes,  Elizabeth,  Mary  J.,  Julia 
and  Alice.  Mr.  Hikes  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  his  early 
life  was  an  old-line  Whig  in  politics,  later  be- 
coming a  republican.  He  removed  to  Missouri 
and  settled  at  Stewardsville,  in  De  Kalb  coun- 
ty, in  1858,  and  there  died.  He  had  three 
sons  in  the  late  Civil  war,  viz:  William, 
Henry  C.  and  Alfred.  Mr.  Hikes  was  a 
strong  Union  man,  and  suffered  much  in  con- 
sequence in  Missouri. 

Dr.  Eby  located  in  Dayton  as  a  dentist  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  Andrew  Sheets,  the  firm 
name  being  Sheets  &  Eby.  He  -remained  in 
Dayton  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
returned  to  Union,    in  which   place  he  still  re- 


sides. Here  he  has  ever  since  pursued  his 
profession  with  success,  and  has  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
dentistry  since  1857,  and  is  the  oldest  practi- 
tioner in  Montgomery  county.  He  has  al- 
ways been  an  extensive  reader  of  profes- 
sional works,  and  thus  has  kept  pace  with  the 
march  of  progress  and  has  attained  a  high  de- 
gree of  skill.  Mrs.  Eby  died  in  1886,  a  woman 
of  many  virtues  and  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  Dr.  Eby  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  St.  John's  blue 
lodge,  No.  9,  of  Dayton.  Politically  he  is  a 
democrat,  has  held  the  position  of  clerk  of  his 
township  for  three  years,  township  trustee 
two  terms,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  He  was  township  treasurer  for 
nine  years,  and  in  all  public  trusts  he  has  given 
full  satisfaction  to  his  people. 

By  his  first  wife  his  children  are  as  follows: 
Mary  A.,  Susan  G.  and  George  H.  In  1894, 
Dr.  Eby  married,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Mrs. 
Frances  M.  Hoopes,  a  widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Martin. 


^y^ILLIAM    S.     EBY,     a    well-known 
M  M  farmer  of  German  township,  Mont- 

mJLvl  gomerj  county,  Ohio,  and  also  a 
successful  auctioneer  and  an  ex- 
soldier,  was  born  in  this  township  June  9, 
1838,  his  parents  being  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Shaffer)  Eby. 

John  Eby  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  in  1798,  was  a  son  of  David  Eby,  of 
German  descent,  and  by  occupation  was  a 
farmer.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1836  and  settled 
in  German  township,  Montgomery  county, 
buying  a  farm,  which  he  partially  cleared  and 
improved,  and  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  in  January,  1855.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Shaffer,  was  also  born  in 
Lancaster  county,     Pa.,    and  bore  her    hus- 


964 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


band  eight  children,  of  whom  six  are  still  liv- 
ing and  are  named  Washington  H.,  Artenius 
J.,  William  S.,  Benjamin  F.,  Rebecca  (Mrs. 
Peter  Pfaff),  and  Susan  E.  (Mrs.  Jacob  Slifer). 
The  mother  of  this  family  also  passed  the  clos- 
ing years  of  her  life  in  German  township. 

William  S.  Eby,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography,  was  educated  in  his  native  township 
and  has  here  passed  all  his  life,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  three  years,  when  he  lived  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing the  greater  part  of  that  time.  Farming, 
indeed,  has  been  his  life-long  occupation,  but, 
having  a  ready  command  of  language  and  being 
a  keen  judge  of  the  value  of  personal  property, 
he  twenty  years  ago  became  an  auctioneer, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  most  popular  of  those 
engaged  in  the  vocation  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty. For  eighteen  years,  also,  he  has  been  a 
buyer  and  seller  of  tobacco. 

Mr.  Eby  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
union  was  with  Lucinda  Gunckel,  daughter  of 
Jacob  C.  and  Nancy  (Catrow)  Gunckel,  of  Ger- 
man township.  To  this  marriage  were  born 
two  children — Leo  and  Mildred.  The  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Eby  was  with  Miss  Susie 
Brown,  daughter  of  Jason  Brown,  of  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  but  to  this  union  no  children 
have  been  born. 

The  military  career  of  Mr.  Eby  is  as  fol- 
lows: August  22,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany H,  Thirty-fifth  regiment  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  until  honorably  discharged, 
August  23,  1863.  He  re-entered  the  army, 
February  12,  1865,  as  first  sergeant  of  com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-fourth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  served  until  long  after  the 
war  was  brought  to  an  end,  and  was  again 
honorably  discharged  September  25,  1S65. 
He  took  part  in  all  the  marches  and  engage- 
ments of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  during 
the  two  terms  of  his  military  service.  He  is 
now  a  member  of  Carlton  Bear  post,  No.  516, 


Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  Germantown, 
and  in  politics  is  a  silver  democrat.  Mr.  Eby 
has  been  a  prudent  and  successful  worker  in 
the  affairs  of  life,  and  the  high  standing  he  en- 
joys in  the  esteem  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives  is  due  to  his  merits  as  a  man,  citizen 
and  soldier. 


f  S~*\  AVID  EMERT,  a  prominent  citizen 
I  and  farmer,  was  born  in  Miami  town- 
s^^_J  ship,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 1 8,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Catherine  ( Schell  )  Emert,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Martin  Emert,  of  German  descent,  was 
a  clockmaker  by  trade,  and  lived  and  died  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  maternal  grandparents, 
Henry  and  Margaret  ( Lesher )  Schell,  both 
natives  of  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  settled 
in  Miami  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1820,  and  his  maternal  great-grandfather, 
Peter  Schell,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  a 
farmer  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Andrew  Emert, 
father  of  David,  was  born  in  1805,  came  to 
Miami  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  boyhood,  worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade 
a  few  years,  and  then  returned  to  Pennsyl- 
vania for  a  legacy.  He  soon  after  removed 
to  Miami  township,  and  about  1826  purchrsed 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Mary  E.  Emert, 
cleared  and  improved  it  and  resided  there  until 
his  death,  in  1882.  His  children  are  David, 
Jonathan,  Martin  H.,  Albert  and  John. 

David  Emert  was  reared  on  the  old  home- 
stead and  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  in  Farmer's  college,  Hamilton,  Ohio.  He 
has  always  followed  farming  as  an  occupation, 
has  lived  upon  his  present  farm  in  Miami 
township  since  1861,  and  is  one  of  the  active 
and  progressive  farmers  of  his  township. 

Mr.  Emert  married,  in  185 1,  Miss  Cather- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


965 


ine  R.  (Fleck)  Routzong,  of  Van  Buren  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio;  she  bore  him 
seven  children,  viz:  Augustus  V.,  Sarah  E. 
(Mrs.  Samson  P.  Strader),  Andrew  A.,  Ed- 
ward E.,  Clara  A.,  Ira  A.,  and  Emma.  Mr. 
Emert  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church 
and  is  a  democrat  in  his  political  affiliations. 
His  social  connection  is  with  the  best  people 
of  Miami  township,  with  whom  he  stands  in 
the  most  pleasant  relations,  enjoying  to  the 
utmost  their  regard  and  esteem. 


"^  i* ACOB  EBY,  a  well  known  farmer  of 
m  Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
/•  1  Ohio,  was  born  in  Harrison  township, 
in  the  same  county,  May  2,  1849,  and 
is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Mullendore)  Eby. 
He  was  reared  in  Harrison  township,  received 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  began 
life  for  himself  as  a  farmer  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  five  years.  In  1877  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Miami  township,  com- 
prising 188  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  removed 
in  1878,  and  upon  which  he  lived  until  1893, 
when  he  removed  to  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in 
West  Carrollton,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
Beside  this,  he  owns  a  farm  of  108  acres  on 
the  Cincinnati  turnpike  in  Miami  township,  and 
also  one  of  sixty  acres  in  Jefferson  township, 
near  the  soldiers'  home. 

On  December  8,  1887,  he  married  Alice 
Baker,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Nancy  (Simp- 
son) Baker,  of  Jefferson  township,  and  by  this 
marriage  he  has  four  children,  as  follows; 
Dollie  May,  Susie,  Owen  A.  and  James.  Mr. 
Eby  is  a  member  of  Marion  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
of  Miamisburg,  and  in  politics  is  a  populist. 
He  has  always  maintained  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion for  honesty  and  integrity  of  character,  and 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  to  the 
fullest  extent. 


Adam  Eby,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Harri- 
son township,  Montgomery  county,  was  born 
in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  July  10,  1814,  and 
is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Susannah  (McDaniel) 
Eby.  Christian  Eby  was  a  native  of  York 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  of  Swiss  descent.  He  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Jackson  township,  Montgom- 
ery, county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  on  which  he  settled 
in  1838.  Later  he  removed  to  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  and  there  died.  His  children  were  as 
follows:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Joseph  Kohler; 
John;  Jane,  wife  of  Amos  Markey;  Samuel; 
Susan,  wife  of  Jesse  Royer;  Christian;  Nancy, 
wife  of  Ephraim  Engler;  Adam,  Wilson,  James, 
Lavina,  wife  of  John  Vail,  and  Jacob. 

Adam  Eby  came  to  Montgomery  county 
with  his  parents  in  1838,  and  lived  with  them 
three  years  in  Jackson  township.  In  1841  he 
purchased  the  farm  in  Harrison  township 
which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  on  which  he 
made  all  the  improvements  and  on  which  he 
has  ever  since  resided.  The  home  farm  com- 
prises 270  acres,  and  he  also  owns  one  of  155 
acres  adjoining,  and  in  addition  a  farm  in  Jef- 
ferson township  of  157  acres.  He  is,  in  short, 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  successful 
farmers  in  Montgomery  county. 

On  October  1,  1840,  he  married  Susan 
Mullendore,  daughter  of  David  Mullendore,  of 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  who  bore  him  thir- 
teen children,  as  follows:  Jane,  wife  of  Scott 
Robinson;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Wogo- 
man;  Ephraim;  Jacob;  Susan,  wife  of  Joseph 
Ulrich;  Wilson,  Adam,  Clement  L.  V.,  An- 
drew, Christian,  and  three  that  have  died. 
Mr.  Eby  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Harrison  township  for  eighteen  years,  and  as 
township  trustee  for  several  years.  Politically 
he  was  for  many  years  a  democrat,  but  of  late 
years  he  has  been  an  advocate  of  populism.  . 
He  is  a  man  of  high  character,  always  sustain- 
ing what  he  believes  to  be  correct  principles  in 
morals,  politics  and  religion. 


%6 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


a  APT.  AUGUSTUS  J.  EMINGER 
was  born  near  Mechanicsburg,  Cum- 
berland county,  Pa.,  July  23,  1836, 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Magdalena 
(Miller)  Eminger,  and  comes  of  German  an- 
cestry. His  paternal  grandfather,  Andrew 
Eminger,  was  a  son  of  Isaac  Eminger,  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  in  America,  a  native 
of  Berlin,  Germany,  who  was  among  the 
pioneers  of  what  is  now  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.,  settling  there  about  1740.  All  the  an- 
cestors of  Capt.  Eminger  in  America  were 
farmers,  including  his  father,  who  died  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1854.  Andrew  Eminger,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and  was  also  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of    1 812. 

Augustus  J.  Eminger  spent  the  first  seven- 
teen years  of  his  life  on  the  home  farm.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  in 
the  Cumberland  Valley  institute,  Mechanics- 
burg, Pa.  In  April,  1855,  he  came  to  Miamis- 
burg,  Ohio,  and  in  the  winter  of  1855-6  at- 
tended the  Bacon  Commercial  college,  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  during  which  time  and  up  to 
1858,  he  was  connected  with  what  is  now  the 
R.  G.  Dun  Commercial  agency.  In  the  fall 
of  1858  he  located  in  Miamisburg,  where  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store 
until  1862. 

On  July  30,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company 
E,  Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  went 
to  the  front  as  first  lieutenant,  and  participa- 
ted in  the  campaign  of  the  armies  of  the  Ohio 
and  Cumberland,  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Georgia  and  Alabama.  He  was  promoted  to 
the  captaincy  of  the  company  January  24, 
1864,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  8,  1865.  He  at 
once  returned  to  Miamisburg,  where  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  D.  H.  Hoover  &  Co., 
later  Hoover  &  Gamble,  and  on  the  incorpor- 
ation of  the  Hoover  &  Gamble  Co.,  in  1892, 


was  made  secretary   of  the   company,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  still  occupies. 

Capt.  Eminger  was  married,  March  4,  1858, 
to  Miss  Maria  S.,  daughter  of  Silas  and  Maria 
(South)  Hall,  of  Miamisburg,  and  has  five  chil- 
dren: Mary  (Mrs.  J.  F.  Vogel),  William  F., 
Charles  F. ,  Robert  L. ,  and  Clara  H.  (Mrs. 
Fred.  C.  Cotterman).  Capt.  Eminger  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  the  Ohio  commandery,  military  order  of 
the  Loyal  Legion,  Al  Mason  post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  of  the  subordinate  lodge,  encampment 
and  patrirachs  militant,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  mayor  of  Miamis- 
burg for  two  successive  terms,  has  served 
as  member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  a 
member  and  clerk  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion from  1868  to  1S90.  Politically,  he  is 
a  stanch  republican.  To  all  public  move- 
ments for  the  advancement  of  Miamisburg, 
Capt.  Eminger  has  always  been  foremost  in 
giving  his  time  and  work.  His  spirit  of  pro- 
gressiveness  has  assisted  much  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  town,  and  his  high  character  has 
brought  to  him  the  universal  esteem  of  the 
community  in  which  he  resides. 


aHARLES  FRANCIS  EMINGER,  an 
active  business  man  of  Miamisburg, 
was  born  in  this  city  July  16,  1865. 
He  is  a  son  of  Augustus  J.  and  Maria 
(Hall)  Eminger,  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
city,  where  he  received  his  education,  gradu- 
ating from  the  high  school  in  1883,  and  where 
he  has  always  resided.  After  reaching  his 
eleventh  year  he  was  engaged  several  summers 
as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store,  passing  his  school 
vacations  in  this  way,  and  in  1884  he  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  business  at  Miamisburg 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Forbes  &  Eminger, 
in  which  business  and  connection  he  continued 
two  years.      Since    1886  he   has   been  in  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


967 


flour  business  in  connection  with  Uriah  Engle- 
man,  and  has  been  practically  manager  of  the 
entire  sale  and  disposition  of  the  products  of 
the  Engleman  mill. 

Mr.  Eminger  was  married  April  8,  1886,  to 
Edna  M.  Engleman,  daughter  of  Uriah  and 
Sally  (Marshall)  Engleman,  of  Miamisburg. 
He  has  one  daughter,  Ethel  L.  Mr.  Eminger 
is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  Knight 
Templar,  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  an 
Odd  Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  a  member 
of  the  camp  of  Sons  of  Veterans  and  of  the 
military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  In  1895 
Mr.  Eminger  was  one  of  five  candidates  for 
county  auditor,  but  was  defeated  through  his 
not  being  a  resident  of  Dayton.  He  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and 
is  at  the  present  time  a  leader  in  the  younger 
element  of  republicanism  in  the  southern  part 
of  Montgomery  county.  Though  still  a  young 
man,  Mr.  Eminger  has  made  an  impression  in 
the  business  and  in  the  political  and  social 
world  that  bids  fair  to  be  both  lasting  and 
creditable. 


ar 


'ILLIAM  EWRY,  carriage  and 
wagon  manufacturer  and  black- 
smith, of  Beavertown,  was  born 
in  Van  Buren  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  July  31,  1839.  He  is  a  son 
of  Bazil  and  Magdalene  (Swigart)  Ewry,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Van  Buren  town- 
ship. They  were  the  parents  of  two  children, 
William  and  David.  Bazil  Ewry  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  one  of  the  best  in  the  en- 
tire county.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  the  latter 
of  whom  died  in  1842,  were  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  in  which  he  served 
most  of  his  lifetime  as  ah  elder  and  a  deacon. 
He  was  a  popular  and  prominent  man  in  the 
community,  and  led  an  honorable  and  useful 
life.      For  his  second   wife  he  married  Eliza- 


beth Swigart,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and 
one  daughter,  as  follows:  John,  Benjamin, 
Albert,  Oliver,  Henry,  Wilson  and  Mary,  all 
still  living,  and  one  child,  named  Charles,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Bazil  Ewry's  father,  John  Ewry,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland  and  came  to  Ohio  at  a  very 
early  day,  settling  in  Van  Buren  township,  and 
buying  land  one  mile  east  of  the  present  site 
of  Beavertown.  Toward  the  erection  of  the 
first  church  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  move, 
donating  toward  it  for  a  site  two  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  is  also  located  the  cemetery.  He 
reared  a  large  family  and  lived  to  be  very  old. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  William  Ewry 
was  Michael  Swigart,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
who  came  to  Ohio  with  eighty  dollars  in 
money  and  began  the  life  of  a  farmer,  in 
which  he  prospered  greatly.  Like  many  other 
pioneers,  Mr.  Swigart  himself  made  the  chairs 
and  bedsteads  with  which  he  began  house- 
keeping. His  home  was  in  Greene  county, 
where  he  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety  years. 

William  Ewry  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
received  his  rudimentary  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  began  driving  a  team  when 
eleven  years  old.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
began  to  learn  the  wagonmaker's  trade,  and 
has  followed  this  occupation  ever  since,  having 
made  wagons  and  carriages  almost  innumera- 
ble for  his  neighbors  and  other  residents  of 
Montgomery  county.  His  business  has  grown 
and  prospered,  until  at  the  present  time  he 
employs  six  men.  He  manufactures  fine  car- 
riages, phaetons,  and  all  kinds  of  wagons,  and 
sends  out  from  his  shops  some  very  handsome 
work.  In  all  these  years  Mr.  Ewry  has  built 
up  character  and  reputation  as  well  as  busi- 
ness, and  is  well  known  throughout  the  sur- 
rounding country  as  a  thoroughly  honorable, 
reliable  workman. 

On  November  17,  1868,  Mr.  Ewry  married 
Miss  Amelia  Harper,    by   whom   he  had   one 


«.M!S 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


daughter,  Maud.  Mrs.  Ewry  died  September 
6,  1880.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  but  after  her  marriage  and 
removal  to  Beavertown,  there  being  no  Meth- 
odist church  there,  she  identified  herself  with 
the  United  Brethren  church.  In  March,  1884, 
Mr.  Ewry  married  Miss  Katie  Fitzpatrick, 
daughter  of  William  and  Martha  Fitzpatrick, 
and  to  this  second  marriage  there  have  been 
born  three  children:  Mattie,  Charles  and  Mary. 
Mr.  Ewry  had  two  brothers,  David  and  John, 
in  the  late  Civil  war,  who  served  from  the  first 
call  of  President  Lincoln  for  three  months' 
men  until  the  close,  and  were  in  twenty-eight 
battles.  Mr.  Ewry  is  a  member  of  Montgom- 
ery lodge,  No.  5,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  in  politics 
is  a  republican.  He  has  a  beautiful  home 
adjoining  his  place  of  business  in  Beavertown, 
and  has  been  a  resident  of  Van  Buren  town- 
ship for  fifty-seven  years.  Mr.  Ewry's  high 
standing  as  a  citizen  and  his  success  in  busi- 
ness are  the  best  evidence  of  what  may  be  ac- 
complished in  life  through  energy,  industry 
and  sound  judgment. 


m 


ATHEW  FABING,  harness  and 
trunk  dealer  of  Miamisburg,  was 
born  near  Trenton,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  July  10,  1859,  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Anna  M.  (Fabing)  Fabing,  both  natives 
of  Alsace-Lorraine.  His  maternal  grandpar- 
ents were  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  (Bath)  Fa- 
bing, who,  with  Michael  Fabing,  father  of 
Mathew,  came  to  America  in  1857  and  settled 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  the  latter  en- 
gaged in  farming,  in  which  he  continued  until 
his  death,  December  24,   1879. 

Prior  to  coming  to  this  country  Michael 
Fabing  was  a  soldier  in  the  French  army,  was 
honorably  discharged  in  1856,  and  was  also  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the  late  Civil 
war,  as  a  member  of  company  F,  Fourth  Ohio 


cavalry.  He  enlisted  October  3,  1864,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  July  15,  1865.  His 
children  were  two — Mathew  and  John  M.— 
the  latter  a  telegraph  operator  now  residing  at 
Valparaiso,  Ind. 

Mathew  Fabing  was  reared  in  his  native 
county,  where  he  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  and  one-half  years  at  harness-making  in 
Middletown,  Ohio.  September  30,  1878,  he 
came  to  Miamisburg  and  worked  at  his  trade 
for  fourteen  months  as  a  journeyman,  and  De- 
cember 20,  1879,  embarked  in  business  for 
himself,  which  he  has  since  successfully  con- 
tinued, his  uninterrupted  prosperity  being  a 
strong  illustration  of  the  truth,  that  honesty, 
industry  and  economy  form  the  basis  of  success 
in  this  life. 

Mr.  Fabing  was  married  October  26,  1883, 
to  Amanda,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Catherine 
(Gebhart)  Dissinger,  of  Miamisburg;  this  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children — May, 
Clara,  Annie,  and  an  infant  son.  Mr.  Fabing 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  is  a  R. 
A.  M.;  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  en- 
campment, -also  of  the  K.  of  P.,  the  Harugari, 
and  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  politically  is  a 
republican.  He  has  been  remarkably  success- 
ful as  a  business  man,  and  enjoys  that  respect 
in  his  community  which  personal  worth  and 
business  ability  invariably  bring. 


V--»      EVI   FALKNER,  farmer  of  Randolph 
i    township,   and  a  son  of  one   of  the 

\  pioneers  of  Montgomery  county, 
sprang  from  good  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  stock.  Levi  Falkner,  Sr.,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  was  reared 
a  farmer,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade. 
While  living  in  Bedford  county,  he  married 
Margaret  Nicodemus,  daughter  of  Frederick 
Nicodemus,  and  almost  immediately  afterward 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


969 


they  started  for  Ohio,  each  on  horseback,  hav- 
ing no  baggage  or  other  property  except  what 
they  could  carry  in  saddle  bags.  This  was 
about  1813,  and  when  they  passed  through 
Dayton,  there  were  but  a  few  log  houses  with- 
in the  present  limits  of  the  place.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Falkner  went  to  the  home  of  John 
Becker,  where  Henry  Becker,  son  of  John 
Becker,  now  lives.  After  about  a  year  Mr. 
Falkner  purchased  of  Henry  Brumbaugh  about 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Randolph  township, 
which  was  then  in  the  thick  woods.  The  first 
work  performed  by  Mr.  Falkner  on  his  new 
farm,  new  in  more  senses  than  one,  was  to 
erect  a  rude  log  cabin,  and  to  fit  it  with  a 
puncheon  floor,  using  a  quilt  for  a  door.  His 
next  work  was  to  build  a  barn  on  Wolf  creek 
for  Henry  Bouser,  leaving  his  wife  alone  in 
the  cabin  in  the  woods  during  the  day.  Mr. 
Falkner  cleared  up  his  farm  and  soon  after- 
ward bought  forty  acres  adjoining,  making  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  still  later  adding  another 
eighty. acre  tract.  He  continued  to  prosper, 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
fifty-three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Falkner's  life 
was  an  example  of  the  industry  and  solid 
virtues  required  in  a  successful  pioneer  farmer. 
In  politics  he  was  an  old-line  democrat. 

Levi  Falkner,  his  son,  was  born  September 
22,  1822,  in  a  log  cabin  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, and  'received  but  a  meager  education. 
Early  in  life  he  began  to  work  on  the  home 
farm,  and  has  always  followed  farming  for  a 
living.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he 
married,  November  8,  1844,  Miss  Nancy  Herr, 
who  was  born  in  1822, and  is  a  daughterof  Sam- 
uel and  Frances  (Long)  Herr.  Samuel  Herr 
was  an  old  settler  of  Randolph  township,  and 
became  a  substantial  farmer,  owning  some  300 
acres  of  land.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
Mary,  Abraham,  Nancy,  Frances,  Samuel, 
Christian,  Hettie,  Lizzie,  Sarah  and  John. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  River  Brethren  church 


and  a  good  citizen.      He  died  on   his  farm  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Falkner 
settled  on  the  Falkner  homestead  in  Randolph 
township,  and  after  two  years  removed  to  the 
Herr  homestead,  where  he  lived  one  year, 
buying  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Clay  township, 
and  after  some  time  added  thereto  eighty 
acres,  lived  there  twenty-nine  years  and  then 
purchased  his  present  farm.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children:  Carris;  Angeline, 
who  died  when  six  years  old;  David  C, 
Frances,  Lorin,  Mary  A.,  Theodore  and 
Jerome.  Mrs.  Falkner  died  in  November, 
1879,  a  woman  of  many  virtues  and  a  member 
of  the  Brethren  church.  Politically,  Mr.  Falk- 
ner is  a  democrat,  but  is  in  no  sense  an  office 
seeker.  He  is  content  to  cultivate  and  man- 
age his  farm,  to  thrive  by  his  own  industry, 
and  to  be  an  independent  man. 


HEODORE  S.    FOX,  superintendent 
of  schools  of  Germantown,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Brook- 
ville,    Clay    township,    in    the    same 
county,  June  12,   1862,  and   is    a    son  of   Levi 
and    Barbara  (Studebaker)    Fox,  both  natives 
of  Johnstown,  Pa.,  and  of  German  descent. 

John  Fox,  his  paternal  grandfather,  and 
also  a  native  of  Johnstown,  Pa.,  early  came 
to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Clay  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  where  he  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children  and  passed  there  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  John  Studebaker,  the 
maternal  grandfather,  was  also  a  pioneer 
farmer  of  Clay  township. 

Levi  Fox,  father  of  Theodore  S. ,  was  a 
brickmaker  by  trade,  and  for  many  years  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Brookville,  where  he  still 
has  his  residence,  but  is  now  retired.  He  has 
brought  up  a  family  of  nine  children,  who  were 
named,  in   order  of  birth,    Martha  (Mrs.  Lee 


970 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Heck),  Sarah  J.  (Mrs.  A.  F.  Roller),  Herman 
S.,  Silas  B.  (deceased),  Theodore  S.,  Libbie 
(Mrs.  Perry  Spitler),  Albert,  Charles,  and 
Joseph  (deceased). 

Theodore  S.  Fox  reached  manhood  in 
Brookville,  Ohio,  and  received  his  preliminary 
education  in  the  common  schools.  This  edu- 
cation was  supplemented  by  an  attendance  at 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  and  later  by  an 
attendance  at  the  National  Normal  university 
at  Ada,  Ohio.  From  the  latter  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1885,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the 
profession  of  teaching,  and  for  two  or  three 
years  filled  positions  in  rural  districts.  From 
1888  until  1890  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
Brookville  public  schools;  from  1891  to  1893, 
inclusive,  was  superintendent  of  the  Washing- 
ton township  schools,  and  since  1894  has  been 
the  efficient  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
Germantown. 

The  marriage  of  Prof.  Fox  was  celebrated 
April  8,  1887,  with  Miss  Althea  F.  Arnold, 
daughter  of  John  and  Minnie  (Bolt)  Arnold, 
of  Brookville,  Ohio,  and  three  children  have 
been  born  to  this  marriage  and  named,  in 
order  of  birth,  Arnold,  Helen,  and  Mildred. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  politics,  Prof.  Fox  is  a 
democrat.  In  his  fraternal  relations  he  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  of  high  degree,  being  a  member 
of  the  encampment  in  that  order,  and  he  is 
also  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  Both  socially  and 
professionally  he  holds  a  high  position  in  the 
community  which  has  entrusted  to  him  the 
important  work  of  directing  the  education  of 
the  children. 


t/A  ANIEL    C.    FOX,    Jr.,    a  prominent 

I    farmer,  was  born  in  Miami  township, 

/^^J    Montgomery  county,   Ohio,  January 

14,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 

C.  and   Hannah   (Kauffman)    Fox,    natives  of 


Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  Rockingham 
county,  Va.,  respectively — the  former  born  in 
Miami  township  February  25,   1809. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Daniel  B.  Fox, 
born  in  Virginia  June  6,  1783  was  a  son  of 
Frederick  Fox,  a  native  of  Germany  (Hesse- 
Cassel),  who  came  to  America  in  1768  and 
located  in  Virginia,  on  what  is  now  known  as 
the  battle  field  of  Antietam,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business,  and  entertained  such 
celebrities  as  George  Washington.  In  1807  he 
settled  in  Franklin,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  for 
many  years.  In  later  life  he  located  in  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  died 
there.  His  first  wife  was  Catherine  Booker, 
and  his  second  wife  a  widow,  Mrs.  Young. 
Daniel  B.  Fox  settled  in  Miami  township  in 
1808,  and  resided  there  until  his  death.  His 
wife  was  Susan  Crissman  and  bore  him  ten 
children,  viz:  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  William  Phil- 
lips), Theresa  (Mrs.  Andrew  King),  Frederick 
C,  Susan  (Mrs.  Jacob  Mason),  Mahala  (Mrs. 
William  Reed),  Catherine  (Mrs.  James  Boyd), 
Christina  (Mrs.  William  Hendrickson),  Me- 
linda  (Mrs.  Pearson  Etress),  Mary  (Mrs.  Daniel 
Brininger)  and  Daniel  C.  Of  these  Frederick 
C.  was  reared,  lived  and  died  in  Miami  town- 
ship, was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  cleared 
and  improved  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mays  & 
Zehring.  His  wife,  Hannah,  was  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Rachel  (Shoemaker)  Kauffman, 
and  his  children  were  Daniel  C,  Jr.,  Fred  C, 
Jr.,  Susan  (Mrs.  Daniel  Weidner),  Hannah 
(deceased),  Catherine  (Mrs.  Franklin  Petti- 
crew),  Caroline  (Mrs.  Enoch  Stansell)  and 
Delilah  (Mrs.  Okey  McCabe). 

Daniel  C.  Fox,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the  fourth 
generation  from  Frederick  Fox  (first),  the  pro- 
genitor of  the  family  in  America.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Miami  township,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  log  school-house  of  his  day.  He  began  life 
as  a  farmer,  which  has  been  his  principal  voca- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


971 


tion,  but,  being  a  mechanic  by  natural  bent,  has 
been  identified  with  other  projects  in  that  direc- 
tion. In  1 8  54  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Benner)  Gebhart,  of 
Miami  township,  who  has  borne  him  four  chil- 
dren— Ellis  (deceased),  Harold,  Mary  E.  (Mrs. 
Francis  Yetter)  and  Daniel  G.  During  the 
late  Civil  war  Mr.  Fox  was  a  member  of  com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged after  ioo  days' service.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  G.  A.  R. ,  in  politics  is  a  republican, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  widely-esteemed  citi- 
zens of  Miami  township. 


HDAM  FRANK,  mayor  of  Germantown, 
Ohio,  and  an  attorney  at  law,  was 
born  in  Germantown  July  2,  1831,  a 
son  of  Mathew  and  Barbara  (Loy) 
Frank,  natives  of  New  York  and  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  respectively.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Lawrence  Frank,  was  a  farmer 
of  New  York  state,  and  his  maternal  grand- 
father, George  P.  Loy,  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land and  a  pioneer  of  German  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  where  he  cleared  and 
improved  a  farm;  in  later  life  he  retired  to 
Germantown,  and  died  there.  Mathew  Frank 
was  a  pioneer  shoemaker  of  Germantown,  fol- 
lowed that  vocation  all  his  life,  and  died  at 
Germantown  in  1869,  in  his  seventieth  year. 
His  children  were  Mary  (Mrs.  Daniel  Bussard), 
George,  Adam,  John  C,  William  H.  and  Nancy 
J.  (Mrs.  Holcomb  Snyder). 

Adam  Frank  passed  his  youth  in  his  native 
town  and  was  graduated  from  the  Germantown 
academy.  During  his  minority  he  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  during  that  period 
studied  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
the  early  'seventies,  and  has  since  been  in  the 
active   practice  of   his  profession   at  German- 


town,  where  he  has  been  prominent  in  the 
settlement  of  estates.  Mr.  Frank  has  been 
twice  married;  his  first  wife  was  Nancy,  daugh- 
ter of  Israel  and  Catherine  (Catrow)  Lucas,  of 
Wapakoneta,  Ohio;  to  this  union  was  born 
one  daughter — Mary  C. ,  now  deceased.  His 
second  wife  was  Mrs.  Vandalena  L.  (Hinkle) 
Stirewalt,  of  Germantown. 

Mr.  Frank,  in  his  fraternal  relations,  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  is  also  past 
grand  high  priest  of  the  grand  encampment  of 
Odd  Fellows.  He  has  been  secretary  of 
Friendship  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  No.  21,  of 
Germantown,  since  December,  1857,  a  period 
of  thirty-nine  consecutive  years,  and  has  filled 
all  its  various  offices.  He  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  canton  Frank,  of  Germantown,  named 
in  his  honor,  and  organized  March  28,  1888. 
He  organized  the  first  beautiful  Rebekahwork, 
put  on  the  floor  February  23,  1883,  by  Grace 
Rebekah  lodge,  No.  39,  Germantown,  and 
which  has  since  developed  in  various  forms 
throughout  the  United  States.  He  has  been 
representative  to  the  grand  lodge  of  Ohio  for 
ten  years,  and  of  the  grand  encampment  for 
about  the  same  period;  also  district  deputy 
grand  master  and  district  deputy  grand  patri- 
arch for  several  years.  In  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity he  has  been  master  of  the  Germantown 
lodge,  No.  257,  for  twenty-seven  years.  He 
has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  German 
township  for  thirty-seven  years;  mayor  of  Ger- 
mantown, at  intervals,  for  twenty-six  years; 
clerk  of  the  school  board  for  twenty-five  years; 
notary  public  for  twenty-five  years;  secretary 
of  the  Germantown  cemetery;  and  president 
of  the  Germantown  Fire  company  for  over 
thirty  years.  In  politics  Mr.  Frank  is  a  re- 
publican. In  his  societary  connections,  few 
men  have  attained  positions  so  high  in  the 
various  orders  to  which  he  belongs  as  has  Mr. 
Frank,  and  this  fact  alone  shows  not  only  the 
caliber  and  strength  of  his  mentality,  but  also 


972 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  high  respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
fellow-men.  In  his  profession  he  stands  in 
the  foremost  rank,  and  in  all  the  relations  of 
life  has  proved  his  worth  as  an  individual  and 
his  value  to  society. 


lS^\  EV-    JACOB    GARBER,    minister  of 
I  /^     the    German    Baptist    church,    and  a 
P    substantial  farmer  of    Madison   town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  March  8,   1821,  in  the  Shenandoah  valley 
of  Virginia,  and  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents. 

John  Garber,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
was  probably  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German 
parentage,  and  moved  from  that  state  to  Mary- 
land and  thence  to  the  Shenandoah  valley  of 
Virginia.  He  was  a  farmer  by  vocation,  and, 
like  his  ancestors,  was  a  German  Baptist  in  re- 
ligion. He  reared,  a  family  of  five  children, 
named  John,  Samuel,  Solomon,  Catherine  and 
Rebecca,  and  lived  to  the  patriarchal  age  of 
eighty-eight  years.  John  Garber,  father  of  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Garber,  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  on  Pike  creek,  about  the  year 
17S5,  and  went  to  the  Shenandoah  valley  with 
his  parents.  After  his  marriage  to  Nancy  Er- 
baugh,  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Rockingham 
county,  Va.,  on  which  he  lived  until  the  fall 
of  1835,  when  he  brought  his  family  to  Ohio 
and  settled  on  160  acres  in  Madison  township, 
Montgomery  county — making  the  journey  by 
wagon.  Mr.  Garber  first  occupied  a  log  house 
on  his  new  farm — for  it  had  been  partially  im- 
proved— then  fully  redeemed  his  place  from 
the  woods,  built  a  brick  dwelling,  and  made 
for  himself  and  family  a  comfortable  home. 
His  children  were  named  Hettie,  Jonathan. 
Sarah,  Samuel,  Jacob,  John,  Susan,  Nancy, 
and  Daniel,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  the  Shenan- 
doah valley,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  their  par- 
ents.   The  family  were  members  of  the  German 


Baptist  church,  of  which  two  of  the  sons, 
Samuel  and  Jacob,  became  ministers.  Mr.  Gar- 
ber was  called  from  earth  in  1858,  in  the  sev- 
enty-third year  of  his  age,  honored  by  all  his 
neighbors  for  the  uprightness  which  had  char- 
acterized a  long  and  useful  life. 

Rev.  Jacob  Garber  in  his  youth  received  the 
customary  district  school  education  and  passed 
his  earlier  manhood  on  the  home  farm.  No- 
vember 3,  1842,  he  was  united  in  wedlock,  in 
Madison  township,  with  Miss  Catherine  Vani- 
man,  who  was  born  November  10,  1820,  in  the 
same  township,  her  parents  being  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Bowman)  Vaniman. 

The  father,  Jacob  Vaniman,  was  a  native 
of  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  was  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents, 
John  and  Catherine  (Mortonj  Vaniman,  who 
settled  in  Montgomery  county  in  1802,  cutting 
the  way  through  the  woods  from  Dayton  to 
Madison  township.  John  Vaniman,  who  was 
noted  for  his  great  size  and  strength,  entered  a 
full  section  of  land  in  Madison  township  for  a 
homestead,  together  with  other  tracts  in  Perry 
and  Randolph  townships,  all  lying  in  the  un- 
broken forest.  Indians  were  numerous  in  the 
neighborhood,  having  a  camp  on  a  hill  upon 
Mr.  Vaniman's  homestead,  but  were  neighborly 
and  well  disposed  toward  the  white  settlers. 
Mr.  Vaniman  erected  a  large  stone  house,  the 
first  in  the  township,  cleared  up  a  large  farm, 
and  died  in  his  sixtieth  year,  one  of  the  most 
honored  of  pioneers.  His  children  were  John, 
Kate,  Betsie,  Jacob,  Polly,  Hannah,  Samuel, 
and  others  who  died  young. 

Jacob  Vaniman,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Garber, 
after  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Bowman, 
located  on  160  acres  of  the  old  Vaniman  home- 
stead, cleared  the  tract  from  the  wilderness 
and  erected  an  excellent  brick  dwelling,  im- 
proving the  place  with  everything  requisite  to 
equip  a  model  farm,  and  there  passed  his  years, 
respected   and  happy,  until  death   called  him 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


973 


away  in  his  sixty-fifth  year.  His  children,  in 
order  of  birth,  were  named  Catherine,  John, 
Elizabeth,  David,  Jacob,  George,  Daniel,  Mary 
and  Barbara. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garber 
they  located  on  a  farm  of  157J  acres  in  Madi- 
son township,  which  Mr.  Garber  had  bought 
and  parti}-  cleared,  and  upon  which  he  resided 
for  eighteen  years,  when  he  removed,  in  1868, 
to  his  present  farm  of  269  acres,  which  is  now 
in  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation  and  modern 
improvement.  Mrs.  Garber  died  July  3 1,  1853. 
The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garber  was  blessed 
with  six  children,  named  Mary,  Nancy,  Lizzie, 
Susanna,  Amanda,  and  Catherine  (who  died 
when  young).  Mr.  Garber  next  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Yaniman,  and  their  children  are 
Sarah,  Barbara,  Martha,  Hettie,  Harriet,  Albert 
and  Ezra.  Mr.  Garber  united  with  the  German 
Baptist  church  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
and  for  the  past  thirty-five  years  has  given 
faithful  and  untiring  service  in  the  ministry. 


>T,OHN  GEIGER,  a  prosperous  young 
■  farmer  of  Miami  township,  Montgomery 
(%  J  county,  was  born  in  Shelby  county, 
Ohio,  June  24,  1857,  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Lanehart)  Geiger,  natives  of 
Germany. 

Jacob  Geiger  came  to  America  about  the 
year  1850,  and  for  a  short  time  worked  on  a 
farm  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  at  $4  per  month; 
he  then  came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
worked  in  the  same  capacity  near  Miamisburg 
for  awhile,  and  later  was  for  several  years  in 
the  employ  of  Perry  Pease,  of  West  Carroll- 
ton,  same  county.  In  1856  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Lanehart  and  moved  to  Shelby 
county,  farmed  there  for  five  years,  and  then 
returned  to  Miami  township  and  rented  a  farm. 
In  1872  he  purchased  the  farm  at  West  Car- 
rollton  on   which    his  widow  still    resides;  in 


1 88 1  he  bought  the  tract  in  Miami  township 
now  occupied  by  his  son,  John  Geiger,  the 
subject  of  this  memoir,  and  in  1892  purchased 
the  farm  on  which  his  son-in-law,  Charles 
Loesch,  now  lives.  His  fortune  he  accumu- 
lated solely  by  his  business  astuteness,  and  was 
a  man  of  considerable  wealth  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  took  place  on  his  West  Car- 
rollton  farm,  December  15,  1895,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years,  after  a  useful  and  honorable 
life.  His  children  were  five  in  number  and 
were  named,  in  order  of  birth,  John,  Henry, 
Frank,  Carrie  (Mrs.  Charles  Loesch),  and 
George. 

John  Geiger,  whose  name  opens  this  bio- 
graphy, was  reared  from  early  childhood  to 
manhood  in  Miami  township,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  His  life  occupation 
has  been  that  of  a  farmer,  and  he  has  resided 
on  his  present  place  since  1882.  In  October, 
1882,  Mr.  Geiger  married  Miss  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Henry  Loesch,  of  Miami  township, 
and  this  union  has  been  followed  by  the  birth 
of  four  children,  viz:  Edith,  Robert,  Henry 
and  Lester.  In  religion  Mr.  Geiger  is  a 
Lutheran,  and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  He 
has  been  very  successful  in  his  calling  and  his 
industry  and  upright  conduct  have  deservedly 
gained  him  the  esteem  of  all  his  neighbors. 


^■VOHN  MARTIN  GEPHART,  a  prosper- 
s  ous  farmer  of  Miami  township,  Mont- 
rt>  J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a  native  here 
and  was  born  July  17,  1844,  a  son  of 
Peter  P.  and  Sarah  (Shupert)  Gephart,  both 
natives  of  Miami  township  and  of  old  pioneer 
families. 

John  Gephart,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
John  M.,  whose  wife  was  Julia  Brosius,  came 
from  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  John  Shupert,  the 
maternal  grandfather,  was  also  from  the  Key- 
stone state.      Both    were  pioneer    farmers  of 


974 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Miami  township,  and  were  of  German  descent. 
Peter  P.  Gephart  was  reared  to  farming  and 
this  was  his  life-long  and  successful  vocation. 
While  still  actively  engaged  in  this  calling,  he 
died  on  his  farm  in  1856.  To  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  Shupert  there  were  born  four 
sons  to  perpetuate  the  family  name  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  these  being,  in  order  of  birth, 
John  M.,  Christopher,  Mortimer  and  Nelson. 
John  Martin  Gephart  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  on  the  parental  farm,  and  he 
has  found  it  to  be  to  his  interest  never  to  re- 
linquish this  noble  and  useful  calling,  which 
students  of  political  economy  name  as  the 
prime  source  of  the  wealth  of  any  nation. 
Mr.  Gephart  received  the  ordinary  education 
vouchsafed  to  farm  lads  in  the  public  schools 
■of  his  township,  and  was  no  inapt  scholar. 
The  learning  he  there  acquired  has  been  suf- 
ficient for  all  the  ordinary  purposes  of  rural 
life,  and  he  has  subsequently  augmented  it  by 
careful  reading  of  the  current  literature  of  the 
present  day  and  much  of  that  of  times  past. 
In  1872  he  began  farming  on  his  individual 
account,  and  since  1878  has  occupied  his  pres- 
ent premises,  which  will  compare  most  favor- 
ably, as  to  tillage,  neatness  and  general  im- 
provements, with  any  farm  of  like  dimensions 
in  Miami  township. 

Mr.  Gephart  was  most  happily  united  in 
marriage,  March  26,  1872,  with  Miss  Barbara 
A.  E.  Baver,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Mary 
(Gebhart)  Baver,  of  Miami  township,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  two  children — Mary  E. 
(Mrs.  Kerr  Routzang)  and  Earl  Wellington, 
who  married  Inez  R.  Girrard.  Mr.  Gephart 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  poli- 
tics is  a  democrat,  and  fraternally  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  encampment,  D.  O.  H., 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  O.  U.  A.  M.  He  enjoys 
the  sincere  regard  of  his  neighbors  and  friends, 
and  well  sustains  the  honorable  name  be- 
queathed him  by  his  ancestors. 


e MANUEL  A.  GEBHART,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  September  24,  1849, 
in  Miami  township,  where  he  still  re- 
sides, a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Kreitzer) 
Gebhart.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Henry 
Gebhart,  came  to  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  from  Pennsylvania  in 
1827,  cleared  and  improved  a  farm,  a  portion 
of  which  is  still  owned  by  his  heirs,  and  upon 
which  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
his  remains  being  buried  in  Ellerton  cemetery. 
His  children  were  Hettie  (  Mrs.  John  Billman ), 
Hannah  (Mrs.  John  Rider),  Lucy  (Mrs.  Sol- 
omon Kreitzer),  Rebecca  (Mrs.  John  Kreitzer), 
John,  and  Sarah  (Mrs.  John  Shuder ) — all 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  John,  the  only  son, 
was  born  in  1 8 1 8,  was  reared  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  from  his  ninth  year, 
and  in  early  manhood  purchased  a  farm  in 
Miami  township,  on  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  in  June,  1884.  His  wife  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (  Gebhart )  Kreitzer, 
of  Jefferson  township,  and  his  children  were 
nine,  of  whom  five  grew  to  maturity  :  Jacob  A. 
(now  deceased),  Emanuel  A.,  John  A.,  Mi- 
nerva ( Mrs.  Charles  Kline  ),  and  Mary  (  Mrs. 
Morris  Kline  ). 

Emanuel  A.  Gebhart  was  reared  in  Miami 
township,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  lived  on  the  homestead  until  twenty-four 
years  of '  age.  He  then  lived  seven  years  in 
Jefferson  township,  and,  since  1882,  has  re- 
sided on  the  farm  he  now  occupies  in  Miami 
township. 

September  27,  1870,  Mr.  Gebhart  married 
Miss  Jennie,  daughter  of  David  and  Julia  A. 
(  Walburn  )  Bolander,  of  Miami  township,  and 
has  five  children,  viz  :  Luie,  Elsie  (  Mrs. 
Charles  Rice  ),  Daisy  M.  (  Mrs.  Howard  Bloss), 
Emma  and  Harry.  David  Bolander,  father  of 
Mrs.  Gebhart,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1802  and  came  to  Miami  township,  Montgom- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


975 


ery  county,  Ohio,  in  1817,  where  he  farmed 
until  his  death  in  January,  1887. 

Julia  A.  Walburn,  wife  of  David  Bolander, 
was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  when  a  girl.  She 
has,  since  her  husband's  death,  resided  in  the 
family  of  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Gebhart. 

Emanuel  A.  Gebhart  is  a  progressive  farmer, 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  church  and  has 
served  eleven  years  as  school  director  of  Miami 
township  ;  he  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Montgomery  county  Mutual  Fire  association, 
and,  politically,  is  a  democrat.  He  is  one  of 
the  thoroughgoing  business  men  of  his  town- 
ship, is  public  spirited,  and  ever  ready,  with 
his  time  and  means,  to  assist  in  any  enterprise 
designed  for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  He 
is  a  true  citizen,  and,  as  such,  holds  the  confi- 
dence, good  will  and  respect  of  all  his  fellow- 
citizens  of  Miami  township. 


QAHLON  O.  GEBHART,  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  German  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Miami  township,  in  that 
county,  February  27,  1852.  His  parents, 
George  S.  and  Magdelena  (Gebhart)  Gebhart, 
were  also  born  in  Miami  township.  George 
Gebhart,  his  paternal  grandfather,  and  his 
maternal  grandfather,  John  Gebhart,  were 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  both  pio- 
neers of  Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  whither  they  came  in  the  early  days  of 
the  settlement  of  this  section,  and  where  they 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

George  S.  Gebhart,  the  father  of  Mahlon 
O. ,  was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm  in 
Miami  township,  but,  some  years  after  his 
marriage  came  to  German  township  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Mahlon  O. ,  and  after  a  prosperous  and  honor- 
able life,  died  here  October  8,   188S,  leaving  a 

40 


widow  and  ten  surviving  children.  The  fam- 
ily of  children  born  to  George  S.  Gebhart  num- 
bered fifteen,  of  whom,  however,  but  eleven 
reached  the  age  of  maturity,  viz:  Urias,  Cor- 
nelius, Henry,  Mahlon  O.,  Julia  (Mrs.  Jacob 
Gebhart),  Magdalene  (now  deceased),  Sarah 
(Mrs.  James  Small),  Susan  (Mrs.  Frank 
Gable),  Hannah.  (Mrs.  Andrew  Organbright), 
Agnes  (Mrs.  Samuel  McClain),  and  Emma 
(Mrs.  Joseph  Koeppel). 

Mahlon  O.  Gebhart,  the  fourth  named  of 
the  children  of  George  S.  Gebhart  who  grew 
to  adult  years,  was  reared  a  farmer  and  passed 
the  days  of  youth  and  early  manhood  in  Miami 
and  German  townships.  He  has  devoted 
much  of  his  time  to  tobacco  culture,  and  for 
six  years  of  his  life  lived  in  Tennessee,  in  order 
to  perfect  his  knowledge  in  the  cultivation  of 
this  staple  product.  Excepting  this  absence, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  has  always  been 
his  home. 

The  marriage  of  Mahlon  O.  Gebhart  took 
place  March  18,  1881,  to  Lydia  Lease, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Lease,  of  Ger- 
man township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gebhart  are 
consistent  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Gebhart  is  a  free-silver 
democrat. 

Mr.  Gebhart  bears  a  good  name  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  and,  while  still 
a  young  man,  he  deserves  much  credit  for  the 
active  part  he  has  taken  in  the  material  ad- 
vancement of  German  township. 


*w    ■*  ENRY    B.    GRAF,    manager    of    the 

l^\    Miamisburg    Brewing  company,   was 

^F    born  in  Peru,  Ind.,  January  26,  1863, 

a  son  of  Henry  and  Ernestine  (Krauss) 

Graf,  both  natives  of  Germany.      His  father,  a 

wood  carver  by  trade,  came  to  America  with 

his  parents  in  1847,  and  has  been  a  resident  of 

Peru,  Ind.,  since   1863.      Henry  B.   Graf  was 


976 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


reared  in  his  native  city,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  started  out  in  the  world  for  himself,  lo- 
cating at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  in  1880,  where  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years  at  the 
molder's  trade,  and  then  took  charge  of  a 
foundry  as  superintendent,  serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  two  years.  In  1887  he  resumed  his 
trade,  which  he  followed  until  1891,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  flour-mill  machinery  business 
at  Hamilton,  in  which  he  continued  up  to  Oc- 
tober 1,  1895.  He  then  removed  to  Miamis- 
burg,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Miamis- 
burg  Star  Bottling  works  until  January  1,  1896, 
when  he  was  appointed  manager  of  the 
works,  and  on  February  18,  following,  was  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  Miamisburg  Brewing 
company,  and  is  still  holding  that  position,  as 
well  as  being  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
company. 

Mr.  Graf  was  married  September  17,  1885, 
to  Miss  Ella  S.,  daughter  of  Henry  P.  and 
Ellen  (Ball)  Deuscher,  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and 
now  the  mother  of  his  two  children — Frank 
H.  and  Fred  E.  Mr.  Graf  in  religious  belief 
is  a  Lutheran  and  in  politics  a  democrat.  He 
takes  no  especially  active  part  in  the  affairs  of 
his  party,  being  simply  content  to  exercise  his 
franchise  at  the  polls.  He  is  public-spirited, 
however,  and  always  ready  to  aid  in  promot- 
ing the  good  of  the  community  as  opportunity 
may  offer,  and  through  his  hearty  liberality 
has  won  many  warm  friends  since  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  Montgomery  county. 


^y^V  AVID  GROBY,  a  prominent  citizen 
I  of  Miamisburg,  proprietor  of  a  plan- 
J^^J  ing  mill  and  an  extensive  contractor, 
was  born  in  Stouchsburg,  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  May  25,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Beck)  Groby.  The  fa- 
ther,   Henry    Groby,    a    native    of    Germany, 


came  to  America  in  boyhood,  and  was  100 
days  in  crossing  the  Atlantic  ocean  in  a  sailing 
vessel.  He  settled  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and 
was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1854,  when  he  came  to  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
and  here  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dy- 
ing in  1858,  an  honored  citizen. 

David  Groby  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county,  and  received  a  fair  education  in 
the  common  schools,  served  an  apprenticeship 
of  two  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  re- 
ceived the  sum  of  $50  for  his  services,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  instruction  given  to  him.  He 
learned  the  trade  thoroughly,  however,  and  in 
1844  came  to  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  and  here 
worked  as  a  journeyman  for  two  years,  when 
he  made  a  trip  to  Illinois,  where  he  passed 
eleven  months,  returning  in  1847  t0  Miamis- 
burg, where  he  again  worked  at  his  trade  as  a 
journeyman  for  five  years  ;  he  then  engaged  in 
contracting.  He  built  the  bridge  between 
Germantown  and  Carlisle  in  1867,  rebuilt  the 
lower  bridge  at  Miamisburg  in  1868,  and  con- 
structed the  bridge  over  the  Miami  river  at 
Miller's  Fork  in  1868-69.  In  1871  he  estab- 
lished his  present  planing-mill,  which  he  has 
operated  ever  since  with  entire  success.  In 
1895  he  purchased  the  farm  of  100  acres  set- 
tled by  his  present  wife's  father  in  18 10,  and 
which  is  now  included  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  Miamisburg,  and  also  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  140  acres  one  mile  south  of  Miamis- 
burg, purchased  in  1865. 

Mr.  Groby  has  twice  been  married.  His 
first  union  was  with  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Saloma  (Weitzel)  Warner,  of  Miami 
township,  which  marriage  was  blessed  with 
five  children,  of  whom  three  grew  to  maturity, 
viz:  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Henry  P.  Brehm  ; 
Amanda,  married  to  W.  Henry  Benner,  and 
Jacob  B.  The  present  wife  of  Mr.  Groby  was 
a  widow — Mrs.  Catherine  (Weiss)  Eagle.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Groby  are  consistent  members  of  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


977 


Lutheran  church,  and  fraternally  Mr.  Groby  is 
a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  also  an  act- 
ive member  of  the  Knights  Templar  encamp- 
ment ;  he  has  been  an  Odd  Fellow  for  over 
fifty  years,  and  is  likewise  a  member  of  the 
D.  O.  H.  In  politics  Mr.  Groby  is  a  repub- 
lican through  conviction,  and  not  a  partisan 
through  a  desire  for  public  office.  As  a  busi- 
ness man  he  has  risen  to  eminence  through 
his  industry  and  strict  integrity  in  all  transac- 
tions, and  his  name  as  such  stands  without  a 
blemish,  while  as  a  citizen  he  is  prominent 
and  progressive. 


Kw    ■*  ENRY  GROBY,  the  well-known  con- 

I^\    tractor   and    builder   of    Miamisburg, 

W    Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 

in   Stouchsburg,    Berks  county,   Pa., 

February  13,  1853,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Lydia 

(Rabold)    Groby,  both    also    natives   of   Berks 

county.       His    paternal     grandparents    were 

Henry    and    Catherine    (Beck)     Groby,     the 

former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Germany  and 

came  to  America  when  a  boy,  being  100  days 

on  the  passage.      He  was  reared  to  manhood 

in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  came  to  Miamisburg  in 

1854,  and  here  died  in  1858. 

Samuel  and  Lydia  Groby,  parents  of  Henry 
Groby,  came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in 
1859,  and  for  four  years  Samuel  Groby  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars  in  Miamis- 
burg, and  then  engaged  in  farming  in  Miami 
township — his  present  occupation.  His  chil- 
dren are  three  in  number  and  are  named 
Henry,  Jacob,  and  Mary — the  daughter  being 
the  wife  of  Martin  Apple. 

Henry  Groby  grew  to  manhood  in  Mont- 
gomery county  from  the  age  of  six  years, 
attended  the  public  schools,  and  when  of  suffi- 
cient age  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  uncle,  David 
Groby,  by  whom    he  was  afterward  employed 


for  eighteen  years  as  a  journeyman.  In  1892 
he  embarked,  on  his  own  account,  in  the  lum- 
ber, door,  sash  and  blind  business,  and  also  in 
contracting  and  building,  and  has  been  so 
steadily  successful  that  he  now  stands  at  the 
head  of  that  line  of  industry  in  this  city. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Groby  took  place  in 
1876  with  Miss  Lena,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Magdalena  (Krout)  Yordy,  of  West  Carrollton, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren —  Bessie  (Mrs.  David  Dunn),  and  C. 
Howard. 

Mr.  Groby  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows;  is  a  charter  member  of  and  a  director 
in  the  Miamisburg  Building  &  Loan  associa- 
tion, and  in  politics  is  a  republican.  He  has 
won  a  well-established  reputation  as  a  master 
of  his  calling,  his  integrity  and  ability  being 
widely  recognized,  and  he  and  his  family  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  place  in  the  social  circles 
of  Miamisburg. 


EON.  GEORGE  A.  GROVE,  one  of 
the  prominent  citizens  of  Miamis- 
burg, Ohio,  and  one  who  has  been 
often  honored  with  official  position 
because  of  his  eminent  fitness  for  the  places 
he  has  held,  was  born  in  Millersburg,  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  August  25,  1817.  He  is  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Eva  (Holstein)  Grove,  and  was 
reared  by  them  in  Berks  county,  Pa.  In  May, 
1836,  he  removed  to  Miamisburg,  where  he 
served  three  years  as  clerk  in  a  store,  and  was 
subsequently  occupied  in  farming  for  ten  years, 
residing  on  the  Kercher  farm  until  1850.  This 
farm  many  years  ago  became  a  portion  of 
Miamisburg,  and  on  it  many  of  the  finest  resi- 
dences in  the  place  now  stand.  From  1850 
to  1855  Mr.  Grove  prosecuted  the  grain  and 
lumber  business  with  Simon  Huiet,  owning  a 
number  of  canal   boats  and  engaging  in  trade 


978 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


along  the  Miami  &  Erie  canal  from  Toledo  to 
Cincinnati.  In  1855  the  firm  of  H.  Groby  & 
Co.  was  formed  by  H.  Groby,  Emanuel  Shultz 
and  Mr.  Grove,  for  the  purpose  of  entering 
the  lumber  trade,  and  in  1866  the  well  known 
banking  establishment  of  H.  Groby  &  Co.  was 
founded  by  the  same  firm.  This  banking  firm 
continued  in  business  until  1879,  when  Mr. 
Grove  withdrew. 

Mr.  Grove  has  been  twice  married;  first  to 
Christiana  Kercher,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kercher, 
the  founder  of  Miamisburg.  To  this  marriage 
there  were  born  two  children,  viz:  John  H., 
and  Lucetta  L. ,  wife  of  Christian  Weber.  The 
second  wife  of  Mr.  Grove  was  Sallie  Gebhart, 
daughter  of  Peter  M.  and  Hannah  (Ulrich) 
Gebhart,  of  Miamisburg.  To  this  marriage 
also  there  have  been  born  two  children,  Eva 
L.  and  Grace  L. 

In  politics  Mr.  Grove  has  always  been  a 
democrat,  and  in  1865  was  elected  county 
commissioner,  being  the  only  candidate  on  his 
ticket  that  was  elected,  and  the  only  demo- 
cratic county  officer  at  that  time  in  the  county. 
In  1868  he  was  re-elected  by  a  largely  in- 
creased majority,  and  in  1875  was  elected 
representative  of  the  county  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  general  assembly.  In  1877  he 
was  elected  to  the  state  senate  over  his  friend 
and  partner  in  business,  Hon.  Emanuel  Shultz. 
In  1880  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state 
board  of  equalization,  and  as  a  member  of  this 
board  rendered  his  county  valuable  service, 
succeeding  in  having  the  county  valuation  re- 
duced nearly  $4,000,000.  Mr.  Grove  has 
filled  many  minor  positions  of  honor  and  trust, 
always  with  fidelity  and  efficiency,  and  has 
taken  a  prominent  part  for  many  years  in  all 
public  enterprises  and  undertakings  calculated 
to  advance  the  material,  moral  and  religious 
interests  of  Miamisburg.  To  his  energy  and 
perseverance  is  largely  due  the  establishment 
of   the  Miamisburg  hydraulic,  and  he  was  also 


instrumental  in  securing  the  city  park,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  board  of  park  commis- 
sioners since  its  organization  in  1889.  For 
more  than  sixty  years  Mr.  Grove  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Miamisburg  Lutheran  church, 
and  is  universally  regarded  one  of  the  best  and 
most  useful  citizens  of  the  place.  In  1896 
Mr.  Grove  was  reappointed  one  of  the  com- 
missioners of  the  soldiers'  relief  committee, 
this  being  his  third  term  of  three  years  and 
closing  in  1899. 


HDAM  GRUVER,  blacksmith  of  Mi- 
amisburg, Ohio,  was  born  in  Stouch- 
burg,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  February 
12,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (Groby)  Gruver,  and  his  father  hav- 
ing died  and  his  mother  married  again,  he  re- 
moved with  her,  then  Mrs.  William  Stupp,  to 
Miamisburg  in  1853,  and  here  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, receiving  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools.  Afterward  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  two  and  a  half  years  in  the  blacksmith 
shop  of  Daniel  Bookwalter,  a  biographical 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  Having  completed  his  trade  he  was 
engaged  in  general  blacksmithing  in  various 
parts  of  the  country  up  to  1865.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Miami  township  and  engaged  in 
farming  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  entered  the  employ  of  Hoover  & 
Gamble,  in  January,  1869,  and  remained  with 
this  firm  until  September,  1879,  during  the 
last  five  years  of  which  period  he  was  foreman 
of  the  blacksmithing  department.  In  1879  he 
established  himself  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count as  a  general  blacksmith,  and  has  thus 
been  engaged  ever  since,  meeting  with  well  de- 
served success,  and  now  conducting  the  busiest 
shop  of  its  kind  in  Miamisburg. 

Mr.  Gruver  was  married  October  19,  1865, 
to  Sarah    Gebhart,    daughter   of    Andrew   and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


979 


Eliza  (Eagle)  Gebhart,  of  Miami  township, 
and  by  this  marriage  he  has  seven  children, 
viz:  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Frank  Hart;  Anna  E., 
wife  of  Charles  M.  Lambert;  Charlie  E.,  who 
married  Anna  Kimmerling;  Edith  M. ,  wife  of 
Howard  Brehm;  Henry,  Mary  E.,  and  Lester. 
Mr.  Gruver  has  been  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church  since  his  boyhood  days,  is  a 
royal  arch  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  an 
Odd  Fellow  (encampment  and  canton),  and 
a  Knight  of  Honor.  In  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  as  such  he  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council  of  Miamisburg,  meeting  the 
general  approbation  of  the  people,  and  reflect- 
ing on  himself  the  utmost  credit  for  the  ability 
he  manifested  in  the  transaction  of  the  public 
business  and  the  readiness  with  which  he  di- 
vested himself  of  all  traces  of  partisanship 
while  in  his  office.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gru- 
ver are  people  of  excellent  character  and  hon- 
orable impulses,  and  have  many  friends  around 
them;  they  are  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to  the  needy,  and  equally  ready  to  aid  in 
any  project  to  advance  the  public  welfare. 


BREDERICK  GWINNER,  a 
well-known  citizen  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  lead- 
ing insurance  men  of  Miamisburg, 
was  born  in  Eneskerchen,  near  Cologne,  on 
the  Rhine,  in  Germany,  May  12,  1832.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  F.  and  Christiana  (Neuman) 
Gwinner.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Germany,  and  there  learned  the  locksmith's 
trade,  and  in  185 1,  when  eighteen  years  of 
age,  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  locating 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  for 
seven  years  in  a  chandelier  factory.  In  the 
spring  of  1858  he  settled  in  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
where  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  grape 
growing  and  in  the  raising  of  tobacco.  In 
1859  he  purchased  the  Washington  hotel  prop- 


erty, remodeled  and  improved  the  building 
and  successfully  conducted  the  hotel  for  twen- 
ty-three years.  In  1882,  having  acquired  a 
competency  through  his  prosperous  business 
career,  by  frugality  and  strict  attention  to  de- 
tails, he  retired  from  the  hotel  business,  and 
for  five  years  afterward  was  engaged  in  the 
buying  of  tobacco  for  a  Detroit  house.  Since 
then  he  has  given  his  attention  mostly  to  the 
business  of  fire  insurance,  and  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  property.  In  1878  he  purchased 
the  handsome  brick  block  which  stands  on  the 
corner  of  Main  street  and  Central  avenue, 
and  which  bears  his  name. 

Mr.  Gwinner  was  married  in  1859  to  Han- 
nah Salomon,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rose 
Salomon,  of  Germany,  by  which  marriage  he 
has  four  children:  Rose,  now  Mrs.  Samuel 
H.  Mays;  Jennie,  now  Mrs.  John  W.  Burns; 
Arnold  F.,  and  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  William 
Stroop.  Mr.  Gwinner  has  always  taken  great 
interest  in  the  advancement  of  Miamisburg, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  member  of 
the  city  council,  leaving  a  record  as  one  of 
the  best  men  for  the  place  that  ever  held 
the  office.  He  is  interested  in  a  number 
of  leading  stock  companies,  and  for  years 
has  been  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the 
Teutonia  Insurance  company  of  Dayton.  He 
is  a  director  in  the  First  National  bank  of 
Miamisburg,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  For  more  than  forty  years  he  has 
been  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  for  thirty  years  a 
member  of  the  Harugari.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men for  seventeen  years,  and  is  also  an  active 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  1890 
he  was  elected  decennial  land  appraiser  tor 
Miami  township.  Politically,  Mr.  Gwinner  is 
a  democrat.  He  is  a  highly  respected  citizen 
of  Montgomery  county,  being  well  known  to 
all  its  people  as  a  most  useful  and  honorable 
member  of  the  community. 


'.ISO 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


^■j'OHN  A.  HALL,  carriage  painter,  was 
■  born  in  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  his  present 
m  J  place  of  residence,  December  26,  1846, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Anna  M. 
(Thompson)  Hall,  both  natives  of  the  Buckeye 
state  and  of  German  and  English  (Quaker)  de- 
scent, respectively.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
William  Hall,  was  a  pioneer  of  Ohio  and  was 
for  many  years  a  blacksmith  in  Miamisburg, 
where  he  passed  his  latter  days.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  John  A.  Hall  was  a  farmer 
of  Butler  county,  Ohio. 

Jeremiah  Hall,  father  of  John  A.,  was  a 
machinist  by  trade  and  was  reared  in  Miamis- 
burg. During  the  late  Civil  war  he  served  as 
a  member  of  company  E,  Thirty-ninth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  going  out  as  corporal,  and 
for  meritorious  conduct  and  bravery  in  the  face 
of  the  enemy  was  promoted  successively  to  be 
sergeant,  lieutenant  and  captain.  After  serv- 
ing four  years  and  six  months  he  was  honora- 
bly discharged  and  returned  to  Miamisburg, 
where  he  resumed  his  trade  and  followed  it 
until  1894,  when  he  retired  to  the  soldiers' 
home,  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  is  quietly 
passing  his  declining  years. 

John  A.  Hall,  the  only  child  born  to  Jere- 
miah, was  reared  in  Cincinnati  and  was  there 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  also  at  Dela- 
ware college.  He,  too,  became  a  soldier,  en- 
listing in  June,  1861,  in  company  E,  Thirty- 
ninth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry  (his  father's  com- 
pany), and  serving  two  and  a  half  years  as 
drum-major;  he  was  then  honorably  discharged, 
and  in  1864  enlisted  in  company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
serving  three  months  as  a  private,  and  again 
received  an  honorable  discharge. 

After  returning  from  the  army,  John  A. 
Hall  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years 
at  the  painter's  trade  in  Cincinnati  with  C.  W. 
Miller.  He  worked  for  eight  years  at  this  vo- 
cation in  the  railroad  shops  at  Zaleski,  Vinton 


county,  Ohio,  and  then  for  two  years  with  the 
Bookwalter  company,  of  Miamisburg.  He 
next  located  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
passed  ten  years,  of  which  time  two  years  and 
a  half  were  spent  as  a  guard  at  the  state  prison 
and  the  remainder  of  the  time  in  working  at 
his  trade  for  the  Columbus  Buggy  company. 
Since  1895,  he  has  lived  in  Miamisburg  in  the 
employ  of  the  Enterprise  Carriage  Manufactur- 
ing company. 

Mr.  Hall  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Ada,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Matilda  Gist,  of  Zaleski,  Ohio,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  tour  children — Charles  J., 
Jeremiah  C,  Alice  M.  (Mrs.  Milton  Dutcher), 
and  John  B.  His  second  marriage  was  with 
Miss  M.  ElenoraScothorn,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam J.  and  Lydia  (Long)  Scothorn,  of  Jackson 
county,  Ohio,  and  this  union  has  been  followed 
by  the  birth  of  five  children,  viz:  Arthur,  New- 
ton, Edward,  Mabel  and  Raymond.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hall  are  faithful  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church,  and  fraternally  Mr.  Hall 
is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
K.  of  P.  and  the  G.  A.  R.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican  and  socially  stands  high  in  the  es- 
teem of  the  inhabitants  of  his  native  city  of 
Miamisburg,  having,  beside,  many  warm  friends 
in  the  various  other  towns  in  which  he  has 
passed  so  many  years  of  his  useful  life. 


^-t*ACOB  HAMMEL,  an  experienced  and 
m  well-known  farmer  of  Miami  township, 
/•  I  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
near  Chambersburg,  Franklin  county, 
Pa.,  March  17,  1S20,  a  son  of  Conrad  and 
Christiania  (Bittinger)  Harnmel,  both  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state  and  of  Swedish  descent. 
The  father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  died 
in  his  native  state  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years — his  wife  dying  when  eighty-three  years 
of  age. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


981 


Jacob  Hammel  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
his  native  county,  working  on  a  farm  during 
the  summer  months  after  he  had  become  of 
suitable  age  for  the  performance  of  that  class 
of  labor.  For  five  years  after  reaching  his 
majority  he  drove  a  six-horse  team,  hauling 
freight  from  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  to  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  from  the  latter  city  to  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
there  being  no  railroads  in  operation  in  those 
localities  in  that  early  day.  In  1845  he  was 
employed  seven  months  in  a  boiler  shop  in 
New  Orleans,  La.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1846 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
employed  one  season  in  a  brickyard  in  Alex- 
andersville ;  the  following  year  he  was  employed 
as  a  teamster,  and  in  1848  he  purchased  a 
canal  boat,  trafficked  on  the  canal  for  three 
months,  and  then  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  on  his  own  account,  following  this  in- 
dustry five  years.  Since  then  Mr.  Hammel 
has  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  in  Miami 
township,  making  a  specialty  of  tobacco,  to 
the  cultivation  of  which  he  has  set  aside  twen- 
ty-five acres  and  has  averaged  as  high  as  eighty- 
six  and  one-half  cases  of  the  product,  of  400 
pounds  to  the  case — a  success  but  seldom 
achieved  in  this  latitude  by  the  growers  of  this 
staple  commodity. 

Mr.  Hammel  has  been  thrice  married,  his 
first  union  having  taken  place  in  December, 
1850,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Leighty,  who  died 
in  1852;  his  second  marriage,  January  3,  1856, 
was  with  Miss  Catherine  Mease,  of  Miami 
township,  and  this  union  was  blessed  with  five 
children,  viz:  Annie,  William,  Mary  C.  (Mrs. 
Marion  Recher),  Nancy  and  Nora  (Mrs.  Ro- 
land Bradford);  the  mother  of  this  family  died 
May  8,  1878;  his  third  matrimonial  alliance 
was  with  Mrs.  Louis  Riggs — the  present  Mrs. 
Hammel — and  occurred  September  24,  1887. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Hammel  is  a  dem- 
ocrat.     No  farmer  in  Miami   township  stands 


higher  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  than  Mr. 
Hammel,  and  but  few  have  been  more  success- 
ful in  their  particular  lines  of  industry. 


HBRAHAM  HARLEY,  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Randolph 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  successful  and  substantial 
farmer,  is  descended  from  Rudolph  Harley, 
the  originator  of  the  Ohio  family,  who  came 
to  America  from  the  German  empire  in  the 
autumn  of  1719. 

While  there  has  been  some  question  as  to 
the  original  nationality  of  the  Harley  family, 
which  is  a  very  ancient  one,  the  preponder- 
ance of  evidence  points  to  Germany  as  the 
country  of  its  origin,  where  it  can  be  traced 
back  as  far,  at  least,  as  to  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury. It  is  true  that  the  name  appears  in 
England,  but  chiefly  after  the  date  of  the' revo- 
cation of  the  edit  of  Nantes,  1685,  through 
which  over  4,000  of  the  best  citizens  of  Ger- 
many fled  the  country  in  preference  to  becom- 
ing Catholics.  In  England,  many  of  the  Harley 
family  became  quite  prominent,  some  even 
becoming  members  of  parliament,  and  one, 
Robert  Harley,  became  librarian  to  King 
George  I.  It  is  evident,  too,  that  some  of  the 
family  had  gone  to  England  prior  to  the  revo- 
cation of  the  edict  mentioned,  probably  under 
religious  persecution,  as  one  member,  Thomas 
Harley,  purchased  from  William  Penn  a  tract 
of  5,000  acres  of  land  in  Pennsylvania,  most 
of  it  in  Montgomery  county,  the  title  to  which 
is  dated  July  4,  1682.  But  it  is  not  from  him 
that  Abraham  Harley  descends,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  following  record: 

Rudolph  Harley  and  his  wife,  great-great- 
grandparents  of  Abraham  Harley,  came  from 
Germany  to  America  in  17 19,  having  had  a 
long  and  tedious  voyage,  during  which  a  son, 
Rudolph,  Jr.,  was  born  to  them  July  14,  1719, 


982 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


the  vessel  not  reaching  America  until  autumn. 
For  a  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harley  made  their 
home  in  Pennsylvania,  where  a  daughter, 
whose  name  is  not  now  remembered,  was  born. 

Going  to  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.,  Mr. 
Harley  lived  there  a  few  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Pennsylvania  and  bought  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  Franconia  township,  Montgomery 
county,  about  two  miles  from  the  present  town 
of  Harleysville. 

Rudolph  Harley,  Jr.,  great-grandfather  of 
Abraham,  married  Mary  Becker,  daughter  of 
Peter  Becker,  of  Germantown,  who  was  the 
first  elder  of  the  Brethren  church  in  America. 
To  this  union  were  born  thirteen  children,  viz: 
Rudolph  ;  Johanna,  born  April  21,  1743,  and 
married  to  Honoly  Stauffer  ;  Lena,  who  died 
young  ;  Maria,  born  March  12,  1747,  was  first 
married  to  a  Mr.  Landis,  then  to  Frederick 
Deal,  and  was  the  mother  of  nine  children  ; 
Rudolph,  born  February  7,  1749,  first  married 
Barbara  Bach,  and  next  a  Miss  Bombarger, 
and  was  the  father  of  a  large  family  ;  Eliza- 
beth, born  September  9,  1750,  was  married  to 
Christian  Dettery,  and  had  a  large  family  ; 
Jacob  was  born  June  8,  1752,  never  married, 
but  lived  to  a  good  old  age  ;  Heinrich  was  born 
July  1,  1754,  married  Elizabeth  Keely,  and 
had  a  family  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  children  ; 
Sarah  was  born  June  20,  1756,  was  married  to 
Elder  George  Price,  of  Coventry,  Chester  coun- 
ty, father  of  John  Price  and  grandfather  of  Isaac 
Price,  both  eminent  preachers  in  the  Brethren 
church  ;  Samuel  was  born  March  6,  1758,  mar- 
ried Catherine  Sauer,  and  had  twelve  children  ; 
Joseph  was  born  March  14,  1760,  married,  at 
the  age  of  fifty  years,  Catherine  Price,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Reiff  and  widow  of  William  Price  ; 
Maria  Margaretta,  was  born  September  13, 
1762,  was  married  to  Jacob  Detwiler  and  also 
had  a  large  family;  Abraham,  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  June  14,  1765,  and  mar- 
ried Christiana  Giesby,  who  was  a  very  amiable 


and  worthy  woman  and  reared  a  large  family 
of  children,  of  whom  three  became  ministers  of 
the  gospel  —  Abraham,  Samuel  and  Benjamin. 
Abraham  Harley,  whose  son's  name  opens 
this  sketch,  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Rudolph 
Harley,  the  immigrant,  and  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.,  in  1790.  He  received  a 
limited  education  in  German,  and  attended 
English  schools  for  about  six  weeks.  Reared 
a  farmer,  he  also  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  and,  beside  these  two  callings,  car- 
ried on  milling.  He  married  Miss  Catherine 
Reiff,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery  county. 
Pa.  To  them  were  born  seven  sons,  as  fol- 
lows :  Elias,  Isaiah,  Abraham,  John,  Lewis, 
Jacob  and  Aaron.  Mr.  Harley  lived  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Pa.,  until  18 19,  and  then  re- 
moved his  family,  by  means  of  teams  and 
wagons,  to  Chester  county,  Pa.,  where  he  built 
a  flouring  mill.  This  mill  he  ran  for  several 
years,  and  in  1S25  removed  to  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  rented  a  mill  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother.  One  year  later  he 
located  within  seven  miles  of  Lancaster,  Pa., 
and  there  rented  a  large  flouring  mill,  still 
house  and  sawmill,  which  he  operated  for  two 
years.  In  1829  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Tuscarawas  county,  where  he  rented  a  mill. 
Remaining  there  one  year  he  then  ran  a  mill 
in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  which  a  year  or  two 
later  burned  to  the  ground.  Mr.  Harley  was 
again  obliged  to  seek  a  new  location,  this  time 
within  four  miles  of  Wellsville,  near  the  Ohio 
river.  After  carrying  on  the  milling  business 
here  for  a  short  time,  he  came,  in  the  spring 
of  1832,  to  Montgomery  county,  where  he  again 
rented  a  mill,  six  miles  north  of  Dayton,  on  the 
Stillwater,  and  one  year  later  bought  a  small 
piece  of  land  near  where  Henry  Becker  now 
lives.  To  this  small  tract  he  added  until  he 
had  143  acres,  and  lived  upon  it  seven  years, 
when,  in  the  spring  of  1840,  he  removed  to 
McLean  county,  111.,  where   his   wife  died  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


983 


1856,  and  he  married  again,  in  Illinois.  He 
was  a  man  of  extremely  vigorous  constitution, 
and  died  in  1880  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 
In  his  younger  days  he  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  became  a 
minister,  and  later  was  connected  with  the 
River  Brethren  church.  He  was  known  every- 
where as  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  of  high 
christian  character,  and  of  great  kindness  of 
heart.  Physically,  he  was  strong  and  hardy, 
with  an  iron  constitution,  as  is  sufficiently  indi- 
cated by  the  life  he  led,  as  narrated  above. 

Abraham  Harley,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  March  25,  1818,  in  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.,  was  reared  a  farmer  and  given  a 
good  common-school  education.  With  his 
father's  family  he  came  to  Ohio  about  1829, 
when  he  was  about  ten  years  old.  Until  his 
twenty-third  year  he  remained  at  home,  work- 
ing with  his  father,  going  with  him  to  Illinois 
in  1840.  Returning  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1842 
he  worked  a  farm  in  Randolph  township,  Mont- 
gomery county.  On  March  24,  1842,  he 
married  Anna  Becker,  on  the  Becker  home- 
stead, she  having  been  born  there  September 
29,  1820,  and  being  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Hart)  Becker.  For  fuller  mention 
of  the  Becker  family  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  biography  of  Henry  Becker,  to  be  found 
elsewhere  in  these  pages. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harley  re- 
sided in  Randolph  township  four  years,  and 
then,  removing  to  Miami  county,  lived  there 
ten  years,  when  they  returned  to  the  old 
Becker  homestead.  On  the  death  of  Mr. 
Becker,  Mr.  Harley  purchased  the  interest  of 
the  heirs  and  now  owns  the  property,  consist- 
ing of  102  acres  of  good  farming  land.  Be- 
side this  he  owns  eighteen  acres  of  the  farm 
formerly  owned  by  John  Becker,  the  original 
pioneer  of  the  Becker  family.  In  i860  Mr. 
Harley  built  a  fine,  three-story  brick  residence 
and  has  made  many  other  substantial  improve- 


ments, adding  to  the  comfort  and  value  of  his 
home.  His  brothers,  John  and  Lewis,  were 
soldiers  in  the  late  Civil  war;  John  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  Lewis  served 
three  years  in  an  Illinois  regiment  of  infantry, 
and  both  were  good  soldiers. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harley  there  have  been 
born  six  children,  as  follows:  Jacob,  who 
died  when  ten  months  old;  Samuel,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  John  W.,  who  died 
when  ten  years  old;  Reuben,  Laban  and  Ernst. 
Mrs.  Harley,  who  died  in  1893,  aged  seventy- 
two  years,  was  a  woman  of  many  excellent 
traits  of  character.  Mr.  Harley  has  always 
been  a  republican  in  politics.  His  character  is 
one  of  probity,  and  his  life-long  habits  of  indus- 
try and  correct  living  have  won  him  respect 
and  confidence. 


<y*\  AVID  HECKMAN,  one  of  the  thrifty 
I  farmers  of  Randolph  township,  and 
/^^J  the  head  of  an  excellent  family,  is  a 
son  of  one  of  the  original  pioneers. 
He  sprang  from  sturdy  German  stock,  his  im- 
mediate ancestors  being  residents  of  Virginia. 
David  Heckman,  his  grandfather,  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  married  Mary  Ann  Snuffer, 
by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  Will- 
iam, Catherine,  Sarah,  Rebecca,  Mary,  John, 
Henry,  Aaron  and  Samuel.  David  Heckman 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  In  181 1  he  removed  to 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  settled  in  the  woods  and 
erected  a  log  cabin.  Clearing  up  160  of  land 
he  began  the  life  of  a  successful  and  prosper- 
ous farmer.  He  entered  land  in  Clay  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  and  in  other  places, 
and  also  bought  land  for  his  children  in  Kossuth 
and  Whitley  counties,  Ind.,  giving  each  of  them 
a  farm.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  character 
and  lived  an  upright  and  honorable  life,  dying 
at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty  years. 


984 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


William   Heckman,    father  of    David,  was 
born  December  25,  1804,  in  Franklin  county, 
Ya. ,  and  was  about  seven  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents.      By  reason  of 
the  scarcity  and  the  poor  quality  of  schools  in 
that  day,  he  received  but  a   limited  education. 
On   July    5,  1827,  he    was  married  in    Clarke 
county    to    Miss   Mary   A.    Brandenburg,  who 
was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  April   28, 
1808,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Jo- 
hannah  Brandenburg,  they  being  of  German  an- 
cestry and  old  settlers  of  Maryland.      William 
Heckman  settled  in  Clay  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,    on   eighty  acres  which  he  had  en- 
tered  from   the  government,  cleared  it  of  its 
timber,  and  built  a  log  cabin  before  a  stick  of 
timber  had   been   cut   for  a   like  purpose  any- 
where in  the  vicinity.      His  was  the  only  house 
for  many  miles   around,   and  he  continued  for 
many  years  to  live  upon  the  spot  upon  which 
he  thus  erected  the  first  home  for  his  family. 
Through    industry     and   perseverance    he    not 
only  improved  his  original   farm  but  added  to 
it    100    acres  of  land,  and    erected   thereon   a 
brick  dwelling.      Mr.  Heckman  was  a  member 
of  the  German   Baptist  church   and  a  deacon 
therein  for   many  years.      His   children,  all  of 
whom   were  born    in    Clay   township,  were  as 
follows:     Jacob,    born  September    21,     1828; 
David,  born   May    15,    1830;    Elizabeth,  born 
October    6,    1832;   Samuel,    born    March    25, 
1835;  Nancy,  born  September    I,   1837;  Ezra, 
born  December  6,  1840;  Tabitha,  born  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1843;  and    Mary,  born   January    11, 
1847.      Mr.  Heckman  died  on  his  farm  in  1872, 
aged  sixty-seven   years    and   one   month,  hav- 
ing led  the  life  of  a  pioneer  and  achieved  a  de- 
served  measure   of   success.      Mrs.    Heckman 
died   September    10,   1855. 

David  Heckman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  May  5,  1830,  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Clay  township,  received  a  good,  common- 
school   education,   and  became  a  farmer.      He 


married,  February  1,  1855,  Hannah  Brum- 
baugh, of  Randolph  township,  born  in  1834, 
and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Rine- 
hart)  Brumbaugh.  For  fuller  mention  of  the 
Brumbaugh  family  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
biography  of  John  R.  Brumbaugh,  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Heckman  settled  on  his  present  farm 
of  100  acres  of  land  given  to  Mrs.  Heckman,  to 
which  he  has  added,  by  industry  and  thrift, 
twenty  acres  more.  In  i860  Mr.  Heckman 
built  a  substantial  brick  house,  and  later  a 
good  barn,  as  well  as  other  improvements  nec- 
essary on  a  properly  conducted  farm.  He  has 
lately  added  eighty  acres  to  his  land,  and  now 
enjoys  the  cultivation  of  200  acres,  constitut- 
ing one  of  the  best  among  the  many  fine  farms 
of  this  section. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heckman  there  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Amanda, 
Marietta,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ellen,  and  Sam- 
uel. He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  stand  high  in  the 
estimation  of  the  community.  Mr.  Heckman 
is  well  known  throughout  the.  county  as  a  man 
of  worth  and  integrity. 


«y  ■*  ENRY  M.  HERMAN,  D.  D.,  pastor 
^"\  of  the  First  Reformed  church  of  Mi- 
F  amisburg,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Pequea, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  March  20, 
1834,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Sorber) 
Herman,  natives  of  Chester  county,  Pa.  His 
paternal  great-grandfather,  Henry  Herman,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  an  early  pioneer  of 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  whose  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Ruth  Ann  Howard,  and  was 
a  native  of  Lancashire,  England.  Henry  Her- 
man, Jr.,  the  only  son  of  Henry,  Sr.,  and  the 
grandfather  of  Henry  M.,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  married  Elizabeth  Miller,  a  na- 
tive of  England,  and  also  became  a  farmer  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


985 


Chester  county,  Pa.  John  Sorber,  the  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  Henry  M.  Herman,  was 
of  German  descent  and  a  merchant  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pa.  Samuel  Herman,  his  father, 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  passed  all  his  life 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity — Lancaster,  Pa. 

Rev.  Henry  M.  Herman  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  received 
his  elementary  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  passed  to  the  high  school  of  the 
city  of  Lancaster,  and  after  graduating  there- 
from entered  Franklin  &  Marshall  college,  of 
the  same  city,  whence  he  was  graduated  in 
i860  with  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  He 
next  attended  the  Theological  seminary  at  Mer- 
cersburg,  Franklin  county.  Pa.,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1862.  (His  degree  of  D.  D. 
was  conferred  by  the  Heidelberg  university,  of 
Tiffin,  Ohio,  in  1883.)  For  twenty  years, 
from  1862  until  1881,  Mr.  Herman  was  pastor 
of  the  Reformed  church  at  West  Alexandria, 
Ohio,  and  from  1881  until  the  present  time 
has  been  the  pastor  of  the  First  Reformed 
church  of  Miamisburg.  During  all  these  long 
years  Mr.  Herman  has  been  ardent,  faithful 
and  self-sacrificing  in  his  holy  calling,  and  his 
labors  have  been  abundantly  rewarded  by  ad- 
ditions to  his  church  membership.  Gifted 
with  a  power  of  eloquence  peculiarly  adapted 
to  the  pulpit,  his  sermons  have  always  been 
attractive  and  instructive,  and  being,  more- 
over, scholarly  in  his  attainments  and  profound 
in  theology,  his  discourses  are  naturally  quite 
convincing. 

Rev.  Mr.  Herman  was  united  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony,  May  10,  1862,  with  Miss  Bella 
D.  Orr,  daughter  of  Hunter  and  Margaret  L. 
(Lawson)  Orr,  of  Lawsonham,  Pa.,  and  this 
union  has  been  crowned  by  the  birth  of  six 
children,  in  the  following  order:  Susan  (Mrs. 
Charles  E.  Weaver),  Fannie,  Margaret  (Mrs. 
Daniel  Bookwalter),  Howard  H.,  Mary  and 
Maurice.      Mr.  Herman  is  a  thirty-second  de- 


gree Mason  and  a  Knight  Templar,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  regents  of  Heidelberg  uni- 
versity, and  has  made  himself  useful  and 
prominent  in  many  charitable  movements  on 
the  part  of  the  church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican. 


81 


ILLIAM  H.  HOFFMAN,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Louis  Newburgh  To- 
bacco Packing  company,  of  Ger- 
mantown,  Ohio,  and  the  largest 
concern  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  German  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  September  30,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Fink)  Hoffman,  natives, 
respectively,  of  Pennsylvania  and  Germany. 

John  Hoffman,  by  occupation  a  farmer, 
passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  German 
township,  and  had  born  to  his  marriage  eleven 
children,  of  whom  nine  grew  to  maturity,  viz: 
Mary,  now  Mrs.  Levi  Kissinger;  John,  who 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  war;  Levi; 
Michael;  Elizabeth,  the- wife  of  Peter  Heller; 
Leah,  married  to  John  Limbaugh;  Susan,  now 
Mrs.  Levi  Medler;  William  H.,  and  Julia,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Harvey  King. 

William  H.  Hoffman  came  to  manhood  in 
his  native  township,  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools,  and  later  passed 
through  a  course  of  instruction  in  Holbrook's 
college,  in  Lebanon,  Ohio.  He  begun  his 
business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  in  German- 
town,  but  a  year  later  embarked  in  tobacco 
growing;  since  1878,  however,  he  has  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  Louis  Newburgh  Tobacco 
Packing  company — first  as  foreman  for  four- 
teen years;  and  next  as  superintendent  of  the 
business,  which  position  he  has  most  satisfac- 
torily filled  since  1892. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  united  in  marriage,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1875,  with  Flora   Miller,  daughter 


986 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


of  Jacob  and  Rebecca  (Welsh)  Miller,  of  Ger- 
man township.  Mrs.  Hoffman  died,  in  the 
faith  of  the  Lutheran  church,  June  6,  1895. 
Mr.  Hoffman,  in  his  societary  relations,  is  a 
master  Mason,  and  is  also  a  member  of  canton 
Frank,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  encampment  of  German- 
town.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a 
democrat. 


lS~\  EV.  SAMUEL  L.  HERR,  one  of  the 
I  /^T  prominent  ministers  of  Montgomery 
w  county  and  a  thriving  farmer  of  Ran- 
dolph township,  springs  from  Penn- 
sylvania ancestors.  His  remote  ancestors  came 
from  Switzerland  on  account  of  religious  per- 
secution and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  under  the 
protection  of  William  Penn.  They  were  Men- 
nonites  in  religion,  or  followers  of  Menno 
Simons,  who  founded  the  modern  school  of 
Anapabtists  in  Holland,  about  1  540.  In  after 
years  some  of  these  religionists  settled  on 
the  Susquehanna  river,  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
were  collected  together  by  John  and  Jacob 
Engle,  who  formed  them  into  a  new  denomi- 
nation and  called  them  Brethren  in  Christ. 
Menno  Simons  died  in  1561,  a  man  of  gentle, 
earnest,  modest  and  spiritual  nature,  and  with- 
out any  of  the  characteristics  of  a  fanatic. 

The  grandfather  of  the  subject  was  a  farmer 
of  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  a  member  of  the 
River  Brethren  denomination,  and,  it  is  be- 
lieved, a  minister.  Of  his  children  who  are 
remembered,  the  following  may  be  named: 
Abraham,  Henry,  Randolph,  and  Samuel,  all 
of  whom  were  reared  on  the  old  home  farm  at 
Lebanon,  Pa. 

Samuel  Herr,  the  father  of  Samuel  L. ,  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  in  1796;  became 
a  prosperous  farmer,  and  married,  in  that 
county,  Elizabeth  Long,  daughter  of  Abraham 
Long.  Mr.  Herr  became  a  minister  in  the 
church    of    the    River  Brethren   and  preached 


therein  many  years.  Selling  his  farm  in  Leba- 
non county,  Pa.,  he  removed  to  Ohio  in  1832, 
settling  on  the  farm  on  which  his  son  now 
lives.  At  first  he  purchased  260  acres,  to 
which,  by  prudence  and  energy,  he  added 
other  tracts  until  at  length  he  owned  400 
acres,  becoming  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  in  the  county.  Much  of  this  land  he 
cleared  and  improved,  erecting  good  buildings 
and  making  a  good  home  for  his  family.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  ministers  of  his  church  in 
this  part  of  the  country.  In  company  with 
Rev.  John  Wenger,  whose  biography  is  else- 
where printed  in  this  volume,  he  aided  to  found 
the  first  church  organization  of  the  kind  in  the 
county,  and  also  aided  in  the  erection  of  its 
first  house  of  worship. 

He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Abraham,  Mary,  Nancy, 
Fannie,  Samuel  L. ,  Christian,  Hettie,  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah,  and  John.  Rev.  Mr.  Herr  lived 
to  the  great  age  of  seventy-two  years,  dying 
on  his  farm,  a  man  of  wide  experience  and 
knowledge,  and  of  great  generosity  and  use- 
fulness. He  was  noted  everywhere  for  his 
high  christian  character. 

Rev.  Samuel  L.  Herr,  who  was  born  April 
6,  1828,  was  about  four  years  old  when  brought 
to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  and  well  remembers 
many  incidents  of  that  journey,  which  was 
made  by  means  of  teams  and  wagons.  He 
received  the  common-school  education  of  the 
days  of  his  youth,  and  became  a  farmer.  On 
January  20,  1853,  when  he  was  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  he  married,  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
Miss  Catherine  Hocker,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 21,  1832,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Sterling)  Hocker.  For  fuller  men- 
tion of  the  Hockers  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  biography  of  Jesse  K.  Brumbaugh,  else- 
where published  in  this  volume. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herr 
settled  on  a  part  of  the  Herr  homestead,  farm- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


987 


ing  some  210  acres.  Of  this  he  gave  his  son 
a  farm,  retaining  for  himself  126  acres,  which 
he  has  improved  in  many  ways.  Mr.  Herr  was 
ordained  a  minister  in  the  church  more  than 
thirty  years  ago,  and  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged in  preaching  the  gospel.  He  has  always 
been  liberal  in  his  support  of  the  church,  and 
is  widely  known  for  his  good  works.  To  him 
and  his  wife  there  have  been  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Edna,  David,  Lavina,  Levi, 
Omer,  who  died  wheh  twenty  years  of  age; 
Martha,  who  died  when  three  years  old;  and 
Mary,  who  died  when  two  years  old.  Rev. 
Mr.  Herr  has  been  a  life-long  and  earnest 
Christian,  descending  from  a  family  of  religious 
people.  His  personal  character  and  his  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  the  church  have  won  him 
the  affection  and  esteem  of  a  host  of  friends. 


<w  *  ENRY  HERR,  farmer  of  Randolph 
I^^V  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
r  and  an  old  resident  of  the  county, 
sprang  from  Pennsylvania  Dutch  an- 
cestry. His  grandfather,  Daniel  Herr,  was  a 
cabinetmaker  and  miller  by  trade,  and  married 
Elizabeth  Miller.  John  Herr,  the  original  an- 
cestor of  the  family  in  this  country,  came 
from  Switzerland,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  Daniel  Herr  was  a 
citizen  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  there 
died  at  the  age  of  about  sixty-five  years.  He 
and  his  wife  had  the  following  children : 
Samuel,  Martha,  Rachael,  Christiana,  Mary, 
Joseph  and  Benjamin,  and  one  that  died  when 
quite  young.  Daniel  Herr  was  one  of  the 
solid  men  of  his  day,  and  fairly  representative 
of  the  Pennsylvania  stock,  so  many  of  whose 
descendants  are  to-day  valued  citizens  of  the 
Miami  valley. 

Samuel  Herr,  father  of  Henry,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  1805.  Reared  as 
a  farmer,  he  also  became  a  carpenter  and  con- 


tractor. He  married  Mary  Bowman,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, daughter  of  Henry  and  Esther  Bow- 
man. Mr.  Herr  removed  to  Clarke  county, 
Ohio,  in  1850,  where  he  remained  for  one 
year,  coming  in  1851  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio.  Here  he  purchased  214  acres  of  land, 
which  had  been  partly  cleared.  The  remain- 
der he  cleared  and  converted  the  whole  into 
an  excellent  farm,  improving  it  in  many  ways, 
but  especially  by  the  erection  of  good  build- 
ings. Mr.  Herr  was  a  practical  and  pro- 
gressive farmer,  and  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful of  his  day.  His  children  were  as  follows  : 
Susan,  now  deceased  ;  Henry,  and  Levi,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  when  about  twenty-six 
years  old.  Politically  Mr.  Herr  was  a  repub- 
lican, and  was  a  man  of  high  character  and 
strong  convictions. 

Henry  Herr  was  born  July  30,  1857,  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa. ,  on  a  farm,  and  with 
his  parents  came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
His  father  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  value  of 
educating  the  young,  and  gave  to  each  of  his 
children  the  best  education  practicable  for  him 
to  give.  Young  Herr  being  brought  up  on  a 
farm  became  a  farmer,  and  has  always  fol- 
lowed that  occupation.  Receiving  120  acres 
of  his  father's  estate,  he  still  retains  it  and 
has  brought  it  up  to  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  his  county.  Politically  Mr. 
Herr  is  a  republican,  standing  high  in  his 
party's  esteem,  and  is  respected  for  the  fine 
qualities  of  his  character  and   disposition. 


"^j*OHN  HERSHEY,  a  progressive  farmer 
M  of  Randolph  township,  is  of  sterling 
/•  J  Swiss  ancestry.  His  remote  ancestor 
came  to  Pennsylvania  in  early  colonial 
times,  a  member  of  William  Penn's  colony, 
and  was  thus  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
that    commonwealth,     locating     in    Lancaster 


988 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


county.  This  colony  fled  from  religious  perse- 
cution in  Europe,  and  its  members  became 
most  excellent  citizens  of  Pennsylvania.  Jacob 
Hershey,  the  grandfather  of  John,  was  a 
farmer  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  living  five 
miles  west  of  the  present  city  of  Lancaster,  at 
what  was  then  called  "The  Manor."  He 
there  owned  a  large  farm  and  a  stone  flouring 
mill,  having  built  what  is  still  known  as  the 
Hershey  mill. 

Jacob  Hershey  married  Barbara  Heistand, 
by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  John, 
Jacob,  Henry,  Andrew,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth 
and  Annie.  Jacob  Hershey  was  in  religion  a 
Mennonite,  as  was  his  father  before  him.  He 
lived  to  be  nearly  seventy  years  old  and  died 
on  his  farm,  a  man  of  property  and  much 
respected.  Jacob  Hershey,  his  son  and  father 
of  John,  was  born  on  the  old  Hershey  home- 
stead, which  had  been  in  the  family  for  gener- 
ations. He  received  the  usual  common-school 
education  of  the  times  of  his  youth,  and  was 
well  informed,  considering  the  opportunities 
afforded  him.  Brought  up  a  farmer,  he  also 
acquired  the  milling  trade,  taking  charge  of  his 
father's  mill.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Hertz- 
ler,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
(Weldy)  Hertzler.  John  Hertzler  and  wife 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
John,  Elizabeth,  Daniel,  Mary,  Jacob,  Ben- 
jamin, Ann  and  Lavina. 

Jacob  Hershey  ran  the  old  mill  until  1835, 
and  then  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Clarke 
county,  where  he  bought  a  farm.  This  he 
afterward  sold  and  bought  the  Speaker  estate, 
owning  at  one  time  800  acres  of  land.  He 
was  a  most  substantial  man  of  affairs,  and  car- 
ried on  a  large  business  with  decided  ability 
and  success.  He  lived  to  the  venerable  age  of 
eighty  years,  dying  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
esteemed  for  his  personal  character  and  re- 
membered for    his  virtues  as  a  citizen.      Polit- 


ically he  was  an  old  line  whig,  and  later  in  life 
a  republican  and  a  strong  Union  man.  One  of 
his  sons,  Benjamin,  was  in  the  late  Civil  war, 
in  an  Indiana  regiment  of  infantry,  and  was 
with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 

John  Hershey,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  September  20,  18 14,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  on  the  homestead  of  his  grand- 
father, in  a  stone  house  built  in  1772.  While 
receiving  the  common-school  education  of 
those  days  he  also  learned  farming  and  mill- 
ing, and  came  with  his  father  to  Ohio  in  1835', 
and  in  Clarke  county  managed  the  mill. 
Afterward  for  some  years  he  operated  a  mill 
near  Dayton,  Ohio,  then  traveled  through 
Illinois,  Iowa  and  Missouri,  and  on  October 
20,  1852,  married  in  Randolph  township,  Miss 
Christian  Hocker,  who  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Sterling)  Hocker.  For  fuller 
mention  of  these  people  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  biography  of  Jesse  K.  Brumbaugh,  else- 
where published  in  this  volume. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hershey 
settled  in  Clarke  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  for  about  two  years,  when  he  removed 
his  family  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
was  engaged  for  two  years  in  milling.  Then 
removing  to  Randolph  township,  Montgomery 
county,  he  followed  farming  for  nine  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  period  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm.  This  was  in  1866.  The  farm  con- 
tained 175  acres,  and  was  only  partially  im- 
proved. However,  since  it  was  bought  by 
Mr.  Hershey,  he  has  added  much  to  its  con- 
venience and  value,  by  the  erection  of  a  com- 
modious brick  residence,  and  of  other  good 
buildings.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hershey  are  as  follows:  Benjamin  Franklin, 
who  lives  in  Dayton  and  is  a  successful  lawyer; 
Rev.  Henry;  Jacob;  Mary  C,  who  died  when 
twenty  years  of  age;  Albert  J.,  who  died  when 
twenty-three  years  of  age;  Ira;  Martha  E. ; 
Anna;  Ida;  Esta;  and    Edna.      Mr.  and    Mrs. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


989 


Hershey  are  members  of  the  River  Brethren 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Hershey  is  a  re- 
publican. Mr.  Hershey  is  a  man  of  excellent 
character,  and  one  in  whom  all  who  know 
him  have  the  utmost  confidence. 


>-j*ACOB  W.  HOLDERMAN,  of  New 
J  Lebanon,  Perry  township,  one  of  the 
A  J  veteran  soldiers  of  the  late  Civil  war, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  December  19,  1840,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Repp)  Holderman. 
Educated  in  the  common  schools,  he  enlisted 
in  company  G,  Eleventh  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, in  April,  1861,  under  the  first  call  of 
President  Lincoln,  for  75,000  three  months' 
troops.  Having  served  out  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment he  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp 
Dennison,  Ohio.  Returning  to  Montgomery 
county  he  re-enlisted  in  Dayton  in  October, 
1862,  in  company  G,  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  for  three  years,  or  during  the 
war,  and  served  until  discharged  on  surgeon's 
certificate  of  disability  from  hospital  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  August  4,  1863.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Stone  River,  Chattanooga,  Missionary 
Ridge,  and  several  skirmishes,  and  was  at  Gal- 
latin after  John  Morgan's  men.  He  was  twice 
captured  during  his  term  of  service  and  was  in 
Libby  prison  forty  days,  when  he  was  ex- 
changed and  rejoined  his  regiment.  He  was 
permanently  disabled  through  sleeping  on  the 
ground,  and  lay  in  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
from  April  28  to  August  4,  1863.  He  has 
ever  since  been  a  sufferer  from  the  effects  of 
his  exposures  during  the  war. 

On  December  17,  1S65,  Mr.  Holderman 
was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Terhune,  who  was 
born  at  Peru,  Ind.,  and  who  died  in  the  fol- 
lowing October,  leaving  no  children.  Mr. 
Holderman  again  married  in  July,  1872,  his 
second  wife  being  Matilda  Gorman,  the  daugh- 


ter of  Patrick  Gorman.  The  children  by  this 
marriage  are  Chauncey  and  Harry.  Mrs. 
Holderman  died  October  2,  1877,  and  Mr. 
Holderman  married  for  his  third  wife  Rebecca 
J.  Lewis,  who  was  born  near  New  Albany, 
Ind.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Re- 
becca (Fishburn)  Lewis.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Louis  E.,  Izette  M.,  Jasper  E.,  Ray,  Jesse 
A.,  Grace  I.,  and  Charles  J. 

After  the  termination  of  the  war  Mr.  Hol- 
derman went  to  Indiana,  and  later  lived  two 
years  in  the  soldiers'  home  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 
In  1883  he  located  in  New  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
where  he  has  been  variously  engaged.  For 
two  years  he  was  marshal  of  the  piace,  and  is 
now  in  the  hack  business  in  New  Lebanon. 
Notwithstanding  his  disability  Mr.  Holderman 
has  been  persistently  industrious.  Politically 
he  has  always  been  a  republican,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Al  Mason  post,  No.  598,  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  good  soldier,  active  and  efficient,  in 
the  performance  of  every  duty  until  disabled, 
and  until  that  time  was  in  all  the  battles, 
marches  and  campaigns  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged. 

John  G.  Holderman,  father  of  Jacob  W. , 
was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  where  the 
soldiers'  home  now  stands.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  Holderman  and  his  wife,  Sarah  J. 
(Caylor)  Holderman.  Jacob  Holderman  was 
a  farmer  and  also  ran  a  still,  as.  was  the  case 
with  many  of  the  early  settlers.  For  thirteen 
years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  infirmary,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
Henry,  John  C. ,  Jacob,  David,  Joseph,  Daniel, 
Christopher,  George,  Absalom,  Melinda,  Mary 
A.  and  Julia  A.  Jacob  Holderman  was  born 
near  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  came  of  Dutch  an- 
cestors. His  great  grandfather  came  from 
Germany  and  lived  to  be  100  years  and  three 


990 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


months  old.  John  C.  Holderman  was  born 
December  16,  1819,  and  reared  the  following 
children:  Jacob  W.,  Daniel  R.,  Elizabeth, 
Philip  J.,  Amanda,  Julia  A.,  Ella,  Maggie  and 
Nettie,  all  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Hol- 
derman served  his  country  during  the  late 
Civil  war  in  the  Sixty-ninth  regiment,  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  as  wagon  master.  After 
the  war  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Jefferson 
township,  upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death 
in  1884.  Politically  he  was  always  a  repub- 
lican, and  as  a  citizen  was  of  sterling  charac- 
ter and  excellent  social  and  business  qualities. 
The  Holderman  family  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  county,  patriotic  and  honorable  and  highly 
esteemed.  Daniel  R.  Holderman,  brother  of 
Jacob  W.,  also  served  his  country  in  the  war 
as  a  member  of  the  Sixty-ninth  regiment  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  being  in  the  service  four 
years.  Five  of  his  uncles  were  soldiers  in  the 
late  war,  viz:  John  C. ,  Jacob,  David,  Joseph 
and  Daniel,  thus  making  seven  of  the  family 
who  fought  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 


@EORGE     W.    HOUS,     M.    D.,    the 
leading    physician    and    surgeon    of 
Randolph      township,      Montgomery 
county,    Ohio,     is    a    native  of  this 
county  and  of  German  origin. 

George  Hous,  grandfather  of  the  doctor, 
came  from  Virginia,  was  a  pioneer  of  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  there  cleared  up  a  farm  from 
the  wilderness,  and  reared  a  large  family  of 
children,  of  whom  the  names  of  the  following 
are  remembered:  Adam,  Simeon,  John,  Polly, 
Permelia,  Sallie,  Ella  and  Andrew.  He  lived 
to  be  eighty-four  years  of  age  and  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Andrew  Hous,  son  of  George  and  the 
father  of  Dr.  Hous,  was  born  in  Preble  county, 
November  29,  1820,  came  to  Montgomery 
county  when  a  young  man,  and  here   married 


Mary  Reichard,  a  native  of  this  county  and 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Reichard.  Jo- 
seph was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  of 
German  descent,  and  a  pioneer  of  Perry  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county.  He  had  been  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and,  after  coming 
to  Perry  township,  cleared  a  large  farm,  and 
for  eighteen  years  served  as  a  township  trustee. 
He  reared  a  family  of  four  children — Elizabeth, 
William,  Joseph  and  Mary,  and  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-nine  years,  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Andrew  Hous  and  wife  located  in  Perry 
township  on  a  farm  of  110  acres,  all,  with  the 
exception  of  thirteen  acres,  being  in  the  forest. 
Mr.  Hous  cleared  and  improved  the  entire 
tract,  building  a  substantial  residence;  and 
here  he  passed  the  remainder  of  the  active 
years  of  his  life  until  his  retirement  to  Brook- 
ville,  where  his  death  took  place  May  25, 
1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  New  School  Lutheran,  and  in 
politics  a  democrat.  His  widow  is  still  living 
in  Brookville  and  has  reached  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-three years,  and  their  children,  living, 
are  as  follows:  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  George  W. 
and  Sarah  M. 

Dr.  George  W.  Hous  was  born  July  5, 
1849,  in  his  father's  original  log  cabin  on  the 
farm  in  Perry  township,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  school  at  Pyrmont; 
this  was  supplemented  by  attending  the  school 
at  Brookville  and  the  normal  school  at  Leb- 
anon; he  then  entered  the  Medical  college  of 
Ohio  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  received  his  di- 
ploma in  1877.  He  also  studied  medicine  un- 
der Dr.  Levi  Spitler,  of  Dayton,  and  began 
practice  at  Pyrmont  in  the  same  year,  1877; 
and  in  October,  1878,  removed  to  Salem, 
where  he  has  since  remained,  enjoying  a  lucra- 
tive practice.  In  1883  Dr.  Hous  attended  the 
Polyclinic  institute  in  New  York  city  and  the 
Long  Island  Hospital  college  at  Brooklyn,  N.Y., 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


991 


thus  adding  mat  eriallyto  his  medical  knowledge 
and  skill.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Montgom- 
ery county  Medical  society,  the  Ohio  state 
Medical  association,  and  the  American  Med- 
ical association,  and  is  a  patron  and  reader  of 
the  best  medical  journals  of  the  day,  his  library 
being  filled  with  the  most  approved  works  on 
medicine  and  surgery  extant,  and  all  the  time 
that  can  be  spared  from  his  practice,  which 
now  embraces  a  large  territory  in  and  around 
Salem,  is  devoted  to  the  study  of  the  latest 
methods  and  advances  in  medicine. 

Dr.  Hous  was  married  at  Salem  October  2 1 , 
1884,  to  Miss  Nannie  Irene  Carl,  who  was  born 
in  Greenville,  December  29,  1858,  the  only 
child  of  Jacob  and  Amanda  J.  (Schaeffen  Carl. 
Her  father,  Jacob  Carl,  a  miller,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  when  a  young  man,  and  married 
Amanda  J.  Schaeffer,  a  native  and  resident  of 
Germantown,  born  July  4,  1837,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Susannah  (Ketro)  Schaeffer.  David 
Schaeffer,  a  farmer,  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Pa. ,  and  for  sometime  after  coming  to  German- 
town,  Ohio,  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter. 
His  children  were  named  Arthur  A.  M.,  Rebec- 
ca, Wilkerson,  Mary  A.,  Amanda  J.,  Matilda, 
Charles  and  David.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren died  in  Salem  at  an  advanced  age,  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Jacob 
Carl  followed  milling  for  a  number  of  years  in 
Germantown,  and  then  bought  a  farm  in  But- 
ler township,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  at  the  early  age  of  forty  years. 

To  the  marriage  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hous  have 
been  born  four  children  —  Nellie  C,  Everett 
B. ,  Mary  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years,  and  Lincoln  Rome.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church  ;  in 
politics  the  doctor  is  a  republican,  and  has 
served  as  treasurer  of  Randolph  township. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  Randolph  lodge, 
No.  98,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

41 


^"^EORGE  W.  HUBLER,  of  Miamis- 
■  G\  burg,  Ohio,  traveling  salesman  and 
\^J  collector  for  the  McCormick  Harvest- 
ing Machine  company,  of  Chicago, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  February  22,  1848,  a  son  of 
George  W.  and  Salome  (Lesher)  Hubler,  and 
grandson  of  Michael  and  Margaret  (Gebhart) 
Hubler,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  pioneers 
of  Miami  township. 

Michael  Hubler  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  a  son  of  Michael  Hubler,  and 
settled  in  Miami  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  about  1808,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  lived  to  be  over  ninety-two  years 
of  age.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Margaret  Gebhart,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  settled  in  Miami  township  in  1806, 
cleared  and  improved  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  A.  J.  Hubler  and  died  there.  She 
bore  him  six  children — Elizabeth  (Mrs.  John 
Wrights),  George  W. ,  Andrew  J.,  Margaret, 
Perry  and  Louisa  (Mrs.  Samuel  Bechtolt). 

George  W.  Hubler,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Miami  township  in  18 10;  after  attain- 
ing his  majority,  he  engaged  in  farming  in 
Jefferson  township  until  i860,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Miamisburg  and  conducted  a  cloth- 
ing and  tailoring  establishment  up  to  1870, 
when  he  retired  from  business  on  account  of 
ill  health.  During  the  late  Civil  war  he  served 
100  days  as  a  member  of  company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, received  an  honorable  discharge  at  the 
expiration  of  service,  and  died  in  1872.  His 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Lesher;  a  pio- 
neer of  Miami  township.  She  bore  him  three 
children — Christiana  (Mrs.  John  Weaver), 
George  W.  and  John  H. 

George  W.  Hubler,  the  subject,  was  reared 
in  Montgomery  county,  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  began  life  for  himself  as  a  tele- 
graph operator,  which  calling  he  followed  for 


' »'.'!' 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


two  years —  1 868-69.  He  then  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  four  years  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  in  1873  went  west,  and  was  em- 
ployed as  engineer  on  the  Atchison,  Topeka  cS; 
Santa  Fe,  and  Denver  cS:  Rio  Grande  railroads 
until  1879,  when  he  returned  to  Miamisburg, 
and  entered  the  machinery  department  of  the 
Hoover  &  Gamble  works,  where  he  remained 
until  1888 — a  part  of  the  time  being  on  the 
road  as  traveling  agent.  In  1889  he  was 
traveling  salesman  for  the  Champion  Reaper 
&  Mower  company  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  and 
in  June,  1890,  entered  into  a  contract  with 
the  McCormick  company  of  Chicago,  with 
whom  he  has  since  been  engaged  as  salesman 
and  collector. 

Mr.  Hubler  was  married  November  12, 
1867,  to  Sally,  daughter  of  David  and  Mar- 
garet (Neiblei  Hetzel,  of  Miami  township,  and 
has  two  sons  —  Herbert  H.  and  Robert  L. 
He  is  a  royal  arch  Mason,  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  encampment,  canton  Groby,  and 
a  K.  of  P. ;  in  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and 
in  his  business  relations  is  energetic,  pains- 
taking and  faithful  to  every  duty  entrusted  to 
his  care. 


SENRY  C.  HUNT,  one  of  the  best 
known  citizens  and  business  men  of 
Miamisburg,  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  August  30,  1827,  a  son  of  Ed- 
ward and  Rachael  (Sheafor)  Hunt. 

Edward  Hunt  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  a  son  of  Edward  and  Susannah  (Pearson) 
Hunt,  of  English  descent.  He  settled  in 
Wayne  township,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  in 
1818,  and,  being  a  tanner  by  trade,  engaged 
in  tanning,  shoemaking  and  farming,  and  car- 
ried on  a  successful  business  until  his  death,  in 
1835.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Sheafor,    also    a    native    of    New   Jersey,    of 


German  descent,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  who,  after  living  a 
few  years  in  Kentucky,  settled  in  Lemon  town- 
ship, Butler  county,  Ohio,  in  1803,  where  he 
cleared  up  and  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Henry  C.  Hunt  received  a  very  good  edu- 
cation in  the  common  and  select  schools  of 
his  native  township,  and  began  his  business 
life  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store  in  Hamil- 
ton, Ohio,  in  1845,  in  which  position  he  re- 
mained two  years.  He  then,  in  1847,  em- 
barked  in  the  dry-goods  trade  on  his  own 
account  in  Miltonville,  Butler  county,  in  which 
he  continued  eight  years,  after  which  he 
farmed  in  Madison  township  until  1862.  He 
then  removed  to  Seven  Mile,  Butler  county, 
and  engaged  in  the  grain  business  until  1868, 
when  he  came  to  Miamisburg  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  carriage  wheels  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Bookwalter  Bros.  &  Co., 
with  whom  he  was  associated  as  secretary  and 
treasurer  until  the  concern  was  merged  into 
the  American  Wheel  company  in  1890.  Since 
that  time,  Mr.  Hunt  has  done  no  more 
active  work  than  properly  guarding  the  in- 
vestment of  his  capital.  He  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Miamisburg  Building  cS:  Loan  as- 
sociation since  its  organization  in  April,  1893, 
has  been  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
bank,  and  is  also  interested  in  the  Western 
Linoleum  company,  manufacturers  of  oil- 
cloth, etc.,  at  Akron,  Ohio. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Hunt  was  solemnized 
June  3,  1856,  with  Miss  Catherine  K.  Kumler, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Flickinger) 
Kumler,  of  Butler  county,  and  residents  of 
Ohio,  since  1819.  Mrs.  Hunt  is  a  niece  of 
Bishop  D.  K.  Flickinger,  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Bishop 
Henry  Kumler,  of  the  same  organization, 
The  latter  came  from  Lancaster  county.  Pa. , 
and  settled  in    Butler    countv,  Ohio,  in   18 19. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


993 


To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  have 
been  born  four  children,  viz:  Charles  E.,  H. 
Jennie  (deceased),  Rachel  L.  (Mrs.  W.  D. 
Hoover),  and  William  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hunt  have  long  been  consistent  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Mr.  Hunt 
also  having  been  superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
bath-school for  seven  years.  He  is  a  master 
Mason,  in  politics  is  a  republican,  and  for  nine 
years  was  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
is  one  of  Miamisburg's  most  public-spirited 
citizens  and  has  done  much  to  increase  the 
city's  prosperity  by  the  erection  of  business 
houses  and  other  structures  when  needed,  and 
has  never  failed  to  aid  in  promoting  enter- 
prises designed  for  the  good  of  the  general 
public.  No  man  in  the  community  stands 
higher  in  its  esteem  than  does  Henry  C.  Hunt. 


/~"N*  AMUEL  JUDY,  a  retired  farmer,  now 
*y^KT    residing  in  Germantown,   Ohio,  was 

hs^_y    born  on  the   old  Judy  homestead,  in 
German  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  June  28,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Catherine  (Hitzler)  Judy. 

Christian  Judy,  his  grandfather,  was  a  son 
of  Swiss  parents,  who  came  to  America  about 
1760  and  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He 
married,  in  that  state,  a  Miss  Cooper,  who 
bore  to  him  six  children,  named  John,  Jacob, 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  John  Keller),  Catherine  (Mrs. 
Samuel  Hitzler),  Mary  (Mrs.  John  Smith), 
still  living  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
Michael.  From  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Chris- 
tian Judy  brought  his  family  to  Ohio  in  1805, 
and  settled  in  German  township,  Montgomery 
county,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  grand- 
son, Jacob,  a  brother  of  Samuel  Judy.  While 
clearing  and  improving  this  land  he  at  times 
also  worked  at  shoemaking,  perhaps  for  a 
number  of  years,  his  sons  in  the  meanwhile 
doing  the  work.      On  this  farm  the  old  pioneer 


died  in  1850,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy- 
two  years. 

Jacob  Judy,  the  father  of  Samuel,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
father;  he  was  reared  on  the  original  Judy 
farm  in  German  township,  which  he  assisted 
in  clearing  in  his  early  manhood.  He  married 
Miss  Catherine  Hitzler,  daughter  of  George 
and  Catherine  (Ream)  Hitzler,  pioneers  of 
German  township.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  seven  children,  born  in  the  following 
order:  John,  Mary  (Mrs.  John  Foutz),  Sam- 
uel, Catherine  (Mrs.  Dr.  James  Comstock), 
Susan  (Mrs.  William  Kemp),  Jacob  (now  oc- 
cupying the  old  farm),  and  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Dr. 
Daniel  Eckert).  After  a  long  and  useful  life, 
the  father  of  this  family,  Jacob  Judy,  died  on 
the  homestead  in  German  township  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Samuel  Judy  was  reared  to  farming  and 
received  the  common-school  education  usually 
given  the  children  of  our  pioneer  farmers,  his 
school  attendance  being  limited  to  two  months 
in  the  year.  On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr. 
Judy,  in  1842,  sold  his  interest  in  his  patri- 
mony and  removed  to  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  500  acres,  of 
which  he  still  owns  324  acres,  and  there  he 
remained  until  November,  1886,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  township,  where  he  has 
since  lived  in  contented  retirement. 

Samuel  Judy  was  united  in  marriage  Octo- 
ber 28,  1 84 1,  with  Mary  M.  Ream,  daughter 
of  Martin  and  Catherine  iWisler)  Ream,  who 
were  among  the  earlier  settlers  of  German 
township.  Of  the  nine  children  born  to  Sam- 
uel Judy  and  wife,  seven  reached  maturity, 
viz:  Jacob,  who  died  of  wounds  received  at 
the  battle  of  Arkansas  Post,  in  the  late  Civil 
war;  Martin,  who  was  the  second  born;  Cath- 
erine, now  the  wife  of  George  W.  Hanger; 
Abraham,  who  resides  in  Butler  county,  Ohio; 
Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  H.  Flickenger; 


994 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Charlie,  who  lives  in  Kansas;  Lettie,  now  Mrs. 
George  I.  Coleman,  of  Butler  county.  Mrs. 
Mary  M.  Judy,  a  most  estimable  woman,  was 
called  away  by  death,  and  Mr.  Judy  married 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Francis)  Williams,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Eda  (Ford)  Francis,  of  German 
township,  but  formerly  of  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.  George  Francis,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  the  present  Mrs.  Judy,  was  a  gallant  soldier 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  one  of 
the  foremost  pioneers  of  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
deriving  his  warrant  for  his  land  from  the 
United  States  government  as  a  reward  for  his 
faithful  services  throughout  the  war  for  Amer- 
ican independence.  To  the  second  marriage 
of  Mr.  Judy  no  children  have  been  born.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Judy  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Judy  is  a 
republican. 


^t^ACOB  KAUFFMAN,  manufacturer  of 
M  carriages,  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  was  born 
m  J  in  Annville  township,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  October  24,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Sarah  ( Schirk  )  Kauffman,  and  of 
Swiss  descent.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Kauffman,  was  a  son  of  Abraham  Kauff- 
man. and  he  a  son  of  Frederick  Kauffman,  who 
was  born  in  Switzerland  in  if  09,  and  in  1734 
immigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Annville 
township,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.  He  was  a 
Mennonite  bishop,  and  died  in  1789,  aged 
eighty  years.  From  this  original  Kauffman 
the  father  of  the  subject  indirectly  received 
the  original  Kauffman  homestead  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.  Upon  this  old  homestead  stands 
the  Kauffman  meeting  house,  which  was  orig- 
inally a  church  of  the  Mennonite  denomination, 
but  which  has  later  been  re-built  and  is  now 
known  as  the  Kauffman  meeting  house,  and 
owned  by  the  United  Brethren  church.  This 
farm  remained  in    possession   of  the  Kauffman 


family  until  1839,  and  even  now  goes  by  the 
name  of  the  Kauffman  farm,  as  the  church 
does  by  that  of  the  Kauffman  meeting  house. 
It  stands  five  miles  west  of  Lebanon  and  one 
and  a  half  miles  north  of  Annville. 

Jacob  Kauffman,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  in  his  native  county,  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  in  1846 
was  apprenticed  to  the  carriagemaker's  trade, 
serving  four  years.  For  two  years  afterward 
he  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman,  and 
in  1853  embarked  in  business  for  himself  at 
Jonestown,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  in  business  until  April  4,  1865.  He 
then  went  to  Meadville,  Pa.,  where  he  worked 
as  a  journeyman  for  some  time,  and  in  1867 
started  a  carriage  factory  at  Troy,  Ohio,  which 
he  operated  until  January  I,  1869.  Coming 
to  Miamisburg,  he  founded  the  Kauffman  & 
Co.  Carriage  works,  which  in  1880  became 
Kauffman  &  Sons  ;  and  in  1883  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Kauffman  Buggy  company, 
under  which  style  it  is  now  operated.  In  the 
manufacture  of  first-class  carriages,  the  firm  is 
known  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean 
as  one  whose  work  is  always  up  to  the  high- 
est standard. 

Mr.  Kauffman  was  married  in  November, 
1 85 1,  to  Marian  Leasher,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Elizabeth  ( Selzer )  Leasher,  of 
Jonestown,  Pa.  To  this  marriage  there  have 
been  born  six  children,  as  follows  :  Thomas  J., 
William  J.,  Harry  L.,  Ann  E.  (Mrs.  H.  L 
Kincaid),  James  A.  and  Richard  B.  Mr. 
Kauffman  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Fraternally,  Mr. 
Kauffman  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and 
of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  politically  he  is  a 
sound  republican.  In  nearly  thirty  years  of 
residence  in  Miamisburg,  he  has  achieved  a 
fine  reputation  as  a  business  man  and  has  taken 
a  prominent  place  as  one  of  the  most  useful 
and  excellent  citizens  of  that  community. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


995 


•  HOMAS  JOSEPH  KAUFFMAN,  one 
of  the  best  known  young  business 
men  and  popular  citizens  of  Miamis- 
burg, Ohio,  was  born  in  Annville, 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  January  13,  1853,  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Marian  (Leasher)  Kauffman,  of 
the  fifth  generation  from  Frederick  Kauffman, 
the  founder  of  the  family  in  America. 

Frederick  Kauffman  was  born  in  Switzer- 
land in  1709,  came  to  America  in  1734,  and 
settled  at  Annville,  Pa.,  where  he  erected 
what  is  still  known  as  the  Kauffman  Mennonite 
church,  of  which  denomination  he  was  a 
bishop.  His  son,  Abraham,  became  the  father 
of  a  son,  also  named  Abraham,  who  also  had 
a  son  named  Abraham,  whose  son,  Jacob,  is 
the  father  of  our  subject.  All  these  descend- 
ants of  the  original  immigrant  were  tillers  of 
the  soil  with  the  exception  of  Jacob,  who  was 
early  apprenticed  to  carriagemaking  and  is 
now  the  president  of  the  Kauffman  Buggy 
company  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio. 

'  Benjamin  Leasher,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  Thomas  J.  Kauffman,  was  a  citizen 
of  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  a  major  in  the  United 
States  volunteer  service  in  the  war  of  181 2, 
and  after  the  close  of  that  war  served  as  major 
in  the  Eleventh  battalion,  Pennsylvania  militia, 
for  many  years. 

Thomas  Joseph  Kauffman  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  Keystone  state  until  1867,  when 
he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  who  settled 
in  Miamisburg.  Here  young  Kauffman  at  once 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  carriagemaking 
with  his  father,  and  was  fully  instructed  in 
every  detail  of  the  business.  Upon  complet- 
ing his  apprenticeship  he  became  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Kauffman  &  Son,  and  upon  the  in- 
corporation of  the  Kauffman  Buggy  company, 
in  1883,  he  was  made  its  secretary,  which  po- 
sition he  filled  with  marked  ability  until  1885, 
when  he  became  general  traveling  agent.  In 
this  capacity  he  developed  a  very  large  wholesale 


demand  for  the  company's  productions,  which 
now  have  not  only  a  national,  but  an  inter- 
national, reputation  fot  their  excellence  and 
have  been  awarded  numerous  medals  and  di- 
plomas for  their  superiority  by  all  the  leading 
expositions  throughout  this  and  other  countries. 
Mr.  Kauffman  was  most  happily  married, 
June  20,  1876,  to  Miss  Cora  Allen,  daughter 
of  Firman  and  Louisa  (Piatt)  Allen,  of  Miamis- 
burg, three  children  being  the  result  of  the 
union,  .viz:  Allen,  Cora  and  Thomas  J.,  Jr. 
The  family  worship  at  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Kauffman  is  a 
republican,  under  the  auspices  of  which  party 
he  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term  as  treasurer 
of  Miamisburg.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  and 
K.  of  P.;  he  is  also  colonel  of  the  Fourth  regi- 
ment, uniform  rank,  K.  of  P.,  and  in  this 
position,  as  well  as  in  all  others  that  he  has 
held,  has  won  the  well-merited  approbation 
of  his  associates. 


BELIX  KERSTING,  a  prominent  and 
successful  merchant  tailor  of  Miamis- 
burg and  a  leading  citizen  of  the  place, 
was  born  in  Wunnenberg,  Germany, 
June  7,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Anthony  and 
Mary  C.  (Doeren)  Kersting.  In  his  native 
country  he  received  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  when  thirteen  years  of 
age  was  apprenticed  to  the  tailor's  trade,  serv- 
ing an  apprenticeship  of  three  years.  After- 
ward he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  three 
years,  and  in  1869,  when  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age,  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States.  Upon  arriving  in  this  country  he 
located  in  Quincy,  111.,  and  there  worked  at 
his  trade  for  three  years,  removing  to  Cincin- 
nati in  1872.  In  Cincinnati  he  remained  nine 
years  in  the  leading  tailoring  establishment  in 
the  city,  and   during   this  period   he  perfected 


996 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


himself  in  the  art  of  cutting.  In  January, 
1 88 1,  he  removed  to  Miamisburg  and  em- 
barked in  the  merchant  tailoring  business  on 
his  own  account.  After  two  years  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Henry  Heitmann,  and  the 
business  was  then  carried  on  for  eight  years 
under  the  firm  name  of  Heitmann  &  Kersting. 
This  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1891,  and 
since  then  Mr.  Kersting  has  been  conducting 
the  business  alone.  In  1895  he  erected  the 
fine  brick  building  on  Main  street  which  he 
now  occupies  as  a  store  and  residence.  Soon 
after  locating  in  Miamisburg,  Mr.  Kersting 
established  a  reputation  for  excellent  work- 
manship, and,  being  gifted  with  good  taste 
and  judgment  and  thoroughly  skilled  in  his 
vocation,  he  has  steadily  increased  the  large 
trade  that  he  early  secured,  and  now  has  a 
flourishing  business. 

Mr.  Kersting  was  married,  February  15, 
1 88 1,  to  Emma  Glaser,  daughter  of  Xavier 
and  Caroline  (Kessler)  Glaser,  of  Miamisburg. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  five 
children,  who  are  still  living,  as  follows:  David, 
Albin,  Clara,  Marie,  and  Raymond.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kersting  have  also  an  adopted  daughter, 
Katie.  Mr.  Kersting  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  takes  great  interest  in  the 
work  of  his  church.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Knights  of  Ohio,  maintaining  an 
excellent  standing  in  the  order,  and,  in  poli- 
tics, is  a  democrat,  though  he  has  never  been 
a  seeker  after  office. 


ta 


'ILLIAM  J.  KAUFFMAN,  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  president  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Enterprise  Carriage 
Manufacturing    company,    Miamis- 
burg, was  born  in  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  January  4,  1855.      He  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Marian  (Leasher)  Kauffman,  who  were   of 
-s  descent,  and  who  came  to   Miamisburg 


in  1869.  For  his  fuller  genealogy,  reference 
is  made  to  the  biographies  of  Jacob  and  T.  J. 
Kauffman,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

William  J.  Kauffman  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Meadville,  Pa.,  of  Troy  and 
of  Miamisburg,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  carriage- 
maker's  trade,  in  his  father's  shop  in  Miamis- 
burg, serving  four  years.  The  year  1873  he 
spent  in  Cincinnati,  in  the  employ  of  Crane, 
Breed  &  Co.,  hearse  and  burial  case  manufac- 
turers, and  during  the  summer  of  1875  he  was 
employed  in  the  carriage  works  of  J.  Alewine 
&  Sons,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  was  appointed  foreman  of 
the  blacksmith  department  in  the  shops  of 
Kauffman  &  Co.,  at  Miamisburg,  which  firm 
was  afterward  changed  to  Kauffman  &  Sons. 
Of  this  concern  he  was  a  member,  and  served 
in  the  capacity  last  mentioned,  until  1890, 
when  he  became  identified  with  the  Enterprise 
Carriage  company,  whose  extensive  plant  in 
Miamisburg  was  planned  by  Mr.  Kauffman  and 
was  built  entirely  under  his  supervision.  He 
has  been  vice-president  and  superintendent  of 
the  company  ever  since  it  began  operations  in 
1890,  and  he  has  ever  since  furnished  all  the 
designs  for  the  vehicles  manufactured  by  the 
company.  Mr.  Kauffman's  skill  as  a  designer 
amounts  well  nigh  to  genius,  and  guided  by 
his  long  experience  and  thorough  knowledge  of 
all  departments  of  the  business,  he  is  indis- 
pensable to  its  success.  The  reputation  of  the 
company  for  artistic  vehicles,  brought  to  it  by 
Mr.  Kauffman,  is  second  to  that  of  no  other 
establisnment  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States, 
or  perhaps  in  the  world  Mr.  Kauffman  is 
the  inventor  of  several  patented  devices  and 
appliances  to  vehicles  manufactured  by  the 
company,  and  which  are  used  exclusively  by 
them,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  a  pat- 
ent step,  a  fender  attachment,  spring  brackets, 
and  others  of  equal  value. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


997 


Mr.  Kauffman  was  married  in  October, 
1877,  to  Fannie  L.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph 
and  Fannie  (Swar)  Weaver,  of  Miamisburg, 
and  to  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 
three  children:  Mary,  Fannie  and  William. 
Mr.  Kauffman  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican,  as 
such  serving  two  years  as  councilman  of  Miam- 
isburg, with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  gen- 
eral satisfaction  of  the  people  of  the  place. 


aHARLES  EDWARD  KINDER,  post- 
master of  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  and  edi- 
tor and  proprietor  of  the  Miamisburg 
News,  was  born  in  this  place  October 
30,  1859.  His  parents,  John  E.  and  Elizabeth 
(Clark)  Kinder,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Franklin  and  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  and  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  George  Kinder,  was  born 
in  Fayette  county,  Pa.  George  Kinder  came 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Franklin  with  his  parents, 
in  1802.  Here  in  after  years  he  was  a  promi- 
nent contractor,  building  six  miles  of  the  Miami 
canal,  also  a  portion  of  the  Cincinnati  &  Day- 
ton turnpike,  and  for  many  years  ran  a  line  of 
boats  on  the  Miami  canal.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Schnorf,  was  born 
near  Lebanon,  Ohio,  in  1802. 

John  E.  Kinder,  father  of  Charles  E.,  was 
reared  in  Franklin,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  harnessmaker,  and  was  postmaster  of  that 
village  for  several  years.  About  1857  he  re- 
moved to  Miamisburg,  where  he  was  for  some 
years  engaged  in  milling.  During  the  late  Civil 
war  he  was  a  member  of  company  E,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  service.  His  wife,  Elizabeth 
Clark,  was  born  in  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  in  1832, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Nelson  and  Sarah  (Tap- 
scott) Clark,  who  settled  in  Miamisburg  in 
1825.     Nelson  Clark  was   a  gun  manufacturer 


of  note,  a  natural  botanist,  a  practical  chemist, 
an  inventor  and  musician,  and  died  in  1859. 
Joseph  Tapscott,  father  of  Sarah  Tapscott, 
came  from  New  Jersey,  and  was  the  founder 
of  what  is  known  as  the  "  Jersey  settlement." 
His  wife,  Anna  Schenck,  was  also  of  a  promi- 
nent New  Jersey  family.  John  E.  Kinder 
reared  a  family  of  five  children,  as  follows: 
Anna  E.,  Charles  E.,  Mary  E.,  Sallie,  wife  of 
Herman  F.  Cellarius,  and  Bertha  E. 

Charles  E.  Kinder  was  educated  in  Miamis- 
burg, graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1874. 
After  his  graduation  he  spent  five  years  in  the 
printing  office  of  his  uncle,  George  D.  Kinder, 
at  Ottawa,  Ohio.  In  1880  he  started  the  Mi- 
amisburg News,  and  of  this  paper  he  has  ever 
since  been  the  editor  and  publisher.  In  1885. 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  Miamisburg,  an  office 
which  he  resigned  in  1886  in  order  to  become 
postmaster  of  that  town,  retaining  his  latter 
position  until  1889.  In  February,  1892,  he 
was  again  elected  mayor  of  Miamisburg,  and 
in  1894  again  resigned  to  become  postmaster 
of  the  place.  This  office  he  still  holds,  and  is 
giving  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  his  adminis- 
tration of  its  duties.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Kinder 
is  a  royal  arch  Mason,  and  a  Knight  of  Pyth- 
ias, and  in  politics  is  a  democrat.  He  is  one 
of  the  best  citizens  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives,  and  that  he  possesses  the  confidence 
of  all  is  sufficiently  evident  from  the  trusts  he 
has  held  by  election  and  by  appointment. 


BRANKLIN  KLEPINGER,  a  farmer 
of  Randolph  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  grandson  of  one 
of  the  original  pioneers,  sprang  from 
Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock.  His  grandfather, 
John  Klepinger,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
January  31,  1774,  and  on  December  31,  1799, 
married  Elizabeth  Benkard,  who  was  born 
September    27,     1778.      John    and    Elizabeth 


998 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Klepinger  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children  :  George,  born  October  19,  1800  ; 
John,  born  May  26,  1802  ;  Jacob,  born  April 
■9,  1804;  Henry,  born  June  8,  1806;  Anna 
Maria,  born  May  23,  1808  ;  Isaac,  born  July 
iio.  1S10;  William,  born  October  13,  1812; 
Sarah,  born  October  28,  1814;  David,  born 
May  14,  1 8 1 7  ;  and  Samuel,  born  August  I, 
3819.  John  Klepinger  and  his  wife  moved  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  about  1807,  settling 
in  Madison  township.      Later  they  removed  to 


Indiana,    locating    near    La    Fayette,    on 


the 


Tippecanoe  battle  ground.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church 
and  brought  up  their  large  family  to  be  good 
and  respected  members  of  society.  Mr.  Klep- 
inger died  October  20,  1830,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years,  eight  months  and  twenty  days. 
John  Klepinger,  father  of  Franklin,  was 
about  five  years  old  when  he  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents.  He  was  reared  a  farmer 
boy,  brought  up  to  all  kinds  of  pioneer  experi- 
ences, and  on  April  22,  1830,  married  Eliza- 
beth Boyer,  who  was  born  near  Harper's  Ferry, 
Md.,  July  20,  1808.  Her  father,  Samuel 
Boyer,  came  to  Ohio,  settling  at  an  early  day 
in  Randolph  township,  Montgomery  county, 
and  was  a  successful  farmer  and  honored  pio- 
neer citizen.  John  Klepinger  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth,  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Amos,  born  January  15,  183 1;  Frank- 
lin, born  August  23,  1832  ;  Newton,  born  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1834;  Matilda,  born  October  14, 
1835  ;  Harriet  Ann,  born  April  27,  1837  ; 
Samuel,  born  June  7,  1839  ;  Harvey,  born 
February  22,  1842  ;  John,  born  September  5, 
1846;  and  Oliver,  born  November  29,  1854. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klepinger,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  in  Randolph  township,  about  one  mile 
south  of  the  farm  upon  which  their  son  Frank- 
lin now  lives.  John  Klepinger  purchased  a 
farm  of  161  acres,  upon  which  he  lived  for 
many  years.      He  greatly  improved  this  farm 


in  many  ways,  but  especially  by  the  erection 
of  good  buildings,  including  a  substantial  brick 
house.  He  was  a  man  well  known  to  all  for 
many  miles  around  as  a  straightforward  and 
honorable  citizen.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade  and  erected  many  houses  in  the  county 
in  which  he  lived.  Politically,  he  was  a  re- 
publican, and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Two  of  his 
sons,  Harvey  and  Samuel,  were  soldiers  in  the 
late  Civil  war.  Samuel  served  three  years  in 
the  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry  and 
participated  in  many  battles.  Harvey  was  in 
the  three  months'  service.  Mr.  Klepinger  was 
a  thoroughly  practical  farmer  and  a  prosperous 
man,  and  enjoyed  the  high  regard  of  the  entire 
community. 

Franklin  Klepinger  was  born  August  23, 
1832,  as  above  stated,  on  his  father's  home- 
stead. Like  most  of  the  farmers'  boys  of  that 
day,  he  received  only  the  limited  education  of 
the  district  school,  and  began  very  early  to 
learn  the  sterner  lessons  of  an  active  farm  life. 
He  put  in  many  a  day  mowing  grass  with  the 
old  fashioned  scythe  and  in  cradling  grain  with 
the  old  fashioned  cradle.  Beside  farming  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  was  unusu- 
ally skillful  in  the  use  of  all  kinds  of  tools. 

On  May  5,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Anne  Hisey,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth 
(Engle)  Hisey.  To  this  marriage  there  were 
born  three  children,  as  follows:  Martha,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  David,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  William, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  months.  Mrs. 
Klepinger  died  May  5,  1866,  and  on  February 
4,  1868,  Mr.  Klepinger  married  Mrs.  Annie  D. 
Syler,  a  widow  who  was  born  November  29, 
1836,  in  Miami  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Long)  Dohner.  John 
Dohner,  father  of  Mrs.  Klepinger,  was  a  son  of 
Joseph  Dohner,  who  came  from  Germany, 
settling  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.      His  children 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


999 


were  as  follows:  Christ,  Moses,  Jacob  and 
John.  The  father  of  these  children  was  a  sub- 
stantial farmer  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state 
he  died,  a  member  of  the  Mission  church. 

John  Dohner,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Klepinger, 
was  born  November  5,  1794,  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  was,  on  March  5,  1S16,  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Long,  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Susannah,  born  December  16,  1816;  Joseph, 
born  March  25,  1818;  John,  born  December 
18,  1 819;  Christian,  born  December  24,  1821; 
Moses,  born  November  22,  1823;  Elizabeth, 
born  February  10,  1826;  Nancy,  born  March 
22,  1828;  Frances,  born  November  22,  1829; 
Lydia,  born  June  14,  1833;  Jacob,  born  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1835,  and  Annie  D.,  born  November 

29,  1836.  John  Dohner  came  to  Ohio,  locat- 
ing in  Miami  county,  in  May,  1835,  settling  on 
160  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  of  its  tim- 
ber, and  added  thereto  another  160  acres. 
This  land  he  distributed  among  his  boys,  giving 
his  daughters  money  instead  of  land.  In 
religious  belief  he  was  a  member  of  the  church 
of  the  River  Brethren,  a  good  and  upright 
man,  a  minister  in  the  church  for  many  years, 
and  he  brought  up  his  children  in  the  way  that 
they  should  go.  His  character  was  beyond 
reproach,  and  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years  he  was  mourned  by  the  entire 
community. 

Annie  D.  Dohner  was  first  married  Septem- 
ber 6,  1857,  to  John  G.  Syler,  a  farmer  of 
Miami  county.  Her  children  by  this  marriage 
were  as  follows:  Frances,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years;  Emma,  who  died  when 
ten  months  old;  and  Harvey,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years.  Mr.  Syler  died  May  7, 
1866,  a  member  of  the  "New  Light,"  or  Dis- 
ciple church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klepinger  have  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:      Harriet  Ellen,  born  October 

30,  1868,  and    died   June  9,  1869;    Ida    Jane, 


born  March  25,  1870,  and  died  March  9, 
1894,  a  married  woman;  Aaron  Webster,  born 
July  23,  1872;  John  Allen,  born  December  9, 
1874;  and  Warren  Perry,  born  September  17, 
1877.  Mr.  Klepinger  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  and  Mrs.  Klepinger  a 
member  of  the  church  of  the  River  Brethren. 
Politically  Mr.  Klepinger  is  a  republican,  but 
is  not  an  office  seeker  in  any  sense  of  the  term. 
Beside  his  home  farm  of  iooacres  in  Randolph 
township,  he  owns  a  farm  of  197  acres  in  Clay 
township,  upon  which  there  are  a  good  brick 
house  and  other  valuable  improvements.  He 
is  well  known  for  his  honesty  and  straight- 
forward character,  and  is  held  in  much  esteem 
as  a  neighbor  and  a  citizen.  Aided  by  his 
faithful  wife,  he  has  reared  an  excellent  family 
of  children,  bringing  them  up  to  ways  of  in- 
dustry and  right  living. 


>Y*OHN  B.  KOEPPEL,  a  well-known 
■  business  man  of  Germantown,  Ohio, 
(9  J  was  born  in  Baden-Baden,  Germany, 
June  25,  1838,  a  son  of  John  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Kutz)  Koeppel.  His  father  was  an 
agriculturist,  and  our  subject  was  reared  on  a 
farm  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  receiving  a 
common-school  education.  At  the  age  men- 
tioned he  was  apprenticed  to  the  baker's  trade, 
served  one  and  a  half  years,  and  afterward 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  the  principal  cities 
of  Baden  until  i860,  when  he  sailed  for  the 
United  States.  He  located  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  there,  and  in  that  vicinity,  worked 
as  journeyman  until  1863,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  government  as  a  baker.  He 
worked  at  Camp  Dennison,  at  Cumberland 
Gap,  Tenn.,  Stevenson,  and  Huntsville,  Ala., 
and  continued  in  the  government  service  until 
Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox,  in  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  Cincinnati,  remained  there 
until  July  15,  1866,  when  he  located   at  Ger- 


IHOtl 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mantown,  where  he  embarked  in  business  for 
himself,  in  which  he  has  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess. In  1880  Mr.  Koeppel  erected  a  tine 
double  brick  business  block,  which  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1886,  but  was  rebuilt  by  him 
at  once.  He  occupies  both  stores  in  his  busi- 
ness, one  as  a  bakery,  grocery  and  confection- 
ery, and  the  other  as  a  cafe  and  billiard  parlor. 
In  May,  1864,  Mr.  Koeppel  was  married  to 
Anna  M.  Coyne,  of  Ireland,  and  has  six  chil- 
dren living — Elizabeth  (Mrs.  James  B.  Kelly), 
Robert,  Joseph,  Oliver  T.,  Ada,  and  John  B., 
Jr.  Mr.  Koeppel  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
democrat.  His  life  has  been  characterized  by 
persistent  industry,  with  shrewdness  and  sound 
judgment,  and  his  present  prosperity  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  unaided  exertions.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  citizen  and  always  ready  to  as- 
sist any  enterprise  calculated  to  benefit  the 
city  of  his  adoption. 


«-w-»     EONARD   S.    KRAUSS,   M.    D.,   the 
C    well-known  young  physician  and  sur- 
I     J     geon   of  West  Carrollton,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in   Cecil 
county,  Md.,  February  5,   1852,   and   is  a  son 
of  John    H.    and    Margaret    Abigail    (Harlan) 
Krauss,  who  were  respectively  of  German  and 
Irish  descent. 

Leonard  Krauss,  paternal  great-grandfa- 
ther of  the  doctor,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  and  captain  of  a  company  in  the 
war  of  1 8 1 2 .  For  several  years  he  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Lancaster  county,  Pa. ,  whence  he 
moved  to  Cecil  county,  Md.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  and  where 
he  died  in  the  ninety-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  Dr.  Krauss,  who 
was  also  named  Leonard,  was  a  native  of  Ce- 
cil county,  Md.,  and  the  maternal  grandfather, 


Solomon  Harlan,  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsjlvania. 

Leonard  S.  Krauss,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography,  was  educated  academically  at 
Mount  Pleasant  academy  and  at  the  Friends' 
Normal  institute,  both  in  Cecil  county,  Md. 
In  1873  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  and 
in  1877  was  graduated  from  Washington  uni- 
versity, Baltimore,  Md. ;  in  the  latter  year, 
also,  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  his 
native  county,  and  for  three  years  met  with  a 
flattering  success.  In  1880  he  came  to  Ohio 
and  located  in  Germantown,  Montgomery 
county,  where  he  was  associated  for  two  years 
with  Dr.  V.  B.  Stevens  in  the  practice  of  den- 
tistry. In  1883  he  removed  to  West  Carroll- 
ton,  where  he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in 
the  active  and  successful  practice  of  medicine. 
In  1895  he  took  an  ad  eundem  course  and  was 
awarded  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine  by 
the  Ohio  Medical  university  at  Columbus. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Krauss  took  place  in 
July,  1882,  with  Miss  Irene  A.,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  1  Banker)  Kercher,  of 
Germantown,  Ohio.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Krauss  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  was  a  resident 
of  Germantown  for  many  years,  and  there  died 
in  1862;  the  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs. 
Krauss,  Solomon  and  Mary  Ann  (Coon) 
Banker,  were  natives  of  Maryland  and  Ken- 
tucky respectively,  and  were  pioneers  of  But- 
ler county,  Ohio.  To  Dr.  Krauss  and  wife 
have  been  born  four  children,  in  the  following 
order:  Harlan,  Henry,  Leonard  and  Louella. 
The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  fraternally  is  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W. ; 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Montgomery  county 
Medical  society  and  of  the  Ohio  state  Medical 
association.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 
He  and  his  family  stand  very  high  socially, 
and  as  a  physician  he  stands  in  the  front  rank 
of  the  profession  in  Montgomery  county. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1001 


aHARLES  S.  KURTZ,  blacksmith,  of 
Sunbury,  German  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
this  village  May  16,  1863,  and  is  a 
son  of  Lemuel  S.  and  Catherine  (Grimes) 
Kurtz,  both  natives  of  the  same  township. 

Peter  Kurtz,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Maryland,  but  was  a  pioneer  cooper 
of  Sunbury,  Ohio,  and  here  carried  on  his 
trade  for  many  years  prior  to  his  death.  To 
him  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Keister)  Kurtz,  there 
were  born  three  children,  named  respectively, 
in  order  of  birth,  Lemuel  S. ;  Barbara,  who 
was  married  to  William  Boore,  and  David. 

Lemuel  S.  Kurtz,  father  of  Charles  S. 
Kurtz,  was  born  in  Sunbury  about  the  year 
1840,  was  here  reared  to  manhood  and  here 
learned  the  coopering  trade  under  his  father. 
His  wife,  Catherine  (Grimes)  Kurtz,  is  a 
daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Sarah  (Gunckel) 
Grimes,  well-known  and  respected  people  of 
German  township.  To  Lemuel  S.  and  Cath- 
erine Kurtz  have  been  born  three  children: 
Charles  S.,  Leroy  and  Sarah — the  last  named 
being  now  deceased. 

Charles  S.  Kurtz  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Sunbury,  and  here  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years  at  the  trade  of 
blacksmithing  with  the  Swartzle  Bros.,  and 
after  having  served  his  apprenticeship  was,  for 
three  years,  in  business  with  that  firm.  Being 
thoroughly  a  master  of  his  trade,  Mr.  Kurtz, 
in  1888,  established  a  shop  of  his  own  in  his 
native  village,  and  soon  secured  a  patronage 
that  justified  him  in  employing  two  assistants. 
He  has  enjoyed  a  constantly  increasing  busi- 
ness ever  since  its  inception. 

Mr.  Kurtz  was  married,  in  1887,  to  Ida 
Emrick,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Josephine 
(Long)  Emrick,  of  well-known  families  of  Sun- 
bury. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kurtz  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Fraternally,  Mr.    Kurtz  is    a    member  of  the 


Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias;  in  politics  he  is  a  demo- 
crat, but  has  never  sought  public  office.  He 
is  respected  as  mechanic,  man  and  citizen,  and 
is  well  deserving  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
universally  held. 


v/^~)  ENJAMIN  KRUG,  a  well-known 
\(*^l  farmer  of  Montgomery  county,  and 
JK^J  the  head  of  a  respected  family,  sprang 
from  sturdy  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock. 
His  grandfather  was  Frederick  Krug,  who  came 
from  Germany  to  America  shortly  after  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  being  at  that  time  about 
nineteen  years  of  age  and  single.  Marrying  in 
Pennsylvania,  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Lancas- 
ter count}',  where  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Henry,  Daniel,  Samuel,  Frederick, 
John,  Elizabeth,  Mary  and  Barbara.  In  ad- 
dition to  cultivating  his  farm,  Mr.  Krug  was  a 
tailor  and  followed  that  trade.  He  lived  all 
his  remaining  days  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
his  farm  being  about  nine  miles  south  of  the 
present  city  of  Lancaster.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Mennonite  church,  a  man  of  good  char- 
acter and  correct  and  useful  life. 

Henry  Krug,  father  of  Benjamin,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  married  in  that 
county,  and  had  four  children  by  his  first  wife, 
two  of  whom  died  young,  those  surviving  be- 
ing Susan  and  Elizabeth.  The  mother  of 
these  children  having  died,  Mr.  Krug  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Huber.  By  this  marriage  he 
had  the  following  children:  John,  Benjamin, 
Mary,  Frances,  and  Esther.  Mr.  Krug  was  a 
member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  an  honest 
and  hard-working  man,  and  of  a  kindly  dispo- 
sition which  won  him  many  friends.  His  death 
occurred  when  he  was  about  fifty-five  years 
of  age. 

Benjamin  Krug  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  December  4,   1829.      Schools  not 


100'-' 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


then  being  very  numerous  or  very  good  he  re- 
ceived but  little  education,  and  was  early  ap- 
prenticed to  the  wagonmaker's  trade,  serving 
in  this  relation  three  years.  Afterward  he 
worked  one  year  at  Martinsville  and  two  years 
at  Conestoga  Center,  and  then  for  some  time  at 
journeyman's  work  at  Leesburg,  Pa.,  coming 
to  Ohio  in  1852  or  1853.  Locating  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  Montgomery  county,  he 
worked  for  some  time  at  farming.  On  March 
31,  1859,  he  married  Susannah  Herr,  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  (Bowman)  Herr,  for  fuller  men- 
tion of  whom  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  bi- 
ography of  Henry  Herr,  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krug 
settled  on  the  Herr  homestead,  soon  afterward 
purchasing  the  Warner  homestead,  and  living 
on  the  latter  place  for  thirteen  years.  This 
farm  Mr.  Krug  still  owns,  having  greatly  im- 
proved it  by  careful  cultivation  and  by  erecting 
good  buildings  of  various  kinds.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  the  period  named  he  removed  to  the 
old  Herr  homstead,  consistingof  about  ninety- 
four  acres,  and  which  was  received  by  Mrs. 
Krug  from  her  parents.  This  farm,  also,  Mr. 
Krug  has  managed  judiciously,  erecting  there- 
on, as  one  of  the  many  improvements  made 
by  him,  a  substantial  brick  house.  Mr.  Krug 
is  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  as  was 
his  wife,  who  died  January  2,  1884,  an  excel- 
lent woman  in  every  way  and  a  devoted  worker 
in  the  church.  She  was  a  woman  of  many 
virtues,  a  good  wife  and  mother,  and  was 
greatly  lamented  by  Mr.  Krug  and  the  children. 
These  were  as  follows:  Leander  J.,  Ann  J., 
Jennie  A.,  Charles  F. ,  Minnie  I.,  and  Leroy 
B.  Three  others  were  born  and  died  young, 
one  of  them,  Emma  F.,  dying  when  nine 
years  of  age. 

Mr.  Krug  has  led  a  life  of  active  industry, 
beginning    without    possessions    and   with    but 


limited  education.  All  his  life  he  has  followed 
the  path  of  rectitude  and  honesty  and  has  al- 
ways striven  to  exercise  a  wholesome  influence, 
not  only  at  home  upon  his  own  children,  but 
also  as  far  as  possible  upon  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact. 


HBRAHAM  M.  LANDIS,  one  of  the 
substantial  and  progressive  farmers 
of  Montgomery  county,  whose  farm 
lies  in  Randolph  township,  is  a  son  of 
one  of  the  original  pioneers  of  Madison  town- 
ship. His  father,  whose  name  was  also  Abra- 
ham, was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and 
was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  ancestry.  He  was 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  original  German 
Baptist  settlers,  who  came  in  very  early  times 
from  Germany.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  Mary  Miller, 
by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  Sallie, 
who  died  when  young;  Jacob,  Samuel,  Eliza- 
beth, Daniel,  Polly,  Catherine,  Nancy,  Leah, 
Susannah,  Abraham  M.,  John,  Lydia,  and 
Michael.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  there  were 
fourteen  children  in  all,  an  old-fashioned  pio- 
neer family. 

After  the  birth  of  his  son  Daniel,  Mr.  Lan- 
dis  moved  to  Ohio,  settling  near  Canton,  in 
1 8 1 8.  After  remaining  there  a  few  years  he 
came  (in  1821)  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
locating  in  Madison  township,  and  buying 
land  for  $4  per  acre.  Afterward  he  bought 
more  land,  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
ninety-five  acres.  This  land  he  himself  cleared 
up  from  the  woods,  and  made  it  into  a  good 
farm  and  home  for  his  family.  Upon  this 
little  farm  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  dying  when  seventy-seven  years  of  age. 
In  his  religious  views  he  agreed  with  the  Ger- 
man Baptists.  He  was  a  hard-working  man, 
honest  and  industrious,  and  brought  up  his 
boys  to  believe   that   hard  work  is  honorable. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1003 


He  was  a  man  of  strong  character,  and  left  to 
his  children  the  heritage  of  a  good  name. 

Abraham  M.  Landis,  with  whose  name  this 
sketch  opens,  was  born  in  Madison  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  August  22,  1829. 
Reared  a  farmer,  he  received  the  common- 
school  education  of  those  primitive  days,  and 
learned  the  lessons  of  labor  from  his  early 
boyhood.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age  he 
married,  in  Randolph  township,  August  26, 
1854,  Lydia  Overholtz,  who  was  born  on  her 
father's  farm  in  that  township.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  Overholtz. 
Jacob  Overholtz  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of 
Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock,  his  father  being 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  state.  Jacob  Over- 
holtz settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Landis,  which  then  contained  151  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church,  and  an  upright  and  respected  citi- 
zen. His  children  were  as  follows:  Mary, 
Susannah,  Rosie,  Catharine,  Lydia,  Sallie, 
Rebecca,  John,  and  Lila,  the  last  two  dying 
young.  Mr.  Overholtz  lived  on  his  farm  until 
his  death,  at  seventy-seven  years  of  age. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landis 
settled  first  near  Trotwood  on  twenty  acres  of 
land,  which  he  purchased.  Four  years  later 
they  removed  to  the  Overholtz  homestead, 
upon  which  they  have  since  lived,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year,  during  which  they  lived 
in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  returning  to  the  Over- 
holtz farm  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Overholtz,  in 
1866  or  1867.  Mr.  Landis  purchased  this 
farm,  and  has  since  then  greatly  improved  it 
by  judicious  cultivation,  as  well  as  by  the  erec- 
tion of  substantial  farm  buildings.  He  has 
been  a  careful  and  economical  manager,  and, 
in  addition  to  the  Overholtz  farm,  has  pur- 
chased 104  acres  in  Randolph  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Landis  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  He  gave  one  acre  of  land  on 
which  to  erect  the  church  of  his  denomination, 


and  has  always  been  liberal  in  its  support. 
At  the  time  of  its  erection  there  were  but  four- 
teen members,  while  now  there  are  about  sixty. 
Mr.  Landis  also  aided  to  build  the  old  Salem 
district  church,  being  a  member  of  the  build- 
ing committee.  He  has  been  a  deacon  of  his 
church  for  twenty-five  years,  and  is  a  sincere 
christian  gentleman,  who  has  earned  the  es- 
teem of  his  neighbors  by  a  consistent  and  use- 
ful life.  His  children  are  as  follows:  Sarah, 
Alice,  Austin,  Harvey,  Ella  (who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years),  and  Jesse. 


>tjOHN  MARTIN  LEFEVRE,  a  well- 
J  known  farmer  of  Van  Buren  township, 
#•  1  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Md. ,  August  21, 
1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Ann  (Martin) 
Lefevre,  the  former  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
the  latter  of  Virginia.  Isaac  and  Ann  Lefevre 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  five  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Joseph  Bigger;  John  Martin;  William  H., 
whose  biographical  sketch  appears  on  page 
1004,  this  volume;  Isaac  M.,  a  farmer  of  Wash- 
ington township,  and  Augusta,  wife  of  George 
Van  Doren. 

When  a  young  man  Isaac  Lefevre  learned 
the  tanner's  trade,  but  always  followed  farm- 
ing for  a  livelihood.  In  1836  he  came  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  lived  in  Dayton 
one  year,  atid  then  bought  a  farm  of  ninety- 
seven  acres  in  Washington  township,  upon 
which  he  lived  fourteen  years.  Afterward  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  200  acres  in  sections  34 
and  35,  upon  which  latter  farm  he  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  January,  1895, 
in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  His  wife  had  died 
in  1888  at  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Reformed  church.      Mr. 


1004 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Lefevre  was  a  trustee  of  his  township  for  sev- 
eral terms. 

Isaac  Lefevre's  father,  John  Lefevre,  was 
a  native  of  Maryland,  and  died  in  that  state 
when  in  middle  life.  He  had  a  family  of  seven 
children.  The  father  of  Ann  i  Martin)  Lefevre, 
George  Martin,  was  also  a  native  of  Maryland, 
of  English  ancestry,  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  died  in  Maryland  at   middle  age. 

John  Martin  Lefevre  was  not  quite  two 
years  old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to 
Ohio,  and  has  ever  since  lived  in  Montgomery 
county.  He  was  reared  a  farmer's  boy,  and 
received  his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools.  Later  he  became  a  student  in  Wit- 
tenberg college,  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  there 
acquitted  himself  in  a  most  creditable  manner, 
although  he  did  not  graduate.  When  the  boys 
attained  their  majority  they  together  bought  a 
farm  of  fifty-five  acres,  a  portion  of  the  Himes 
farm,  which  they  jointly  worked  for  one  year. 
They  then  bought  what  is  known  as  the  George 
Lefevre  farm,  containing  sixty-three  acres, 
and  also  had  active  charge  of  their  father's 
farm,  all  working  in  partnership  until  they  were 
married. 

October  14,  1875,  Mr.  Lefevre  married 
Miss  Millie  Whipp,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Catherine  (Shank)  Whipp.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  as  follows:  John,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Charles  M.,  Stella  and  Marie. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lefevre  are  members  of  the 
David's  Reformed  church,  and  of  this  church 
Mr.  Lefevre  is  one  of  the  deacons.  Politically 
he  is  a  democrat,  and  as  such  held  the  office 
of  township  assessor  for  twelve  years.  In 
1890  he  was  assessor  and  land  appraiser.  He 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  township 
trustee.  His  farm,  containing  144  acres  of 
land,  is  finely  improved,  and  lies  about  four 
miles  from  Dayton. 

Mr.  Lefevre  has  lived  in  Montgomery  coun- 


ty for  sixty  years,  having  occupied  his  present 
farm  since  the  time  when  it  was  almost  wholly 
covered  with  heavy  timber.  To  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  county  which  have 
taken  place  during  that  time,  Mr.  Lefevre  has 
been  not  only  an  eye-witness,  but  also  a  valu- 
able contributor.  He  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing, is  industrious  and  thrifty,  and  has  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  county — clean,  well  improved 
and  productive.  His  buildings  are  among  the 
most  substantial  anywhere  to  be  found,  and 
everything  about  the  place  has  a  neat  and  at- 
tractive appearance.  Mr.  Lefevre  is  a  man  of 
progressive  ideas  and  tendencies,  is  genial, 
hospitable,  and  one  of  the  best  of  neighbors, 
and  a  most  affable  gentleman.  He  is  one  of 
those  whose  religion  is  an  everyday  affair, 
carried  without  ostentation  into  his  life  and 
into  all  his  associations   with  his    fellow-men. 


ar 


ILLIAM  H.  LEFEVRE,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Van  Buren  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
whose  farm  lies  in  section  35,  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  same  county, 
May  14,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Ann 
(Martin)  Lefevre,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia. 
Isaac  and  Ann  Lefevre  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Joseph  A.  Bigger,  of  Dayton;  John  M., 
of  Van  Buren  township;  William  H. ;  Isaac 
M.,  of  Washington  township,  and  E.  Augusta, 
wife  of  George  Van  Doren,  of  West  Carrollton. 
Isaac  Lefevre  was  a  tanner  in  his  youth, 
but  in  after  life  became  a  farmer.  In  1836  he 
removed  to  Ohio  from  his  native  state,  locat- 
ing in  Dayton,  and  in  1837  removed  to  Wash- 
ington township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
upon  which  he  lived  until  1850,  when  he  sold 
it  and  bought   the   farm    upon   which   his  son, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1005 


William  H. ,  now  resides.  Upon  this  farm  he 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Jan- 
uary, 1895,  when  he  was  upward  of  eighty- 
eight  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1888, 
was  seventy-five  years  of  age.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  Mr. 
Lefevre  was  frequently  honored  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  with  election  to  local  offices,  in  which 
he  rendered  faithful  and  intelligent  service. 

John  Lefevre,  the  father  of  Isaac  Lefevre, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  having  been  born  in 
Washington  county,  that  state,  though  his  an- 
cestry originally  came  from  France.  By  occu- 
pation he  was  a  farmer,  and  he  served  his 
country  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12.  He 
died  in  Maryland  when  about  forty-five  years 
of  age.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Christina  Household,  survived  him  many  years, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  during  the 
progress  of  the  late  Civil  war.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  His  earliest  ancestors  in  this  coun- 
try emigrated  from  France  in  1667,  and  were 
of  Huguenot  extraction. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  William  H. 
was  John  Martin,  who  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  came  to  this  country  when  quite  a 
small  boy  with  his  father,  who  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  followed  farming  in  Berkeley  coun- 
ty, that  state.  There  John  died  in  middle  life. 
He,  too,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
reared  a  family  of  six  children,  two  sons  and 
four  daughters. 

William  H.  Lefevre  has  all  his  life  lived  in 
Montgomery  county,  the  first  thirteen  years 
having  been  spent  in  Washington  township, 
the  rest  in  Van  Buren  township.  His  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  district  schools  of  these 
two  townships,  and  afterward  he  attended 
school  in  Dayton.  He  remained  at  home  on 
his  father's  farm  until  he  was  thirty  years  of 
age.  When  the  children  became  of  age  they 
managed  the  farm  together,  and  shared  in  the 


profits.  In  1868  William  H.  sold  his  interest 
in  the  business  and  began  traveling  for  the 
agricultural  implement  company  of  Warder, 
Mitchell  &  Co. ,  with  whom  he  remained  in 
this  capacity  for  eight  years,  having  charge  of 
their  exhibit  at  the  centennial  exposition  in 
Philadelphia  in  1876.  After  this  he  became 
traveling  salesman  for  the  Farmers'  Friend 
Manufacturing  company,  of  Dayton,  soon  buy- 
ing an  interest  in  the  business,  and  remaining 
with  that  company  for  twelve  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  the  concern  sold  out  to  the  Stod- 
dard Manufacturing  company.  After  his  father 
died  Mr.  Lefevre  purchased  the  old  homestead 
and  is  now  again  occupying  it  at  his  home.  It 
contains  194  acres  of  land,  and  is  highly  im- 
proved. Mr.  Lefevre  has  never  married.  He 
has  seen  the  development  of  the  county  and  of 
the  city  of  Dayton,  and  has  contributed  largely 
to  the  growth  of  both.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  and  in  politics  a  demo- 
crat. He  has  served  as  treasurer  of  Van  Bu- 
ren township,  and  in  the  spring  of  1896  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  without  any  effort 
or  solicitation  on  his  part. 

Mr.  Lefevre  has  had  large  experience  in 
the  business  world  as  a  traveling  salesman  and 
is  a  good  judge  of  human  nature.  He  is  of  a 
genial  and  happy  disposition,  unusually  popu- 
lar with  all  who  know  him,  and  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
families  of  Montgomery  county. 


^~V*AMUEL  LINDERMUTH,  farmer,  of 
•O^^KT    German  township,  Montgomery  coun- 

K^y  ty,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this  township 
December  30,  1833,  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Maria  (Tobias)  Lindermuth,  natives  of 
Berks  county,  Pa.  Both  his  grandfathers, 
Jacob  Lindermuth  and  John  Tobias,  were  of 
German  descent,  and  natives  and  farmers  of 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  where  they  lived  and  died. 


1006 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Thomas  Lindermuth,  who  was  born  April 
12,  1791,  came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1824,  and  soon  afterward  purchased  136 
acres  of  land  in  German  township,  cleared  and 
improved  it,  and  resided  there  until  his  death, 
January  13,  1870.  His  children  were  Mary 
(Mrs.  Samuel  Bussard),  Joseph,  Margaret 
(Mrs.  Samuel  Snavely),  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Jo- 
seph Linebaugh),  Michael,  Catherine  (Mrs. 
Isaac  Fox),  Samuel,  Caroline  (Mrs.  Charles 
Denius),  and  Rachel. 

Samuel  Lindermuth  was  reared  on  the 
homestead,  where  he  was  born,  and  resided 
there  until  1866;  he  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  began  life  as  a  farmer,  which 
vocation  he  followed  up  to  1888,  when  he 
practically  retired  from  active  business.  He 
has  occupied  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
one  mile  west  of  Germantown,  since  1866,  and 
made  all  the  improvements  thereon.  He  mar- 
ried September  3,  1857,  Maria,  daughter  of 
John  and  Christina  (Emrick)  Stiver,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Michael  Emrick,  who  settled  in 
German  township  in  1804.  Mr.  Lindermuth 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Lindermuth  has  been  a  director  of  the 
Farmers  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  association 
since  1889.      In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 


IOBIAS  KUHNLE,  a  very  pros- 
perous farmer  of  German  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  February 
2,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  A.  and  Marga- 
ret (Schuster)  Kuhnle,  who  came  to  America 
in  1854  and  settled  near  Germantown,  Ohio.- 
Philip  A.  Kuhnle  was  born  in  1806,  and  on 
coming  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1893.  To  himself  and  his  wife  Mar- 
garet, were  born  the  following-named  children: 
Frederick,    Tobias,     Gottleib,     Philip,    John, 


Christina  (Mrs.  John  Penrod),  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
John  Van  Horn),  Susan  (Mrs.  Ira  Clark),  and 
Catherine  (Mrs.  Henry  Van  Horn). 

Tobias  Kuhnle,  up  to  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  had  been  educated  in  the  excellent  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  country,  and  on 
reaching  America  continued  his  studies  in  the 
public  schools  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
and  to  the  knowledge  here  acquired  he  has 
added  largely  by  self-application.  He  was 
reared  to  farming  on  the  homestead  which  his 
father  had  purchased  on  coming  to  this  coun- 
ty, and  from  his  early  manhood  devoted  his 
attention  to  general  agriculture,  making  a  spe- 
cialty, however,  of  the  culture  of  tobacco. 
In  February,  1865,  he  enlisted  in  company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-fourth  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  in  which  he  served  until  honor- 
ably discharged  in  September  of  that  year. 

The  marriage  of  Tobias  Kuhnle  took  place, 
in  1864,  to  Miss  Lydia  J.  Knouse,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Lydia  (Oswald)  Knouse,  of  Ger- 
man township.  To  this  marriage  have  been 
born  three  children,  Elmer  E.,  Frank  and 
Flora — the  last  named  being  the  wife  of  E. 
A.  Poe.  The  family  are  of  the  Lutheran 
faith  in  religion.  In  his  societary  relations  Mr. 
Kuhnle  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  democrat,  has  held  several  of  the  minor 
offices  of  his  township,  and  in  1896  was  elected 
a  trustee.  He  has  always  held  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow-citizens  of  German  township, 
and  is  esteemed  as  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  Montgomery  county. 


' ILLIAM   LEIS  was  born    in  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county ,  Ohio, 


\\M      November  20,  1838,  a  son  of  ( leorge 
and  Salome  (Leis)  Leis.      His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  John   Peter  Leis,  a  native 


(^V^-zV^f      y/^Y^^/^C^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1<  i<>9 


of  Pennsylvania,  lived  and  died  in  Berks  county, 
that  state,  and  after  his  death  his  widow,  form- 
erly Catherine  Reiser,  came  to  Miami  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  died  here.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  William  Leis,  also 
named  John  Peter  Leis,  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  Pa. ,  settled  in  Miami  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  in  1836,  and  engaged  in 
farming — the  parents  of  William  coming  the 
same  year  and  engaging  in  the  same  vocation. 
The  children  of  George  Leis  were  named 
John  A.,  William,  Rebecca,  Peter  and  Ella 
(Mrs.  George  Long). 

William  Leis  was  reared  in  Miami  town- 
ship, where  he  has  always  resided.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  has  fol- 
lowed farming  as  an  occupation.  He  married, 
December  23,  1862,  Rachel,  daughter  of  Henry 
P.  and  Sarah  (  Eagle)  Treon,  of  Miami  town- 
ship, and  has  five  children,  who  are  named 
Edward  C. ,  Agnes  A.  (Mrs.  Joseph  Rehrle), 
William  A.,  Ida  J.  (Mrs.  Henry  Gunter )  and 
George  A.  Mr.  Leis  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  while  his  family  are  Lutherans. 
He  is  secretary  of  the  Miami  township  Vigilant 
society,  member  of  the  Miami  township  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  company,  has  been  a  trustee  of 
Miami  township  since  1883,  and  in  politics  is 
a  democrat.  He  is  an  industrious  and  pro- 
gressive farmer,  has  made  a  success  of  his 
calling,  and  has  attained  a  high  position  in  the 
esteem  and  friendship  of  his  neighbors.  He 
never  hesitates  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  all 
worthy  undertakings,  and  is  charitable  in  his 
disposition,  as  well  as  liberal  in  his  aid  to  the 
support  of  churches  and  schools. 


B 


in  Westphalia 

42 


RANR  LIESENHOFF,  a  representa- 
tive citizen  of  Miamisburg,  and  a  suc- 
cessful merchant,  and  member  of  the 
firm  of  E.  Liesenhoff  &  Co. ,  was  born 
Prussia,    March  6,    1833.      He 


is  a  son  of  Franz  and  Regina  (Lug)  Liesenhoff, 
and  was  educated  in  his  native  country.  There 
he  served  a  three  years'  apprenticeship  to  the 
tailor's  trade,  at  which  as  a  journeyman  he 
worked  from  1849  to  1856,  in  which  latter 
year  he  embarked-  in  business  for  himself  at 
Hoerdt.  There  he  remained  in  business  for  five 
years,  and  in  1862  sailed  for  the  United  States, 
landing  in  Portland,  Me.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged with  his  friend,  William  Koehling,  for 
two  years  in  the  merchant  tailoring  business. 
In  1864  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  in  July  of  that 
year  located  in  Miamisburg.  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Here  he  at  once  engaged  in 
the  merchant  tailoring  and  men's  furnishing 
business,  in  which  he  continued  alone  until 
1892,  when  he  admitted  his  son,  Edward,  into 
partnership,  and  since  that  time  the  business 
has  been  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  E. 
Liesenhoff  &  Co. 

Mr.  Liesenhoff  was  married,  in  1857,  to 
Lizetta  Meinholt,  of  Germany,  who  bore  him 
three  children — Edward,  Carl  G.,  and  Lena, 
who  died  in  childhood,  and  soon  after  the  birth 
of  the  last  child,  Mrs.  Liesenhoff  died.  His 
second  wife  was  Sophia  Linkersdorfer,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Emma, 
now  the  wife  of  Clayton  O.  Shupert.  Mr. 
Liesenhoff  is  a  Mason,  and  in  politics  is  a 
democrat. 

Edward  Liesenhoff,  son  of  the  above,  was 
born  in  Hoerdt,  Germany,  November  5,  1857. 
In  1865  he  located  in  Miamisburg,  and  here 
grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  Miamisburg  public  schools,  and  in  the 
commercial  college  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  After 
serving  a  four  years'  apprenticeship  at  the  cut- 
ter's trade  he  located,  in  1879,  at  Franklin, 
Ohio,  where  he  conducted  a  merchant  tailor- 
ing business  for  three  years.  Thence  he  re- 
moved to  Middleton,  and  there  remained  nine 
years  engaged  in  the  same  business.  Since 
January,   1892,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 


1010 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


firm  of  E.  Liesenhoff  &  Co.,  merchant  tailors, 
clothiers,  and  dealers  in  men's  furnishings  in 
Miamisburg. 

Edward  Liesenhoff  was  married  August  31, 
1 88 1,  to  Anna  May  Brigham,  daughter  of 
William  and  Tilly  (Thompson)  Brigham,  of 
Carlisle,  Ohio.  By  this  marriage  he  has  three 
children,  viz:  Frank,  Elsie  and  Hazel.  Mr. 
Liesenhoff  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  is  a  Free  &  Accepted  Mason. 
His  business  establishment  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  and  Mr. 
Liesenhoff  ranks  among  the  reliable  and  valued 
citizens  of  Miamisburg. 


'HOMASVENARD  LYONS,  Sr., 
M.  D. ,  deceased,  of  Miamisburg, 
Montgomery  county,  was  born  in 
Clear  Creek  tonwship,  near  Spring- 
boro,  Warren  county,  Onio,  January  20,  1829. 
of  Irish  parentage.  Thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  when  but  eight  years  of  age,  he 
worked  upon  a  farm  from  that  time  until 
he  was  nineteen,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  public  school,  as  well  as  under  a  private 
tutor,  Thomas  Dixon,  a  prominent  Scotch 
instructor  in  his  day.  In  1849  Mr.  Lyons 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Jacob 
Smizer,  of  Waynesville,  Ohio,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Eclectic  Medical  institute, 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1851.  On  March  4,  of 
the  same  year,  he  located  in  Miamisburg,  where 
he  began  the  active  practice  of  medicine  and 
thus  continued  with  unusual  success  until  1 891 , 
a  period  of  forty  years,  when  he  retired  from 
active  and  regular  practice,  except  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  his  friends  and  old  patrons 
in  office  business.  He  died  October  6,  1896. 
During  his  residence  in  Miamisburg  he  was 
prominent,  and  even  foremost,  in  any  enter- 
prise calculated  to  promote  the  best  interests 
of  the  town,  dealt  largely  in  real  estate  in  the 


town  and  vicinity,  and  was  the  owner  of  sev- 
eral farms  and  also  twenty-five  tenement  houses 
in  Miamisburg,  beside  his  fine  residence,  which 
stands  on  East  Linden  avenue.  Dr.  Lyons 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ohio  Paper 
company,  of  Miamisburg,  in  1879,  and  was 
interested  in  it  for  several  years,  serving  for 
some  time  as  its  president.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of,  and  a  stockholder  in,  the  Miamis- 
burg Binder  Twine  &  Cordage  company,  and 
was  its  president  during  its  existence.  He  was 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  Enterprise  Carriage 
Manufacturing  company,  of  Miamisburg,  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Citizens  National 
bank,  of  which  he  served  as  vice-president 
from  its  incorporation,  in  1893,  up  to  his  death. 

Dr.  Lyons  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
having  been  Elizabeth  A.  Null,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Gebhart)  Null,  of  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  By  this  wife  he  had  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one,  Howard  B.,  M.  D.,  sur- 
vives. His  second  marriage  was  with  Amanda 
R.  Mays,  daughter  of  Col.  Samuel  and  Caro- 
line i  Richardson)  Mays,  of  Miamisburg,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  Thomas  V.  Lyons, 
Jr.,  cashier  of  the  Citizens'  National  bank,  of 
Miamisburg.  During  the  late  Civil  war  Dr. 
Lyons  was  appointed  captain  of  a  company 
raised  in  Miamisburg  for  the  service  of  the 
government,  but  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
friends  and  of  the  people,  who  thought  that, 
by  reason  of  his  medical  experience  and  skill, 
he  was  more  needed  at  home  than  at  the  front, 
he  resigned  his  commission  and  remained  at 
home,  patriotically  treating  the  families  of  the 
Union  soldiers  free  of  charge  until  the  close  of 
the  war. 

Dr.  Lyons  was  a  member  of  the  First  Re- 
formed church  of  Miamisburg;  of  Marion  lodge 
No.  iS,  I.  O.  O.  F.,of  Miamisburg;  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  encampment  and  the  Daughters 
of  Rebekah,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge,  No.  44,  and  of  Ruth 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1011 


Temple,  No.  10,  Rathbone  (Pythian)  Sisters, 
of  Miamisburg.  For  many  years  prior  to  his 
retirement  from  active  practice  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Miami  valley  Eclectic  Medical  asso- 
ciation, was  its  president  for  several  years,  and 
he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Ohio  state  Ec- 
lectic Medical  association.  Politically  Dr. 
Lyons  was  always  a  republican,  and  served  as 
mayor  of  Miamisburg  four  years,  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council  eighteen  years,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  nine  years. 
He  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  of 
the  county  and  was  one  of  its  worthy  repre- 
sentative citizens. 


BORACE  BENTLEY  LYONS,  M.  D., 
was  born  in  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  June 
13,  1856,  a  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  V. 
and  Elizabeth  A.  (Null)  Lyons.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  Miamisburg  highschool 
in  1874,  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
father  in  1875,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Eclectic  Medical  college,  Cincinnati,  in  1877. 
He  at  once  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
father,  with  whom  he  practiced  his  profession 
in  Miamisburg  for  nineteen  years.  Dr.  Lyons 
is  identified  with  many  of  the  leading  indus- 
tries of  Miamisburg,  is  a  director  in  the  Kauff- 
man  Buggy  company,  a  director  in  the  Miamis- 
burg Twine  &  Cordage  company,  a  stock- 
holder in  the  First  National  and  Citizens'  Na- 
tional banks  of  Miamisbnrg,  a  director  and 
stockholder  in  the  Miamisburg  Electric  com- 
pany, and  is  also  interested  in  other  enterprises. 
The  doctor  was  married  October  23,  1884, 
to  Miss  Hattie,  daughter  of  William  D.  and 
Letitia  (Thirkield)  Schenck,  of  Miamisburg. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  in 
politics  is  a  republican,  although  he  has  never 
been  a  partisan  in  the  office-seeking  sense  of 
the  word.      In  his  business  relations    his  name 


stands  without  a  flaw,  and  he  is  regarded  in 
social  life  with  the  same  respect  that  is  ac- 
corded him  in  business  and  professional  circles. 


HOMAS  VENARD  LYONS,  Jr., 
cashier  of  the  Citizens'  National  bank, 
of  Miamisburg,  was  born  in  the  Gem 
City,  August  9,  1869.  He  is  a  son 
of  Dr.  Thomas  V.  and  Amanda  R.  (Mays) 
Lyons,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  prominent 
and  enterprising  citizen  of  Miamisburg  and 
also  a  successful  physician,  of  whom  full  men- 
tion is  made  in  a  preceding  biographical  notice. 
Mr.  Lyons  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive city,  was  educated  in  its  public  and  high 
schools,  and  graduated  from  the  latter  in  1887. 
In  1890  he  began  his  business  career  as  book- 
keeper for  the  Miamisburg  Binder  Twine  & 
Cordage  company,  continuing  in  that  position 
for  one  year,  and  afterward,  until  1893,  looked 
after  his  father's  varied  business  interests.  He 
was  then  appointed  messenger  for  the  Citizens' 
National  bank,  from  which  position  he  was 
promoted,  through  his  own  merits,  to  the 
place  of  bookkeeper,  and  later  to  that  of 
cashier,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is 
a  stockholder  and  a  director  in  the  bank,  and 
also  in  the  First  National  bank  of  Miamisburg, 
and  a  stockholder  in  the  Miamisburg  Twine  & 
Cordage  company. 

Mr.  Lyons  was  married  November  14, 
1895,  to  Ida  M.  Gamble,  daughter  of  William 
and  Samantha  (Hoover)  Gamble,  of  Miamis- 
burg. He  is  in  religion  a  member  of  the 
First  Reformed  church,  and  [fraternally,  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  is  quarter- 
master of  the  Fourth  regiment,  and  holds  the 
rank  of  captain  of  the  uniform  rank  of  Knights 
of  Pythias  of  the  state  of  Ohio.  Politically, 
he  is  a  republican,  and  in  business  and  social 
circles  maintains  a  high  standing  for  integrity 
and    honorable    dealing    with    his  fellow-men. 


1012 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


His  business  ability  is  of  a  high  order,  and 
through  the  possession  of  this  admirable 
quality  has  risen  to  a  position  which  few 
men  of  his  years  have  been  able  to  attain. 


WOHN  J.  McCARTER,  one  of  the  old 
■  soldiers  of  the  late  Civil  war,  who  has 
(•  1  suffered  many  years  from  the  affliction 
of  total  blindness  from  the  effects  of 
his  service  in  the  army  of  the  Union,  sprang 
from  sterling  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  His  pro- 
genitors settled  in  the  Keystone  state  in  early 
colonial   times. 

John  McCarter,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  bricklayer 
and  stonemason.  At  Carlisle,  Pa.,  he  married 
his  second  wife  Sarah  Cart,  who  was  born  in 
Carlisle,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Cart, 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent  on  the  maternal  side  of 
the  family.  John  McCarter  moved  to  Ohio 
about  1840,  and  settled  in  Montgomery  county, 
living  a  short  time  at  Little  York,  and  after- 
ward at  Vandalia,  where  he  passed  his  remain- 
ing days.  His  first  wife  died  in  Carlisle,  Pa., 
and  their  children  were  as  follows:  Alexander, 
James,  George,  Sarah  A.,  Maria,  and  Cecilia. 
The  children  by  his  second  wife,  Sarah  Cart, 
were  as  follows:  John  J.,  Eliza,  William  and 
Benjamin.  Mr.  McCarter  was  a  local  preacher 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  many 
years.  In  politics  he  was  a  republican,  and 
had  three  sons  in  the  late  Civil  war,  viz: 
James,  Benjamin  and  John  J.  Benjamin  was 
in  the  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry  and 
participated  in  many  battles,  being  badly- 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain. 
James  was  a  sergeant  in  company  E,  Seventy- 
fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  was  in  the 
service  about  three  years  and  was  discharged 
after  the  battle  of  Stone  River  on  account  of 
physical  disability.  Mr.  McCarter  was  a  very 
strong  Union   man   and  lived  to  the  great  age 


of  seventy  years,  when  he  died.  He  was 
greatly  esteemed  as  an  honorable  man  and  a 
valuable  citizen. 

John  J.  McCarter  was  born  at  Carlisle, 
Pa.,  October  9,  1832,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education  in  both  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio,  having  come  to  Ohio  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  but  eight  years  old.  When  yet 
a  young  man  he  engaged  in  the  butcher  busi- 
ness at  Vandalia,  continuing  in  this  line  at 
that  place  until  October  21,  1S61,  when  he  en- 
listed in  company  F,  Seventy-fourth  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  to  serve  three  years  or  during 
the  war.  He  veteranized  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  December  13,  1863,  re-enlisting  then 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war  in  the  same 
organization.  He  served  until  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  January  6,  1865,  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  having  served  his  country  faithfully  dur- 
ing four  years.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Stone  River,  Hoover's  Gap,  Mackinoe  Cove, 
Chickarnauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  most  of  those 
of  the  famous  Atlanta  campaign,  including  Buz- 
zard Roost  Mountain,  Resaca,  and  the  twenty- 
one  days  of  fighting  and  skirmishing  along 
Pumpkin  Vine  creek.  During  this  latter 
period,  when  rain  fell  every  day,  the  sufferings 
and  discomforts  of  our  soldier  and  his  com- 
rades were  beyond  expression.  He  was  in  the 
great  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the  battle 
of  Atlanta  and  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  this 
being  the  last  engagement  in  which  he  fought. 
He  was  badly  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell,  which  struck 
the  ground  near  him  and  threw  the  powder 
and  dirt  in  his  eyes,  completely  blinding  him. 
He  was  taken  to  the  rear  by  his  comrades,  and 
while  being  taken  to  the  field  hospital,  the 
comrade  who  was  leading  him  was  shot  dead, 
and  Mr.  McCarter  lay  down  by  his  side,  as  he 
was  totallv  blind  and  did  not  know  which  way 
to  go.  Soon,  however,  a  soldier  came  along 
and  led  him  to  the  creek  to  wash  his  face  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1013 


eyes,  but  the  washing  did  his  sight  no  good, 
for  it  was  gone.  He  was  then  taken  to  the 
field  hospital,  where  he  remained  one  night, 
and  was  then  taken  to  the  hospital  at  Nash- 
ville, where,  after  remaing  about  two  days,  he 
began  to  recover  a  little  use  of  his  right  eye, 
and  rejoined  his  regiment.  He  was  under 
treatment  for  about  three  months  by  the  regi- 
mental surgeon,  and  regained  his  sight  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  served  out  his  term.  Through 
the  entire  war,  except  when  thus  temporarily 
disabled,  he  was  an  active  soldier,  always 
prompt  and  cheerful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  and  was  in  all  the  battles  and  .skir- 
mishes of  his  regiment,  except  as  prevented  by 
his  wounds. 

After  the  termination  of  the  war,  Mr.  Mc- 
Carter  returned  to  Vandalia  and  resumed  the 
butcher  business.  On  June  u,  1865,  he  mar- 
ried Harriet  A.  Hoffman,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1848,  at  Vandalia,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Maria  (Camp)  Hoff- 
man. William  Hoffman  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, March  10,  1816,  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  ancestors.  He  came  to  Ohio  a  young 
man,  and  married,  in  Clarke  county,  Maria 
Camp,  who  was  born  May  17,  1820,  in  New 
Jersey,  of  English  ancestors.  Mr.  Hoffman 
moved  to  Vandalia  and  there  passed  his  re- 
maining days.  He  was  an  old-time  constable 
of  Butler  township,  and  a  republican  in  politics. 
He  had  one  son,  William,  in  the  late  Civil 
war,  who  was  a  soldier  in  company  E,  Seventy- 
fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  serving  for  three 
years,  and  was  in  practically  the  same  battles 
and  had  experiences  very  much  the  same  as 
those  of  Mr.  McCarter. 

Mr.  Hoffman,  the  father  of  Mrs.  McCarter, 
died  in  1857,  in  his  forty-fourth  year.  Mrs. 
Hoffman  died  May  17,  1894,  aged  seventy-five 
years,  dying  on  her  birthday.  She  was  a 
superior  woman  in  many  ways,  and  possessed 
of  manv  virtues.      The  children    she    bore  her 


husband  were  as  follows:  John,  Mary,  Joseph, 
William,  Harriet,  George,  Lucretia,  Elizabeth 
and  Emma. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCar- 
ter settled  in  Vandalia,  he  following  his  busi- 
ness there  for  some  years.  Then  he  was  engaged 
in  huckstering  for  about  ten  years,  until  he 
became  totally  blind  from  his  old  injury,  and 
was  thus  obliged  to  give  up  all  work.  About 
twenty  years  ago  he  located  in  Union,  buying 
a  fine  residence,  and  has  since  resided  in  this 
village.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCarter  are  as  follows:  Orrin  L.  and  Min- 
nie M.  Orrin  L.,  who  married  Miss  Estella 
Davis,  is  a  huckster  residing  in  Union.  Min- 
nie M.  married  James  Folker,  a  farmer  of 
Randolph  township,  and  has  one  son,  John  L. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCarter  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  has 
for  many  years  been  a  trustee.  Politically,  he 
is  a  prohibitionist,  and  is  a  man  of  unblemished 
character  and  is  respected  as  a  soldier  who 
served  his  country  faithfully  during  her  darkest 
days,  standing  by  her  to  the  end. 


*w  *  ENRY  LOESCH,  now  one  of  the  old- 
l'^"\  est  and  most  respected  agriculturists 
F  of  West  Carroll  ton,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  and  was  born  August  17,  18 16.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Stett)  Loesch, 
also  natives  of  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria,  and 
was  reared  to  manhood  under  the  parental 
roof.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  later  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
two  years  at  the  cooper's  trade,  after  which  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  for  five  years  in  his 
native  land.  When  about  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  or  in  1840,  he  came  to  America  and 
immediately  made  his  way  to  Ohio;  he  located 
in  West  Carrollton  and  for  twelve  years  worked 
at  his  trade  of  cooper    in  that    village,  made 


1014 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  saved  money,  and  then  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  still  resides.  As  a  farmer 
he  has  met  with  abundant  success  and  has  ac- 
cumulated considerable  wealth,  while  his  farm 
is  considered  one  of  the  best  tilled  and  most 
productive  in  the  county.  His  prosperity  is  due 
largely  to  his  own  industry  and  close  observa- 
tion of  the  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  and  to  a 
happy  faculty  of  adopting  means  to  the  de- 
sired end,  a  faculty,  which,  though  indeed 
valuable,  is  not  always  possessed  by  the  tiller 
of  the  soil. 

January  3,  1847,  Mr.  Loesch  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Phebe  Zimmer,  daughter 
of  George  and  Phebe  (dinger)  Zimmer,  of 
Miami  township,  and  this  congenial  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  four  children,  still 
living,  and  named,  in  the  order  of  their  birth: 
George,  Charles,  Kittie  (Mrs.  John  Geiger) 
and  Edward.  Mr.  Loesch  is  in  religion  a 
Lutheran,  and  has  reared  his  family  in  the 
faith  of  that  church;  politically  he  is  a  demo- 
crat but  has  never  sought  office.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Loesch  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Haru- 
gari,  and  socially  he  enjoys  the  respect  and 
substantial  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  neigh- 
bors and  acquaintances. 


ORVILLE  McCRAY,  M.  D.,  of  West 
Carrollton,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state  and 
was  born  in  Clarksville,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, April  3,  1868,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Saman- 
tha  (Wright)  McCray,  and,  paternally,  is  of 
Scotch  descent.  Armstrong  McCray,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but 
with  his  wife,  Jane,  came  from  Virginia  to 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Warren  county,  where 
Armstrong  became  a  farmer  among  the  pio- 
neers and  attained  great  prominence  in  local 
affairs.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  doc- 
tor, Mitchell  Wright,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth 


and  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Clinton  county,  Ohio. 
Samuel  McCray,  father  of  the  doctor,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a 
flouring  mill  in  Clarksville,  which  ranks  among 
the  most  important  industries  of  that  thriving 
little  city. 

Orville  McCray,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  received  his  elementary  education  in 
his  native  city  of  Clarksville  through  attending 
the  common  schools  in  his  earlier  boyhood 
days,  and  the  rudimentary  information  thus  ac- 
quired was  supplemented  by  his  attendance  at 
the  National  normal  university  at  Lebanon, 
Warren  county.  In  1889  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine,  and  March  13,  1893,  wasgraduat- 
ed  from  the  medical  department  of  the  univer- 
sity of  Louisville,  Ky. ,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Clarks- 
ville, Ohio.  But  that  field  was  too  contracted 
or  too  much  occupied  by  practitioners  of  the 
science  he  had  chosen  as  his  life  pursuit,  and, 
although  his  success  was  very  flattering,  he 
availed  himself,  in  September,  1893,  of  a  wider 
opening  in  West  Carrollton,  Montgomery 
county,  where  his  skill  was  at  once  recognized 
and  where  he  has  built  up,  within  the  short 
interval  between  then  and  now,  a  lucrative  and 
satisfactory  practice.  He  is  now  surgeon  to 
the  Friend  Paper  &  Tablet  company,  and  also 
medical  examiner  for  several  life  insurance 
companies. 

Dr.  McCray  was  united  in  marriage,  May 
6,  1894,  with  Marietta  Flack,  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Nancy  (McCray)  Flack,  of  Warren 
county,  and  to  this  union  has  been  given  one 
child — Beulah.  In  his  fraternal  affiliations 
the  doctor  is  a  Freemason  and  an  Odd  Fellow, 
while  his  political  association  is  with  the  re- 
publican party.  His  social  connection  is  of  a 
most  pleasant  character,  and  as  a  citizen,  as 
well  as  physician  and  surgeon,  he  is  respected 
by  the  entire  community  of  West  Carrollton 
and  Miami  township. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1015 


•  HE  MAYS  FAMILY,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  widely  known  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  sprang  from 
John  Nicholas  Mays,  who  was  born 
in  Lachen,  Switzerland,  November  24,  1741. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  George  and  Anna  M.  L. 
(Diopelin)  Mays,  and  emigrated  to  America  at 
an  early  age,  settling  near  Shaefferstown, 
Lebanon  county,  Pa. ,  as  a  farmer.  Entering 
the  Revolutionary  army  as  a  private  soldier, 
he  fought  in  the  cause  of  the  colonists  against 
King  George  III,  and  was  one  of  the  patriotic 
founders  of  the  republic.  His  family  consisted 
of  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  and  five  sons, 
viz:  Valentine,  Philip,  Benjamin,  Henry, 
and  Jacob. 

Samuel  Mays  was  a  son  of  Valentine  Mays, 
and  a  grandson  of  John  Nicholas  Mays,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America.  Valentine 
Mays  married  Sabina  Heilman,  and  their  son, 
Samuel,  was  born  in  Heidelberg,  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  April  25,  1805.  Samuel  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to  a 
carpenter  and  builder,  afterward  following  that 
trade  for  more  than  thirty  years.  From  1854 
to  1856  he  was  superintendent  of  the  south 
division  of  the  Miami  canal,  and  afterward  for 
several  years  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  wine,  owning  a  vineyard  of  several  acres 
near  Miamisburg.  Still  later  he  was  engaged 
as  a  buyer  of  tobacco  for  several  years  for  a 
New  York  firm,  and,  in  1869,  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Stevenson  &  Mays,  he  embarked  in 
the  shoe  business,  the  partnership  continuing 
one  year,  when  he  carried  on  the  business 
alone  up  to  1878.  In  this  latter  year  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  son,  Samuel  H.  Mays, 
under  the  firm  name  of  S.  &  S.  H.  Mays, 
which  continued  in  existence  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  29,  1891. 

Samuel  Mays  married  Caroline  Richardson, 
daughter  of  John  Richardson,  of   Miamisburg, 


and  by  this  marriage  he  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  four  still  survive,  as  follows:  Amanda 
R.,  wife  of  Dr.  T.  V.  Lyons;  William  A.; 
George  D. ,  and  Samuel  H.  Like  all  his  an- 
cestors, Samuel  Mays  was  an  active  member 
and  worker  in  the  German  Reformed  church 
from  his  boyhood  up,  and  took  great  interest 
in  everything  pertaining  to  the  church  and  its 
institutions,  as  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he 
superintended  the  building  of  the  church  in 
Miamisburg.  During  the  early  days  he  served 
as  colonel  of  a  militia  regiment,  and  the  title 
of  "colonel  "  adhered  to  him  until  his  death. 
Personally  he  was  a  true  friend,  and  he  was  a 
worthy  and  honored  citizen.  He  was  a  royal 
arch  Mason,  and  in  politics  a  Jacksonian 
democrat. 

William  A.  Mays,  a  prominent  and  widely 
known  citizen  of  Montgomery  county,  was  born 
in  Miamisburg,  June  7,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Caroline  (Richardson)  Mays.  He 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  city,  and 
received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools  thereof.  Later  he  attended  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  institute  at  Mechanicsburg,  Pa. , 
and  in  i860  began  his  business  career  as  clerk 
in  a  general  store,  following  that  vocation  for 
nine  years,  in  Miamisburg,  Dayton,  Cincinnati, 
and  Chicago.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Dayton, 
where  he  served  for  two  years  as  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  county  treasurer,  and  afterward 
he  was  bookkeeper  for  Harshman  &  Bros.' 
bank.  In  1S73  he  was  elected  auditor  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1875,  his  second  term  expiring  in  November, 
1877.  He  was  one  of  the  most  popular  offi- 
cials Montgomery  county  ever  had. 

Mr.  Mays  was  engaged  in  the  tobacco  busi- 
ness for  two  years,  and  in  1879,  in  connection 
with  others,  organized  the  Ohio  Paper  com- 
pany, of  which  he  has  ever  since  been  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  He  has  also  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  other  manufacturing  in- 


1016 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


terests  of  Miamisburg,  and  at  the  present  time 
he  is  a  director  of  the  Dayton  Traction  com- 
pany, and  one  of  the  projectors  of  the  electric 
railroad  that  connects  Dayton  and  Miamisburg. 

During  the  late  Civil  war  Mr.  Mays  was  a 
member  of  company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service.  Politically,  he  has  always  been 
a  democrat,  and  he  has  always  been  a  patriotic 
and  honorable  citizen. 

Samuel  H.  Mays,  son  of  Samuel  and  Caro- 
line (Richardson)  Mays,  was  born  in  Miamis- 
burg, January  21,  1852.  In  Miamisburg  he 
grew  to  manhood,  and  has  always  resided 
there,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  place.  In  1869  he  entered  the 
shoe  store  of  his  father  as  clerk,  retaining  the 
position  until  1878,  when  he  became  a  partner 
in  the  firm,  the  business  being  then  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  S.  &  S.  H.  Mays,  until 
the  death  of  the  former  in  1891,  S.  H.  Mays 
still  retaining  his  interest  in  the  firm.  Since 
1892  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  tobacco  busi- 
ness, as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Dodds  &  Mays. 

Mr.  Mays  was  married  April  15,  1884,  to 
Rose  Gwinner,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Hannah  (Solomon)  Gwinner,  of  Miamisburg. 
By  this  marriage  he  is  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren, Jeannette  and  Samuel  F.  Mr.  Mays  is 
a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  Knight  Tem- 
plar, a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a  democrat. 
In  every  way  he  is  maintaining  the  honorable 
name  of  his  family  at  its  high  standard,  and  is 
everywhere  regarded  as  a  useful  and  upright 
man  and  citizen. 


HRNOLD    MEIENBERG,     restaurant 
keeper  of  Miamisburg,    was  born  in 
Bremgarten,    canton    Aargau,    Switz- 
erland,   January    20,   1842,    and    is  a 
son  of  Alois  and  Mena  ( Wiederkehr)  Meienberg, 


the  father  a  merchant  of  that  ancient  little  city 
in  the  valley  of  the  Reuso  river.  Arnold  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  canton,  re- 
ceived a  very  good  common-school  education 
and  also  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  at  harnessmaking.  After  learning  his 
trade,  he  traveled  for  six  years  through  various 
parts  of  Switzerland,  Germany,  Russia  and 
France,  following  his  calling  as  he  journeyed, 
and  in  1866  came  to  America.  He  first  made 
his  way  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  nearly  two  years,  after  which  he 
crossed  the  Ohio  river  and  worked  at  harness- 
making  at  Newport,  Ky. ,  until  the  latter  part 
of  1868,  when  he  came  to  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
which  city  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Here 
he  worked  at  his  trade  as  journeyman  for  six 
years,  and  in  1875  embarked  in  the  harness 
business  on  his  own  account  and  successfully 
carried  it  on  until  1886,  when  he  engaged  in 
restaurant  keeping,  and  for  the  period  of  ten 
years,  has  carried  on  a  successful  and  prosper- 
ous trade,  having  made  hosts  of  warm  friends 
and,  by  his  close  attention  to  the  needs  and 
tastes  of  his  patrons,  won  to  himself  the  good 
will  of  the  public  in  general. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Meienberg  took  place 
January  4,  1870,  to  Miss  Frederica  Buehner, 
a  daughter  of  John  Frederick  and  Anna 
(Schuettenhelm)  Buehner  and  granddaughter 
of  John  Frederick  and  Anna  C.  (Zeller)  Bueh- 
ner, of  Muehlheim,  Wurtemburg,  Germany. 
This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  nine 
children,  four  living  and  here  named  in  order 
of  birth:  Clara  who  is  married  to  Jacob 
Farrell;  Rose,  who  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Benner; 
Albert  and  Mena,  who  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof.  Mr.  Meienberg  is  a  supporter 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  with  which  his  family 
affiliate,  and  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
D.  O.  H.,  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  is  recognized  as  a 
liberal  and  useful  citizen. 


J 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1019 


*^r-»  EVI  W.  MEASE,  formerly  a  well- 
j  known  and  successful  farmer,  now 
^  retired,  was  born  in  Miami  township, 
Montgomery  county, Ohio,  January  I, 
1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Lewis  and  Mary  (Zehr- 
ing)  Mease,  both  natives  of  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.  Lewis  Mease  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade, 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1816, 
and  worked  one  season  in  Germantown.  The 
same  year  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in 
Miami  township,  leased  it  for  a  period  of  three 
years,  and  at  once  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married  Mary  Zehring  in  18 19.  To- 
gether with  his-  wife,  her  father  and  three 
brothers,  he  came  overland  to  Ohio,  being  six 
weeks  in  making  the  journey,  and  immediately 
on  reaching  Montgomery  county  settled  on 
the  tract  of  land  he  had  purchased  in  1816. 
This  land  he  cleared  and  improved,  made  it 
a  good  farm,  and  resided  upon  it  until  his 
death  in  1856.  Mrs.  Mease  was  a  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  Zehring,  of  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  but 
formerly  of  Lebanon  county,  Pa.  She  bore 
him  six  children,  three  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years,  as  follows:  Lewis,  now  deceased; 
Levi  W.,  and  Rev.  Samuel,  the  latter  a  min- 
ister of  the  Reformed  church,  and  editor  of 
the  Christian  World  for  twelve  years,  but  now 
deceased. 

Levi  \V.  Mease  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead,  received  a  good  education,  and 
lived  on  the  farm  until  1878,  when  he  retired 
from  farm  life  and  removed  to  Miamisburg, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  From  the  time 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  until  he  was 
twenty-one,  he  was  a  clerk  in  a  general  store 
at  Miamisburg,  and  from  that  time  until  1878 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead, which  contains  185  acres  of  land,  and 
which  he  still  owns.  On  December  8,  1878, 
he  married  Elizabeth  A.  Fox,  daughter  of 
John  and   Catherine   (Fox)    Fox,    pioneers  of 


Warren  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mease 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  are 
both  active  in  the  performance  of  religious 
and  social  duties,  and  excellent  people  in  every 
way.  Mr.  Mease  is  in  politics  a  democrat, 
but  has  never  sought  political  preferment  in 
any  form. 


HRNOLD    MACY,   of  Randolph  town- 
ship,    Montgomery     county,     whose 
post-office  address  is  Little  York,  and 
who  was  a  soldier  of  the  late   Civil 
war,  comes  of  English  ancestors,  who  first  set- 
tled in  this  country  on  Nantucket   Island,  off 
the  coast  of  Massachusetts. 

Thomas  Macy  was  .a  farmer  near  Jones- 
boro,  East  Tennessee.  His  children  were  as 
follows:  John,  Thomas,  Paul,  Aaron,  Jona- 
than, Nancy,  Phcebe  and  Rebecca.  About 
1809  Thomas  Macy  came  to  Ohio,  settled  in 
Fredericksburg,  and  cleared  up  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  died  at  ninety  years  of  age.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  a  Quaker.  Paul  Macy,  his  son, 
and  father  of  Arnold,  was  born  in  East  Ten- 
nessee about  1798,  ana  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  in  1809.  Receiving  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation, he  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and 
married  Mary  Yount,  who  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1799.  Paul  Macy  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Sallie,  Eli,  Davis,  Rosanna,  Enos,  George, 
Arnold,  Mary  J.,  Ellen,  Annie  and  Jonathan. 
Shortly  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Macy  settled  on  160  acres  in  the  woods  near 
Fredericksburg,  cleared  up  the  land  and  made 
of  it  a  good  farm.  Selling  this  farm  he  pur- 
chased another,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from 
Fredericksburg,  this  farm  also  containing  160 
acres,  and  here  Mr.  Macy  became  a  substantial 
farmer.  This  farm  he  at  length  sold  and 
bought  still  another,  containing  also  160  acres, 
five  miles  north  of  Dayton,  and  lived  thereon 


1020 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Phillipsburg. 
He  died  November  27,  1892,  at  the  great  age 
of  ninety-three  years  and  eight  months,  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Sallie  Mart.ndale. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
in  politics  a  republican.  He  had  five  sons  in 
the  late  Civil  war,  each  of  whom  was  six  feet 
in  height.  These  sons  were  as  follows:  Eli, 
David,  Enos,  Arnold  and  Jonathan.  Jonathan 
was  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  or,  as  it  was  called, 
the  Ohio  national  guard.  Paul  Macy  was  a 
sturdy  pioneer,  well  known  as  a  straightfor- 
ward, honorable  man,  and  possessed  of  a  vig- 
orous and  healthy  mind.  His  memory  was 
much  more  than  ordinarily  retentive,  and  he 
was  a  man  of  considerable  importance  for 
many  years  in  Miami  and  Montgomery  coun- 
ties. He  was  a  strong  republican,  a  careful 
and  extensive  reader  and  observer,  and  kept 
abreast  of  current  events,  in  which  he  took  a 
keen  interest.  As  a  husband  he  was  faithful, 
and  as  a  father  was  kind  and  helpful.  He  and 
his  wife,  Mary  Yount,  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  thirty-seven  grandchildren,  fourteen  great- 
grandchildren, and  two  great-great-grandchil- 
dren, making  in  all  sixty-five  direct  descend- 
ants. Thus  there  were  living  at  one  time  five 
generations  of  Macys. 

Arnold  Macy,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  March  8,  1834,  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  was  brought  up  on  the  farm.  He 
enlisted  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  national  guard, 
for  100  days,  and  served  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
being  stationed  in  the  provost  marshal's  office, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Chase, 
Columbus,  Ohio,  in  September,  1864.  On 
February  22,  1865,  he  re-enlisted,  this  time  in 
company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-sixth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  to  serve  one  year,  but, 


the  war  coming  to  an  end,  he  was  discharged 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  September  11,  1865.  Dur- 
ing the  period  of  enlistment  he  saw  service  in 
the  Shenandoah  valley,  Virginia.  While  he 
was  sick  in  camp  for  two  months,  yet  he  was 
not  in  the  hospital,  and,  excepting  during  this 
sickness,  he  was  always  prompt  and  active  in 
the  performance  of  his  duties  as  a  soldier. 

On  December  28,  1865,  he  was  married 
in  Dayton,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Frees,  who 
was  born  December  21,  1843,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Rebecca  ( Alloway  )  Frees. 
Jacob  Frees  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
coming  to  Ohio  in  the  early  days  and  settling 
in  Montgomery  county  on  a  farm  in  Clay  town- 
ship. He  was  a  well-educated  man,  and  was 
county  surveyor  for  many  years  and  also  justice 
of  the  peace.  In  his  earlier  life  he  was  a  school 
teacher  for  years.  He  was  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  his  children  were  as  follows  : 
Peter,  Rebecca,  Catherine,  David,  Samuel, 
Mary,  George  and  Elizabeth.  He  was  a  good 
farmer  and  improved  his  already  excellent  farm, 
making  it  one  of  the  very  best  in  the  county. 
He  lived  to  be  sixty-eight  years  of  age  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Politically, 
he  was  a  democrat,  and  was  a  man  of  high 
character  and  standing  in  the  community.  He 
had  two  sons  in  the  late  Civil  war,  viz  :  Sam- 
uel, who  served  three  years  in  the  Eighteenth 
U.  S.  regular  infantry,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  Stone  River; 
and  George,  who  served  one  year  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-seventh  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macy 
settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Darke  county, 
Ohio,  and  lived  there  for  three  years,  when 
they  removed  to  Phillipsburg.  Here  they  lived 
one  year  and  then  went  to  Kansas,  in  1871, 
settling  on  160  acres  of  land  in  Greenwood 
county.  Here  they  lived  twenty-four  years, 
improving  and  cultivating  their  land,  and  then 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  CO¥NTY. 


1021 


returned  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  having 
bought  their  present  farm  in  1S93.  Both  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  in  politics 
Mr.  Macy  is  a  republican.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
strength  and  independence  of  character  and 
maintains  the  principles  in  which  he  believes 
with  much  force  of  reason  and  sound  judgment. 
Few  men,  if  any,  in  this  county,  are  looked 
upon  with  more  favor  and  respect  than  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 


/^EORGE  W.  MELLINGER,  of 
■  ^\  Brookville,  Ohio,  sprang  from  Penn- 
\^^f  sylvania-Dutch  ancestry.  He  was 
born  near  Carlisle,  Cumberland  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  April  5,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Lydia  (Kissinger)  Mellinger.  When  he 
was  nine  months  old  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  where  they  first  settled  in 
Crawford  county,  living  there  until  1856,  when 
they  removed  with  their  family  to  Montgomery 
county,  and  settled  in  Salem.  In  these  two 
counties  their  son  George  was  educated,  at- 
tending the  common  school  until  he  was  sev- 
enteen years  old,  and  in  November,  1S61,  he 
enlisted  at  Troy,  Ohio,  in  company  E,  Sev- 
enty-first Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war.  He  veteranized  as  a 
member  of  this  same  company  January  14, 
1864,  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  was  discharged  at 
San  Antonio,  Tex.,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  January  9,  1865.  He  was 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was  captured  at 
Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  in  August,  1862.  Be- 
ing immediately  paroled,  he  was  sent  to 
Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
exchanged,  and  in  January,  1863,  returned  to 
his  regiment  at  Fort  Henry,  Tenn.  He  was 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and 
participated  in  the  battle  at  Lovejoy  Station, 
after  which  he  was  in  the  march  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  having  a   skirmish  with   the    rebels    at 


Pulaski,  Tenn.,  and  a  battle  at  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  on  the  way  to  Nashville.  In  the 
battle  of  Nashville  he  was  wounded  by  a 
glancing  shot  in  the  left  leg,  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  was  compelled  to  lie  in  hospital 
at  Nashville  and  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  for  six 
weeks.  Rejoining  his  regiment  at  Huntsville, 
Ala. ,  he  went  with  it  to  Texas  and  served  there 
during  the  remainder  of  his  term  of  enlistment. 
Mr.  Mellinger  regards  as  his  hardest  march 
that  from  Atlanta  to  Nashville,  another  trying 
experience  being  a  march  in  Texas,  on  which 
the  troops  suffered  exceedingly  from  want  of 
water.  He  was  a  participant  in  all  the  active 
service  of  his  regiment,  and  was  promoted  to 
corporal  for  meritorious  conduct. 

The  war  having  ended,  he  returned  to 
Montgomery  county,  and  on  May  26,  1868, 
married  Malinda  Spitler,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 20,  1846,  in  Perry  township.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Nancy  L.  (McCormick) 
Spitler,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Cather- 
ine (Houk)  Spitler.  David  Spitler  was  one  of 
the  original  pioneers  of  Perry  township,  set- 
tling on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Jesse  Wago- 
man.  Jacob  Spitler  was  also  one  of  the  orig- 
inal settlers  of  Perry  township,  clearing  up  a 
farm  from  the  woods. 

David  Spitler  was  twice  married,  his  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife  being:  Grizzann,  Will- 
iam, Catherine,  Mary  and  Daniel,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  By 
his  second  wife  David  Spitler  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Malinda,  Abner,  Jacob,  Martha 
Jane  and  David.  He  was  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter, a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  to 
which  most  of  his  children  also  belonged,  and 
was  a  substantial  and  successful  farmer.  He 
served  as  township  trustee,  and  lived  to  be 
sixty-five  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mellinger  have  lived  in  Perry 
township    ever    since    their    marriage.      Their 


1022 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


children  are  as  follows:  Ambrose;  Edna; 
Irene,  who  died  March  II,  1893;  Flora  B., 
Cleora  V.  and  Lottie  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mel- 
linger  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
as  was  the  daughter  who  died.  Politically, 
Mr.  Mellinger  is  a  democrat.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Foster-Marshall  post,  No.  5  87,  G.  A.  R., 
of  which  he  has  been  officer  of  the  day  and 
also  guard. 


aHRISTIAN  MEYER,  a  successful 
farmer,  of  Perry  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  was  born  June  7, 
1840,  in  Wuldungen,  village  of  Klin- 
nen,  Prussia,  and  is  a  son  of  Christian  and 
Catherine  (Toegen)  Meyer,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  farmer,  owning  100  acres  of  land 
which  had  belonged  to  his  father,  Frederick 
Meyer,  who,  in  his  turn,  had  inherited  it  from 
his  forefathers.  It  had  been  in  the  family  for 
many  generations.  Christian  Meyer  and  wife 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children  : 
Conrad,  Jacob,  Henry,  Christian,  Dorothy, 
Elizabeth  and  Catherine.  Mr.  Meyer  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  was  well-to- 
do,  was  an  honored  and  valued  citizen,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three. 

Christian  Meyer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
received  a  good  common-school  education  in 
Prussia,  and  there  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when 
nineteen  years  of  age,  sailing  from  Bremen, 
Germany,  May  12,  1858,  in  an  old-fashioned 
sailing  vessel,  and  was  some  seven  weeks  on 
the  sea,  landing  in  New  York  in  July,  and 
reaching  Chicago  on  July  4.  Here  he  followed 
his  trade  for  a  month  and  then  went  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  had  friends,  and  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  and  also  in  a  sash  factory. 
Like  many  other  foreigners,  he  entered  the 
volunteer  army  of  the  Union,  enlisting  August 
1 6,  1 86 1,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  becoming  a  mem- 


ber of  company  B,  First  regiment  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  to  serve  for  three  years  or  dur- 
ing the  war.  Lewis  Coleman  was  his  captain. 
Having  served  his  full  term  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  August  16,  1864. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  and 
in  the  entire  Atlanta  campaign,  during  which 
his  regiment  was  under  fire  almost  without 
cessation  for  four  months.  During  this  cam- 
paign he  was  in  the  battles  of  Buzzard's  Roost 
Mountain,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  and  Atlanta,  in  which  last  engage- 
ment Gen.  McPhersonwas  killed.  Mr.  Meyer 
was  discharged  at  White's  Station  and  mus- 
tered out  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  was  always 
an  active  soldier,  and  being  in  company  B,  a 
flanking  company,  was  in  many  skirmishes  and 
in  other  positions  of  unusual  danger.  He  was 
in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged,  and  was  slightly  wound- 
ed at  Stone  River  by  a  musket  ball,  but  did 
not  go  to  the  hospital. 

Returning  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  from  the  war, 
he  worked  for  some  time  at  his  trade  and  then 
went  to  Nashville  for  the  government  in  1864, 
remaining  about  a  year.  He  was  married  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  in  186S,  to  Miss  Frederika 
Pfeiffer,  who  was  born  August  18,  1847,  m  tne 
village  in  Prussia  which  was  her  husband's 
birthplace.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Carl  and 
Henrietta  (Bruno)  Pfeiffer,  who  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children :  Elizabeth, 
Henrietta,  Frederika  and  Augusta.  Mr.  Pfeiffer 
was  well  educated,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  died  in  Prussia  at  the  ripe  age  of 
seventy-one  years. 

Christian  Meyer,  after  his  marriage,  settled 
in  Dayton,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for 
several  years.  In  1878  he  removed  to  Perry 
township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  sixty- 
two  acres,  upon  which  he  has  since  lived  and 
which  he  has  improved  and  developed  in  many 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1023 


directions.  He  and  his  .wife  have  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Charles,  Louis,  Catherine,  Will- 
iam, Henry,  Sadie  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Meyer  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  as  are  also  their  children.  Mr.  Meyer 
is  a  republican  in  politics. 


^j*OSHUA  V.  MILLS,  a  prominent  citi- 
■  zen  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
m  1  born  August  31,  1839,  in  Perry  town- 
ship. His  parents  were  William  and 
Jane  (Campbell)  Mills,  the  former  of  whom 
was  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Lucy  Mills.  Joshua 
Mills  was  a  New  Jersey  farmer,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  that  state.  He  and  his  wife,  Lucy, 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Nancy,  Jane,  John,  Rebecca,  William,  Sallie, 
Grace  and  Mary.  Joshua  Mills  moved  from 
New  Jersey  to  Ohio  in  1818,  and  entered  a 
tract  of  160  acres  of  land  near  Pyrmont,  set- 
tling thereon  when  it  and  most  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  was  covered  with  timber. 
He  was  a  well-known  pioneer  and  citizen  of 
the  early  days,  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  died  in  1852,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years. 

William  Mills,  father  of  Joshua  V.  Mills, 
was  born  in  1806,  and  came  with  his  father, 
Joshua,  to  Ohio,  when  he  was  little  more  than 
twelve  years  of  age.  He  received  the  usual 
education  and  training  of  the  district  school, 
and  grew  up  on  the  farm.  He  married  Jane 
Campbell,  daughter  of  John  and  Naomi  (Gus- 
tin)  Campbell,  the  family  of  the  latter  being 
early  settlers  of  Perry  township.  John  Camp- 
bell was  a  farmer  of  Scotch  ancestry. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage  William 
and  Jane  Mills  settled  one  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  Pyrmont,  on  sixty-one  acres  of  land, 
from  which  they  added  from  time  to  time  until 
their  farm  contained  180  acres,  all  under  cul- 
tivation,   and  nearly    all    of    which    they    had 


cleared  from  the  woods.  They  were  people  of 
excellent  character,  highly  esteemed  by  their 
neighbors,  and  reared  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Bethany,  John,  Lucy,  Sam- 
uel, Naomi,  Joshua  V.  and  William.  Mrs. 
Mills  died  in  1848,  and  Mr.  Mills  then  married 
Miss  Jane  Clemmer,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children:  George,  Edgar,  Eliza  J.,  Joseph 
and  Hiram.  William  Mills  died  in  1885,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 

Joshua  V.  Mills  was  brought  up  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer.  On  October  2S,  1 861,  he  enlisted 
in  company  B,  Seventy-first  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, under  Capt.  McConnell,  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war.  Having  served  his  time  he 
veteranized,  January  13,  1864,  at  Gallatin, 
Tenn.,  in  the  same  organization,  and  continued 
in  active  service  until  mustered  out  January  3, 
1865,  at  San  Antonio,  Tex.  He  was  promoted 
first  to  corporal,  and  in  February,  1863,  to 
sergeant.  He  was  in  some  of  the  most  impor- 
tant battles  of  the  war,  among  them  those  of 
Shiloh  and  Fort  Donelson,  and  most  of  those 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  including  Jonesboro 
and  Lovejoy  Station.  Returning  after  this 
campaign  to  Nashville  by  way  of  Columbia, 
Tenn.,  and  Spring  Hill,  he  was  in  the  battle 
of  Franklin  and  also  in  that  of  Nashville,  when 
Gen.  Hood  was  so  overwhelmingly  defeated 
by  Gen.  Thomas.  Afterward  his  regiment 
went  to  Greenville,  east  Tennessee.  Return- 
ing to  Nashville,  Mr.  Mills  went  with  his  regi- 
ment to  New  Orleans,  arriving  there  June  28, 
and  on  the  5th  of  July  went  down  to  the  gulf 
of  Mexico  and  to  Texas,  remaining  until  De- 
cember. In  Texas  the  regiment  marched  from 
Indianola  to  San  Antonio  and  on  to  Matagorda 
Bay.  Companies  B  and  E  of  this  regiment 
were  engaged  from  July,  1863,  to  August,  1864, 
in  fighting  guerrillas  in  Tennessee,  Alabama 
and  Kentucky,  and  were   in   many  skirmishes. 

Mr.  Mills  was  always  an  active  soldier,  and 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  a  bullet 


1024 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


striking  him  in  the  right  shoulder.  He  walked 
five  miles  before  having  any  attention  given  to 
his  wound,  when  the  ball  was  extracted  and 
the  wound  dressed.  Next  morning  at  daylight 
he  rejoined  his  regiment.  He  was  in  all  the 
battles,  marches  and  skirmishes  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged,  and  was  a  good  and 
faithful  soldier  throughout  the  war. 

After  returning  from  the  army  he  was  mar- 
ried, November  i,  1865,  in  Perry  township, 
Montgomery  county,  to  Miss  Anna  Myers, 
who.  was  born  in  that  township  March  19,  1846, 
and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Hilton)  Myers.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mills  settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  they  still  live  and  which  he  has 
greatly  improved.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  are  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  as  follows:  Emma, 
Flora,  John,  Mattie,  Cora,  Eva,  Ada,  William, 
Orlando  and  Earl.  Mr.  Mills  is  a  trustee  in 
the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  republican.  The  children  have  received  a 
good  education,  and  one  of  them,  Mattie,  is 
now  a  school-teacher,  having  been  prepared 
in  the  Ada  Normal  school. 

Jacob  Myers,  father  of  Mrs.  Mills,  was 
born  August  17,  1818,  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Barbara 
(Harnish)  Myers.  In  1843  he  was  married  in 
Lancaster  county,  to  Catherine  Hiller,  a  na- 
tive of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Annie  (Resh)  Hiller.  In  1845  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Myers  settled  in  Perry  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  on  160  acres  of  land, 
mostly  covered  with  woods,  which  Mr.  Myers 
converted  into  a  most  excellent  farm.  He 
and  his  wife  reared  the  following  children: 
Annie,  John,  Jacob,  Allen,  Mary  E.,  Emma, 
Amanda,  and  Idella.  Mr.  Myers  was  a  trus- 
tee in  the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which 
his  wife  was  also  a  member,  and  in  politics, 
he  was  a  republican,  as  such  holding  the  office 


of  township  trustee  for  several  years.  His 
death  occurred  July  22,  1891,  when  he  was 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  He  is  remem- 
bered as  a  man  of  integrity  and  high  charac- 
ter. His  son  John  wasamember  of  company 
B,  Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  his  country  well,  though  only  sixteen 
years  old  when  he  enlisted. 


*  w  *  EE  MITCHELL,  secretary,  treasurer 
j  and  general  manager  of  the  Book- 
^  waiter  Wheel  company,  and  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  in  Camden,  Preble  county,  Ohio,  June 
6,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Maria 
(Walters)  Mitchell,  both  natives  of  Ohio. 
Samuel  Mitchell,  a  cabinetmaker  by  trade, 
was  for  many  years  engaged  as  a  farmer  in  Illi- 
nois. In  1865  he  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  5,  1890,  in  his  eighty-third  year.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Ebenezer,  a  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  war,  who 
died  in  1864,  of  disease  contracted  in  the  serv- 
ice, and  Lee,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Lee  Mitchell  was  reared  in  Ohio  and  Illi- 
nois, received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  came  to  Dayton  with  his  parents  in 
1865.  Here  in  company  with  his  father  he 
went  into  the  grocery  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Mitchell  &  Son,  and  continued  thus 
engaged  for  four  years.  In  1870  he  located  in 
Miamisburg,  and  went  to  work  as  a  shop  hand 
for  Bookwalter,  Bro.  &  Co.,  of  which  firm  his 
father  was  a  stockholder,  young  Lee  also  rep- 
resenting his  father's  interests  in  the  concern. 
The  intention  was  that  he  should  learn  the 
business  thoroughly  and  then  be  given  an  offi- 
cial position  in  the  company,  which  intention 
was  carried  out.  After  several  years  of  active 
service  in  the  shops  he  was  made  bookkeeper 
for  the  firm,  which  position  he  held  until  1889, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1025 


when  he  was  made  general  manager.  At 
length,  in  1890,  the  Standard  Wheel  company 
absorbed  Bookwalter,  Bro.  &  Co.,  and  Mr. 
Mitchell  held  the  same  position  with  the  new 
company  until  it  closed  down.  He  then  be- 
came secretary,  treasurer  and  general  manager 
of  the  Bookwalter  Wheel  company,  which  he 
assisted  in  organizing  in  1S91;  this  position  he 
still  holds,  having  therein  full  charge  of  the 
business.  His  special  qualifications  for  the 
business  have  made  him  unusually  successful, 
and  to  his  business  ability  and  energy  the 
company  owes  much  of  its  present  success  and 
prosperity. 

Mr.  Mitchell  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Helen  Reel,  daughter  of  Abram 
Reel,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  by  her  he  had  one 
child,  Charles  L.  Mitchell,  a  graduate  of  the 
university  of  Michigan  and  now  a  successful 
dentist.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah  Zehring, 
of  Miamisburg,  by  whom  he  has  four  children, 
as  follows:  S.  Wilbur,  Edith  M.,  Helen  and 
Howard  L.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  'and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in 
the  Citizens'  National  bank,  and  a  stockholder 
in  the  Miamisburg  Twine  &  Cordage  company. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  in  all  re- 
spects he  is  a  much  esteemed  citizen  of  the 
county  in  which  he  lives,  enjoying  the  confi- 
dence of  the  community  to  an  unusual  degree. 


>-VOHN  F.  MOIST,  an  active  farmer  of 
a  Randolph  township,  springs  from  stal- 
/•  ■  wart  Pennsylvania  stock,  his  ancestors 
having  come  originally  from  Switzer- 
land. Henry  Moist,  his  grandfather,  owned  a 
farm  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  and  was  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  Henry,  David, 
Abraham,  Michael,  John,  Solomon,  Daniel, 
who  died  when  quite  young;  Sallie,  Jacob  and 


Betsey.      Henry    Moist,    the     father    of    these 
children,  died  in  Juniata  county. 

Jacob  Moist,  the  father  of  John  F.,  was 
born  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  in  1S20,  and  came 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1845.  The 
next  year  he  married  Miss  Annie  Hocker,  who 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October 
15,  1824,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Sterling)  Hocker.  John  Hocker 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  removed  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  of  240  acres  now  occupied  by  his 
son,  Adam  Hocker.  His  wife,  Catherine 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Germany  on  the  river 
Neckar,  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years,  dying  in  1890  or  1891. 

Jacob  Moist,  soon  after  his  marriage,  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  Harrisburg,  and  lived  there 
one  year,  when,  in  1848,  he  bought  the  farm 
on  which  his  son  now  lives,  and  which  con- 
tained sixty-two  acres.  He  partially  cleared 
it  of  its  timber  and  converted  it  into  a  produc- 
tive farm.  He  was  well  known  for  many 
miles  around  as  a  man  of  high  character  and 
upright  living,  and  was  in  every  way  trustwor- 
thy. The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jacob  Moist  were  as  follows:  John  F. ,  Al- 
mira  J.,  Frances  C. ,  and  three  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moist  were  members  of 
the  church  of  the  Brethren  in  Christ,  or  River 
Brethren.      Mrs.  Moist  died  January  21,  1879. 

John  F.  Moist  was  born  January  16,  1847, 
in  Randolph  township,  Montgomery  county, 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  a  good 
education  in  the  district  school.  He  after- 
ward attended  the  National  normal  institute, 
at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  for  three  winters,  in  order 
to  fit  himself  for  teaching  school.  After  this 
he  taught  school  for  five  years  in  Randolph, 
Clay  and  Madison  townships,  being  a  success- 
ful teacher.  He  resided  on  the  farm,  and 
combined  farming  with  teaching.  When  he 
was  thirty  years  of   age  he  married  Sarah   E. 


1026 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Ralston,  the  ceremony  being  performed  April 
17,  1877.  She  was  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Hettie  (Moist)  Ralston,  and  was  born  October 
24,  1856.  James  Ralston,  her  father,  was  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Rachael  (Henderson)  Ral- 
ston, the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Eng- 
land and  came  to  America  when  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  leaving  in  England  two 
brothers  and  a  sister.  For  some  time  he  lived 
in  Philadelphia,  and  then  moved  to  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  married  and  had  the  following 
children:  Samuel,  Alfred,  David,  Dayton, 
Elizabeth,  Frances  and  James.  Samuel  Ral- 
ston was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa. 

James  H.  Ralston,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Moist,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
November  4,  1827,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education.  He  lost  his  father  when  he 
was  ten  years  old,  and  the  support  of  his 
mother  and  the  younger  children  thereupon 
devolved  largely  on  him  for  a  number  of  years. 
Upon  arriving  at  mature  years  he  married  Het- 
tie Moist,  who  was  born  in  Juniata  county, 
Pa.,  February  7,  1833,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Runk)  Moist.  James  H. 
Ralston  settled  in  Center  county,  Pa.,  and  in 
1862  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Miami 
county,  a  short  distance  west  of  Troy,  and  in 
1870  settled  three  miles  east  of  Troy,  still  in 
Miami  county.  In  1885  he  went  to  Kansas, 
settling  in  Nemaha  county,  where  he  died  Jan- 
uary 21,  1S91.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
Sarah  E.,  George,  Philip,  James  W.,  Jacob, 
Alfred,  Samuel,  David,  Dora.  Mrs.  Ralston 
died  in  1875,  aged  forty-two  years.  She  was 
a  woman  of  excellent  qualities,  and  a  member 
of  the  church  of  the  River  Brethren.  Mr. 
Ralston  was  a  practical  farmer  and  a  most  ex- 
cellent man  in  every  way,  reliable,  truthful 
and  successful. 

After  their  marriage   Mr.    and    Mrs.    Moist 
settled  on  the  old  Moist  farm,  and   he   has  re- 


sided on  the  farm  ever  since  his  birth,  and  in 
1887  he  purchased  the  farm.  He  ranks  among 
the  most  advanced  and  intelligent  members  of 
the  community.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moist  there 
have  been  born  the  following  children ;  Ianthe 
M. ,  Harvey  C. ,  Jacob  F. ,  Albert  R. ,  Arthur  G. , 
and  Annie  M.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 
River  Brethren  church.  Politically,  Mr.  Moist  is 
a  republican,  and  is  much  interested  in  public 
affairs.  He  has  served  as  a  member  cf  the 
school  board  for  thirteen  years,  and  his  chil- 
dren have  been  well  educated.  Ianthe  M.  grad- 
uated in  the  township  high  school  in  1895,  ar*d 
holds  a  teacher's  certificate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moist  are  among  the  best  people  in  the  county, 
taking  great  interest  in  educational  and  relig- 
ious work,  and  exerting  a  wide  influence  for 
good  in  their  vicinity. 


BRANK  S.  NELSON,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Enterprise  Carriage 
Manufacturing  company,  and  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  in  Newport,  Ky.,  January  25,  1863. 
He  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  F.  (Hender- 
son) Nelson  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
He  was  reared  in  Cincinnati,  and  was  educat- 
ed first  in  the  public  schools,  and  afterward  in 
Oberlin  college,  one  of  the  most  famous  insti- 
tutions of  learning  in  the  country.  In  1882 
he  began  his  business  career  as  bookkeeper  for 
a  Cincinnati  house,  which  position  he  retained 
until  1 89 1,  when  he  removed  to  Miamisburg 
with  the  Enterprise  Carriage  Manufacturing 
company,  which  had  been  established  in  Cin- 
cinnati in  1879.  Its  plant  in  Miamisburg  is 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  world  for  the  manu- 
facture of  popular  priced  vehicles  of  all  de- 
scriptions. Much  of  its  machinery  was  built 
after  special  designs  and  for  the  exclusive  use 
of  the  factory  in  Miamisburg,  which  is  without 
doubt  the    most  perfectly   equipped    establish- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1027 


ment  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  The  prod- 
ucts of  this  manufactory  have  a  world-wide 
reputation,  and  it  has  been  kept  working  to 
the  limit  of  its  capacity  almost  constantly  since 
its  establishment  in  Miamisburg.  Mr.  Nelson 
is  a  large  stockholder,  and  has  held  the  posi- 
tions of  secretary  and  treasurer  since  its  estab- 
lishment in  Miamisburg.  The  success  and 
present  standing  of  the  enterprise  is  largely 
due  to  his  intelligent  and  tactful  management. 
Mr.  Nelson  was  married,  November  20, 
1895,  to  Miss  Erne,  daughter  of  Eden  and 
Alice  Engleman,  of  Maryland.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  progressive  citizens 
of  Miamisburg,  is  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  in 
politics  is  a  democrat.  Few  men,  if  any,  in 
the  county,  stand  higher  in  the  estimation  of 
the  business,  social  and  religious  world  than 
does  Mr.  Nelson. 


Vj-*  OUIS  NEWBURGH,  president  of  the 
r  Louis  Newburgh  company,  packers  of 
J\  leaf  tobacco,  with  their  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  office  and  warehouse  in 
Germantown,  and  an  office  and  salesroom  at 
No.  232  East  Fourth  street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
was  born  January  22,  1839,  at  Pottsville,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.  Shortly  after  his  birth  his 
parents  moved  to  New  York,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1842  they  moved  to  Chicago.  In  1855  they 
went  back  to  New  York,  and  in  1859  their  son 
Louis  entered  the  tobacco  business  as  a  clerk. 
In  the  year  i860  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  en- 
tered into  the  cigar-leaf  jobbing  business,  and 
in  1876  purchased  a  warehouse  in  German- 
town,  Montgomery  county,  and  began  packing 
tobacco.  In  January,  1893,  he  formed  the 
corporation  known  as  the  Louis  Newburgh 
company,  and  admitted  his  son  (S.  M.  New- 
burgh), his  son-in-law  (Alexander  Pappen- 
43 


heimer),    and    brother    (Henry    Newburgh)    to 
the  firm. 

About  the  year  1880,  Louis  Newburgh  con- 
cluded from  his  experience  that  the  tobacco- 
raised  in  Ohio  had  so  deteriorated  in  quality 
that  it  could  no  longer  compete  with  cigar- 
leaf  raised  in  other  states.  He  conceived  the 
idea  of  introducing  seed  that  would  be  an  im- 
provement, and,  with  this  end  in  view,  pro- 
cured from  the  island  of  Cuba  a  quantity  of 
seed  which  he  distributed  among  the  growers 
of  Montgomery  and  Warren  counties.  The 
hot  and  dry  summer  of  1881,  however,  was 
detrimental  to  the  germination  of  the  seed,  and 
the  growers  became  discouraged  and  refused 
to  make  another  attempt  at  propagation. 

Mr.  Zimmer,  of  Miamisburg,  knowing  that 
the  Ohio  seed  had  degenerated,  and  that  some- 
thing was  required  to  improve  the  tobacco 
product,  continued  the  propagation  of  this 
seed  until  he  produced  seed  that  was  accli- 
mated, and  from  that  time  a  filler  tobacco  has 
been  grown  that  is  unsurpassed  throughout  the 
United  States,  and  Mr.  Zimmer  has  received 
due  credit  by  its  being  named  Zimmer's  Span- 
ish tobacco.  The  quantity  at  first  produced 
was  very  small— some  300  boxes;  this  has 
since  increased,  so  that  there  are  now  pro- 
duced from  35,000  to  45,000  boxes  annually. 
The  Louis  Newburgh  company  purchased  and 
packed  of  this  variety  last  season  over  12,000 
boxes,  and  are  now  recognized  as  the  largest 
packers  in  Ohio,  if  not  in  the  United  States. 

Louis  Newburgh  began  his  career  as  a 
packer  with  the  determination  to  put  up  his 
goods  in  an  honest  and  careful  manner,  and 
to  acquire  a  reputation  for  his  house;  and  to 
this  policy,  faithfully  carried  out,  is  due  the 
high  standing  of  the  company  throughout  the 
country.  The  officers  of  the  company  are: 
Louis  Newburgh,  president;  S.  M.  Newburgh, 
vice-president;  Alexander  Pappenheimer,  sec- 
retary; and  Henry  Newburgh,  treasurer. 


1028 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


^  LIVER    PERRY    NISWONGER,    a 

traveling  salesman  of  Miamisburg, 
Montgomery  county,  was  born  in 
West  Senora,  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
November  21,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  John  D. 
and  Mary  (Ruse)  Niswonger,  both  natives  of 
Montgomery  county.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Samuel,  and  great-grandfather,  John 
Niswonger — both  from  Fincastle,  Ya.,  and  of 
Swiss  descent — were  among  the  pioneer  farm- 
ers of  Montgomery  county,  Clay  township, 
where  they  lived  and  died,  and  are  buried  in 
the  cemetery  at  Salem,  Ohio.  The  wife  of 
Samuel  was  a  Miss  Dillon,  of  Irish  birth,  and 
their  children  were  Polly  (Mrs.  Louis  Kimmel), 
Betsey  (Mrs.  John  Overhulser),  John  D., 
James,  Sally  (Mrs.  Slengsby  Barnes),  Samuel, 
Catherine  iMrs.  Andrew  Faulkner),  Eliza  (Mrs. 
Ruel  Vorhees),  Prudence  (Mrs.  Andrew  SpitlerJ, 
and  Levi.  Of  these  the  father  of  Oliver  P. 
was  born  in  Clay  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, April  13,  181 1,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
His  business  has  been  farming,  buying  and 
shipping  stock  and  dealing  in  grain,  and  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
for  upwards  of  fifty  years.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  1  Heckathorn)  Ruse 
of  Madison  township,  Montgomery  county, 
who  bore  him  eight  children — Horace,  Maggie, 
Ann,  Eva  (deceased),  Samuel  (deceased),  Levi, 
Oliver  P.  and  James  B. 

Oliver  P.  Niswonger  was  reared  in  Preble 
county,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  began  life  for  himself  in  1876  as  a  travel- 
ing salesman  for  agricultural  implements, 
which  business  he  has  followed  up  to  this 
time.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Miamisburg 
since  1882.  He  married,  September  2,  1876, 
America,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Delilah 
(Harsh)  Frazer,  of  West  -Senora,  Ohio,  and 
has  three  children,  Charles  H.,  Myrtle  and 
Dorman  D.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niswonger  are  con- 
sistent   members   of    the    German    Reformed 


church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Niswonger  is  a  re- 
publican. Socially  the  family  stands  very 
high  in  the  community,  and  Mr.  Niswonger's 
genial  qualities  have  not  only  made  him  pop- 
ular on  the  road,  but  have  won  for  him  hosts 
of  friends  at  and  near  his  immediate  home. 
In  his  business  career,  Mr.  Niswonger  has  been 
in  the  employ  only  of  firms  of  national  repu- 
tation, such  as  W.  N.  Whiteley,  of  Springfield, 
the  McCormick  company,  of  Chicago,  and  the 
Warder,  Bushnell  &  Glessner  company,  of 
Springfield,  Ohio. 


K^\  ERNARD  J.  PANSING,  a  prosper- 
1^*^  ous  business  man  of  Miamisburg, 
JK^_J  Ohio,  was  born  in  this  place  May  20, 
1847.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Henry 
and  Johanna  Lucie  (Borcherring)  Pansing,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Diepholz,  Han- 
over, Germany,  December  13,  1803,  and  was 
there  reared  to  manhood. 

John  Henry  Pansing  learned  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade,  and  served  twelve  years  in  the 
German  army.  In  1836  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  located  in  Cincinnati,  and  there  worked 
at  his  trade  a  year  and  a  half,  removing  to 
Miamisburg  in  1838.  In  Miamisburg  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  business  as  an  undertaker, 
cabinetmaker  and  dealer  in  furniture,  erect- 
ing the  building  on  Main  street  now  occupied 
by  David  Clark  for  business  and  residence 
purposes.  He  continued  in  that  business  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  but  in  connection 
therewith,  on  account  of  ill  health  and  the 
consequent  need  of  out-door  occupation  and 
exercise,  he  carried  on  truck  farming  near 
Miamisburg  for  several  years. 

On  January  3,  1837,  he  married  Johanna 
Lucie  Borcherring,  then  of  Germantown,  Ohio, 
but  formerly  of  Hanover,  Germany.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom 
grew  to  adult  years,  as  follows:     Wilhelmina, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1029 


now  deceased;  Louis  F.,  deceased;  Bernard 
J.;  William  H. ;  Melinda  M.,  wife  of  Jacob 
Swartz,  and  Martha  M.,  wife  of  Joseph  Rockey. 
Mr.  Pansing  and  his  family  were,  and  those 
still  living  are,  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
democrat.  His  death  occurred  March  4,  1879, 
and  that  of  his  wife,  November  13,   18S0. 

Bernard  J.  Pansing  came  to  man's  estate  in 
Miamisburg,  and  received  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  His  business 
education  was  received  in  the  Miami  Com- 
mercial college  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  His  business 
career  was  begun  with  the  Hunter  Cutlery 
company,  which  company  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cutlery  in  Miamisburg,  and 
which  he  assisted  to  organize  in  1872.  After 
remaining  connected  with  this  company  until 
1876,  he  and  his  brother,  William  H.,  formed 
a  co-partnership  which,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Pansing  Bros.,  engaged  in  the  general 
grocery  and  hardware  business.  In  1893,  he 
and  others  organized  the  Citizens'  National 
bank  of  Miamisburg,  of  which  he  is  a  stock- 
holder, and  in  which  he  served  for  two  years 
as  a  director.  He  erected,  or  more  accurately, 
remodeled  the  building  now  occupied  by  Pan- 
sing Bros.,  for  business  purposes,  and  has  in 
all  his  business  career  and  connections  been 
recognized  as  a  straightforward  and  honorable 
gentleman. 

Mr.  Pansing  was  first  married  to  Miss 
Chrissie  A.  Schuster,  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Mary  (Kline)  Schuster,  of  Miamisburg. 
By  this  wife  he  had  two  children,  viz:  Ida  N., 
and  Mary  L.  His  second  wife  was,  before  her 
marriage,  Emma  Dill,  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Louisa  (Shaffer)  Dill,  of  Germantown,  and  by 
her  he  has  had  three  children,  viz:  Wilbur, 
Bernice  and  Dill,  the  latter  deceased.  Mr. 
Pansing  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  member  of  the 
encampment,  and  of  the  Daughters  of  Re- 
bekah.      He   has  passed  all    the   chairs  and  is 


now  adjutant  of  the  Second  regiment,  P.  M., 
I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Miamisburg  board  of  education  for  three  years, 
of  the  board  of  health  for  six  years,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  democrat.  Mr.  Pansing  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  church, 
and  are  earnest  workers  in  the  cause  of  relig- 
ion. Both  are  fervent  believers  in  the  value 
of  education,  and  are  doing  what  they  can  to 
prepare  their  children  for  a  successful  and 
rational  career.  In  1883  Mr.  Pansing  erected 
a  fine  residence  on  East  Linden  street,  in 
which  he  and  his  family  now  live,  and  are  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  circle  of   admiring  friends. 


eMORY    C.    OBLINGER,    cashier    of 
the  First  National  bank,  of  German- 
town,  was  born  in  Germantown,  Ohio, 
June  5,  1865,  a  son  of  David  L.  and 
Mary    A.    (Clark)    Oblinger,    both    natives    of 
Montgomery  county. 

Gabriel  Oblinger,  paternal  grandfather  of 
Emory  C. ,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
among  the  pioneers  of  Germantown,  Ohio, 
where  he  first  engaged  in  merchandizing,  in 
1825,  in  which  he  continued  for  many  years, 
residing  in  that  town  until  his  death  in  1874. 
His  children  were  David  L. ,  Ellen  (Mrs.  Dr. 
J.  J.  Antrim),  Orion,  Daniel,  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Noah  W.  Kumber),  Clayton  and  Catherine 
(Mrs.  Charles  Rohrer). 

David  L.  Oblinger,  father  of  Emory  C, 
was  born  in  Germantown  in  1839.  On  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  engaged  in  business  with 
his  father,  and  later  embarked  in  the  dry- 
goods  trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  D.  L. 
Oblinger  &  Co.,  in  which  he  continued  up  to 
his  death.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Levi 
L.  and  Mary  L.  (Gunckel)  Clark,  pioneers  of 
Germantown,  and  granddaughter  of  Thomas 
and  Catherine  (Lehrnen)  Clark,  of  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  on  the   paternal  side,  and  on  the 


1030 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


maternal  side  of  John  D.  Gunckel,  a  pioneer 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  The  issue  of 
this  union  was  one  son,  Emory  C. 

Emory  C.  Oblinger  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive town,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Germantown,  in  which  he 
continued  for  five  years.  In  1889  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  cashier  of  the  First  National 
bank  of  Germantown,  and  was  promoted  to 
cashier  in  1890,  a  position  he  has  since  held 
with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  management 
of  the  bank.  In  September,  1888,  Mr.  Oblin- 
ger married  Pearl,  daughter  of  George  and 
Maria  (Emrick)  Schafer,  of  Sunsbury,  Ohio, 
and  to  this  marriage  has  been  born  one  son — 
David  L.  Mr.  Oblinger  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F. ,  and  politically  is  a  republican.  It  will 
be  seen  from  the  above  that  Mr.  Oblinger  de- 
scends from  two  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families 
of  German  township.  Emory  C.  Oblinger  has 
well  maintained  the  good  name  of  his  ances- 
tors, and  is  now  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
brightest  young  business  men  of  Germantown. 


IRA  S.  OWENS,  one  of  the  veteran  sol- 
diers of  the  late  Civil  war,  sprang  from 
sturdy  Welsh  stock.  William  Owens, 
the  founder  of  the  family  in  America, 
was  a  settler  in  Virginia  during  colonial  days. 
His  son  William  was  born  in  Brunswick  county, 
Ya.,  March  9,  1779.  became  a  farmer,  and 
married  Lucy  Wright,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  June  19,  1773.  Their  children 
were  Samuel  Thomas  and  George  B.  William 
Owens  emigrated  to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  in 
181 1,  and  cleared  up  a  farm  of  fifty  acres, 
two  and  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Xenia.  Here 
he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
his  eighty-fourth  year,  December  26,  1862,  at 
the  residence  of  his  son,  Capt.  Samuel  Thomas 


Owens,  of  Xenia,  Ohio.  He  was  a  typical 
pioneer,  a  man  of  high  character  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  faith  he  brought  up  his  sons.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  in  early  life  an  old-line  whig  and 
later  a  republican. 

Rev.  George  B.  Owens,  father  of  Ira  S., 
was  born  July  14.  1809,  in  Brunswick  county, 
Va.,  and  was  about  two  years  old  when  brought 
to  this  state  by  his  parents.  He  received  a 
common-school  education  and  afterward  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school,  continuing  in  this 
vocation  for  many  years.  He  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  when 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  was  for  a  long  time  a 
minister  in  that  church,  riding  on  horseback  to 
his  different  appointments  through  the  country 
for  many  miles.  He  was  licensed  as  a  local 
preacher  in  1842,  and  in  1850  was  employed 
as  a  supply  on  Concord  circuit  by  Dr.  Elliott, 
presiding  elder.  In  1851  he  was  employed  on 
Franklin  circuit  and  in  1852  on  Camden  cir- 
cuit. In  1853  he  was  admitted  into  the  Cin- 
cinnati conference  and  filled  the  following  ap- 
pointments :  Venice  circuit,  two  years  ;  Cum- 
minsville  circuit,  1856  and  1857  ;  Monroe  cir- 
cuit, 1858-59;  Laurel  circuit,  i860;  Enon, 
1861  ;  Rayville,  1862  ;  and  Bethany,  1863. 

Rev.  Mr.  Owens  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  talents,  was  a  sweet  singer,  a  power- 
ful preacher,  and  often  witnessed  great  revivals 
of  religion  among  his  people.  In  1829  he 
married  Miss  Eleanor  Brewington,  who  was 
born  of  English  parents  in  Maryland.  To  this 
marriage  there  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren:  Ira  S. ;  William  R. ;  Thomas  L. ,  who 
died  when  eight  months  old  ;  and  John  F. 
Rev.  Mr.  Owens  died  November  23,  1862,  at 
residence  of  his  son  Ira,  two  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  Xenia,  in  his  fifty-fourth  year. 

Ira  S.  Owens,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  March  1,  1830,  on  the  homestead  of 
his    grandfather     in     Greene    county,     Ohio. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1031 


Reared  a  farmer,  he  received  a  good  common- 
school  education.  On  December  15,  1856, 
when  he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  he  married 
in  Greene  county,  Miss  Malinda  Middleton, 
who  was  born  June  14,1831,  in  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (Mus- 
setter)  Middleton.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Owens  settled  on  her  father's  farm,  living 
there  one  year,  and  then  moved  to  the  Owens 
homestead,  wherethey  remained  until  his  enlist- 
ment in  the  army.  This  occurred  at  Xenia, 
Ohio,  October  7,  1861,  in  company  B,  Sev- 
enty-fourth Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  to  serve 
three  years  or  during  the  war.  His  captain 
was  Stephen  A.  Bassford.  Later  he  was 
transferred  to  company  C,  under  Capt.  Sam- 
uel T.  Owens,  his  uncle.  He  served  faith- 
fully until  January  26,  1864,  when  he  veteran- 
ized at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  the' same  organi- 
zation, re-enlisting  for  three  years  or  during 
the  war.  He  was  honorably  discharged,  on  ac- 
count of  the  termination  of  the  war,  June  10, 
1865.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River 
and  on  the  famous  Atlanta  campaign,  partici- 
pating during  that  great  campaign  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Buzzard  Roost  Mountain,  Resaca,  Dal- 
las, Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Chattahoochie,  and  in  the  general  engagement 
at  Atlanta,  in  which  Gen.  McPherson  was 
killed.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Jones- 
boro.  He  then  went  on  the  march  to  the  sea 
with  Sherman,  marched  on  to  Goldsboro,  was 
in  the  Carolina  campaign,  and  went  on  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  participated  in 
the  grand  review.  At  the'  battle  of  Stone 
River,  December  31,  1862,  he  was  wounded, 
being  shot  through  the  left  thigh,  and  was  taken 
to  the  field  hospital,  but  one  week  later  rejoined 
his  regiment.  He  was  taken  sick  on  the 
march  from  Murfreesboro  to  Chattanooga,  and 
was  in  the  hospital  on  this  account  one  week 
at  Manchester.  He  was  then  in  hospital  at 
Nashville    eight   weeks,  where    he    was    made 


ward  master  of  ward  3,  remaining  in  this  ca- 
pacity about  six  months.  During  the  entire 
period  of  his  service,  with  the  exceptions 
noted,  he  was  an  active  soldier,  and  always 
with  his  regiment  on  the  march  and  in  battle 
when  it  was  thus  engaged.  He  was,  however, 
not  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  being  in  the 
hospital  at  that  time.  But  he  rendered  good 
service  to  the  wounded  in  that  battle.  After 
the  battle  of  Stone  River  Mr.  Owens  was  de- 
tailed as  head  clerk  of  the  mustering  officer  of 
Gen.  Negley's  headquarters,  and  served  in  this 
capacity  for  three  weeks.  He  was  promoted 
to  corporal  in  1862,  and  served  as  such  officer 
to  the  end  of  the  war.  After  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  the  old  homestead,  the  same  year 
going  to  Putnam  county,  Ind.,  where  he  bought 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  where  he  taught 
school  two  winters.  His  wife  died  October 
24,  1869,  and  he  then  moved  to  Yellow 
Springs,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
with  his  mother  for  two  years.  His  children 
by  his  first  wife  were  John  W. ,  James  Allison, 
Lura  E.  and  Alice.  At  Yellow  Springs  he 
again  married,  on  March  21,  1872,  his  second 
wife  being  Catherine  Real,  by  whom  he  had 
no  children.      She  died  in  1890. 

Mr.  Owens  followed  farming  in  Greene 
county  until  he  removed  to  Beavertown  in 
1 89 1.  Afterward  he  removed  to  Byron, 
Greene  county,  and  was  there  made  postmas- 
ter under  President  Harrison's  administration, 
serving  about  one  year.  He  then  removed  to 
Union  in  1893,  and  was  appointed  notary  pub- 
lic by  Gov.  McKinley,  May  9,  1894.  His 
second  wife  having  died,  as  stated  above,  he 
married  on  May  7,  1891,  at  Beavertown,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Real,  a  sister  of  his  second  wife. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owens  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  he  is  a  steward  of 
the  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and 
is  a  man  of  undoubted  honor  and  integrity, 
taking  great  pride,  as  he  is  justified  in  doing, 


1032 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  his  record  as  a  soldier.  He  is  a  member 
of  Yellow  Springs  lodge,  No.  420,  F.  &A.  M., 
is  a  man  of  excellent  literary  attainments,  and 
has  written  a  volume  on  Greene's  County's 
Soldiers  in  the  Civil  War.  He  is  a  member 
of  Austin  Macy  post,  No.  671,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
is  a  poet  of  no  mean  ability.  He  has  written 
many  war  poems  and  was  a  newspaper  corre- 
spondent during  the  war.  Mr.  Owens  is  thus 
shown  to  be  a  man  of  excellent  parts  and 
talents,  and  he  is  everywhere  recognized  as  an 
honorable  citizen  and  an  upright  man.  Mr. 
Owens  is  at  the  present  time  correspondent 
for  the  Dayton  Herald. 


at 


ILLIAM  H.  PANSING,  a  well- 
known  business  man  of  Miamis- 
burg,  Ohio,  and  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Pansing  Bros.,  was  born  in 
this  place  December  26,  1849.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  H.  and  Johanna  Lucie  (Borcherring) 
Pansing,  mention  of  whom  is  made  in  the 
biographical  sketch  of  Bernard  J.  Pansing. 
William  H.  Pansing  came  to  manhood  in  Mi- 
amisburg,  and  was  educated  in  its  public 
schools,  and  also  at  the  Miami  Commercial 
college  at  Dayton.  After  completing  his  edu- 
cation he  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer 
and  continued  t  o  follow  farming  until  1875. 
On  March  1,  1876,  he  engaged  in  the  general 
grocery,  hardware,  iron  and  steel  business  in 
connection  with  his  brother,  Bernard  J.  Pan- 
sing, under  the  firm  name  of  Pansing  Bros., 
and  has  continued  a  member  of  the  firm  ever 
since.  His  straightforward  dealings  with  all 
persons  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  are 
calculated  to  build  up  the  strength  of  the  firm, 
largely  adding  to  its  trade  and  reputation. 

Mr.  Pansing  was  married  October  14,  1875, 
to  Amelia  R.  Shupert,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  M.  (Troxell)  Shupert,  of  Miamis- 
burg.      To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 


four  children,  as  follows:  Charles  H. ;  How- 
ard, deceased;  Mary  M.  and  Ruth.  Mr.  Pan- 
sing has  always  taken  great  interest  in  religious 
and  Sunday-school  matters.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  since  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  for  the  past  twenty- 
two  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  choir. 
For  seven  years  he  has  led  the  Sunday-school 
in  singing,  and  in  all  ways  has  been  a  very 
active  and  useful  member  of  both  church  and 
Sunday-school. 

In  1884  he  erected  the  business  block  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Clark,  on  Main  street,  and 
he  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  residence  on  Park 
avenue.  Mr.  Pansing  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and 
a  Patriarch  Militant,  uniform  rank.  Politic- 
ally, he  has  always  been  a  democrat,  and  as 
such  served  two  years  in  the  city  council  of 
Miamisburg,  with  entire  credit  to  himself  and 
with  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  He  and 
his  brother,  Bernard  J.,  have  contributed 
largely  to  the  erection  of  the  present  Lu- 
theran church  building,  as  did  also  their  father, 
and  the  brothers  are  doing  their  full  share  to- 
ward its  support. 


@AMALIEL  PEASE,  one  of  the  exten- 
sive tobacco  growers  and  general  farm- 
ers of  Miami  township,  Montgomery 
county,    Ohio,  is  a   native   here   and 
was  born  May  31,   1837,  a  son   of  George  and 
Ellen  (Wheatley)  Pease. 

George  Pease,  his  father,  was  born  in  Suf- 
field,  Conn.,  November  25,  1798,  and  in  his 
early  manhood  followed  the  profession  of  school- 
teaching.  In  1825  he  came  west,  crossing  the 
mountains  by  stage  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where 
he  and  a  companion  purchased  a  canoe  and 
floated  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  1826,  he  came  to  Miami  township, 
Montgomery   county,    and   until   1828  stopped 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1033 


with  his  brother  Perry,  who  was  proprietor  of 
a  distillery  at  Lamme's  Mills,  and  for  a  short 
time  had  charge  of  the  distillery.  He  then 
moved  to  Carrollton,  where  he  had  charge  of 
the  mill  office  for  his  brothers,  Horace  and 
Perry,  until  1848,  when  he  purchased  a  home 
and  engaged  in  miscellaneous  activities.  He 
was  for  a  number  of  years  treasurer  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Great  Miami  Turnpike 
company,  but  in  1868  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness life. 

The  first  marriage  of  George  Pease  took 
place  August23,  1831,  with  Miss  Ellen  Wheat- 
ley,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Hannah  (Dunbar) 
Wheatley,  of  Washington  township,  to  which 
union  were  born  four  children,  viz:  Mary  and 
Mindwell,  both  now  deceased;  Gamaliel,  and 
Ellen  W.,  now  Mrs.  H.  B.  Ulm.  Mrs.  Pease 
died  November  16,  1839,  and  the  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Pease  occurred  April  6,  1841,  with 
Miss  Mary  A.  Lamme,  daughter  of  David 
Lamme,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Miami  val- 
ley. To  this  marriage  were  born  three  children 
— Horace  L. ,  David  W.  and  Harriet  (Mrs. 
George  W.  Hayes).  Mr.  Pease  died  February 
23,  1880.  He  was  made  a  Mason,  in  1822, 
in  Apollo  lodge,  at  Suffield,  Conn.,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  an  honored  member  of 
Minerva  lodge,  No.  98,  at  Miamisburg.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Carrollton.  In  politics  he 
was  first  a  whig  and  later  a  republican,  and  al- 
though active  as  a  party  man  never  sought  po- 
litical preference.  In  business  he  was  a  man 
of  the  most  scrupulous  integrity,  and  his  death 
was  sincerely  mourned  by  the  entire  commu- 
nity in  which  he  had  passed  so  large  a  portion 
of  his  useful  life. 

Gamaliel  Pease,  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Miami 
township  and  in  the  Miami  Valley  institute. 
In  1850  he  went  from  Carrollton  to  Dayton 
and  learned  the  molder's  trade  in  the  Buckeye 


foundry,  and  worked  at  this  trade  until  1857. 
In  1859  he  returned  to  Carrollton,  farmed  for 
one  year,  and  was  then  employed  for  a  year  in 
the  distillery  of  his  uncle,  Perry  Pease.  De- 
cember 14,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  company  G, 
Sixty-ninth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Gallatin,  Murfreesboro 
(or  Stone  River),  Chickamaugaand  Missionary 
Ridge.  February  14,  1864,  he  was  trans- 
ferred from  Chattanooga,  Tenn. ,  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  recruit- 
ing service  until  honorably  discharged,  Febru- 
ary 20,  1865.  After  the  war,  he  was  engaged 
for  five  years  in  bridge  building. 

Mr.  Pease  was  united  in  marriage,  March 
18,  1869,  with  Miss  Mary  Leisz,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Wagner)  Leisz,  of  Car- 
rollton, and  to  this  union  have  been  born  five 
children,  viz:  Oscar  M. ,  Jennie  Gertrude 
(Mrs.  Harry  C.  Weaver),  George,  Calvin  and 
Myrtle.  Since  about  the  time  of  his  marriage 
Mr.  Pease  has  been  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  tobacco  raising,  in  which  he  has  been 
eminently  successful.  Mr.  Pease  is  a  member 
of  Al  Mason  post,  No.  598,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  is 
a  republican.  He  and  his  family  are  among 
the  foremost  in  the  community,  and  he  is  a 
man  who  has  faithfully  filled  all  the  stations  of 
life,  either  as  civilian  or  soldier. 


WOHN  B.  PIATT,  an  ex-soldier  of  the 
£  Civil  war,  and  an  old  resident  of  Trot- 
/%  1  wood,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  the  county  and  was  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1836,  a  son  of  James  and  Barbara 
(dinger )  Piatt.  The  father  of  James,  who  was 
a  native  of  Rockingham  county,  Va. ,  was  of 
French-Huguenot  descent,  and  the  father  of 
the  following  named  children:  Isaac,  Jacob, 
Abraham,  Solomon,  David,  John,  James,  Jane 
and  Polly.  Don  Piatt,  the  poet,  was  also  of 
the  same  ancestry. 


1034 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


James  Piatt,  the  father  of  John  B.,  was 
born  in  1806,  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  and 
when  a  boy  came  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  here  married  Barbara  dinger,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Olinger,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  and  was  a  pioneer  of  this  county. 
To  James  and  Barbara  Piatt  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Rebecca,  Jacob  and  John  B. 
The  death  of  Mrs.  Barbara  Piatt  took  place  in 
1838,  and  for  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Piatt  mar- 
ried Eliza  McWhiney,  of  Scotch-Irish  extrac- 
tion, and  to  this  union  were  born  William, 
David,  James  and  Eliza.  The  five  sons  of 
James  Piatt  all  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Civil 
war.      Their  father  died  in  1857. 

The  mother  of  John  B.  Piatt  died  when  he 
was  but  two  years  old  and  he  was  reared  by 
Maj.  Elijah  Culbert,  who  sent  him  to  school 
and  taught  him  blacksmithing  at  Post  Town, 
where  the  major  owned  a  shop  and  foundry. 
April  29,  1 86 1,  Mr.  Piatt  married  Miss  Ro- 
sanna  Steckly,  a  native  of  Wittenberg,  Ger- 
many, born  November  16,  1843,  a  daughter  of 
Matthew  and  Margaret  Steckly,  whose  chil- 
dren were  named  Regina,  Rosanna,  and  Cath- 
erine. Mrs.  Steckly  having  died  about  the 
year  1847,  Mr.  Steckly  embarked  for  America 
and  landed  in  New  York,  where  he  remained 
three  months  and  then  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
first  at  Dayton,  and  then  upon  a  farm  pur- 
chased by  him  in  Madison  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Leaving  his  young  wife  and  babes  at  Poast 
Town,  Mr.  Piatt  enlisted,  in  March,  1864,  at 
Dayton,  in  company  E,  Seventy-first  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt.  Samuel  Mc- 
Connell,  to  serve  three  years  unless  earlier  dis- 
charged because  of  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga. ,  fought 
Hood's  troops  in  a  skirmish  at  Franklin,  and 
was  in  the  two-day  fight  at  Nashville,  Decem- 
ber 15  and  16,  but  was  wounded  the  first  day, 


a  rifle  ball  striking  his  left  side.  The  ball, 
however,  was  flattened  by  striking  his  car- 
tridge box,  belt  and  haversack,  before  reaching 
his  body,  otherwise  he  would  have  been  shot 
through.  As  it  was,  he  was  partly  paralyzed 
in  the  left  side,  which  caused  his  confinement 
in  hospital  until  honorably  discharged  at  Camp 
Dennison,  Ohio,  through  general  orders,  in 
1865,  after  a  service  of  about  sixteen  months. 
On  his  return  to  Post  Town  he  resumed  his 
trade  as  soon  as  possible,  although  his  phys- 
ical disability  compelled  him  to  employ  an  as- 
sistant in  his  work. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Piatt  opened  a  shop  in  Trot- 
wood,  has  prospered,  and  has  erected  a  com- 
fortable residence.  His  children  were  eight  in 
number,  and  were  named  Lizzie  A.  (who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years),  Ella  G.,  Reu- 
ben S.,  Laura  B.  (who  died  aged  fifteen), 
Clyde,  Glenn,  Pearl  (who  died  at  eleven 
months),  and  another  son  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piatt  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Piatt  is  a  re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard 
post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Dayton;  of  Trot- 
wood  lodge,  No.  754,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  which  was 
organized  in  1886,  during  which  time  Mr. 
Piatt  has  missed  but  few  meetings,  in  which 
he  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  and  was  formerly 
noble  grand  of  the  lodge  at  New  Lebanon. 
He  has  given  his  children  excellent  school  ad- 
vantages, his  daughter,  Ella  G. ,  having  been  a 
teacher  for  seven  years,  and  he  and  his  family 
are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  not  only  by  the 
residents  of  Madison  and  adjacent  townships, 
but  throughout  the  entire  county. 


>-j*OHN   PLOCHER,  the  well-known  con- 

■      tracting  carpenter  and  builder  of  Miam- 

(%  1      isburg,  Ohio,  is    a    native   of   Germany 

and  was  born  at  Muehlheim,  Wurtem- 

berg,    October    27,   1847,  a  son  of  John   and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1035 


Mary  (Zeller)  Plocher.  His  paternal  grand- 
parents were  Andrew  and  Katrina  (Schlatter- 
bach)  Plocher,  the  former  being  a  farmer  of 
Muehlheim;  the  maternal  grandfather,  Michael 
Zeller,  was  also  a  farmer  of  the  same  district, 
and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  German-Russian 
war  of  1809.  John  Plocher,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  grain  dealer,  and  died  at  Muehl- 
heim in  1866,  at  the  age   of   forty-nine  years. 

John  Plocher,  the  subject  of  this  biography, 
lived  in  his  native  town  until  about  twenty 
years  old.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Muehlheim,  and  there  also  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  two  years  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and  worked  one  year  as  a  journey- 
man. In  1867  he  came  to  America,  passed 
seven  weeks  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  working  at 
his  trade,  and  July  26,  of  the  same  year,  set- 
tled in  Miamisburg.  Here  he  followed  his 
trade  as  a  journeyman  until  1880,  when  he 
engaged  in  contracting  on  his  own  account,  in 
which  he  has  made  a  thorough  success,  having 
constructed  many  of  the  residences  of  the  city 
and  done  the  woodwork  on  a  number  of  busi- 
ness houses.  Since  1886  he  has  been  favored 
with  contracts  for  the  erection  of  most  of  the 
factories  built  in  Miamisburg,  including  three 
twine  factories  and  the  Enterprise  Carriage 
works,  and  has,  beside,  built  several  of  the 
finest  homes  erected  in  the  city  since  that  date. 

Mr.  Plocher  was  united  in  marriage  June 
7,  1870,  with  Miss  Mary  Voegele,  daughter  of 
Martin  and  Barbara  (Smith)  Voegele,  of  Miam- 
isburg, and  this  happy  marriage  has  been  fol- 
lowed by  the  birth  of  two  children — Robert  A. 
and  Anna  B.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  on  the  board  of  trustees  of 
which  Mr.  Plocher  has  served  sixteen  years. 
In  his  fraternal  affiliations  he  is  a  member  of 
the  D.  O.  H.  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. ;  in  1883 
he  served  as  grosse  barde  of  the  state  lodge  of 
the  D.  O.  H.,  and  has  been  treasurer  of  his 
local   lodge   for   seven  years.      In  politics  Mr. 


Plocher  is  a  member  of  the  democratic  party, 
and  under  its  auspices  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council  of  Miamisburg.  He  has 
proven  himself  worthy  of  all  the  trusts  that 
have  been  reposed  in  him,  having  filled  his  re- 
sponsible duties  in  every  position  with  faith- 
fulness and  with  strict  integrity,  and  has  won 
for  himself  the  esteem  of  the  entire  community. 


HOMAS  LUTHER  PRUGH,  of  Van 
Buren  township,  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  on  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  resides  November  27,  1835.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Haynes)  Prugh, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Maryland.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom 
grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  four 
of  them  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Rev.  Dr. 
P.  C.  Prugh,  of  Butler,  Pa.,  born  September 
13,  1822;  Jacob  V.,  born  August  3,  1831,  now 
a  farmer  of  Van  Buren  township;  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine A.  Fauver,  born  January  22,  1834,  now 
the  widow  of  Samuel  Fauver;  and  Thomas  L. , 
with  whom  this  sketch  deals.  The  other  chil- 
dren, now  deceased,  were  as  follows:  Jessie, 
born  August  28,  181 7;  David  H.,  born  No- 
vember 27,  1 8 1 8,  and  died  August  5,  1872; 
John  W.,  born  November  7,  1820,  and  died 
June  16,  1 851;  Henry,  born  May  25,  1824, 
died  July  24,  1828;  Nathan,  born  July  28, 
1827,  died  August  7,  1828;  Gideon  G.,  born 
July  20,  1829. 

John  Prugh,  the  father,  was  by  occupation 
a  farmer.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  181 3,  locating 
in  Van  Buren  township  and  purchasing  160 
acres  of  land,  paying  therefor  $13  per  acre. 
In  the  spring  of  1820  he  moved  upon  the  farm 
where  Thomas  L.  now  lives.  He  was  always 
a  hard-working,  industrious  man,  honest  in  his 
dealings  with  others  and  successful  in  his  own 
affairs.  He  was  the  youngest  son  in  a  family 
of  sixteen   children;  was   born  November  25, 


1036 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1794,  near  Westminster,  Frederick  county, 
Md.,  and  lost  his  father  when  he  was  but  ten 
years  of  age.  His  wife,  Catherine  Haynes,  to 
whom  he  was  married  November  26,  1816, 
was  born  May  27,  1791,  also  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.  She  died  in  1876,  and  he  died 
on  his  farm  two  years  later,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five.  Originally  they  were  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  but 
later  they  identified  themselves  with  the  Re- 
formed church,  and  were  unusually  zealous 
christian  people.  When  the  British  made  an 
attempt  to  invade  the  city  of  Baltimore  during 
the  war  181 2,  John  Prugh  was  called  out  as  a 
soldier  in  her  defense.  He  always  took  an 
active  interest  in  politics,  being  early  in  life 
a  whig,  and  afterward  a  republican  until  his 
death. 

John  Prugh's  father,  Conrad  Prugh,  was  of 
German  descent,  and,  as  stated  above,  was 
the  father  of  sixteen  children,  one  of  whom, 
Abner  Prugh,  died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  100 
years  and  some  months.  Conrad  Prugh  was 
a  farmer  during  his  entire  life,  and  died  in 
Maryland.  The  father  of  Catherine  Haynes 
was  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  died  there 
at  an  advanced  age. 

Thomas  L.  Prugh  received  his  education  in 
the  district  school,  and  after  his  marriage  con- 
tinued to  live  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was 
born.  Until  his  parents  became  too  old  to 
take  care  of  themselves,  he  and  his  father  car- 
ried on  the  farm  work  together,  the  other  chil- 
dren having  all  been  well  started  in  life.  Still 
later  Mr.  Prugh  purchased  the  farm,  and  owns 
it  at  the  present  time.  On  December  15, 
1857,  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Mason, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Melinda  (Conover)  Ma- 
son. To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 
three  children:  J.  Mason,  Nettie  and  Frances 
Pearl.  J.  Mason  married  Anne  Kemp,  of  Ger- 
mantown,  and  has  two  children — Thomas  K., 
and    Catherine.      Nettie    married    James     P. 


White,  of  Washington  township,  and  has  one 
son,  James  Prugh  White.  Frances  Pearl  is 
now  attending  Monmouth  college,  111. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prugh  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church,  and  are  people  in 
excellent  standing,  both  in  church  and  in  so- 
ciety. Mr.  Prugh  and  his  son  own  about  285 
acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  finely  improved. 
His  life  has  been  marked  by  untiring  industry 
and  habits  of  thrift,  and  his  property  has  been 
accumulated  by  his  own  good  management. 

Mr.  Prugh  is  a  republican,  and  while  he 
has  never  aspired  to  office,  yet  he  was  recently 
elected  to  the  office  of  township  trustee,  and 
holds  the  position  at  the  present  time.  Dur- 
ing the  late  Civil  war  he  belonged  to  the  100 
days'  service,  but  owing  to  the  old  age  of  his 
parents  he  sent  a  substitute  to  the  front,  re- 
maining at  home  to  care  for  them.  He  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  educational  matters, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  township  school 
board  for  fifteen  years.  All  who  know  him 
place  in  him  the  most  implicit  confidence,  and 
all  highly  esteem  him  for  his  great  worth  as  a 
citizen  and  neighbor. 


EON.   WILLIAM   A.    REITER,    attor- 
ney at  law,  was  born  in  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  January  6,  i860.      He  is  a  son 
of  Rev.    Dr.  Isaac   H.  and   Margaret 
J.  (Heilman)  Reiter,  fuller  mention  of  his  father 
being  made   in  the  memoir  which   follows    this 
brief  biographical  notice. 

William  A.  Reiter  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Miamisburg  and  at  Heidelberg 
university,  from  which  latter  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1880.  For  two  years  afterward 
he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Capt.  Adam 
Clay,  of  Miamisburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1882,  since  which  time  he  has  been  de- 
voted to  the  earnest  practice  of  his  profession. 
Though  never  actively  engaged  in  politics,  he 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1037 


has  several  times  been  honored  by  his  demo- 
cratic fellow-citizens  with  political  preferment. 
In  the  spring  of  1888  he  was  elected  mayor  of 
Miamisburg,  and  while  holding  that  office  was, 
in  1889,  elected  to  represent  Montgomery 
county  in  the  state  legislature,  serving  his  con- 
stituency with  such  ability  and  credit  that  he 
was  re-elected  to  that  office  in  1891.  In  1893 
he  was  elected  to  the  board  of  education  of 
Miamisburg,  and  is  now  president  of  that  body. 
Mr.  Reiter  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  a  knight  templar  Mason,  and  a  Knight 
of  Pythias.  He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
and  enjoys  the  respect  of  all,  without  distinc- 
tion of  party  or  creed,  while,  as  a  lawyer,  few 
men  of  Mr.  Reiter's years  have  attained  a  more 
enviable  position  at  the  bar  of  this  county. 


<>^\  EV.    DR.    ISAAC    H.   REITER,   for 

I  /^  many  years  a  distinguished  citizen  and 
_0W  minister  of  the  gospel,  of  Miamisburg, 
was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1819,  and  in  1831  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Wooster,  Ohio.  His  earlier  years 
were  spent  under  religious  influences  and  train- 
ing, and  he  united  with  the  Reformed  church 
in  1842.  Being  well  educated  in  his  youth,  he 
taught  school  for  several  terms,  and  while  en- 
gaged in  Bible  distribution  and  railroad  clerking 
he  privately  prosecuted  his  studies.  From  185  1 
to  1854  he  was  a  student  in  the  theological 
seminary  at  Heidelberg  university,  graduating 
from  the  seminary  in  June  of  the  latter  year. 
In  November  following  he  was  ordained  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Mi- 
amisburg Reformed  church  from  1854  to 
1874,  a  period  of  twenty  years.  From  1874 
to  1895  Dr.  Reiter  was  engaged  in  general 
church  work,  preaching  only  occasionally. 
From  1873  to  1882  he  was  editor  of  the 
literary  department  of  the  Heidelberg  Teacher 
&    Instructor,    and    from     1880  to  1882   was 


editor  of  the  Christian  World.  He  also  sup- 
plied considerable  matter  for  the  Lives  of  the 
Fathers,  published  in  six  volumes,  and  at 
the  same  time  performed  other  literary  and 
statistical  work. 

Dr.  Reiter  served  as  stated  clerk  of  the 
general  synod  of  the  Reformed  church  for  thir- 
ty-five years,  and  of  the  Ohio  synod  for  twen- 
ty-five years.  He  was  long  officially  identified 
with  the  educational  institutions  of  the  Re- 
formed church  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  for  thirty- 
five  years  was  an  active  member  of  the  board 
of  regents  of  Heidelburg  university.  For 
twenty-seven  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  Heidelberg  Theological 
seminary,  and  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
master  of  arts  from  Heidelberg  university  in 
June,  1866,  and  from  Ursinus  college  the  de- 
gree of  doctor  of  divinity  in  June,   1874. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion of  Miamisburg  twenty-four  years  and  of 
the  board  of  examiners  six  years.  He  wrote  a 
history  of  the  public  schools  of  Miamisburg, 
which  was  published  in  the  Miamisburg  Bulle- 
tin, beginning  January  5,  18S3,  and  continu- 
ing through  nine  numbers.  No  one  was  ever 
more  closely  identified  with  the  moral,  educa- 
tional and  religious  interests  of  Miamisburg 
than  was  Dr.  Reiter,  and  at  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  8,  1895,  the  entire  com- 
munity felt  that  it  had  suffered  a  loss  that 
could  not  be  repaired. 


BLEMING  RICE,  a  retired  farmer, 
living  in  Van  Buren  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Frederick  county,  Md.,  September 
26,  1822.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Rebecca 
(Drill)  Rice,  both  natives  of  the  last  named 
county  and  state.  They  were  parents  of  six 
children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  five  of 
the  six   still  surviving,  as    follows:     Fleming, 


1038 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


James  A. ;  Louisa,  wife  of  John  Waltz,  of  Mus- 
catine, Iowa;  John  W.,  and  Milton. 

James  Rice,  the  father  of  these  children, 
was  a  miller  in  his  early  manhood.  About 
1826,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Lancas- 
ter, removing  thence  to  Chillicothe  in  a  few 
years.  He  then  moved  to  a  point  about  four 
miles  north  of  Dayton,  and  about  five  years 
afterward  removed  south  of  Dayton  to  Day- 
ton township,  now  Van  Buren  township.  The 
family  was  then  too  poor  to  purchase  land,  so 
rented  a  farm.  There  James  Rice  died  in 
September,  1842,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years, 
his  wife  having  died  about  five  years  before. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal church,  and  though  poor,  were  upright, 
honest  and  reliable  people. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Fleming  Rice 
lived  in  Maryland  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  middle  age.  He  and  his  wife  reared 
a  family  of  two  sons  and  five  daughters.  The 
maternal  grandfather  also  died  in  Maryland. 

Fleming  Rice  was  ten  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Montgomery  county. 
Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  When  his  par- 
ents died  he  and  his  next  younger  brother  took 
care  of  the  other  members  of  the  family, 
giving  them  the  best  education  the  country 
then  afforded.  In  1843  Fleming  married  Miss 
Catherine  Fenstmacher,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children,  as  follows:  Hester  Jane,  John  W. , 
Mary  and  Franklin.  Hester  Jane  married 
Daniel  Peters,  of  Preble  county;  John  W. , 
married  Clara  Bellman,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren. Mary  married  Jacob  Sheets,  and  has 
one  child.  She  and  her  husband  live  two 
miles  south  of  the  soldiers'  home,  on  the  Ger- 
mantown  pike.  Franklin,  who  married  Victo- 
ria Dryden,  has  three  children,  and  resides 
in  Dayion. 

Mrs.  Catherine  Rice  died  in  January,  1864, 
a  member  of  the    German   Reformed  church. 


Mr.  Rice  married,  in  1867,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Miller,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  E.  Miller, 
To  this  marriage  there  were  born  three  chil- 
dren: Annie  E.,  Charles  D.,  and  Olive 
Leora.  Annie  E.  married  Sherebiah  Brad- 
ford, and  has  one  child.  Charles  D.  married 
Elsie  Gebhart,  and  Olive  Leora  lives  at  home. 
Mrs.  Rice  is  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church.  Politically  Mr.  Rice  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  as  such  has  held  several  township 
offices.  He  has  been  quite  successful  in  the 
accumulation  of  property,  having  four  fine 
farms,  one  containing  160  acres;  another  105 
acres;  one  north  of  Dayton,  122  acres,  and  the 
home  farm,  103  acres.  His  home  farm  lies 
between  three  and  four  miles  south  of  Dayton. 
Having  lived  in  Montgomery  county  sixty-four 
years  he  has  seen  much  of  the  wonderful  de- 
velopment of  this  rich  valley.  He  is  well 
known  throughout  the  county  as  one  of  its 
most  substantial,  reliable  and  progressive 
farmers.  He  has  always  worked  hard,  and, 
beginning  with  nothing  but  his  hands  and  a 
determination  to  accomplish  something,  has 
become  independent,  and  now  enjoys  the  re- 
spect of  all  both  for  what  he  has  done  and  for 
what  he  is  still  capable  of  doing.  Kind- 
hearted,  hospitable  and  generous,  Mr.  Rice 
has  many  friends  among  all  classes  of  people. 
He  is  one  of  the  public-spirited  men  of  the 
county,  always  ready  to  aid  worthy  enterprises, 
modest  in  his  bearing,  and  genial  in  disposition. 


' ILSON  RICE,  a  well-known  educa- 
tor of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 


(U 

\JLM  born  in  Van  Buren  township,  May 
24,  1861,  a  son  of  James  A.  and 
Hannah  ( Opdyke  )  Rice.  His  paternal  grand- 
parents were  natives  of  Maryland,  but  settled 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1835,  an^  n's 
maternal    grandparents,   Albert    and    Rebecca 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1039 


(  Ruder  )  Opdyke,  were  old  residents  of  Van 
Buren  township. 

Wilson  Rice  was  reared  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
spent  two  years  at  the  Northwestern  Ohio 
Normal  school,  Ada,  Ohio,  and  later  took  a 
commercial  course  at  A.  D.  Wilt's  college, 
Dayton,  Ohio.  In  18S2  he  began  his  career 
as  a  teacher  in  the  common  schools,  in  which 
vocation  he  has  successfully  continued,  and 
since  1889  has  been  a  resident  of  Germantown. 

Mr.  Rice  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Amanda  E.,  daughter  of 
W.  S.  and  Elizabeth  ( Shroyer )  O'Neill,  of 
Van  Buren  township  ;  his  second  wife  was  Miss 
Rilla,  daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Spring) 
Huber,  of  Germantown,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children — David  L.  and  Olive  M.  Mr.  Rice  is 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  of  the  F.  & 
A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  the  For- 
esters. He  is  a  democrat  and  served  as  post- 
master of  Whitfield,  Montgomery  county,  from 
September,  1S90,  to  January,  1895.  In  1895 
he  was  elected  trustee  of  German  township 
and  has  served  his  constituents  faithfully  in 
both  capacities.  As  an  educator  he  has  won 
golden  opinions  from  the  people  of  German- 
town,  and  as  a  citizen  he  stands  high  in  the 
esteem  of  the  community. 


^^OHN  RISON,  bridge  builder  and  con- 
M  tractor  of  Miamisburg,  was  born  in 
A  1  Perry  county,  Ohio,  July  25,  1832. 
He  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
(Wood)  Rison,  who  were  natives  respectively 
of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Peter  Rison,  was  a  farmer  of  the 
state  of  Virginia.  Peter  Rison,  father  of 
John,  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1838,  locating  near  Dayton,  and  later 
removed  to  Butler  township,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  which   occupation   he   followed  until 


the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1849. 
Six  of  his  children  grew  to  maturity,  as  fol- 
lows: Thomas,  who  died  while  serving  his 
country  as  a  soldier  during  the  late  Civil  war; 
John;  Peter,  now  deceased;  Henry,  deceased; 
Emanuel,  deceased;  and  David  C. ,  of  Van 
Wert,  Ohio. 

John  Rison  was  reared  in  Montgomery 
county,  from  the  time  he  was  six  years  of  age, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  At 
the  age  of  eleven  he  was  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  for  the  first  six  years  there- 
after worked  on  a  farm.  Arriving  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  engaged  in  bridge  building  on 
the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad, 
and  this  line  of  work  he  followed  for  six  years. 
Afterward  he  became  superintendent  of  bridge 
building  for  other  parties,  continuing  thus  en- 
gaged for  several  years,  and  about  1870  em- 
barked for  himself  in  the  same  business,  that 
of  bridge  building  and  contracting,  which  he 
has  continuously  and  successfully  followed  ever 
since.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Miamisburg 
since  1852. 

During  the  late  Civil  war  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
first  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  beginning  his 
service  as  captain  of  his  company,  and  retain- 
ing that  position  throughout.  He  was  ap- 
pointed judge  advocate  at  Annapolis,  Md., 
but  declined  the  office,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  with  his  company  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  service.  He  was  married  Jan- 
uary 10,  1S57,  to  Elizabeth  Dininger,  of  Ger- 
mantown, Montgomery  county,  by  whom  he 
has  four  children,  of  whom  only  one  survives, 
Annetta.  Capt.  Rison  is  a  royal  arch  Mason, 
a  Knight  Templar,  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging 
both  to  the  encampment  and  canton,  is  a 
member  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  and  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  served  as 
a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Miamisburg  for 
fourteen  years  as  a  republican,  having  belonged 


1040 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


to  that  party  ever  since  attaining  his  majority. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  an  excellent  member  of  both 
church  and  general  society.  Mrs.  Rison  died 
April  2,  1893.  She  was  a  lifelong  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  her  esti- 
mable character  and  excellent  qualities  en- 
deared her  to  all  who  knew  her. 


>-j-'  ESSE  J.  ROGERS,  of  Randolph  town- 
M  ship,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
/•  1  born  in  Clinton  county,  August  8,  1846, 
and  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Deborah 
(Jeffery)  Rogers.  He  was  but  fourteen  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  Montgomery  county, 
and  resided  here  about  two  years,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  then 
went  to  Moscow,  Clermont  county.  There  he 
enlisted,  August  15,  1862,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  three  years'  service,  at  Cincinnati,  in 
the  First  independent  Ohio  battery,  under 
Capt.  George  P.  Kirtland.  He  was  soon  pro- 
moted to  be  corporal,  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  'and  was  honorably  discharged  June 
26,  1865.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  South  Mountain,  Fisher's  Hill,  several 
severe  engagements  in  West  Virginia,  Fay- 
ettsville,  Stevenson  Depot,  Lynchburg,  New 
River  and  Bunker  Hill,  Va.  The  young  sol- 
dier endured  many  hardships  beside  through 
severe  and  continued  marching,  and  was  seized 
with  rheumatism,  for  which  he  was  treated  in 
camp,  as  he  declined  going  to  hospital.  He 
was  tenacious  in  the  performance  of  his  duty, 
and  was  in  all  the  marches,  skirmishes  and 
engagements  in  which  his  regiment  took  any 
active  part. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Rogers  re- 
turned to  Montgomery  county,  and  here  mar- 
ried, October  20,  1866,  Miss  Sarah  D.  Landis, 
who  was  born  in  Randolph  township,  Novem- 
ber  28,  1.847,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 


(Dougherty)  Landis.  To  this  union  there 
have  been  sent  nine  children:  William,  Ed- 
ward, Sarah,  Charles,  Bertha,  Herbert,  Web- 
ster, May  and  Harley  —  all  born  within  the 
limits  of  Montgomery  count}'. 

Mr.  Rogers  first  located,  after  marriage,  in 
Salem,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  still- 
house  of  H.  M.  Turner  for  two  years;  lived  in 
Baltimore,  Montgomery  county,  for  about 
three  years,  and  in  1874  bought  a  farm  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  which  then  comprised  but 
forty-eight  acres,  but  which  he  has,  through 
his  diligence  and  economy,  increased  to  fifty- 
four  acres,  improving  it  with  substantial  build- 
ings, orchard,  etc.,  and  lived  upon  it  until 
March  1,  1897,  when  he  moved  to  Perry  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church,  in  which  he  is  a  class- 
leader  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  In  politics  Mr.  Rogers  is  a  republican, 
with  a  strong  leaning  toward  the  prohibition 
party,  and  is  a  member  of  Marshall  post, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Brookville. 

Reuben  Rogers,  father  of  Jesse  J.  Rogers, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  of  English  descent. 
He  was  a  sailor  in  early  life,  and  after  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Jeffery  came  to  Ohio  and 
bought  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Clinton  county, 
but  shortly  afterward  sold  this  farm,  moving 
to  Highland  county,  where  he  purchased 
another  farm,  and  there  passed  away  in  the 
Methodist  faith  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
His  children  were,  in  order  of  birth,  William 
H.,  Elizabeth,  Alice,  Lydia,  Jesse  J.  and 
Sarah.  Of  these,  William  H.  was  a  soldier 
for  three  years  in  the  Fifty-ninth  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry. 

Jesse  Rogers,  father  of  Reuben  and  grand- 
father of  Jesse  J.,  was  a  shipowner  and  sea- 
captain  of  Ocean  county,  N.  J. 

John  Landis,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Sarah  D. 
Rogers,  was  a  substantial  farmer,  owning  1  10 
acres  of  land,  was   a  member  of    the  Dunkard 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1041 


church,  and  lived  to  be  seventy  years  of  age, 
leaving  a  family  of  eight  children,  viz:  Israel, 
Mary,  Anna.  Kate,  John,  David,  Sarah  and 
William. 

The  Jeffery  family  were  of  old  colonial 
descent,  and  tradition  has  it  that  they  were 
related  to  the  historical  John  Rolfe,  who  mar- 
ried the  Indian  princess,  Pocahontas,  the 
daughter  of  Chief  Powhatan. 


aHRISTIAN  ROHRER,  deceased,  for 
many  years  a  prominent  citizen  of 
German  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  born  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty. Pa.,  December  2,  1804,  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Anna  Maria  (Forrer)  Rohrer,  both  natives 
of  the  Keystone  state.  His  father  and  grand- 
father, the  latter  also  named  Christian,  as  well 
as  himself,  were  born  on  the  same  farm  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.  This  land  was  deeded 
by  one  of  William  Penn's  agents  to  a  member 
of  one  of  the  earlier  Rohrer  families,  and  was 
in  their  possession  over  1  50  years — this  own- 
ership ending  in  1878,  at  the  death  of  the  last 
surviving  brother,  in  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-six  years. 

Christian  Rohrer,  our  subject,  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  state,  receiving  a 
good  education,  and  on  attaining  his  majority 
inherited  from  his  father's  estate  a  farm  and 
sawmill  property.  About  1828  he  came  to 
Ohio  and  Indiana  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and 
on  returning  to  Pennsylvania  disposed  of  his 
property,  and  in  1831  settled  in  German  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Here  he  pur- 
chased a  rlouring-mill  one  mile  west  of  German- 
town,  which  he  operated  until  1847.  He  then 
purchased  the  Risinger  mill  property,  including 
seventy-five  acres  of  land^  rebuilt  the  distillery 
which  was  on  the  farm,  and  which  he  had  op- 
erated since  1835,  and  embarked  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  high  wines  and  liquors,  making  the 


first  Bourbon  whiskey  distilled  in  Montgomery 
county.  He  continued  in  the  business  until 
1861,  when  he  retired. 

November  29,  1832,  Christian  Rohrer  mar- 
ried Margaret,  daughter  of  Christopher  and 
Catherine  (Kern)  Emerick,  who  had  settled  in 
German  township  in  1804;  she  bore  him  five 
children,  viz:  Anna  M.  (Mrs.  Thomas  Grubb), 
David,  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Samuel  Kaucher),  Jo- 
sephine (Mrs.  Henry  H.  Byers),  and  John  H. 
Mr.  Rohrer  was  one  of  the  solid  and  success- 
ful business  men  of  the  Miami  valley,  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  First  National 
bank  of  Germantown,  one  of  the  original  stock- 
holders of  the  C. ,  H.  &  D.  Railroad  Co.,  and 
always  took  a  deep  interest  in  worthy  public 
enterprises,  as  well  as  in  the  progress,  growth 
and  development  of  the  valley.  He  died  July 
30,  1883,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  March 
8,   1 81 3,  departed  this  life  August  16,   1889. 

John  H.  Rohrer,  a  business  man  of  Ger- 
mantown, was  born  in  German  township,  July 
21, 1858,  a  son  of  Christian  and  Margaret  (Eme- 
rick) Rohrer,  mentioned  above.  He  passed 
his  youth  in  his  native  township,  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  in  1879  began  his 
business  career  by  purchasing  a  half  interest  in 
the  Diamond  Flour  mills  at  Gratis,  Ohio,  with 
which  he  was  connected  for  one  year,  after 
which  he  spent  four  years  in  Kansas  and  the 
Indian  territory,  looking  after  real  estate  and 
cattle  interests.  In  1886  he  embarked  in  the 
tobacco  business  at  Germantown,  Ohio,  with 
J.  C.  Schaeffer,  and,  in  1890,  also  engaged 
with  Mr.  Schaeffer  in  the  grain,  coal  and  lum- 
ber business,  which,  as  J.  H.  Rohrer  &  Co., 
has  successfully  continued  since.  He  married, 
December  16,  1886,  Julia  A.,  daughter  of 
George  C.  and  Mary  (Bachman)  Banker,  of 
Germantown,  and  has  had  born  to  him  four 
children:  Margaret  E.,  Mary,  Robert  (de- 
ceased) and  Eugene.  Mr.  Rohrer  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  I. 


1042 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


O.  O.  F. ,  Friendship  lodge,  No.  21,  of  Ger- 
mantown,  and  also  of  the  encampment.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican. 


(/\  AVID  ROHRER,  a  prominent  citizen 
I  and  well  known  distiller  of  German- 
S^^J  town,  was  born  in  German  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1835,  a  son  of  Christian  and  Margaret 
(Emerick)  Rohrer,  whose  biography  appears 
above.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  township 
and  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years  entered  his  father's  distil- 
lery. In  1857  he  became  a  partner,  and,  as  C. 
Rohrer  &  Son,  the  business  continued  up  to 
1 86 1.  Christian  Rohrer  retiring,  David  then 
continued  the  business  alone  up  to  1868.  Dur- 
ing this  period,  in  1863,  he  erected  a  new  dis- 
tillery, with  a  capacity  of  ten  barrels  of  Bour- 
bon whisky  per  day.  In  1868  Charles  Hofer, 
of  Cincinnati,  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  the 
firm  becoming  D.  Rohrer  &  Co.,  and  the  part- 
nership existing  until  1883,  when  Mr.  Rohrer 
purchased  Mr.  Hofer's  interest.  He  has  since 
successfully  conducted  the  business  alone  and 
has  added  to  the  capacity  of  his  distillery,  the 
output  being  now  forty  barrels  per  day.  Mr. 
Rohrer  was  married,  February  1,  1865,  to 
Ada  V.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Schultz)  Rohrer,  natives  of  Maryland,  who 
settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1826. 
To  this  union  were  born  five  children:  Josie 
(Mrs.  F.  N.  Emerick),  Albert,  Ada  V.,  Euge- 
nia and  Frank  C. 

Mr.  Rohrer  is  one  of  the  progressive  busi- 
ness men  of  Montgomery  county,  whose  suc- 
cess has  been  achieved  by  upright  dealing  in 
all  the  affairs  of  life.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F. ,  and  in  religious  belief  is  an  advo- 
cate of  the  Universalist  doctrine.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican. 


>-j*OHN  S.  ROBERTSON,  M.  D.,  a  prom- 

m  inent  physician  of  Germantown,  was 
/•  1  born  in  Hanover,  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  July  25,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  E.  (Vallandigham)  Robertson, 
natives  of  Prince  Edward's  Island  and  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio,  respectively. 

Rev.  James  Robertson,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Perth,  Scotland,  a 
graduate  of  the  university  of  Glasgow,  and  a 
Presbyterian  clergyman.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Scotch  colony  which  first  emigrated  to 
Prince  Edward's  Island,  and  thence  to  the 
Scotch  settlement  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  having  had 
charge  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  in 
Hanover  for  several  years.  His  wife  was  Janet 
Stuart.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  John 
S.  Robertson  was  the  Rev.  Clement  Vallan- 
digham, a  native  of  Washington  county,  Pa., 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  also  a  Presbyterian 
minister;  and  he  and  Rev.  James  Robertson 
above  mentioned,  were  the  first  two  Presby- 
terian clergymen  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio, 
and  formed  nearly  all  the  churches  of  that  de- 
nomination in  that  county.  His  wife  was  Re- 
becca Laird. 

John  Robertson,  father  of  John  S.,  was  for 
many  years  engaged  in  the  drug  and  dry-goods 
business  at  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  was  the  first 
postmaster  of  New  Lisbon  under  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  died  there  in  1871. 

John  S.  Robertson  was  educated  at  the 
New  Lisbon  high  school,  and  subsequently 
taught  school  several  years,  at  the  same  time 
giving  his  attention  and  spare  moments  to  the 
study  of  medicine.  He  attended  medical  lec- 
tures at  the  university  of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
and  was  graduated  at  the  Ohio  Medical  college 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1883.  He  had  begun 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  in  1868,  and  in  April,  1869, 
located  at  Germantown,   Montgomery  county, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1043 


where,  with  the  exception  of  six  years,  during 
which  he  was  clerk  of  the  courts,  he  has  since 
been  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession. 
Dr.  Robertson  was  married  June  19,  1872,  to 
Elizabeth  M. ,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Gunckel)  Rowe,  of  Germantown,  and  has 
three  children  living:  Fredonia,  Robert  L. 
and  Jessie  E.  Dr.  Robertson  was  a  member 
of  the  Germantown  school  board  for  nine 
years,  during  which  period  he  was  instrumental 
in  placing  the  Germantown  public  library  on 
its  present  permanent  and  substantial  basis,  it 
having  now  a  collection  of  3,000  volumes.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  of  P., 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the  G.  A.  R.  During  the 
late  Civil  war  he  was  a  member  of  company 
K,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  the  expiration  of  service.  He  served  two 
terms,  1876-82,  as  clerk  of  the  courts  of 
Montgomery  county,  being  politically  a  demo- 
crat. In  1893  he  was  appointed  pension  ex- 
aminer upon  the  home  board.  In  his  profes- 
sion Dr.  Robertson  is  experienced  and  reliable, 
and  has  the  full  confidence  of  the  residents  of 
Germantown  and  vicinity,  while  as  a  citizen 
he  holds  a  firm  place  in  the  esteem  of  the 
community  at  large. 


m 


OSES  B.  SCHAEFFER,  dealer  in 
agricultural  implements  at  Miamis- 
burg,  was  born  in  German  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
December  II,  1855,  a  son  of  John  H.  and 
Maggie  (Baum)  Schaeffer,  both  natives  of  this 
county. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Schaeffer, 
a  native  of  Frederick,  Md.,  settled  in  German 
township  at  an  early  day,  and  cleared  and  im- 
proved the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson, 
Moses  B. ,  where  he  died  in  1S64.  His  wife, 
Eva  Kemp,  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  died  in 

44 


1865.  Their  children  were  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Jones  Monbeck),  Louise  (Mrs.  Daniel  H.  Fahl), 
Rebecca  (Mrs.  Eli  Faust),  Harriet,  Charlotte 
A.  (Mrs.  George  Kemp),  Maria,  John  H.  and1 
Jacob.  The  great-grandfather  of  Moses  B. 
Schaeffer  also  became  a  resident  of  this  county, 
where  he  died  many  years  ago. 

John  H.,  father  of  Moses  B.  Schaeffer,  was 
born  on  the  old  homestead  in  1829,  and  there 
always  resided,  with  the  exception  of  the  last 
year  of  his  life,  which  was  spent  in  Miamisburg, 
where  he  died  September  13,  1894.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Baum,  a  pioneer  of 
Miami  township.  She  bore  him  one  son,  Moses 
B.,  who  was  also  reared  on  the  homestead, 
was  educated  at  Oberlin  college,  and  spent  one 
year  at  the  Cincinnati  Law  school.  From 
early  manhood  he  was  engaged  in  farming, 
which  he  followed  until  1893,  when  he  removed 
to  Miamisburg,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  was  employed  for  one  year  as  engineer  of 
the  Miamisburg  Electric  Light  plant,  and  was 
for  two  years  associated  with  M.  T.  Apple,  as 
foreman  of  his  planing-mill.  January  1,  1896, 
he  embarked  in  business  as  a  dealer  in  farm 
implements  and  farm  machinery  of  every  de- 
scription, in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Schaeffer  took  place 
October  9,  1879,  with  Ella  W. ,  daughter  of 
James  C.  and  Mary  (Wheeler)  Anderson,  of 
Carlisle,  Ohio;  they  have  five  children,  named 
Mary  A.,  May,  Bertha  P.,  Fannie  and  Pearl. 
Mr.  Schaeffer  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in 
which  he  is  a  past  grand,  and  past  patriarch  of 
Miamisburg  encampment,  No.  82.  Politically 
he  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Schaeffer's  success 
through  life  may  be  attributed  solely  to  his  own 
industry  and  the  skillful  manipulation  of  the 
means  he  had  under  his  control  when  he  started 
in  his  business  career,  and  he  well  deserves  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  residents 
of  Miamisburg  and  of  Montgomery  county. 


1044 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


>Y*OHN  C.  SCHAEFFER,  a  prosperous 
k  business  man  of  Germantown,  Mont- 
/•  1  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  that 
town  January  27,  1 860  —  a  son  of  Will- 
iam H.  and  Catherine  (Negley)  Schaeffer. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  George  C.  Schaeffer, 
formerly  of  Center  county,  Pa.,  came  to  Ger- 
mantown, Ohio,  about  1820.  John  C.  Negley, 
maternal  grandfather  of  John  C.  Schaeffer,  was 
born  near  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  in  1S08  settled  in 
German  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
In  181 1  he  married  Mary  Shuey,  daughter  of 
Martin  Shuey,  a  native  of  Lebanon  county,  Pa., 
who  settled  in  German  township  in  1805.  In 
18 12  Mr.  Negley  entered  the  service  of  the 
U.  S.  government  as  second  lieutenant  in  the 
regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Pierce,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  was  chosen  captain  of  a 
company  of  militia,  and  from  this  time  until 
his  death  went  by  the  name  of  Capt.  Neg- 
ley. He  died  March  16,  1863,  in  his  eighty- 
fifth  year. 

William  H.  Schaeffer,  father  of  John  C, 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Ohio,  February  II, 
1837,  a  son  of  George  C.  and  Frances  A.  (Mc- 
Clure)  Schaeffer,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Michael  Schaeffer, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German 
descent.  George  C.  Schaeffer  came,  as  abovr- 
stated,  from  Center  county.  Pa.,  to  German- 
town,  Ohio,  about  1820,  where  he  followed 
his  trade  of  cabinetmaker  for  some  years,  and 
from  1833  to  1 8 58  was  proprietor  of  the 
Schaeffer  House,  which,  during  that  period, 
was  the  leading  hotel  of  the  place.  He  reared 
a  family  of  six  children:  Maria  (Mrs.  Capt. 
George  Wightman),  George,  William  H.,  Cath- 
erine (Mrs  Josiah  Catrow),  Ariadne  (Mrs. 
Capt.  W.  H.  Buzzard)  and  Josephine  (Mrs. 
William  Pauley).  Mr.  Schaeffer  died  in  185S, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  William  H. 
Schaeffer  was  reared  and  educated  in  German- 
town  and  began  life  for  himself  in  the  distillery 


business,  operating  a  distillery  from  1855  to 
1859.  He  later  engaged  in  farming  in  Ger- 
man township  and  also  spent  two  years  in 
Toledo  in  the  livery  business.  In  1867  he  re- 
turned to  Germantown,  and  embarked  in  busi- 
ness as  a  buyer  and  packer  of  leaf  tobacco,  in 
which  he  is  still  engaged.  In  1858,  he  mar- 
ried Catherine,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  and 
Mary  (Shuey)  Negley,  pioneers  of  German- 
town,  and  has  four  children:  John  O,  William 
N.,  Mary  F.  and  George  C. 

John  C.  Schaeffer  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Germantown,  and  in  1878  located  at  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  spent  four  years  as  clerk 
in  the  office  of  the  Pan  Handle  railroad  com- 
pany and  two  years  as  entry  clerk  in  a  large 
wholesale  grocery.  In  1884  he  returned  to 
Germantown,  where  he  embarked  in  the  leaf 
tobacco  business,  in  which  he  still  continues, 
having  been  associated  since  1886  with  J.  H. 
Rohrer,  and  since  1S90  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  J.  H.  Rohrer  &  Co.,  grain,  coal  and 
lumber  dealers.  On  April  6,  1889,  he  mar- 
ried Laura  B.,  daughter  of  George  C.  and 
Mary  (Bachman)  Banker,  of  Germantown,  and 
has  three  children,  George,  Catherine  and 
Negley. 

George  C.  Banker,  father  of  Mrs.  John  C. 
Schaeffer,  was  born  in  Poast  Town,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  January  12,  1830,  a  son  of  Sol- 
omon and  Mary  A.  (Coon)  Banker,  natives  of 
Maryland  and  Kentucky,  respectively. 

Solomon  Banker  was  born  in  1797,  and 
came  to  Ohio  in  1 8 1 7,  settling  in  Butler  county, 
where  for  several  years  he  engaged  in  milling 
at  Poast  Town.  Later  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  in  1836  removed  to  Warren  county,  where 
he  died  in  1861.'  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Susannah  Coon,  who  settled  in  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  in  1S01.  George  C.  Banker 
was  reared  in  Butler  and  Warren  counties,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  began 
life  as  a  farmer   in  Warren   county,  where  he 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1045 


resided  until  1866,  when  he  removed  to  Ger- 
mantown,  where  he  has  since  followed  the 
same  vocation.  He  was  married  in  1857  to 
Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Julia 
A.  (Bruner)  Bachman,  of  Germantown,  and 
has  five  children  —  Julia  (Mrs.  John  H.  Roh- 
rer),  John,  Laura  B.  (Mrs.  John  C.  Schaeffer), 
G.  Edward  and  Harry  E.  In  politics  Mr. 
Banker  is  a  republican. 

In  1887  Mr.  Schaeffer  organized  the  Ger- 
mantown Building  &  Savings  association,  of 
which  he  has  since  been  secretary,  and  has 
made  it  one  of  the  successful  institutions  of  the 
town.  Mr.  Schaeffer  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  of  the  Foresters.  He  has  been 
clerk  of  the  corporation  of  Germantown  since 
1886,  and  served  on  the  school  board  three 
years.      In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


HNDREW    CASS    SCHELL,    an    ac- 
countant  of   Miamisburg,    Ohio,    is  a 
native  of   this   city,   born    November 
22,   1847,  and    is  a    son  of  John   and 
Catherine   (Gebhart)  Schell,  natives   of   Berks 
county,  Pa. 

Henry  and  Margaret  (Leasher)  Schell,  his 
paternal  grandparents,  came  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Ohio  in  1820,  and  settled  in  Miamis- 
burg, where  the  grandfather  followed  his  call- 
ing of  cooper,  although  he  devoted  much  time 
to  farming,  and  later  in  life  became  a  manu- 
facturer of  plow  points.  The  children  born 
to  Henry  and  Margaret  Schell  were  named 
John,  David,  Catherine  (Mrs.  Andrew  Emert), 
Jonathan,  Molly  (Mrs.  Frederick  Yaukey),  and 
Martha  (Mrs.  Joseph  Kutz).  The  paternal 
great-grandfather  of  Andrew  C.  Schell  was  a 
native  of  German)',  who  came  to  America  be- 
fore the  Revolution,  in  which  heroic  struggle 
he  served  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and  was 
also  a  farmer  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  The  other 
paternal    great-grandfather,    John    Leasher,    a 


native  of  Germany  and  a  farmer  of  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  likewise  served  as  a  captain  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  the  Brandywine,  of  Bunker  Hill, 
and  in  several  others  of  less  note.  Jacob  Geb- 
hart, the  maternal  grandfather  of  Andrew  C. 
Schell,  was  also  a  Pennsylvanian,  and  lost  his 
life  by  accident  while  crossing  the  mountains 
on  his  way  to  Ohio  in  pioneer  days. 

John  Schell,  father  of  Andrew  C,  was  a 
shoemaker  and  the  pioneer  in  that  business  in 
Miamisburg,  and  continued  the  leading  dealer 
until  he  retired  from  the  business,  in  1S61. 
His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Margaret  (Gebhart)  Kercher,  of  Miamisburg, 
and  bore  him  two  children:  Matilda  (Mrs. 
Samuel  Witmyer),  and  Harriet  (Mrs.  Eli  Rum- 
berger).  His  second  marriage  was  with  Miss 
Catherine  Gebhart,  and  this  union  was  blessed 
with  four  children,  viz:  John  H.,  Emma 
(Mrs.  Dr.  Henry  Schoenfeld),  Margaret  E. 
(deceased),  and  Andrew  C,  the  subject  of  this 
biography.  John  Schell  was  recognized  as  an 
honorable  and  industrious  citizen,  and  passed 
away  in  1866. 

Andrew  Cass  Schell  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Miamisburg  and  began  his 
business  life  as  a  painter,  a  trade  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  twenty  years.  In  1872  he  took  a 
course  of  instruction  at  the  Miami  Commercial 
college,  of  Dayton,  and  for  two  years  was  em- 
ployed as  bookkeeper  by  the  Miami  Valley 
Paper  company.  April  13,  1873,  he  married 
Miss  Phebe,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Louisa 
(Best)  Machenheimer,  of  Miamisburg,  to  which 
union  have  been  born  three  children — Carl, 
Louisa,  and  Emma.  Since  1892  Mr.  Schell 
has  been  employed  as  bookkeeper  by  the  Kauff- 
man  Buggy  company,  and  is  universally  ac- 
knowledged to  be  an  adept  in  his  profession. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In 
his  societary  affiliations  Mr.  Schell  is  a  Free- 
mason, and   has   been  secretary  in  both  lodge 


1046 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


and  chapter  since  1880;  he  is  also  a  Knight  of 
Pythias,  and  since  1876  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  In 
his  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  has  filled  the 
position  of  village  clerk  for  twelve  years,  and 
has  just  completed  his  sixth  year  as  a  member 
of  the  Miamisburg  school  board,  of  which  for 
five  years  he  served  as  clerk.  He  is  honored 
in  ali  the  walks  of  life  and  is,  indeed,  a  good 
and  useful  citizen. 


BON.  HENRY  SCHOENFELD,  M. 
D.,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Geln- 
hausen,  in  the  province  of  Hesse- 
Nassau,  Germany,  November  26, 
1829.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Henry  and  Margaret 
(Kohler)  Schoenfeld,  who,  in  1844,  came  to 
the  United  States,  and  located  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.  Receiving  his  early  education  in  the 
province  of  Hesse-Nassau,  after  coming  to  this 
country  he  spent  some  time  in  the  study  of 
medicine  with  his  father  at  Lancaster,  and  also 
under  a  private  tutor,  Dr.  Jacob  Cooper,  a 
graduate  of  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  college 
of  New  York  city,  and  under  the  instruction  of 
Dr.  Ignatz  Hoefle,  a  graduate  of  a  medical 
college  in  Paris. 

Dr.  Schoenfeld  has  always  been  of  a 
venturesome  disposition.  In  1846  he  spent  a 
year  in  Cincinnati,  as  a  prescription  clerk  in  a 
drug  store,  and  during  the  Mexican  war  he  en- 
listed in  Cincinnati,  and  went  to  Mexico,  but 
on  account  of  being  under  age  was  sent  home 
on  a  requisition,  much  against  his  will. 

In  1848,  during  the  excitement  throughout 
the  country  caused  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
the  west,  he  went  to  California,  going  round 
Cape  Horn  in  a  sailing  vessel.  In  California 
and  in  travel  down  the  Pacific  coast  as  far 
south  as  Chile,  he  spent  three  years.  While 
in  California    he   was    engaged    in   prospecting 


for  gold,  working  in  the  mines,  fighting  Indians 
as  a  member  of  a  volunteer  company,  and  had 
many  adventures  in  the  unsettled  country  as 
one  of  the  historic  "  forty-niners,"  or  modern 
Argonauts.  Returning  in  1851  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, via  the  isthmus  of  Panama,  he  entered 
the  medical  department  of  the  university  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  afterward  spent  one  year  in 
practice  at  Penningtonville,  Pa.,  locating  in 
1853  at  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  where  he  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  in  the  active  pursuit  of  his 
profession.  Since  1877  he  has  done  an  ex- 
clusively office  practice. 

During  the  Civil  war  Dr.  Schoenfeld  was 
colonel  of  the  First  regiment  of  Home  Guards 
of  Montgomery  county,  the  guards  being  held 
as  a  reserve  force,  ready  to  be  called  on  at  any 
time.  In  1865  he  visited  Germany  and  was 
there  forcibly  detained  for  military  duty. 
Spending  the  first  two  weeks  in  a  military 
prison,  he  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of 
the  king's  body  guard.  Refusing  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  he  was  unable  to  secure 
relief  or  assistance  from  the  United  States 
minister,  and  after  six  months'  litigation  was 
released  on  an  order  of  the  supreme  court, 
which  acknowledged  that  Germany  had  no 
claim  upon  him.  Dr.  Schoenfeld  is  a  demo- 
crat, and  in  1859  was  elected  to  represent 
Montgomery  county  in  the  state  legislature, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1871.  During  the  ad- 
ministration of  Gov.  Bishop  he  was  a  trustee 
of  the  Dayton  asylum  for  the  insane.  He 
served  fourteen  years  in  the  Miamisburg  city 
council,  at  last  declining  to  accept  another 
term.  He  also  served  as  president  of  the  Mi- 
amisburg board  of  health.  Dr.  Schoenfeld 
has  been  a  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  of  the  Harugari  for  nearly  forty 
years,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  lodge  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge 
in  Miamisburg.  In  the  Harugari  lodge  he  has 
been  the   ober    grosse  barde,    chief   officer   of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1047 


the  United  States,  and  for  two  terms  has 
served  as  grosse  barde  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 
September  7,  1857,  Dr.  Schoenfeld  mar- 
ried Emma  Schell,  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Gebhart)  Schell,  of  Miamisburg. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three 
sons,  viz:  Henry,  M.  D. ;  John  and  Charles. 
Dr.  Schoenfeld  is  a  true  patriot,  a  good  neigh- 
bor and  a  warm-hearted  friend,  worthy  of  all 
honor  as  a  man  and  a  citizen,  and  stands  de- 
servedly high  in  his  profession,  as  also  in 
social  circles. 


BOUTS  SCHELLHAAS,  baker  and 
confectioner  of  Miamisburg,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Rhinefalz,  Germany,  November  11, 
1859,  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Kurtz) 
Schellhaas.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  there 
also  learned  his  trade.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  entered  the  German  army  in  which 
he  served  three  years;  he  next  worked  at  his 
calling  as  a  journeyman  in  his  native  land  un- 
til 1884,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  located  in  Miamisburg,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  nearly  a  year,  and  afterward  in 
Dayton  for  six  months.  In  November,  1885, 
he  returned  to  Miamisburg  and  embarked  in 
his  present  business,  in  which  he  has  since 
met  with  uninterrupted  success. 

November  26,  1885,  Mr.  Schellhaas  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Barbara  Leicht,  of  Miamisburg,  and 
they  have  two  children — Harry  and  Elsie. 

Mr.  Schellhaas  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  is  active  in  the  secret  brother- 
hoods of  the  Harugari  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen;  in  politics  he  is  a  democrat, 
and  his  social  relations  are  of  a  most  pleasant 
nature,  as  he  is  highly  esteemed  both  as  a  busi- 
ness man  and  as  a  citizen. 


v/\ETER  SCHREIBER,    baker,   of  Mi- 
I      m    amisburg,  Ohio,  was  born   in  Alsace- 
Lorraine,  September  15,    1857,  a  son 
of     Peter     and     Catherine     (  Eberle ) 
Schreiber.      The  father  was  for  fifteen  years  a 
captain  in  the    French   army,  and  for  twenty- 
three  years  city  sealer  of    Strasbourg,   where 
his  death  took  place  in  1894. 

Peter  Schreiber,  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy, at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  graduated 
from  the  Strasbourg  high  school,  and  in  1872 
came  to  America,  first  locating  in  Cincinnati, 
where  he  learned  the  baker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  six  years  in  that  city.  He  then 
served  as  street-car  conductor  for  five  years, 
after  which  he  again  worked  at  his  trade 
in  the  city  and  vicinity  until  1888,  when  he 
located  permanently  in  Miamisburg.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1893,  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account,  became  very  popular  and  successful, 
and  November  1,  1895,  he  founded  a  branch 
establishment  at  West  Carrollton,  where  he  is 
enjoying  a  flourishing  trade. 

February  28,  1877,  Mr.  Schreiber  married 
Miss  Mary  C.  Kluever,  daughter  of  William 
Kluever,  of  Cincinnati,  which  marriage  has 
been  blessed  by  the  the  birth  of  six  children, 
viz  :  Catherine,  William,  Peter,  Dora,  Fred 
and  Carl.  In  his  religion  he  worships  at  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  his  political  connection 
is  with  the  republican  party  ;  fraternally,  he  is 
a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  as  well  as 
of  the  Harugari,  and  is  highly  respected  by  the 
members  of  all  of  these  fraternities,  as  well  as 
by  the  public  in  general. 


>-jJACOB     SCHNEIDER,      proprietor    of 

■      Star  City  Arcade,    Miamisburg,   Ohio, 

(%  1      was  born   in    Wurtemberg,    Germany, 

May  6,  1854,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Anna 

(Wenzler)    Schneider.       His    father    came    to 


1048 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


America  in  January,  1854,  and  stopped  one 
year  in  Cincinnati;  then  for  two  years  in  Frank- 
lin, where  he  was  employed  in  various  capaci- 
ties, and  in  1857  located  at  Miamisburg,  where 
he  lived  until  1859,  and  then  went  back  to 
Germany.  In  March,  1861,  he  returned  to 
Miamisburg,  where  he  raised  tobacco  during 
the  summers  and  worked  about  a  hotel  dur- 
ing the  winters  for  several  years,  when  he 
visited  his  home  again,  and  on  the  death  of  his 
wife,  in  1 871,  he  brought  his  family  of  two 
sons — Joseph  and  Jacob — to  Miamisburg.  He 
visited  Germany  again  in  1876,  remaining  six 
months,  and,  returning,  died  in  Miamisburg  in 
August,   1879. 

Jacob  Schneider,  the  subject,  was  reared 
in  his  native  country  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  where  he  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. In  1 87 1  he  came  to  Miamisburg, 
where  he  learned  the  cabinetmaker's  trade 
with  Benjamin  Brough,  and  was  in  his  employ 
for  thirteen  years.  March  17,  1S84,  he  em- 
barked in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  continued  eight  years,  and 
in  the  meantime,  April  t,  1891,  purchased  the 
Star  City  Arcade  cafe  and  billiard  parlors, 
which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted. 
He  married,  October  31,  1876,  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Frances  Gates,  of 
Miamisburg,  and  has  five  children — Anna, 
Robert,  Nora,  Edward  and  Lawrence.  Mr. 
Schneider  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church, 
and  of  D.  O.  H.,  No.,  38,  of  Miamisburg.  He 
is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  a  respected 
citizen  of  the  community. 


EENRY  CHRISTIAN  SCHUBERTH, 
tobacco  dealer   of  Miamisburg,    was 
born  at   Wandsbek,  near  Hamburg, 
Germany,   June7,      184S.      He    is    a 
son  of  William   and   Christina   (Kahler)  Schu- 


berth,  who  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1852,  and  in  Pennsylvania  the  former 
followed  his  trade,  that  of  a  carpenter,  for 
two  years,  removing  to  Cincinnati  in  1854, 
and  there  established  himeslf  in  business  at 
the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Elm  streets.  There 
he  remained  in  business  until  1870,  when 
he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  locating  at 
Unionville,  near  Pittsburg,  where  he  now 
resides.  His  children  grew  to  maturity,  and 
were  six  in  number,  as  follows:  William; 
Henry  Christian;  August  C. ;  Charles;  Emma, 
wife  of  Albert  Burns;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of 
John  C.  Snyder. 

Henry  C.  Schuberth  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents  in  1852.  He  here  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  after 
clerking  four  years  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa., 
and  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  removed  to  Miamis- 
burg in  1865,  and  had  since  resided  in  this 
city.  In  1865,  upon  arriving  in  Miamisburg, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  C.  H.  Spitzner,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  tobacco  business,  and  in 
1873  succeeded  Mr.  Spitzner  in  that  industry, 
and  at  the  same  time  acting  as  the  representa- 
tive of  Bunzel  &  Dormitzer,  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Schuberth  is  the  oldest  tobacco  dealer  in 
the  Miami  valley,  when  continuous  and  actual 
service  are  taken  into  account. 

Mr.  Schuberth  was  married  September  29, 
1870,  to  Sarah  A.  Shultz,  of  Miamisburg,  and 
has  three  children,  as  follows:  Clifford  M., 
Mary  A.  and  Harry  C.  He  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar,  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  in  politics, 
a  republican,  in  all  of  which  relations,  frater- 
nal and  political,  he  maintains  a  high  and  cor- 
rect standing.  In  religious  faith,  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  are  active  in  the  performance  of  their  re- 
ligious duties.  Few  people,  if  any,  in  Miamis- 
burg or  Montgomery  county,  stand  higher  in 
the  public    esteem    for    honorable    character, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1049 


charitable  deeds  and  sympathy  with  the  af- 
flicted and  the  poor,  than  do  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schuberth. 


>^OSEPH   W.  SHANK,  president  of  the 

■      First  National   bank,    of  Germantown, 

A  J      Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a  native 

of  Maryland  and  he    first  saw  the  light 

October  8,   1816. 

Adam  Shank,  his  father,  was  also  a  native 
of  Maryland,  born  in  1778,  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and  shortly  after  reaching  his  ma- 
jority married  Miss  Catherine  Doup,  by  whom 
he  became  the  father  of  a  family  of  children, 
numbering  twelve,  of  which  family  the  follow- 
ing named  grew  to  maturity:  Samuel,  Joseph 
W. ,  Joshua,  Lydia  (wife  of  Ezra  Kemp),  John, 
Elias  and  Mary  (Mrs.  Noah  Myers).  While 
Adam  Shank  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  he 
drifted  into  farming,  and  for  a  few  years  fol- 
lowed that  vocation  in  his  native  state.  In 
1836  he  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Madison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  240  acres,  on  which  he  re- 
sided, prospering  year  by  year,  until  he  was 
enabled,  in  1850,  to  retire  to  Germantown, 
where  he  ended  his  days  in  1856,  honored  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

Joseph  W.  Shank  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  state  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  witn  his  parents  to  Ohio.  His 
start  in  life,  on  his  individual  account,  was  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years,  when  he  began  work 
as  a  carpenter,  and  traveled  through  the  coun- 
try, working  at  this  trade  and  finding  employ- 
ment in  various  other  lines  of  business,  twice 
visiting  California.  From  1841  to  1871  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  German  township,  where 
he  owned  at  one  time  a  farm  of  400  acres. 
But  in  the  meantime,  being  a  man  of  natural 
executive  ability,  and  ripened  by  travel  and  ex- 
perience,  he   assisted    in    organizing  the  First 


National  bank,  of  Germantown,  in  1863,  and 
is  now  the  only  survivor  of  the  original  stock- 
holders in  that  financial  enterprise,  and  has 
been  its  president  since  1881. 

The  marriage  of  Joseph  W.  Shank  took 
place,  in  1841,  with  Maria  Brunner,  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  (Harp)  Brunner,  of 
Jackson  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
to  which  union  ten  children  have  been  born,  of 
whom  seven  are  still  living,  viz:  John  A.,  Sea- 
bury  F.,  Mary  (Mrs.  George  Bechtold),  Ida 
(Mrs.  Charles  Cosier),  Emma  (Mrs.  George 
Francis),  Jabez  and  Maria.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of 
which  Mr.  Shank  has  himself,  for  the  past 
forty-five  years,  been  a  communicant.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  republican,  but  he  has  never  had  a 
desire  for  public  office.  His  long  life  has  been 
one  of  probity  and  industry,  and  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation. 

John  A.  Shank,  son  of  Joseph  W.  and 
Maria  (Brunner)  Shank,  was  born  in  Madison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1846.  He  was,  however,  reared  in 
German  township  and  educated  in  its  common 
schools.  Brought  up  a  farmer,  he  now  owns 
and  occupies  the  old  Shank  homestead,  and  is 
one  of  the  well-to-do  and  prosperous  farmers 
of  the  neighborhood.  He  was  married.  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1 87 1,  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Eby,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Bertels)  Eby, 
of  Madison  township,  and  is  now  the  happy 
father  of  three  sons,  v'z:  Orion  L. ,  Arthur 
M.  and  Herbert  A.  Mr.  Shank  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  in  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


*w   ■*  ENRY    SHANK,    of  Perry  township, 

J^k    Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  one  of 

P    the  most  prosperous  and   substantial 

farmers  of  the  county.    Jacob  Shank, 

his  father,  was  born  in  1782  or  1784  and  lived 


1050 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


for  some  years  in  Fauquier  count}',  \  a.  When 
twenty-four  years  of  age  he  emigrated  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  together  with  his  father, 
Henry,  and  his  father's  family.  Here  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Noffsinger,  who  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  of  Dutch  ancestry.  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  Shank  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Daniel,  Mary,  John,  Sam- 
uel, Susannah,  George,  Jacob,  Henry,  Julia 
A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years,  Eliza, 
Catherine  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Shank  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son,  Henry, 
then  containing  eighty-four  acres.  This  farm 
he  cleared  of  its  timber  and  added  thereto  by 
purchase  eighty  acres  more  in  Perry  township. 
By  his  industry  and  good  management  he  be- 
came one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  of  his 
day.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  the  first  edifice 
for  which  body  they  assisted  to  build.  Polit- 
ically, hewas  a  republican.      He  died  in  1882. 

Henry  Shank  was  born  January  15,  1827, 
in  Perry  township,  on  his  father's  farm. 
Reared  a  farmer's  boy  he  received  the  educa- 
tion of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  attending 
school  in  the  primitive  log  school-house.  At 
the  age  of  thirty-five,  in  the  year  1862,  he 
married  Susan  Mundhenk,  a  daughter  of 
Augustus  and  Susan  (Knipe)  Mundhenk,  and  a 
native  of  Perry  township.  Her  father  was  the 
son  of  the  old  pioneer  Mundhenk,  of  Perry 
township,  whom  every  one  well  remembers. 
The  children  of  Augustus  Mendhenk,  beside 
Mrs.  Susan  Shank,  were  as  follows:  Daniel, 
August,  Henry,  William,  Sarah  and  Mary. 
Augustus  Mundhenk  lived  to  be  seventy-six 
years  of  age,  and  was  a  miller  by  trade  and 
occupation,  as  well  as  a  farmer. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shank 
settled  on  the  old  homestead,  which  they  have 
since  greatly  improved,  and  which  now  con- 
tains 108  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Shank  is  one  of 
the  best  farmers   of  his   county,    an   excellent 


citizen,  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  a  republican.  He  is  a  trustee  of 
his  church  and  has  served  as  trustee  of  his 
township.  He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of 
the  following-named  children:  Ardella,  Lizzie 
and  Charles. 


lS~\  OAH  SHANK,  of  Perry  township, 
M  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  of  Vir- 
r  ginia  and  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock. 
Henry  Shank,  his  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  and  married  in  that  state, 
Catherine  Rasor,  by  whom  he  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Jacob,  who  lived  to  be  nearly 
if  not  quite  100  years  old;  Henry,  John,  Philip, 
George,  Michael,  who  lived  to  be  108  years  of 
age;  Barbara,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  two  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Shank  came  to  Ohio  in 
1 S 1 9,  settled  in  Perry  township,  cleared  up  a 
farm  of  160  acres  from  the  woods  and  made  a 
good  pioneer  home.  He  was  an  excellent 
citizen,  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Perry  township. 

John  Shank,  his  son  and  the  father  of 
Noah,  was  born  in  1812  in  .Virginia,  and  came 
with  his  father  to  Ohio  in  18 19.  Being  reared 
among  the  pioneers  and  brought  up  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer,  he  himself  naturally  adopted  that 
calling.  He  married  Catherine  Heiter,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Se- 
bastian and  Catherine  Heiter,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Montgom- 
ery county  at  an  early  day. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shank  located  first  in  Mad- 
ison township,  where  they  lived  for  some  time, 
then  moved  into  Perry  township,  and  lived  on 
Beaver  creek.  Mr.  Shank  at  first  had  ninety- 
one  acres  of  land,  most  of  which  he  cleared 
from  the  woods.  To  this  he  added  1 50  acres, 
all  of  which  he  converted  into  an  excellent 
farm,  and  became  a  most  substantial  farmer. 
The   children   of   Mr.  and    Mrs.    Shank   were: 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1051 


Elizabeth,  Noah,  John,  Daniel,  Ephraim,  Cath- 
erine, Joseph,  Mary  and  Martha.  Their  father 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  the  mother  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr. 
Shank  lived  to  be  seventy-six  years  old,  while 
Mrs.  Shank  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-four. 
Mr.  Shank  was  a  hard-working  and  industrious 
pioneer  and  an  honored  citizen. 

Noah  Shank  was  born  January  24,  1829, 
in  Perry  township.  Receiving  only  the  usual 
common-school  education  of  that  period,  he 
was  early  inured  to  the  laborious  life  of  the 
farm.  One  of  his  duties,  when  a  boy,  was  to 
ride  the  horse  at  threshing  wheat  on  the  barn 
floor.  When  he  could,  he  went  to  school,  at- 
tending an  old  log  school-house  which  had 
slabs  for  seats,  and  boasted  of  the  puncheon 
floor.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  on 
February  29,  1850,  he  married,  in  Madison 
township,  Jemima  Weaver,  who  was  born  in 
1828,  in  that  township,  and  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Martin  and  Susan  (Jordan)  Weaver.  Mar- 
tin Weaver  was  of  German  ancestry  and  came 
early  from  Virginia  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Madi- 
son township,  and  making  an  excellent  farm 
of  160  acres  of  land.  His  children  were  as 
follows:  George,  Mary  A.,  Eliza,  William, 
David,  Martin,  John,  Susan,  Adeline,  Sarah 
and  Kate.  There  were  several  other  children 
who  died  young.  Mr.  Weaver  was  one  of  the 
early  blacksmiths  of  Madison  township,  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  church,  and 
one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  his  day. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shank,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  Shank  homestead,  where  they 
lived  one  year,  and  then  rented  a  farm  in  Perry 
township,  upon  which  they  lived  for  three 
years.  Mr.  Shank  then  bought  a  farm  of  137 
acres,  partly  cleared,  upon  which  he  erected  a 
fine  residence  and  added  other  improvements, 
such  as  are  needed  on  a  well-ordered  and  reg- 
ulated farm.  Mr.  Shank  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran   church    and    has   held   the    office   of 


deacon  for  many  years.  In  fact,  he  was  one 
of  those  who  established  the  Lutheran  church 
and  erected  its  first  church  edifice  in  Perry 
township.  As  a  democrat  he  served  as  health 
officer  of  the  township  for  eight  years,  and  as 
township  trustee  for  seven  years.  He  is  a 
man  well  known  for  his  strong  convictions, 
and  is  well-informed  and  influential  in  his 
community. 


BRANK  SHUEY,  a  successful  machinist 
of  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Dayton,  February  S,  1855,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Phebe  Jane  (Mc- 
Cann)  Shuey,  natives  of  Montgomery  county, 
and  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Daniel  Shuey, 
a  French  Huguenot,  who  landed  in  Philadel- 
phia, in  1732,  and  soon  afterward  settled  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  in  1777. 

Lewis  Shuey,  paternal  grandfather  of 
Frank,  was  born  in  Bethel  township,  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pa.,  November  17,  1785,  and  in 
1796  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Augusta 
county,  Va. ,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood 
on  a  farm.  In  1806  he  came  to  Germantown, 
Montgomery  count)',  Ohio,  and  January  1, 
1808,  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Judge 
Philip  and  Catherine  (Schaeffer)  Gunckel,  na- 
tives of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  but  who  settled  in 
Germantown,  Ohio,  in  1803.  To  this  marri- 
age were  born  four  sons — Philip,  Lewis,  Jacob 
and  Michael.  After  his  marriage,  Lewis  Shuey 
secured  the  milling  property  of  his  father-in- 
law,  rebuilt  and  remodeled  the  mill,  became  a 
man  of  wealth  and  extended  influence,  and,  at 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  16,  1872, 
left  a  large  estate  to  his  children.  Lewis  Shuey 
was  a  nephew  of  Martin  Shuey,  who  settled  in 
German  township  in  1805,  and  who  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  Dayton  family  of  that  name. 
Aside  from  the  respect  paid  him  on  account  of 


1052 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  worth  as  a  business  man,  Lewis  Shuey  en- 
joyed the  reputation  of  being  a  moral  and  up- 
right gentleman. 

Jacob  Shuey,  father  of  Frank  Shuey,  and 
third  son  of  Lewis  and  Catherine  (Gunckel) 
Shuey,  was  born  in  Germantown,  Ohio,  Janu- 
uary  6,  1814,  and  first  married,  December  31, 
1835,  Sarah  Ann  Ayers,  who  bore  him  four 
children,  viz:  William  H.,  Harrison  M. , 
George  E.,  and  Ellen  (  wife  of  William  Ber- 
inger).  Mrs.  Shuey  was  called  away  Febru- 
ary 19,  1847,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-seven 
years,  and  for  his  second  helpmate  he  chose 
Phebe  J.  McCann,  a  daughter  of  William  Mc- 
Cann,  a  pioneer  farmer  and  wood  turner  of  Ger- 
mantown, and  this  lady  he  married  March  12, 
1848.  This  union  was  blessed  with  three  chil- 
dren, viz:  Dona  O.,  Philip  and  Frank.  Mr. 
Shuey  was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business 
in  Germantown  from  1834  to  1850,  when  he 
moved  to  Dayton,  where  he  continued  in  the 
dry-goods  trade  until  1859.  He  then  moved 
to  Miamisburg,  where  he  successfully  carried 
on  milling  until  his  death,  which  took  place 
March  4,  1870 — leaving  a  spotless  name  and 
an  unsullied  reputation  as  priceless  heirlooms 
to  his  descendants. 

Frank  Shuey,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  was  reared  in  Dayton  and  Miamis- 
burg, was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years  as  a  gen- 
eral machinist  in  Miamisburg  and  Cincinnati. 
He  afterward  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  country  until  1886,  when  he 
opened  a  machine  shop  on  his  own  account  in 
Miamisburg  ;  here  he  does  all  kinds  of  work 
pertaining  to  the  trade,  including  the  manufac- 
ture of  gas  engines  and  trip  hammers  of  his 
own  invention,  and  is  doing  an  altogether  thriv- 
ing business.  Mr.  Shuey  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  1878,  with  Miss  Alice  Studybaker, 
daughter  of  Wesley  Studybaker,  of  Brookville, 
Montgomery  county.      Mr.  Shuey  and  wife  are 


members  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  live 
fully  in  accord  with  its  teachings.  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Shuey  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight  of 
Pythias,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican.  So- 
cially, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shuey  enjoy  the  sincere 
esteem  of  the  entire  community  in  which  they 
live,  and  Mr.  Shuey's  walk  through  life  has 
been  such  as  to  preserve  the  good  name  left  to 
him  by  his  progenitors. 


*w    ■*  ON.  WILLIAM   SHULER,  M.  D..  a 

l^\  prominent  practicing  physician  of 
W  Miamisburg,  was  born  at  Sumney- 
town,  Montgomery  county,  Pa. ,  Jan- 
uary 7,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Maria  (Miller)  Shuler,  and,  as  the  name  indi- 
cates, is  of  German  extraction.  He  was  first 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
state,  then  in  the  classical  department  of 
Ursinus  college,  and,  in  1867,  was  graduated 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  university 
of  Pennsylvania,  that  commencement  being 
the  100th  anniversity  of  its  establishment,  the 
university  itself,  however,  having  been  estab- 
lished in  1753,  fourteen  years  before  the  med- 
ical department. 

On  October  7,  1861,  Mr.  Shuler  enlisted  in 
company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  regi- 
ment, P.  V.  I.,  and  re-enlisted,  or  veteranized, 
in  1864,  in  the  same  company.  After  serving 
four  years,  and  enduring  all  the  trials  and 
hardships  of  the  soldier's  life,  and  having  been 
advanced  from  the  ranks  for  gallant  service, 
he  was  mustered  out,  in  1865,  as  captain  of 
company  C,  of  his  regiment.  During  these 
four  years,  beside  marching  and  fighting,  and 
performing  all  the  duties  of  a  patriotic  soldier 
faithfully  and  cheerfully,  he  experienced  the 
hardships  of  prison  life  in  Libby  prison,  at 
Danville  and  at  Salisbury,  for  seven  months. 
After  graduating,  as  above  narrated,  he 
practiced  his   profession  in  the  east  one  year, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1053 


and  in  August,  1868,  located  in  Miamisburg, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  and  where  he  has  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  with  a  success  which 
is  very  gratifying.  Politically  Dr.  Shuler  is  a 
republican,  has  served  his  town  as  councilman 
for  six  years,  and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education  for  the  same  period.  For  four  years 
he  was  president  of  the  board  of  examining 
surgeons  at  the  soldiers'  home,  near  Dayton, 
and,  in  1893,  he  was  elected  to  represent  his 
county  in  the  legislature  of  the  state,  where 
he  served  his  constituents  so  faithfully  and 
well  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1895  by  a  largely 
increased  majority. 

On  October  30,  1871,  Dr.  Shuler  was  mar- 
ried to  Nora  Weaver,  of  Miamisburg,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Joseph  and  Fanny  (Swar)  Weaver, 
and  to  this  marriage  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows  :  Grace,  Carl,  Fannie,  Clara 
and  William.  All  have  been  or  are  now  being 
well  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  pri- 
vate institutions.  Dr.  Shuler  and  his  wife  are 
pleasant,  hospitable  and  generous,  and  most 
popular  and  influential  in  both  social  and  re- 
ligious circles. 


ON.    EMANUEL    SHULTZ,    retired 


manufacturer  and  an  ex-congressman 


75 

1  ,P  from  Ohio,  was  born  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  July  25,  1819.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Vinyard)  Shultz,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Frederick  Shultz,  was  a 
native  of  Hesse-Cassel,  in  the  Prussian  duchy 
of  Nassau,  and  came  to  America  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  became  a  soldier  in 
the  American  army  during  that  great  struggle 
for  independence,  and  served  his  adopted  coun- 
try well. 

Emanuel    Shultz    received    his    education, 


until  his  eleventh  year,  in  the  common  schools, 
and  then,  owing  to  the  death  of  his  father,  he 
was  compelled  to  depend  on  private  study  and 
self-teaching.  Learning  the  shoemaker's  trade 
through  an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years,  in 
Philadelphia,  he  was  well  prepared  for  self- 
support,  and  in  1838  he  removed  to  Ohio,  lo- 
cating in  Miamisburg,  where  he  established 
himself  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business,  employ- 
ing from  five  to  fifteen  journeymen.  This 
business  he  continued  until  1846,  when  he 
changed  his  occupation  to  that  of  a  general 
commission  and  mercantile  trade.  Soon  be- 
coming one  of  the  largest  and  most  successful 
operators  in  his  branch  of  commerce  in  the 
Miami  valley,  he  took  a  leading  part  in  the  es- 
tablishment, organization  and  development  of 
all  the  prominent  enterprises  of  Miamisburg. 
One  of  these  was  the  private  bank  of  H.  Groby 
&  Co.,  established  in  1865,  in  which  Mr. 
Shultz  was  interested  from  the  time  of  its  es- 
tablishment until  1888.  He  was  the  principal 
projector  of  the  Miami  Valley  Paper  company, 
which,  in  connection  with  Dr.  William  H. 
Manning,  he  organized  in  1871.  With  this 
latter  enterprise  he  was  connected  until  1S89. 
From  1853  to  1S70  he  was  engaged  extensively 
in  dealing  in  leaf  tobacco,  and  did  much  to  en- 
courage the  growth  of  this  important  staple 
product  of  the  state  of  Ohio.  The  Miami 
valley  is  one  of  the  noted  tobacco  growing  re- 
gions of  the  state,  comprising  about  7,500 
square  miles,  and  the  average  yield  of  its  best 
soils  reaching  as  high  as  1,800  pounds  per  acre. 
Mr.  Shultz  was  married  July  23,  1840,  to 
Sarah  Beck,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Mary 
(Anspaugh)  Beck,  of  Miamisburg,  and  to  this 
marriage  there  were  born  three  children,  as 
follows:  Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Dr.  William  H.  Man- 
ning), Amanda  M.  (Mrs.  A.  T.  Whittich),  and 
Sarah  Aletta  (Mrs.  H.  C.  SchuberthV  In  re- 
ligion Mr.  Schultz  is  of  the  Lutheran  faith, 
and  fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Masons,  Odd 


1054 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a 
royal  arch  Mason  and  a  Knight  Templar,  and 
was  a  charter  member  of  Marion  lodge,  No. 
iS,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Miamisburg,  which  was 
organized  in  1843.  As  a  republican  Mr.  Shultz 
has  held  every  office  but  one,  that  of  township 
clerk,  in  the  gift  of  Miami  township  and  Mi- 
amisburg. Previous  to  the  organization  of  the 
republican  party  he  was  a  whig,  but  since  that 
time  has  always  been  a  republican.  In  1875 
he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  but  was  not 
a  candidate  for  re-election.  In  1873  he  was  a 
member  of  the  convention  that  revised  the 
state  constitution,  which,  upon  being  sub- 
mitted to  the  people,  was  rejected.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1880,  he  was  elected  to  congress  from  the 
Fourth  district,  which  position  he  filled  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  to  his 
constituents.  Elected  commissioner  of  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1859,  he  served  three  years. 
In  1 88 1  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Lima  Car  works,  was  a  stockholder  and  served 
as  vice-president  until  he  sold  his  interest. 

Mr.  Shultz  is  a  gentleman  of  sound  and 
shrewd  business  judgment,  and  few  are  pos- 
sessed of  a  more  genial  disposition  or  endowed 
with  so  happy  a  faculty  of  winning  friends.  Of 
quick  perception,  he  reads  at  a  glance  the 
character  and  disposition  of  those  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact;  a  ready  conversationalist, 
he  is  thoroughly  at  home  in  any  discussion. 
Free,  unaffected  and  courteous  in  manner,  he 
is  still  dignified  and  earnest  and  is  a  represent- 
ative man  of  the  better  class.  He  is  fully 
alive  to  the  practical  every-day  affairs  of 
life,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  own 
industry,  which  he  has  accumulated  through 
half  a  century's  exercise  of  good  business  tact 
and  discerning  and  comprehensive  survey  of 
the  tendencies  of  commercial  movements  and 
the  necessities  of  his  fellow-men.  In  1889  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  postmas- 
ter   at    Miamisburg,  and    filled   the  office  in   a 


most  capable  manner  for  four  years  and  five 
months,  retiring  on  the  appointment  of  his 
successor  in  1894. 


EON.  CHARLES  A.  SIMONTON, 
ex-mayor  of  Miamisburg,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  and  a  success- 
ful business  man  of  this  thriving  place, 
was  born  in  Lebanon,  Warren  county,  Ohio 
February  5,  1857.  He  is  ason  of  Theophilus 
and  Mary  (Willis)  Simonton,  both  of  whom 
are  still  living.  Theophilus  Simonton  is  the 
son  of  Adam  Simonton,  who  was  born  in  what 
is  now  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1789.  Adam 
Simonton's  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  an 
early  emigrant  from  that  country  to  America, 
and  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  army, 
thus  aiding  in  the  establishment  of  the  Amer- 
ican republic.  Adam  Simonton  was  by  occu- 
pation a  farmer,  was  captain  of  a  company  in 
the  war  of  181  2,  and  late  in  life  removed  from 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  to  Lincoln,  Logan  coun- 
ty, 111.,  and  there  died.  Theophilus  Simonton 
was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  is  a  carriage- 
maker  by  trade,  and  settled  in  Miamisburg  in 
1864.  From  that  time  until  1876  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Kauffman  company,  and  in 
the  year  last  mentioned  he  established  himself 
in  business  and  has  since  continued  to  follow 
his  trade.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Anna  (Gorman)  Willis,  of  Warren  county, 
and  he  has  two  sons,  George  and  Charles  A. 

Charles  A.  Simonton  came  to  Montgomery 
county  with  his  parents  in  1864,  and  here  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Miamisburg  public  schools,  graduating  from 
the  high  school  May  22,  1874.  In  1S94  he 
was  honored  by  the  high  school  alumni  by 
being  elected  president  of  the  alumni  associa- 
tion. On  leaving  school  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years  at  general  blacksmith- 
ing  with  the  Kauffman  company,  and  after  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1055 


expiration  of  that  period  worked  as  a  journey- 
man until  1 891,  when  he  embarked  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Simonton  &  Ebling,  which  firm  owns  and 
operates  a  general  blacksmithing  and  repair 
shop,  and  is  meeting  with  ample  success. 

Mr.  Simonton  was  married,  February  17, 
1 88 1,  to  Ada  M.  Smith,  daughter  of  John  and 
Anna  Smith,  of  Lincoln,  111.,  people  of  excel- 
lent character  and  standing  in  the  community 
in  which  they  live.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  untiring  in  their  devotion  to  religious 
and  educational  work.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  Marion  lodge,  of  the  encampment 
and  of  canton  Groby  (patriarchs  militant), 
I.  O.  O.  F.;  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  Of 
Marion  lodge  he  is  past  noble  grand.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  democrat. 

April  1,  1894,  Mr.  Simonton  was  elected 
mayor  of  Miamisburg,  and  in  his  official  capac- 
ity proved  himself  to  be  a  man  of  force  and 
ability,  as  well  as  of  tact  and  discretion. 
Being  one  of  the  most  active  and  public  spir- 
ited of  the  young  business  men  of  Miamisburg, 
he  is  always  on  the  alert  for  the  promotion  of 
the  public  good,  and  his  official  administration 
has  been  a  credit  to  his  patriotism  and  judg- 
ment, and  satisfactory  to  the  people  at  large. 


K,/^\  EV.  JOHN  SMITH,  a  minister  of  the 
I  /«^     German     Baptist      church,     Madison 
V    township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
is   a   native  of    the   county   and   was 
born  on  his  father's  farm,  November  30,  1827. 
Jacob  Smith,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  near  Hagerstown,  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  descent,  and  there  married  Mary  Clop- 
per,  who  came  from  Germany  when  ten  years 
of  age,    the  result  of  the  union  being  several 
children,  of  whom  the  names  of  the  following 


are  remembered:  John,  Jacob,  Henry,  Abra- 
ham, David,  Mary,  and  one  who  became  Mrs. 
Zook.  Jacob  Smith  was  a  farmer,  and  in  his 
latter  years  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  the  home 
of  his  forefathers,  and  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Bedford  county. 

Abraham  Smith,  son  of  Jacob  and  father 
of  the  Rev.  John  Smith,  was  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Pa.,  in  1784.  His  father  having  died, 
his  mother  married  Philip  Knee,  and  in  1809 
the  family  came  to  Ohio,  Abraham  being  then 
fifteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Knee  first  located 
at  Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  remained 
a  year  or  so,  then  passed  one  year  on  Wolf 
creek,  west  of  Dayton,  and  in  iS  10  came  to 
Madison  township  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
160  acres  on  the  Salem  road  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  township,  and  all  in  the  deep 
woods.  This  land  Abraham  Smith  assisted  in 
clearing,  and  indeed  did  very  nearly  the  entire 
work  unaided.  At  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
years  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Bowman, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Bowman;  he  then 
bought  the  homestead  from  Philip  Knee,  and 
here  lived  all  his  active  life.  To  the  marriage 
of  Abraham  Smith  were  born  two  children — 
John,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  and  one 
child  that  died  unnamed.  Mrs.  Smith  died  in 
1830,  a  pious  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  her  only  child,  John,  being  then  but 
three  years  of  age.  Abraham  attained  the  age 
of  eighty-seven  years  and  six  months,  was  also 
a  devout  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
and  died  in  1871  at  the  residence  of  his  son, 
Rev.  John  Smith,  leaving  behind  him  many 
old  friends  to  mourn  his  departure. 

Rev.  John  Smith  was  reared  to  farming, 
receiving  at  the  same  time  a  very  good  com- 
mon-school education.  October  14,  1847,  at 
the  age  of  twenty,  he  married,  in  Madison 
county.  Miss  Susan  Wolf,  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  born  August  25,  1828,  and  a 
daughter   of   Jacob    B.    and  Catherine  (Miller) 


1056 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Wolf.  The  young  couple  lived  for  several 
years  on  the  old  Smith  homestead.  In  1869 
they  moved  to  an  eighty-acre  tract  which  Mr. 
Smith  had  purchased,  and  which  he  cleared  up 
and  increased  to  158  acres.  Here  Mrs.  Smith 
died  August  29,  1890 — a  woman  of  many 
womanly  virtues  and  a  devout  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  Following  are  the 
names  of  the  children  born  to  Rev.  John  Smith 
and  his  lamented  wife:  Sarah  J.,  born  August 
3,  184S — died  February  8,  1861;  Catherine, 
born  October  6,  1851;  an  infant,  born  Novem- 
ber 16,  1853,  but  died  unnamed;  Andrew  W., 
born  October  24,  1854;  Lucinda,  July  2, 
1856;  Harriet  E.,  March  2,  1859;  Oliver  J., 
September  23,  1861;  Emma,  September  14, 
1863,  and  Mary  E.,  January  24,  1865.  Mr. 
Smith  continued  to  reside  on  his  farm  until 
1892,  when  he  bought  a  pleasant  residence  in 
Trotwood,  where  he  has  since  been  living  re- 
tired from  the  active  labor  of  life.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church 
in  1 85  1  and  was  elected  a  deacon  in  1857;  in 
i860  he  was  licensed  preacher,  and  has  since 
been  active  in  expounding  the  gospel  to  his 
people,  and  in  all  respects  exerting  a  large 
influence  for  good.  Providence  has  blessed 
his  labors  in  this  respect,  and,  so  aided,  also, 
he  has  by  his  industry  and  thrift  increased  his 
worldly  store.  He  at  one  time  owned  568 
acres  of  land,  which  he  has  distributed  among 
his  children,  reserving  for  himself  a  tract  of 
thirty  acres  from  the  home  farm,  in  addition 
.to  his  pleasant  town  residence. 


a 


NDREW  SNELLER,  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Theobald  &  Sneller, 
the  leading  barbers  of  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Cincinnati  April 
29,  18C2,  and  is  a  son  of  Louis  and  Philopena 
I  Bollinger)  Sneller,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
tailor  by  trade  and  died  July  5,  1863,  from  the 


effect  of  a  wound  received  at  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
while  battling  in  defense  of  his  country's  flag 
during  the  late  Civil  war. 

Andrew  Sneller  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Cincinnati,  and  on  May  1,  1876, 
apprenticed  himself  to  the  barber's  trade,  at 
which  he  served  two  and  a  half  years,  and 
then  worked  at  the  business  as  a  journeyman 
for  eight  years.  In  1882  he  located  in  Miam- 
isburg, and  in  1884  formed  a  partnership  with 
Adam  Theobald,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Theobald  &  Sneller,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
ducting a  first-class  tonsorial  establishment, 
and,  both  partners  being  competent  workmen, 
the  concern  enjoys  an  excellent  business. 

Andrew  Sneller  was  united  in  the  bonds  of 
matrimony  October  25,  1891,  with  Miss  Jennie 
E.  Schuster,  daughter  of  Charles  O.  and  Mary 
E.  (Loesch)  Schuster,  of  Miamisburg,  and  to 
this  union  has  been  born  one  daughter — Mar- 
garet May.  Mrs.  Sneller  is  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  church,  while  Mr.  Sneller 
affiliates  with  the  Lutherans.  Mr.  Sneller  is 
a  royal  arch  Freemason  and  in  politics  is  a  re- 
publican. His  social  relations  are  of  a  most 
pleasant  character,  as  he  and  wife  are  highly 
esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of  sincere  friends. 


lS~\  AVID  JULIUS  SNEPP,  farmer,  con- 
I  tractor,  and  president  of  the  Farmers' 
S\^f  Mutual  Fire  association,  of  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Miami 
township,  May  20,  1842,  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Neible)  Snepp.  His  paternal  grand- 
parents, Leonard  and  Catherine  (Isley)  Snepp, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  were  among 
the  pioneers  of  Miami  township,  as  was  also 
his  maternal  grandfather,  John  Neible,  who 
was  by  birth  a  Virginian. 

John  Snepp,  father  of  David  J.,  was  born 
in  Miami  township  in  18 12;  was  a  blacksmith 
by    trade,    and    in    1845    removed    to    Shelby 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1057 


county,  Ind.,  where  he  died  in  1881.  His 
children  were:  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Hugh  A.  Hos- 
kins),  William,  Maria  (Mrs.  Jacob  Runchey), 
Joseph,  David  J.,  and  Mary  J.  (Mrs.  Manning- 
ton  Fickle). 

David  J.  Snepp  was  reared  in  Indiana  from 
three  years  of  age,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  in  Purdy's  Business  col- 
lege, at  Indianapolis.  Farming  has  been  his 
principal  occupation,  though  for  three  years 
he  was  engaged  as  a  buyer  and  shipper  of 
grain  at  Boggstown  and  Fairland.  In  1883 
he  removed  to  Miami  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  contracting.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1866,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  A., 
daughter  of  Joseph  H.  and  Nancy  L.  (Hammal 
Dryden,  of  Miami  township,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren— John  D.,  Harry  D.,  Nancy  G.,  and 
Catherine  C.  Mr.  Snepp  has  been  president  of 
the  Montgomery  County  Mutual  Fire  associa- 
tion since  1890,  and  served  one  term  as  justice 
of  the  peace  of  Miami  township,  having  been 
elected  as  a  democrat;  he  was  also  president 
of  the  centennial  celebration  for  the  south 
half  of  Montgomery  county,  at  Alexanders- 
ville,  August  26,  1S96.  He  and  his  family 
command  the  respect  of  the  entire  community 
in  which  they  live,  and  deservedly  enjoy  the 
esteem  of  their  neighbors.  Still  in  the  prime 
of  life,  Mr.  Snepp  is  engaged  in  the  vigorous 
prosecution  of  the  various  lines  of  business 
which  have  occupied  his  attention  for  some 
years  past. 


WOHN  T.  SNEPP,  a  retired  farmer  liv- 
m  ing  at  Miamisburg,  Montgomery  coun- 
(%  1  ty,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, this  county,  December  2,  1S41. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Rodehefferj 
Snepp.  His  grandfather  was  also  named  John, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,    married  a  Miss 


Gebhart,  located  in  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  in  1804,  and  took  up  a 
tract  of  land  on  what  is  now  the  Farmersville 
&  Carrollton  pike,  which  he  partially  cleared 
and  improved.  This  he  finally  sold  and  pur- 
chased another  farm  in  the  same  township, 
most  of  which  he  cleared,  and  upon  which  he 
died.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  as  follows:  Leonard;  Eva,  wife 
of  John  Getter;  John,  and  Sarah,  wife  of 
Jacob  Getter. 

Of  these  four  children  John  was  born  in 
Jefferson  township  in  1808,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  resided  in  the  township  all  his  life, 
dying  in  October,  1890,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Rodeheffer,  of  Jefferson  township, 
Montgomery  county.  She  bore  him  four  chil- 
dren: Barbara,  wife  of  John  Getter;  Mary  M., 
wife  of  William  W.  Getter;  John  T.  and 
Samuel. 

John  T.  Snepp  was  reared  in  his  native 
township,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  at  Wittenberg  college,  and  remained  at 
home  until  1869.  He  then  purchased  a  farm, 
which  he  still  owns,  and  on  which  he  resided 
until  1889,  when  he  removed  to  Miamisburg. 
On  January  8,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Mar- 
tha Snider,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary  (Ham- 
maker)  Snider  of  Miamisburg.  She  bore  him 
four  sons,  viz:  Samuel  E.,  a  graduate  of 
Heidelberg  university,  and  at  present  a  stu- 
dent in  the  McCormick  Theological  seminary 
at  Chicago,  preparing  for  the  ministry  in  the 
Reformed  church;  Hugh  Allen,  also  a  graduate 
of  Heidelberg  university,  and  now  at  Clark's 
university,  Worcester,  Mass. ,  taking  a  post- 
graduate course  preparatory  to  teaching  school; 
Arthur  E.  and  Lorin  H.,  both  students  at 
Heidelberg  university. 

Mr.  Snepp  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  German  Reformed  church.  In  politics  he 
is  a  democrat,  and  as  such  has  served  as  clerk 


lllf.N 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


of  Jefferson  township.  Though  a  strong  parti- 
san he  is  not  in  any  sense  a  seeker  after  public 
honors,  remaining  content  to  perform  his  duty 
as  a  private  citizen. 


^yj»ILLIAM  S.    ZELLER,    one   of  the 
mm  oldest    and    most   respected   natives 

\JLj|  ni  Germantown,  Ohio,  was  hern 
October  17,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Kumber)  Zeller.  His 
great-grandfather,  Andrew  Zeller,  came  from 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  with  his  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren, settled  in  German  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  in  1806,  and  cleared  a  farm 
near  Germantown,  on  which  he  passed  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life.  His  children  were 
named  John,  Michael,  Andrew,  Mary  (Mrs. 
Dr.  Jacob  Antrim),  and  Christine  (Mrs.  Henry 
Kumber). 

John  Zeller,  son  of  Andrew  and  grand- 
father of  William  S.  Zeller,  cleared  the  farm 
in  German  township  now  owned  by  Ezra 
Kemp.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Zeller  made  his 
home  until  his  retirement  to  Germantown, 
where  his  life  ended  in  i860.  His  wife,  Chris- 
tiana, was  a  daughter  of  Martin  Shuey,  a  pio- 
neer of  German  township,  and  to  their  mar- 
riage were  born  Andrew,  Henry,  Sarah  (Mrs. 
James  Gilbert),  George,  John,  Christiana  (Mrs. 
Rev.  John  L.  Hoffman),  David,  Mary  (Mrs. 
Jacob  Zehring),  and  Eliza  (Mrs.  Rev.  Peter  B. 
Baker.). 

Andrew  Zeller,  the  eldest  of  the  above 
family  and  father  of  William  S.,  was  born  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  January  29,  1804,  was 
brought  to  German  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  by  his  parents  and  grandparents 
in  1806,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  and 
here  was  reared  to  manhood.  In  1830  he  re- 
moved to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
injured  in  a  runaway  accident  in  July,  1845, 
and  died  from  the   effect   of  the    injury   thus 


sustained  in  the  following  October.  He  was 
an  able,  intelligent  and  industrious  man,  whose 
untimely  death  was  a  loss  to  the  entire  com- 
munity. His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Bishop 
Henry  Kumber,  and  their  children  were  Joseph 
K. ,  William  S.,  John  H.,  David  A.,  and  Mary 
E. ,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  McClellan. 

William  S.  Zeller,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  chiefly  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  throughout  his  boyhood  and  younger 
manhood  and  there  received  his  elementary 
education,  which  was  supplemented  by  an  at- 
tendance at  the  Miami  university  of  Oxford, 
Ohio.  In  April,  1849,  he  returned  to  Ger- 
mantown, where  he  conducted  a  drug  store 
until  January,  1878,  since  which  date  he  has 
practically  been  living  in  retirement,  although 
he  has   given    some   attention    to  the   farm. 

The  marriage  of  William  S.  Zeller  was 
solemnized  February  4,  1857,  with  Miss  Lo- 
vina  Schaeffer,  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Elizabeth  (Catrow)  Schaeffer,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Jacob  and  Susannah  Schaeffer, 
who  came  from  Center  county,  Pa.,  in  1806, 
and  settled  in  German  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Zeller  have  been  born  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  William  E.  and  Maud,  the 
latter  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Loren  Wilkie. 

Mr.  Zeller,  during  the  late  Civil  war,  was 
a  member  of  company  E,  Twelfth  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  in  which  he  served  two  and 
one-half  years,  and,  after  an  honorable  dis- 
charge from  that  service,  re-enlisted  and 
served  one  hundred  days  in  company  E,  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Ohio  infantry, 
from  which,  at  the  end  of  his  service,  he  was 
also  honorably  discharged.  In  his  religious 
faith,  Mr.  Zeller  is  firmly  united  to  the  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  Freemason,  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
as  well  as  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1061 


5>^V  OAH   E.   SPITLER,  a  descendant  of 
m    one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families  of 
r     Montgomery   county,    and  a   regular 
minister  of  the  old  German   Baptist 
church,  was  born  in  Clay  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  June  22,  1848.    For  a  fuller 
account  of  the   Spitler  family  than   here   pre- 
sented the  reader  is  referred  to  the  biography 
of  Dr.    E.    W.  Spitler,    printed   elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 

Samuel  Spitler,  the  grandfather  of  Noah  E. , 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  mar- 
ried Catherine  Mishler,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Joseph,  John,  Jacob, 
Samuel,  Henry,  Daniel,  David  and  Mary. 
Samuel  Spitler  moved  to  Ohio  about  18 15, 
settling  in  Stark  county,  and  living  there  about 
ten  years.  In  1825  he  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  settling  on  765  acres  of  land,  most  of 
which  he  cleared  up  from  the  woods.  In  1853 
he  removed  to  Miami  county,  Ohio,  passing 
the  remainder  of  his  life  with  his  son-in-law, 
Joseph  Gnodle.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
deacon  in  the  German  Baptist  church,  a  man 
of  influence  in  his  neighborhood,  and  reached 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  having  been 
well-known  for  many  miles  around  as  a  sturdy, 
hardworking,  thrifty  pioneer  farmer. 

Jacob  M.  Spitler,  his  son,  and  father  of 
Noah  E.,  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
January  8,  1820.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  became  a  farmer,  and  in  due 
course  of  time  married  Ellen  Earhart,  who 
was  born  in  1831.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Earhart.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spitler  settled 
on  land  in  Clay  township,  purchasing  eighty 
acres,  which  he  greatly  improved  and  made 
into  a  good  farm  and  home.  When  he  settled 
on  it  this  tract  was  partly  cleared,  and  by  the 
untiring  labor  of  his  own  hands  he  cleared 
away  the  surplus  timber,  added  fertilizing  ma- 
terial   to   the    soil    wherever    necessary,     and 

brought  his  farm  to  a  profitable  state  of  culti- 
45 


vation.  He  and  his  wife  reared  the  following 
children:  Levi,  Harriet,  Noah,  and  Mary  Al- 
len. Mrs.  Spitler  died  in  1856,  Mr.  Spitler  re- 
maining on  the  home  farm  four  years  a  widow- 
er. In  1 86 1,  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  Sharp, 
a  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Stutsman. 
Mr.  Spitler  then  bought  land  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1869,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Douglas  county,  Kans.,  there  settling 
on  120  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  is  still 
living.  His  well-earned  reputation  for  integ- 
rity and  honorable  dealing  has  followed  him 
from  Ohio  to  the  west,  where  he  is  prosperous 
and  successful. 

Noah  E.  Spitler  received  an  excellent  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  school,  and  afterward 
attended  the  high  school  at  Piqua.  For  some 
years  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  Montgomery  county,  and  also  in 
Miami  county.  On  August  9,  1870,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Anna  Binkley,  in  Montgomery 
county,  she  having  been  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  June  25,  1847.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  M.  and  Mattie  K.  (Weller)  Bink- 
ley. For  a  fuller  mention  of  Mrs.  Spitler,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  the  Binkley 
family,  elsewhere  published  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Spitler  removed,  in  1877,  to  Miami 
county,  remaining  there  until  1893,  where, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  years,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  most  successful  of  teachers,  having 
taught  thirteen  years  in  three  districts,  twenty- 
seven  months  constantly  in  one  district.  In 
1876  he  taught  a  graded  school  in  district  No. 
12,  Miami  county.  His  ability  as  a  teacher  is 
fully  recognized  and  his  labors  in  this  capacity 
have  always  been  highly  appreciated  by  the 
people  of  Montgomery  and  Miami  counties. 
Many  people  of  prominence,  both  men  and 
women,  have  been  pupils  of  Mr.  Spitler,  and 
have  their  names  on  his  roll  of  honor. 

In  1893  Mr.  Spitler  removed  to  his  present 


1062 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


farm  of  thirty-eight  acres.  He  and  his  wife 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Harriet  E.  and  Jacob  F.  Mr.  Spitler  became 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church  in 
1875,  and  in  1882  began  preaching  the  gospel 
to  his  people,  and  has  since  continued  to 
preach.  He  has  always  led  a  life  of  great 
usefulness,  his  object  being  to  live  for  the  ben- 
efit of  others.  In  the  fields  of  education  and 
religion  his  work  has  been  that  of  one  who 
loved  his  fellow-men. 


>-y*OHN  J.  STETTLER,  a  prominent 
A  farmer,  was  born  in  Miami  township, 
/»  1  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  January  7, 
1835,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Wicklet)  Stettler.  His  great-grandfather, 
George  V.  Stettler,  with  his  wife  and  five  sons 
— William,  Henry,  Daniel,  George  and  Jacob — 
natives  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  settled  in  Miami 
township  about  1802,  locating  one  mile  south- 
west of  Miamisburg,  where  the  father  died 
April  23,  1815.  His  son,  Daniel,  grandfather 
of  John  J.,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  in 
June,  1773;  was  married  in  18 10  to  Catherine 
Gehres,  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  state, 
but  who  came  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  with 
her  family  about  1802.  She  was  born  in  1783 
and  had  four  children  by  her  union  with  Mr. 
Stettler — Daniel,  Hannah  (Mrs.  Jacob  Shy), 
Philip  and  George.  Daniel,  the  father,  was 
in  the  war  of  181 2,  and  died  in  Miami  town- 
ship in  June,  1853,  his  wife  surviving  him  un- 
til November  27,  1863.  Both  Daniel  and  his 
father,  George  V. ,  were  large  landholders,  and 
it  was  at  the  cabin  of  the  Stettlers  that  one  of 
the  early  churches  was  organized  in  1806, 
which  organization  is  yet  in  existence.  Dan- 
iel Stettler,  father  of  John  J.  and  the  eldest 
son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Gehres)  Stettler, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  spent  all  his 
life    in    Miami  township.      His   children  were 


five  in  number,  viz:  John  J.,  Catherine  (Mrs. 
Jacob  Tobias),  Mary  (Mrs.  Wesley  Fornshell), 
Jacob  and  Daniel. 

John  J.  Stettler  was  reared  in  Miami  town- 
ship, where  most  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in 
farming,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
In  1 86 1  he  married  Loretta,  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel Hohn,  of  Miami  township,  and  has  two 
children — Flora  A.  (Mrs.  Isaac  Eck)  and  Irvin 
P.  Mr.  Stettler  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  politics  is  a  democrat,  and  is  an  es- 
timable citizen.  The  Stettler  family,  it  will 
be  perceived  from  the  foregoing,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  in  Montgomery  county,  and  for  nearly 
a  century  has  guarded  and  promoted  its  ma- 
terial and  moral  progress. 


WOHN  HENRY  STAMM,  an  ex-soldier 
■  of  the  late  Civil  war.  and  a  prominent 
A  1  citizen  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  in  the  town  of 
Stouchsburg,  September  20,  1839,  ar>d  is  a  son 
of  Moses  and  Lydia  (Heckerman)  Stamm,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Berks  county,  Pa. 
The  father  of  Moses  Stamm  was  named  John, 
a  native  of  Holland,  and  was  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Stouchsburg,  Pa.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  John  H.  Stamm,  Henry 
Heckerman,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 

John  H.  Stamm  was  reared  in  his  native 
county  in  Pennsylvania,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  afterward  learned  the  paint- 
er's trade.  In  1858,  removing  to  Miamisburg 
with  his  parents,  he  worked  there  with  his 
father  at  the  plasterer's  trade,  but  since  1864 
he  has  followed  his  own  trade,  that  of  painter, 
with  gratifying  success. 

On  February  28,  1862,  Mr.  Stamm  was 
married  to  Eliza  E.  Myers,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Lydia  (Wirick)  Myers,  of  Miamisburg. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  sixteen 
children,  twelve   of  whom   are  still  living,  as 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1063 


follows:  Edward;  Wilhelmina,  wife  of  John 
Fox;  Clarence,  Harley,  Herbert,  Frank,  Edith, 
Milton,  Hermydell,  John,  Homer  and  Wilbur. 
During  the  late  Civil  war  Mr.  Stamm  was  a 
private  soldier  in  company  D,  One  Hundred 
and  Eighty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
serving  one  year  and  being  honorably  dis- 
charged at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  serv- 
ice. In  politics  he  is  a  democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  as  is  also  his  wife,  who  is  a  woman  of 
many  virtues,  a  devout  and  exemplary  chris- 
tian lady.  Mr.  Stamm  was  a  gallant  soldier 
and  did  faithful  duty  during  the  term  he  served 
in  defense  of  the  flag  of  his  native  land.  His 
course  in  civil  life  has  been  that  of  a  useful 
and  upright  citizen. 


^"V'AMUEL    STIVER,    Sr.,    a    widely- 
*\^^%T    known  farmer  of  German   township, 

^^   J    Montgomery  count}',  Ohio,  was  born 
here    February    21,    1817,    a    son    of 
John  and    Margaret  (Wolf)  Stiver,    who  were 
natives,  respectively,    of  Lancaster  and   Dau- 
phin counties,  Pa. 

The  Stiver  family  are  direct  descendants 
from  the  Rev.  John  Casper  Stiver  (the  name 
in  his  day  being  spelled  Stoever),  a  pioneer 
Lutheran  minister,  who  came  to  America  from 
Germany  in  1728,  and  labored  chiefly  among 
his  countrymen  of  Lebanon  and  Lancaster 
counties.  Pa.,  dying  in  that  state  in  1779,  in 
his  seventy-second  year. 

John  Casper  Stiver,  grandson  of  the  rev- 
erend pioneer,  was  the  patriarch  of  the  family 
in  Twin  Valley,  Ohio,  and  it  was  he  who  mod- 
ernized the  spelling  of  the  family  name.  He 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  and  came 
to  German  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  in  1806,  being  accompanied  by  his  fam- 
ily, comprising  his  wife  and  three  sons,  Fred- 


erick, Casper  and  John.  The  last  named  of 
these  sons,  John  Stiver,  the  father  of  Samuel, 
purchased  a  farm  on  Little  Twin  creek  (which 
farm  is  now  the  property  of  Samuel  Stiver, 
Sr.),  and  became  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  this  neighborhood.  He  was  thrifty  and 
prosperous  as  a  farmer,  and  a  man  of  very 
decided  traits  of  character.  He  was  very  ac- 
tive in  church  affairs,  and  with  his  father  and 
brothers  assisted  largely  in  the  organization 
of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Germantown  in 
1809.  His  influence  was  such  that  he  gener- 
ally carried  his  point  when  any  question  was 
to  be  decided,  socially,  politically  or  religious- 
ly. He  reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  who 
were  born  in  the  following  order:  Barbara, 
John,  Frederick,  Michael,  Catherine  (Mrs. 
Frederick  Dill),  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Jacob  Weis), 
Susannah  (wife  of  Christian  Herr),  Barbara 
(twin  sister  of  Susannah  and  wife  of  Andrew 
Cotterman),  Samuel  and  Elias — the  two  last 
named  being  the  only  survivors. 

Samuel  Stiver,  Sr. ,  whose  name  opens 
this  biography,  has  always  resided  in  German 
township.  He  was  educated  in  all  the  sub- 
scription and  district  schools  had  to  offer  in 
the  way  of  instruction,  and  has  always  been 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
successful  farmers  of  the  township  and  county. 
March  4,  1841,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Emerick,  daughter  of 
George  and  Mary  (Good)  Emerick,  residents 
of  German  township,  but  natives,  respectively, 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  To  the  union  of 
Samuel  Stiver,  Sr. ,  and  Catherine  Emerick 
have  been  born  six  children,  viz:  Benjamin 
M.,  William  C,  Samuel,  Jr.,  Mary  E.  (Mrs. 
Edward  Oldvvine),  John  A.  and  Sarah  C. 
(Mrs.  David  Sholley). 

Samuel  Stiver,  Jr.,  was  born  on  the  Stiver 
homestead  in  German  township,  September  5, 
1846,  received  a  fair  education  in  the  common 
schools,    remained     on    the    homestead    until 


1064 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1870,  and  then  settled  on  his  present  farm  of 
100  acres,  of  .which  he  completed  the  purchase 
in  1880.  January  6,  1870,  he  married  Miss 
Leah  Harp,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary 
(Peters)  Harp,  of  Jackson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  three  children,  viz:  Lydia,  wife 
of  William  O.  Haller;  Adam  and  Amanda  J. 
Adam,  married,  February  n,  1897,  Pearl  A. 
Moyer,  daughter  of  William  S.  Moyer,  of 
German  township.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Stiver  is  a  democrat. 

He  possesses  all  the  sterling  qualities  of  his 
forefathers  and  stands  among  the  foremost  of 
the  citizens  of  German  township,  both  as  a 
man  and  as  a  representative  farmer. 


EENRY  PETER  TREON,  an  old  and 
well-known  farmer  of  Miami  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Germantown,  in  the  same 
county,  October  29,  18 19,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr. 
Peter  Treon,  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa., 
who  settled  in  Miamisburg,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, in  181 1,  and  became  one  of  the  eminent 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  western  part 
of  Ohio. 

Christian  Treon,  grandfather  of  Henry  P., 
was  a  native  of  France,  and  sailed  from  the 
port  of  Cowes,  England,  on  the  ship  Duke  of 
Wurtemberg,  arriving  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
October  20,  1752.  He  had  been  a  distin- 
guished surgeon  in  the  French  army,  his  an- 
cestors having  also  been  physicians,  and  he  be- 
came the  progenitor  of  the  Treon  family  in 
America. 

In  February,  181 8,  Dr.  Peter  Treon  and 
Dr.  John  Treon,  his  nephew,  together  with 
Emil  Gebhart  and  Jacob  Kercher,  platted  the 
first  town  lots  in  Miamisburg.  Dr.  Peter  Treon 
was  also   associated  for  some   years  with  the 


same  nephew  in  various  other  business  enter- 
prises, and  later  conducted  business  on  his 
sole  account,  dealing  in  horses,  mules,  etc., 
and  also  in  real-estate,  accumulating  a  com- 
petency, and  at  his  death  leaving  our  subject 
160  acres  of  land  in  Shelby  county,  Ind. 

Henry  P.  Treon  was  reared  in  German- 
town  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  Miamisburg  and  entered  the  employ 
of  his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until  the 
latter's  death.  Since  1843  ne  nas  been  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  has  lived  on  his  present 
farm  in  Miami  township  ever  since  that  date. 
Mr.  Treon  has  been  twice  married;  his  first 
wife,  whom  he  married  March  22,  1842,  was 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Jacob  Eagle,  of  Miami 
township,  and  of  the  two  children  born  to  this 
union  one  still  survives — Rachel,  now  the  wife 
of  William  Leis.  Mrs.  Treon  died  February 
4,  1S79,  and  the  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Treon 
took  place  September  16,  1880,  with  Mary 
Haynes,  of  Washington  township,  who  died 
December  25,  1894.  Mr.  Treon  is  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  the  Saint  John's  Lu- 
theran church  edifice  in  Miami  township,  and 
also  superintended  the  building  of  the  brick 
school-house  in  his  district;  in  his  politics  he  is 
a  democrat,  and  has  ever  been  a  truly  useful 
and  energetic  citizen  in  the  work  of  promoting 
the  public  welfare. 


m 


ILLIAM  STIVER,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a 
native  of  German  township,  and  was 
born  January  27,  1844,  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (  Emerick)  Stiver.  The 
genealogy  of  Mr.  Stiver  will  be  found  in  full  in 
the  biographies  of  Samuel  Stiver,  Sr.,  and 
Samuel  Stiver,  Jr.,  immediately  preceding  this 
memoir,  and,  therefore,  a  repetition  of  the 
same  is  not  here  necessary. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1065 


William  Stiver  was  reared  to  farming  on  the 
old  Stiver  homestead  in  German  township, 
and  there  worked  in  that  honorable  vocation 
until  thirty-five  years  of  age.  In  the  spring  of 
1880  he  rented  what  was  known  as  the  Kercher 
farm,  on  which  he  resided  for  three  years  ;  he 
then  purchased  the  farm  of  sixty-two  acres, 
now  owned  by  John  Miller,  but  which  Mr. 
Stiver  occupied  until  1892.  In  1893  he  retired 
to  Miamisburg,  where  he  is  passing  his  days  in 
quietude,  having,  through  his  skill  and  industry 
as  a  husbandman,  been  enabled  to  retire 
from  active  labor. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Stiver  took  place  Sep- 
tember 20,  1874,  to  Sarah  Nicholas,  daughter 
of  William  and  Catherine  (Bovinger)  Nicholas, 
of  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  county, 
and  to  this  union  have  been  born  ten  children, 
in  the  following  order:  Francis  M. ,  Charles 
A.,  Perry  J.,  John  H.,  Joseph  A.,  Dora  A., 
Clara  B.,  Ina  G. ,  Edward  A.  and  William  C. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stiver  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Stiver  has 
been  a  life-long  democrat. 

Having  been  a  tiller  of  the  soil  for  so  many 
years,  Mr.  Stiver  has  naturally  done  much  to- 
ward the  improvement  of  German  township  and 
the  enhancement  in  value  of  its  farming  land, 
and  he  is  a  worthy  example  of  that  best  class  of 
agriculturists  whose  thrift  and  good  citizenship 
are  large  factors  in  the  prosperity  of  the  nation. 


ISAAC  TREON,  a  successful  business 
man  of  Miamisburg,  and  one  who  stands 
high  in  the  estimation  of  the  general 
public,  was  born  in  Miamisburg,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  June  29,  1861.  He  is 
a  son  of  Dr.  Isaac  and  Mary  (Allen)  Treon,  of 
whom  mention  will  be  made  later  in  this  sketch. 
The  great-grandfather  of  the  present  Isaac 
Treon,  who  was  named  Christian  Treon,  was 
a  Frenchman,  and  sailed  from  Cowes,  England, 


in  the  ship  Duke  of  Wurtemberg,  arriving  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  November 20,  1752.  Chris- 
tian Treon  was  a  distinguished  surgeon  in  the 
French  army,  his  ancestors  having  also  been 
physicians;  Michael  Treon,  his  son,  and  grand- 
father of  the  subject,  was  born  in  Berks  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  August  19,  1 761.  He,  too,  was  a 
physician  of  prominence  and  spent  all  his  life 
in  the  county  of  his  birth,  where  he  died  May 
28,  1828,  and  lies  buried  in  the  cemetery  at 
Rohrersburg.  He  married  Elizabeth  Selzer, 
who  was  of  German  parentage.  Their  son, 
Isaac  Treon,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
September  7,  1808.  In  1822  he  removed  to 
Miamisburg,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  at  Ox- 
ford, Ohio,  after  attending  medical  lectures  at 
Cincinnati,  in  1833-34,  and  beginning  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  at  Miamisburg  in  1835.  Here 
he  was  engaged  in  active  practice  for  many 
years,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness, dealing  likewise  extensively  in  real  estate. 

Dr.  Isaac  Treon  was  married  three  times — 
first  to  Rebecca  Hoover.  His  second  wife  was 
Mary  Allen,  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Rebecca 
(Rouse)  Allen,  of  Miami  township.  She  bore 
him  five  children,  three  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years,  viz:  Michael,  Lillie,  wife  of  George 
C.  Weaver,  and  Isaac.  His  third  wife  was  a 
Mrs.  Leah  Melinger.  Dr.  Isaac  Treon  died 
June  15,  1878,  leaving  a  highly  enviable  record 
record  for  medical  skill  and  upright  manliness. 

Isaac  Treon,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  in  Miamisburg,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  in  1879.  He  began  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count as  clerk  in  a  drugstore,  and  in  1885  em- 
barked in  the  drug  business  at  Lima,  Ohio, 
continuing  thus  engaged  in  that  city  for  three 
years.  Shortly  afterward,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  he  traveled  extensively  through  the 
west,  including  California,  returning  in  1891  to 
Miamisburg,  and  here  embarked  in  the  stove 
and  tinware  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm 


1066 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  Treon  &  Cade,   and  in   this  business  he  has 
since  continued,  with  unvarying  success. 

Mr.  Treon  was  married  February  7,  1895, 
to  Virginia  Cade,  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  Cade,  of  Miamisburg,  and  to  this 
marriage  there  has  been  born  one  daughter, 
named  Mary  Caroline  Treon.  Mr.  Treon  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  Polit- 
ically, he  is  a  republican,  and  is  regarded  in 
the  community  as  an  eminently  patriotic  and 
good  citizen.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Treon  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Both  are  untiring  in  their  devotion  to  church 
and  religious  work  and  are  highly  esteemed  and 
useful  members  of  society. 


a  APT.  PORTERFIELD  H.TROXEL, 
of  Perry  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, is  of  German  ancestry,  his  grand- 
father, Peter  Troxel,  having  come 
from  Germany  many  years  ago.  Capt.  Troxel 
was  born  September  30,  1S31,  in  Augusta 
county,  Va. ,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Nancy 
(Cunningham)  Troxel.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  Ohio,  his  parents  hav- 
ing removed  to  Montgomery  county,  this  state, 
in  1834,  and  settled  on  Tom's  Run.  Here 
young  Porterfield  was  brought  up  on  the  farm, 
but  received  little  education  in  school  before 
he  attained  his  majority,  though  he  read  and 
studied  to  good  advantage  in  private  during 
his  leisure  hours.  After  becoming  of  age  he 
attended  school  for  some  time,  and,  when 
twenty-four  years  old,  began  teaching  in  the 
district  schools,  continuing  this  work  about 
six  years,  or  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
On  October  28,  1861,  he  enlisted  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  company  E,  Seventy-first  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  under  Capt.  Callender,  for 
three  years,  or  during  the  war.      In  this  com- 


pany he  served  until  January  13,  1864,  when 
he  veteranized,  and  continued  a  member  of 
the  same  company  until  transferred  to  company 
C.  He  was  discharged  at  San  Antonio,  Tex., 
November  30,  1865. 

Mr.  Troxel  was  promoted  for  meritorious 
services  to  fifth  sergeant,  in  1862,  then  to 
third  sergeant,  and  later  to  first  sergeant. 
Still  later  he  was  promoted  to  second  lieuten- 
ant and  then  to  first  lieutenant,  and  for  a 
time  served  as  adjutant  of  the  regiment. 
Later  he  was  commissioned  captain  and  as- 
signed to  company  C,  of  the  same  regiment, 
and  served  as  such  until  discharged.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  in  the  battle 
of  Franklin  (where  he  served  as  adjutant  of 
his  regiment),  and  also  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville. In  addition  to  these  he  was  in  many 
smaller  engagements  and  in  numerous  skir- 
mishes. His  hardest  marching  and  campaign- 
ing was  from  Atlanta  to  Nashville,  and  in 
Texas,  from  Matagorda  Bay  to  Green  Lake. 
The  latter  march  was  made  in  August,  the 
weather  being  very  hot,  and  there  being  but 
little  water  to  be  had.  The  regiment  marched 
thirty-five  miles  in  one  day,  many  of  the  sol- 
diers falling  out  by  the  wayside.  Capt.  Troxel 
was  at  one  time  captured  by  the  rebels,  with 
six  companies  of  his  regiment,  who  were  in 
due  time  paroled  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.  Capt. 
Troxel  was  always  an  active  soldier,  prompt 
and  cheerful  in  the  performance  of  his  duty. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  the  captain  re- 
turned to  Montgomery  county  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacturing  business,  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Munhdenk,  Hiller  &  Troxel.  He 
afterward  engaged  in  farming  in  Perry  town- 
ship, and  in  1882  bought  a  fine  farm  of  104 
acres.  He  was  married  in  March,  1866,  at 
Pyrmont,  to  Sarah  A.  Taylor,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Hamilton)  Taylor,  who 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
James  F. ,  Martha  J.,  Sarah  A.,  Emeline  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1067 


Almira.  Mr.  Taylor  for  some  years  held  the 
office  of  township  trustee. 

Capt.  and  Mrs.  Troxel  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Stanley,  Stella,  James, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen;  Jennie  and 
Maud.  Politically,  Capt.  Troxel  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  takes  pride  in  having  voted  for  Gen. 
Winfield  Scott,  Gen.  John  C.  Fremont  and 
Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  honored  by  all  who 
know  him  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  of  inde- 
pendence of  character,  and  as  a  soldier  who 
served  his  country  well  in  her  hour  of  need. 

Peter  Troxel,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America,  settled  in  Augusta  county,  Va.,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  reared  the  follow- 
lowing  children:  George,  Abraham,  Daniel, 
David,  Polly,  Robert,  Susan  and  Rachael. 
He  was  an  extensive  farmer,  owning  some  400 
acres  of  land,  and  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years 
old.      His  wife  lived  to  be  ninety-four. 

Robert  and  Nancy  Troxel,  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  reared  the  following  children:  Robert, 
Porterfield  H.,  Peter,  John,  Daniel,  Rachael, 
Margaret  and  Mary.  They  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1832,  settling  in  Perry  town- 
ship. Mr.  Troxel  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  was  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter, and  died  when  he  was  fifty-six  years  of 
age.  He  had  two  sons  in  the  Civil  war,  Rob- 
ert and  Porterfield  H.,  the  former  of  whom 
was  in  the  Seventeenth  Ohio  battery,  and  was 
with   Gen.  Grant  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign. 

Archibald  Patrick,  the  maternal  great- 
grandfather of  Capt.  Troxel,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House. 


*w    *  EZEKIAH     B.    ULM,     infirmary   di- 

l^\    rector  and  retired  farmer,  now  a  resi- 

\     W    dent  of  the  city   of   Miamisburg,  was 

born    near    Monroe,    Butler    county, 

Ohio,  January  29,  1843.      He   is  the  eldest  of 


six  children  now  living,  of  the  family  of  eleven 
children  born  to  Edward  and  Elizabeth  (Davis) 
Ulm,  the  former  of  German  and  English  de- 
scent, while  the  latter  was  of  Welsh  and 
Scotch-Irish  descent. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Daniel  Ulm,  was 
a  Virginian  by  birth,  whose  ancestors  were  na- 
tives of  Germany  and  pioneers  of  Virginia, 
and  among  the  very  early  settlers  of  Ohio, 
first  locating  in  Pike  county,  and  later  in  Mon- 
roe and  Butler  counties.  Daniel  Ulm  cleared 
two  farms  in  Ohio,  one  in  Warren  county  and 
the  other  in  Butler  county,  and  died  in  Mason, 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1858.  His  children 
were  named,  Polly  (Mrs  Abel  Reynolds), 
James,  Sarah  (Mrs.  William  Fitzgerald),  Jane 
(Mrs.  Abraham  Bercaw)  Hattan  and  Edward, 
the  latter  being  the  father  of  our  subject.  Ed- 
ward Ulm  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
in  1820,  and  was  reared  a  farmer's  boy,  receiv- 
ing a  limited  education  in  the  pioneer  schools. 
He  chose  and  followed  for  his  life  vocation 
that  of  an  agriculturist,  and  was  a  resident  of 
Miami  township  from  1857  until  1891,  when 
he  removed  to  Franklin,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
April  22,  1893.  His  children  were  eleven  in 
number,  six  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz: 
Hezekiah  B.,  Martha  J.  (Mrs.  Thomas Childs), 
Edward  A.,  George  A.,  and  Eva  and  Hattie, 
twins — the  former  the  wife  of  Harvey  Kendall, 
and  the  latter  the  wife  of  William  Evans. 

Hezekiah  B.  Ulm  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
farm  and  lived  during  his  earlier  years  in  But- 
ler, Warren  and  Montgomery  counties,  he  be- 
ing but  fourteen  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
settled  in  Miami  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty. He  was  taught  industrious  habits  from 
childhood  and  has  led  a  very  active  life  from 
youth  up  to  the  present  time.  He  attended 
the  common  schools  and  later  supplemented 
these  advantages  by  attending  the  Monroe 
academy.  Having  finished  his  education,  he 
began  life  as   a    farmer,  which    occupation  he 


1068 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


followed  from  1 88 1  to  1896  in  Washington 
township,  this  county,  and  was  known  through- 
out the  southeast  part  of  Montgomery  county 
as  one  of  the  successful  and  well-to-do  farmers. 

On  July  31,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company 
E,  Ninety-third  Ohio  infantry,  and  immedi- 
ately after  being  mustered  in,  entered  active 
service.  The  first  engagement  he  participated 
in  was  that  of  Stone  River  (or  Murfeesboro), 
Tenn.,  during  which  he  received  a  gun-shot 
wound,  which  disabled  him  for  further  service 
to  his  country,  and  on  September  24,  1863, 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Camp 
Dennison,  Ohio,  on  account  of  disability.  He 
returned  home,  and  on  the  1 5th  of  March, 
1866,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ella  W. , 
daughter  of  George  and  Ellen  ( Wheatley") 
Pease,  of  Miami  township,  this  county.  By 
this  marriage  he  has  three  children  living: 
Olive,  Walter  K.  and  Herbert  B. 

Mr.  Ulm  removed,  in  the  fall  of  1896,  to 
the  city  of  Miamisburg,  where  he  is  most  pleas- 
antly situated.  He  and  his  wife  are  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
while  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A. 
R.,  and  of  the  K.  of  P.  since  1874.  Politically 
he  is  a  republican  and  was  nominated  in  the 
fall  of  1895  as  candidate  for  infirmary  director, 
to  which  office  he  was  elected  by  a  large  ma- 
jority, which  attests  the  popularity  that  he 
so  deservedly  enjoys. 


•  HEODORE  M.  WAGNER,  a  thriving 
merchant  of  Trotwood,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  an  ex-soldier  of 
the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  Carroll 
county,  111.,  November  13,  1844,  and  is  a  son 
of  Christian  and  Susan  (Gaither)  Wagner,  who 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  August, 
1864,  living  first  in  Wayne  township,  and 
finally  settling  in  West  Baltimore. 

Theodore  M.    Wagner  received  a  very  fair 


common-school  education  in  his  native  state, 
and  early  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking. 
He  came  to  Ohio  wfth  his  parents,  and  in  the 
winter  of  1864-5  enlisted,  at  Dayton,  in  com- 
pany C,  Eighth  Ohio  volunteer  cavalry,  to 
serve  one  year.  Shortly  after  joining  his  regi- 
ment he  was  detailed  to  the  post  quartermas- 
ter's department  at  Clarksburg,  W.  Va. ,  where 
he  served  until  honorably  discharged  in  July, 
1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war.  On  his  return 
to  Ohio  Mr.  Wagner  worked  for  a  short  time 
at  his  trade  in  Taylorsville,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, going  thence  to  West  Baltimore,  where  he 
followed  his  calling  until  1S77,  when  he  set- 
tled in  Trotwood.  Here  he  embarked  in  mer- 
chandizing, which  still  occupies  his  attention. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Wagner  to  Miss  Ka- 
turah  Eck  took  place  at  West  Baltimore,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1868.  Mrs.  Wagner  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1845,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Susan  (Hockey)  Eck.  There 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  three 
children — Clara  R.,  Jennie  M.  and  Charles  O. 
Mrs.  Wagner  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  while  Mr.  Wagner  has  adopted  the 
faith  of  the  United  Brethren.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Wagner  is  a  member  of  Trotwood  lodge,  No. 
754,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  in  which  he  has  reached  the 
office  of  noble  grand,  and  has  been  treasurer 
of  his  lodge  and  district  deputy  grand  master. 
He  is  likewise  a  member  of  Court  lodge,  No. 
287,  Brookville,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  Foster  Mar- 
shall post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  the  same  place.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  has  never 
sought  or  held  public  office.  He  is  a  substan- 
tial citizen,  and  owns  several  stores  and  resi- 
dences in  Trotwood,  a  small  farm  south  of 
town,  and  houses  and  land  at  Stillwater  Junc- 
tion, as  well  as  land  in  Dayton. 

Christian  Wagner,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  whence  he 
moved,  in  an  early  day,  to  Frederick  county, 
Md.,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1069 


years.  Christian  Wagner,  father  of  Theodore 
M. ,  had  born  to  his  marriage  five  children — 
William  H.,  John  E.,  Theodore  M.,  Adeline 
R.  and  Alice,  all  of  whom  came  to  Ohio  ex- 
cepting John  E.,  who  settled  in  Iowa.  Their 
father  was  a  republican  in  politics,  and  lived 
to  be  ninety  years  old — the  Wagner  family, 
indeed,  being  noted  for  longevity.  William 
Eck,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Wagner,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  was  a  farmer  of  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  and  the  father  of  five  children — Katurah, 
Rosina,  Minerva,  Ovien  and  Aaron.  Mr.  Eck 
in  politics  was  a  democrat,  and  a  substantial 
and  highly  respected  citizen.  He  died  in  1894 
and  his  wife  in  1893. 


I  HE  WAYMIRE  FAMILY  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  having 
been  a  resident  here  since  1805.  John 
Rudolph  Waymire,  the  founder  of  the  family 
in  America,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  died 
in  North  Carolina  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 
Daniel  Waymire,  son  of  John  Rudolph, 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  married  Sophia 
Plumer,  and  after  the  birth  of  his  first  child 
came  to  Ohio  (1805)  and  settled  where  the 
Polk  church  now  stands  in  Butler  township, 
Montgomery  county,  where  his  homestead  em- 
braced 160  acres  of  land,  beside  which  he 
owned  eighty  acres  in  the  Slashes,  three  miles 
south.  At  his  house  were  held  the  first  meet- 
ings of  the  members  of  the  Christian  church  in 
his  township,  and  he  also  contributed  liberally 
toward  the  erection  of  the  first  house  of  wor- 
ship, in  1 8 16,  belonging  to  that  religious  de- 
nomination, as  well  as  to  the  building  of  the 
first  school-house.  To  Daniel  and  Sophia 
Waymire  were  born  the  following-named  chil- 
dren :  Davis,  Mary,  Daniel,  John,  Catherine, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Rebecca,  Rosannah,  Henry 
and  Isabel. 


John  Waymire,  the  fourth  enumerated  of 
the  above  family,  was  born  in  Butler  township, 
August  30,  1808,  was  educated  in  a  frontier 
log  school-house,  and  was  taught  the  cooper's 
trade.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he 
married  Miss  Margaret  Coble,  a  native  of  But- 
ler township,  and  daughter  of  Anthony  and 
Mary  (Coble)  Coble,  who  settled  in  Butler 
township  in  1806,  and  were  the  parents  of 
Abraham,  John,  Sarah,  Daniel,  Margaret  and 
Solomon.  Mr.  Coble  was  a  substantial  farmer, 
owning  160  acres  of  land,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years,  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  After  his  marriage,  John  Way- 
mire settled  on  a  farm  of  sixty-four  acres,  all 
in  the  woods,  and  known  as  Natchez  Under 
the  Hill.  The  tract  abounded  in  game,  and 
its  soil  was  very  rich,  and  the  Stillwater  river, 
on  the  banks  of  which  it  was  situated,  swarmed 
with  choice  fish,  and  the  two  afforded  abun- 
dance of  food  at  no  cost.  Nevertheless,  Mr. 
Waymire  worked  industriously  and  increased 
his  acreage  to  235,  which  he  fully  improved. 
To  his  marriage  with  Miss  Coble  were  born 
four  children,  viz  :  Isaac,  Sarah,  Daniel  W. 
and  Hamilton.  Mrs.  Waymire  was  called 
away,  and  Mr.  Waymire  married  Elizabeth 
Woodhouse,  daughter  of  Henry  Woodhouse, 
and  to  this  union  was  born  one  son,  John.  Mr. 
Waymire  died  an  honored  man,  and  left  be- 
hind a  family  that  is  still  highly  respected  by 
the  residents  of  Butler  township. 


>-jJ,OSEPH  WEAVER,  M.  D.,  the  oldest 
■  male  resident  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
/•  1  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  the  place,  was  born  three  miles 
south  of  Dayton,  December  22,  18 16.  He  is 
a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Hoch)  Weaver, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  of  his  birth. 
His  father,  George  Weaver,  a  farmer  by  occu- 


1070 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


pation,  reared  to  maturity  eleven  of  the  twelve 
children  that  were  born  to  him,  and  at  the 
present  time  seven  of  the  eleven  survive. 

Joseph  Weaver,  when  but  twelve  years  old, 
located  in  Miamisburg,  and  worked  for  Drs. 
Isaac  and  John  Treon  for  his  board,  clothing 
and  education,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age.  For  four  years  subsequently  he  remained 
with  them  as  a  student  of  medicine.  In  the 
winter  of  1836-37  he  attended  a  course  of  lec- 
tures at  the  Ohio  Medical  college  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  in  1838  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Miamisburg.  Soon  afterward  he 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued for  three  years  in  connection  with  his 
medical  practice.  He  then  sold  out  the  drug 
business  and  confined  his  attention  to  his  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  successfully  continued  un- 
til 1870,  a  period  of  thirty-two  years.  In 
1873  he  embarked  in  the  lumber  business,  in 
which  he  still  continues,  and  in  1884  he  erect- 
ed a  large  planing-mill,  which  he  has  since  op- 
erated. Since  18S9  he  has  also  been  engaged 
in  the  coal  business.  For  many  years  he  has 
dealt  in  real  estate,  and  has  erected  a  large 
number  of  houses  in  Miamisburg,  several  of 
which  he  still  owns. 

Dr.  Weaver  was  married,  in  1841,  to  Fan- 
nie Swar,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (Kauff- 
man)  Swar,  uf  Miamisburg,  and  to  this  mar- 
riage there  were  born  several  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Minerva  (Mrs.  Rev.  H.  N.  Weaver), 
John,  Charles,  Nora  (Mrs.  Dr.  William  Shu- 
ler),  Anna  (Mrs.  John  Walters),  Louisa  (Mrs. 
William  Kauffman),  and  Clara.  The  doctor  has 
twenty-two  grandchildren.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  German  Reformed  church;  in  politics, 
originally  a  whig,  he  has  been  a  republican 
since  that  party  was  organized.  His  first  pres- 
idential vote  was  cast  for  Gen.  William  Henry 
Harrison,  in  1840,  and  his  last  for  Gen.  Ben- 
jamin Harrison,  in  1892.  Dr.  Weaver's  mem- 
ory is  perfect,  and   his   reminiscenses  of  early 


days  are  exceedingly  interesting.  In  the  sixty- 
eight  years  of  his  residence  in  Miamisburg,  the 
older  generations  have  all  passed  away,  and  he 
stands  now,  hale  and  vigorous,  nearly  alone, 
but  apparently  with  many  years  of  active  life 
and  usefulness  before  him,  the  only  represent- 
ative of  the  men  who  knew  the  place  before  it 
became  a  town  and  the  only  one  living  who 
assisted   in  its  organization. 


*w    ■*  ENRY  WEAVER,  the  well-known  re- 

|\    tired  blacksmith  of  Miamisburg,  Mont- 

r    gomery   county,    Ohio,    was  born   in 

Van    Buren    township,    of    the    same 

county,  October    26,    1825,    and    is    a  son  of 

George  and  Elizabeth  (Hoch)  Weaver,  natives 

of  Lancaster  county,  Pa. 

John  Weaver,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Henry,  was  also  a  native  of  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  but  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  having  come  to  this  state  in 
1806.  He  entered,  or  purchased,  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  Van  Buren  township,  cleared  up  a 
fine  farm  for  himself  and  family,  and  at  his 
death  was  able  to  endow  each  of  his  children 
with  a  handsome  piece  of  farm  land. 

Joseph  Hoch,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
Henry  Weaver,  was  likewise  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  and  a  pioneer  farmer  of 
Miami   township,    Montgomery   county,  Ohio. 

George  Weaver,  father  of  Henry,  settled 
in  Van  Buren  township  in  1816,  and  cleared 
up  a  farm,  on  which  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  To  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Hoch  were  born  twelve  children,  of  whom 
eleven  grew  to  maturity,  viz:  William,  George, 
Jeremiah,  Joseph,  Lucy  A.  (Mrs.  Jacob  Drayer), 
Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Richard  M.  Miller),  Henry,  Isaac, 
Sarah  (Mrs.  David  Furlong),  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Dr.  John  Treon),  and  Daniel. 

Henry  Weaver,  whose  name  opens  this 
biographical  notice,  was  reared  in  Van  Buren 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1071 


township,  where  he  received  a  fair  education 
in  the  pioneer  log  school-house,  and  where  he 
served  two  years  as  an  apprentice  to  a  black- 
smith. Having  fully  learned  the  trade,  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  for  five  years,  and 
then  established  a  shop  of  his  own  in  his  na- 
tive township,  which  shop  he  conducted  for 
another  period  of  five  years,  and  then  came  to 
Miamisburg,  where  he  passed  thirteen  years  in 
the  prosperous  prosecution  of  his  trade,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  period  was  enabled  to  retire  to 
private  life  and  to  live  on  the  competency  his 
industry  and  thrift  had  so  worthily  gained  him. 

Henry  Weaver  was  happily  married,  in 
1850,  to  Barbara  A.  Kauffman,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Maria  (Bear)  Kauffman,  of  German 
township,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
eight  children,  of  whom  six  grew  to  maturity, 
viz:  Amos;  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Miles 
Blossom;  Etta,  widow  of  Amos  K.  Clay; 
Harry,  Theodore,  and  Lizzie  E.,  who  died  in 
March,  1893. 

Mr.  Weaver,  now  one  of  the  most  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Miamisburg,  has  owned  and 
occupied  his  present  residence  since  1S73. 
He  is  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  pleasant  neigh- 
bors and  sincere  friends,  in  whose  esteem  he 
holds  a  high  position,  and  is  also  much  re- 
spected by  the  community  at  large.  Although 
a  democrat  in  his  party  affiliations,  he  has 
never  been  a  partisan  in  the  office-seeking 
sense  of  the  word,  but  has  contented  himself 
with  giving  voice  to  his  principles  through  his 
vote  at  the  polls. 


S^%.  EORGE  WASHINGTON  WEAVER, 
■  ^\  the  pioneer  and  most  prominent  mer- 
\^J  chant  of  Miamisburg,  was  born  in 
Miami  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  September  27,  1824.  He  is  a  son  of 
Philip  and  Magdalena  (Gebhart)  Weaver,  and 
is  of  Swiss  origin.      His  paternal  grandparents 


were  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Gebhart)  Weaver, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to 
Ohio  in  1804,  settling  on  Little  Bear  creek, 
Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  county.  Here 
Mr.  Weaver  cleared  and  improved  a  farm, 
upon  which  both  he  and  his  wife  lived  the  rest 
of  their  lives.  Jacob  Weaver  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1762,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob 
Weaver,  of  Alsace-Lorraine,  who  was  one  of 
three  brothers  who  were  driven  from  their 
native  land  by  religious  persecution  during  the 
last  century. 

Jacob  Weaver,  grandfather  of  George  W., 
was  the  father  of  ten  children,  as  follows: 
Henry,  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812;  Michael, 
Jacob,  Peter,  Philip,  John;  Magdalena,  wife  of 
Jacob  Beachler;  Gretchen,  wife  of  George 
Gebhart;  Eva  and  William.  Of  these  chil- 
dren, Philip,  the  father  of  George  W.  Weaver, 
was  a  farmer,  and  a  most  industrious,  temper- 
ate christian  gentleman.  His  death  occurred 
July  12,  1851,  when  he  was  fifty-three  years 
of  age.  His  wife,  Magdalena  Gebhart,  was  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Gebhart, 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in 
Miami  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1805.  Their  children  who  grew  to  matu- 
rity were  as  follows:  William;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Nelson  Shade;  George  W. ;  Rachel, 
wife  of  Eli  Eck;  Malinda,  wife  of  Daniel 
Bookwalter;  John  P.,  Jacob;  Lavina,  wife  of 
Wilson  Gebhart;  Noah;  and  Magdalena,  wife 
of  Philip  Weaver. 

George  W.  Weaver,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead  and 
remained  there  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  The  education  he  received  was  lim- 
ited to  that  furnished  by  the  common  schools 
of  his  youthful  days.  In  1845,  with  a  bor- 
rowed capital  of  $150,  he  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Miamisburg,  and  in  this 
business  he  has  been  engaged  ever  since,  meet- 
I  ing  with  all  the  success  that  could  be  desired. 


1072 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


In  1 86 1  he  added  a  hardware  department  to 
his  business,  and  has  always  been  and  still  re- 
mains the  leading  and  most  extensive  mer- 
chant of  the  place.  For  twenty-five  years  he 
was  a  large  dealer  in  agricultural  implements, 
buggies,  etc.,  and  in  this  department  of  trade 
was  as  successful  as  in  those  of  groceries  and 
hardware. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  married  Octobers,  1845, 
to  Rebecca  Rowe,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Sarah  (Squires)  Rowe,  and  has  eight  children, 
as  follows:  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  H.  C.  Hoff; 
Ellen,  wife  of  R.  J.  Smith;  Mary  A.  L.,  wife 
of  F.  C.  Ampt;  George  C,  Charles  E. ;  Louisa 
E.,  wife  of  Robert  G.  Weber;  Emma  C. ,  wife 
of  Franklin  Alter;  and  Harry  C.  Mr.  Weaver 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  has 
held  the  offices  of  deacon,  treasurer  and  trus- 
tee. In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  in 
every  relation  of  life  has  always  been  recog- 
nized as  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity  and 
honor,  enjoying  the  regard  of  both  the  social 
and  business  elements  of  the  community. 


^ywMLLIAM  PERRY  WEAVER,  M.  D., 

Mm  one    of    the    most    successful    and 

\%yl  prominent  physicians  "1  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Jef- 
ferson township,  this  county,  October  8,  1851. 
He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Beck) 
Weaver.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob 
Weaver,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
December  28,  1762,  and  settled  in  Jefferson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1805. 
In  this  township  he  cleared  and  improved  a 
farm,  on  which  he  lived  the  rest  of  his  life. 
His  father,  Jacob  Weaver,  came  from  Alsace- 
Lorraine,  and  in  early  manhood  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  serving  later  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  wife  of  Jacob 
Weaver,  pioneer  of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was  Margaret  Gebhart,  who  bore  him  ten  chil- 


dren, as  follows:  Henry,  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812;  Michael,  Jacob,  Peter,  Philip,  John, 
Magdalena  (Mrs.  Jacob  Beachler);  Gretchen, 
(Mrs.  George  Gebhart);  Eva,  and  William,  the 
latter  being  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  sketch. 

William  Weaver  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Jefferson  township,  September 
25,  181 1,  and  was  reared  as  a  farmer  and  a 
distiller,  conducting  the  latter  business  on 
Bear  creek.  He  lived  and  died  on  the  old 
Weaver  homestead,  his  death  being  caused  by 
injuries  accidentally  received,  January  24,  1857. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Susan 
(Snepp)  Beck,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  England,  at  one  time  a  resident  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  later  a  large  land- 
holder on  the  Wabash  river,  near  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.  William  Perry  was  the  only  child  of  the 
marriage  of  William  and  Sarah  (Beck)  Weaver. 

William  Perry  Weaver,  M.  D.,  was  reared 
in  his  native  county,  was  educated  primarily  in 
the  public  schools  thereof,  also  in  Notre  Dame 
university  and  in  Wittenberg  college.  In  1868 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  by  taking  a 
course  of  lectures  at  Miami  Medical  college,  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  finished  his  medical  ed- 
ucation at  the  Cincinnati  college  of  Medicine 
&  Surgery,  graduating  from  this  institution  in 
1 87 1.  Locating  immediately  in  Miamisburg, 
he  has  since  had  an  extensive  practice  and  has 
established  himself  in  the  confidence  of  the 
public  to  the  fullest  extent. 

Dr.  Weaver  was  married,  October  31, 
1 87 1,  to  Katie  Burnett,  daughter  of  Patrick  C. 
and  Mary  (Coughlin)  Burnett,  of  Cincinnati. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  two  children,  W. 
Burnett  and  Genevieve.  Dr.  Weaver  is  a 
member  of  the  Montgomery  county  Medical 
society,  and  has  been  a  surgeon  of  the  Big 
Four  Railroad  company  for  upward  of  fifteen 
years.  He  has  been  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railroad  com- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1073 


pany  since  1894.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  health,  and  is  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector of  the  Miamisburg  Twine  &  Cordage 
company.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  in  politics  a  repub- 
lican. In  all  respects  Dr.  Weaver  is  a  man 
worthy  of  confidence  and  esteem,  and  enjoys 
the  high  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 


aHRISTIAN  WEBER,  a  representa- 
tive business  man  and  citizen  of  Mi- 
amisburg, was  born  in  Ruxheim,  Ger- 
many, February  14,  1826.  He  is  a 
son  of  Christian  and  Anna  M.  Weber,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1837,  locating  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  where  the  former,  who  was  a 
weaver  by  trade,  resided  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  most  excellent  man,  and,  dying,  was 
mourned  greatly  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Christian  Weber,  the  younger,  was  reared 
in  Buffalo  from  the  time  he  was  eleven  years 
of  age,  receiving  a  limited  education  in  the 
public  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  business  as  a  wholesale  and 
retail  tobacco  and  cigar  dealer,  in  which  he  was 
successfully  engaged  for  nine  years  in  Buffalo. 
In  1853  he  removed  to  New  York  city,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  tobacco  trade 
until  1862,  in  the  meantime  traveling  exten- 
sively through  the  tobacco-growing  sections  of 
the  cquntry,  buying  largely  for  himself  and 
others.  In  the  year  last  mentioned  he  removed 
to  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  and  has  since  resided  in 
that  thriving  place,  being  occupied  from  1862 
to  1880  in  buying  and  selling  tobacco,  and 
meeting  with  uniform  success. 

Mr.  Weber  was  married  in  1862  to  Miss 
Lucella  M.  Grove,  daughter  of  George  A.  and 
Christiana  (Kercher)  Grove,  of  Miamisburg. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  seven  children  living, 
as  follows  :  Robert  G.,  Amelia,  Edmund  C. , 
Eliza  J.,  John  H.,  Oliver  A.  and  Margaret  L. 


Mr.  Weber  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Citizens'  National  bank,  of  Miamisburg,  and  is 
a  stockholder  and  director  of  the  bank  at  the 
present  time.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  and 
director  of  the  Kauffman  Buggy  .company,  and 
is  largely  interested  in  other  important  enter- 
prises. Prior  to  the  war  Mr.  Weber  was  a 
whig,  but  since  then  has  been  a  democrat. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of.  the  Re- 
formed church,  of  Miamisburg,  and  maintain 
an  excellent  standing,  both  in  religious  and 
social  circles.  They  are  doing  all  in  their 
power  to  educate  their  children  properly,  and 
thus  to  make  of  them  good  and  useful  citizens 
of  the  republic. 


gf 


ILLIAM  D.  WELSH,  an  enterpris- 
ing farmer  and  citizen  of  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  was 
born  in  Clear  Creek  township,  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  November  28,  1836,  a  son 
of  Samuel  and  Jemima  (Blackford)  Welsh,  na- 
tives of  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  and  Warden 
county,  Ohio,  respectively.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  mater- 
nal grandfather,  Nathaniel  Blackford,  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  and  one  of  the  pioneer 
farmers  of  Clear  Creek  township,  Warren  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  he  died;  Samuel  Welsh  was 
one  of  the  later  settlers  of  Warren  county  and 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  in  later  life  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  died  in  Clear  Creek 
township,  in  1879.  His  children  were  named 
Catherine  (Mrs.  Joseph  Githens),  Mary  (Mrs. 
Thomas  Link),  William  D. ,  John  B.,  James, 
Ruth,  Emma  (Mrs.  Jacob  Swanager)  and 
Nathaniel. 

William  D.  Welsh  was  reared  in  Clear  Creek 
township,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  in  Union 
county,  Ind.  In  1855  he  located  in  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  where   he  has 


1074 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


since   resided,    engaged   in    farming,    and    has 
occupied  his  present  farm  since  1879. 

December  23,  1862,  Mr.  Welsh  married 
Miss  Anna  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane 
(Vandever)  Crain,  of  Miami  township,  and  has 
three  children:  Charles,  Bert,  and  John  C. 
During  the  late  Civil  war  Mr.  Welsh  was  a 
member  of  company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-sixth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry;  he  en- 
listed in  May,  1864,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, at  the  expiration  of  service,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1864.  He  is  in  politics  a  republican. 
His  course  through  life  has  been  such  as  to  win 
the  respect  of  all  who  know  him,  as  he  has 
filled  all  his  duties,  as  civilian  and  soldier,  with 
an  eye  single  to  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-men. 


•~V*AMUEL    WENGER,    a   former  resi- 
k^^|*    dent    of   Randolph   township,    now    a 

K^_y  resident  of  West  Milton,  Miami  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Klepinger) 
Wenger,  and  was  born  March  5,  1835,  on  tne 
olcj  Wenger  homestead  in  Randolph  township, 
Montgomery  county.  Receiving  the  usual 
common-school  education  of  the  days  of  his 
youth,  he  early  began  to  work  at  the  varied 
tasks  of  the  farm,  becoming  proficient  in  the 
use  of  the  old-time  scythe  and  cradle.  He 
well  remembers  the  first  combined  mowing 
and  reaping  machine  introduced  into  the  coun- 
try. He  fully  appreciates  the  great  changes 
made  by  the  introduction  of  the  various  kinds 
of  farm  implements,  rendering  the  cultivation 
of  great  tracts  even  easier  than  was  the  tilling 
of  a  few  acres  by  our  forefathers. 

On  November  29,  1858,  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Waybright,  in  Randolph,  she  having 
been  born  July  7,  1834,  on  the  Waybright 
homestead.  She  is  the  youngest  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Fetters) 
Waybright.    After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Wenger  lived  for  about  five  years  on  the  Way- 
bright  homestead,  and  then  removed  to  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  two  miles  southwest  of  Wes 
Milton,  where  he  purchased  104  acres  of  his 
father.  This  farm  he  greatly  improved  and 
by  thrift  and  industry  added  to  it  until  he  at 
length  owned  about  500  acres.  In  1886  he 
bought  a  fine  piece  of  property  in  West  Milton, 
consisting  of  half  a  block  of  ground  and  a  fine 
residence.  In  1874  Mr.  Wenger  erected  on 
his  farm  a  substantial  brick  house,  and  also 
built  a  good  barn  and  other  farm  buildings. 
Altogether  his  is  one  of  the  best  farms  and 
homes  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger  there  have  been  born 
the  following  children:  Mary  A.,  John  V., 
Amanda,  who  died  when  twenty-eight  years  of 
age,  and  Valeria  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger 
are  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Wenger  is  a  democrat.  As 
such  he  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow-citi- 
zens by  election  to  the  office  of  township  trus- 
tee, in  which  position  he  served  two  years,  and 
he  has  also  been  elected  to  other  offices.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  a  con- 
siderable time.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger 
are  of  sturdy  pioneer  stock  and  rank  with  the 
best  people  of  the  county.  He  stands  very 
high  for  the  sterling  qualities  of  manhood 
which  he  possesses,  both  by  inheritance  and  by 
culture,  and  is  bringing  up  his  children  in  the 
ways  of  good  citizenship,  realizing  that  the 
strength  of  the  nation  depends  very  largely 
upon  individual  character. 


>Y*OHN  WENGER,  Sr.,  one  of  the  most 
J  substantial  farmers  of  Randolph  town- 
m  J  ship,  and  a  descendant  of  an  early  pio- 
neer of  Montgomery  county,  was  born 
March  6,  1837,  one-half  mile  west  of  Harris- 
burg,  in  the  old  Wenger  homestead,  which 
was  upon  the   national   road.      He   is   a  son  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1075 


Christian  and  Mary  (Klepinger)  Wenger,  for 
fuller  mention  of  whom  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  biography  of  Joseph  Wenger,  elsewhere 
published  in  this  volume.  He  was  early  put 
to  work  riding  the  horses  that  tramped  out  the 
grain  on  the  barn  floor,  and  gaining  farm 
knowledge  during  the  years  that  should  have 
been  spent  at  school.  His  education  was 
therefore  to  a  considerable  extent  neglected. 
When  a  young  man  Mr.  Wenger  spent  many 
a  day  handling  a  scythe  or  reaping  grain  with 
a  cradle,  beginning  to  swing  that  primitive 
tool  in  the  oat-fields  when  he  was  but  little 
more  than  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  began  to 
plow  when  between  nine  and  ten  years  of  age, 
raked  hay  with  a  hand  rake,  and  well  remem- 
bers the  first  farming  machinery  that  was  in- 
troduced in  his  part  of  the  county. 

He  married  when  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  March  8,  i860,  in  Union  township, 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  Miss  Mary  C.  Waybright, 
who  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  near 
Harrisburg,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Nancy  (Kinsey)  Waybright.  Daniel  Way- 
bright  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Jacob  and  Lizzie 
(Fetters)  Waybright,  the  former  being  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Randolph  township. 
Jacob  Waybright  was  a  farmer  and  a  good 
citizen,  and  for  many  years  a  prominent  prac- 
titioner of  medicine  in  Montgomery  county. 
Daniel  Waybright  was  born  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, became  a  successful  farmer,  and  was  the 
father  of  the  following  children:  Sarah,  Mary 
C. ,  Margaret,  Lucinda,  Rebecca,  Salome, 
John  and  Ira.  He  lived  to  be  about  sixty  years 
of  age,  dying  in  1876.  In  religion,  he  was  a 
Dunkard,  and  preached  many  years.  He  was 
well  known  for  many  miles  around,  as  a  man 
of  sterling  worth  and  character,  and  was  highly 
regarded  everywhere  as  a  most  energetic  and 
useful  citizen. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger 
settled  on  the  farm   now  owned  by  him.      At 


the  time  it  consisted  of  1 10  acres  of  land,  which 
Mr.  Wenger  has  greatly  improved,  and  to 
which  he  has  added  other  tracts,  until  at  the 
present  time  he  owns  about  330  acres,  all  of 
which  he  has  acquired  by  that  industry  and 
careful  management  which  have  made  him  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  of  his  county. 
He  and  his  wife  have  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: David  P.,  Martha,  Lucinda,  Daniel 
W.,  JohnH.,  EnosE.,  AnnaM.,  and  Frank 
S.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger  are  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics,  he  is 
a  democrat.  Mr.  Wenger's  life  has  been  a 
busy  and  useful  one,  and  his  unblemished 
character  is  recognized  throughout  the  com- 
munity which  has  always  been  his  home. 


>^OSEPH  WENGER,  one  of  the  reliable 
C  farmers  of  Randolph  township,  is  a  son 
(I  I  of  one  of  the  ancient  pioneers  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  His  grandfather  was 
John  Wenger,  who  was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
stock,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  mar- 
ried in  that  state  to  a  Miss  Long,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  Christian,  John, 
Joseph,  Tobias,  Annie,  Esther,  Mary,  Fannie, 
and  Barbara.  John  Wenger  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  family  in  1824  or  1825,  settling  on 
about  100  acres  of  timber  land  near  Little 
York.  This  land  he  cleared  of  its  timber, 
lived  upon  it  the  remainder  of  his  days,  and 
became  a  substantial  farmer  and  a  model  citi- 
zen. He  was  a  minister  of  the  church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Christ,  preaching  the  gospel  many 
years.  Attaining  a  great  age,  he  died  rich  in 
the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Christian  Wenger,  his  eldest  son,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in  1806.  In  Penn- 
sylvania he  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  and  came  with  his  father  and  others 
to  Ohio  when  he  was  about  eighteen  or  twenty 


1076 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


years  of  age.  Arriving  in  Montgomery  county, 
he  married  Polly  Klepinger. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage first  settled  near  Little  York,  and  later 
moved  near  to  Harrisburg,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, on  a  farm,  which  Mr.  Wenger  improved 
and  to  which  he  added  until  he  owned  240 
acres  in  a  body,  beside  several  other  pieces. 
He  gave  to  his  children  in  the  aggregate  1,000 
acres  of  land,  demonstrating  not  only  his  great 
industry,  but  that  he  was  an  unusually  judi- 
cious manager  and  capable  business  man.  He 
and  his  wife  had  the  following  children:  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Nancy,  who  were  born  at  Little 
York,  Pa.;  Samuel,  John,  Joseph,  Amos,  Levi 
and  David,  twins,  and  William,  these  seven  be- 
ing born  on  the  Ohio  homestead.  Their  parents 
were  members  of  the  church  of  the  Brethren 
in  Christ,  of  which  Mr.  Wenger  was  a  deacon 
for  many  years.  Politically  he  was  in  his  ear- 
lier life  an  old-line  whig,  but  later  was  a  dem- 
ocrat. Of  a  naturally  robust  constitution,  he 
lived  to  be  eighty  years  of  age,  dying  Novem- 
ber 1,  1885,  on  his  farm.  He  was  endowed 
with  the  gift  of  saving,  but  was  at  the  same 
time  generous  and  was  always  kind  to  the  poor 
and  needy.  He  aided  to  build  different 
churches  in  Montgomery  county,  and  was  in 
all  ways  a  man  worthy  of  the  regard  and  con- 
fidence of  the  people. 

Joseph  Wenger,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  April  9,  1840,  on  the  old  homestead 
near  Harrisburg.  Reared  a  farmer's  boy,  he 
received  the  common-school  education  of  the 
district  school.  When  twenty-four  years  old, 
on  March  24,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Niswonger,  who  was  born  November  9, 
1 841,  and  was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth (Warner)  Niswonger.  George  Niswonger 
was  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Circle)  Nis- 
wonger, the  former  of  whom  came  from  Vir- 
ginia, and  whose  children  were  as  follows: 
Rachel,    George,    Fannie,     John,     Elizabeth, 


Nicholas,  Nellie,  Eli  and  Mollie.  In  religion 
John  Niswonger  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  came  to  Montgomery 
county  in  1804  or  1806,  settling  in  Clay  town- 
ship, on  a  farm  which  is  now  owned  by  Frank 
Klepinger.  He  was  thus  among  the  earliest  of 
the  pioneers,  the  Indians  not  having  then  left 
the  county. 

George  Niswonger  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery county  about  1806,  growing  up  among  the 
pioneers,  marrying  Elizabeth  Warner,  and 
rearing  the  following  children:  David,  Eli, 
Catherine,  Mary  Ann  and  Moses.  Mr.  Nis- 
wonger settled  on  land  near  Salem,  consisting 
of  160  acres.  This  land  he  cleared  of  its  tim- 
ber and  made  of  it  a  good  farm  and  pleasant 
home  for  his  family.  To  his  original  farm  he 
constantly  added  other  tracts  until  he  had  500 
acres.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  he  having  been  a  dea- 
con for  many  years.  Believing  strongly  in 
educating  the  young,  he  gave  each  of  his  chil- 
dren the  best  instruction  possible,  and  lived  to 
be  seventy-four  years  of  age,  dying  on  his 
home  farm.  He  was  of  the  purest  men  of 
his  day,  honest  and  straightforward  in  his 
dealings,  and  highly  esteemed  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Wenger  settled  permanently  on  their  present 
homestead  of  120  acres,  to  which  he  added 
forty  acres,  making  160  acres  in  one  tract,  and 
eighty  acres  in  another  farm.  Of  his  first 
homestead  of  120  acres  he  cleared  up  thirty 
acres,  greatly  improved  his  farm,  and  in  1879 
erected  a  good,  substantial  farm-house.  To 
him  and  his  wife  there  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Elizabeth ,  Ella,  Sallie,  George, 
Edna,  William  H.,OHie  Bell  and  Nettie  C.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wenger  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  have  given  their  children 
good  educations,  so  far  as  their  means  would 
permit.      He    himself    was   a   member  of   the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1077 


school  board  six  years  in  succession.  Mr. 
Wenger  is  one  of  the  most  industrious  and 
progressive  farmers  of  this  township  and  county, 
and  a  substantial  citizen.  Aided  by  his  faith- 
ful wife  he  has  brought  up  an  excellent  family 
of  children. 


HMOS  WENGER,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  of  Randolph  township, 
is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Klep- 
inger)  Wenger.  Amos  Wenger  was 
born  April  24,  1842,  on  the  old  Wenger  home- 
stead, and  received  the  common-school  educa- 
tion of  the  day.  He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  and  when  yet  a  boy  rode  the  horse  while 
tramping  out  the  grain  on  the  barn  floor,  at  a 
time  when  he  should  have  been  at  school.  He 
became  an  expert  in  the  use  of  the  old-fashioned 
scythe  in  mowing  grass,  and  of  the  cradle  in 
cradling  grain.  He  well  remembers  the  first 
combined  mower  and  reaper  that  was  intro- 
duced into  his  neighborhood,  and  he  has  kept 
pace  with  the  march  of  progress  in  the  manu- 
facture of  agriculture  implements  and  their 
growing  use  upon  the  farm.  When  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  on  May  1 1,  1866,  he 
married  Mary  Huffer,  who  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (dinger)  Huffer.  John  Huffer 
was  of  German  ancestry,  came  from  Maryland, 
and  settled  in  Montgomery  county  at  an  early 
day.  His  children  were  as  follows:  John, 
Catherine,  Julia,  Lizzie,  Mary  and  Sarah. 
Mr.  Huffer  lived  for  some  time  on  the  Wenger 
homestead,  consisting  of  about  100  acres,  and 
then  removed  to  Miami  county,  upon  a  farm 
near  Pleasant  Hill,  where  he  died  at  about 
seventy  years  of  age.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger 
settled  on  the  homestead  farm  of  130  acres, 
which   Mr.    Wenger,   by  industry  and  careful 

46 


management  brought  up  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  erected  substantial  and  excel- 
lent farm  buildings,  and  by  wise  thrift  added 
to  his  possessions  until  he  owned  300  acres  of 
good  farming  land.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger 
there  were  born  the  following  children:  Emma, 
born  April  10,  1869;  Lucy,  born  May  20, 
1871 ;  Charles,  born  March  20,  1879;  Sallie, 
born  Febuary  19,  1881;  Ezra,  December  30, 
1882.  Mrs.  Wenger  died  November  7,  1884, 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  a 
woman  of  many  virtues  and  excellent  qualities 
of  head  and  heart. 

On  December  6,  1885,  Mr.  Wenger  mar- 
ried Mary  Landis,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Susannah  (Erstine)  Landis,  and  born  August 
22,  1858.  Samuel  Landis  was  a  son  of  Felix 
Landis,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania,  was  a 
farmer,  and  married  while  yet  living  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Miss  Elizabeth  Garver.  Felix  Lan- 
dis was  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  became  one  of  this 
county's  most  substantial  citizens. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wegner  have  two  children: 
Albert,  born  December  7,  1886,  and  Walter, 
born  January  17,  1897.  Both  are  members  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  old  order.  Mr. 
Wenger  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  is  a  valuable  citizen.  His  father, 
Christian  Wenger,  was  one  of  the  best  known 
of  the  pioneers,  and  a  man  of  excellent  stand- 
ing in  every  relation  of  life. 


^     EVI  WENGER,  one  of    the  prosper- 

C    ous   farmers  of  Randolph  township, 

L^J^    and  a  son  of  one    of  the  pioneers  of 

Montgomery    county,    was   born    on 

the    Wenger    homestead,     August    26,    1844. 

He  is  a  son    of    Christian    and    Mary  (Klep- 

inger)    Wenger,    for    fuller  mention  of  whom 

the     reader    is    referred      to     the     biography 

of  Joseph  Wenger,  elsewhere  published  in  this 


n»7s 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


volume.  Levi  Wenger  received  the  common- 
school  education  obtainable  in  the  district 
schools,  beginning  to  work  early  in  life.  When 
he  was  a  boy,  farm  machinery  had  not  been 
brought  into  use  to  any  great  extent,  horses 
being  used  to  tramp  out  grain.  He  was  often 
employed  in  the  winter  time  upon  the  farm, 
when  he  should  have  been  at  school.  He  well 
remembers  the  first  combined  mower  and 
reaper  that  he  ever  saw,  and  other  machines 
as  they  were  invented  and  put  upon  the  farm. 
He  has  spent  many  a  day  mowing  with  the  old- 
fashioned  scythe,  reaping  with  a  cradle,  and 
raking  hay  with  a  hand-rake.  The  change  to 
the  present  system  has  been  very  great  and 
has  been  made  with  great  rapidity,  and  none 
appreciate  the  march  of  improvement  more 
than  does  the  intelligent  farmer. 

When  he  was  twenty-eight  years  old  Mr. 
Wenger  married,  on  September  23,  1873,  Miss 
Amanda  Smith,  born  in  Clay  township  on  the 
Smith  homestead,  and  a  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Catherine  (Long)  Smith.  Abraham  Smith 
was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock,  from  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  and  a  farmer.  He  came 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  at 
Greencastle,  southwest  of  Dayton,  where  he 
ran  a  wagonmaker's  shop  for  some  years.  At 
this  place  he  was  married  and  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Cyrus  and  Amanda,  and  one 
that  died  young.  Mr.  Smith  moved  to  Clay 
township,  on  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
added  by  thrift  and  industry  until  he  owned  a 
farm  of  100  acres.  He  was  one  of  the  hard- 
working, prosperous  men  of  his  township,  was 
a  democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  church  of  the  Brethren 
in  Christ.  He  died  in  1892  when  he  was 
seventy-five  years  old. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger 
lived  for  one  year  on  the  Smith  homestead,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  they  removed  to  the 
Wenger   homestead,    where    they  have    since 


lived.  This  farm  Mr.  Wenger  has  greatly  im- 
proved, among  the  improvements  being  a  fine, 
large  brick  house  and  other  good  buildings, 
such  as  are  needed  on  a  well  conducted  and 
well  regulated  farm. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wenger  there  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Dora  O,  Jesse 
WT. ,  Bertha  J.,  Rosella,  Rollin,  Leroy  and 
Stella  A.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 
church  of  the  Brethren  in  Christ.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Wenger  is  independent,  and  he  is  well 
known  for  his  strict  integrity  and  high  char- 
acter. He  comes  of  the  best  pioneer  stock, 
is  the  head  of  an  excellent  family,  and  is  one 
of  the  highly  honored  citizens  of  Randolph 
township. 


WEROME  WERTZ,  a  retired  merchant 
■  of  Miamisburg,  and  a  prominent  citi- 
/•  1  zen,  was  bofn  in  Jefferson  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  September 
14,  1 83 1.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
( Weamer)  Wertz,  natives  respectively  of  Frank- 
lin and  Somerset  counties,  Pa.,  who  settled  in 
Franklin,  Ohio,  in  1808.  There  Mr.  Wertz 
followed  his  trade,  that  of  carpenter,  until 
18 1 8,  when  he  removed  to  Jefferson  township, 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  cleared  and 
improved  a  farm,  and  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  wind  mills.  Upon  this 
farm  he  lived  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  Sep- 
tember 28,  1873.  His  wife  died  March  10, 
1859.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob  Mullen- 
dore;  Anthony,  deceased;  Mary,  wifeof  George 
Getter;  Sarah,  wifeof  Daniel  Lambert;  Jacob, 
deceased;  Nancy,  wife  of  Daniel  Mueky;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Frederick  Stine;  Caroline,  wife 
of  Peter  Lambert;  Lavina,  wife  of  Aaron  Mul- 
lendore;  Harriet,  wife  of  Joseph  Hartzell; 
Daniel;  John,  deceased;  Jerome;  and  Rachael, 
wife  of  Jacob  Beachler. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1079 


Jerome  Wertz  was  reared  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, and  received  a  limited  education  in  the 
common  schools.  While  yet  a  young  man  he 
learned  the  tinner's  trade,  which  he  followed 
in  Miamisburg  for  ten  years.  In  1857  he  re- 
moved to  Anderson,  Ind.,  where  he  conducted 
a  tin  store  for  two  years,  returning  to  Miamis- 
burg in  1859  and  to  his  father's  farm  in  i860. 
Upon  this  farm  he  remained  until  1863,  and 
then  again  returned  to  Miamisburg,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  merchandizing  until  1884.  For 
five  years  thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Jefferson  township,  and,  in  1889,  retired 
from  active  life  altogether,  and  has  since  re- 
sided in  Miamisburg. 

Mr.  Wertz,  on  June  9,  1858,  married  Sarah 
A.  Schenck,  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Small)  Schenck,  of  Miamisburg,  and  to  this 
marriage  have  been  born  five  children,  viz: 
William  S. ;  Calvin  A.,  deceased;  Laura,  Al- 
fred and  Willis.  During  the  late  Civil  war 
Mr.  Wertz  served  his  country  as  a  member  of 
company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service.  Politically  he  is  a  republican, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  Al  Mason  post,  No. 
508,  G.  A.  R.  In  religious  matters  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  Methodists,  and  are  excellent 
people  in  all  respects,  enjoying  the  fullest  con- 
fidence of  all  their  friends  and  acquaintances. 
It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Wertz  has  led  an  act- 
ive and  industrious  life.  His  business  tact  and 
thrift  have  won  him  a  competence,  and  he  is 
now  enjoying  in  ease  the  fruits  of  his  earlier 
and  arduous  labors. 


at 


'ALTER  C.   WILSON,    the   worthy 
and   experienced  superintendent  of 
the  public  schools  of  West  Carroll- 
ton,   Miami  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 


in  the  same  county,  October  9,  1862,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  R.  and  Susan  (Oldfather)  Wilson, 
natives  respectively  of  Jackson  and  German 
townships,  and  descendants  from  early  settlers 
of  Montgomery  county. 

John  Wilson,  paternal  grandfather  of  Wal- 
ter C. ,  was  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Pa.,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  in  181  5  set- 
tled in  Jackson  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  cleared  up  and  improved  a 
farm  from  the  wilderness,  and  there  resided 
until  his  death,  in  1874.  His  wife,  Susan 
(Aulti  Wilson,  was  also  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Pa.,  and  bore  her  husband  twelve 
children,  named  Hiram,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Mary 
A.  (Mrs.  Jacob  Oldfather),  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Thomas  Smith),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Henry  Oldfather), 
John  R.,  Henry,  Susan  (Mrs.  Wesley  Kline), 
Anna  (Mrs.  William  H.  Oldfather),  Lucy 
(Mrs.  A.  M.  Sterling),  and  Jenny. 

Samuel  Oldfather,  maternal  grandfather  of 
Walter  C.  Wilson,  was  a  son  of  Jonathan 
Oldfather,  a  Pennsylvanian  who  came  to  Ohio 
in  1804  and  settled  in  German  township,  Mont- 
gomery county. 

John  R.  Wilson,  father  of  Walter  C,  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  but  in  1867  embarked  in 
mercantile  business  in  Farmersville,  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  also  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  boots  and  shoes,  and  continued  in 
these  lines  until  1876,  when  he  became  a  sub- 
contractor in  the  mail  service,  which  occupied 
his  time  until  1891.  During  this  interval  he 
was  also  postmaster  at  Farmersville  for  four 
years.  His  children  who  grew  to  maturity 
were  named  Walter  C,  Ora,  Etta  (Mrs.  Joshua 
Albaugh)  and  Harry. 

Walter  C.  Wilson  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Jackson 
township  and  later  attended  the  National  Nor- 
mal university  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  Antioch 
college  at  Yellow  Springs,  Greene  county, 
Ohio.      He  began  his  business  life  as  a  baker, 


1080 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


and  also  learned  the  barber's  trade.  In  1880 
he  began  teaching,  and  in  this  profession  dis- 
covered his  forte,  which  he  has  since  pursued 
with  much  credit  and  success.  His  first  graded 
school  was  at  South  Lebanon,  Warren  county, 
where  he  taught  one  year;  he  then  went  to 
Bellbrook,  Greene  county,  and  taught  four 
years;  since  1890  he  has  been  superintendent 
of  the  public  schools  in  West  Carrollton,  in 
which  position  he  has  given  the  greatest  satis- 
faction to  the  community  and  won  for  himself 
an  enviable  reputation.  For  six  years,  1890 
to  1896,  he  has  also  been  associate  principal 
of  the  normal  department  of  Antioch  college. 
Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1884,  with  Miss  Amanda  Snethen, 
daughter  of  George  and  Catherine  (Stahlj 
Snethen,  of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  three  children:  Clyde  S., 
K.  Grace  and  Morris  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  democrat.  Fra- 
ternally, he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  the  O.  U.  A.  M. ,  and  socially  he  and  his 
wife  enjoy  a  very  high  standing. 


lf\  ANIEL  W.  YOUNG,  Sr.,  of  Miamis- 
1  burg,  and  a  retired  hotel  proprietor, 
/^^J  was  born  in  Munichweiter,  Rhine 
province,  Germany,  January  16, 
1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Wilhelmina 
(Von  Brecht)  Young,  his  paternal  grandpar- 
ents having  been  Philip  and  Catherine  (Weber) 
Young,  and  his  maternal  grandparents,  Julius 
Von  Brecht  and  wife. 

Daniel  W.  Young's  early  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
country,  and  in  his  twelfth  year  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  university  at  Speyer,  with  the 
view  to  being  trained  for  the  ministry  of  the 
Evangelical  Protestant  church.  He  had  pre- 
viously  attended   an  art  training  school    and 


had  become  proficient  as  an  ornamental 
painter.  And  as  will  be  seen,  later  on,  this 
latter  training  entered,  in  part,  into  his  fu- 
ture course  of  life.  In  1853  he  sailed  for  the 
United  States  from  Havre,  on  the  ship  Ar- 
lington, and,  after  a  tedious  voyage  of  sixty 
days,  landed  in  New  York.  From  this  city  he 
went  by  canal  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by  rail 
to  Saint  Louis,  where  he  joined  his  uncle, 
Peter  Weber,  a  noted  musician,  who  sent  him 
to  Walter  &  Cook's  business  college,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  with  honor  in 
the  spring  of  1856.  He  was  next  employed 
as  clerk  and  steward  in  a  hotel,  remaining  in 
this  position  for  two  years.  In  1858  he  went 
to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he  was  employed 
in  a  confectionery  store  until  the  fall  of  1859, 
wben  he  removed  to  Miamisburg.  In  i860  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Bookwalter  &  Kauff- 
man,  carriage  builders,  as  foreman  of  their 
painting  department,  and  was  engaged  with 
them,  and  the  various  firms  that  succeeded 
to  that  business,  for  a  period  of  nearly  eleven 
years.  In  1870,  having  purchased  the  Valley 
house,  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and 
conducted  this  hotel  for  two  and  a  half  years. 
Selling  out  the  Valley  house,  he  removed  to 
Dayton,  and  there  conducted  the  Gait  house 
for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
returned  to  Miamisburg,  purchased  the  Arcade 
restaurant,  thoroughly  renovated  and  remod- 
eled the  building,  and  conducted  the  restau- 
rant until  1888.  He  then  took  charge  of  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Hotel  Young,  and  carried 
on  a  successful  business  until  1895,  when  he 
retired  from  active  participation  in  business 
affairs. 

In  1 89 1  Capt.  Young  went  to  Germany,  on 
a  visit  to  his  aged  mother  and  other  relatives, 
this  being  his  first  visit  to  his  native  land  after 
he  left  there  in  1853.  In  1861  he  married 
Elizabeth  Jacobus,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Catherine  (Graff)  Jacobus,   of  the  Rhine  prov- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1081 


ince,  Germany,  and  pioneers  of  Miamisburg. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three 
children  that  are  still  living,  as  follows:  F. 
Henry,  Daniel  W. ,  Jr.,  and  Charles.  During 
the  late  Civil  war  Capt.  Young  served  in 
the  Morgan  raid,  and,  notwithstanding  he 
was  the  youngest  member  of  his  company,  he 
was  elected  captain.  He  now  has  in  his  pos- 
session three  commissions  that  were  given 
him,  one  as  captain  of  company  I,  Fourth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry;  one  as  captain  ot 
company  D,  Seventh  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
and  one  as  captain  of  company  E,  Thirteenth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry. 

Fraternally  Capt.  Young  is  a  member  of 
Schiller  lodge,  No.  38,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Day- 
ton, of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of  Mi- 
amisburg,  and  was  the  founder  of  and  is  past 
grand  master  of  Mozart  lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 
He  is  at  the  present  time  serving  his  second 
term  as  grand  master  of  the  D.  O.  H.  Among 
other  positions  of  trust  that  he  has  held  may 
be  mentioned  that  of  president  of  the  Miamis- 
burg  Cemetery  association,  which  he  has  held 
for  the  past  eight  years,  and  under  his  efficient 
management  of  the  affairs  of  the  association 
the  cemetery  has  been  brought  into  a  condition 
of  high  perfection  and  beauty.  In  politics 
Capt.  Young  is  a  democrat,  and  a  man  of  high 
character  and  undoubted  patriotism. 


EARRISON  WOLPERS,  a  prominent 
dry-goods  merchant  of  Germantown, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Germantown,  No- 
vember 11,  1845,  a  son  °f  Charles  O. 
and  Louisa  (Schwartz)  Wolpers. 

Charles  O.  Wolpers  was  a  native  of  the 
duchy  of  Brunswick,  Germany,  born  in  1795, 
came  to  America  in  18 14,  and  settled  in  Ger- 
mantown, where  soon  after  his  arrival  he 
opened  a  store  near  Gunckel's  mill.  Begin- 
ning on  a  small  scale,  he  gradually  enlarged 


his  operations  in  proportion  to  the  demands  of 
trade.  After  some  years  of  success  he  erected 
a  business  structure  on  the  lot  now  occu- 
pied by  the  dry-goods  establishment  of  H. 
Wolpers  &  Co.,  where  he  continued  busi- 
ness for  a  short  time.  He  spent  several  years, 
also,  in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  which  was  then 
called  Bellville,  but  Mr.  Wolpers  changed  the 
name  to  Bellefontaine,  which  it  has  ever  since 
retained.  On  his  return  to  Germantown  he 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  and  was  also 
interested  in  a  distillery.  He  was  a  well-edu- 
cated man,  a  classical  and  scientific  scholar, 
and  was  a  diligent  student  throughout  his  life. 
He  was  also  a  practical  chemist,  and  erected  a 
laboratory,  where  he  manufactured  various 
articles  for  medical  purposes.  In  1824  he 
married  Louisa  Schwartz,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Schwartz,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
To  Mr.  and  Wolpers  were  born  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity — Frederika, 
Vandalena  (Mrs.  Lewis  Eminger),  and  Har- 
rison, our  subject. 

Harrison  Wolpers  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Germantown,  and  began  his  business  career 
as  a  boot  and  shoe  merchant  in  that  town,  in 
1865.  In  this  he  continued  one  year  and  since 
1866  has  been  in  the  dry-goods  business,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  D.  L.  Oblinger  &  Co., 
Oblinger  &  Wolpers,  as  H.  Wolpers,  and  since 
1892  as  H.  Wolpers  &  Co.,  the  business  having 
been  established  by  Gabriel  Oblinger  in  1825. 

May  2,  1870,  Mr.  Wolpers  married  Eliza 
J.,  daughter  of  Joseph  F.  and  Eva  (Coblentz) 
Kemp,  of  German  township,  the  marriage  re- 
sulting in  the  birth  of  six  children,  five  now 
living:  Eva  (Mrs.  Edwin  Chryst),  Charles 
F. ,  Frank,  Lulu  and  Laura  ;  and  one,  Harry, 
deceased.  Mr.  Wolpers  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  during  the  late 
Civil  war  he  held  the  offices  of  assistant  asses- 


1082 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


sor  and  and  assistant  deputy  collector  of  internal 
revenue.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
mantown  school  board  for  nine  years  and  has 
always  done  his  full  duty  as  a  citizen,  while  as 
a  business  man  he  has  met  with  abundant 
success  and  prosperity. 


**r*     EVI  ZEHRING,  a  retired  farmer  of 

C    Germantown,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Ger- 

_^^    man  township,  Montgomery  county, 

June    15,    18 19,   a  son  of  Peter  and 

Elizabeth  (Bonebrake)  Zehring.      His  paternal 

grandfather,    Lewis  Zehring,  was  a  native  of 

Lebanon   county,    Pa.,    and  a   son   of   Henry 

Zehring,  who  was  a  son  of  Ludwig  Zehring,  a 

pioneer  of  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  his  ancestors 

being  from  Baden,   Germany. 

Peter  Zehring  was  born  in  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  November  2,  1793.  He  was  educated  in 
his  native  state,  where  he  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  and  in  May,  1816,  settled  in 
German  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
and  followed  his  vocation  until  1818,  when  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dewalt 
and  Christiana  Bonebrake.  He  then  engaged 
in  farming,  clearing  and  improving  most  of  the 
farm  of  136  acres  on  which  he  settled,  and 
where  he  died  August  8,  1858.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Zehring  was  a  stanch 
democrat. 

Levi  Zehring,  the  only  child  of  Peter  who 
grew  to  maturity,  was  born  and  reared  on  the 
old  homestead,  and  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  day.  He  continued 
to  live  on  the  homestead  until  1882,  when  he 
retired  and  removed  to  Germantown,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  an  industrious  and 
able  farmer,  and  made  many  improvements  on 
the  old  homestead.  He  married,  February  5, 
1846,  Ann  Maria,  daughter  of  Barnard  and 
Elizabeth  (Swartzly)  Zehring.      She  was  the 


granddaughter  of  Philip  Swartzly,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Montgomery  county,  who  helped 
to  lay  out  the  present  city  of  Dayton.  Mr. 
Zehring  has  one  son  living,  Amos,  of  whom 
mention  will  be  made  hereafter.  Mr.  Zehring 
is  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  German 
township.  While  not  a  member  of  any  church, 
he  is  a  believer  in  Christianity,  and  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  United  Brethren  denomination; 
in  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

Amos  Zehring,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Ger- 
man township,  was  born  on  the  Zehring  home- 
stead, where  he  now  resides,  December  28, 
1847,  a°d  is  the  only  son  of  Levi  and  Anna  M. 
(Zehring)  Zehring.  He  reached  the  years  of 
manhood  in  his  native  township,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education.  He  has 
always  followed  farming  as  an  occupation, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  four  years,  has  al- 
ways lived  on  the  old  Zehring  homestead.  In 
September,  1871,  he  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  P.  Hildreth,  of  Jay  county,  Ind.,  and 
has  five  children — Oscar  O.,  Eva  M.,  Willie 
A.,  Levi  E.  and  Aaron  Earl.  Mr.  Zehring  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  is 
president  of  the  township  school  board,  and  in 
politics  is  a  republican.  He  is  honored  wher- 
ever known,  and  is  a  most  well-to-do  farmer, 
as  well  as  an  excellent  citizen. 


*»    ■*  ON.    LEWIS    HENRY   ZEHRING, 

j^V    mayor  of  Miamisburg,  and  familiarly 

P    known  as  Judge  Zehring,  was  born  in 

Miamisburg    July    12,    1S40,    son     of 

Samuel  and  Mary  (Wenger)  Zehring. 

In  his  native  town  Judge  Zehring  grew  to 
manhood,  securing  a  good  education  in  the 
public  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he 
began  teaching  school,  and  followed  that  vo- 
cation for  twelve  years,  and  during  a  part  of 
that  time  was  also  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  principal  of  the  grammar  department   of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1083 


Miamisburg's  school  for  three  years,  and 
taught  a  select  school  one  year.  In  1874, 
while  on  the  farm,  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  the  following  year  removed  to 
Miamisburg,  where  he  has  since  resided  and 
through  successive  re-elections  has  continuous- 
ly held  the  office.  For  two  years  he  served  in 
the  city  council,  and  as  mayor  seven  years, 
and  is  the  present  incumbent  of  that  office, 
and  for  four  years  rendered  efficient  service  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  school  examiners. 
He  has  been  connected  with  the  fire  depart- 
ment ever  since  1865,  with  the  exception  of 
five  years  spent  on  his  farm,  and  has  been  its 
president  since  1892.  From  January,  1891, 
to  January,  1894,  he  held  the  office  of  county 
commissioner,  and  was  a  member  of  Mont- 
gomery county's  soldiers'  relief  committee  for 
four  years. 

In  1863  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Emanuel  B.  Geb- 
hart,  of  Miami  township,  by  whom  he  has  two 
daughters:  Laura  M.,  wife  of  Oliver  P. 
Dosch;  and  Blanche,  now  a  student  of  Yale 
college. 

In  politics  the  judge  is  a  democrat,  and  a 
recognized  leader  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a  Mason,  and  has  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree,  and  for  twelve  years 
he  served  as  worshipful  master  of  Minerva 
lodge,  No.  98,  of  Miamisburg.  In  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  public  good  Judge  Zehring 
takes  a  commendable  interest,  and  as  public 
official  or  private  citizen  has  proved  true  to 
every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


at 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON 
BRIDGMAN,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  dairyman  of  Van  Buren  town- 
ship,    Montgomery    county,    Ohio, 

was  born  in  that  township,  January  27,   1844. 

He  is   a  son  of  Thomas   and    Esther   (John) 


Bridgman,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  Thomas  and  Esther 
Bridgman  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as 
follows:  Sarah,  wife  of  B.  B.  Pancoast;  Mary 
Jane,  wife  of  F.  M.  Ewry;  William  H.  H. ; 
John  T. ;  Perry  B. ;  Albert  Orion,  Francis 
Marion;  Laura,  wife  of  John  Shutts,  and 
Charles  G. 

Thomas  Bridgman,  born  April  15,  1803,  in 
Jefferson  county,  Va.,  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, came  to  Ohio  about  1827,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  1 52  acres  in  Van  Buren  town- 
ship, which  he  managed,  and  also  ran  a  saw- 
mill. Upon  that  farm  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1882,  when  he  was  seventy- 
nine  years  of  age.  His  widow,  a  native  of 
Van  Buren  township,  is  now  seventy-seven 
years  of  age.  She  is,  as  he  was,  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he 
served  for  some  years  as  one  of  the  trustees. 
He  also  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  di- 
rector of  the  school  district  in  which  he  lived. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  W.  H.  H. 
Bridgman  died  in  Virginia.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Asa  John,  was  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  an  early  settler  in  Van  Buren  township. 
He  was  enterprising,  industrious  and  success- 
ful, and  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  real 
estate  both  in  Montgomery  and  in  Shelby 
counties.  His  death  occurred  when  he  was 
eighty-two  years  old. 

William  H.  H.  Bridgman  was  reared  in 
Van  Buren  township,  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  and  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  On 
February  2,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  D, 
Seventy-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  in 
which  he  served  two  years.  Then,  re-enlist- 
ing as  a  veteran,  he  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  Among  the  battles  in  which  he  par- 
ticipated were  those  of  Chattanooga,  Stone 
River,  and  all  of  those  on  Sherman's  march  to 
the   sea.     Returning  home  from   the  war  he 


1084 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


engaged  in  farming  and  threshing  on  his  own 
account,  with  continuing  success.  About 
1890  he  also  embarked  in  the  dairy  business, 
in  which  he  has  likewise  prospered.  His  farm 
of  134  acres  lies  about  four  and  a  half  miles 
southeast  of  Dayton,  and  is  well  improved  and 
highly  cultivated. 

Mr.  Bridgman  was  married,  December  28, 
1865,  to  Miss  Adeline  O.  Fellows,  of  Niagara 
county,  N.  Y.  To  this  marriage  there  were 
born  five  children,  as  follows:  Henry  Clay, 
Bertha,  Ollie,  Florence  and  Sidney  Burke. 
Florence  died  at  the  age  of  six  years  in  the 
state  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Bridgman,  mother  of 
these  children,  died  November  6,  1S77,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church.  On  No- 
vember 18,  1885,  Mr.  Bridgman  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Miss  Hannah 
Dedrick,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Altick) 
Dedrick.  By  this  marriage  he  has  one  child, 
Maud  Marie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bridgman  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and 
Mr.  Bridgman  is  a  member  of  Montgomery 
lodge,  No.  5,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  of  Earnshaw 
post,  No.  590,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  Veteran  Legion,  camp  No. 
145.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  but  has 
never  sought  or  held  office. 


^y  wMLLIAM    CLEMMER,    one    of    the 
MM  most    prosperous    farmers    of    Mad 

\JLvl  River  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  born  in  Perry  town- 
ship, that  county,  on  the  banks  of  Tom's  Run, 
October  11,  1825.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Phoebe  (Nevius)  Clemmer,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  of  Virginia,  respectively.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Frances, 
wife  of  Joshua  Fagler;  John  N. ;  William; 
Rachel  Ann,  wife  of  George  Bixler,  and  Cath- 
erine, wife  of  Henry  Bish. 


John  Clemmer,  the  father  of  William,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  served  in  the  war 
of  1 8 1 2.  He  came  to  Ohio  about  1 820,  located 
in  Perry  township,  Montgomery  county,  and 
lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  died  about 
1S60,  when  eighty-two  years  of  age,  his  wife 
having  died  some  six  years  before.  Both  were 
members  of  the  German  Reformed  church.  The 
father  of  John  Clemmer  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children,  and  died  in  Pennsylvania.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  William  Clemmer  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  had  a  family  of  ten 
children,  and  died  in  Virginia  at  quite  an 
advanced  age. 

William  Clemmer  has  lived  all  his  life  in 
Montgomery  county.  Reared  on  the  farm,  his 
early  life  was  that  of  the  country  lad  of  pio- 
neer days.  He  attended  the  district  school, 
remained  at  home  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity, and  then  his  father  gave  him  an  opportunity 
to  make  something  for  himself,  by  working  a 
farm  on  shares,  and  at  length  gave  him  a  100- 
acre  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  and  which  he 
farmed  for  about  ten  years.  Selling  this  farm, 
he  then  bought  144  acres  in  Jackson  township, 
where  he  lived  until  1872,  when  he  traded  for 
his  present  farm,  which  contains  183  acres. 

He  was  married  October  12,  1848,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Zehring,  born  September  9,  1824, 
daughter  of  David  and  Christena  (Houtz) 
Zehring,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  became  residents  of  Montgomery  county 
about  1827.  They  had  three  children — Sarah, 
Eliza  and  Elias.  To  William  Clemmer  and 
wife  have  been  born  six  children,  as  follows: 
Eliza  Catherine,  Orion,  Celeste  Mary,  Florence 
A.,  Clara  and  Tolton,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clemmer  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  is  a  trus- 
tee. Politically  he  is  a  republican  and  has 
served  as  clerk  of  Perry  township.  He  has 
also  been  a  school  director  in  Mad  River  town- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1085 


ship  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  of  Mad  River  township,  in- 
telligent and  well  informed,  and  always  ready 
to  take  advantage  of  new  improvements,  in- 
ventions and  ideas. 


>"j*ONATHAN  CREAGER,  a  farmer  of 
J  Washington  township,  Montgomery 
/•  J  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Van  Buren 
township,  this  county,  October  4,  1845. 
His  parents  were  John  C.  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Prugh)  Creager,  both  of  whom  are  also  natives 
of  Montgomery  county.  To  them  were  born 
eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  five  of  the  sons  and  one  of  the  daught- 
ers are  still  living,  as  follows:  Jonathan, 
Abner;  Martha,  wife  of  Thomas  Jones;  Levi, 
George  W.  and  Gideon  W. 

John  C.  Creager,  in  his  early  life,  was  a 
carpenter  and  also  a  cooper,  but  in  his  later 
years  he  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
All  his  life  has  been  passed  in  this  county, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in 
Darke  county,  where  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land.  Some  time  afterward  he  sold  this 
farm  and  purchased  one  containing  sixty  acres 
in  Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery  county, 
on  which  he  lived  about  six  years;  he  then 
purchased  the  adjoining  farm,  on  which  he  now 
lives,  containing  ninety-six  acres  of  fine  land. 
This  farm  he  has  much  improved  by  careful 
fertilizing  and  cultivation,  and  by  the  erection 
of  good  buildings,  including  a  large  and  com- 
fortable dwelling.  Mr.  Creager  also  owns  a 
farm  of  ninety-six  acres  in  Darke  county. 

Politically,  Mr.  Creager  is  a  republican, 
and  has  held  numerous  local  offices.  He  was 
school  director  for  three  years  and  pike  com- 
missioner for  two  years,  in  addition  to  the 
several  township  offices  which  he  has  filled. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  church.     The  paternal  grand- 


father of  Jonathan  Creager,  John  Christian 
Creager,  was  of  German  ancestry,  and  was 
born  in  Maryland.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Abner  Prugh,  was  also  a  native  of  Maryland, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  this  county  at  the 
great  age  of  101  years. 

Jonathan  Creager  was  born  in  Van  Buren 
township,  but  was  reared  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  received 
his  early  education  in  the  district  schools. 
Being  the  eldest  of  the  family,  most  of  the 
farm  work  fell  to  his  share,  and  thus  his  edu- 
cational advantages  were  more  limited  than 
they  otherwise  might  have -been;  but  he  has, 
since  attaining  his  majority,  improved  his  op- 
portunities for  reading  and  observation,  and 
has  in  this  way  become  a  well-read  and  well- 
informed  man.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  he  attained  to  man's  estate, 
and  was  married  on  the  13th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1873,  to  Miss  Lyda  A.  Moats,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shell)  Moats.  Mrs. 
Creager  is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  Mr.  Creager  is  a  member  of  Columbia 
lodge,  Knights  of  Honor,  and  politically  is  a 
republican,  and  served  with  his  father  for  one 
year  as  pike  commissioner.  He  is  a  member 
of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  in  the 
county,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  his  neighbors  and  friends  to  a  high  degree. 


>-j»AMES  COOK,  farmer  of  Washington 
■  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
/•  1  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
May  11,  1835.  His  parents,  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Nailor)  Cook,  were  natives  of 
England.  To  them  there  were  born  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  fol- 
lows: William,  John,  James,  Alfred,  and  Mary, 
widow  of  George  Driver,  and  who  lives  in  Craw- 
fordsville,  Ind.      William    Cook   had   also  one 


1086 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


child  by  a  former  marriage.  William  Cook 
was  a  laboring  man,  came  to  the  United  States 
more  than  forty  years  ago,  and  lived  in  Wash- 
ington township,  Montgomery  county,  for 
many  years.  At  length  he  removed  to  Craw- 
fordsville,  Ind.,  with  his  daughter,  Mary,  and 
died  there  in  1893,  at  the  great  ageof  103  years. 
His  wife  died  about  forty  years  ago.  Both  the 
grandfathers  of  James  Cook  were  natives  of 
England,  and  died  in  that  country. 

James  Cook  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  par- 
ents, and  began  life  here  with  no  means  what- 
ever. At  the  present  time  he  has  102  acres  of 
land  in  Washington  township,  the  result  of  his 
industry  and  perseverance.  On  the  13th  of 
October,  1S69,  he  was  married  to  Nannie  Mc- 
Grevv,  daughter  of  Milton  and  Anna  (Russell) 
McGrew.  To  this  marriage  there  have  been 
born  three  children — Milton  William,  Anna 
Miriam  and  Mary  Rebecca.  Of  these,  Milton 
William  lives  at  home,  and  Anna  Miriam  mar- 
ried Frank  Tizzard,  of  Dayton,  and  has  one 
child,  Hazel. 

Mrs.  Cook's  maternal  grandfather,  James 
Russell,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Day- 
ton, locating  there  when  there  was  but  one 
house  in  the  place.  Having  purchased  land  in 
Washington  township,  he  built  a  log  cabin 
upon  it,  and  then  brought  his  family  down  the 
Ohio  river  on  a  flatboat  to  Cincinnati,  whence 
he  brought  them  by  wagons  to  Montgomery 
county.  He  was  one  of  the  most  industrious 
and  energetic  of  the  early  settlers  of  Montgom- 
ery county,  was  one  of  this  county's  prominent 
citizens,  serving  for  many  years  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  also  as  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable 
strength,  both  of  body  and  mind,  and  lived  to 
be  eighty-four  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Cook's  paternal  grandfather,  John 
McGrew,  was  also  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county,  coming  to  the  west  from 


York  county,  Pa.  His  farm  lay  in  the  river 
bottoms  of  Washington  township.  In  1788 
he  was  married,  and  removed  to  Georgetown, 
Ky. ,  the  same  year.  In  1790  he  joined  the 
army  to  fight  against  Indians,  and  was  in  the 
great  battle  of  Maumee  Ford,  which  occurred 
on  the  present  site  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  In 
1796  he  removed  to  Montgomery  county  and 
settled  five  miles  south  of  the  present  site  of 
Dayton.  He  became  a  prosperous  farmer, 
was  married  twice,  was  a  worthy  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years. 

The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Cook  were 
natives  of  Washington  township.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Unwersalist  church.  Mr.  Mc- 
Grew died  October  27,  1868;  his  wife  survived 
him  until  1890,  and  was  in  her  eighty-fourth 
year  when  she  died,  having  lived  over  fifty 
years  on  the  farm  on  which  James  Cook  now 
makes  his  home. 


HBRAHAM  A.  DENLINGER,  a  repre- 
sentative farmer  of  Montgomery 
county,  came  of  Pennsylvania  stock, 
which  was  of  ancient  Swiss  origin. 
The  tradition  is  that  at  an  early  day  four 
brothers  came  to  this  country  together,  locat- 
ing in  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  different 
parts  of  that  state. 

The  grandfather  of  Abraham  A.  Denlinger, 
whose  name  also  was  Abraham,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa. ,  and  became  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  that  county.  His  chil- 
dren were  named  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  Henry, 
Christian,  Abraham,  John,  Martin,  Hettie, 
Nancy,  Christina,  Susan  and  Barbara.  All  of 
these  lived  to  marry  and  to  rear  children  of 
their  own.  Mr.  Denlinger  died  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  when  forty-two  years  of  age. 

Abraham  Denlinger,  fourth  child  of  the 
above,  and  father  of  the  subject,  was  born  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1087 


Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  August  5,  1806.  He 
was  reared  a  farmer,  and  when  a  young  man 
came  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  locating  in  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1831  or  1832.  Soon  after 
arriving  here  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Miller, 
who  was  born  February  27,  1806,  on  Wolf 
creek,  in  Harrison  township,  and  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Bowman) 
Miller.  The  former  of  these  came  to  Ohio 
from  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  locating  in  Montgom- 
ery county  in  1804.  It  was  he  who  cut  the 
first  road  up  Wolf  creek  through  the  woods 
west  of  Dayton,  in  which  town  at  that  time 
there  were  living  but  three  families.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  of  the  pioneers, 
entering  land  from  the  government,  and  pur- 
chasing a  large  tract,  in  the  aggregate  amount- 
ing to  2,000  acres.  A  large  part  of  this  land  he 
cleared,  and  beside  erected  a  saw  and  grist 
mill  and  a  distillery.  The  products  of  these 
two  establishments  he  shipped  down  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers  to  New  Orleans,  thus 
becoming  a  business  man  as  well  as  a  farmer. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  Benjamin, 
John,  Daniel,  Joseph,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Es- 
ther, Susan,  Margaret,  Catherine  and  Sarah. 
Mr.  Miller  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years  of  age, 
most  of  his  life  being  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  He  was  a  well-known  pio- 
neer, and  a  man  of  industry  and  of  great  force 
of  character. 

After  his  marriage  Abraham  Denlinger  set- 
tled on  a  farm  of  140  acres,  in  Madison  town- 
ship, cleared  it  and  made  a  good  home  for 
himself  and  family.  To  this  original  tract  he 
added  other  lands  until  at  length  he  became 
possessed  of  400  acres.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  substantial  and  successful  farmers  of  his 
day,  and  noted  for  his  strength  of  character 
and  decisive  opinions  on  all  the  leading  ques- 
tions of  the  times.  His  children  were  John, 
Daniel,  Abraham  A.,  David,  Israel,  Mary  and 
Joseph.     His  religious  views  were  those  of  the 


Quakers,  while  his  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  The  longevity  for 
which  his  ancestry  was  noted  was  again  illus- 
trated in  him,  he  living  to  be  eighty-seven 
years  of  age,  and  dying  at  the  residence  of  his 
son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Abraham  A.  Denlinger  was  born  February 
25,  1836,  in  Madison  township,  and  received 
a  good  common-school  education.  After  leav- 
ing school  he  continued  to  improve  his  mind 
by  wide  and  careful  reading  and  in  this  way 
became  one  of  the  best  informed  men  of  his 
day.  Working  on  the  farm  from  early  youth 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Garber,  March,  26,  1857.  She 
was  born  March  10,  1839,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Wampler)  Garber,  the 
former  of  whom,  when  yet  a  small  boy,  came 
with  his  father,  Joseph,  from  Rockingham 
county,  Va. ,  and  settled  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio.  Joseph  Garber  and  Mary,  his  wife, 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary  A.,  William,  Joseph, 
Anna,  Philip,  Lucinda  and  Jesse.  Joseph  Gar- 
ber owned  an  excellent  farm  of  106  acres  of 
land,  which  his  father  had  cleared  from  the 
woods,  and  lived  to  be  a  very  old  man,  dying 
when  upward  of  eighty  years  of  age.  In  re- 
ligious belief  he  agreed  with  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denlin- 
ger settled  on  her  father's  160-acre  farm,  pur- 
chasing 100  acres  thereof  and  developing  it 
into  a  fertile  and  productive  farm.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Lavina  G.,  Clara  A.,  Ira  G.,  An- 
nie G.,  Lizzie  G.,  Laura  G.,  Edgar  G.  and 
Elmer  O.  Mrs.  Denlinger  died  March  1,  1872, 
a  consistent  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  on  June  6,  1875,  Mr.  Denlinger 
married  Annie  Bowman,  who  was  born  August 
22,  1852,  in  Randolph  township,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Belinda  (Hyre) 
Bowman.      Benjamin    Bowman    was  born   in 


1088 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Madison  township  February  4,  181 1,  and  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Christina  Bowman,  the 
former  of  whom  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  as  one  of  its  pio- 
neers. Benjamin  Bowman  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Isaac, 
John,  David  (who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
late  Civil  war),  Sarah,  Joseph,  Franklin,  An- 
nie and  Lucinda.  Mr.  Bowman  settled  on  a 
farm  of  1 30  acres,  became  a  prosperous  farmer, 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
and  a  highly  respected  citizen.  His  wife  died 
March  4,  1897,  aged  eighty-one  years.  They 
had  lived  together,  when  Mrs.  Bowman  died, 
about  sixty  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denlinger  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Austin  H.,  Sibyl  E., 
Stella,  Carl  H.  and  Ralph  R.  Thus  Mr.  Den- 
linger is  the  father  of  thirteen  living  children, 
and  also  of  one  child,  Roy  H.,  now  deceased. 
Politically,  Mr.  Denlinger  is  a  democrat,  and 
as  such  has  held  the  office  of  township  trustee 
for  fourteen  years.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Randolph  lodge,  No.  98,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
in  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices,  including 
that  of  noble  grand,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  encampment. 


ISRAEL  DENLINGER,  of  Trotwood, 
Ohio,  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  of 
the  pioneers.  He  was  born  June  7, 
1840,  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Margaret 
(Miller)  Denlinger,  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Madison  township.  He  received  the  usual 
common-school  education;  he  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  on  November  28,  1861,  married 
Miss  Mollie  Garber,  who  was  born  in  1844, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  A. 
(Wampler)  Garber. 

Joseph  Garber  was  born  in  Virginia,  a  son 
of  Joseph  Garber,  Sr. ,  who  came  at  an  early 
day  with  his  family  to   Montgomery  county  as 


one  of  the  first  of  the  pioneers,  bringing  with 
him  his  wife  and  four  children — Betsey,  Susie, 
Kate  and  Joseph.  Joseph  Garber,  Sr. ,  settled 
on  land  which  he  cleared  from  the  woods,  and 
for  a  time  lived  in  Randolph  township.  He 
was  an  elder  and  a  minister  in  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  preached  the  gospel  many 
years.  A  successful  farmer  and  an  esteemed 
minister  of  the  church,  he  lived  to  be  eighty 
years  of  age,  leaving  the  memory  of  a  well- 
spent  life. 

Joseph  Garber,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Denlin- 
ger, was  but  a  small  boy  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio.  Reared  as  were  most 
farmers'  boys,  he  became  inured  to  labor  and 
hardship,  which  gave  him  a  strong  constitution 
and  a  sound,  healthy  mind.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children:  Martha,  Cath- 
arine, Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Lucinda,  Mollie,  Will- 
iam, Joseph,  Philip  and  Jesse.  Mr.  Garber 
settled  in  Randolph  township  on  106  acres  of 
land,  which  had  belonged  to  his  father,  which 
he  cleared  of  its  timber.  He  was  a  member 
;  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  a  man  of 
estimable  character.  He  lived  to  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  His  wife,  Mary  A.  Wampler, 
was  born  in  Harrison  township,  February  22, 
1 8 16,  on  the  Wampler  homestead,  and  died 
January  29,  1847.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Catherine  (Ryer)  Wampler,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  son  of  David  and  Cath- 
erine (Ingler)  Wampler.  David  Wampler  was 
a  native  of  Maryland  and  of  Dutch  descent. 
As  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers  of  Mont- 
gomery county  he  was  well  known  to  many  of 
the  people  of  that  and  surrounding  counties. 
He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Mary  Sanch- 
wick,  by  whom  he  had  several  children,  all  of 
whom  died  young  but  two,  Mary  and  Philip. 
By  his  second  wife  he  had  no  children.  David 
Wampler  was  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church  and  lived  to  be  an  aged  man. 

Philip  Wampler  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1089 


was  married  in  that  state,  and  reared  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Mary  A.,  Edward,  Jesse, 
David,  William,  John,  Joseph,  Samuel,  and 
Annie.  Mr.  Wampler  was  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive farmers  of  his  day,  owning  300  acres  of 
land.  Like  his  father  before  him,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and 
was  also  for  many  years  a  preacher  and  elder. 
Israel  Denlinger,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  after  his  marriage  settled  on  the  Den- 
linger homestead,  where  he  lived  a  short  time, 
and  then  removed  to  Randolph  township,  liv- 
ing there  two  and  a  half  years.  Then  buying 
a  tract  in  Madison  township,  containing  ninety- 
four  and  a  half  acres,  he  removed  to  that 
farm,  which  he  still  owns  and  to  which  he  aft- 
erward added  by  purchased  seventeen  acres. 
He  and  his  wife  reared  the  following  children: 
Viola,  Allen,  William,  Walter  F.,  Carlton, 
who  died  a  young  man;  Vernon,  Elwood  and 
Carrie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denlinger  belong  to  the 
old  German  Baptist  church,  and  are  most  ex- 
cellent members  of  the  community,  in  which 
they  have  the  respect  of  all  for  their  kindly 
christian  characters. 


^""V*AMUEL  EARNST,  a  prosperous  farm- 
•Y^^fcT    er    of    Perry    township,    Montgomery 

K.  J  county,  Ohio,  comes  from  sturdy  Ger- 
man ancestry.  His  father,  Mathias 
F.  Earnst,  or,  as  he  spelled  his  name,  Arnst, 
was  born  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  near  the 
village  of  Falebaugh.  His  father  owned  a 
farm  in  that  county.  Mathias  F.  Arnst  came 
to  America  when  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Philadelphia, 
and  married  Sallie  Martin,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  re- 
moved to  Maryland,  locating  near  Liberty,  in 
that  state.  In  1823  he  came  to  Ohio  and  set- 
tled on  the  section  of  land  on  which  Samuel 
Earnst   now  lives,  his   farm  containing  eighty 


acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  of  its  timber 
and  converted  into  an  excellent  farm.  Here 
he  lived  and  labored  many  years,  prospered  as 
a  reward  for  his  industry,  and,  in  addition  to 
his  land  in  Ohio,  entered  237  acres  in  Bar- 
tholomew county,  Ind.,  which  his  two  sons 
afterward  purchased,  of  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arnst  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Hannah,  John,  Mary,  Samuel,  George, 
Catherine  and  Sallie.  Mr.  Arnst  died  in  his 
eighty-sixth  year,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Sam- 
uel. He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church,  and  was  in  all  respects  an  honora- 
ble and  upright  citizen. 

Samuel  Earnst  was  born  February  8,  18 18, 
in  Maryland,  near  Liberty.  He  was  therefore 
but  five  years  old  when  he  came  to  Ohio  with 
his  parents.  At  that  time  there  were  no  com- 
mon schools,  as  that  term  is  now  understood, 
but  in  their  place  there  were  subscription 
schools,  each  parent  paying  so* much  for  each 
child  that  he  sent  to  be  educated.  At  one  of 
these  subscription  schools  young  Earnst  re- 
ceived his  early  education,  and  it  was  Gran- 
ville Andress,  the  teacher  of  this  subscription 
school,  who  changed  the  spelling  of  the  name 
from  Arnst  to  Earnst.  Mr.  Earnst  well  re- 
members the  journey  from  Maryland  to  Ohio, 
which  was  made  by  means  of  wagons.  After 
his  school  days  were  over  he  took  up  the  hard 
work  of  the  farm,  and  when  he  was  twenty- 
five  years  old  he  married  Susannah  Holsapple, 
a  daughter  of  Adam  Holsapple,  the  marriage 
ceremony  being  performed  October  6,  1843, 
by  Daniel  Miller,  a  minister  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Earnst  lived  with  her  father,  Adam  Hols- 
apple, for  a  short  time,  when  Mr.  Holsapple 
died,  and  Mr.  Earnst  then  managed  the  farm 
for  several  years.  In  1864  he  bought  his 
father-in-law's  farm,  containing  eighty  acres, 
and  later  purchased  his  present  farm  of  sev- 
enty-five acres,  which  was  partly  cleared. 


1090 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earnst  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Anna,  Mary,  Rebecca,  Sarah, 
John,  Noah,  Nancy  and  Lee.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Earnst  married  a  widow, 
Mrs.  Catherine  Brown,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Hoover.  By  this  marriage  he  had  no 
children.  After  the  death  of  his  second  wife 
he  married  Catherine  Gnodle,  who  yet 
survives  him. 

Mr.  Earnst,  by  his  industry  and  good  man- 
agement, added  to  his  possessions  until  he  ac- 
quired 400  acres  of  good  land,  of  which  he  has 
given  portions  to  his  children,  and  now  retains 
only  the  homestead,  consisting  of  1 39  acres, 
and  also  eighty-four  acres  in  Madison  town- 
ship. For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Earnst  bought 
and  sold  cattle,  and  was  also  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  butcher's  business.  He  has  al- 
ways been  a  good  business  man,  and  justly 
esteemed  for  his  straightforward  dealings  with 
his  fellow-men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church. 


'^y'ACOB  EBY,  the  well-known  horticult- 
■  urist  and  farmer  of  Madison  township, 
A  1  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
here  January  23,  1843,  and  springs  from 
Pennsylvania-German  stock,  intermixed  with 
Scotch-Irish. 

Christian  Eby,  grandfather  of  Jacob,  was 
born  in  the  Keystone  state,  married  Susan 
McDaniels,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  moved  to 
Maryland,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Hagers- 
town.  There  were  born  to  this  marriage 
twelve  children,  named  John,  Christian,  Adam, 
Samuel,  Wilson,  James,  Jacob,  Betsy,  Jane, 
Catherine,  Susanna  and  Levina.  From  Mary- 
land Christian  Eby  came  to  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  he  had  previously  bought  a 
large  tract  of  land  on  Twin  creek,  cleared  a 
farm  from  the  woods,  and  then  moved  across 
the  line  into  Preble  county,  where  he  died  at 


the  age  of  ninety-two.  His  wife,  with  whom 
he  had  been  united  for  over  sixty  years,  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-three. 

Wilson  Eby,  father  of  Jacob,  was,  in  all 
probability,  born  in  Maryland  ;  and  before 
twenty-one  years  old  he  came  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  a  year  before  his  father, 
Christian  Eby,  came,  and  settled  on  a  part  of 
the  land  his  father  had  previously  purchased 
on  Twin  creek.  He  married  Elizabeth  Stover, 
a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Susan  ( Fink )  Stover,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  the  following  children  :  Jane,  Jacob, 
Daniel,  Susan,  Catherine,  James,  Wilson, 
Christian  and  Elizabeth. 

Wilson  Eby  cleared  a  fine  farm  on  Twin 
creek,  then,  later,  moved  to  Preble  county, 
where  he  bought  320  acres,  but  eventually  re- 
turned to  Montgomery  county  and  purchased 
160  acres  of  the  farm  on  which  his  son,  Jacob, 
now  lives.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  and  died  in  that 
faith  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years, 
after  a  life  of  industry,  usefulness,  and  un- 
swerving integrity. 

Jacob  Eby,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch, 
received  a  good  district-school  education,  grew 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  on  De- 
cember 24,  1866,  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Jor- 
dan, who  was  born  September  29,  1848,  in 
Clermont  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Wesley  and  Esther  Ann  (Scott)  Jordan. 

Nathaniel  W.  Jordan  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  June  22,  181 3,  a  son  of  Silas  Jordan, 
who  was  a  slave  owner  and  factory  proprietor 
near  Edenton,  on  Albemarle  sound,  and  a 
very  wealthy  man.  Nathaniel,  his  brother, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Silas  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clermont 
county,  Ohio,  and  the  Edenton  of  that  county 
was  by  him  named  after  the  Edenton  in  North 
Carolina,  and  was  built  on  his  land.  He 
lived  to  be  eighty-six  years  of  age,  and  died  in 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1091 


Edenton,  Ohio,  the  father  of  the  following 
children:  Nathaniel  W. ,  Jane,  Louisa,  Caro- 
line and  Elizabeth.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
Edenton,  Ohio,  of  whi«h  he  was  a  member, 
and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Nathaniel  W.  Jordan 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  father,  and  was  married 
November  24,  1836,  to  Miss  Esther  Ann  Scott, 
who  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 17,  1 82 1.  In  1834  the  Scott  family 
moved  from  Warren  county  to  West  Wood- 
ville,  in  Clermont  county,  and  settled  on  180 
acres  of  land,  and  in  this  county  the  daughter 
was  married  to  Mr.  Jordan.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Jordan  located  on  a  part  of  his 
father's  farm,  and  to  his  marriage  there  were 
born  nine  children,  viz:  Silas,  Alexander  V., 
Hannah  E.,  Charles,  Amos,  Martha  J., 
Louisa,  Caroline  and  Frank.  Mrs.  Jordan 
died  October  27,  1893,  but  Mr.  Jordan  still 
survives  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Eby,  after  their  mar- 
riage, first  located  on  a  farm  of  100  acres  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  but,  in  188 1,  a  cyclone 
destroyed  everything  on  the  farm — fences,  tim- 
ber, crops,  buildings,  and  all,  excepting  the  resi- 
dence. Mr.  Eby  then  sold  out  and  returned  to 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  already  owned 
half  of  his  present  farm,  his  father  owning  the 
other  half,  which  Jacob  bought.  Mr.  Eby  is 
here  largely  engaged  in  the  culture  of  fruit, 
having  many  acres  in  pears,  grapes,  apples, 
and  other  fruits.  He  carries  on,  beside,  gen- 
eral farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eby  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  children — Charles,  Perry  J. ,  Daniel 
C,  and  Katie  L.  These  children  have  been 
carefully  reared  and  well  educated.  In  poli- 
tic Mr.  Eby  is  a  democrat,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  at  intervals  for 
twenty-five  years. 

Elder  Jenkin  David,  maternal  great-grand- 
father   of  Mrs.    Eby,   was  born   in   Wales  in 


1753,  and  in  that  country  married  Martha 
Evans  in  1784;  came  to  America  in  1794,  be- 
came a  minister  in  Grand  Valley,  Pa.,  out- 
lived eight  sons  and  ten  daughters,  and  died 
June  23,  1834.  Mrs.  Jacob  Eby  had  two 
brothers,  Alexander  and  Charles,  who  served 
during  the  Civil  war  in  company  H,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry; 
Charles  died  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Florence,  S. 
C,  in  his  twenty-first  year. 


ISAAC  ERBAUGH  is  one  of  the  solid 
farmers  of  Perry  township,  and  a  son 
of  an  early  settler  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty. His  grandfather,  Jacob  Erbaugh, 
was  a  native  of  Rockingham  county,  Va. , 
married  a  Miss  Funk,  and  came  to  Ohio  in 
1834.  He  was  the  father  of  the  following 
children:  Polly,  Catherine,  Susan,  Nancy, 
Esther,  Jacob  and  Abraham.  Jacob  Erbaugh 
died  two  months  after  reaching  Montgomery 
county.  In  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  he 
owned  600  acres  of  land,  so  that  his  family 
was  left  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
was  seventy-eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death. 

Jacob  Erbaugh,  the  father  of  Isaac,  >was 
born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  in  1797. 
He  received  a  good  common-school  education 
in  the  German  language.  While  yet  living  in 
Virginia  he  married  Sarah  Kibler,  who  was 
born  in  1795.  Mr.  Erbaugh  settled  on  his 
father's  estate,  and  his  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: Isaac,  Jacob,  Philip,  Susannah,  Polly 
and  Elizabeth,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Erbaugh  came  to  Montgomery 
county  in  the  fall  of  1834,  moving  with  a  four- 
horse  team  and  wagon,  and  settling  in  Perry 
township,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son 
Isaac,  and  which  then  contained  seventy-five 
acres.  Four  years  later  Jacob  Erbaugh  died. 
From  the  time  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age 


1092 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


until  his  death  he  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church. 

Isaac  Erbaugh  was  born  September  1 1 , 
1820,  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  received  a 
good  common-school  education,  was  reared  on 
the  farm,  and  came  with  his  father  to  Ohio 
when  about  fourteen  years  old.  He  drove  the 
four-horse  team,  a  somewhat  difficult  task  for 
a  boy  of  that  age,  and  was  three  weeks  on  the 
way.  His  father  being  blind,  Isaac  began 
while  very  young  to  do  the  work  on  the  farm, 
and  his  entire  youth  was  spent  in  the  toil  of 
that  occupation. 

He  was  married,  April  27,  1843,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Bowser,  who  was  born  November  14, 
1820,  in  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Myers)  Bowser.  George  Bowser  was  born 
in  1783,  in  Frenchtown,  Pa.,  and  became  a 
farmer.  Coming  to  Ohio,  he  married  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  To  George  Bowser  and  wife 
there  were  born  the  following  children:  John 
and  Betsy  (twins),  Nancy,  Katie,  Polly,  Mar- 
garet, William,  Philip,  Henry,  George,  Benja- 
min, Daniel,  and  Christian.  These  lived  to 
become  men  and  women,  and  four  others  died 
young.  George  Bowser  was  a  pioneer  of  Jeffer- 
son township,  settled  in  the  woods  on  160 
acres  of  land,  and,  in  addition,  owned  240 
acres  in  Tipton  county,  Ind.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  lived 
to  be  nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Erbaugh  settled  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  and  has  lived  there  for  the  past 
sixty-two  years.  He  and  his  wife  have  had 
no  children  born  to  them;  but  they  have  reared 
two  children,  Levi  Harris  and  Ella  Johnson, 
the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Erbaugh  gave  them  a  pleasant  home  and  a 
good  education,  and  treated  them  in  every  way 
as  though  they  were  their  own.  Mr.  Erbaugh 
is  a  practical  farmer  and  has  a  most  excellent 
farm  of  122  acres.      By  careful  thrift  and  con- 


tinued industry  he  has  prospered  and  is  now 
well  to  do.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  for  the  past  forty- 
three  years,  and  is  probably  the  oldest  church 
member  in  the  township.  He  has  always  been 
a  consistent  christian  man,  kindly  disposed 
toward  all,  and  always  ready  to  help  the 
needy  and  unfortunate. 


HLBERT  J.  ZIMMERMAN,  city  mar- 
shal of  Miamisburg,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county  Pa.,  born  September  6,  1854, 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Bross)  Zimmerman, 
of  German  descent.  Joseph  Zimmerman,  also 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  a  tanner  by  occu- 
pation, served  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  Civil  war, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
July  3,  1863. 

Albert  J.Zimmerman  received  his  education 
at  the  Mount  Joy  Soldiers'  Orphan  school  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  learned  telegraphy 
at  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  the  latter  capacity  by  the  P.  &  R. 
Railroad  company  until  1876,  when  he  came 
to  Ohio  and  was  employed  at  various  occupa- 
tions in  Miamisburg  until  1894.  He  was  then 
elected  city  marshal,  the  duties  of  which  office 
he  performed  so  thoroughly  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  public  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1896, 
and  is  now  filling  the  position  with  great  credit 
to  himself,  and,  as  in  his  first  term,  with  the 
general  approbation  of  the  community. 

The  marriage  of  A.  J.  Zimmerman  was  cele- 
brated June  19,  1879,  with  Miss  OlettaBuehner, 
daughter  of  John  and  Louisa  (Dechant)  Bueh- 
ner,  the  former  of  whom  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
German  Miamisburg  contractors.  The  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zimmerman  has  been  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  four  children,  named,  in  order 
of  birth,  Pearl,  Louis,  Mary  and  Burton,  and 
who  have  been  reared  in  the  religious  faith  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1093 


their  parents — that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
In  his  societary  relations  Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a 
Forester,  is  a  member  of  the  uniform  rank  Knight 
of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  organi- 
zation. In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  while  the 
social  relations  of  himself  and  family  are  all 
that  could  be  desired. 


^/^VAPOLEON  B.  BAILEY,  a  prosper- 
m  ous  farmer  and  well-known  citizen  of 
r  Washington  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  near  Leb- 
anon, Warren  county,  Ohio,  March  31,  1819. 
He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Musser) 
Bailey,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Virginia,  and 
both  of  excellent  families.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living,  as  follows:  Simon  K.,  of  Hunting- 
ton, Ind. ;  Napoleon  B.,  and  William,  of  Day- 
ton, Ohio. 

Henry  Bailey  was  by  occupation  a  farmer. 
In  early  days  he  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in 
Mad  River  township,  Clarke  county,  near 
Springfield,  where  he  lived  for  some  years. 
Then  removing  to  Warren  county  he  remained 
there  until  1832,  when  he  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Quaker,  and  was  one  of  the  upright,  honora- 
ble band  of  pioneers  who  laid  the  foundations 
of  society  and  of  the  state  broad  and  deep. 
He  died  some  two  miles  south  of  Centerville 
about  1834,  when  he  was  seventy-seven  years 
of  age.  His  wife,  who  was  a  Baptist  in  re- 
ligion, survived  him  some  twenty  years,  and 
died  when  she  was  about  seventy  years  of  age. 

Josiah  Bailey,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Napoleon  B.  Bailey,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, a  farmer  by  occupation,  a  Quaker  in 
religious  belief,  and  died  in  Pennsylvania.     His 

wife  was  of  the  same  religion  with  himself,  and 
4,7 


came  to  America  with  William  Penn.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Musser,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  at  an  advanced 
age  in  West  Virginia. 

Napoleon  B.  Bailey  was  reared  in  Warren 
county  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  came  to  Montgomery  county.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  common  schools  of 
both  counties,  and  when  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  stone- 
cutter. This  trade  he  followed  seven  years, 
after  which  he  lived  for  about  three  years  on 
land  rented  of  his  father-in-law,  Jesse  Kelsey. 
At  the  end  of  this  period  he  purchased  eighty- 
five  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township,  to 
which  he  has  added,  from  time  to  time,  until 
now  he  owns  295  acres,  all  of  which  is  finely 
improved.  From  the  time  he  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  has  lived  in  Washington 
township,  and  has  been  during  the  whole  of 
that  time,  a  period  of  more  than  sixty  years, 
an  important  factor  in  bringing  about  the  de- 
velopment of  the  county  into  one  of  the  rich- 
est in  the  state. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  married  April  8,  1846,  to 
Rebecca  A.  Kelsey,  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Hettie  (Marsh)  Kelsey.  To  this  marriage 
there  were  born  three  children,  viz:  Jesse 
Alonzo,  William  Henry  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  Jesse  Alonzo  married  Ella  Clark; 
William  Henry  married  Caroline  Montgomery, 
and  has  two  children,  Charles  and  Estella. 
Mrs.  Rebecca  A.  Bailey  died  February  15, 
1854,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Mr.  Bailey  again  married,  his  second  wife 
being  Elizabeth  A.  Tibbals,  daughter  of  Noah 
K.  and  Elizabeth  (Silvers)  Tibbals.  To  this 
second  marriage  there  were  born  two  children 
— Perry  N.  and  Clara  Belle.  Clara  Belle  mar- 
ried James  Lewis  and  has  four  children:  Ellery, 
Ethel,  Ralph  and  Herman.  Elizabeth  A. 
Bailey,  the  second  wife  of  Napoleon  B.  Bailey, 


1094 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


died  September  9,  i860.  She  also  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Mr.  Bailey  married  for  his  third  wife 
Amanda  E.  Carver,  daughter  of  Smith  and 
Rachel  Carver,  the  marriage  taking  place 
August  29,  1867.  To  this  marriage  there  were 
born  six  children,  as  follows:  Ada  M.,  Lewis 
M.,  Wilbur  H.,  Rutherford  H.,  Walter  Ed- 
mund and  Arthur.  Rutherford  H.  died  in 
infancy;  Ada  M.  married  Henry  Durth,  and 
has  one  child,  Emma;  Lewis  M.  married  Mary 
Reedy.  Amanda  E.  Bailey  died  June  24,  1890, 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Politically,  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  republican,  but 
has  never  sought  official  station.  The  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  in  the  community  is  inspired 
not  alone  by  his  material  success,  but  by  his 
upright  character  and  his  lifelong  record  as  a 
good  citizen. 


IHOMAS  BRIDGMAN  (deceased),  for- 
merly of  Van  Buren  township,  was 
born  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  April 
15,  1803.  He  was  a  son  of  Francis 
and  Mary  (Scott)  Bridgman,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, the  former  of  whom  was  of  English  and 
French,  and  the  latter  of  Irish  descent.  Francis 
and  Mary  Bridgman  were  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children,  ten  of  whom  lived  to  mature 
years.  Mr.  Bridgman  died  in  his  native  state. 
Thomas  Bridgman  was  twenty-four  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  he  located  on 
the  farm  upon  which  he  died,  and  which  is 
now  occupied  by  his  widow.  His  son,  Charles, 
and  his  family  also  live  on  the  old  farm.  Mr. 
Bridgman  was  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  to  which  his  widow  still  belongs. 
Thomas  Bridgman  first  married,  May  25,  1829, 
Miss  Sarah  John.  They  were  the  parents  of 
two  children,  viz:  Benjamin  F.  and  Asa  J. 
Mrs.  Bridgman  was  born  July  8,  18 14,  and 
died  March  26,  1836.      Mr.  Bridgman  married, 


for  his  second  wife,  Esther  John,  a  sister  of  his 
deceased  wife.  She  was  born  June  12,  1820. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Sarah,  Mary  Jane,  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, John  Thomas,  Perry  B.,  Albert  Orion, 
Laura,  Francis  Marion,  and  Charles  Grant. 
All  these  children  are  living  but  Benjamin  F., 
the  first  child  of  his  first  wife.  Benjamin  F. 
had  married  Miss  Kate  Magee,  and,  after  her 
death,  he  married  a  German  lady.  By  his 
first  wife  Benjamin  F.  had  one  child,  Mary  E. 
Asa  J.,  the  second  child  of  Mr.  Bridgman's  first 
wife,  married  Elizabeth  Magee.  They  have 
six  children,  viz:  Orion,  Annie,  Elma,  Ida, 
Thomas  and  Pet.  Sarah  married  B.  B.  Pan- 
coast.  They  have  five  children  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Leonidas,  Ella,  Harry,  Charles  and 
Warren.  Mary  Jane  married  Frank  Ewry. 
They  have  seven  children,  as  follows:  Harry, 
William,  Cora,  Annie,  Calvin,  Morris  and 
Emma.  William  Henry  Harrison  married  for 
his  first  wife  Miss  Adeline  Fellows.  They  had 
four  children,  Henry  Clay,  Bertha,  Ollie  and 
Bert.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Hannah 
Dedrick,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Maud 
Marie.  John  Thomas  married  Laura  Huston, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  Edward,  Min- 
nie, Lewis  and  Ettie.  Perry  B.  married  Kate 
Protzman.  They  have  three  children,  Leroy, 
John  and  Foster.  Albert  Orion  married  Sarah 
Owens,  who  died  in  1888,  her  two  children 
having  both  died  previously.  Albert  is  a  farmer 
of  Greene  county.  Laura  married  John  Shutts. 
They  have  two  children,  May  and  Clarence. 
Francis  Marion  married  Annie  Eagle.  They 
have  four  children,  Esther,  Perdita,  Orville  and 
Chalmer.  Charles  Grant  married  Emma  Min- 
nerup,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Link) 
Minnerup.  They  have  two  children,  Callie 
and  Robert. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Esther  (  John  )  Bridg- 
man, Asa  John,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
came  to  Ohio  at   an  early  day.     During  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1095 


war  of  1 8 1  2  he  served  his  country  as  a  soldier. 
He  bought  ioo  acres  of  land,  upon  which  his 
daughter,  Esther,  now  resides.  A  portion  of 
this  farm  he  gave  to  her,  and  Thomas  Bridg- 
man,  whom  she  married,  purchased  the  rest. 
Asa  John  bought  another  farm  adjoining, 
which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  John.  Upon 
this  farm  he  died  about  1S73,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  his  wife  having  died  some 
years  before,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
excellent  people.  In  the  old  farm,  which  is 
owned  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Bridgman,  there  are 
151  acres,  and  the  entire  farm  is  well  improved. 
The  old  sawmill  is  run  by  Charles  G.  Bridg- 
man and  Elmer  John.  Charles  G.  Bridgman 
also  manages  a  dairy  and  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  successful  farmers  of  the  county. 


SAMUEL  ERBAUGH,  farmer.  Perry 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
is  a  son  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers. 
He  was  born  February  2,  1830,  in 
Rockingham  county,  Va.,  and  is  a  son  of 
Abraham  and  Susannah  (Coffman)  Erbaugh. 
He  was  reared  a  farmer  and  received  his  early 
education  in  one  of  the  old-fashioned  log  cabin 
school-houses.  He  married,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  August  22,  1850,  Miss  Esther 
Hay,  who  was  born  April  5,  1832,  in  Perry 
township,  and  who  is  the  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Christina  (Krull)  Hay.  Michael  Hay  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  when  yet  a  young 
man  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  married.  For  fuller  mention  of  Mr. 
Hay  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  biography  of 
George  Erbaugh,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erbaugh 
settled  on  seventy  acres  of  land,  on  which 
they  still  live.  This  farm  he  cleared  of  its 
timber,  with  the  exception  of  twenty-five  acres, 


which  were  cleared  when  he  settled  thereon. 
He  has  greatly  improved  this  farm  and  at  this 
time  it  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erbaugh  are  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  A.,  Rachael,  Susannah,  Michael, 
Christina,  Samuel  C,  John  O.,  Harvey  and 
Uriah  E.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erbaugh  are 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and 
believe  strongly  in  the  education  of  the  young. 
They  are  carrying  their  belief  into  practical 
effect  by  giving  their  own  children  the  best 
available  education.  One  of  his  sons,  Uriah 
E. ,  is  a  school-teacher. 

Of  the  children  of  Samuel  Erbaugh,  Mary 
Ann,  married  Jacob  Brumbaugh,  by  whom  she 
has  three  children.  They  are  living  on  a 
farm  in  Darke  county.  Rachael  married  Joseph 
Musselman,  a  contractor  and  builder-of  Day- 
ton, and  has  seven  children  living  and  four 
deceased.  Michael  married  Agnes  Lyday,  is  a 
farmer  of  Perry  township,  and  has  six  children. 
Christina  married  George  Lyday,  a  carpenter 
and  contractor  of  Dayton,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren living.  John  married  Catherine  Gerhart, 
is  a  farmer  of  Perry  township,  and  has  three 
children.  Harvey  married  Mary  Brovver,  of 
Preble  county,  and  has  one  child.  Uriah  E.,  a 
dry-goods  merchant  of  Pyrmont,  married  Liz- 
zie Alslagel,  and  has  one  child.  Samuel  C. 
married  Cora  A.  Rauch. 


@EORGE  ERBAUGH,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Perry  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  and  a  member  of 
the  conservative  branch  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county.  The  family  is  of  German  origin,  the 
great-grandfather  of  George  Erbaugh,  Law- 
rence Erbach,  as  the  name  was  then  spelled, 
coming  from  Mannheim,  Germany,  and  set- 
tling in  Bucks  county,    Pa.,    on  land  in  Lower 


1096 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Milford  township.  Here  he  lived  and  became 
a  man  of  considerable  wealth.  His  wife  was 
Anna  Mary  Christian,  and  they  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Jacob;  Anne  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried Theobald  Samuel;  Margaret,  who  married 
Jacob  Rothrock;  Catherine,  who  married  David 
Groff;  Barbara,  who  married  John  Stucker; 
and  Anna,  who  married  John  Huber.  An- 
other son,  Abraham,  met  his  death  by  acci- 
dent when  sixteen  years  old. 

Jacob  Erbach,  or  Erbaugh,  as  the  name 
had  by  this  time  come  to  be  spelled,  son  of 
Lawrence,  was  the  grandfather  of  George  Er- 
baugh. He  married  a  Miss  Funk,  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children:  Mary,  wife  of 
Michael  Billheimer;  Catherine,  wife  of  Michael 
Garber;  Susannah,  wife  of  Jacob  Billheimer; 
Anna,  wife  of  John  Garber;  Esther,  wife  of 
George  Miller;  Abraham;  Rebecca,  who  mar- 
ried John  Coffman,  and  Jacob.  Mr.  Erbaugh 
removed  in  1790  to  Rockingham  county,  Va., 
where  he  bought  land  and  made  a  home  for  his 
family.  In  1833  he  came  to  Ohio,  with  his 
son,  Abraham,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  George  Erbaugh,  the 
farm  being  purchased  by  Abraham.  Jacob 
Erbaugh  was  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church,  and  was  a  man  of  sterling  charac- 
ter. He  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two,  dy- 
ing on  his  farm,  and  leaving  a  goodly  property 
to  his  children. 

Abraham  Erbaugh,  father  of  George,  was 
born  July  6,  1799,  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  and  in  1820 
or  1 82 1  married  Miss  Susannah  Coffman,  in 
that  county.  She  was  born  October  26,  1799, 
in  Rockingham  county,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Christian  Coffman.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erbaugh 
there  were  born  the  following  children:  Anna, 
Sallie,  John,  Samuel,  Abraham,  Susannah, 
Hester  and  George.  In  1833  Mr.  Erbaugh 
brought  his  family  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and   settled  in   Perry  township,  on  the 


farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  George — this 
farm,  containing  205  acres,  being  then  mostly 
covered  with  timber.  Abraham  Erbaugh  lived 
to  be  seventy-two  years  of  age,  dying  in  1871. 
He  was  a  minister  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  for  some  years  an  elder.  For 
many  years  he  was  prominent  both  in  his 
church  and  in  general  society,  and  was  a  man 
of  high  christian  character,  who  exercised  an 
excellent  influence  on  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact.  His  wife  lived  to  be  ninety  years 
of  age. 

George  Erbaugh,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  March  20,  1841,  on  the  homestead 
farm,  and  received  a  good  common-school 
education.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age 
he  married  Mary  A.  Hay,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 11,  1843,  in  Perry  township,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Christina  (Krull) 
Hay.  Michael  Hay  was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
descent,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  came, 
when  a  child,  to  Montgomery  county  with  his 
father,  Valentine  Hay,  whose  wife,  the  mother 
of  Michael,  was  Esther  Martin.  The  children 
of  Michael  and  Christina  Hay  were  as  follows: 
John,  Hester,  Salome,  Joseph,  Michael,  Abra- 
ham and  Mary  A.  Michael  Hay  lived  to  be 
seventy-two  years  of  age,  while  his  wife  lived 
to  be  eighty-three. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erbaugh,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  Erbaugh  homestead,  upon  which 
they  have  ever  since  lived.  Their  children  are 
as  follows:  Laura  B.,  who  married  Peter  Neff ; 
Amy  K.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
the  wife  of  Isaac  Brumbaugh;  Meda  A.,  wife 
of  J.  P.  Bowman;  George  A.,  Ivan  L. ,  John 
O.,  and  Ina  M.  Mr.  Erbaugh  has  been  a 
minister  in  the  German  Baptist  church  for 
fifteen  years,  and  has  during  that  period 
preached  the  gospel  from  the  pulpit  of  the 
church.  He  stands  high  among  his  people, 
and  is  a  well-read  and  unusually  intelligent 
man,  well  equipped  for  the  duties  of  his  calling. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1097 


<V^V  ANIEL  FRANTZ,  one  of  the  wealthy 
I  pioneers  of  Madison  township,  Mont- 
/^^^  gomery  county,  Ohio,  descends  from 
Pennsylvania  -  German  stock.  His 
grandfather,  Christian  Frantz,  moved  from 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  to  Botetourt  (now  Roa- 
noke) county,  Va.,  where  he  bought  a  farm 
and  was  successful  as  an  agriculturist.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
in  the  faith  of  which  he  died  at  a  very  old  age, 
leaving  four  children — Michael,  John,  Christian 
and  Henry.  The  youngest  of  this  family, 
Henry  Frantz,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa. , 
went  with  his  father  to  Botetourt  county,  Va., 
there  married  Mary  Kinsey,  and  became  the 
father  of  the  following  family:  Christian, 
Daniel,  Susan,  Polly,  Annie,  Elizabeth,  Sallie, 
Lydia  and  Hettie. 

Henry  Frantz,  in  the  fall  of  1825,  came 
from  Virginia  to  Ohio  with  his  family,  convey- 
ing his  personal  effects  in  a  four-horse  wagon 
and  Mrs.  Frantz  riding  a  saddled  horse.  After 
a  journey  of  three  weeks  they  reached  Madi- 
son township,  Montgomery  county,  and  here 
Mr.  Frantz  purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land, 
developed  a  good  farm  and  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  dying  in  the  fall  of  1840, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  and  leaving 
behind  a  name  that  his  descendants  still  recall 
with  pride. 

Daniel  Frantz  was  born  in  Botetourt  coun- 
ty, Va. ,  February  7,  181 3,  and  was  about 
thirteen  years  old  when  he  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  with  his  parents.  He  re- 
ceived little  or  no  education,  as  there  were  no 
district  schools  at  that  day,  but  was  inured  to 
all  the  hard  labor  pertaining  to  a  frontier  farm, 
yet  found  frequent  recreation  in  shooting  wild 
turkeys  and  squirrels,  and  occasionally  made 
trips  into  Darke  county  for  deer.  His  first 
marriage  was  with  Salomie  Radabaugh,  of 
Harrison  township,  Montgomery  county,  a 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Catherine   Radabaugh, 


to  which  union  were  born  five  children,  of 
whom  two  are  deceased,  and  three — Maria, 
Catherine  and  Lucinda — are  still  living.  The 
mother  of  these  children  was  called  from  earth 
May  23,  1853,  aged  nearly  forty-one  years, 
and  Mr.  Frantz  next  married  Miss  Susan  Ar- 
nold, who  was  born  in  Perry  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Bar- 
bara (Friend)  Arnold,  and  to  this  union  there 
were  born  three  children — Ananias,  Ira  and 
Alice.  Mrs.  Susan  Frantz  died  December  2, 
1 891 ,  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

Mr.  Frantz  has  always  been  a  hard-work- 
ing, industrious  farmer,  and  after  his  first  mar- 
riage rented  a  forty-acre  tract  in  Madison 
township,  then  bought  his  present  farm  of  155 
acres,  added  seventy-five  acres,  and  by  thrift 
and  economy  continued  to  accumulate  until  he 
now  owns  nearly  600  acres.  Although  Mr. 
Frantz  was  uneducated,  he  was  yet  a  good 
manager  and  possessed  of  keen  business  per- 
ceptions. He  reared  his  children  in  respect- 
ability, educated  them  well,  and  has  been  able 
to  endow  them  with  land  and  money  as  they 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  life  on  their  own 
account.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years  retains  his 
faculties  to  a  remarkable  degree  and  has  an 
extraordinarily  retentive  memory. 

Ira  Frantz,  son  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Ar- 
nold) Frantz,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 
Madison  township,  September  5,  1857,  and 
lent  ready  assistance  in  his  early  manhood  to 
the  development  of  the  home  farm.  He  was 
fairly  well  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  was  married  in  Randolph  township,  April 
11,  1880,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Sollenberger,  who 
was  born  November  6,  1859,  in  the  same  town- 
ship, a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Teff- 
ley)  Sollenberger.  Mr.  Sollenberger  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  when  a  boy  was  brought 
by  his  father,  Jacob  Sollenberger,  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  and  became  a  substan- 


1098 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


tial  farmer  of  Randolph  township.  His  chil- 
dren were  named  Elizabeth,  Jacob,  John, 
David,  Aaron,  Moses,  William  and  Henry. 
Mr.  Sollenberger  was  also  a  German  Baptist 
minister,    and  died   in  March,  1892. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frantz,  after  marriage,  set- 
tled on  the  old  homestead,  Mr.  Frantz  having 
been  presented  by  his  father  with  164  acres  of 
land,  which  he  has  converted  into  a  first-class 
farm,  and  to  this  he  has  added,  through  thrift 
and  good  management,  sixty-nine  acres,  now 
owning  233  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  all  in 
one  body.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frantz  has  been  blessed  with  two  children: 
Marion  A.,  born  September  15,  1881,  and 
Loretta  B.,  born  September  24,  1886.  In 
politics  Mr.  Frantz  is  a  republican,  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Ran- 
dolph township.  He  is  a  thoroughly  practical 
farmer,  is  public  spirited  and  prompt  to  aid  in 
all  enterprises  designed  to  promote  the  public 
welfare,  and  enjoys  the  high  regard  of  the 
entire  community. 


(T^VANIEL  GARRISON,  farmer,  of 
I  Washington  township,  Montgomery 
/^^^J  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
lives,  August  20,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Catherine  (Metterd)  Garrison,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  native  of  the  Red  Stone  coun- 
try, Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Maryland. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  all 
sons,  three  of  whom  are  still  living:  George, 
Daniel  and  Jacob.  The  second  son  of  the 
family,  Jonathan,  is  dead. 

Daniel  Garrison,  the  father  of  these  chil- 
dren, was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  came  to  Ohio 
about  1 8 19,  and  lived  in  Butler  county  for 
about  five  years.  Then,  removing  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  he  settled  on  the  farm  on 
which  his  son  Daniel  was  born.      His  first  pur- 


chase was  of  three  acres  only,  and  to  this  he 
added  by  successive  purchases,  from  time  to 
time,  until  he  owned  more  than  100  acres 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  No- 
vember 1,  1866,  when  he  was  sixty-six  years 
of  age.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  held  the  office 
of  deacon.  She  survived  him  until  1877,  when 
she  died,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
Jonathan  Garrison,  was  of  German  descent 
and  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming,  came  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  day,  reared  a  family  of  twenty-seven 
children,  by  three  wives,  and  died  near  Mid- 
dletown.  The  maternal  grandfather,  George 
Metterd,  was  also  of  German  descent,  and  a 
native  of  Maryland.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  pio- 
neer days  and  settled  in  Miami  township.  He 
was  a  cabinetmaker  by  trade,  and  likewise  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children,  and  died  in  Washington  township 
when  eighty  years  of  age. 

Daniel  Garrison  was  reared  on  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  lives,  and  on  which  he  has 
lived  all  his  life.  His  education  was  received 
in  the  district  schools,  and  after  he  became  of 
age  he  purchased  a  piece  of  land  containing 
five  and  a  half  acres,  to  which  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time  until  he  has  now  eighty 
acres,  beside  the  home  farm. 

On  February  15,  1857,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  Maze.  To  this  marriage  there 
have  been  born  four  children,  viz:  Rachel, 
Emma,  Albert  and  Frank.  Rachel  married 
Clyde  Barclow,  and  lives  in  Germantown. 
She  and  her  husband  have  three  children,  Ce- 
cil, Glenn  and  Everett.  Emma  married  Ed- 
ward J.  Bennett,  and  died  in  April,  1S95. 
Albert  died  when  three  years  of  age. 

Mrs.  Daniel  Garrison  was  in  early  life  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  but  at  the 
time  of   her  death   she  was  a  Presbyterian,  as 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1099 


is  Mr.  Garrison.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  industry  and  thrift, 
and  he  has  well  earned  his  standing  as  a  use- 
ful and  reliable  citizen. 


>-j*OSEPH  HOUS,  farmer,  of  Perry  town- 
J  ship,  Montgomery  county,  who  is  de- 
/•  J  scended  from  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  the  county,  was  born  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  September  22,  1844.  He  is  a 
son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Richard)  Hous,  who 
gave  him  the  best  education  obtainable  in  the 
district  schools.  Reared  a  farmer,  he  adopted 
that  vocation  for  a  livelihood,  and  married, 
November  27,  1868,  in  Perry  township,  Miss 
Eliza  A.  Hansbarger,  who  was  born  July  20, 
1852,  on  the  homestead  of  her  parents,  An- 
drew and  Hannah  (Wogoman)  Hansbarger. 
Andrew  Hansbarger,  her  father,  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Niswonger)  Hansbarger, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
moved  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  as  one  of 
the  early  pioneers,  settling  in  Perry  township 
in  the  fall  of  1833.  He  cleared  up  his  farm 
from  the  dense  woods,  and  it  is  on  this  farm 
that  Joseph  Hous  now  lives.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  substantial  farmers  of  his  time.  His 
children  were  as  follows:  Ephraim,  George. 
Henry,  Stephen,  Elizabeth,  Sophia,  and  Caro- 
line, beside  Andrew.  John  Hansbarger  lived 
to  be  somewhat  over  seventy  years  of  age. 

Andrew  Hansbarger,  the  father  cf  Mrs. 
Hous,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1823,  and  came 
with  his  father  to  Montgomery  county  in  1833. 
He  was  the  father  of  six  children,  as  follows: 
Ephraim,  Sabina,  Eliza,  Elizabeth,  John,  and 
Daniel,  the  latter  of  whom  died  young.  Mr. 
Hansbarger  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
his  township,  owning  160  acres  of  land,  the 
old  Hansbarger  homestead.  He  died  when 
but  thirty-nine  years  of  age. 


After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Hous  settled  on  the  Hansbarger  homestead, 
eighty  acres  of  the  old  farm,  where  they  now 
live,  and  which  they  have  greatly  improved. 
Mr.  Hous  has  always  been  a  careful  and  prac- 
tical farmer,  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
representative  men  of  his  community.  He 
and  his  wife  have  had  one  child,  Minnie,  who 
on  December  25,  1889,  married  Hugh  Weaver. 
She  died  when  twenty-two  years  of  age,  leav- 
ing one  son,  Otto  H.,  born  on  the  homestead, 
November  18,  1890.  Politically,  Mr.  Hous  is 
a  stanch  democrat. 


(D 


ICHAEL  HUSTON,  a  successful 
farmer  of  Van  Buren  township, 
Montgomery  county,  was  born  in 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  eight  miles 
from  Dayton,  April  24,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (  Swigart )  Huston,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  a  short  distance 
north  of  Dayton,  and  the  latter  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio.  William  and  Elizabeth  Huston 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  two  of  whom  are  now 
living,  Michael  and  John.  William  Huston 
was  reared  on  the  farm  north  of  Dayton,  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  Montgomery  county.  After 
his  first  marriage  he  removed  to  Greene  county, 
and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  June,  1894, 
when  he  was  eighty-six  years  and  five  months 
old.  His  wife  died  in  1850.  They  were  both, 
when  young,  members  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
but  later  became  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church.  For  his  second  wife  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Caroline  Mayhew,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Burke.  By  his  second  marriage  he 
had  one  child,  William  F.  Mrs.  Huston,  by 
her  former  marriage  had  a  son,  John  B.  May- 
hew,  and  a  daughter,  Matilda,  who  died  in 
young  girlhood. 


11  (JO 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  paternal  grandfather  of  Michael  Hus- 
ton was  John  Huston,  an  old  Indian  trader, 
who  was  in  the  early  days  at  the  post  of  Cole- 
rain,  and  at  Fort  Meigs.  He  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  but  was  reared  in  Highland  county, 
Ohio.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
sixteen  children,  and  he  at  his  death  was  bur- 
ied at  South  Whitley,  Ind.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Michael  Swigart,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  German  ancestry,  and  came 
to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  settling  in  Greene 
county,  where  he  acquired  1,200  acres  of  land. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  when  he  died  was 
upward  of  eighty-six  years  of  age. 

Michael  Huston  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Greene  county,  which  adjoins  the  farm  he  now 
owns  in  Montgomery  county.  He  followed 
farming  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  and 
then  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  following  that 
trade  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  war. 
In  1864  he  enlisted  in  company  K,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  volunteer  infan- 
try, and  served  six  months.  After  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Montgomery  county  and 
resumed  farming,  which  occupation  he  has  fol- 
lowed ever  since.  He  began  by  renting  100 
acres  of  his  father,  which  later  fell  to  him  in 
accordance  with  his  father's  will. 

On  July  27,  1870,  he  married  Martha  M. 
Morgan,  daughter  of  Merrill  Morgan  and  Jane 
(  Allen  )  Morgan.  To  this  marriage  there  were 
born  three  children,  Harry  G.,  Belle  and  David 
Franklin,  all  of  whom  are  living  at  home. 
Mrs.  Huston  died  in  1886,  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Huston  belongs 
to  the  Old  Guard  post,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R. ,  of 
Dayton.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  but 
has  never  sought  office  of  any  kind.  During 
his  entire  life  of  fifty-nine  years  he  has  lived 
within  about  eight  miles  of  Dayton.  He  has 
always  been  a  man  of  high  standing  among  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  is  one  of  those  in  whom  all 
place  confidence. 


SEV.  AMOS  HYRE,  a  member  of  the 
old  German  Baptist  church,  is  a 
grandson  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county.  His  grand- 
father, Wesley  Hyre,  was  from  North  Caro- 
lina, and  was  an  original  pioneer,  settling  in 
Madison  township  at  a  very  early  day.  At  the 
time  of  his  arrival  in  this  county,  the  land  was 
almost  entirely  covered  with  timber,  so  that 
his  first  home  here  was  in  the  forest,  from 
which  he  cleared  his  farm.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children:  Wesley,  Solo- 
mon, Isaac,  Moses,  Abraham,  Absalom,  Daniel, 
Belinda  and  Nancy.  The  head  of  this  family 
lived  to  a  great  age.  In  religion  he  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

Moses  Hyre,  fourth  child  of  Wesley,  was 
the  father  of  Amos  Hyre.  He  was  born  in 
Madison  township,  Montgomery  county,  March 
19,  1 8 19.  By  trade  a  bricklayer,  he  also  ran 
a  sawmill  in  company  with  his  brother,  Absa- 
lom. His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Rebecca  Stoner,  was  a  native  of  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  Stoner.  Their  children  were 
named  William,  Amos,  Sarah  and  Susan. 
After  his  marriage  Moses  Hyre  settled  on  land 
in  Madison  township,  upon  which  he  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life,  dying  when  seventy-three  years 
of  age.  A  man  of  high  character  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church,  he  stood 
well  in  the  estimation  of  the  community. 

Rev.  Amos  Hyre  was  born  March  14,  1846, 
in  Madison  township,  and  in  his  youth  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  he  married  Miss  Mary  Den- 
linger,  who  was  born  in  Madison  township, 
September  14,  1843,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Margaret  (Miller)  Denlinger. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyre 
settled  on  seventy-six  acres  of  land,  his  present 
farm,  which  was  at  the  time  only  partially 
cleared.     This  farm  he  has  greatly  improved 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1101 


by  systematic  cultivation  and  by  the  erection 
of  good  buildings.  To  Rev.  Mr.  Hyre  and  his 
wife  there  have  been  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Jennie,  Edwin  E.,  Abraham  \V. ,  Mazie 
E.  and  Orpha.  Beside  these,  who  are  all 
yet  living,  there  were  born  several  others,  who 
have  died.  Mr.  Hyre  has  been  a  deacon  in 
the  German  Baptist  church  since  December, 
1 88 1,  and  a  minister  of  the  church  since  April 
28,  1882,  since  which  time  he  has  been  ear- 
nestly engaged  in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the 
people.  He  is  one  of  the  most  worthy  men  in 
Montgomery  county,  and  stands  high  among 
those  who  know  him  not  alone  for  his  devotion 
to  his  calling,  but  also  for  his  sterling  charac- 
ter as  a  man  and  citizen. 


>"j»ESSE  P.  KIMMEL,  of  Trotwood,  Ohio, 
J  a  successful  farmer  of  Madison  town- 
/•  1  ship,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  Montgomery  county. 
Fuller  mention  of  the  Kimmel  family  will  be 
found  in  the  biography  of  Aaron  Kimmel,  in 
this  volume. 

Louis  Kimmel,  father  of  Jesse  P.,  was 
born  in  Somerset  county,  Pa.,  August  24, 
1804,  and  was  a  son  of  David  and  Barbara 
(Kroner)  Kimmel.  The  founder  of  this  family 
in  America  was  David  Kimmel,  the  grandfa- 
ther of  Louis  Kimmel,  he  coming  to  this  coun- 
try from  Switzerland  in  1760.  He  settled  in 
York  county,  Pa. ,  and  reared  a  family  of  eight 
children,  as  follows:  Abram,  Jacob,  Isaac, 
Philip,  David,  Solomon,  Michael  and  Lizzie. 
Of  this  family,  David  was  the  father  of  Louis 
Kimmel,  who  was  the  father  of  Jesse  P.  Bar- 
bara Kroner,  wife  of  David  Kimmel,  was  born 
in  Somerset  county.  Pa.,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  six  children. 

Louis  Kimmel  had  but  limited  educational 
advantages,  though  he  made  the  best  use  of 
such  as  he  enjoyed.      His  father  came  to  Mont- 


gomery county  in  1817,  and  settled  on  land  in 
Madison  township,  Louis  living  at  home  until 
his  father's  death,  which  occurred  September 
25,  1827.  David  Kimmel  was  a  Jacksonian 
democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church.  His  wife  died  November  28, 
1840,  a  devout  member  of  the  same  church 
with  her  husband.  Louis  Kimmel  married,  Aug- 
ust 28,  1828,  in  Clay  township,  Mary  Niswon- 
ger,  who  was  born  May  26,  1808,  the  daughter 
of  Levi  Niswonger.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmel 
became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Michael,  Sarah,  Eliza,  Joseph,  Barbara, 
Mary,  Susan,  Levi  S.,  Ellen,  Jesse  P.,  Louis 
C. ,  and  Charles,  all  of  whom  lived  to  mature 
years  except  Eliza,  and  all  are  now  living  ex- 
cept Eliza,  Michael  and  Charles.  Louis  Kim- 
mel settled  on  his  father's  old  homestead,  where 
the  soldiers'  home  is  now  located,  and  assisted 
in  clearing  up  the  farm  from  the  woods.  He 
lived  on  this  homestead,  which  originally  con- 
sisted of  200  acres,  and  to  which  he  added  by 
thrift  and  industry  until  he  owned  450  acres. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmel  were  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Kimmel  was 
a  democrat  of  the  Jacksonian  type,  and  a  typ- 
ical pioneer.  He  lived  to  be  about  seventy- 
four  years  old,  dying  in  1878. 

Jesse  P.  Kimmel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  May,  27,  1846,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  received  the  usual  common-school 
education  of  the  day.  Reared  a  farmer,  he 
adopted  that  occupation  as  his  life  work,  and 
on  March  28,  1869,  he  married,  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  Catherine  Lingle,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 8,  1847,  in  Miami  township,  a  daughter 
of  Daniel   and  Anna  Mary    (Long)  Lingle. 

Daniel  Lingle  was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
stock,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade,  and  married  Anna  Mary  Long,  March 
10,  1842.  She  was  born  June  14,  1812,  at 
Annville,  Pa.,    and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 


1102 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  Catherine  (Grebil)  Long.  Henry  Long 
moved  by  wagon  as  a  pioneer  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  settling  in  West  Dayton,  where 
he  entered  200  acres  of  land  and  cleared  up  a 
fine  farm.  He  and  his  wife  became  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Henry,  Jacob, 
Christopher,  Anna  Mary,  Katie,  Susan  and 
Barbara.  Mr.  Long  was  a  substantial  farmer, 
a  member  of  the  River  Brethren  church,  and 
lived  to  a  good  old  age.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lingle  settled  on  land  in  Van 
Buren  township,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  middle  life. 
His  children  were  Amanda  and  Catherine,  and 
others  who  died  in  their  infancy  or  youth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmel  settled  on  land  in 
Madison  township,  and  at  length  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  123  acres,  to  which  by  good  hus- 
bandry he  has  added  other  acres,  and  made 
an  excellent  farm.  He  erected  an  attractive 
farm  residence  and  other  buildings,  and  now 
has  one  of  the  pleasantest  homes  in  the  town- 
ship. His  children  are  Edward  B.  and  Ida 
M.  Politically  Mr.  Kimmel  is  a  democrat. 
Edward  B.  Kimmel,  a  farmer  of  Montgomery 
county,  married,  February  22,  1894,  Susan 
Beachley,  and  Ida  M.  married  Frank  James, 
an  attorney  at  law  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 


eDWARD  FRANKLIN  NEWCOM, 
farmer,  of  Van  Buren  township, 
Montgomery  county,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  Ed- 
ward and  Cynthia  (Irvin)  Newcom,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  Edward  and 
Cynthia  Newcom  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters.  Four 
of  the  seven  children  are  still  living,  as  follows: 
Irene,  wife  of  Christian  F.  Rohrer;  Caroline, 
wife  of  William  Richmond;  Lucy,  wife  of  Oli- 
ver Roop,  and  Edward  Franklin. 

Edward  Newcom  was  a  farmer  and  stock 


dealer,  and  lived  his  entire  life  on  the  old  farm, 
in  Van  Buren  township.  He  died  March  23, 
1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His 
wife  is  still  living  on  the  old  place.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Edward  Newcom,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  Edward  F.,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  came 
to  America  with  his  parents  when  a  boy,  mar- 
ried here  and  reared  a  family  of  nine  children. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Moses  P.  Irvin, 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  left  that 
state  with  his  parents  when  he  was  nine  years 
old,  they  settling  in  Washington  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
mature  years.  There  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  in  1 86 1 ,  when  he  was  seventy 
years  of  age.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Rachael  Tibbies,  died  about  six  years  be- 
fore her  husband. 

Edward  Franklin  Newcom  lives  on  the  old 
farm  upon  which  both  he  and  his  father  were 
born.  This  farm  now  contains  160  acres  of 
land.  On  January  12,  1887,  he  married  Miss 
Nettie  C.  Prugh,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Ru- 
hama  (Marshall)  Prugh.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  three  children:  Virgil, 
Noble  and  Essa.  Mr.  Newcom,  in  politics,  is 
a  republican,  but  is  in  no  sense  of  the  word  an 
office-seeker.  He  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  best  known  families  in  the  county, 
and  is  a  progressive  thinker  and  farmer. 


f\  EORGE  OLDT,  postmaster  of  Beav- 
■  ^\  ertown,  was  born  in  New  York  city 
^^W  June  5.  l&39-  He  is  a  son  of  George 
J.  and  Catherine  (Kuntz)  Oldt,  the 
former  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany, 
and  the  latter  of  Rheinbrein,  Germany.  They 
were  the  parents  of  two  children — Catherine, 
now  deceased,  and  George.  George  J.  Oldt 
was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in   1833,  locating  in  the  city  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1103 


New  York,  and  for  some  time  working  as  a 
journeyman.  About  1846  he  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvaniasburg,  Ind.,  where  he  carried  on  the 
shoe  business  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  His  wife  survived  him  for 
some  two  years,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two.  Both  were  Christians,  he  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church  and  she  of  the  Catholic 
church.  The  paternal  grandfather,  George 
Oldt,  was  a  miller  by  trade,  had  a  family  of 
four  sons,  and  died  in  Germany.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  had  a  large  vineyard,  kept  a 
public  house,  and  also  died  in  Germany. 

George  Oldt  removed  to  Indiana  with  his 
parents,  grew  to  manhood  at  Pennsylvanias- 
burg,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  his  father 
— the  shoemaker's  trade.  Remaining  at  home 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  he  en- 
listed in  the  Sixteenth  Indiana  volunteer  infan- 
try, and  served  thirteen  months  as  corporal. 
At  the  end  of  this  time  he  re-enlisted,  in  the 
Eighty-third  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  com- 
pany G,  of  which  company  he  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant,  served  in  that  capacity 
one  and  a  half  years,  and  was  then  commis- 
sioned captain.  In  this  position  he  served  un- 
til the  close  of  the  war,  his  entire  service  cov- 
ering something  more  than  four  years,  from 
April,  1861,  to  June,  1865.  His  first  engage- 
ment was  at  Chickasaw  Bayou,  where  he  suf- 
fered a  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  arm.  After 
being  for  some  weeks  in  the  hospital  at  Padu- 
cah,  Ky.,  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Vicks- 
burg.  Going  thence  to  Memphis  he  marched 
to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and  was  afterward  in  the 
battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  that  most  remark- 
able battle  of  the  war  in  one  respect,  having 
been  won  by  the  private  soldiers  against  the 
orders  of  the  commanding  general.  His  next 
engagement  was  at  Resaca,  where  he  was 
wounded  in  the  leg.  He  was  in  nearly  all  the 
battles  of  the  famous  Atlanta  campaign,  being 
under  fire  more  than  two  hundred  consecutive 


days.  From  Atlanta  he  marched  to  the  sea, 
and  thence  up  through  the  Carolinas,  and  was 
within  three  days'  march  of  Richmond  when 
that  place  was  surrendered  to  Gen.  Grant. 

Returning  to  his  home  after  the  war  was 
over,  Mr.  Oldt  was  married,  September  20, 
1865,  to  Miss  Helen  Ratheuser,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Helen  (Yinkj  Ratheuser.  To 
this  marriage  five  children  were  born,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters:  George  Frederick, 
Charles  William,  Emma,  Annie  and  Ellen. 
George  Frederick  has  been  in  the  regular 
army  for  eight  years,  and  Charles  recently  re- 
turned from  the  regular  army,  in  which  he  had 
served  three  years.  Emma  married  William 
Hiney,  and  lives  with  her  family,  consisting  of 
husband  and  four  children,  in  Dayton.  The 
names  of  the  children  are  as  follows:  Nellie, 
Frederick,  George  Calvin  and  Anna  May. 
Annie  married  George  Castenborder,  of  Day- 
ton, and  Ellen  lives  at  home. 

Mrs.  Helen  Oldt,  first  wife  of  George  Oldt, 
and  mother  of  the  above-named  five  children, 
died  in  1877,  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Mr.  Oldt  married,  March  5,  1879,  Miss  Mar- 
garet Buehler,  daughter  of  Mark  and  Margaret 
(Boyer)  Buehler.  To  this  second  marriage 
there  have  been  born  four  children,  one  son 
and  three  daughters,  as  follows:  Frank,  Ger- 
tie, Mary  and  Caroline.  Mr.  Oldt  is  a  Lu- 
theran in  religion.  He  is  a  member  of  Earn- 
shaw  post,  No.  590,  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  politics 
is  a  democrat.  As  such  he  has  served  as  town- 
ship clerk  for  nineteen  years,  and  has  recently 
been  elected  for  another  term.  Under  the 
first  administration  of  President  Cleveland  he 
was  postmaster  at  Beavertown  postoffice,  and 
again  served  in  that  capacity  under  the 
second  administration  of  President  Cleveland. 
Having  lived  in  Beavertown  since  1867,  he  is 
one  of  the  oldest  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  the  place.  His 
grocery    store    he    has    conducted    for    about 


1104 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


eighteen  years.  Mr.  Oldt  is  widely  known 
throughout  Montgomery  and  surrounding  coun- 
ties, and  is  as  well  known  for  his  integrity  as 
for  his  business  capacity. 


WOHN  H.  PLANDER,  one  of  the  sub- 
m  stantial  farmers  of  Perry  township, 
/•  1  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
April  22,  1842,  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
near  Bremen,  a  son  of  Gerd  A.  and  Adaline 
(Windhorst)  Plander.  The  father,  Gerd  A., 
was  born  in  the  same  place,  where  his  ances- 
tors had  lived  for  generations.  He  was  a 
farmer,  but  in  humble  circumstances,  and 
worked  at  farm  labor  for  the  current  wages 
paid  able-bodied  hands — six  cents  per  day; 
but  he  was  industrious  and  frugal,  and  man- 
aged to  keep  his  family  in  comfort.  He  and 
his  wife  were  the  parents  of  John  H.,  Marga- 
ret and  Sophia  (who  died  in  Germany  at  the 
age  of  thirty  years,  the  wife  of  John  Voge). 
The  father  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years  and  the  mother  at  sixty-six,  both  in  the 
faith  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

John  H.  Plander  was  early  trained  to  hard 
work,  received  the  usual  public-school  educa- 
tion, and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  began 
working  for  neighboring  farmers,  receiving  for 
his  first  year's  labor  $17.  He  so  worked  for 
several  years,  and  the  last  year  in  his  home 
neighborhood  received  $35  in  gold;  he  then 
went  to  another  part  of  the  country,  and  for 
one  year's  labor  was  given  his  board  and  $40 
in  gold.  In  1867  he  came  to  America,  sailing 
from  Bremen  in  the  steamer  Atlanta,  and  ar- 
riving in  New  York  September  13.  He  went 
to  Cincinnati  and  then  to  West  Alexandria, 
Preble  county,  Ohio;  he  worked  in  the  latter 
place  four  weeks,  and  then  returned  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  was  employed  for  a  time  in  the 
Eagle  White  Lead  factory.  Finding  that  this 
business  was  injurious  to  his   health,  he  then 


worked  in  a  foundry  two  and  a  half  years;  he 
then  found  employment  with  the  Herman 
Lackman  Brewing  company,  with  which  he 
remained  twelve  years,  of  which  period  he  was 
for  eight  years  its  trusted  collector — having 
the  charge  of  six  routes  and  collecting  annu- 
ally $350,000. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Plander  took  place 
in  West  Alexandria,  Ohio,  February  28,  1868, 
with  Miss  Annie  Maggie  Sekamp,  who  was 
born  in  Germany  April  8,  1848,  and  came  to 
America  in  the  same  steamer  with  her  future 
husband.  To  this  marriage  have  been  born 
two  children — John  F.  and  Harry  A.  April  19, 
1883,  Mr.  Plander  brought  his  family  to  Mont- 
gomery county  and  settled  on  eighty  acres  of 
improved  land  in  Perry  township,  and  to  this 
he  has  added  until  he  now  owns  11 1  acres,  and 
has  a  most  pleasant  home.  He  is  largely  en- 
gaged in  the  breeding  of  swine  and  poultry. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plander  are  members  ot  the 
Lutheran  church  at  West  Alexandria,  of  which 
Mr.  Plander  has  been  a  trustee.  Fraternally, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  of 
Humboldt  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  I.  O.  R.  M.  and 
the  A.  P.  A.,  all  of  Cincinnati.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican,  and  has  served  as  judge  of 
elections  for  three  years.  He  is  much  re- 
spected for  his  straightforward  methods  of  do- 
ing business  and  for  his  unswerving  integrity 
of  character. 


a  LARK  PINE,  formerly  an  active 
fanner,  now  retired,  and  living  at 
Centerville,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Miami 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
December  23,  1831.  His  parents,  Simeon 
and  Sarah  (Haines)  Pine,  were  both  natives  of 
New  Jersey.  Six  children  were  born  to  Simeon 
and  Sarah  Pine,  as  follows:  Susan,  widow  of 
James  Sheehan;  Clark;  Mary;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Jeremiah  Campbell;  William  and  Charles. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1105 


Simeon  Pine  came  to  Ohio,  in  1818,  from 
New  Jersey,  walking  all  the  way,  and  carrying 
his  wallet  on  a  stick.  Upon  arriving  at 
Waynesville  he  had  only  his  bull's  eye  watch, 
and  thirty-seven  cents  in  money.  This  was 
the  sum  total  of  his  wealth,  and  the  capital 
with  which  he  began  to  make  his  way  in  life  in 
this  then  wild  western  country.  His  first  work 
was  as  a  farm  laborer,  and  his  wages  $8  per 
month  and  board.  After  some  time  spent  in 
this  way  he  began  raising  crops  on  other  peo- 
ple's land,  and  at  length  purchased  164  acres 
of  land  for  himself,  one-half  of  which  Clark 
Pine  now  owns.  This  purchase  was  made  in 
1836,  and  upon  this  farm  he  lived  until  1855, 
when  he  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  Simeon 
Pine  was  in  politics  a  whig,  was  a  believer  in  a 
tariff  for  protection  and  took  great  delight  in 
discussing  political  questions.  In  religion  he 
was  a  Quaker,  as  was  also  his  wife,  who  sur- 
vived him  and  who  married  a  second  time. 

Samuel  Pine,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
Clark  Pine,  was  a  native  of  Camden,  N.  J. 
He  was  one  of  a  large  family,  the  members  of 
which  upon  reaching  their  maturity  scattered 
throughout  the  different  states  of  the  Union. 
Samuel,  however,  remained  in  New  Jersey,  be- 
came a  farmer  and  died,  in  his  native  state. 
He  and  his  wife  reared  a  large  family,  and 
they  both  died  well  advanced  in  years.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  John  Haines,  was  also  a 
native  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  was  one  of  the 
earliest  of  the  settlers  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  lived  some  years  in  Washington  town- 
ship, and  removed  thence  to  Springboro,  War- 
ren county,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
He  was  married  three  times,  all  of  his  wives 
dying  before  him.  In  religion  he  was  a  Quaker, 
and  by  occupation  a  farmer. 

Clark  Pine  was  reared  in  Montgomery 
county,  and  has  lived  in  Washington  township 
since  1836.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  twenty-one    years   of  age,  having  in    the 


meantime  secured  a  good  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  Dreading  an  ax  and  a  cross-cut 
saw  more  than  almost  anything  else,  he  went 
to  Dayton  just  before  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  was  examined  for  a  teacher's  cer- 
tificate, which  he  was  granted,  and  thereafter 
for  three  years  he  taught  school  in  the  winter 
season,  working  on  the  farm  in  the  summer 
time.  During  this  period  his  father  died,  and 
Clark,  returning  to  the  farm,  was  the  main 
support  of  the  family  for  some  years. 

Young  Pine  went  to  Cincinnati  with  the  in- 
tention of  learning  bookkeeping,  but  being  dis- 
satisfied with  that  study  and  with  the  labor  of 
keeping  books,  he  returned  to  his  home,  where 
he  taught  school  and  carried  on  farming,  in 
the  manner  related  above,  for  three  years. 
During  this  time  he  was  unusually  successful  in 
his  business  management,  as  he  not  only  paid 
off  a  debt  of  $1,000  of  his  father's,  but  also 
accumulated  $1,000  for  himself,  all  out  of  his 
one-third  interest  in  the  farm  proceeds.  For 
three  years  longer  he  continued  to  farm,  and 
then  purchased  half  of  the  farm  of  the  heirs, 
on  which  there  were  no  buildings.  His  por- 
tion he  then  improved,  erected  a  house  and 
other  buildings,  and  still  owns  the  half  thus 
purchased.  This  farm  lies  one  mile  and  a  half 
south  of  Centerville. 

On  November  11,  1858,  Mr.  Pine  was  mar- 
ried to  Theresa  Miskelley,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Mary  (Jackson)  Miskelley.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Edwin,  Robert,  Lewis,  Samuel  K., 
Laura  and  Clara.  Edwin  married  Susan  Han- 
nah and  has  two  children,  Dell  and  Elbert. 
Edwin  is  himself  now  farming  on  the  old  place. 
Robert  is  keeping  store  in  Centerville;  he  mar- 
ried Laura  Watkins  and  has  one  child,  Her- 
bert. Lewis,  who  lives  on  the  Allen  place, 
married  Nettie  Wilson  and  has  two  children, 
John  and  Ernest.  Samuel  K.  is  in  the  office 
of  County  Treasurer   Sunderland,  and  is  un- 


1106 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


married.  Laura  married  William  Elliott,  and 
is  deceased,  and  Clara  is  living  at  home. 

Mr.  Pine  is  in  politics  a  republican,  and  as 
such  was  elected  township  treasurer  of  Wash- 
ington township,  in  i860,  holding  the  office 
for  thirty  years  in  all,  twenty-eight  years  in 
succession.  He  is  serving;  as  clerk  of  the  town- 
ship at  the  present  time.  For  twenty  years 
he  has  been  notary  public,  and  he  has  also 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  several  terms. 
For  the  past  ten  or  eleven  years  he  has  lived 
in  Centerville,  where  he  had  before  lived  two 
or  three  times  at  intervals,  managing  the  store 
for  two  years  and  a   half. 

Mr.  Pine  has  been  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent men  of  the  county  for  many  years,  and 
has  been  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  beyond 
the  average  of  men.  He  belongs  to  one  of  the 
oldest  families  in  the  county,  and  is  fully  sus- 
taining its  reputation  for  all  that  constitutes 
good  citizenship   and   an   honorable   manhood. 


>-j'OHN  W.  PRISER,  whose  post-office 
M  is  Pyrmont,  Ohio,  and  who  is  one  of 
A  1  the  thriving  farmers  of  Perry  township, 
is  a  grandson  of  one  of  the  old  pioneers 
of  Montgomery  county.  His  grandfather, 
Philip  Priser,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  that  state  married  Mary  Foutz,  who  was  of 
German  antecedents  in  Maryland.  Philip 
Priser  removed  to  Ohio  in  1 8 16,  and  settled 
on  Bear  creek,  in  Perry  township,  on  160 
acres  of  land,  but  little  of  which  had  been 
cleared.  The  rest  of  his  land  he  cleared  and 
made  a  good  home  for  his  family.  His  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Frederick,  Michael, 
Daniel,  Sarah  and  Mary.  In  1832-33  a  cyclone 
passed  over  his  land,  laying  low  a  great  deal 
of  his  timber,  and  barely  missing  his  house,  a 
double  log  cabin,  in  which  fifteen  people  had 
taken  shelter.  Philip  Priser  was  a  member  of 
the  German   Baptist  church,    and  lived  to  be 


eighty-six  years  of  age,  dying  at  Sharpsburg. 
He  was  well  known  as  one  of  the  sturdy  pio- 
neers of  Perry  township,  and  a  trustworthy, 
honorable  man. 

Michael  Priser,  the  father  of  John  W. ,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came  with  his  father 
to  Ohio  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  In 
Perry  township  he  married  Sarah  Flory,  whose 
parents  came  from  Germany.  The  ship  in 
which  they  crossed  the  ocean  was  boarded  by 
pirates,  and  robbed  of  all  its  supplies.  They 
lost  all  the  money  they  possessed  and  the 
grandmother  died  of  fright. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  Priser  there  were 
born  five  children:  Barbara,  Samuel,  John 
W.,  Mary  and  Joseph.  Mrs.  Priser  died  in 
1834,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  and  Mr. 
Priser  again  married,  his  second  wife  being 
Margaret  Sheplerl  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
William.  After  the  death  of  his  second  wife, 
Mr.  Priser  married  Catherine  Fiant,  who  was 
born  in  1806.  To  this  marriage  there  were 
born  four  children:  Elizabeth.  Daniel,  James 
and  Noah.  Mr.  Priser  first  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  afterward  sold,  and 
then  entered  eighty  acres  in  Perry  township, 
which  latter  he  improved  and  made  into  a 
good  farm  and  home.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
and  his  wife  survived  him  eleven  years. 

John  W.  Priser,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  March  27,  1830,  in  Perry  township. 
Reared  a  farmer's  boy,  he  became  a  farmer, 
and  was  married,  October  5,  1851,  in  Preble 
county,  to  Miss  Jemimah  Wysong,  who  was 
born  in  November,  1829,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Charles  and  Margaret  iGustin)  Wysong. 
Charles  Wysong  was  of  German  ancestry  and 
came  from  Virginia,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Jemimah  (Cottrell)  Wysong.  Jacob  Wy- 
song was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Preble  county, 
who  settled  there    in   the   woods    about    1818, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1107 


and  cleared  up  a  farm  of  160  acres.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and 
lived  to  be  over  seventy  years  of  age.  His 
children  were  as  follows:  Stephen,  Charles, 
John,  Joseph,  Robert,  Matthew,  James,  Eliza- 
beth, Lydia,  William,  Henry,  Jacob  and  Val- 
entine. Mr.  Wysong,  father  of  Mrs.  Priser, 
married  Margaret  Gustin,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Hannah,  Harrison,  Jemi- 
mah,  Stephen,  Lydia,  Betsey, 'Rachael,  Jacob, 
Margaret,  Dorothy,  Annie  and  Mary,  the  last 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Wysong  was  en- 
gaged in  sheep  husbandry,  and  died  in  1890. 
Politically,  he  was  a  democrat. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Priser 
settled  in  Perry  township  on  a  farm,  and  lived 
there  until  1856,  when  Mr.  Priser  bought 
seventy-two  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  of 
its  timber  and  converted  into  a  home.  His 
children  are  as  follows:  Catherine,  Benjamin 
F. ,  John  H.,  Rachael  A.,  Joseph,  Perry,  Nora, 
Minnie  and  Mattie.  Politically,  Mr.  Priser, 
though  formerly  a  republican,  is  now  a  demo- 
crat. He  has  held  the  office  of  township  trus- 
tee one  year,  and  that  of  treasurer  six  years. 
He  has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  as  justice  of  the  peace  four  years. 
He  has  reared  his  children  in  such  a  manner 
that  they  have  all  won  for  themselves  re- 
spectable positions  in  society,  and  they,  like 
their  parents,  are  esteemed  for  their  many 
excellent  qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 


ST 


TLLIAM  RICHMAN,  farmer,  of 
Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery 
county,  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
September  22,  1830.  He  is  a  son 
of  David  and  Ruth  (Johnson)  Richman,  both 
natives  of  Salem  county,  N.  J.  David  and  Ruth 
Richman  were  the  parents  of  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  William  being  the 
only  one  now  living.     They  came  to  Ohio  about 


1826,  driving  over  the  mountains,  and  locating 
in  Dayton,  where  Mr.  Richman  died  in  1832. 
While  living  in  the  east  Mr.  Richman  followed 
farming  and  ran  a  saw-mill,  but  after  reaching 
Dayton  he  became  a  grocer.  His  wife  survived 
until  1878,  when  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six.  She  was  a  most  exemplary  woman,  of 
strong  character,  and  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
versalis! church. 

Daniel  Richman,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
William,  was  a  native  of  Salem  county,  N.  J., 
and  for  some  time  served  there  as  judge.  He 
was  the  father  of  a  large  family  and  died  at  an 
advanced  age.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Samuel  Johnson,  was  also  a  native  of  Salem 
county,  N.  J.,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  the 
father  of  a  large  family,  and  lived  to  an  old  age. 
Both  grandfathers  were  factors  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Salem  county,  and  the  memory  of 
both  is  cherished  until  the  present  day  in  the 
county  of  their  birth. 

William  Richman  lived  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
until  he  was  ten  years  old,  removing  then  to 
Madison  county,  where  he  lived  until  1874. 
For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  driving  and 
leading  horses  over  the  mountains  to  Philadel- 
phia, making  three  trips  each  year.  In  1 874  he 
removed  to  Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery 
county,  and  bought  a  farm  of  190  acres,  known 
as  the  Clint  Wilson  farm,  and  lying  directly 
across  the  road  from  his  present  home;  this 
is  owned  by  his  wife,  and  contains  seventy 
acres.  Mr.  Richman  also  has  320  acres  in 
Madison  county,  and  all  three  farms  are  finely 
improved.  While  Mr.  Richman's  education 
in  his  youth  was  but  limited,  yet  by  careful 
reading  and  thinking,  and  by  wide  and  accurate 
observation  of  men  and  events,  he  has  acquired 
a  large  fund  of  information  and  is  one  of  the 
best-read  man  of  his  community. 

September  15,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Caro- 
line Newcom,  daughter  of  Edward  Newcom 
and  Cynthia  Irvin,  his  wife.      To  this  marriage 


1108 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


there  have  been  born  six  children,  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  as  follows:  Edward  N., 
Laura  D.,  Dora,  Estcs,  Ruth  and  Carrie. 
Edward  N.  is  a  bookkeeper  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
The  other  children  are  living  at  home.  Mr. 
Richman  has  been  a  successful  man,  having 
acquired  what  property  he  now  owns  by  his 
own  thrift  and  industry,  aided  by  the  efforts 
of  his  most  excellent  wife.  The  Newcom  family 
is  so  well  identified  with  the  history  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  that  it  would  be  superfluous 
to  here  further  allude  to  it. 


i/\  ANIEL  YIKE,  a  retired  farmer  of 
I  Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery 
J^^J  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  Pa.,  December  22,  1822. 
He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Fauste- 
nock)  Yike,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Daniel;  Re- 
becca, widow  of  Aquilla  Parish;  Catherine, 
wife  of  David  Baughman;  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
Frank  Meek,  and  Abraham. 

Daniel  and  Catherine  Yike  lived  to  be  quite 
aged  people,  highly  respected  and  honored  by 
the  pioneers  who  formed  their  acquaintance. 
Mr.  Yike  came  to  Ohio  about  1836,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  useful  of  the  early  settlers, 
being  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  as  well  as  a 
farmer.  He  settled  in  Fairfield  county,  and 
there  lived  until  his  death,  April  18,  1884, 
when  he  was  seventy-five  years  of  age.  His 
wife  lived  four  or  five  years  after  his  death. 
They  were  members  of  the  Christian,  or,  as  it 
was  then  known,  the  New  Light  church. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
Daniel  Yike,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
upon  emigrating  to  the  United  States,  settled 
in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  at 
an  advanced  age.  The  maternal  grandfather 
lived  and  died  in  the  same  state.      Both  these 


ancestors  were  industrious  farmers,  and  both 
died  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

Daniel  Yike,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch, 
was  about  fourteen  years  old  when  his  parents 
came  to  Ohio.  For  eight  years  he  lived  in 
Fairfield  county,  and  then  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  which  has  ever  since  been  his 
home,  though  he  traveled  extensively  in  his 
youth  in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  On 
February  28,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Parish,  daughter  of  Luke  and  Rachel  (Pearce) 
Parish,  then  of  Fairfield  county,  though  origin- 
ally from  Maryland.  To  this  marriage  there 
were  born  three  children:  Rachel,  Romancy 
Ann  and  Joseph.  Rachel  married  Jacob  Bell- 
man of  Van  Buren  township,  and  has  seven 
children.  Romancy  Ann  married  Samuel  Her- 
rington.  They  live  at  Ellenwood,  Kans.,  and 
have  no  children.  Joseph  married  Kittie 
Routsong,  and  has  had  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  Joseph  Yike  married  Maggie  Sheehe,  and 
they  now  live  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and  have 
one  child. 

Daniel  and  Mrs.  Yike  have  lived  in  their 
present  beautiful  home  ever  since  the  first  year 
after  their  marriage.  When  Mr.  Yike  was  a 
young  man  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade, 
and  followed  that  trade  for  forty  years.  He 
has  a  well-improved  farm  of  fifty-one  acres, 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The 
county  of  Montgomery,  since  Mr.  Yike  became 
an  inhabitant  thereof,  has  made  wonderful 
strides  in  growth  and  development,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  foremost  in  the  state.  Mr.  Yike  is 
universally  respected  for  his  temperate,  up- 
right and  useful  life.  His  wife,  who  like  him- 
self has  hosts  of  friends,  is  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yike 
have  so  lived  that  they  can  look  back  through 
the  vista  of  the  many  years  they  have  passed 
so  happily  together,  and  heave  no  sigh  because 
of  the  neglect  of  any  duty. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1109 


EENRY     APPLE,      of     Germantown, 
Ohio,  one  of  the  substantial   farmers 
of  Jefferson    township,     Montgomery 
county,  and  a   most   prosperous   and 
respected   citizen,    sprang   from    Pennsylvania 
Dutch  stock. 

His  grandfather,  who  was  also  named 
Henry  Apple,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Apple.  This  grandfa- 
ther, Henry,  married  Sarah  E.  Gebhart.  of 
Berks  county,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
thirteen  children,  all  of  whom  reached  mature 
years,  married  and  reared  families  of  their 
own.  These  thirteen  children  were  as  follows: 
John,  Henry,  George,  Catherine,  Elizabeth, 
Magdalene,  Margaret,  Eli,  Encch,  Eve,  Bar- 
bara, Daniel  and  Tennie.  Henry  Apple  re- 
moved to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1805, 
entering  land  in  Jefferson  township,  eighty 
acres,  which  he  cleared  up  and  lived  upon  about 
seven  years.  In  181 3  he  removed  to  Jackson 
township  and  there  bought  160  acres,  which  he 
made  his  permanent  home,  clearing  up  this  lat- 
ter farm  from  the  woods.  He  became  pros- 
perous because  of  his  steady,  industrious  hab- 
its, bought  more  land,  and  gave  eighty  acres 
to  each  of  his  children.  He  was  a  Lutheran 
in  religion,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Slyfer  church,  in  connection  with  Philip  Slyfer. 
This  church  was  founded  in  1819  and  is  still  in 
existence.  Politically,  Mr.  Apple  was  a  dem- 
ocrat and  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of 
Jackson  township.  He  was  one  of  the  sturdy 
pioneers,  and  an  honorable  man.  His  father, 
John,  came  later  to  this  country,  and  here 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Henry  Apple,  son  of  the  above  and  father 
of  the  subject,  was  born  in  1802,  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  where  two  of  his  brothers,  John 
and  George,  were  also  born,  the  remainder  of 
the  family  being  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio.  Henry  was  but  three  years  old  when 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  and  grew  up  a 

48 


pioneer  among  the  pioneers.  Trained  to  a 
farmer's  life  he  naturally  adopted  that  voca- 
tion. He  married  Elizabeth  Rodehefer,  who 
was  born  in  1807,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Ruby)  Rodehefer,  both 
of  whom  were  of  German  descent  and  pioneers 
of  Montgomery  county.  Henry  Apple  and  his 
wife  settled  in  the  woods  in  Jackson  township, 
prospered  by  hard  work  and  economical  man- 
agement, and  in  1838  bought  160  acres  of  land 
in  that  township.  Mr.  Apple  also  entered  160 
acres  in  Darke  count}'.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  was  a  dea- 
con and  an  elder,  as  was  his  father  before  him. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  William,  Julia, 
George,  Solon,  Catherine,  Barbara,  Henry  and 
Elizabeth.  The  above  children  were  by  his 
first  wife,  after  whose  death  he  married  Sarah 
Stroup,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: John;  Samuel;  Louisa,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  seventeen;  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years;  Lydia,  Hiram,  David,  and  Sarah 
Eve.  Thus  he  was  the  father  of  sixteen  children, 
fourteen  of  whom  were  living  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Politically,  he  was  a  democrat,  and 
as  a  citizen  he  was  held  in  high  regard. 

Henry  Apple,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  August  6,  1835, 
received  a  common-school  education  and  was 
reared  a  farmer.  On  March  13,  1856,  he 
married  Catherine  Meckley,  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian and  Nancy  (Kuner)  Meckley,  of  whom 
fuller  mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ap- 
ple settled  on  144  acres  of  land  in  Jefferson 
township,  upon  which  they  lived  thirty-five 
years.  This  land  Mr.  Apple  cleared  up  from 
the  woods  and  made  of  it  a  good  farm  and 
home,  putting  up  good  buildings  and  improv- 
ing the  farm  in  every  way.  By  careful  man- 
agement and  hardy  thrift  he  added  to  his  pos- 
sessions, owning  at  one  time  320  acres  of  land. 
In  1892  he  built   a   pleasant    residence    on  the 


1110 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


township  line,  and  now  lives  on  a  small  prop- 
erty, his  children  having  been  given  the  greater 
part  of  his  land.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Slyfer  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  has 
been  for  many  years  a  trustee.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Apple 
was  a  member  of  the  building  committee  of 
the  new  Slyfer  church  edifice,  built  for  the 
Union  church.  Politically,  he  is  a  democrat, 
but  is  not  an  office  seeker.  His  children  are 
as  follows:  Lucinda;  Benjamin  F. ;  Oliver, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  and  Perry. 
Mr.  Apple  is  a  most  worthy  citizen,  and  en- 
joys the  confidence  of  a  large  circle  of  valued 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


/^^V"  AMUEL  BECK,  prominent  as  a  con- 
*^^KT  tractor  and  builder  in  his  native  town- 
k^_J  ship  of  Jefferson,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  August  17,  1850,  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Annie  (Getter)  Beck,  and 
here  he  has  been  reared  to  manhood,  his  pres- 
ent post-office  address  being  Ellerton,  Ohio. 

Henry  Beck,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  early  became 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Salem,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio;  while  John  Getter,  his  maternal 
grandfather,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Jefferson  township; 
and  thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Samuel  Beck,  our 
subject,  is  of  long-time  Buckeye  descent. 

Samuel  Beck,  Sr.,  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Liberty,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  prior  to 
1840,  and  here  pursued  his  trade  of  carpenter- 
ing until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1850. 
His  children  were  four  in  number  and  were 
named,  in  order  of  birth,  Mary,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Frederick  Staver;  Martha  J.,  the 
wife  of  Fred  Schwartztrauben;  Henry;  and 
Samuel,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch. 

Samuel  Beck,  the  youngest  of  this  family 
of  four  children,  was  reared  in  Jefferson  town- 


ship and  received  the  best  education  its  com- 
mon schools  afforded,  and,  after  having  passed 
through  his  schoolboy  days,  served  an  appren- 
ticeship at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
learned  thoroughly.  For  six  years  after  serv- 
ing his  term  of  apprenticeship  he  worked  as  a 
journeyman,  perfecting  himself  in  the  mean- 
while in  his  trade,  and  was  thus  enabled,  in 
1878,  to  start  in  business  on  his  own  account 
in  Gettersburg,  Montgomery  county,  the  post- 
office  of  which  village,  as  has  been  mentioned, 
is  known  as  Ellerton.  He  has  made  a  marked 
success  in  his  vocation,  and  is  probably  now 
the  most  prosperous  contractor  and  builder  of 
Jefferson  township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Beck  took  place,  in 
1878,  to  Miss  Martha  Howser,  the  accom- 
plished daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Ellen 
(Drill)  Howser,  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  and  as  a 
result  of  this  union  there  are  ten  children. 
They  are  John  H.,  who  is  a  teacher  by  profes- 
sion; Samuel;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  Harley  Long; 
Annie;  Ida,  married  to  Furman  Woodward; 
Howard,  Charles,  Edith,  Flora  and  Ethel. 
The  father  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  adheres 
to  the  democratic  party,  and  no  man  is  more 
favorably  known  throughout  the  county,  as  a 
business  man  and  public-spirited  citizen,  than 
Samuel  Beck. 


HNDREW    H.    BAKER,    one    of    the 
early  merchants  of   Phillipsburg,  and 
now  among  the    most   respected  citi- 
zens of    Clay  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  on   his    father's  farm, 
in   Randolph   township,    same   county,    March 
25,    1 82 1, 

Grandfather  Baeker,  as  the  name  was  orig- 
inally spelled,  came  from  Pennsylvania  about 
the  year  1800  and  entered  a  section  of  land  in 
Randolph  township,  settling  near  the  saw-mill 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1111 


now  owned  by  Henry  Baker.  The  tract  at 
that  time  was  a  dense  forest,  but  Mr.  Baeker 
cleared  up  a  fine  farm  from  the  woods.  His 
wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Echelman,  and 
bore  her  husband  five  children,  who  were 
named  John,  Samuel,  David,  Henry  and  An 
drew.  The  father  of  these  children,  however, 
did  not  live  many  years  after  reaching  Ohio, 
and  at  his  death  divided  his  property  equally 
among  his  children. 

David  Baker,  father  of  Andrew  H.  Baker, 
was  a  youth  when  brought  to  Ohio  by  his 
parents,  and  here  attained  his  majority  on  the 
home  farm.  He  married  Salomi  Hart,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1797,  and  whose 
parents  came  to  Ohio  at  the  same  time  with 
the  Bakers — the  Hart  children  being  named 
William,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca  and  Salomi,  of 
whom  Elizabeth  and  Rebecca  were  respectively 
married,  in  Ohio,  to  a  Mr.  Kessler  and  a  Mr. 
Hazen.  After  his  marriage  David  Baker  set- 
tled on  his  own  farm  of  112  acres,  near  the 
old  homestead  in  Randolph  township,  close  to 
the  county  line.  He  died,  however,  at  a  com- 
paratively early  age,  the  father  of  three  chil- 
dren— Lavina,  Andrew  H.  and  David.  Mrs. 
Baker  afterward  married  John  Turner,  to 
which  union  was  born  one  child,  Rebecca, who 
married  James  Ross. 

Andrew  H.  Baker  was  educated  in  the 
pioneer  schools  of  his  early  day,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  began  learning  the  cabi- 
netmaker's trade  in  Salem,  served  three  years, 
and  then  worked  one  year  in  Dayton,  with  R. 
J.  Wagoner.  But  he  did  not  long  continue  at 
his  trade,  as  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in 
Phillipsburg,.  which  he  found  to  be  more  to  his 
taste  and  profit,  and  which  he  pursued  for  the 
long  period  of  nearly  fifty  years,  selling  out  in 
1890,  when  he  retired  with  a  competency.  In 
his  career  as  a  merchant,  Mr.  Baker  formed 
several   co-partnerships,  viz:    First,  with  John 


Fry,  who  was  the  earliest  responsible  merchant 
of  Phillipsburg,  the  partnership  lasting  six 
years;  next,  with  David  Swank,  four  years; 
then,  with  his  own  brother,  David  Baker,  for 
several  years.  At  one  time  the  firm  was  com- 
posed of  four  members — Andrew  H.  and 
David  Baker,  Peter  Smith  and  David  Swank. 
These  partners  carried  on  a  store  in  Phillips- 
burg and  one  at  West  Alexandria,  in  Preble 
county,  and  did  a  large  country  trade  until 
the  dissolution  of  the  firm.  Andrew  H.  con- 
tinued alone  for  some  years  in  Phillipsburg, 
then  admitted  his  son,  Charles  W. ,  into  part- 
nership, but  for  the  last  few  years  of  his 
mercantile  life  he  was  again  alone.  Although 
practically  retired,  Mr.  Baker  still  owns  a  saw- 
mill, over  which  he  keeps  a  supervision. 

Andrew  H.  Baker  was  united  in  marriage 
March  29,  1842,  in  Phillipsburg,  with  Miss 
Hannah  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  that  village 
January  3,  1825,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  William 
and  Mary  (Cox)  Thomas.  Dr.  William  Thomas 
was  a  son  of  John  Thomas,  who  came  from 
South  Carolina  in  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century  and  settled  in  Clay  township,  where 
he  entered  a  farm,  on  which  he  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  the  father  of  four  children — 
Isaiah,  George,  William  and  Nancy.  Dr. 
William  Thomas,  father  of  Mrs.  Baker,  was  a 
physician  of  note  in  Phillipsburg,  but  removed 
to  and  died  in  Indiana,  the  father  of  seven 
children — Hugh  M.,  Micajah,  Priscilla,  Ase- 
nath,  Nancy,  Hannah  and  Sarah.  The  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  has  been  blessed  with 
the  following  children:  Charles  W.,  Granville 
(died  September  5,  1896),  Dr.  Edson  R. , 
David,  William  and  Ella. 

In  politics  Andrew  H.  Baker  was  originally 
a  democrat,  but  was  a  strong  prohibitionist, 
and  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  repub- 
lican party  in  his  township.  His  was  the 
only  house  in  Phillipsburg,  in  the  early  days, 
that  would  give  shelter  to  an   abolitionist,  but 


1112 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


he  adhered  tenaciously  to  the  cause  until  it  at 
last  became  triumphant.  He  never  sought 
public  office,  but  as  a  matter  of  duty  served 
nine  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a 
strong  Union  man  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
furnished  two  sons  to  the  army — Charles  and 
Granville — both  of  whom  were  in  the  three- 
years'  service,  were  in  the  Atlanta  campaign 
and  followed  Sherman  to  the  sea.  Mrs.  Baker 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  Mr. 
Baker,  a  man  of  broad  intelligence,  is  liberal 
in  his  religious  views.  He  occupies  a  high 
position  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
and  his  influence  is  felt  throughout  the  county 
in  every  movement  designed  to  promote  the 
public  good. 


•~V"AMUEL  G.    CLAGETT,  a  successful 
•^^^*    farmer  and    fruit    grower   of  Harrison 

h^_J  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  this  township,  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  his  present  home,  Decem- 
ber 26,  1852.  His  parents,  Samuel  M.  and 
Elizabeth  (Drill)  Clagett,  were  natives  of 
Maryland,  he  of  Frederick  county,  and  she  of 
Washington  county.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Annie  J.,  wife  of  S.  W.  La- 
kin,  living  in  Columbus,  Ohio;  Harriet,  widow 
of  George  McCausland;  Mary,  wife  of  S.  A. 
Bailey;  John  W. ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry 
Smith,  of  Dayton;  Martha,  wife  of  George  K. 
Funderberg,  of  Carlisle,  Ohio;  Samuel  G. ; 
Maggie,  wife  of  Charles  B.  Attick,  and 
James  W. 

Samuel  M.  Clagett  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  came  to  Ohio  about  1836,  lived  in 
Dayton  one  year,  and  then  removed  to  Wayne 
township.  After  living  in  Wayne  township  a 
few  years,  he  settled  in  Harrison  township, 
where  he  continued  a  resident  the  rest  of  his 
life,  a  period  of   nearly    forty   years,  his  death 


occurring  in  1876.  He  was  at  the  time  sixty- 
seven  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1S91, 
aged  seventy-four.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  of  his 
church  he  was  trustee  and  steward  for  many 
years.  Politically  he  was  a  democrat  up  to 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  then  became 
a  republican,  acting  with  this  party  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Samuel  G. 
Clagett  was  a  native  of  England,  was  a  miller 
and  distiller  by  occupation,  reared  a  family  of 
six  children,  and  died  in  Maryland  when 
seventy  years  of  age.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, George  Drill,  was  of  German  ancestry, 
but  a  native  of  Maryland,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2,  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and 
settled  in  Harrison  township,  where  he  died  at 
the  age  of  forty-eight. 

Samuel  G.  Clagett  has  lived  his  entire  life 
in  Harrison  township.  He  was  reared  a  farm- 
er's boy,  was  well  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  and  has  kept  himself  thoroughly  in- 
formed upon  the  important  events  and  ques- 
tions of  the  day.  Remaining  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  he  attained  his  manhood,  he 
was  married  October  16,  1877,  to  Miss  Alvina 
Darst,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Dean)  Darst.  To  their  marriage  there  have 
been  born  four  sons,  as  follows:  Warren  D., 
Wilson  G.,  Arthur  E.  and  Edward  F.  The 
first  two  were  twins. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clagett  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr.  Clagett 
is  now  and  has  for  the  past  thirteen  years  been 
a  class  leader  in  his  church.  He  was  also 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  seven- 
teen years.  In  1895  ne  was  elected  treasurer 
of  his  township,  being  the  first  republican  to 
hold  that  office  since  the  war.  Beginning  life 
for  himself  by  working  for  his  father,  he  has 
since  made  a  well-deserved  success  as  a 
farmer,  and  as  a  useful  and  influential  citizen. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1 1 1 :; 


He  now  owns  ninety-one  acres  of  land,  well 
improved.  Mr.  Clagett  is  a  charter  member  of 
Linden  lodge  412,  K.  of  P.,  and  has  also  been 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  for  over  twenty 
years.  He  is  a  descendant  and  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  two  of  the  oldest  and  best  fam- 
ilies in  Montgomery  county,  and  well  sustains 
their  reputation,  established  by  long  years  of 
straightforward  and  honorable  dealing  with 
their  fellow-men. 


>y»  ONATH AN  BRUESTLE,  one  of  the  old 

k      settlers  of  Clay  township,  Montgomery 
/•  J      county,  Ohio,  was  born  in   Berks  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  July  1,    1829,  and  is  of  German 
extraction. 

Christian  Bruestle,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  a  tailor  by 
trade,  and  married  Sabina  Wert,  by  whom  he 
became  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Christian,  Henry  Charles,  Caroline  and  an- 
other, whose  name  has  been  forgotten  by  the 
present  generation.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  in  his  native  country,  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years,  and  his  second  son,  Henry  Charles,  be- 
came the  progenitor  of  the  Bruestle  family  in 
America.  Christian,  the  eldest  brother,  was 
a  German  Baptist  minister,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1772,  made  three  visits  to  America, 
returned  as  many  times  to  his  native  land,  and 
died  January  1,  1841 ,  at  the  homeof  his  father. 
Henry  Charles  Bruestle,  father  of  Jonathan, 
was  born  in  Germany  November  22,  1780,  re- 
ceived a  liberal  collegiate  education,  and  be- 
came master  of  seven  languages.  April  25, 
18 19,  he  departed  for  America,  and  after  a  voy- 
age of  four  months  landed  in  Philadelphia, 
August  25,  1 8 19.  Later  he  went  to  Tulpe- 
hocken  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
married,  August  31,  1823,  Elizabeth  Oldwine. 
In  April,  1853,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  bought  a 


small  plat  of  ten  acres  at  Air  Hill,  Perry  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  and  on  this  little 
garden  spot  he  died  April  25,  1857,  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  had  been 
an  elder  for  sixteen  years  before  he  came  to 
Ohio.  His  wife,  daughter  of  Warner  and 
Catherine  (Long)  Oldwine,  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon county,  Pa.,  January  22,  1795,  and 
bore  her  husband  two  children — Henry  and 
Jonathan. 

Warner  Oldwine,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bru- 
estle, was  born  in  Germany  and  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America. 
Here  he  enlisted  in  the  patriot  army  and  bore 
a  valiant  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  Brandywine,  and  else- 
where, fought  through  the  whole  of  the  glori- 
ous, struggle,  and  lived  also  to  take  part  in  the 
war  of  1 81 2.  He  made  his  home  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  where  he  owned  200  acres  of 
farming  land,  and  where  he  reared  a  family  of 
four  children,  viz:  Anty,  Jacob,  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth.  His  death  took  place  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years,  and  his  patriotic  serv- 
ices were  gratefully  remembered  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  who  interred  his  remains  with  the 
honors  of  war. 

Jonathan  Bruestle  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  received  a  good  education  in  his  youthful 
days,  and  was  also  taught  the  cabinetmaker's 
and  carpenter's  trades.  At  the  age  of  about 
twenty-five  years,  in  1853,  he  came  to  Ohio 
and  for  two  years  lived  in  Miamisburg,  and 
then  removed  to  Salem.  In  the  interval, 
April  27,  1854,  he  married  Ann  Mary  Buech- 
ler,  the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Madison 
township  by  Rev.  John  Reichert,  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  church.  Miss  Buechler  was 
born  March  15,  1826,  in  Pine  Grove  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Barbara  (Stein)  Buechler. 

John  Buechler,  father  of  Mrs.  Bruestle, 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in  1836,  set- 


1114 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


tied  on  a  farm  of  144  acres  in  Madison  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  and  died  in  1880, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  To  him  and 
his  wife  were  born  a  family  that  became  use- 
ful members  of  the  community  of  Madison 
township,  both  those  who  were  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  those  born  in  the  Buckeye  state. 
They  were  named,  in  order  of  birth,  William, 
George,  John,  Henry,  Daniel,  Ann  Mary  (Mrs. 
Bruestle)  and  Katie. 

Jonathan  Bruestle,  after  his  marriage,  lo- 
cated in  Salem,  Montgomery  county,  and  for 
seventeen  years  was  the  leading  cabinetmaker 
and  undertaker  of  the  town  and  the  surround- 
ing country,  but  in  the  meantime,  October  4, 
1864,  bought  a  tract  of  sixty-six  acres,  which 
he  devoted  to  general  farming  and  tobacco 
growing,  making  a  specialty  of  the  latter  prod- 
uct. He  erected  a  good  barn,  a  fine  tobacco 
shed  and  other  necessary  buildings,  was  indus- 
trious and  thrifty,  and  added  to  his  land  until 
it  covered  eighty  acres,  which  he  still  owns, 
and  on  which  he  is  passing  in  peace  his  declin- 
ing years.  In  religion  Mr.  Bruestle,  with  his 
wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  has  held  the  offices  of  elder  and 
trustee,  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  in  the 
latter  state,  for  over  five  years,  he  was  the 
sexton  for  his  congregation.  His  only  child, 
John  Davis  Buechtel  Bruestle,  was  born  June 
10,  1859,  in  Salem,  and  is  now  a  representa- 
tive citizen  of  Clay  township. 


^^V  AVID  CRIPE,  farmer,  of  Madison 
I  township,  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  early 
/^_^  pioneers  of  Montgomery  county. 
John  Cripe,  Sr. ,  his  grandfather, 
came  to  Ohio,  probably  in  1806,  from  Blair 
county,  Pa.,  settling  in  Madison  township, 
two  miles  south  of  where  David  now  lives. 
His  wife  was  Catherine  Ullery,  and  his  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:      Stephen,  David,  John, 


Susan,  Esther  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Cripe 
cleared  a  farm  of  160  acres,  lived  in  Mont- 
gomery county  all  his  life,  and  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church. 

John  Cripe,  Jr.,  son  of  John  Cripe  and 
father  of  David,  was  born  in  Blair  county,  Pa., 
about  1804,  and  was  two  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  father  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio.  Young  Cripe  was  brought  up  among 
the  pioneers  and  became  a  farmer.  Upon 
arriving  at  maturity  he  married  Catherine 
Shively,  by  whom  he  had  the  following 
children:  Eli;  John,  who  died  when  two 
years  old;  David,  Esther,  Catherine,  Mary, 
Hannah  and  Stephen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cripe 
settled  on  the  farm  upon  which  their  son  David 
now  lives,  and  which  then  consisted  of  160 
acres  of  land,  all  in  the  woods,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  five  acres,  which  were  partly  cleared. 
This  land  Mr.  Cripe  cleared  of  its  timber, 
made  of  it  a  good  farm,  and  greatly  improved 
it  with  excellent  buildings.  In  1853  he  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  locating  near  Peru,  and 
there  bought  160  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  when 
seventy-two  years  of  age.  He  was  one  of  the 
best  men  of  his  time,  and  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  was  a 
deacon  for  many  years.  Always  a  diligent  and 
industrious  man,  he  was  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  was  well  known  for  his  hon- 
esty and  integrity  of  character. 

David  Cripe  was  born  February  19,  1831, 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  common  district 
school.  Reared  a  farmer,  he  has  followed 
that  honorable  and  independent  occupation 
all  his  life.  He  married,  October  16,  185 1, 
Miss  Mary  Ullery,  who  was  born  on  the  Still- 
water river,  in  Randolph  township,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Whitehead) 
Ullery.       Samuel    Ullery    was    born    in    Blair 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1115 


county,  Pa.,  near  Hollidaysburg,  in  1794,  and 
when  seventeen  years  old  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county  with  his  parents,  Stephen  and  Mary 
(Rench)  Ullery. 

Stephen  Ullery  came  to  Montgomery 
county  in  181 1,  and  settled  in  Madison  town- 
ship, near  Stillwater  Junction,  where  he  en- 
tered government  land,  to  the  extent  of  160 
acres,  which  he  cleared  and  upon  which  he 
lived  for  many  years.  His  children  were 
Joseph,  Stephen,  Samuel,  Mary  and  Cather- 
ine. Stephen  lived  to  be  an  aged  man,  was  a 
German  Baptist  and  a  valued  citizen. 

Samuel  Ullery,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cripe, 
settled  on  the  farm  adjoining  the  Cripe  home- 
stead. His  first  wife  was  Mary  Miller,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  Miller,  the  pioneer.  By 
this  wife  he  had  one  daughter,  Susannah. 
Mrs.  Ullery  having  died,  Mr.  Ullery  married 
Susannah  Whitehead,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children,  as  follows:  Lydia,  Moses,  Annie, 
Aaron,  Stephen,  Mary,  David,  Samuel,  Chris- 
topher, and  Valentine.  Samuel  Ullery  devoted 
himself  to  farming,  and  became  a  very  pros- 
perous man.  By  industry  he  thrived  until  at 
length  he  owned  600  acres  of  land,  which  he 
divided  among  his  children,  giving  each  a  farm. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  died  in  his  seventy-first  year.  His 
wife  died  October  19,  1882,  in  her  seventy- 
eighth  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cripe,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  Cripe  homestead,  which  has 
since  been  their  home.  Mrs.  Cripe's  mother 
made  her  home  with  them,  living  with  them 
for  about  eighteen  years,  and  it  was  at  their 
home  that  she  died  at  an  advanced  age.  She 
had  been  most  of  her  life  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  all  her  life  an  ex- 
cellent woman. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cripe  had  one  child,  named 
Annie,  who  died  March  13,  1885.  She  mar- 
ried Jacob  Miller,  a  grandson  of  Daniel  Miller, 


the  pioneer,  and  son  of  Joseph  Miller.  To 
Jacob  Miller  and  his  wife  there  were  born  two 
children,  Joseph  Albert  and  Mary  Catherine. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cripe  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  of  which  Mr.  Cripe  has 
been  a  deacon  for  thirty-four  years. 

His  granddaughter,  Mary  Catherine  Miller, 
married  Albert  M.  Mumma,  and  has  one  son. 
The  entire  family  are  well  to  do,  have  a  large 
circle  of  friends,  and  are  among  the  most  use- 
ful of  Montgomery  county's  citizens. 


Sf 


ILLIAM  A.  CROSBY,  a  successful 
farmer  of  Mad  River  township, 
Montgomery  county,  was  born  near 
Springboro,  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
October  15,  1842.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Lydia  Ann  (Baner)  Crosby,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  Delaware  county,  Pa. , 
and  the  latter  of  Cape  May  county,  N.  J. 
To  their  marriage  there  were  born  three 
children,  viz:  William  A.;  Martha  A.,  wife 
of  John  Kinder,  of  Franklin,  Ohio;  and  Alice, 
wife  of  Edwin  S.  Smith,  living  at  Lawrence- 
ville,  111. 

James  Crosby  learned  shoemaking  when  a 
boy,  and  followed  this  trade  for  several  years. 
Coming  to  Ohio  in  1S30,  he  located  near 
Springboro,  Warren  county,  where  he  after- 
ward bought  land.  In  Warren  county  he  was 
married,  and  removed  to  Montgomery  county 
in  1858,  locating  on  the  grounds  now  occupied 
by  the  soldiers'  home,  and  there  lived  for 
nine  years.  Selling  his  property  there,  he  re- 
moved to  Mad  River  township,  where  his  son 
William  A.  now  lives,  and  where  he  bought 
seventy  acres,  now  finely  improved.  On  that 
farm  he  lived  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  Sep- 
tember 12,  1884,  when  he  was  seventy-two 
years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  died  June  13, 
1886,  was  a  Quaker  in  religious  belief. 

Robert  Crosby,  father   of   James    Crosby, 


UK*. 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  a  native  of  county  Down,  the  most  east- 
erly county  in  Ireland,  and  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  When  a  young  man  he  came 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Delaware 
county,  Pa.,  being  accompanied  by  two  of  his 
brothers,  and  in  1S30  he  came  to  Ohio,  dying 
on  the  farm  where  he  settled  in  Warren  coun- 
ty. He  was  of  a  quiet  and  amiable  disposition, 
reared  a  family  of  one  son  and  five  daughters, 
and  at  his  death  was  seventy-five  years  of  age. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
Isaac  Baner,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
moved  to  Ohio  between  1830  and  1835,  float- 
ing down  the  Ohio  river  on  a  flatboat,  and 
locating  near  Springboro,  Warren  county.  He 
followed  shoemaking  all  his  life,  and  in  relig- 
ious belief  was  a  strong  Quaker. 

William  A.  Crosby  was  about  sixteen  years 
of  age  when  his  father  left  Warren  county, 
and  remained  at  home  as  long  as  his  father 
lived.  He  has  managed  and  cultivated  the 
Mad  River  township  farm  ever  since  its  pur- 
chase by  his  father,  and  after  his  parents' 
death  became  the  owner  of  a  two-thirds  inter- 
est in  it. 

On  February  21,  1865,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Nancy  J.  Heiney,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  Heiney.  To  this  marriage  there 
were  born  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Ida 
May.  Frank  Albert,  James  E. ,  Emma  Alice 
(deceased),  Joseph  H.,  Lizzie  A.,  William  A., 
Orin  J.,  Grace  L. ,  Howard,  and  Mattie  B. 
Ida  May  married  Charles  Alexander,  of  Wayne 
township;  Frank  A.  married  Iona  Clemmer, 
and  lives  in  Wayne  township;  they  have  one 
child,  Ruth.  James  E.  married  Loretta 
Johnson;  they  live  in  Clark  county  and  have 
three  children,  Florence,  Chester  and  Rachael. 
Lizzie  A.  married  Alva  Wolf;  they  live  in 
West  Dayton.  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Crosby  died 
January  10,  1891.  Early  in  her  life  she  was 
a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  church, 
but    later    united   with    the    United    Brethren 


church,  and  died  in  that  faith,  Mr.  Crosby  being 
also  a  member  of  this  church.  Politically, 
Mr.  Crosby  is  a  democrat,  and  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time  (1 896)  serving  a  three-years'  term  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  For  fifteen  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  his 
school  district,  and  at  present  is  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  Upon  his  farm,  which  con- 
tains 125  acres,  he  carries  on  general  agricult- 
ural operations,  and  for  the  past  three  years 
has  also  been  conducting  a  cream  dairy  and 
raising  red-polled  cattle.  For  thirty-seven 
years  Mr.  Crosby  has  lived  in  Montgomery 
county,  and  has  contributed  his  full  share  to  its 
fine  development.  His  home  is  beautifully 
situated  on  a  knoll  three  miles  from  Dayton, 
and  here  is  dispensed  the  most  sincere  and 
generous  hospitality. 


BENRY  L.  ECKHARDT,  of  Jefferson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
a  practical  and  experienced  farmer, 
was  born  in  Germany,  April  15,  1854, 
but  has  been  a  resident  of  Montgomery  county 
since  his  infancy,  his  parents,  George  and 
Catherine  (Felty)  Eckhardt,  having  come  to 
America  in  the  fall  of  1854.  These  newcom- 
ers first  located  in  German  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  where  the  father  successfully 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  until 
1874,  when  he  found  it  to  be  to  his  interest  to 
remove  to  Jefferson  township,  and  here  he  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  ever  since  that  year. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  who  were  born  in  the  following  or- 
der: Christian  H.,  Henry  L. ,  Jacob;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  George  Smith;  Emma,  married 
to  Charles  Root;  Louisa,  now  Mrs.  Frank 
Recher,  and  Minnie,  the  wife  of  Elmer  Palmer. 
The  first  two  named  were  born  in  Germany, 
and  the  others  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
Henry   L.    Eckhardt  was  educated  in  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1117 


common  schools  of  his  district.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  in  1874,  he  came  to  Jefferson 
township  with  his  father's  family,  and  here  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  Here  also, 
in  i860,  he  married  Miss  Mary  M.  Getter, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  J.  (Shade)  Getter, 
residents  of  Jefferson  township,  and  this  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eckhardt  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  son,  named  Earl  C. 
In  politics  Mr.  Eckhardt  has  always  been 
closely  identified  with  the  republican  party,  and 
is  at  present  the  assistant  postmaster  of  Eller- 
ton,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  In  religion,  he 
is,  with  his  wife,  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  is  also  a  trustee. 
He  has  led  a  life  of  industry,  and  has  ever 
been    a  useful  and   public-spirited  citizen. 


>-j*OSEPH  L.  ENSLEY,  a  prominent 
m  farmer  of  Harrison  township,  Mont- 
/•  J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Butler  township,  this  county,  near 
Stillwater,  May  18,  1821.  His  parents  were 
James  and  Susan  (Lodge)  Ensley,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  To  them  there  were  born 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living, 
as  follows:  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Huffman, 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Joseph  L.  and  James. 

James  Ensley,  the  father  of  Joseph  L. ,was 
one  of  the  old-fashioned  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
southern  part  of  Ohio.  By  occupation  he  was 
a  farmer,  and  had  to  contend  with  the  difficul- 
ties and  hardships  that  were  inseparably  con- 
nected with  his  vocation  in  the  early  days  of 
the  century.  Moving  to  Ohio  in  18 18,  he 
settled  in  Butler  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, built  a  log  cabin  and  lived  there  until  1849, 
when  he  died,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 
His  wife  survived  him  until  1888,  dying  at  the 
great  age  of  ninety-three.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Ens- 
ley served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number 


of  years,  and  also  held  other  township  offices, 
showing  that  he  was  a  man  of  prominence  and 
that  he  was  held  in  honor  by  his  fellow- men. 
Upon  arriving  in  Butler  township,  as  above 
related,  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  to 
which  he  added  other  tracts  from  time  to  time 
until  at  his  death  he  owned  about  300  acres. 
Beside  this  large  quantity  of  land  he  owned  a 
grist-mill,  which  he  leased  to  others. 

George  Ensley,  the  father  of  James  Ensley, 
was  a  native  of  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
of  German  descent.  He  and  his  wife,  who 
survived  him  some  years,  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children.  He  died  in  his  native  county 
at  an  advanced  age.  The  maternal  grandfa- 
ther of  Joseph  L.  Ensley,  William  Lodge,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, while  yet  in  middle  life. 

Joseph  L.  Ensley  received  the  rudiments  of 
his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  has 
supplemented  the  education  there  obtained  by 
close  observation  and  wide  reading,  until  now 
he  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men  of  his  com- 
munity. Remaining  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  he  then  began  the 
active  duties  of  a  farmer's  life  on  his  own  be- 
half, and  was  soon  afterward  married  to  Ann 
Rebecca  Drill,  daughter  of  George  and  Jemima 
(Lakin)  Drill.  This  marriage  occurred  De- 
cember 18,  1849,  and  has  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters, as 
follows:  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Martha,  James, 
Benjamin  Franklin  and  Rosa  Ann.  Mary 
married  Ezra  Jones,  of  Harrison  township; 
Elizabeth  died  in  infancy;  Martha  married 
William  Brentlinger,  and  has  nine  children,  as 
follows:  Franklin,  Ira,  Burt,  Arthur,  Annie, 
Mary,  Wilbur,  Charles  and  Elizabeth.  James 
married  Melissa  Deaton,  and  has  one  child 
living,  Lawrence.  Rosa  Ann  married  William 
Kerns,  and  has  one  child,  Joseph. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ensley  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  are  all  of  the 


1118 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


children,  their  wives  and  husbands.  Mr.  Ens- 
ley  is  trustee  of  his  church.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

Mr.  Ensley  began  life  for  himself  by  rent- 
ing 1 60  acres  of  land  of  his  father  in  Harrison 
township,  upon  which  he  lived  four  or  five 
years,  and  then  purchased  it  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  George  W.  Later  he  sold 
his  interest  to  his  brother,  and  purchased  200 
acres  near  the  Miami  river  and  not  far  from 
the  city  of  Dayton.  Upon  this  200-acre  farm 
he  lived  for  thirteen  years,  and  then  purchased 
the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  This 
farm  then  contained  seventy- two  acres,  to 
which  he  has  added  at  different  times,  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  several  farms,  and  also  of  five 
or  six  houses  and  lots  in  Dayton.  To  his  chil- 
dren he  has  given  largely  of  his  property,  and 
now  retains  only  130  acres  of  farm  land,  his 
home  being  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Day- 
ton court  house.  He  also  owns  one-third  of 
Idylwild  park. 

Mr.  Ensley  has  been  one  of  the  principal 
factors  in  the  development  of  Montgomery 
county,  and  has  seen  Dayton  grow  from  a  vil- 
lage into  a  large  and  prosperous  manufacturing 
city.  As  a  representative  farmer,  and  as  an 
upright  and  useful  citizen,  he  enjoys  the  sin- 
cere esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances 
and  friends. 


HNDREW  FORNEY,  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Highland,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  Jurle  7,  1838.  He  is  a  son 
of  Christian  and  Magdalene  (Kimmel)  Forney, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter, Pa.,  and  the  latter  of  the  "  The  Glades," 
in  Pennsylvania.  Christian  and  Magdalene 
Forney  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  John,  of 
Liberty;  Andrew   and   David,  both  of  Dayton. 


In  his  early  life  Christian  Forney  was  a  black- 
smith, but  afterward  turned  his  attention  to 
farming.  He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Ohio,  locating  in  Jackson  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  but  afterward  bought  a  farm  of 
135  acres  in  Jefferson  township,  upon  which  he 
lived  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at  the 
age  of  sixty-six.  His  wife  had  died  about  five 
years  before. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Andrew  For- 
ney lived  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  dying  therein  old 
age.  The  maternal  grandfather  also  died  at 
an  advanced  age  in  Pennsylvania. 

Andrew  Forney,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
with  the  exception  of  four  years  when  he 
lived  in  Greene  county,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Montgomery  county  all  his  life.  When  yet 
quite  a  young  man  he  began  learning  the  black- 
smith trade  in  his  father's  shop  in  Jackson 
township.  He  lived  at  Harshman  for  eight 
years,  and  in  December,  1893,  removed  to 
Highland,  his  present  place  of  residence,  and 
established  himself  in  the  trade  of  blacksmith, 
in  making  and  repairing  wagons  and  carriages. 
That  he  is  a  skillful  workman  is  known  far  and 
wide,  and  his  patronage  is  unusually  extensive. 

On  April  19,  i860,  he  married  Mahaley 
Shank,  daughter  of  Samuel  Shank.  To  this 
marriage  there  were  born  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Emma,  Laura,  Mollie,  Charles  and 
William.  Emma  married  Charles  Garst,  and 
has  two  children  living;  Laura  married  William 
Magarity,  lives  in  New  York,  and  has  three 
children;  Mollie  married  Henry  Mohler,  and 
has  two  children;  Charles,  who  lives  at  Harsh- 
man,  married  Ella  Myers,  and  has  one  child; 
and  William,  who  lives  in  Greene  county,  mar- 
ried Emma  Rigglesperger. 

Mrs.  Forney  died  February  26,  1875,  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr. 
Forney's  second  marriage  was  with  Miss  Susie 
Ebright,  who  lived  but  a  short  time.  Febru- 
ary 14,  1882,  Mr.  Forney  married,  for  his  third 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1119 


wife,  Mrs.  Magdalene  Schiller,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Eleanora  (Schuster)  Unland. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  one  child,  Min- 
nie. By  her  marriage  with  Michael  Myers, 
her  first  husband,  Mrs.  Forney  has  two  chil- 
dren living,  viz:  John  and  Ella.  John  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  Brown  and  has  one  child,  and 
Ella  married  Charles  Forney,  son  of  Andrew 
A.  Forney,  and  has  one  child. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forney  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  church.  For  many  years  he  was  an 
elder  in  the  United  Brethren  church  at  Lib- 
erty and  also  class  leader.  Inasmuch  as  at 
Highland  there  is  no  church  of  that  denomina- 
tion he  and  his. wife  united  with  the  Reformed 
church.  During  the  late  Civil  war  Mr.  Forney 
was  a  soldier  in  the  one  hundred  days'  service 
at  Camp  Miami.  Politically,  he  is  an  old 
Jackson  democrat.  He  has  been  thrice 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  when  the 
spring  of  1897  arrives  he  will  have  served  in 
that  office  nine  years.  Mrs.  Forney,  like  her 
husband,  has  been  married  three  times,  her 
second  husband  having  been  William  Schiller. 
Both  Esquire  Forney  and  his  wife  are  highly 
esteemed  members  both  of  general  society  and 
of  their  church. 


>-j»OSIAH  B.  FLORY,  a  prominent  farmer 
M  and  dairyman  of  Harrison  township, 
A  1  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Randolph  township,  same  county,  June 
29,  18152.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Susan 
(Miller)  Flory,  natives  of  Montgomery  county, 
he  having  been  born  in  Madison  township, 
and  she  on  the  farm  on  which  subject  now  re- 
sides. To  their  marriage  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  JosiahB.;  Mary,  wife  of  W. 
J.  Shoup,  and  IraO.  Henry  Flory  has  always 
followed  farming,  and  at  present  lives  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  near  Harrisburg.  He  moved 
into  Harrison  township    in    1852,  and   resided 


there  until  1889,  when  he  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent farm.  At  one  time  he  owned  212  acres 
of  land  near  Dayton,  has  always  been  a  gen- 
eral farmer,  and  has  been  unusually  successful. 
His  wife,  who  was,  as  he  is,  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  or  Dunkard  church,  died  in 
1 88  1,  aged  forty-eight  years. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Josiah  B. , 
Abraham  Flory,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  of  German  descent.  He  was  also  a  farm- 
er, and  was  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of 
Ohio.  He  came  to  this  state  when  yet  a  boy, 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio,  and  became 
a  minister  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  He 
reared  a  family  of  three  children  and  died  in 
his  eighty-ninth  year.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Daniel  Miller,  was  born  in  Harrison 
township,  this  county,  on  the  farm  upon  which 
his  father  settled  in  1804.  Upon  this  farm 
Daniel  grew  to  manhood,  lived  in  this  town- 
ship all  his  life,  and  died  in  1 861,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years.  He  reared  a  family  of 
three  daughters. 

Josiah  B.  Flory  was  reared  on  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  lives,  from  the  time  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age.  Upon  this  same  farm 
his  father  and  grandfather  were  reared  before 
him.  His  early  education  was  received  in  the 
district  school  and  at  Lebanon  Normal  school. 
Remaining  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  he  then  rented  a  tract  of  land, 
upon  which  he  carried  on  farming  for  six  years. 
Then  buying  a  farm  in  Darke  county,  he  lived 
thereon  about  one  year,  when  he  returned  to 
the  old  home  farm,  upon  which  he  has  lived 
ever  since.  This  home  farm  now  contains  sev- 
enty-seven acres,  and  upon  it  he  carries  on 
general  farming  and  the  dairy  business.  Be- 
side this  farm,  Mr.  Flory  has  an  interest  in  a 
farm  near  Dayton  View,  the  latter  containing 
sixty-six  acres. 

On  October  30,  1S73,  Mr.  Flory  married 
Miss    Sarah    Eby,    daughter   of   Adam   S.    and 


1120 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Elizabeth  (Bartels)  Eby,  and  to  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  two  children,  Edgar  L. 
and  Robert  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flory  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  po- 
litically Mr.  Flory  is  a  republican. 


a  ARRIS  W.  FALKNOR,  farmer,  of 
Clay  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, same  county,  December  14, 
1847.  His  grandfather,  Levi  Falknor,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  shortly  after  his 
marriage,  in  that  state,  to  Margaret  Nicode- 
mus,  came  to  Ohio,  about  the  year  1820,  and 
settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Randolph 
township,  Montgomery  county.  This  land  he 
cleared  from  the  woods  and  converted  into  as 
good  a  farm  as  could  be  found  among  the  pio- 
neers. He  was  a  democrat,  a  useful  member 
of  his  community,  and  reared  a  goodly  family 
of  children,  who  were  named  John,  Daniel, 
Hettie,  Levi,  Mary  A.,  Andrew,  Eli,  Wesley 
and  Joseph. 

Levi  Falknor,  father  of  Carris  W.  Falknor, 
was  born  in  Randolph  township,  in  October, 
1824,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm. 
He  received  but  a  limited  education,  as  good 
schools  were  not  very  plentiful  in  those  early 
days,  and  labor  on  the  home  farm  was  greatly 
in  demand.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  R.  Herr, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Frances  (Long) 
Herr,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  1  50  acres  in  the 
woods  of  Clay  township,  where  he  lived  until 
1872,  when  he  retired  to  Harrisburg,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  is  the  owner  of  two  farms, 
however,  one  in  Clay  and  one  in  Randolph 
township,  aggregating  250  acres,  which  he 
still  manages.  Mrs.  Nancy  Falknor  died  in 
Harrisburg  in  1880,  a  member  of  the  Wegner 
church,  and  sincerely  esteemed  for  her  many 
excellent  qualities  as  a  wife  and  mother.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Falkner    were  born   the    follow- 


ing children:  Angeline,  who  died  at  five  years 
of  age;  Carris  W. ,  the  subject  of  this  memoir; 
David,  Francis,  Lorin,  Mary  A.,  Theodore  and 
Jerome.  Mr.  Falknor  has  been  very  success- 
ful through  life  and  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  his  early  industry.  Like  his  father,  he  is  in 
his  politics  a  democrat. 

Carris  W.  Falknor  received  the  usual  dis- 
trict-school education  common  to  lads  reared 
on  the  farm,  and  was  an  assistant  to  his 
father  on  the  home  place  until  his  marriage, 
January  28,  1872,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Kinsey,  who 
was  born  in  Randolph  township,  January  14, 
1853,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susannah 
(Boyer)  Kinsey.  The  young  couple  remained 
on  the  Falknor  homestead  until  March  5, 
1872,  when  they  moved  to  Darke  county,  and 
lived  there  for  two  years,  and  then  returned  to 
their  old  home.  February  15,  [88 1,  Mr. 
Falkner  bought  his  present  farm  of  ninety- 
three  acres,  which  he  has  greatly  improved  in 
many  ways,  having  set  out  a  thrifty  orchard 
and  otherwise  embellished  his  place.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Falknor  has  been 
blessed  with  one  daughter,  Carrie  H.,  now 
married  to  Rollin  Welbaum,  of  Miami  county. 
She  was  born  September  30,  1875,  married 
September  9,  1894,  and  is  the  mother  of  one 
child,  Ocelin   M.,    born   October  26,   1895. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Falknor  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Falknor  is  a  democrat.  He  has  prospered  in 
his  vocation,  establishing  for  himself  at  the 
same  time  an  enviable  reputation  for  integrity 
and  public-spirited  usefulness,  and  has  one  of 
the  most  pleasant  homes  in  Clay  township. 


£""V*AMUEL  L.  FRENCH,  a  farmer  of 
*\^^%T    Harrison  township,  Montgomery  coun- 

k^_J  ty,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  March  7,  1825.  His  parents 
were     George     W.    and     Elizabeth    (Roberts) 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1121 


French,  the  former  a  native  of  Hartford,  Conn., 
and  the  latter  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  To 
them  there  were  born  eleven  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Samuel 
L. ;  Eliza,  wife  of  James  Myers;  Mary  Anna, 
wife  of  James  Mahlon;  John,  Benjamin,  Abner, 
and  Melissie,  wife  of  Joseph  Gillan. 

George  W.  French,  the  father,  was  a  nail 
cutter  in  his  early  life.  In  1835  he  came  to 
Ohio  and  here  engaged  in  farming,  locating 
six  miles  east  of  Troy,  where  he  bought  a 
quarter  section  of  land.  Here  for  about  twenty 
years  he  followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture. 
In  1856  Mr.  French  removed  to  Indiana,  lo- 
cating fourteen  miles  from  Indianapolis,  where 
he  carried  on  farming  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  about  i860  purchased  property  in  Zions- 
ville,  sixteen  miles  from  Indianapolis,  where 
he  continued  to  live  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1894,  when  he  was  ninety-six  years 
old.  His  widow,  who  is  now  ninety-four  years 
of  age,  is  living  with  her  daughter,  Mary  Ann. 
Mr.  French  was,  and  Mrs.  French  is,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

When  George  W.  French  and  his  family 
came  to  Ohio,  Samuel  L. ,  his  son,  was  nine 
years  old.  He  was  here  reared  to  the  life  of 
a  pioneer  farmer,  living  in  the  woods,  as  the 
country  was  then  but  little  cleared.  Remain- 
ing at  home  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age,  he  then  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  five  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Shelby  county,  where  he  lived 
for  fourteen  years,  and  in  1866  came  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
100  acres  of  land,  together  with  a  tract  for 
the  erection  of  his  buildings,  and  has  lived 
here  since  that  time. 

November  5,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Booher,  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Boo- 
her  and  his  wife,  Sarah.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  six  children,  five  sons 
and  one  daughter,  as  follows:      George,  Sarah, 


John,  Isaac  N.,  and  two  that  died  in  early 
childhood.  Only  two  of  these  children  are 
now  living,  viz:  Sarah  and  Isaac.  Sarah 
married  William  Heinz,  of  Dayton,  and  has 
two  children.  Isaac  married  Ella  Snyder. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  French  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Politically  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  is  a  man  of  character  and  repu- 
tation, second  to  none  in  the  county. 


HNANIAS  FRANTZ,  of  Clayton  post- 
office,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers 
of  Randolph  township,  is  a  grandson 
of  one  of  the  original  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county,  Henry  Frantz,  who  was 
a  son  of  the  original  emigrant  from  Germany, 
the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  whose 
name  is  not  now  recalled.  But  he  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  Henry  Frantz  was  born. 
Removing  to  Virginia,  Henry  Frantz  settled  at 
Salem,  in  what  is  now  Roanoke  county,  that 
state.  He  married  Mary  Kinsey,  who  is  men- 
tioned more  fully  in  the  biography  of  Jesse 
Kinsey,  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Daniel,  Christian,  Het- 
tie,  Lydia,  Mary,  Sallie,  Polly,  Susannah, 
and  Elizabeth. 

Henry  Frantz  moved  with  his  family  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1825,  with  a 
four-horse  team  and  large  wagon,  Mrs.  Frantz 
riding  on  horseback.  At  first  he  settled  in  the 
Stillwater  valley,  and  then  bought  land  in 
Madison  township,  where  Ira  Frantz  now 
lives.  This  land  was  then  partly  cleared,  and 
he  cleared  the  remainder,  making  it  a  fine  farm 
and  a  good  home.  Henry  Frantz  was  one  of 
the  sturdy,  reliable  pioneers,  and  reared  a  most 
respected  family.  He  died  on  his  home  farm 
in  1840,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 

Daniel  Frantz,  son  of  Henry  and  father  of 
Ananias  Frantz,  was  born  February  7,  1813, 
and  was  therefore  twelve  years  of  age  when  he 


]  L22 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio.  Having  re- 
ceived his  education  and  chosen  his  vocation 
in  life,  that  of  a  farmer,  he  married  Salome 
Rodebaugh,  by  whom  he  had  the  following 
children:  Maria,  Katie,  Lucinda,  and  two 
that  died  in  infancy  or  youth.  The  mother  of 
these  children  having  died,  Mr.  Frantz  mar- 
ried Susannah  Arnold,  who  was  born  July  24, 
1  817,  in  Perry  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  John  and 
Barbara  (Freedni  Arnold,  the  former  of  whom 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  county,  in 
which  he  entered  land.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frantz  there  were  born  three  children,  viz: 
Ananias,  Ira  and  Alice.  Daniel  Frantz  first 
bought  land  in  Madison  township,  near  the  old 
homestead,  afterward  bought  fifty  acres  in 
Randolph  township,  and  in  later  years  pur- 
chased the  old  Frantz  homestead  of  160  acres, 
making  250  acres  of  land.  In  his  early  days 
he  was  a  great  hunter  and  fisher,  and  killed 
many  squirrels  and  quails,  which  he  disposed 
of  in  the  Dayton  market.  He  was  a  sturdy 
pioneer,  and  has  always  borne  an  honorable 
reputation.  He  is  still  in  good  health  and  has 
an  excellent  memory,  at  the  great  age  of 
eighty-four. 

Ananias  Frantz,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
April  11,  1855,  on  his  father's  farm  in  Madi- 
son township.  Having  received  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  and  entered 
upon  the  life  of  a  farmer,  he  married,  on  No- 
vember 16,  1876,  in  Dayton,  Miss  Alice  Lan- 
dis,  who  was  born  September  16,  1857,  in 
Madison  township,  near  Trotwood,  Ohfo.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Elizabeth 
(Weaver)  Landis.  John  M.  Landis  is  of  Penn- 
sylvania-Dutch stock  and  is  a  son  of  Abraham 
and  Mary  (Miller)  Landis. 

Abraham  Landis  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
married  there  and  became  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  He  and  his 
wife  reared  a  large  family,  as  follows:     Sallie, 


Myra,  Leah,  Nancy,  Polly,  Lydia,  Katie,  Su- 
san, Jacob,  Samuel,  Daniel,  John  M.,  Abra- 
ham and  Michael.  He  was  a  successful  farmer, 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 
John  M.  Landis  was  born  near  Trotwood  Jul)' 
9,  1832,  became  a  farmer,  married  Elizabeth 
Weaver,  and  is  the  father  of  the  following 
children:  Alice,  Bell,  Edward,  Charles, 
Emma  and  Clarence. 

Ananias  Frantz  and  wife  settled  on  his 
father's  farm  and  afterward  bought  the  place, 
consisting  of  190  acres,  which  he  has  con- 
verted into  a  fine  farm  and  upon  which  he 
erected,  in  1886,  a  handsome  residence.  As 
a  republican,  Mr.  Frantz  has  served  on  the 
school  board  eight  years. 


(/\  R.  HAYES  E.  GARDINER,  one  of 
I  Montgomery  county's  well  known 
/^^J  physicians  and  surgeons,  is  a  native 
of  Miami  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
March  7,  1866,  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  stock. 
Henry  Gardiner,  his  father,  was  born  June  6, 
1827,  in  county  Mayo,  Ireland,  his  parents 
having  been  natives  of  Scotland,  and  reared 
to  be  uncompromising  Presbyterians. 

Henry  Gardiner  was  a  landowner  and  came 
to  America  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Troy,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  about  1851.  He 
married  in  that  city  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Sproule, 
who  was  born  in  Troy,  September  19,  1826,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Hayes) 
Sproule. 

Robert  Sproule  was  a  native  of  county  Ty- 
rone, Ireland,  of  Scotch  Covenanter  descent, 
and  was  of  a  wealthy  family  of  landowners. 
He  came  to  America  when  a  young  man, 
bought  an  estate  in  South  Carolina,  settled 
thereon,  and  there  married  Miss  Margaret 
Hayes,  who  was  born  in  county  Tyrone,  Ire- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1123 


land,  and  came  to  America  in  the  same  vessel 
with  her  future  husband.  Mr.  Sproule  re- 
mained for  some  years  on  his  estate  in  South 
Carolina,  but,  being  opposed  to  the  institution 
of  African  slavery  as  it  then  existed,  sought  a 
home  in  Ohio  about  the  year  1807.  Reaching 
a  point  opposite  Cincinnati  on  his  way  hither, 
he  crossed  the  river,  with  his  chattels,  in  a 
ferry-boat,  pushed  on  with  his  horses  and 
wagons  until  he  reached  Miami  county,  where 
he  entered  large  tracts  of  land  near  Troy,  and 
gave  to  each  of  his  nine  children  a  farm, 
reserving  320  acres  for  his  homestead.  There 
he  followed  farming  and  also  built  a  rlouring- 
mill  and  a  saw-mill — the  best  in  the  county — 
and  in  18 19  erected  a  fine  brick  dwelling, 
superior,  in  every  respect,  to  any  then  in  the 
neighborhood  or  in  the  county  of  Miami. 
This  mansion  is  still  standing,  and  is  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation.  Mr.  Sproule  possessed 
rare  attainments,  and  voluntarily  taught  the 
pioneer  schools  of  his  adopted  county  that 
were  within  his  reach. 

To  Mr.  Sproule  and  wife  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  Thomas,  Samuel, 
James,  Robert,  Margaret,  Fannie  (who  died 
young),  Martha,  Sallie,  Matilda,  Elizabeth, 
Isabel,  Rebecca  J.  and  Nancy.  Mr.  Sproule 
was  a  devoted  Presbyterian,  and  assisted  to 
found  and  erect  the  edifice  for  that  denomina- 
tion in  his  own  county;  he  was  also  a  patriot 
and  took  part  in  the  Indian  wars,  but  lived  to 
be  an  aged  man,  and  died  full  of  honor  and 
respected  as  a  benefactor  of  his  race. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Gardi- 
ner settled  on  a  farm  of  160  acres  at  Troy, 
Ohio,  fully  improved  it,  and  there  Mr.  Gardiner 
still  resides.  Their  children  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  Robert,  who  was  killed  by 
lightning  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years;  William;  Samuel,  deceased;  Hayes  E., 
Nannie  and  Sallie. 

Dr.  Hayes   E.  Gardiner  was  reared  on  his 


father's  farm  near  Troy,  Ohio,  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  in  the 
Normal  university  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  afterward 
attended  the  Columbus  (Ohio)  Medical  college, 
from  which  he  graduated,  with  honors  and  the 
class  prize,  in  April,  1889.  He  also  studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  Linderberger,  of  Troy, 
and  in  the  year  of  his  graduation  began  the 
pursuit  of  his  profession  at  Salem,  where  he 
soon  secured  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  in 
the  town  and  throughout  the  surrounding 
country.  Dr.  Gardiner  is  a  member  of  the 
Miami  Medical  society,  from  which  he  receives 
many  important  hints  derived  from  the  prac- 
tice of  his  brother  practitioners,  and  to  which 
he  contributes  essays  based  on  his  personal 
experience. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Gardiner  was  con- 
summated June  4,  1890,  in  Dresden,  Mus- 
kingum county,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Elenor  Bell, 
who  was  born  in  Bakersville,  Coshocton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  December  16,  1869.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  H.  D.  and  Mary 
(Krout)  Bell,  whose  other  children  were  Alba 
and  Frederick — the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years.  Dr.  Gardiner  and  wife  have 
one  child — Claude.  In  politics  the  doctor  is 
a  republican.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of 
Randolph  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has 
passed  all  the  chairs,  and  of  the  K.  of  P.  lodge 
at  Brookville. 


EENRY  A.  GARLAUGH,  farmer,  of 
Beaver  Creek  township,  Greene  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  born  February  7,  1830, 
in  the  township  in  which  he  now  re- 
sides. He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Har- 
mison)  Garlaugh,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  Washington  county,  Md.,  and  the 
latter  of  Virginia.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  as  follows:  Sophia,  wifeof  Simon 
Black;   Henry  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 


11 2-4 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Sarah  E. ;  Upton  H.  and  Noah  C.  Upton  H. 
died  in  August,  1895,  aged  fifty-two  years. 
Henry  Garlaugh,  the  father,  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1828.  His 
father,  Adam  Garlaugh,  entered  the  land 
where  Henry  A.  Garlaugh  now  lives.  Henry 
Garlaugh  had  been  previously  married,  and 
had  brought  his  first  wife  to  Ohio,  where  she 
died.  He  then  returned  to  Maryland,  lived 
there  sixteen  years,  married  again  and  came 
to  Ohio  for  the  second  time  in  1828.  His 
second  wife  was  the  mother  of  the  children 
named  above.  He  continued  to  live  on  the 
farm  above  mentioned  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  February  16,  1858,  when  he  was  sev- 
enty-five years  old.  Mary  Harmison,  his  sec- 
ond wife,  was  born  August  2,  1S02,  and  died 
May  22,  1S79.  Both  were  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Garlaugh 
first  came  to  Ohio  about  181 1,  and  served  his 
country  in  the  war  of  181  2.  During  the  rest 
of  his  life  in  this  state  he  was  of  more  than 
ordinary  prominence  in  the  community,  and 
was  always  highly  esteemed  for  his  patriotism 
and  his  excellent  qualities  of  citizenship. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
Adam  Garlaugh,  lived  in  Maryland  during  the 
early  days  of  his  life,  but  came  to  Ohio,  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer  here,  and 
died  in  Greene  county,  both  he  and  his  wife, 
Christina,  being  buried  in  the  Beaver  Creek 
cemetery.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the 
subject,  William  Harmison,  was  a  native  of 
Berkeley  county ,  Va. ,  as  also  was  his  wife,  Ruth. 

Henry  A.  Garlaugh  has  lived  all  his  life  on 
his  present  farm,  which  was  his  grandfather's 
before  him.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools.  After  his  father's  death  the 
farm  was  left  to  his  mother,  and  he  and  his 
brother,  Upton,  worked  for  her  until  her  death. 
Then  he  and  Upton  bought  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs,  and  in  1893  Henry  A.  bought  his 
brother    Upton's    interest,    thus    coming    into 


possession  and  ownership  of  the  entire  farm, 
which  contains  160  acres  of  land.  It  is  well 
improved,  with  a  commodious  residence,  and 
gives  evidence  of  the  careful  husbandry  of  its 
owner. 

Mr.  Garlaugh  was  married  January  15, 
1874,  to  Miss  Martha  Brown,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Elizabeth  (Lindamond)  Brown.  To 
this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three  chil - 
dred,  Daisy  Belle,  Mary  Allen  and  Frank  El- 
wood.  Mrs.  Garlaugh  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Garlaugh  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  interested  in  the  questions  of  the 
day.  He  has  lived  sixty-five  years  on  his  pres- 
ent farm,  and  has  witnessed  the  great  develop- 
ment of  the  Miami  Valley,  and  especially  of 
the  city  of  Dayton.  At  one  time  when  he  was 
a  young  man  he  brought  a  load  of  lumber  into 
Dayton,  and  his  wagon  passed  over  the  ground 
on  which  the  court  house  now  stands.  The 
county  of  Greene,  in  which  he  lives,  has  also 
made  rapid  strides  in  growth  and  prosperity, 
during  his  life  time.  Mr.  Garlaugh  is  a  repre- 
sentative farmer,  and  a  good  citizen.  The 
success  with  which  he  has  met  is  due  to  his  own 
effort  and  thought,  and  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  word  he  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  his 
county. 


HUSTIN     GEBHART,     a    well-known 
agriculturist    of    Jefferson    township, 
Montgomery   county,  Ohio,  was  born 
in    Miami    township,    July    13,    1829, 
and  is  an  ex-soldier  of  the  late  Civil  war. 

John  George  Gebhart,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa., 
came  to  Ohio  in  1804,  and  settled  in  Miami 
township,  this  county,  where  he  cleared  an 
excellent  farm,  on  which  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
Catherine  Smith,  bore  him  ten  children,  name- 
ly:  Henry,  who  was  born  in  Berks  county, Pa.. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1125 


in  1799;  Mary  M.,  who  was  married  to  John 
Shupert;  Catherine,  wife  of  Daniel  Shelley; 
Susan,  who  married  Peter  Waldsmith;  Eliza- 
beth and  Maria,  twins,  the  former  of  whom 
was  married  to  Henry  Pressler,  and  the  latter 
to  John  Stettler;  Peter,  Margaret,  George  and 
Saloma — the  last  named  married  to  Daniel 
Miller. 

Jacob  Yount,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
Austin  Gebhart,  was  a  native  of  North  Caroli- 
na, and  came  to  Ohio  in  1802,  cleared  up  a 
farm  in  German  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, and  there  died,  a  highly  honored  pioneer. 
His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  his  native  state, 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Foutz. 

Henry  Gebhart,  father  of  Austin,  was 
reared  in  Miami  township  from  the  age  of  nine 
years.  He  married  Miss  Sally  Yount,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Yount,  named  above,  and  this 
union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  fourteen  children, 
of  whom  six  grew  to  maturity,  viz:  Jacob, 
now  deceased;  Zebulon;  Mary,  deceased  wife 
of  William  Gebhart;  Austin,  our  subject;  Mi- 
nerva, now  Mrs.  William  Loy,  and  Peter  Y. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  a  lifelong  and 
prosperous  farmer,  was  a  man  of  mark  in  his 
community,  and  for  eighteen  consecutive  years 
was  trustee  of  Miami  township,  bearing  the 
soubriquet  of  Trustee  Henry. 

Austin  Gebhart  was  reared  in  Miami  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  his  vocation  as  a  farm- 
er until  1869,  when  he  came  to  Jefferson  town- 
ship, where  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
ever  since,  and  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides  since  1876.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  wife  being  Sarah  Ann  Shade,  and 
the  second,  Barbara  Billman. 

During  the  late  Civil  war  Mr.  Gebhart  was 
a  member  of  company  E,  First  Ohio  volunteer 
infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Pittsburg  Landing,  Stone  River  and  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  was  with  Sherman  until  his  three- 
year  term  of  enlistment  expired  at  Atlanta, 
49 


Ga.  He  was  placed  on  the  roll  of  honor  for 
gallantry  displayed  at  Stone  River,  and  on  his 
return  to  Ohio  on  a  furlough,  in  March,  1864, 
he  was  elected  over  three  other  candidates  to 
bring  with  him  the  sum  of  $7,000,  which  the 
members  of  the  regiment  sent  home  to  their 
families.  On  the  10th  of  August,  1864,  Mr. 
Gebhart  was  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  in  politics  is  a 
republican,  and  holds  a  high  position  in  the 
esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


@EORGE  GETTER,  deceased  farmer 
of  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  February  3,  1805,  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Lambert)  Getter,  and  in 
18 19,  when  in  his  fifteenth  year,  was  brought 
to  this  county  by  his  parents,  and  here  grew  to 
manhood.  March  14,  1828,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Wertz,  who  was  born  in  1808,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Weymer)  Wertz,  of 
Jefferson  township,  and  at  once  purchased  the 
farm  on  whiqh  his  widow  still  resides.  This 
farm  he  cleared  and  improved,  and  here  fol- 
lowed the  peaceful  pursuit  of  agriculture  until 
his  final  illness,  which  resulted  in  his  death 
July  5,  1875.  The  union  of  George  and  Mary 
Getter  was  blessed  with  thirteen  children,  born 
in  the  order  here  given:  John,  Daniel  (de- 
ceased), George  (deceased),  William,  Sarah  A. 
(Mrs.  Thomas  Askins,  deceased),  Jacob,  Jo- 
seph, Peter  (deceased),  Mary  E.  (wife  of  Eli 
Shade),  Samuel,  Perry  P.  (deceased),  Henry 
and  Albert  T.  In  his  politics  George  Getter 
was  a  democrat,  and  for  fourteen  years  served 
as  township  treasurer,  and  for  several  years  as 
infirmary  director;  he  reared  his  family  in  the 
faith  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  this  faith 
he  himself  expired,  an  upright  and  greatly  re- 
spected citizen. 


L126 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Albert  T.  Getter,  son  of  George  aud  Mary 
Getter,  mentioned  above  as  their  youngest 
child,  was  born  on  the  Getter  homestead  in 
Jefferson  township  April  7,  1855,  and  this  has 
always  been  his  home,  his  vocation  being  that 
of  a  farmer.  November  15,  1877,  he  married 
Miss  Susan  Treon,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Sarah  (Gebhart)  Treon,  and  this  marriage  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
eight  are  still  living,  viz:  Harvey,  Alice,  May, 
George,  Ray,  Grace,  Walter  and  Goldie. 
Treading  in  the  footsteps  of  his  honored  father, 
Mr.  Getter  is  a  democrat  in  his  politics  and  has 
served  four  years  as  township  trustee;  he  is 
fraternally  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
in  religion  is  a  consistent  Lutheran.  He  is  a 
skillful  and  industrious  farmer,  a  useful  citizen, 
and  holds  a  secure  position  in  the  esteem  of 
his  neighbors. 


HBRAHAM  HARTZELL,  who  was  one 
of  the  best  known  farmers  of  Jeffer- 
son township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  a  native  of  the  county  and 
was  born  January  26,  1836,  a  son  of  John  and 
Susannah  (Heck)  Hartzell,  natives,  respect- 
ively, of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  The 
paternal  grandfather,  Adam  Hartzell,  was  a 
native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  was  a  farmer,  and 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Jefferson  township;  while 
the  maternal  grandfather,  Abraham  Heck, 
born  in  Virginia,  was  a  pioneer  shoemaker  of 
Jackson  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
John  Hartzell  was  a  young  man  when  he 
settled  in  Jefferson  township,  where  he  con- 
tinued farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  seventy-five  years  of  age.  He 
was  the  father  of  the  unusually  large  family  of 
seventeen  children,  of  whom  sixteen  reached 
mature  years,  and  were  named,  in  order  of 
birth,  as  follows:  Jacob,  Joseph,  Eliza,  Lavina, 


Allen,  Clinton,  John,  David,  Sarah,  Abraham, 
Lewis,  Leonard,  Susannah,  George,  Polly  and 
Elizabeth.  Of  these,  Sarah  was  married  to 
Samuel  Douglass,  Susannah  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Hunter,  and  Elizabeth  is  now  Mrs. 
Jacob  Sharritts;  those  who  died  after  reaching 
maturity  were  Jacob,  Joseph,  Lavina,  Allen, 
Clinton  and  Abraham. 

Abraham  Hartzell,  the  tenth  born  of  this 
family,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
township  of  Jefferson,  always  followed  farming 
as  an  occupation,  and  died,  September  29, 
1896,  on  the  farm  he  had  occupied  since  1878. 
He  belonged  to  the  Reformed  church,  of  which 
his  widow  is  still  a  member.  He  was  thor- 
oughly skilled  in  his  calling,  and  his  place 
presented  every  evidence  of  thrift  and  pros- 
perity. Mr.  Hartzell  was  twice  married — his 
first  wife  having  been  Catherine  Beckinbaugh, 
and  his  second  wife  Emeline  Beckinbaugh. 
In  his  politics  Mr.  Hartzell  was  a  democrat. 
The  family,  being  one  of  the  oldest  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  is  held  in  universal  esteem. 


£~>f  AMUEL  HAMMEL,  an  old  settler  of 
»^^^k*    Montgomery   county,    Ohio,    and    an 

h^^J  honored  citizen  of  Clay  township,  is  of 
sterling  Irish  ancestry  and  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  November  21,  1814, 
a  son  of  William  and  Susan  (Kelley)  Hammel. 
William  Hammel  came  from  Ireland  to 
America  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  settled 
first  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  married  Susan 
Kelley  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  whither  he 
had  removed  after  the  war,  and  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  mason.  This  marriage 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  nine  children,  viz:  Isa- 
bel, Samuel,  William,  Prudence,  Henry, 
James  N.,  Joseph  W.,  Eliza  and  Andrew  J., 
the  majority  of  whom   were   born    in  Ohio,  as 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1127 


the  father  brought  his  wife  and  his  Pennsylva- 
nia-born children  t'o  Montgomery  county,  this 
state,  in  i S 1 8,  and  settled  in  Salem.  Here 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  his  removal  to 
Madison  township,  about  1828,  when  he  made 
his  home  near  Air  Hill  until  1832.  He  then 
removed  to  Darke  county  and  bought  a  farm 
of  160  acres  near  Greenville,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  faith,  also,  his  widow  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  In  politics 
Mr.  Hammel  was  a  Jacksonian  democrat.  He 
enjoyed  the  fullest  esteem  of  his  fellow-men, 
and  his  wife  was  equally  well  known  for  her 
strength  of  character  and  her  many  womanly 
qualities. 

Samuel  Hammel  was  a  lad  of  but  four 
years  when  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents.  He 
received  as  good  an  education  as  the  pioneer 
schools  of  his  early  youth  afforded  and  was 
reared  to  the  pursuit  of  farming,  although  his  en- 
trance upon  this  career  did  not  at  first  promise 
great  results,  inasmuch  as  he  worked  from  his 
eighteenth  to  his  twenty-first  year  for  the  com- 
pensation of  $100  per  year  and  clothed  him- 
self. But  he  was  industrious  and  economical 
and  was  prepared  to  take  unto  himself  a  wife 
when  he  had  reached  his  majority,  his  choice 
of  a  helpmate  being  Miss  Catherine  Wright, 
whom  he  married  near  Brookville,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 3,  1835.  This  lady  was  born  October 
15,  181  5,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Wright. 

Robert  Wright,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ham- 
mel, was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man,  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
and  there  married  a  lady  of  German  descent. 
They  came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
about  the  year  1827,  and  settled  on  100  acres 
near  Brookville,  where  they  lived  until  Mr. 
Wright's  accidental  death  on  the  railroad  near 
Brookville.      He  and  wife   were  the  parents  of 


five  children,  named  George,  Robert,  Mary, 
Catherine  and  Alexander,  and  were  faithful 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Samuel  Hammel,  when  married,  had  not  suf- 
ficient means  with  which  to  buy  a  farm,  but 
with  his  willing  wife  began  his  wedded  life  in  a 
log  cabin,  with  a  puncheon  floor  and  the  usual 
rude  finishings,  situated  on  a  farm  owned  by 
his  uncles,  Samuel  and  John  Kelley,  and  there 
farmed  for  three  years  or  more.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  industry  and  of  rigid  economy, 
through  which  he  accumulated  the  means  to 
purchase  his  present  farm  in  1844,  and  on 
which  he  settled  in  1847.  He  continued  to 
work  for  other  persons  in  order  to  earn  money 
with  which  to  stock  and  improve  his  home 
place,  to  which  he  has  constantly  added  until 
he  now  owns  a  handsome  farm  of  249  acres, 
which  will  vie  in  fertility  and  productiveness 
with  any  other  in  the  township. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammel 
were  born  seven  children,  viz:  Joseph,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Robert,  Will- 
iam H.,  John  K.,  Abraham  F. ;  Catherine,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Leah  I.  The  mother  of 
the  children  died  in  November,  1892,  in  her 
seventy-eighth  year,  a  devout  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  respected  by  all  who 
knew  her  and  honored  for  her  devotion  as  a 
wife  and  mother.  Mr.  Hammel  has  also  been 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church  for 
many  years.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-line  whig 
and  voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison  for  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States;  later  he  be- 
came a  republican,  on  the  formation  of  that 
party,  and  voted  for  its  first  candidate  for  the 
presidency — John  C.  Fremont.  Mr.  Hammel 
has  served  fifteen  years  as  township  trustee, 
and  has  always  been  an  advocate  of  a  liberal 
public  and  free  education  to  the  youth  of  the 
land,  having  served  as  school  director  for  over 
thirty  years.  He  is  more  than  a  fair  example 
of  what  is  usually  called  a  self-made  man,  and 


1128 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  life  has  been  one  that  might  be  profitably 
emulated  by  the  young  of  the  present  genera- 
tion. He  has  lived  to  see  his  descendants  in- 
crease and  multiply,  and  is  now  the  grand- 
father of  seventeen,  and  great-grandfather  of 
six  children. 


^/\  AVID  L.    HECK,  one  of  the  venera- 

■    ble   citizens   of    Madison    township, 

J^^S     Montgomery  county,    Ohio,    springs 

from     German     ancestors,    who,    on 

coming  over  from  Germany,  settled  in  Virginia. 

David  Heck,  his  grandfather,  was  a  farmer 
in  Virginia  and  there  married  Christina  Lane, 
by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  Dan- 
iel, Christina,  Elizabeth,  Jacob,  David  and 
two  others.  The  mother  of  these  children 
having  died,  he  married  again,  the  name  of 
his  second  wife  being  not  now  recalled,  but  by 
whom  he  had  a  large  family. 

David  Heck,  father  of  David  L. ,  was  born 
in  1783  in  Maryland,  where  his  father  lived  at 
one  time.  He  married,  in  Virginia,  Magda- 
lena  Spitler,  daughter  of  Jacob  Spitler,  fuller 
reference  to  whom  is  made  in  the  history  of 
the  Spitler  family,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heck  there  were  born  the 
following  children:  Samuel  M.,  John  D., 
David  L.,  Annie,  Elizabeth,  Susannah,  Polly 
A.,  and  Andrew  B.,  the  last  named  of  whom 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  David  Heck 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  181 8, 
settling  in  Madison  township  on  December  29, 
of  that  year.  David  L.  now  lives  on  a  part  of 
the  farm  then  taken  up.  David  Heck  received 
eighty  acres  from  his  wife's  father,  Jacob  Spit- 
ler, who  had  purchased  a  quarter  section  in 
this  county,  but  who  himself  never  came  here. 
David  Heck  had  come  to  this  county  in  181 1, 
then,  going  back  to  Virginia,  married  there, 
and,  bringing  his  wife  with  him  to  Ohio,  he 
erected  a  cabin  and  cleared  a  small  part  of  his 


land.  He  again  returned  to  Virginia  after  re- 
maining here  two  months,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  war  of  1812.  After  the  war  was  over  he 
lived  with  his  wife's  father  until  181 8,  when 
he  again  came  to  Montgomery  county  to  re- 
main. Upon  arriving  in  Dayton  he  was  offered 
the  lot  upon  which  the  Phillips  House  now 
stands,  in  exchange  for  the  leader  of  his  four- 
horse  team,  which  offer  he  refused,  because 
the  land  there  was  so  wet.  By  industry  and 
hard  labor  he  prospered  and  entered  a  half 
section  of  land  in  Tipton  county,  Ind.,  he  and 
six  others  in  1837  going  on  horseback  from 
Montgomery  count}'  to  Indiana,  where  they  all 
entered  land.  The  price  paid  by  Mr.  Heck 
for  his  land  was  $400  for  320  acres. 

Mr.  Heck  was  a  member  of  the  Regular  or 
Hard  Shell  Baptist  church,  but  in  his  old  age 
became  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  Politically  he  remained  a  Jackson 
democrat,  and  was  always  strong  in  the  faith, 
as  he  was  in  all  his  opinions,  religious  or  po- 
litical. He  was  for  a  time  a  director  of  the 
Dayton  turnpike  company,  of  which  he  was  a 
stockholder.  He  also  served  for  a  number  of 
years  as  treasurer  of  the  company.  He  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  one  term,  and  was 
looked  upon  by  all  as  a  straightforward,  hon- 
orable man. 

David  L.  Heck  was  born  March  4,  1S16, 
in  Botetourt  county,  Va. ,  and  was  therefore 
only  two  years  old  when  brought  to  Montgom- 
ery county  by  his  parents.  Reared  among  the 
early  pioneers  he  became  a  typical  pioneer 
himself,  thoroughly  familiar  with  their  cus- 
toms, habits  and  virtues.  Though  his  educa- 
tional facilities  and  opportunities  were  exceed- 
ingly limited  when  he  was  young,  yet,  possess- 
ing an  active  mind,  he  read  and  studied  much 
privately,  and  became  a  thoroughly  well-in- 
formed man.  He  fully  appreciated  the  value 
of  a  cultivated,  disciplined  mind,  and  now  has 
a  good  education.      In    his    youth   he   learned 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1129 


the  carpenter  trade.  On  May  23,  1842,  he 
married,  in  Perry  township,  Susannah  Shank, 
who  was  born  on  December  25,  18 19,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Noffsinger) 
Shank,  for  fuller  reference  to  whom  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  biographical  sketch  of  Henry 
Shank,  published  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heck 
remained  on  the  homestead  farm  for  six  years, 
during  which  time  he  worked  at  his  trade. 
He  then  bought  forty  acres  of  land  adjoining 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  now  lives.  Through 
steady  work  and  industrious  application  he 
cleared  his  farm,  made  it  a  good  home  for  his 
family,  and  has  added  to  it. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heck  there  were  born 
the  following  children:  Harriet,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seven  years;  David  F.,  Eliza- 
beth, Samuel,  Eliza  A.,  John  W.,  Warren, 
Harry  and  Clement  L.  Mrs.  Heck  died  in  her 
seventy-fourth  year,  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  and  a  woman  of  many  vir- 
tues. Politically  Mr.  Heck  is  a  democrat,  and 
as  such  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  one 
term  and  as  county  infirmary  director  one 
term.  Thoroughout  his  life  he  has  been  well 
known  as  a  man  of  straightforward  honesty  of 
character  and  of  strict  adherence  to  principle. 
His  judgment  is  universally  respected,  and  for 
this  reason  he  has  been  selected  to  serve  the 
people  of  his  county  in  various  capacities. 


@EORGE  C.  HENKEL,  M.  D.,  of 
Farmersville,  Ohio,  is  the  oldest  and 
most  prominent  physician  in  this 
town  and  vicinity,  where  he  has 
practiced  for  the  past  thirty-five  years.  He 
descends  from  a  very  ancient  family  of  Saxony, 
Germany,  of  noble  caste.  Rev.  Mulenborg, 
the  first  Lutheran  minister  in  America,  was 
sent  here  by  Count  Henkel,  one  of  Dr.  Henkel's 
ancestors,  and  the   great-great-grandfather  of 


Dr.  Henkel  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in 
colonial  times.  The  children  born  to  the 
latter  ancestor  were  Johan,  Gertrude  and  Paul, 
of  whom  the  last  named  was  the  great-grand- 
father of  George  C.  Henkel. 

Rev.  Paul  Henkel,  grandfather  of  the 
doctor,  was  a  Lutheran  minister,  born  in 
North  Carolina,  but  who  removed  to  Virginia, 
and  Rev.  Andrew  Henkel,  the  father,  also 
became  a  resident  of  Virginia,  making  his  resi- 
dence in  New  Market,  Shenandoah  county, 
but  when  a  young  man  came  to  Ohio  and  set- 
tled in  Perry  county.  There  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  Trout,  a  native  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth (Zeigler)  Trout,  to  which  union  were 
born  Hiram,  Melancthon,  Julia  A.,  Paul,' Mary, 
Margaret,  Sabina,  George  C. ,  William  and 
Edward.  In  18 19  Andrew  Henkel  settled  in 
Germantown,  Ohio,  preached  to  the  pioneers, 
and  died  in  1873  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  years.  He  was  a  democrat  in  politics, 
was  worshipful  master  in  the  Germantown 
lodge  of  Freemasons  and  noble  grand  in  his 
lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  His  son,  Edward, 
served  three  years  in  the  Ninety-third  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  was  captured  by  the  enemy 
at  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky.,  but  was 
paroled  and  served  out  his  term. 

Dr.  George  C.  Henkel  was  born  in  Ger- 
mantown, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  July  2, 
1835,  and  was  educated  primarily  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  supplementing  this  by  a  thorough 
training  at  Oxford  university,  Butler  county, 
Ohio.  He  then  read  medicine  under  Dr.  John 
H.  Helm,  of  Eaton,  Ohio,  and  later  attended 
medical  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  college, 
of  Cincinnati,  and,  having  secured  his  diploma, 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Salem, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  i860.  He  re- 
mained there  for  only  about  four  months,  and 
then  removed  to  Farmersville,  where  his  abil- 
ities were  at  once  recognized  and  where  he  has 


1130 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


held  a  lucrative  and    successful  practice,  since 
his  first  location  here  in  1861. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Henkel  took  place,  in 
1 86 1,  to  Miss  Catherine  Martin,  who  was  born 
in  1S36  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Eliza  (Brown)  Martin,  the  result  of 
this  union  being  four  children,  named,  in  order 
of  birth,  Vernon  A.,  Naomi,  Ruth  and  Orpha. 
The  doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Progressive  Brethren  church,  in  which  the 
doctor  is  a  deacon.  He  is,  beside,  a  member 
of  Friendship  lodge,  No.  21,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Germantown. 


v/^V  ANIEL  HOOPS,  one  of  the  oldest 
I  and  most  respected  farmers  of  Jack- 
/^^_J  son  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  here  on  his  father's 
farm,  August  24,  18 17,  and  descends  from 
Scotch  ancestors  who  settled  in  America  be- 
fore the  war  of  the  Revolution,  his  great- 
grandfather, a  blacksmith,  having  been  the 
first  of  the  family  to  come  to  this  country. 
He  settled  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  near  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  followed  his  trade  and  also 
engaged  in  farming;  but  he  sold  his  farm  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war,  receiving  in  pay- 
ment continental  money,  which  proved  to  be 
worthless,  and  he  was  therefore  obliged  to 
return  to  his  trade  of  blacksmithing.  He 
died  in  Chester  county,  aged  eighty  years. 

Eben  Hoops,  grandfather  of  Daniel,  died 
in  Chester  county,  Pa.  Among  his  children 
was  a  son  who  was  also  named  Eben,  who  be- 
came the  father  of  Daniel,  the  subject  of  this 
memoir.  The  younger  Eben  was  born  in 
Chester  county,  Pa.,  was  a  tailor  by  trade, 
and  was  married  in  Virginia  to  Kate  Kinsor, 
who  bore  him  seven  children:  Michael,  John, 
fane,  Isaiah,  Christine,  Polly,  and  one  whose 
name  cannot  be  remembered.  In  1808  Eben 
Hoops  came  to  Ohio,  and  bought  100  acres  of 


land  in  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty. He  followed  his  trade  of  tailor,  and  the 
pioneers  came  from  Dayton  and  the  country 
roundabout,  bringing  homemade  cloth,  which 
he  made  into  clothing.  He  always  kept  on 
hand,  also,  a  large  stock  of  cloth,  and  was  kept 
constantly  busy.  He  prospered,  and  bought 
sixty  additional  'acres  of  land,  and  eventually 
became  one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  of 
the  township.  He  was  a  democrat  in  politics, 
served  as  township  trustee  for  years,  and  was 
well  known  throughout  the  county.  On  the 
death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married  Miss  Sus- 
annah Sheets,  who  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Va. ,  about  1799,  and  this  union  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  Daniel,  whose  name 
opens  this  sketch,  Sarah,  Lewis,  Henry,  Mi- 
nerva, Eliza  and  Solomon.  Eben  Hoops  died 
on  his  farm  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
leaving  an  untarnished  name  and  the  memory 
of  a  useful  life. 

Daniel  Sheets,  father  of  Mrs.  Susannah 
Hoops,  came  from  Kentucky  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  having  been  a  pioneer  of  that 
as  well  as  of  this  state.  He  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  Jackson  township,  and 
here,  also,  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  Hannah, 
Nancy,  Polly,  Susannah  and  Solomon  Sheets. 
Daniel  Hoops  was  reared  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Jackson  township,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  log  school-house  of  the  fron- 
tier, which  he  attended  during  the  winters  until 
he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  He  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  became  very  expert,  being 
able  to  make  nine  shoes  in  a  day,  and  success- 
fully followed  the  trade  thirty-five  years.  He 
was  industrious  and  economical,  and  earned 
with  his  last  the  money  with  which  he  bought 
his  present  farm.  May  26,  1840,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Delawter,  who  was  born  in 
Farmersville,  Ohio,  May  22,  1822,  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Delawter. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1131 


Jacob  Delawter  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
of  German  descent,  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  in  1821,  bought  180  acres  in  the 
woods  and  converted  it  into  a  fine  farm.  His 
children  were  named  Alpheus,  Ezra,  Rebecca, 
Mary  A.,  Catherine,  David,  Sarah  A.,  Jacob, 
Jonas,  Lewis  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Delawter 
was  for  a  long  time  crier  at  public  auctions, 
was  full  of  wit,  and  was  known  throughout  the 
county  as  Uncle  Jake.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years,  a  member  and  trustee  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Daniel  Hoops  and  wife  after  marriage  set- 
tled on  Twin  creek,  where  Mr.  Hoops  con- 
tinued to  work  at  his  trade.  He  first  bought 
eight  acres  in  Jackson  township,  on  which  he 
lived  four  years,  then  bought  twelve  acres 
more,  on  which  he  lived  eleven  years,  then 
moved  to  Preble  county,  where  he  remained 
for  eleven  years  longer,  and  finally  returned  to 
Jackson  township  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm  of  103^  acres.  The  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hoops  was  blessed  with  the  following 
children:  Sarah,  Susan,  Jacob  and  Rebecca. 
Mrs.  Hoops  died  on  the  farm  May  15,  1893,  a 
devout  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  a  woman  who  honored  the  names 
of  helpmate  and  mother.  In  politics  Mr. 
Hoops  is  a  democrat  and  served  as  trustee  of 
his  township  for  five  years,  as  constable  three 
years,  and  also  for  many  years  as  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  grange  ever  since  its  organization,  and  is  a 
man  of  sterling  worth. 


<V~)  EV.  JONAS  HORNING,  a   farmer  of 
I  /^T     Jackson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
w    ty,  Ohio,  and  a  minister  for  the  past 
fifteen  years  of   the   German  Baptist 
church,  was  born  April  27,  1839,  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Pa.      He  is  a  son    of   William   and 


Hannah  (Price)  Horning,  and  was  a  year  and 
a  half  old  when  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  par- 
ents, in  the  fall  of  1840.  His  early  education 
was  not  by  any  means  neglected,  he  being  per- 
mitted to  attend  the  common  schools  as  long  as 
this  course  was  profitable,  and  afterward  he  pur- 
sued a  steady  course  of  carefully  selected  read- 
ing and  study,  more  particularly  in  Bible  sub- 
jects, and  is  thus  well  qualified  for  the  duties 
of  his  responsible  position  as  pastor  of  the 
church.  In  his  twenty-fifth  year,  on  March 
10,  1864,  he  was  married  in  Perry  township  to 
Miss  Catherine  Bowser,  who  was  born  January 
24,  1843,  in  Wabash  county,  Ind. ,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Susan  (Warvel)  Bowser. 
The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Horning,  George 
Bowser,  was  a  well  known  pioneer,  for  a  fuller 
mention  of  whom  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
biography  of  Isaac  Erbaugh,  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

Philip  Bowser,  father  of  Mrs.  Horning,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  mar- 
ried Susan  Warvel,  by  whom  he  had  the  fol- 
lowing children,  besides  Catherine:  Noah, 
Emanuel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one; 
Daniel,  George  and  Aaron.  Soon  after  his 
marriage,  Philip  Bowser  moved  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  Wabash  county,  but  later,  not 
being  satisfied  there,  returned  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
fifty-two  acres  in  Perry  township,  to  which  he 
added  until  he  had  100  acres  in  one  body,  and 
at  length  purchased  fifty-three  acres  in  Jackson 
township,  where  Mr.  Horning  now  lives.  Mr. 
Bowser  was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church  and  lived  to  be  seventy-five  years  of 
age.  He  was  a  man  of  high  character,  and 
much  esteemed  by  the  people  among  whom  he 
had  lived. 

Rev.  Mr.  Horning  and  wife  settled  on  their 
present  farm  immediately  after  their  marriage 
and  have  lived  thereon  ever  since,  a  period  of 
thirty-two  years.      Mr.    Horning    has    proved 


1132 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


himself  to  be  one  of  the  most  practical  farmers 
of  the  county. 

When  twenty-three  years  of  age  Mr.  Horn- 
ing united  with  the  German  Baptist  church, 
becoming  a  deacon  in  1870,  in  which  relation 
he  served  the  church  five  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  period  he  was  elected  minister,  and  has 
preached  the  Gospel  for  the  past  fifteen  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horning  had  one  son,  George, 
who  was  born  October  3,  1873,  and  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  months.  For  his 
tendency  toward  the  ministry  Mr.  Horning  is 
indebted  to  his  mother's  side  of  the  family, 
many  of  his  ancestors  on  that  side  having  fol- 
lowed that  calling,  the  Prices  being  among  the 
first  to  preach  and  practice  this  particular  form 
of  religion  in  the  United  States,  as  may  be 
more  fully  learned  by  reference  to  the  biogra- 
phy of  Rev.  Samuel  Horning,  published  else- 
where in  this  volume. 


•""^EORGE  W.  HOUK,  a  prosperous 
I  ^\  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  Mont- 
^L^J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Germany  December  25,  1849,  a  son 
of  George  and  Margaret  Houk,  who  were  the 
parents  of  four  other  children. 

George  Houk,  the  father,  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and  in  1854  sailed  from  Bremen  for 
New  York,  whence  he  came  direct  to  Ohio 
and  for  one  year  worked  at  his  trade  in  Cin- 
cinnati. He  then  came  to  Dayton,  where  he 
opened  a  shop  and  carried  on  blacksmithing 
for  twenty  years.  He  then  went  to  Jackson 
county,  Mo.,  and  was  eight  years  engaged  in 
farming,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  He  was  a  republican  in  politics,  was  a 
hard-working  and  worthy  citizen,  and  was  re- 
spected for  his  integrity  and  many  manly 
qualities. 

George  W.  Houk,  at  the  age  of  five  years, 
with  his  mother  and  her  other  children,  started 


from  Bremen  for  America  in  a  sailing  vessel 
for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  husband  and  fa- 
ther, but  the  mother  and  one  daughter — Edith 
— died  of  cholera  on  the  voyage  and  were 
buried  at  sea.  After  a  passage  of  forty  days 
the  vessel  arrived  in  New  York,  whence  the 
four  surviving  children  were  sent  to  their  father 
in  Cincinnati,  where  they  were  placed  in  a 
German  Protestant  orphans'  institution.  Here 
George  W.  remained  for  three  years,  receiving 
instruction  in  German  and  English.  About 
this  time  the  father  married,  at  Dayton,  Sadie 
Millsteder,  to  which  union  was  born  one  child 
—William.  George  being  now  eight  years 
old,  rejoined  his  father,  with  whom  he  lived 
until  he  was  thirteen,  and  then  went  to  live 
with  Jacob  Eby,  a  farmer  of  Jackson  township, 
and  here  he  worked  until  he  was*  twenty-six 
years  of  age,  attending  school,  meanwhile, 
until  he  was  eighteen.  December  28,  1876, 
Mr.  Houk  married,  in  Dayton,  Miss  Sarah 
Cotterman,  who  was  born  near  that  city  May 
9,  1858,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Amanda 
(McPherson)  Cotterman. 

William  Cotterman  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  a  lad  when  brought  by  his 
father  to  Ohio.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  a 
farm  near  Dayton,  married  Miss  McPherson, 
and  became  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren, beside  Sarah:  Clinton,  Clara,  Adam, 
James,  and  Albertus  (who  died  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years).  Mr.  Cotterman  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  served  three  years,  and  after 
his  return  passed  several  years  on  his  farm  at 
Pyrmont,  Ohio,  but  some  time  since  retired  to 
the  soldiers'  home  near  Dayton  to  pass  in 
quiet  his  remaining  days.  Mrs.  Cotterman 
died  at  the  age  of  about  forty  years,  a  con- 
scientious member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  her  daughter, 
Sarah,  being  then  fifteen  years  old. 

Immediately  upon  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.    Houk    went    to    Madison    county,  Ind., 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1133 


where  they  lived  on  a  farm  for  fifteen  years 
and  then  returned  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Houk  bought  his  present 
tract  of  152^  acres  in  Jackson  township,  which 
he  has  materially  improved.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houk  has  been  blessed  with  five 
children,  who  are  named  Ella  A.,  Jennie  M., 
Blanche  S.,  Ruth  M.  and  Juanita.  In  politics 
Mr.  Houk  is  a  democrat  and  an  ardent  friend 
of  free  silver.  While  a  resident  of  Madison 
county,  Ind.,  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
pikes,  or  gravel  roads,  of  Anderson  township, 
and  also  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
several  years,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  Jackson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 


sr 


TLLIAM  F.  HOWELL,  a  promi- 
nent and  successful  farmer  of  Har- 
rison township,  Montgomery  county, 
was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
May  11,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  John  M.  and 
Mary  M.  (Fee)  Howell,  the  former  a  native  of 
Bracken  county,  Ky.,and  the  latter  of  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living, 
as  follows:  William  F.,  Joseph  P.,  Augusta 
M.,  widow  of  James  Carr;  Mary  Jane,  also  a 
widow;  Callie,  wife  of  William  Plank;  Thomas 
L.,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert  Searles. 

John  M.  Howell  was  a  blacksmith  in  his 
early  life,  but  later  turned  his  attention  to 
farming.  He  came  to  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
when  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  and  lived  in 
the  county  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there 
in  1877  when  in  his  seventy-first  year.  His 
wife,  surviving  him  a  number  of  years,  died 
when  she  was  eighty-four.  Both  were  most 
excellent  people,  were  known  for  many  miles 
around  as  kind-hearted  and  Christian  neigh- 
bors, and  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal    church.      Her  father,  beside  being 


one  of  the  early  justices  of  the  peace,  was  a 
minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
the  pioneer  days  of  Montgomery  county. 

The  father  of  John  M.  Howell,  Lampkin 
Howell,  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
Maryland,  and  later  of  Kentucky,  Bracken 
county,  in  which  county  he  died  when  his  son, 
John  M.,  was  nine  years  old.  The  farm  then 
owned  by  Lampkin  Howell  still  goes  by  the 
name  of  the  "Howell  farm."  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  William  F.  Howell,  Elijah  Fee, 
was  a  farmer,  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  a  local 
preacher.  He  was  an  early  settler  of  Cler- 
mont county,  where  he  died  when  upward  of 
sixty  years  of  age. 

William  F.  Howell  was  reared  in  Clermont 
county,  Ohio,  and  remained  at  home  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when 
he  entered  a  commercial  college  in  Cincinnati. 
Afterward  he  was  engaged  in  business  in  Cin- 
cinnati for  about  ten  years.  In  1859  he  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives, 
which  is  three  miles  west  of  the  court  house  in 
Dayton,  and  upon  this  farm  all  his  children 
were  born,  except  the  eldest,  who  was  born  in 
Cincinnati.  Politically,  Mr.  Howell  is  a  re- 
publican. For  many  years  he  was  a  director 
of  the  Home  Avenue  railroad,  running  to  the 
soldiers'  home,  and  also  a  director  of  the 
Teutonia  National  bank.  His  home  farm  had 
originally  175  acres  of  land,  but  now  has  only 
100  acres.  Mr.  Howell  has  lived  in  Mont- 
gomery county  nearly  forty  years,  and  has 
witnessed  and  aided  its  wonderful  growth  and 
development.  He  and  his  father-in-law  were 
prime  movers  in  the  construction  of  the  Home 
Avenue  railroad,  as  well  as  in  many  other  im- 
provements, and  he  has  always  been  a  man  of 
enterprise  and  public  spirit. 

Mr.  Howell  was  married  July  9,  1857,  to 
Miss  Sarah  C.  Applegate,  daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  (Snyder)  Applegate,  the  former  of 
whom    was   of   the    old  Applegate    publishing 


1134 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


house  of  Cincinnati,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  a  leading  and  prominent  citizen  of  Day- 
ton. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howell  there  have 
been  born  five  children,  four  sons  and 
one  daughter,  as  follows:  James  A.,  de- 
ceased; John  W. ;  Thomas  E. ;  Frank  Web- 
ster and  Mary.  John  W. ,  who  resides  on  the 
home  farm,  married  Miss  Anna  Fee,  and  has 
one  child,  Frederick.  Thomas  E.  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Blackwell,  by  whom  he  has 
four  children,.  Robert,  Eugene,  Marguerite  and 
Edwina.  Thomas  E.  Howell  is  manager  of 
the  city  railway,  and  lives  on  a  portion  of  the 
home  farm,  which  has  been  subdivided. 
Frank  W.  is  practicing  law  in  Dayton,  and 
Mary  is  living  at  home  with  her  parents.  The 
eldest  three  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  F.  Howell,  as  well  as  themselves, 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  are  all  highly  esteemed  and  useful  mem- 
bers of  society. 


aHARLES  HUNTER,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  was  born  near 
Earlville,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  October 
26,  1838,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Matilda  (Boyer) 
Hunter,  both  natives  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and 
of  English  and  German  descent,  respectively. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  John  Hunter,  and 
the  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Boyer,  were 
also  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa. 

Jacob  and  Matilda  Hunter,  parents  of 
Charles,  came  to  Jefferson  township  about  the 
year  1850,  and  here  resided  until  1861,  when 
they  removed  to  Mad  River  township,  where 
the  father  died  in  1S62;  the  mother  survived 
until  1880,  when  she  expired  at  the  home  of 
her  son  Charles.  They  had  a  family  of  five' 
children,  who  grew  to  maturity,  and  who  were 
named  Charles,  James  B.,  Catherine,  Ada  and 
Ann.      Of  these,  Catherine  was  married  to  To- 


bias Marker,  Ada  became  the  wife  of  Henry 
Crouder,  and  Ann  is  now  Mrs.  Samuel  Gilbert. 
Charles  Hunter  was  reared  in  Jefferson 
township  from  the  age  of  twelve  years,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  near  Cincinnati, 
has  passed  all  his  life  in  this  township  since  he 
came  here  with  his  parents  in  1850,  and  has 
been  an  occupant  of  his  present  farm  since 
1867.  He  was  united  in  matrimony  October 
20,  1 86 1,  with  Miss  Susannah  Hartzell,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Susannah  (Heck)  Hartzell,  of 
Jefferson  township,  and  to  this  union  have 
been  born  eleven  children,  in  the  following 
order:  Ida,  now  Mrs.  Howard  Linebaugh; 
Almeda,  the  wife  of  Frank  Eyler;  Catherine, 
now  Mrs.  Tatzell;  Adriella,  deceased;  Clara, 
married  to  Edward  Eck;  Susannah,  who  mar- 
ried Joseph  Wiseman;  Matilda,  married  to 
Firman  Gross;  Rosa,  married  to  George  W. 
Stebbins;  Charles,  at  home;  Adella,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Stuck,  and  Howard,  at  home.  In 
his  politics  Mr.  Hunter  is  a  democrat,  and  has 
served  several  terms  as  trustee  of  Jefferson 
township,  and  also  as  superintendent  of  the 
county  infirmary  for  two  years. 


>-j,OSEPH  IZOR,  of  Farmersville,  a  sub- 
£  stantial  farmer  of  Jackson  township, 
/»  I  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  springs  from 
Irish  and  German  ancestry,  old  settlers 
in  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather,  Philip  Izor, 
moved  with  his  family  in  pioneer  days  to 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  settling  near  Urich's 
Mills,  where  he  lived  for  some  time.  His 
wife,  Mary  Ridgeley,  bore  him  six  children, 
viz:  John  Henry,  Philip,  Joshua,  Alexander, 
David  and  Elizabeth.  Philip  Izor,  the  father 
of  these  children,  died  in  Winchester,  Ohio. 

David  Izor,  father  of  Joseph,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  came  with  his  father  to  Ohio, 
and  married  Rosanna  Ault,  who  was  a  daugh- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1135 


ter  of  John  and  Annie  Auk,  and  born  in 
Montgomery  county.  Mr.  Izor  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  his  children  were  Joseph, 
Joshua,  and  Sarah  A.  Mr.  Izor  died  in  1833, 
when  he  was  about  twenty-eight  years  of  age. 

Joseph  Izor  was  born  November  1,  1828, 
in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  was  therefore 
about  six  years  of  age  when  his  father  died. 
He  was  bound  out  by  his  father  until  he  should 
be  eighteen  years  of  age,  to  Henry  Bear,  of 
Montgomery  •county,  a  farmer.  Young  Joseph 
remained  with  Mr.  Bear  during  the  period  for 
which  he  was  bound,  receiving  in  the  mean- 
time a  good  education.  He  continued  with 
Mr.  Bear  afterward  until  he  was  twenty-six 
years  of  age,  and  on  December  21,  1854, 
married  Matilda  Oldfather,  who  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  November  24,  1834,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
(Pense)  Oldfather. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Izor 
rented  a  farm  of  Mr.  Bear,  on  which  they  lived 
until  1 87 1,  in  which  year  they  removed  to 
their  present  farm.  This  farm  Mr.  Izor  has 
much  improved  and  made  a  good  home.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Izor  are  as  follows: 
William  O.,  Charles  E.,  Clayton  A.,  Ira  F., 
Samuel,  Daniel  W.,  Jesse  I.,  two  that  died  in 
infancy,  Sarah  A.  and  Laura  E.  Mrs.  Izor 
died  December  26,  1896,  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  of  which  Mr.  Izor 
has  for  years  been  a  trustee.  Politically,  he  is 
a  prohibitionist,  though   formerly  a  democrat. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Izor  married 
as  follows:  William  O.  married  Jane  Apple, 
has  four  children,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Jackson 
township;  Charles  E.  married  Maggie  Guntle, 
has  four  children,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Clay 
township;  Clayton  A.  married  Anne  Albaugh, 
has  three  children,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Jackson 
township;  Ira  E.  married  Ida  M.  Stiver,  has 
one  child,  and  is  a  farmer  upon  the  home 
place;   Samuel   married  Catherine    Stiver,  has 


one  child,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Jackson  township; 
Sarah  A.  married  Moses  Mingle,  a  farmer  of 
Jackson  township;  Laura  E.  married  Frank 
Bower,  now  deceased,  and  has  one  child. 

Samuel  Oldfather,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Izor, 
was  a  farmer  of  German  township,  owning 
there  100  acres  of  land,  his  father,  Henry, 
having  been  one  of  the  original  pioneers. 
Samuel  Oldfather's  children  were  named  as 
follows:  Sarah  A.,  Matilda,  Mary  J.,  William, 
Henry,  Susannah,  Elizabeth,  Simon  P., 
Thomas  J.  and  Daniel  W.  Mr.  Oldfather 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  church, 
and  was  a  trustee  of  his  church.  He  lived  to 
be  seventy-two  years  of  age,  dying  on  his  farm. 


^r*     EWIS    W.  JOHNS    (deceased),    for- 
j     merly     a    resident     of     Montgomery 
^^X     county,  Ohio,  and    a    soldier    during 
the  late  Civil  war,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1845.      He  came  of  an  excellent  family 
and  was  himself  the  head  of  a  much  respected 
family  of  children.      He  was  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch   stock,    and  a  straightforward,     honor- 
able man  in  all   his  dealings. 

Lewis  W.  Johns  received  the  customary 
common-school  education  of  the  days  of  his 
youth,  and  was  reared  a  farmer.  He  enlisted 
January  25,  1864,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  as  a 
member  of  Capt.  Charles  H.  Harrison's  com- 
pany H,  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  July  8,  1865,  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.  He  participated  in  the  famous  At- 
lanta campaign  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Goldsborough, 
Peach  Orchard,  Big  Shanty,  Marietta,  Deca- 
tur, East  Point  and  Atlanta,  and  was  also  in 
many  skirmishes.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
he  took  part  in  the  hardest-fought  battles  of 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable in  history.    He  was  also  one  of  those 


113f. 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


that  went  with  Sherman  to  the  sea.  Endur- 
ing all  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life,  and 
performing  all  his  duties  in  the  most  faithful 
spirit,  he  is  well  deserving  of  a  niche  in  the 
history  of  his  country,  along  with  other  heroes 
of  the  great  struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union.  He  was  more  fortunate  than  many 
others,  not  being  in  the  hospital  nor  wounded 
while  in  the  service,  though  he  participated  in 
all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Johns  returned  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  resumed  farming  on  his 
father's  homestead.  On  December  3,  186S, 
he  married  Barbara  E.  Spitler,  of  Clay  town- 
ship, who  was  born  in  1850,  at  Arlington, 
Ohio,  on  her  father's  farm.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Barbara  (Limperd)  Spitler, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  substantial  farmer 
of  Clay  township,  and  was  a  son  of  John  Spit- 
ler, one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clay  township. 
Joseph  Spitler  and  wife  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  as  follows:  Ephraim,  John  H, 
Hannah  H.,  Martha  J.,  Mary  E.,  Ezra  M., 
Sarah  C,  Barbara  E.,  Susannah  M.  and  Luella 
B.  Joseph  Spitler  lived  to  be  seventy-eight 
years  old,  and  died  September  16,  1888.  Po- 
litically, he  was  a  republican,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  He 
was  one  of  the  patriotic  citizens  of  the  country 
at  the  time  of  the  war,  and  had  two  sons  in 
the  100-day  service,  John  H.  and  Ezra  M. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johns  settled  on  their  present 
homestead  of  fifty-two  acres,  which  he  ma- 
terially improved.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  he 
taking  an  active  interest  in  all  kinds  of  relig- 
ious work,  and  holding  all  the  offices  of  his 
church  at  different  times.  He  was  class  leader 
twelve  years,  and  was  trustee  and  also  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  Politically, 
he  was  a  republican  and  later  a  prohibitionist. 
He  was  a  man  of   unblemished   character  and 


highly  esteemed  for  his  sterling  integrity  and 
worth.  His  children  are  as  follows:  Carson, 
Parker,  Lester,  Edna,  Ada  and  Maud.  His 
death  occurred  January  4,  1893,  to  the  regret 
of  all  that  knew  him.  He  was  a  great  sufferer 
from  the  effects  of  his  army  service,  which 
doubtless  did  much  to  hasten  his  death. 

John  John,  his  father,  who  wrote  the  fam- 
ily name  without  the  final  "s,"  was  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Clay  township,  coming  from  Penn- 
sylvania, and  being  a  successful  farmer.  He 
reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  and  lived  to 
be  seventy-nine  years  old. 


£~V"  EBASTIAN  B.  KEENER,  one  of  the 
•^^k*    substantial  farmers  of  Jefferson  town- 

h><J    ship,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  on  the  old  Keener  homestead  in 
Madison  township,  in   the  same   count)',    No- 
vember   17,     1832,    and    is    of    Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock. 

Daniel  Keener,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  hav- 
ing come  from  Germany  with  a  part  of  his 
family  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  war.  John  Keener,  son  of 
Daniel,  was  born  in  the  Keystone  state,  was 
reared  to  farming,  and  was  married,  in  his  na- 
tive state,  to  Miss  Mary  Huffer,  the  union  re- 
sulting in  the  birth  of  the  following-named 
children:  George,  Jacob  and  David  (twins), 
John,  and  also  nine  daughters,  of  whom  the 
names  of  seven  are  remembered,  viz:  Chris- 
tine, Elizabeth,  Nancy,  Lydia,  Kate,  Barbara 
and  Susan.  John  Keener,  the  father  of  this 
family,  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  was  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
form church,  and  died  in  that  faith  in  his  na- 
tive state. 

John  Keener,  son  of  the  John  named  above 
and  father  of  Sebastian  B.,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,    Pa.,  about  the  year    1805,  and, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1137 


while  yet  a  young  man,  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio.  Here  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Heeter,  who  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
and  was  brought  by  her  parents  to  Madison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  when  she  was 
about  five  years  of  age,  and  here  died  in  1896, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Sebastian  Heeter,  the  father  of  Mrs.  John 
Keener,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  farmers  of  Madison  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Rerick,  the  union  resulting  in  the 
birth  of  the  following  children:  John,  George, 
Henry,  Frederick,  Abraham,  David,  Daniel, 
Jacob,  Samuel,  Sebastian,  Barbara,  Mary,  an 
infant  that  died  unnamed,  Catherine  and  Sal- 
lie.  The  father,  Sebastian  Heeter,  lived  to  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  died  an 
elder  in  the  Lutheran  church — his  wife  dying 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four. 

John  Keener  and  wife,  soon  after  marriage, 
settled  on  a  tract  of  160  acres  of  land  in  the 
woods  of  Madison  township.  Mr.  Keener 
cleared  up  a  good  farm  from  the  wilderness, 
and  by  his  thrift  was  able  to  add  to  his  estate 
until  he  owned  370  acres.  He  was  an  elder  in 
the  Lutheran  church,  was  a  democrat  in  poli- 
tics, was  one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers 
of  his  township  and  died  an  honored  and  re- 
spected citizen.  The  children  born  to  John 
and  Mary  Keener  were  named:  Sebastian  B., 
Abraham,  John  J.,  Daniel,  Jacob,  Elizabeth 
and  Catherine. 

Sebastian  B.  Keener  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  township  of 
Madison,  and  was  reared  to  the  hard  work  of 
the  farm.  January  3,  1856,  he  married  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  Miss  Lucy  Humerickhouse, 
who  was  a  resident  of  Perry  township,  but 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Augusts,  1835,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Heckel) 
Humerickhouse. 


John  Humerickhouse,  father  of  Mrs.  Keener, 
was  born  in  Germany,  was  a  miller,  and  came 
to  America  shortly  after  the  birth  of  his  first 
child.  He  died  nine  miles  from  Little  York, 
Pa.,  amember  of  the  Reformed  church  and 
the  father  of  the  following  named  children: 
George,  John,  Jacob,  Daniel,  Eli,  Lizzie, 
Katie,  Mary,  Sarah,  Susan,  Lucy  and  Caroline. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keener  set- 
tled on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Madison  town- 
ship, on  which  they  lived  until  1880,  and  then 
moved  to  Jefferson  township,  where  he  bought 
195  acres,  which  were  partly  cleared  and 
which  he  has  since  greatly  improved,  erecting 
substantial  farm  buildings.  To  this  tract  he 
subsequently  added  twenty-one  and  one-quar- 
ter acres,  and  in  1895  erected  the  fine  residence 
he  now  occupies.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keener 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  John 
F.,  MaryE.,  Cephas  H.,  SamanthaJ.,  Ben- 
niah,  Eli  W.,  Charles  A.,  Sarah  C,  Nora  A., 
William  A.,  Dora  I.,  Ezra  A.  and  Amelia  A. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  Mr.  Keener  is  a  deacon.  In 
politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  for  three  years 
was  a  trustee  of  Madison  township  and  for  a 
number  of  years  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
Mr.  Keener  is  one  of  the  most  honored  farmers 
of  Jefferson  township,  and  well  deserves  the 
high  position  which  he  holds  in  the  esteem  of 
his  neighbors. 


^""^EORGE  WASHINGTON  KEMP,  a 
■  G\  prominent  farmer  and  one  of  the  old- 
\^J  est  citizens  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Mad  River  town- 
ship, this  county,  when  it  was  known  as  Day- 
ton township,  June  29,  181 1.  He  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Herring)  Kemp,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  and  the  latter  of  Germany. 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth   Kemp  were  the  parents 


11. 'IS 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living,  as 
follows:  George  W.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Margaret;  Barbara,  wife  of  William 
Steele;  David,  and  Catherine,  widow  of  Math- 
ias  Burrows,  formerly  a  prominent  manufac- 
turer of  Dayton. 

Joseph  Kemp  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  in  1806, 
when  yet  a  young  man.  He  continued  to  live 
with  his  parents  in  Mad  River  township  until 
his  marriage.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
as  a  member  of  Capt.  William  Van  Cleve's 
company.  The  war  having  come  to  a  close 
he  returned  to  his  home  and  resumed  his  oc- 
cupation of  farming.  He  died  a  young  man, 
having  been  born  in  1788,  and  died  in  1824. 
His  wife  was  born  January  17,  1790,  and  died 
August  21,  1  86 1.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 

Lewis  Kemp,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
George  W. ,  was  a  native  of  Frederick  county, 
Md.,  came  to  Ohio  in  1805,  and  bought  sec- 
tion No.  22,  Mad  River  township,  and  also  a 
quarter  of  section  No.  29.  He  continued  to 
live  on  the  old  homestead  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  eighty-eight  years 
of  age.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  but  one  of  whom  purchased  land  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  his  home.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Herring,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
afterward  a  resident  of  Maryland,  and  still 
later  of  Ohio.  He  settled  in  Beaver  Creek 
township,  Greene  county,  in  1806,  and  there 
bought  a  section  of  land.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  a  family  of  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters. He  lived  in  Greene  county  the  rest  of 
his  life,  dying  when  seventy-five  years  of  age. 

George  W.  Kemp  was  reared  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Mad  River  township,  received 
his  education  in  the  district  school,  in  what 
was  known  as  the  Kemp  school-house,  which 
stood  on  an    acre   of    ground  donated  for  the 


purpose  by  his  grandfather.  This  school 
house  was  erected  in  181 5,  was  constructed  of 
logs,  and  had  three  windows,  with  sash  and 
glass,  which  was  something  quite  unusual  in 
those  days.  The  largest  subscription  toward 
the  erection  of  this  house  was  $6.  Arriving 
at  man's  estate,  Mr.  Kemp  removed  to  Dayton 
and  here  completed  his  trade,  that  of  carpen- 
ter, which  he  followed  ten  years.  He  then 
purchased  a  sixty-acre  farm  adjoining  the  old 
home,  and  added  to  it  twenty-one  acres  of  the 
home  farm,  which  he  has  since  increased  to 
the  extent  of  twenty-four  acres,  so  that  now 
he  owns  a  farm  of  105  acres,  lying  one  mile 
east  of  the  corporation  line. 

Mr.  Kemp  was  married  April  11,  1838,  to 
Miss  Lydia  Cox,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Spies)  Cox,  both  of  whom  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kemp  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  as 
follows:  John  Cox,  Oliver  Perry,  Martha 
Washington,  Joseph  Warren,  Francis  Marion, 
and  Kate  Elizabeth.  John  C,  Oliver  P.  and 
Martha  W.  are  deceased.  Joseph  W.  married 
Miss  Mary  Pearson,  and  lives  on  the  old  farm. 
He  and  his  wife  have  a  family  of  six  children, 
as  follows:  George  W.,  Earl,  Lora,  Kate, 
Edna  and  Lydia.  Francis  M.  married  Jennie 
Wise,  and  lives  in  Dayton.  They  have  three 
children  living,  as  follows:  Daisy  E.,  Scott 
and  LeRoy.  Kate  Elizabeth  married  J.  P. 
Mellinger,  and  resides  in  Dayton. 

Mrs.  Lydia  Kemp  died  June  25,  1873,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church  in  her  early  years, 
but  late  in  life  she  joined  the  Reformed  church 
and  died  in  that  faith.  In  1867  they  left  the 
old  farm,  after  a  residence  thereon  of  fifty-six 
years,  and  removed  to  Dayton,  where  Mrs. 
Kemp  died  and  where  Mr.  Kemp  has  since 
continued  to  reside.  He  owns  the  substantial 
residence  at  No.  210  Bainbridge  street,  where 
he  lives  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Mellinger,  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1139 


her  husband.  Mr.  Kemp  has  been  an  Odd 
Fellow  sixty-one  years ;  a  Mason  forty-five  years, 
reaching  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  a  Knight 
Templar  thirty-two  years,  being  a  member  of 
Reed  commandery,  No.  6.  Politically,  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  as  such  was  trustee  of  Mad  River 
township  many  years,  and  was  also  assessor  in 
the  same  township,  and  in  i860  was  appraiser 
of  land  in  Mad  River  township.  Many  are  the 
changes  that  have  been  made  in  Montgomery 
county  since  Mr.  Kemp  was  born,  his  father 
having  at  that  time  only  two  acres  of  land 
cleared,  and  many  other  farms  being  in  no 
better  condition  at  that  early  day.  His  father, 
together  with  a  man  named  Ott,  went  down 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  on  rlatboats 
early  in  the  history  of  the  county,  lashing  their 
boats  together.  They  were  accompanied  by 
their  hired  men,  William  Hamer,  Thomas 
Roby,  Johnson  Perrine,  and  one  other.  Mr. 
Ott  died  of  yellow  fever  in  New  Orleans,  and 
Perrine  sold  his  goods  for  him  and  returned 
to  his  home. 

George  \V.  Kemp  is  now  eighty-five  years 
old,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time 
when  away  from  home  in  Indiana,  has  con- 
tinuously lived  in  Montgomery  county.  Upon 
early  historical  events  pertaining  to  this  local- 
ity and  in  early  reminiscences,  he  is  considered 
the  best  informed  man  in  the  county.  He  is 
yet  quite  a  strong  man  physically,  and  his 
memory  is  remarkably  quick  and  accurate. 
He  is  most  highly  esteemed  by  his  many  friends 
and  acquaintances,  and  is  among  the  few  who 
yet  remain  of  Montgomery  county's  living 
pioneer  citizens. 


^yj»ILLIAM  HENRY  KEMP,  a  promi- 
M a  nent    farmer    living    in    Mad   River 

^J^J      township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  this  township,    Febru- 
ary 20,   1823.      He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Eliz- 


abeth (Crist)  Kemp,  both  natives  of  Maryland, 
and  who  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  William 
H.;  Margaret  Ann,  wife  of  Henry  Bellow; 
Mary  Jane,  wife  of  David  Moler;  Annie,  wife 
of  William  W.  Harris;  Amanda,  wife  of  Joseph 
Kimmel;  Harriet  Louisa,  wife  of  John  Knisely; 
David  C.  and  Joshua  Perry.  Elizabeth  Cath- 
erine, who  married  John  McCauley,  died  five 
weeks  aft«r  her  marriage.  David  Kemp  came 
to  Ohio  when  twelve  years  of  age,  with  his 
parents,  his  father  purchasing  800  acres  of 
land  in  Mad  River  township,  and  settling  on 
section  22.  He  subsequently  sold  a  quarter- 
section  of  his  land,  part  of  which  is  now  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of  Dayton. 
David  Kemp  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old 
place  and  lived  there  many  years,  and  then 
moved  into  Dayton,  where  his  wife  died,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1874.  He  then  went  to  live  with 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  Knisely,  and  died  at  her 
home,  August  26,  1878,  aged  eighty-six  years. 
During  the  earlier  years  of  their  lives  both 
David  Kemp  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the 
German  Reformed  church,  but  toward  the  last 
she  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  During  the  war  of  181 2  Mr. 
Kemp  drove  a  team  and  furnished  supplies  to 
the  soldiers.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  typi- 
cal pioneers,  well  known  for  many  miles 
around,  and  possessing  the  pioneer  virtues  of 
generosity  and  hospitality. 

Ludwig  Kemp,  the  father  of  David  Kemp, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  came  to  Ohio 
in  1806.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  and  both  lie  buried  in  the  Kemp 
burying  ground,  he  having  given  an  acre  of 
land  for  cemetery  purposes.  Peter  Crist,  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  William  H.  Kemp, 
was  also  a  native  of  Maryland;  came  to  Ohio 
about  1 8 10,  and  located  in  Warren  county, 
where  he  purchased  several  hundred  acres  of 
land.       He    and    his    wife    reared  a  family  of 


114H 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


eight  children,  and  he  died  in  1S76,  when 
ninety  years  of  age. 

William  H.  Kemp  was  reared  on  the  farm 
which  his  grandfather,  Ludwig  Kemp,  first 
purchased  upon  arriving  in  Ohio.  His  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  district  school,  and  he 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  On  February  25,  1847,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Barbara  Aley,  daughter  of 
John  and  Susanna  (Hawker)  Aley.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  three  children  born, 
viz:  Alice  Ann,  Charles  and  Lizzie  Jane. 
Alice  Ann  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  Charles  when  but  six  months  old. 
Lizzie  Jane  married  John  Coblentz,  and  with 
him  lives  near  Bellbrook,  Greene  county. 
Mrs.  Kemp  is  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church.  Mr.  Kemp  during  his  earlier 
life  was  a  democrat,  but  of  late  years  he  has 
been  a  republican.  He  has  never  been  a 
seeker  after  official  honors,  the  only  office  he 
has  ever  held  being  that  of  supervisor. 

Mr.  Kemp  has  a  good  farm  of  144  acres, 
finely  improved,  about  three  miles  east  of  the 
court  house  in  Dayton.  He  has  confined  him- 
self mainly  to  general  farming  and  has  been 
unusually  successful. 


WOSEPH  KENNEDY,  a  leading  farmer 
m  of  Harrison  township,  was  born  on  the 
(9  1  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  August  7, 
1826.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Nancy  (Kerr)  Kennedy,  the  former  a  native  of 
Scotland  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  but  two  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, John  and  Joseph.  Joseph  Kennedy,  the 
elder,  was  brought  by  his  parents  from  his  na- 
tive country  to  the  United  States  when  he  was 
two  years  old.  They  settled  at  Shippensburg, 
Pa.,  and  there  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  1805 
he    removed    to    Dayton,    Ohio,    settling    just 


south  of  the  city,  and  living  there  two  years. 
In  1807  he  removed  to  Harrison  township, 
where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  to  which 
he  added  from  time  to  time,  until  at  his  death 
he  owned  300  acres  or  more.  '  He  followed 
general  farming  and  died  in  1856,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one.  His  wife  died  February  19,  i860, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Third  Presbyterian  church,  of  Dayton. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
Gilbert  Kennedy,  a  native  of  Scotland,  came 
to  America  in  1777,  and  in  1808  came  to  Ohio. 
He  is  supposed  to  lie  buried  in  Warren  county. 
In  religion  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  reared  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  John  Kerr,  lived  on  a 
farm  adjoining  that  on  which  Joseph  Kennedy 
now  lives.  This  farm  he  purchased  in  18 10, 
having  just  previously  arrived  from  Virginia. 
Upon  this  farm  he  lived  for  many  years,  but 
died  on  another  farm  in  the  county,  in  1846, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

Joseph  Kennedy,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  has  lived  on  his  present  farm  all  his 
life  with  the  exception  of  eight  or  ten  years, 
when  he  lived  in  Indiana  and  northern  Ohio, 
during  the  greater  part  of  which  time  he  was 
engaged  in  telegraphing.  He  spent  some  time 
in  Mercer  county,  occupied  in  running  a  saw- 
mill, and  afterward  was  in  Mississippi  for  a 
year  employed  in  railroad  contracting.  The 
rest  of  his  life  was  spent  on  the  farm. 

On  May  27,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  A.  Clagett,  daughter  of  Dr.  G.  A. 
and  Caroline  M.  (Stonebraker)  Clagett.  To 
this  marriage  there  were  born  four  children — 
three  sons  and  one  daughter,  as  follows:  Graf- 
ton C,  Gilbert,  John  D.  and  Caroline.  Gilbert 
and  John  are  dead.  Grafton  C.  married  Miss 
Louise  Achey,  and  has  two  children,  Katharine 
and  Sherwood.  Caroline  married  Edward 
Martin,  and  has  two  children,  Joseph  and 
Richard. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1141 


Mrs.  Kennedy,  the  mother  of  the  four  chil- 
dren above  named,  died  May  16,  1865,  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  October 
27,  1866,  Mr.  Kennedy  again  married,  his 
second  wife  being  Miss  Emma  C.  Clagett,  a 
sister  of  his  deceased  wife.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  one  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Katharine,  Eugene  G.  and 
Emma  Cornelia.  Katharine  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years.  Eugene  G.  and  Emma  C.  are  both 
living  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
politics  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  republican. 

The  home  farm  of  Mr.  Kennedy  contains 
147  acres  of  land,  and  is  well  improved.  Mr. 
Kennedy  also  owns  a  farm  in  Wayne  township 
and  still  another  in  Mad  River  township — alto- 
gether about  325  acres  of  land.  He  is  among 
the  progressive  farmers  and  thinkers  of  the 
day,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
reliable  and  influential  citizens  of   the  county. 


SICHARD  J.  KETROWioneof  the  best 
known  farmers  of   Jackson  township, 
Montgomery   county,    Ohio,    is   a  na- 
tive here  and  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  June  22,  1833. 

Joseph  Ketrow,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Maryland,  was  there  married,  came  to  Ohio 
in  1807  or  1808,  and  settled  in  German  town- 
ship,  Montgomery  county,  and  cleared  up  a 
farm  from  the  woods,  on  which  he  lived  for 
twenty  years  and  the  title  to  which  has  never 
changed  from  the  Ketrow  name.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  Joseph  Ketrow  and  wife  were 
John,  Charles,  Thomas,  Richard,  Betsey,  Pol- 
ly, Rebecca  and  Susan.  Mrs.  Ketrow  lived  to 
the  great  age  of  ninety-seven  years. 

Richard   Ketrow,    fourth   child   of    Joseph  1 
Ketrow  and  wife,  and  the  father  of  Richard  J.   : 
Ketrow,  was  born   in   Frederick   county,  Md., 
February  28,   1S05,  and  was    but  two  or  three  ' 

50 


years  of  age  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  among  the 
pioneer  farmers.  He  was  married  in  German 
township,  in  1826  or  1827,  to  Sophia  Christ, 
who  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  about 
1802,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Chris- 
tina Christ.  Henry  Christ  was  also  a  native 
of  Maryland,  but  his  father  was  of  German 
birth.  Henry  was  a  blacksmith  and  gunsmith, 
and  came  to  Montgomery  county  in  the  same 
year  with  the  Ketrows. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ketrow,  at  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  farm  where  their  son,  Richard 
J.,  now  lives,  in  Jackson  township,  and  there 
Mr.  Ketrow  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
Their  children  were  named  Oliver,  Adaline, 
Richard  J.,  Allen  and  Caroline. 

Richard  J.  Ketrow  was  reared  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  but  developed  strong  mechanical 
gifts,  inherited  probably  from  his  maternal 
grandfather,  and  became  a  blacksmith  and 
carpenter.  October  17,  1858,  he  married,  in 
Jackson  township,  Miss  Elvira  Drayer,  a  na- 
tive of  the  township,  and  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Precilla  Drayer.  George  Drayer  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  son  of  Peter 
Drayer,  of  German  descent,  who  kept  a  tavern 
in  the  Keystone  state. 

George  Drayer  was  about  eleven  years  of 
age  when  brought  here  by  his  parents,  was 
here  reared  to  manhood,  accumulated  178 
acres  of  land,  and  died  in  July,  1874,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight  years,  an  elder  in  the 
Methodist  church.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  Jesse,  Elizabeth,  Elvira, 
Utila,  George,  Lydia,  Peter,  Catherine  and 
Joseph. 

To  Richard  J.  and  Elvira  (Drayer)  Ketrow 
were  born  the  following  children:  Cora  E., 
Erne  P.  (Mrs.  John  Lowman),  Mary  C.  (Mrs. 
S.  L.  Bohn),  Orphie  (Mrs.  Herman  Thoelking), 
and  Charles  H.,  at  home.  Mrs.  Elvira  Ketrow 
died  April  25,  1875,  and  Mr.  Ketrow  next  mar- 


1142 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ried,  August  6,  1876,  Elizabeth  Yost,  daughter 
of  John  H.  Yost,  of  Preble  county,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Ketrow  now  occupies  the  old  homestead 
and  is  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  the 
township.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  but 
has  been  content  simply  to  exercise  his  fran- 
chise  at  the  polls,  and  has  never  sought  office.   ' 


>t-»ACOB  KNECHT,  farmer  and  fruit 
a  grower,  of  Harrison  township,  living 
/•  1  just  north  of  the  city  of  Dayton,  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  December 
23,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Susanna 
(Goelder)Knecht,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Germany  and  died  in  that  country.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows: 
Jacob;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Christian;  Charles 
and  Michael.  The  four  sons  came  to  the 
United  States.  Michael  served  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  late  Civil  war,  as  a  member 
of  the  Fourth  Ohio  cavalry.  He  was  shot  and 
killed  at  Stone  river  while  doing  guard  duty. 
Charles  was  a  soldier  in  the  war,  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  close,  and  was  slightly  wound- 
ed. Christian  was  also  a  Union  soldier,  but 
on  account  of  sickness  was  discharged  in  1862. 
Jacob  and  Christian  now  live  side  by  side,  and 
Charles  lives  in  Madison  township.  Jacob 
Knecht,  their  father,  was  a  farmer  in  Ger- 
many, and  died  there  in  1852,  aged  tbirty- 
nine.  His  wife  died  in  1849.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Christoph  Knecht,  was 
also  a  farmer,  reared  a  family  of  one  son  and 
five  daughters,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  John  Jacob  Goeld- 
er,  was  also  a  farmer,  was  mayor  of  the  town 
of  Talfroeshn  for  thirty-two  years,  reared  a 
large  family  and  died  at  seventy  years  of  age. 
Jacob  Knecht,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Germany.  He 
was  brought  up  on    the  farm,  and  remained  at 


home  until  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  and 
then,  in  1853,  came  to  the  United  States,  be- 
ing at  the  time  eighteen  years  of  age.  Land- 
ing in  New  York  he  went  thence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  visited  relatives  for  a  short 
time,  and  came  thence  direct  to  Dayton. 
Here  he  lived  for  a  time  with  his  uncle,  Chris- 
tian Miller,  who  had  sent  him  the  money  with 
which  to  pay  his  passage  to  this  country.  Mr. 
Miller  lived  on  the  Stoddard  farm  as  a  tenant, 
and  Jacob  lived  with  him  seven  months.  He 
then  went  to  work  for  George  A.  Mumma, 
and  remained  in  his  employ  five  years,  engaged 
in  the  nursery  and  on  the  farm.  January  15, 
1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Magdalena 
Simons,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  (Pol- 
larst)  Simons.  To  this  marriage  there  were 
born  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  George,  Christian,  John 
Jacob,  Charles  M.,  Jacob  J.,  Elizabeth,  Katie 
and  Julia.  George,  Christian,  Julia  and  Jacob 
J.  are  dead.  John  Jacob  married  Theresa 
Handwerger.  Charles  M.  married  Elizabeth 
Zeisert,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children,  one 
of  whom  is  dead;  the  other,  Carrie,  is  still  liv- 
ing. Mrs.  Chas.  W.  Knecht  died  in  February, 
1 89 1.  Elizabeth  married  Frank  Martindale, 
and  has  two  children,  Mamie  and  George. 
Katie  is  living  at  home. 

Mrs.  Magdalena  Knecht,  the  mother  of  the 
above-named  eight  children,  died  in  1888,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  She  was  a  most 
exemplary  woman,  and  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  Mr.  Knecht  married  June  21, 
[891,  for  his  second  wife.  Miss  Anna  Rausch, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Koch)  Rausch, 
of  Mischelstadt,  Germany,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased.  To  this  second  marriage  there  has 
been  born  one  child,  Susanna.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Knecht  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Knecht  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  United 
Workman,  and  politically  is  a  democrat. 

After  his    first    marriage    Mr.  Knecht   for  a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1143 


time  carried  on  farming  on  shares  with  Mr. 
Mumma.  He  then  rented  a  large  farm,  which 
he  afterward  purchased.  At  that  time  it  con- 
tained ninety-six  acres,  and  to  this  he  has 
added  until  the  tract  now  includes  155  acres 
of  land.  After  remaining  on  his  ninety-six- 
acre  farm  one  year  he  removed  to  the  Stod- 
dard farm,  in  i860,  and  remained  there  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  sold  most  of 
his  implements  and  stock  and  rented  a  smaller 
farm,  upon  which  he  lived  two  years,  after 
which  he  entered  upon  gardening  and  tobacco 
raising.  In  1865  he  purchased  the  property 
where  he  now  lives,  comprising  eight  acres, 
and  in  1872  he  erected  his  present  residence. 
On  this  small  place  Mr.  Knecht  raises  fruits 
and  berries.  His  farm  of  155  acres  he  farms 
as  well,  his  son  Charles  residing  upon  it  and 
having  charge  of  the  farm  operations.  Mr. 
Knecht  has  by  his  industry  and  energy  accumu- 
lated quite  a  handsome  estate,  showing  what 
can  be  done  by  a  determined  and  persistently 
industrious  man. 


vy   ■*  ENRY  KLEPINGER  is  a  son  of  one 

wT  ~\  of  the  pioneers  of  Montgomery  coun- 
JL.r  ty,  ar|d  a  successful  farmer  of  Madi- 
son township.  His  father,  George 
Klepinger,  was  born  in  1800,  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pa.,  and  came  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
ancestry.  The  father  of  George  Klepinger 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1 S 1  5 ,  settling  on  a  farm,  which 
he  cleared  and  improved,  and  upon  which  he 
lived  for  some  time,  when  he  removed  to  In- 
diana with  his  family,  his  children  at  that  time 
being  John,  George  and  Mary.  The  Mont- 
gomery county  farm  was  in  Madison  township, 
and  not  long  after  leaving  this  farm  for  Indi- 
ana, the  father  of  these  children,  whose  name 
was  Henry,  died.  His  entire  family  consisted 
of    the    following    children:       Jacob,     Henrv. 


David,    Samuel,    John,    Isaac,    George,    Mary 
and  one  that  died  unnamed. 

George  Klepinger  was  but  fifteen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  with  his  father  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
upon  reaching  his  maturity  he  married  Maria 
Loutzenhizer,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Randolph 
township.  Upon  this  farm  he  remained  until 
1840,  when  he  removed  to  the  farm  on  which 
Henry  Klepinger  now  lives,  which  farm  con- 
tains 172  acres  of  excellent  land.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Klepinger  reared  the  following  children: 
Susan,  Henry,  John,  William,  Aaron  and 
Maria,  and  had  several  that  died  while  yet 
young.  Politically  Mr.  Klepinger  was  an  old- 
line  whig,  and  in  religious  belief  a  German 
Baptist.  While  on  a  visit  to  Westmoreland 
county,  Pa.,  he  died,  in  1858. 

Henry  Klepinger,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  August  11,  1S32,  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, and  was  thus  eight  years  old  when  he 
came  with  his  father  to  the  present  homestead, 
upon  which  he  has  lived  ever  since  except  for 
a  short  time  when  he  was  a  young  man. 
Early  in  life  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade  in 
Dayton,  and  remained  there  about  four  years, 
working  at  his  trade,  however,  in  all  about 
eight  years.  On  October  22,  1S57,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  who  was 
born  in  Harrison  township,  November  6,  1836, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth 
(Bowser)  Miller,  the  former  of  whom  was  the 
son  of  Daniel  Miller,  the  well-known  pioneer 
of  Wolf  creek.  Daniel  Miller  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  May  5,  1776.  His  old  family 
Bible,  printed  in  Germany,  is  still  in  existence, 
and  according  to  its  title  page  was  published 
MDCCLXXYIII.  It  is  bound  in  wooden  cov- 
ers, with  leather  back  and  brass  clasps,  and 
contains  the  family  record.  It  was  valued 
highly  by  grandmother  Miller,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  whose  maiden  name 
was  Bowman. 


1144 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Daniel  Miller  and  his  family  were  the  first 
settlers  on  Wolf  creek,  cutting  their  way 
through  the  woods  to  their  place  of  settlement. 
At  that  time  Dayton  had  but  a  few  log  houses 
and  only  one  house  with  a  shingle  roof.  Daniel 
Miller  took  up  government  land  and  became  a 
very  prosperous  man,  because  of  his  industry 
and  excellent  management.  When  he  started 
in  life  he  was  very  poor,  so  much  so  that  his 
wife  worked  with  him  in  the  field.  She  also 
made  her  own  bedclothing  of  flax.  From  such 
humble  beginnings  did  Daniel  Miller  and  his 
most  excellent  wife  acquire  all  their  property, 
and  become  possessed  of  a  large  body  of  land. 
Mrs.  Miller  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  January 
1 8,  1769,  and  she  and  her  husband  were  mar- 
ried May  25,   1790. 

Benjamin  Miller,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Klep- 
inger,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  March  20, 
1 79 1,  and  came  with  his  father,  Daniel,  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Montgomery  county,  as 
above  narrated.  He  was  at  the  time  between 
twelve  and  thirteen  years  of  age.  The  date  of 
his  birth  is  given  from  the  records  in  the  old 
family  Bible  above  described,  but  the  date  of 
removal  to  Ohio  is  a  matter  of  tradition. 
Benjamin  Miller  married  Elizabeth  Bowser, 
and  they  settled  on  the  farm  on  which  David 
Miller  now  lives,  Mr.  Miller  clearing  up  the 
land  from  the  woods.  They  at  first  had  160 
acres,  Mr.  Miller,  however,  buying  more  land 
as  he  became  able  to  do  so,  and  so  successful 
was  he  in  the  management  of  his  affairs  that 
at  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  property  of 
large  value.  In  his  religious  views  he  was  a 
German  Baptist,  and  was  in  every  respect  an 
excellent  man  and  citizen.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children:  Susan, George, 
Daniel,  Margaret,  Benjamin,  David  and  Eliza- 
beth. His  death  occurred  October  4,  1855, 
when  he  was  sixty-four  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klepinger,  after  their  mar- 
riage, lived  four  years  on  the  Benjamin  Miller 


farm,  and  in  1861  removed  to  the  Klepinger 
homestead,  upon  which  they  still  live.  This 
farm  Mr.  Klepinger  has  developed  in  every 
way,  increasing  its  fertility  and  greatly  im- 
proving the  buildings  upon  it.  The  first  brick 
house  in  Madison  township  was  erected  on  this 
farm  by  Adam  Rodabaugh,  one  of  the  original 
pioneers  of  Montgomery  county.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Klepinger  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: David,  Alfred,  Ellsworth  H.,  Charles, 
Llewellyn,  Edwin  and  Howard.  The  parents 
of  these  children  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  Mr.  Klepinger  has  been  a 
deacon  for  thirty  years.  Politically  he  is  a  * 
republican,  and  is  a  worthy  and  honorable 
citizen.  His  son  Alfred,  who  was  for  some 
years  a  school-teacher  in  Montgomery  county, 
married  Olive  Miller.  David  married  twice, 
first  Laura  Wampler,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  married  Ida 
Stowcher,  by  whom  he  has  no  children.  Ells- 
worth H.  married  Lizzie  Denlinger.  Charles 
married  Mary  Anderson,  lives  in  Dayton  and 
has  one  child,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Dayton 
Leather  Collar  company.  Mr.  Klepinger  has 
228  acres  of  land  and  also  own  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  stock  of  the  Dayton  Leather 
Collar  company,  two  of  his  sons  also  being 
members  of  this  company. 


^/\  AVID  LANDIS,  retired  farmer,  re- 
I  siding  at  Salem,  Montgomery  county, 
/^^_J  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  was  born  March  18,  1S16, 
and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Annie  (Springer) 
Landis,  of  German  descent. 

David  Landis,  the  father,  was  also  a  native 
of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  born  April  10,  1780, 
and  was  a  farmer,  carpenter  and  wind-mill 
maker.  He  married  Miss  Annie  Springer,  who 
was  born  July  25,  1781,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Springer,  the  marriage  resulting  in  the  birth  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1145 


six  children,  who  were  named  John,  Martha, 
Catherine,  Annie,  David  and  Elizabeth.  In 
1837  Mr.  Landis  brought  his  family  to  Ohio, 
making  the  journey  with  a  team  of  four  horses 
and  a  large  covered  wagon  or  wain,  and  con- 
suming twenty-three  days'  time  on  the  route. 
The  party  comprised  four  families,  the  other 
three  being  those  of  John  Landis,  son  of  David ; 
George  Utsley,  son-in-law  of  David,  and  Abra- 
ham Stoner,  another  son-in-law  of  David.  This 
party  reached  Montgomery  county  and  all  set- 
tled near  Salem,  May  3,  of  the  same  year. 
Here  David  Landis  bought  four  tracts  of  land, 
comprising,  respectively,  forty,  sixty,  seventy- 
eight  and  100  acres,  and  bought  and  entered, 
beside,  500  or  600  acres  in  Darke  county, 
Ohio.  He  settled  on  the  100-acre  tract, 
which  he  subsequently  cleared,  improved  and 
occupied  until  his  retirement  from  active  labor, 
when  he  located  on  a  few  acres  near  Salem, 
lived  to  his  ninety-first  year,  and  died  July  17, 
1870.  Mr.  Landis  was  a  preacher  in  the  pio- 
neer Brethren  church,  was  very  active  in  the 
cause  of  religion,  and  his  house  was  always 
the  home  of  the  preacher  who  visited  his 
neighborhood  in  the  early  days.  He  was 
strictly  upright,  and  his  death  was  deeply 
mourned  by  the  whole  community,  who  held 
him  in  the  highest  esteem.  Mrs.  Annie 
(Springer)  Landis  died  November   17,   1841. 

David  Landis,  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm  until  fourteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  working  in  his 
father's  carpenter  shop,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  drove  the  four-horse  team 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  as  narrated  above. 
After  reaching  Ohio,  he  assisted  on  his  father's 
farm  until  1839,  but  was  married  October  25, 
1838,  to  Miss  Rachel  Wellbourn,  who  was 
born  December  20,  1820,  in  Brookville,  Perry 
township,  Montgomery  county,  a  daughter  of 
Christian  and  Sarah  (Frouty)  Wellbourn.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Landis  soon  began  housekeeping  on 


the  farm  which  David  Landis,  the  elder,  had 
settled  in  Randolph  township,  and  here  made 
their  home  for  fifty-three  years,  prospering 
through  unceasing  industry  and  a  wise  econ- 
omy, united  with  a  practical  knowledge  of 
agriculture.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Landis  have  been  born  ten  children,  in  the 
order  here  given:  John,  Jacob  H.,  Sarah  A., 
Josiah  (deceased),  William  (deceased),  Lu- 
cinda  (deceased),  Catherine  (deceased),  Theo- 
dore, Harvey  A.  and  Dora  E.  The  parents  are 
consistent  members  of  the  Dunkard  church, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Landis  was  formerly  a 
whig,  but  since  the  formation  of  the  republican 
party  has  affiliated  with  the  latter.  His  living 
children  are  of  the  same  religious  faith  with 
himself,  and  it  may  be  added  that  his  sons 
agreed  with  him  in  his  political  affiliations. 
Two  of  them,  Josiah  and  Jacob,  served  in  the 
100-day  enlistment  in  the  late  Civil  war.  Mr. 
Landis  has  shared  liberally,  from  his  hard- 
earned  accumulations,  with  his  children,  and 
is  now  enjoying  in  retirement  that  ease  to 
which  his  long  life  of  industry  and  thrift  fully 
entitles  him. 


aYRUS  WALTER  LAUGHLIN,  gro- 
cer, of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was' born  in  Sun- 
bury,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 1,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Eliza  (Walters)  Laughlin,  both  natives 
of  Westermoreland  county,  Pa.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living,  as  follows:  Elemina,  wife  of 
Washington  Eby,  of  Sunbury,  Ohio;  Francis 
M.,  a  farmer,  of  Brown  Run,  Montgomery 
county;  Philip,  of  Aspen.  Colo.;  Cyrus  W., 
and  Charles,  also  a  resident  of  Colorado. 

Samuel  Laughlin  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, came  to  Ohio  about  1850,  and  located 
near  Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  where 
he  followed  farming  for  some  years,  and  then 
opened  a  grocery  at  Sunbury,   which   he  kept 


1146 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


until  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred 
September  13,  1884,  in  her  sixty-eighth  year. 
After  this  he  lived  among  his  children  and 
grandchildren  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
while  he  was  living  with  his  son,  Cyrus  W. ,  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  March  29,  1895,  he  being  then 
in  his  eighty-first  year.  Both  Samuel  Laugh- 
lin  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Cyrus  W., 
James  Laughlin,  died  June  12,  1861,  when  he 
was  seventy-three  years  of  age,  and  his  wife, 
Barbara,  died  October  19,  1872,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  She  and  her  husband  were 
the  parents  of  fifteen  children.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  Joseph  Walters,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  he  kept  what  was 
termed  in  his  day  a  tavern  or  inn. 

Cyrus  W.  Laughlin  was  reared  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  was  educated  in  Sunbury, 
remaining  there  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age.  On  February  1,  1877,  he  married  Emma 
Florence  Cox,  daughter  of  John  A.  and  Ellen 
(Crider)  Cox.  John  A.  Cox  was  born  in  But- 
ler county,  Ohio,  in  1837,  ar>d  hrs  wife,  Ellen 
Crider,  in  Indiana,  in  1840.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living,  namely:  Emma  Florence,  wife  of  Mr. 
Laughlin;  Edgar  C. ,  a  merchant  of  Anderson, 
Ind.;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frank  Davis,  of 
West  Manchester,  Ohio. 

John  M.  Cox,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Laughlin,  was  of  German  descent,  and  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  in  1805,  and  died 
in  that  county  in  1877.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Nancy  Hilt,  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1802,  and  died  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  in  1879.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Elizabeth,  widow  of  Frank  Banker, 
living  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich. ;  Walter,  a  farmer 
of  Butler  county,  Ohio;  Samuel,  a  farmer  of 
the    same    county;    Catherine,    wife   of    John 


Keister,  a  farmer  of  Butler  county;  John  A., 
who  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  lives  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  and  Drusilla,  wife  of  Alpheus 
McElwain,  of  Darke  county,  Ohio.  Mary 
died  in  infancy. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Laugh- 
lin, Philip  Crider,  descended  from  German 
ancestors.  He  was  born  in  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  in  1803,  and  died  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  in  1874.  The  trades  of  carpenter  and 
millwright  he  followed  for  some  years,  and 
lived  on  Second  street  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
1846.  His  wife,  Nancy  Wright,  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  1799,  and  died  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  in  1876.  To  this  couple  nine  children 
were  born,  but  only  the  following  are  now  liv- 
ing: Ellen,  wife  of  John  A.  Cox;  Susanna, 
now  Mrs.  Cooper,  of  Indiana;  Mary  Ann,  wife 
of  George  W.  Catrow,  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio; 
George  W. ,  a  farmer  of  Tennessee,  and  James 
Henry,  who  is  a  merchant  of  Oklahoma,  and 
surveyor  of  that  city. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laughlin  have  been  born 
five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  as 
follows:  Elsie  C,  J.  Raymond,  Clifford  L., 
Ruth  E.,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Laughlin  is  a  trustee  in  the  United  Brethren 
church,  of  which  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Foresters  and  of  the 
Patriotic  Order  of  Sons  of  America.  Polit- 
ically he  favors  the  laboring  man,  and  sustains 
that  party  which,  in  his  opinion,  will  do  most 
for  this  class  of  citizens.  When  Mr.  Laughlin 
came  to  Dayton  in  October,  1884,  he  was 
employed  by  the  Dayton  Malleable  Iron  com- 
pany, remaining  with  them  three  years;  then 
going  to  work  in  D.  O.  Kimmel's  grocery,  he 
remained  there  until  1891,  when  he  opened  a 
grocery  and  meat  market  at  his  present  loca- 
tion, Nos.  1 1 70  and  1172  Germantown  street. 
Here  he  has  ever  since  conducted  a  remark- 
ably successful  business. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1147 


SENRY  MECKLEY,  of  Germantown, 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Jackson  township, 
sprang  from  Pennsylvania -Dutch 
stock.  Henry  Meckley  was  born  December  6, 
1837,  on  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives. 
Receiving  a  good  common-school  education, 
he  was  reared  a  farmer,  beginning  to  work  on 
the  farm  as  soon  as  old  enough  and  strong 
enough  to  be  of  use. 

When  he  was  thirty  years  of  age  he  mar- 
ried, in  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  February  27,  1868, 
Susannah  Stonner,  who  was  born  December 
22,  1844,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Mary  (Hostetter)  Stonner.  Andrew  Stonner 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Wayne  county  among  the  first  settlers  there. 
His  children  were  John,  Levina,  Elizabeth, 
Catherine,  Sarah  and  Susannah.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  lived  to 
be  seventy-nine  years  of  age,  dying  in  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1887,  when  on  a  visit  to  his 
relatives. 

Henry  Meckley  and  wife  soon  after  their 
marriage  settled  on  the  old  Meckley  homestead, 
of  which  he  bought  150  acres  of  his  father, 
and  cared  for  his  parents  during  their  old  age. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meckley  there  were  born  two 
children,  viz:  Sarah  A.  and  Mary  C.  Mr. 
Meckley  is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  served  on  the  building  committee 
of  Slyfer  church.  He  is  an  honored  citizen  of 
his  community,  and  can  always  be  relied  upon 
to  aid  worthy  religious,  moral  and  educational 
enterprises.  His  wife  died  December  19,  1888, 
at  the  age  of  forty-four  years.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  a  woman 
of  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 

Mr.  Meckley  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and 
during  the  recent  presidential  campaign,  result- 
ing in  the  election  of  Maj.  McKinley,  he  was 
an  advocate  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage 
of  silver  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  1. 


<V^ENJAMIN  METZGER,  a  farmer  of 
l(^^  Jackson  township,  Montgomery 
JK^J  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Madison 
township,  in  the  same  county,  on  his 
father's  farm,  his  parents  being  Henry  and 
Susannah  (Ullery)  Metzger.  The  father  of 
Henry,  John  Metzger,  came  to  America  before 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  from  Wurtemberg, 
Germany.  He  was  a  Dunkard  in  religion, 
and  was  married  near  Bedford,  Pa.,  settled  on 
a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  that  city,  lived  there 
until  eighty-six  years  of  age,  and  died  at  the 
home  of  his  son-in-law,  John  Brumbaugh. 
His  children  were  named  John,  Henry,  Jacob 
and  Andrew,  and  of  these,  Henry,  the  father 
of  Benjamin,  was  born  on  the  original  farm 
near  Bedford,  Pa.,  about  1778,  and  was  there 
married,  June  15,  1800,  to  Susannah  Ullery. 
In  181 1  he  brought  his  family  to  Ohio  and  lo- 
cated in  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, on  a  tract  of  160  acres,  but  six  months 
later  removed  to  Madison  township  and  bought 
154  acres,  all  in  the  deep  woods.  Here  he 
erected  a  log  house,  by  hard  work  and  incess- 
ant industry  cleared  up  his  land  and  developed 
a  fine  farm,  and  here  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  an  honored  pioneer  and  useful  citizen, 
passing  away  September  11,  1859 — his  death 
taking  place  in  Perry  township.  He  was  a 
minister  in  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  at 
his  decease  was  able  to  give  each  of  his  chil- 
dren a  start  in  the  world,  with  either  land  or 
money.  These  children  were  born  and  named 
in  the  following  order:  John,  January  24, 
1803;  Stephen,  November  15,  1804;  Elizabeth, 
October  19,  1806;  Samuel,  August  24,  1808; 
Henry,  November  24,  18 10;  Susannah,  March 
10,  1 81 3 ;  Mary,  January  7,  1816;  Isaac,  Sep- 
tember 22,  18 17,  and  Benjamin,  September 
7,  1825.  The  first  five  of  these  children  were 
born  in  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  and  the  others  in 
Madison  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
Benjamin  Metzger  received  the   education 


114JS 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


available  in  the  common  schools  of  his  youth- 
ful days,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  married,  in 
Jackson  township,  December  18,  1S45,  Miss 
Annie  Trissel,  who  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Ya.,  April  16,  1821,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Mary  (Bowman)  Trissel.  Her  fa- 
ther, David,  was  of  German  extraction,  was 
a  farmer,  and  moved  from  Rockingham  coun- 
ty, Ya.,  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  the 
fall  of  1  S3 1,  and  bought  a  tract  of  170  acres 
in  Jackson  township,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  March  II,  1854,  at 
the  age  of  about  sixty-two  years,  in  the  faith  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  He  was  the  father 
of  three  children — Hettie,  Annie  and  Samuel. 
After  marriage,  Benjamin  Metzger  lived  on 
his  father's  farm  four  years,  and  in  1850  pur- 
chased fifty  acres  of  his  present  homestead,  to 
which  he  has  added  until  he  now  owns  1 1 5 
acres  of  well-cleared  land  and  a  most  comfort- 
able home.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metzger  no 
children  were  born,  but  they  reared  from  child- 
hood Lucinda  Brown,  who  was  married  to 
Alexander  Powell,  of  Preble  county,  Ohio; 
they  also  reared  another  young  girl — Ellen  Sha- 
ner,  who  was  married  to  David  Repp.  Mrs. 
Annie  Metzger  was  called  to  rest,  in  the  faith 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  September  20, 
1893 — a  woman  of  kind  heart  and  many  vir- 
tues, and  a  true  Christian.  Mr.  Metzger  has 
been  a  deacon  in  this  church  for  thirty-three 
years,  has  done  much  in  aid  of  its  prog- 
ress and  its  work  for  the  good  of  the  people, 
and  is  recognized  as  a  worthy  citizen  and  a 
man  of  strict  integrity. 


m 


ICHAEL  MEYER,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Clay  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  born    in   the  kingdom 
of    Bavaria  (now  a  part    of    United 
Germany),  August  18,  1838,  and  came  with  his 


parents  to  America  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
John  Jacob  Meyer,  father  of  Michael,  was 
born  near  Landau,  Bavaria,  in  1806  or  1807, 
was  reared  a  farmer,  and  married  Margaret 
Hale,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  the 
following  children,  in  Bavaria:  Daniel,  Mich- 
ael, John  (deceased),  Jacob,  Charles  and  Mar- 
garet, and  Sarah,  born  in  America.  The  fa- 
ther owned  a  farm  of  twenty  acres  in  the  old 
country,  but,  with  the  expectation  of  better- 
ing his  fortune,  sailed  from  Havre,  with  his 
family,  for  the  United  States  in  1853  or  1854, 
and  after  a  passage  of  thirty-two  days,  during 
which  the  vessel  lost  100  passengers  from 
cholera,  owing  to  a  supply  of  bad  water,  the}' 
landed  in  the  city  of  New  York.  They  came 
at  once  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  142 
acres  two  miles  from  Phillipsburg,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  here  Mr.  Meyer  died,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years,  in  1870,  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  church. 

Michael  Meyer,  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy, was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  which 
he  assisted  in  clearing  and  improving  and  in 
making  one  of  the  best  of  its  size  in  Montgom- 
ery county.  November  10,  1865,  he  married 
Susannah  Shank,  who  was  born  November  15, 
1844,  in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Barbara  (Kener)  Shank. 

Peter  Shank,  father  of  Mrs.  Meyer,  came 
from  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  of  160  acres  in  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  made  a  good  home  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  a  respected  and  sub- 
stantial farmer.  His  children  were  named 
Henry,  John,  Nancy,  Lydia,  Elizabeth,  Katie, 
Maggie  and  Susannah. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyer 
made  their  home  in  West  Milton,  Miami  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  Mr.  Meyer  had  an  interest  in 
a  flouring-mill.  He  next  bought  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  near  Georgetown,  Miami  county, 
on    which     he    lived   twelve  years,    and   then 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


T49 


moved  to  his  present  excellent  farm  of  142 
acres.  From  this,  however,  he  retired,  in 
1892,  to  Phillipsburg,  where  he  bought  a  home 
of  sixteen  acres,  on  which  he  built  a  comfort- 
able modern  residence,  in  which  to  pass  his  re- 
maining days.  His  children,  to  whose  welfare 
Mr.  Meyer  is  devoting  himself,  are  named  John, 
Millie,  Eva  and  Lydia.  They  and  their  father 
are  consistent  members  of  the  German  Reform 
church.  Mrs.  Meyer  died  September  5,  1885, 
at  the  age  of  forty  years  and  twenty  days,  a 
member  of  the  Mennonite  church. 


EENRY  CLAY  MUMMA,  a  prominent 
farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Harrison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  this  township,  April  8, 
1838.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  H.  and  Susan 
(Brumbaugh)  Mumma,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  Maryland.  Jacob  H.  and  Susan 
Mumma  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  all 
sons,  three  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows: 
Henry  Clay,  David  H.  and  George  W. 

Jacob  H.  Mumma  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  in  1827.  They  located  in  Harrison 
township,  and  in  this  county  Mr.  Mumma 
lived  most  of  his  life,  but  spent  some  two 
years  in  Clarke  county.  From  1845  to  1 875 
he  lived  in  Madison  township,  and  after  a  few 
months  in  Champaign  county  he  returned  to 
Harrison  township,  where  he  lived  with  his 
son,  Henry  Clay,  until  the  spring  of  1881.  He 
then  went  to  Miami  county,  and  died  there  in 
the  spring  of  1879,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years.  His  wife  died  December  25,  1873,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-six,  and  he  then  married  Bar- 
bara Rowe,  widow  of  John  Hess.  She  died 
in  December,  1894.  Both  were  members  of 
the  German  Baptist  church. 

Henry  Mumma,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  Henry  C,  was  of  German  descent  and  a 
native  of  Maryland.     Coming  to  Ohio  in  1827, 


he  located  in  Harrison  township,  living  there 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1853.  He 
had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  William  Brum- 
baugh, was  an  early  settler  in  Ohio,  but  later 
removed  to  Kosciusko  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  a  family  of  ten  children. 

Henry  Clay  Mumma  has  been  a  resident  of 
Harrison  township  most  of  his  life.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  in  Madison  township,  in 
the  district  schools,  and  though  quite  limited, 
because  of  the  inferior  facilities  of  the  day,  has 
been  supplemented  by  his  own  subsequent 
study  until  now  he  is  among  the  best-informed 
men  of  his  county. 

On  September  30,  i860,  Mr.  Mumma  mar- 
ried Miss  Ann  Black,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Black.  To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born 
fourteen  children,  as  follows:  Arthur  V., 
Belle,  Sarah,  Martha,  Thomas,  Amanda,  Cora, 
John,  Eve,  Leo,  Effie,  Walter  and  two  that  died 
in  infancy.  Sarah,  Amanda,  Effie  and  Walter 
are  also  now  dead.  Arthur  V.  married  Aman- 
da Neiswinger,  who  is  now  deceased.  He 
afterward  married  Amanda  Minnick,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children,  viz:  Wilbur  and  Willard. 
Belle  married  Thomas  Nichol,  and  has  four 
children,  viz:  Joseph,  William,  Ivy  and  Wal- 
ter. Martha  married  William  Ehrbaugh,  and 
has  three  children,  Clarence,  Ethel  and  Ber- 
tha. Cora  married  Augustus  Haines,  and  has 
three  children,  Harlan,  Maizyand  Howard  H. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Clay  Mumma  are 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Mumma  moved  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  which  he  managed  for  four  years 
on  shares,  and  at  the  end  of  this  time  he 
bought  the  place,  which  now  contains  144 
acres.  While  during  most  of  his  life  on  the 
farm  he  was  engaged  in  general  agriculture,  he 
has  of  late  given  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  fruit   and    to    gardening.      He   is  a 


1150 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families 
in  the  county,  and  by  his  honorable  and  up- 
right career,  is  most  creditably  sustaining  its 
reputation. 


a  LINTON  MYERS,  a  farmer  and  nur- 
seryman of  Jefferson  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  was  born  on 
the  farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies, 
July  10,  1842,  a  son  of  Emanuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Furner)  Myers,  natives  of  Maryland  and 
Juniata  county,  Pa.,  respectively,  and  of  Ger- 
man descent. 

Michael  Myers,  a  native  of  Strassburg, 
Germany,  and  grandfather  of  Clinton  Myers, 
came  from  Maryland  to  Ohio  in  1803,  and 
purchased  a  section  of  land  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, on  a  portion  of  which  Clinton  still  resides. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Billmyer, 
and  their  male  children  were  named  Moses, 
Martin,  Michael,  Emanuel  and  Menassah,  be- 
side whom  they  were  the  parents  of  three 
daughters.  Michael  Myers  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable wealth  in  his  day,  lived  to  see  his 
section  of  land  in  Montgomery  county  cleared 
up  and  improved,  and  on  this  land  he  died,  a 
respected  pioneer,  at  a  good  old  age. 

Emanuel  Myers,  father  of  Clinton  Myers, 
was  reared  in  Jefferson  township,  on  the  pater- 
nal homestead,  where  he  passed  all  his  life, 
and  died  in  1853,  aged  fifty-seven  years. 

Clinton  Myers,  only  child  born  to  Emanuel 
Myers  and  wife,  was  reared  to  farming  on  the 
old  Myers  homestead,  where,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  five  years  passed  in  Miami  township, 
Montgomery  county,  he  has  always  resided. 
The  common  schools  of  his  native  township 
afforded  him  a  plain  education,  and  general 
farming,  in  connection  with  the  growing  of 
nursery  stock,  has  always  been  his  occupation. 
In  1866  Mr.  Myers  married  Miss  Phebe  J. 
Holderman,  of  Jefferson  township,  and  to  this 


union  several  children  have  been  born,  of  whom 
three  are  living,  viz:  May  (Mrs.  Charles  S. 
Billman),  Howard  M.  and  Musetta  E.  In  his 
politics  Mr.  Myers  is  a  democrat,  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  agriculture 
for  two  terms;  he  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  in  his 
fraternal  relations,  and  being  a  member  of  one 
of  the  oldest  families  of  Jefferson  township  and 
an  upright  and  useful  citizen,  is  held  in  high 
estimation  by  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


«V^~\  ENHART  ORTMAN,  a  successful 
l(^^  agriculturist  of  Clay  township,  Mont- 
JK<_J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  born  August  31, 
1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Ricky  (Pans- 
ing)  Ortman,  natives  of  the  same  country, 
where  their  marriage  took  place. 

Henry  Ortman  was  born  October  18,  18 17, 
was  reared  a  farmer,  and  to  his  marriage  were 
born  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity,  viz:  Benhart,  Mary,  John, 
Frederick,  Minnie,  Lizzie,  Henry  and  Ricky. 
In  1848  Henry  Ortman,  with  his  wife  and 
child,  Benhart,  sailed  from  Bremen  for 
America,  and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks 
landed  in  New  Orleans,  whence  he  came  direct 
to  Miamisburg,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
There  he  worked  as  a  miller,  and  also  as  fore- 
man in  an  oil  factory,  until  1861,  when  he 
settled  on  the  farm  of  ninety-five  acres  in 
Clay  township,  now  occupied  by  his  son  Fred- 
erick, and  where  he  died  November  19,  1875, 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  was 
in  politics  a  democrat,  and  a  man  of  moral 
life  and  greatly  respected  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  brought  up  with  careful  training  those  of 
his  children  who  grew  to  maturity,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  Montgomery  county  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Benhart,  who  was  but  an  infant 
when  he  was  brought  to  the  United  States  by 
his  parents.      Mrs.    Ortman,    mother  of  Ben- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1151 


hart,    passed    away    November     19,     1888,    a 
devout  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Benhart  Ortman  received  a  good  common- 
school  education,  and  was  trained  as  a  farmer 
and  carpenter.  August  2,  1873,  he  married 
Annie  Cook,  who  was  born  April  9,  1847,  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Deilts)  Cook,  or  Koch,  as  it  was 
spelled  in  German. 

John  Cook  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
October  18,  1817,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Annie 
(Benhart)  Cook,  who  were  the  owners  of  a 
farm  of  twenty  acres,  were  quite  well-to-do, 
and  were  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  John,  Henry,  Klass  Henry,  Cort 
Henry,  Paul  and  Mary.  The  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  German  army  for  five  years  and 
with  Napoleon  I  in  the  campaign  against  Mos- 
cow, and,  like  all  the  rest  in  that  famous  re- 
treat, nearly  perished  with  cold  and  hunger. 
He  died  in  Germany  at  the  age  of  fifty-one 
years,  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church. 
John,  his  son,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ortman,  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  to  his  marriage 
with  Catherine  Deilts,  who  was  born  July  5, 
181 5,  in  the  same  German  village  with  him- 
self, and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Blotner)  Deilts,  there  were  born,  in  the  old 
country,  two  children,  Annie  and  Catherine. 
Mr.  Cook  came  to  America  in  185  1,  landed  in 
New  York  in  July,  after  a  passage  across  the 
ocean  lasting  seven  weeks,  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  moved  thence  to  Darke  county, 
and  there  cleared  up  a  farm  of  fifty  acres. 
Later  he  sold  this  farm  and  came  to  Clay 
township,  Montgomery  county,  bought  a  farm 
of  eighty  acres,  and  here  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ortman,  after  their  marriage, 
lived  for  two  years  on  the  Cook  farm,  and  in 
1877  bought  thirty  acres  of  the  Cook  home- 
stead, whereon  Mr.  Ortman  erected  a  hand- 
some residence  and  a  number  of  other  good 


buildings.  In  1890  he  took  up  his  residence 
on  his  present  place  of  fifty-two  acres,  which 
he  has  also  converted  into  a  fruitful  and  most 
pleasant  farm  and  delightful  home.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Ortman  is  a  democrat,  but  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker.  By  diligence  and  atten- 
tion to  his  calling  he  has  gained  a  comfortable 
competency,  and  has  won  for  himself  and  fam- 
ily a  well-deserved  respect. 


V^VHILEMON  W.  PEIRSON,  a  resident 

I  I  of  Wengerlawn,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  one  of  the  old  settlers  of 
this  county,  is  a  son  of  a  pioneer  of 
Clay  township.  Jonathan  Peirson,  his  grand- 
father, was  born  near  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and 
married  Sarah  Lalon,  who  was  born  January 
27,  1767.  Both  the  Peirson  and  Lalon  fam- 
ilies were  of  Irish  descent.  Of  the  Lalon 
brothers  ten  were  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Jonathan  Lalon  and  his  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children,  beside  Sarah: 
Millicent,  born  October  22,  1787;  Elizabeth, 
born  June  30,  1790;  Rachel  H.,  born  May  12, 
1796;  Edward  B.,  born  June  28,  1801,  and 
Sarah  V.,  born  April  15,   1806. 

Jonathan  Peirson,  father  of  Philemon  W. , 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  July  2,  1793,  and  in 
18 16  married  Mary  Hart,  born  in  New  Jersey, 
June  27,  1794.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  18 12,  and  was  engaged  in  a  fight  off  Sandy 
Hook.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peirson  there  were 
born  the  following  children:  George  W.,  born 
February  3,  1817;  Sarah,  born  June  22,  1819; 
Jonathan  J.,  born  September  6,  1821;  Mary 
A.,  born  December  9,  1823;  Philemon  W., 
born  January  14,  1826;  Samuel  F.,  born  April 
23,  1828;  Andrew  J.,  born  July  1 1,  1832;  and 
Elizabeth  A.,  born  May  29,  1837.  Jonathan 
Peirson,  the  father  of  these  children,  removed 
with  his  family  to  Ohio  in  18 16,  making  the 
journey  with  horses  and  wagon,  and,  upon  ar- 


]  152 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


riving  in  this  state,  settled  in  Warren  count)', 
and  there  bought  land.  After  living  there 
until  1829,  he  removed  to  Montgomery  coun- 
ty and  entered  land  just  west  of  Mr.  Carmony, 
and  cleared  up  about  ten  acres.  After  living 
on  this  land  about  one  year  he  settled  on  160 
acres,  upon  which  his  son  Philemon  now  lives. 
At  that  time  it  was  all  woods,  but  he  built  a 
log  cabin,  and  by  dint  of  hard  and  persistent 
labor  cleared  up  his  farm  and  made  a  good 
home.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Old  School  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics 
he  was  a  democrat.  He  was  a  sturdy  pioneer, 
and  everywhere  noted  for  his  honesty,  high 
character  and  sterling  worth.  He  lived  to  be 
sixty-four  years  old,  dying  October  2,   1857. 

Philemon  W.  Peirson,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and 
received  but  a  limited  education,  that  being  re- 
ceived in  the  old-fashioned  subscription  school. 
He  was  reared  a  pioneer  among  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Montgomery  county,  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  on  September  6,  1846,  married 
Elizabeth  Myers,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Eva 
(Besecker)  Myers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peirson  set- 
tled on  the  old  homestead,  and  upon  this  farm 
they  still  live.  They  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Peir- 
son is  a  democrat.  He  is  a  well-known  citizen, 
and  has  been  a  hard  working  and  industrious 
man,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all.  The  Peirson  family  is  one  of  the  old  pio- 
neer families  of  Montgomery  county,  and  is 
descended  from  the  best  of  ancestry.  Mr. 
Peirson  has  a  good  farm  of  100  acres,  with  valu- 
able improvements  upon  it,  including  a  most 
pleasant  residence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peirson  adopted  Rachael  A. 
Smith  when  she  was  three  years  old,  rearing 
her  as  if  she  were  their  own  child.  She  mar- 
ried John  Eisner,  and  they  had  a  son  named 
Henry  Weslay.  Mr.  Eisner  died,  and  his 
widow  then  married  Cyrus  Palmer,  and  by  him 


has  three  children.  When  she  married  the 
second  time  Mr.  Peirson  gave  her  thirty-one 
acres  of  land. 


aHARLES  F.  POWELL,  M.  D.,  regu- 
lar physician  and  surgeon  of  Mad 
River  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Wayne  township, 
same  county,  September  23,  1857.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  C.  and  Hester  A.  M.  (Wells)  Pow- 
ell, the  former  a  native  of  England,  the  letter 
of  Virginia.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  six  of 
whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Jennie,  wife 
of  S.  M.  Houck;  Louisa,  wife  of  B.  F.  Stoner; 
John  W.,  Albert  H.,  Charles  F.  and  William  G. 
John  C.  Powell  was  brought  to  this  country 
by  his  parents  when  he  was  a  boy.  They 
landed  at  Wilmington.  Del.,  and  afterward 
lived  in  Pennsylvania  until  about  1832,  when 
they  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  here  Mr. 
Powell  engaged  in  mechanical  work.  He  cast 
his  first  vote  in  1836,  in  the  brick  building 
which  stood  where  the  old  court  house  now 
stands.  After  reaching  Dayton  Mr.  Powell 
learned  the  trade  of  millwright,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  numberof  years.  He  tnen  married 
and  engaged  in  farming.  His  marriage  took 
place  in  1 839,  and  in  1 889  he  and  his  wife  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding.  They  are  now 
living  in  Wayne  township,  where  they  have 
lived  for  more  than  fifty  years.  Mr.  Powell 
has  always  been  an  industrious  man,  and  has 
accumulated  a  competency,  and  at  the  present 
time  has  a  finely  improved  farm.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  Mr.  Powell  was  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  has  served  also 
as  constable  and  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has 
always  been  much  esteemed  in  the  community. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  Dr.  Powell  re- 
moved to  Lawton,  Mich.,  and  died  there  at  an 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1153 


advanced  age.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family 
of  six  children.  While  living  in  England  he 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  British  army.  The 
maternal  grandfather  lived  in  Miami  county, 
on  a  farm  near  Tippecanoe,  and  was  one  of 
the  eariy  settlers  there,  having  come  from  Vir- 
ginia, his  native  state.  He  was  a  slaveholder, 
but  becoming  satisfied  that  slavery  was  wrong 
he  emigrated  to  Ohio,  freeing  his  slaves.  He 
died  in  Miami  county,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  highly 
respected  by  all  that  knew  him,  for  his  sense 
of  right  and  justice  and  for  the  blameless  char- 
acter of  his  life. 

Charles  F.  Powell,  M.  D.,  was  reared  on 
the  farm  in  Wayne  township,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools.  Then,  at- 
tending Miami  Medical  college,  he  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  18S0.  After  complet- 
ing his  medical  studies  he  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Osborn,  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  and  after  seven  years  of  laborious  prac- 
tice was  obliged  to  abandon  that  calling  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  Going  to  California  and 
remaining  there  for  some  months,  he  returned 
much  improved  in  health,  and  resumed  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Osborn,  but  shortly 
afterward  was  again  compelled  to  abandon  it, 
for  the  same  reason  as  before.  Selling  his 
home,  he  removed  to  Montgomery  county  in 
1887,  purchasing  a  part  of  the  farm  on  which 
he  is  at  present  living,  and  entered  upon  farm- 
ing for  his  health,  with  very  beneficial  results. 

Dr.  Powell  was  married  June  9,  1881,  to 
Miss  Alia  Eaton,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Susan 
(Stutsman)  Eaton,  of  Mad  River  township. 
To  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  viz:  Milo 
E.,  Lottie  B.  and  Cyrus  W.  Dr.  Powell  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  United  American  Me- 
chanics, and  though  in  former  years  a  repub- 
lican is  now  a  prohibitionist.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Central  Church  of 
Christ  of  Dayton,  and  active  in  religious  work. 


His  farm  contains  100    acres   of  land,  and  lies 
about  four  miles  from  the  court  house. 


'^■t'AC'OB  PULS,  one  of  the  pioneer 
■  farmers  of  Jackson  township,  Mont- 
ftt  J  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon county,  Pa.,  November  15,  1816. 
His  father,  Jacob  Puis,  Sr. ,  also  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  state,  descended  from  a  colonial 
family  of  German  extraction,  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  and  married,  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  Polly  Knouse,  to  which  union  were  born 
Solomon,  George,  Polly,  Jacob,  Daniel,  Sam- 
uel and  Catherine.  In  1821  Mr.  Puis  brought 
his  family  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  the  German- 
town  and  Farmersville  pike,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life  on  his  farm,  dying  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years,  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church. 

Jacob  Puis,  the  subject  of  this  biography, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Jackson  township,  and 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  twenty-five  years.  He  married, 
in  Jackson  township,  in  April,  1841,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Basore,  who  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  about  18 16,  a  daughter  of  Adam 
and  Mary  (Creiter)  Basore,  who  had  settled 
in  Montgomery  county  and  were  the  parents 
of  Philip  (who  died  in  Pennsylvania),  David, 
Elizabeth,  Joseph  and  Daniel.  Mr.  Basore 
died  here  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Mr.  Puis, 
after  his  marriage,  lived  one  year  in  Farmers- 
ville, and  then  bought  eighty  acres  in  this 
township,  on  which  he  lived  for  thirty  years 
and  which  he  greatly  improved;  about  1870 
he  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  is  one 
of  the  best  in  the  neigborhood,  and  contains 
160  acres. 

The  children  born  to  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Basore)  Puis  were  named  Mary  A.,  Rachel 
L.  (who  died   at    sixteen   years  of  age),  Eliza 


1154 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


(who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen),  William, 
Joseph  and  Allen.  Of  these  Mary  A.  is  mar- 
ried to  Elijah  Oldfelter,  a  farmer  of  Indiana, 
and  has  six  children;  Eliza  was  married  to 
Jacob  Stiner,  but  died  two  .years  afterward, 
leaving  one  child;  William,  a  farmer  in  Ger- 
mantown,  married  Althea  Rodeheffer,  and  is 
the  father  of  seven  children;  Joseph  and 
Allen  live  on  the  home  farrii.  Mr.  Puis  has 
now  fourteen  grandchildren  and  eleven  great- 
grandchildren. The  mother  of  the  above 
family  died  August  12,  1880,  a  devout  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church  and  a  woman  of  many 
virtues.  Mr.  Puis  has  been  a  member  of  this 
church  since  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  and 
has  been  an  elder  for  thirty-five  years,  and  for 
many  years  a  trustee.  He  has  been  liberal 
in  his  contributions  toward  its  support  and 
aided  materially  toward  the  erection  of  the 
Lutheran  church  edifice  south  of  Farmington. 
In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

Mr.  Puis  has  led  a  long  and  useful  life,  has 
always  been  industrious  and  thrifty,  but  never- 
theless generous,  and  has  always  maintained 
the  integrity  of  an   upright  character. 


BENRY  N.    REED,  now  of  Clay  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Madison   township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  August  7, 
1S27,  educated  in  the  pioneer  school- 
house  of  that  day,  and  was  trained  to  the  life 
of  a  farmer. 

Peter  Reed,  his  father,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1804,  of  German  ancestry,  and  was 
still  a  young  man  when  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Montgomery  count}',  married  Wilhel- 
mina  Neipmann.and  bought  a  tract  in  the  woods 
of  Madison  township.  He  cleared  off  the 
forest  and  brought  forth  a  fertile  farm,  on 
which  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
and  died  in  1886,  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.    His  children  were  born  and  named 


in  the  following  order:  Abraham  N.  (now  de- 
ceased), John  N.,  Henry  N.,  Michael  N.  and 
Benjamin  N.  Mr.  Reed  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  to  which,  also,  his 
family  gave  adherence,  and  was  one  of  the 
solid  farmers  of  Madison  township,  well-known 
as  a  useful  and  upright  citizen. 

Henry    N.  Reed,  on   attaining  his   twenty- 
fifth   year,    entered   into  the    bonds   of   matri- 
mony,   August    26,    1852,    in   Clay    township, 
with  Miss  Mary  Cloppert,  who  was  born   Sep- 
tember 2,   1825,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Cloppert,  who   also    came  from  Pennsyl- 
vania.   Mr.  Cloppert  was  a  substantial  farmer, 
owning  115  acres  in  Clay  township,  and  had  a 
family  of  eight  children:      Henry,  Mary,  Bet- 
sey, Susan,  David,  John,  Isaac  and   Ephraim. 
He    died  at    the  age    of  eighty-four    years,    a 
member  of  the  German   Baptist  church.      Mr. 
Reed  and  his  young  wife  went  to  housekeeping 
on  a  rented  farm  in   Clay  township,  on  which 
they  lived  and  prospered  until    1859  or    i860, 
when   Mr.    Reed   bought   a  tract  of  sixty-five 
acres,  in   the   same  township,    cleared   off  the 
timber,  erected  a  good  house  and  all   the   nec- 
essary farm   buildings,  and    soon    had   a  most 
comfortable  home  as  well  as  a  profitable  farm. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  was  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  five  children,  viz:    Sarah,  Mary 
A.  (who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years), 
Catherine,   John  and   Susan.      These  children 
are  all  married  and  the  four  survivors  are  well 
situated  in  life.      Sarah   married  Jacob   Pefrly, 
a  farmer  of  Kansas;  Mary   A.    was    married  to 
N.    J.  Niswanger,  and   became  the   mother  of 
three  children;  Catherine  became  the  wife  of 
John  Procter,  a  farmer;  John,    now  farming  in 
Kansas,    married   Delia   Mills,    who  has  borne 
him  three  children;  Susan  is  the  wife  of  A.    B. 
Turner,  and  is  the  mother  of  four  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  are  consistent  and  faith- 
ful members  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  to 
the  support  of  which   they  contribute    liberally 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1155 


of  their  means,  and  also  give  their  active  moral 
support  in  the  advancement  of  both  its  spirit- 
ual and  material  progress.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Reed  is  a  democrat,  and  is  a  strong 
advocate  of  temperance.  Kis  life  has  been  a 
well-spent  and  useful  one,  and  he  has  fairly 
earned  his  conceded  place  as  one  of  Clay  town- 
ship's best  citizens. 


>*j*OHN  REEL,  of  Farmersville,  Ohio, 
J  one  of  the  most  venerable  men  in  the 
/•  1  state  and  probably  the  oldest  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  springs  from  German 
stock,  his  great-grandfather  having  come  to 
this  country  from  Germany.  Peter  Reel,  fa- 
ther of  John,  was  a  farmer  of  Virginia.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Folk,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Daniel,  Polly,  Sallie, 
Jacob,  Abraham,  Susannah  and  John.  Peter 
Reel  was  a  citizen  of  Berkeley  county,  Ya., 
and  lived  to  be  a  middle-aged  man,  dying  from 
an  accident.  He  was  a  man  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  and  owned  slaves.  While  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  his  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reform  church. 
Both  died  in  V irginia.  All  of  the  children  are 
now  deceased  except  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
John  Reel  was  born  in  Berkeley  county, 
Va..  December  19,  1803,  on  Dry  Run,  about 
three  miles  from  Martinsburg.  When  his  fa- 
ther died  he  was  nine  years  old,  his  mother 
dying  three  years  later.  From  that  time  on 
he  was  reared  by  his  guardian's  son-in-law, 
David  Wolf.  While  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  but  limited,  yet  he  learned  to  .read 
and  write  and  got  as  far  as  the  "  Rule  of 
Three,"  in  arithmetic.  In  18  12,  he  went  with 
David  Wolf  to  Washington  count)',  Md. ,  and 
thare  lived  until  he  was  twenty-six  years 
old.  Coming  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
in  1829,  he  made  a  journey  to  the  Ohio  river 
on  foot,  having  a  pair  of  saddle-bags,  in  which 


he  carried  his  personal  effects.  Reaching  the 
Ohio  river  at  Wheeling,  he  went  to  Cincinnati, 
walked  thence  to  Dayton.  Going  on  to  Ger- 
mantown,  consisting  at  that  time  of  but  a  few 
houses,  he  went  to  work  for  the  Rev.  J.  King, 
whose  sister,  Ann  Maria  King,  Mr.  Reel  mar- 
ried July  29,  1829.  Mrs.  Reel  was  born  in 
1 801,  in  Martinsburg,  Va.,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
King,  who  came  to  Montgomery  county  in 
1828,  settling  in  German  township,  with  his 
son,  Rev.  J.  King,  a  minister  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  Jacob  King  was  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  Jacob,  John,  Isaac, 
Ann  Maria  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  King  was  an 
aged  man  when  he  came  to  Ohio  and  had  then 
retired  from  active  life.  He  was  a  wagon- 
maker  by  trade,  and  had  lived  for  many  years 
at  Hagerstown,  Md.  In  religion  he  was  iden- 
tified with  the  United  Brethren  church,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  first  members. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Reel,  during  the  first  week  of  September,  1 829, 
moved  to  his  present  farm,  then  containing  too 
acres,  thirty  of  which  were  cleared.  Mr.  Reel 
had  carefully  saved  his  wages  and  was  thus 
enabled  to  pay  for  his  farm,  which  by  industry 
and  thrift  he  greatly  improved  and  made  a 
pleasant  home.  He  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Elizabeth, 
Eleanor,  Magdalena,  Ann  Maria,  Jacob,  David 
K.  and  Catherine,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
quite  young. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reel  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  in  which  he  was  a 
class  leader  and  trustee  for  many  years. 
Politically,  Mr.  Reel  was  in  early  life  a  demo- 
crat, then  an  old-line  whig,  then  republican, 
and  at  last  a  prahibitionist.  He  voted  for 
Andrew  Jackson  for  president  in  1828,  for 
William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840,  for  John  C. 
Fremont  in  1856,  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
i860  and  1864,  and  has  voted  for  one  of  the 
candidates  at  every  presidential  election  since. 


1156 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


He  has  always  been  an  honored  citizen, 
retiring  in  disposition,  frugal  and  temperate  in 
his  habits,  and  has  reared  an  excellent  family. 
Now,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three,  he  is  still 
strong  and  vigorous,  and  well  preserved. 

Of  his  children,  Elizabeth  Reel  married 
Henry  Snyder,  and  has  one  son;  Eleanor  mar- 
ried Daniel  Stiver,  and  has  four  children;  Mag- 
dalena  married  Frederick  Ade,  and  has  one 
child  living;  Maria  married  John  W.  Moyer, 
now  deceased,  and  had  one  child,  who  is 
also  deceased.  Mr.  Reel's  children  are  devot- 
edly attached  to  him  and  are  striving  to  make 
his  declining  years  free  from  all  care. 


■^"j'AMES  A.  RICE,  one  of  the  most  ex- 
m  perienced  farmers  of  Carrollton  Sta- 
<%  J  tion,  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio  (the  post-office  being 
named  West  Carrolltonj,  was  born  in  Fred- 
erick county,  Md.,  May  24,  1825,  and  is  a  son 
of  James  and  Rebecca  (Drill)  Rice,  both 
natives  of  Maryland,  and,  respectively,  of  Eng- 
lish and  German  descent. 

James  Rice  came  from  Maryland  to  Ohio 
in  1835,  and,  with  his  small  family,  located  in 
Harrison  township,  Montgomery  county,  but 
afterward  removed  to  Van  Buren  township, 
following  farming  as  an  occupation,  although 
he  had  been  reared  a  miller.  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Rice  died  before  the  family  moved  to  Van 
Buren  township,  but  the  father  survived  for 
some  years  and  died  in  Van  Buren  township  on 
the  farm  on  which  his  children  were  reared. 

James  A.  Rice,  from  the  age  of  ten  years, 
lived  in  Montgomery  county,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  has  all  his  life  been 
a  farmer.  He  began  on  his  own  account  by 
renting  a  place  in  Van  Buren  township,  on 
which  he  lived  for  twenty-five  years,  when  he 
came  to  Jefferson  township,  in  1861,  and  pur- 
chased   the     farm     of    eighty-eight    acres,    on 


which  he  has  since  resided,  and  on  which  he 
has  made  most  of  the  improvements.  His 
farm  is  a  model  one,  is  unsurpassed  in  fertility, 
and  been  brought  to  its  present  state  of  perfec- 
tion through  the  exertions  and  skill  of  Mr. 
Rice  himself,  aided  by  his  elder  children.  Mr. 
Rice's  marriage  took  place  September  16, 
1847,  to  Miss  Hannah  Updyke,  daughter  of 
Albert  and  Rebecca  (Reeder)  Updyke,  of  Van 
Buren  township,  and  the  result  of  the  union 
has  been  the  birth  of  nine  children,  viz: 
Charles,  Albert,  Oliver,  Newton,  Wilson, 
Willie,  Elmer,  Emma  and  Olive.  In  politics 
Mr.  Rice  is  a  democrat,  but  has  always  been 
devoid  of  ambition  as  an  office  seeker,  con- 
tenting himself  with  the  exercise  of  his  fran- 
chise. He  has  been  industrious  and  is  now 
enjoying  the  reward  of  that  industry,  while  his 
high  standing  in  the  community  in  which  he 
lives  is  well  deserved. 


B  RANK  J.  RIEGEL,  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  April 
11,  1 83 1,  a  son  of  David  and  Eliza- 
beth (Kaucher)  Riegel,  of  whom  further  facts 
may  be  read  in  the  biography  of  John  Riegel. 
When  but  one  year  old  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
among  the  pioneers  and  received  the  usual  edu- 
tion  of  the  backwoods  schools.  He  married, 
in  Jackson  township,  December  1,  1853,  Miss 
Catherine  Weaver,  who  was  born  June  23, 
1 83 1,  in  this  township,  a  daughter  of  John  I. 
and  Catherine  (Pence)  Weaver. 

John  I.  Weaver  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  born  in  1799,  of  German  parentage, 
and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  was  brought  to 
Ohio  by  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Jackson 
township,  Montgomery  county.  Here  he  grew 
to  manhood,  married  Miss  Pence  and  went  to 
farming  on    a    tract    of    160    acres,  which    he 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1157 


cleared  up  from  the  wild  woods,  adding  to  it 
until  he  owned  about  500  acres,  which  at  his 
death  he  divided  among  his  children.  These 
were  named  Sarah,  Malinda,  Mary  M.,  Cath- 
erine, Urias,  John  D.  and  William  A.  In 
politics  Mr.  Weaver  was  a  democrat  and  served 
as  township  trustee  and  treasurer.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  a  deacon  and 
elder  in  the  Slyfer  Lutheran  church.  John 
Pence,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Rie- 
gel,  came  from  Virginia,  and  died  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-two  years. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riegel 
settled  on  the  John  B.  Miller  farm,  in  Jackson 
township,  occupying  124  acres,  and  have  now 
one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the  town- 
ship. Their  marriage  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children — Amanda  H.,  Ellen  N.  and 
Altha  I.  Mr.  Riegel  is  a  consistent  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  in  which  he  has 
been  a  class  leader  for  many  years,  and  Mrs. 
Riegel  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 
In  his  politics  Mr.  Riegel  is  a  democrat  and  an 
advocate  of  the  free  silver  doctrine,  and  is  also 
an  ardent  prohibitionist.  Of  the  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riegel,  Amanda  H.  is  married 
to  Allen  Bussard,  a  farmer  of  Butler  county, 
and  has  two  children — Franklin  P.  and  Elva 
E.;  Ellen  N.  is  the  wife  of  John  M.  Ebbert, 
principal  of  the  Nineteenth  district  public 
school,  Dayton,  and  has  three  children — Le- 
Roy,  Robert  Laird  andWendall;  and  Altha 
I.  is  married  to  Paris  Binkley,  a  former  hard- 
ware merchant  of  East  Fifth  street,  Dayton, 
and  now  of  San  Diego,  Cal. 


aHRISTIAN  ROHRER,  farmer  and 
dairyman  of  Mad  River  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
in  this   township,    October   13,   1842. 

He  is  a  son  of  Manin   and  Elizabeth  (Kreider) 
51 


Rohrer,  both  natives  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters,  as  follows:  Chris- 
tiana, Tobias,  Maria  (wife  of  Franklin  P. 
Grimes),  Christian  and  Martha,  the  latter  the 
wife  of  E.  J.  Williamson. 

Martin  Rohrer  was  a  distiller  by  occupa- 
tion, and  came  to  Ohio  in  1834,  settling  on 
the  farm  upon  which  Christian,  his  son,  now 
lives.  Upon  this  farm  he  lived  until  his  death 
in  1844,  when  he  was  forty-eight  years  of  age. 
His  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  dy- 
ing when  she  was  sixty-three.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Rohrer 
purchased  1,200  acres  when  land  was  cheap, 
and  so  became  a  comparatively  wealthy  man. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Christian  Rohrer,  was  born  in 
Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania.  He  and  his  wife  reared 
a  family  of  nine  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
still  living — Jacob,  who  is  now  eighty-four 
years  of  age.  Each  of  the  others  lived  to  be 
at  least  eighty-five  years  of  age.  Christian 
Rohrer  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  also  a 
farmer.  His  death  occurred  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject,  Henry 
Kreider,  was  also  a  native  of  Germany,  came 
to  the  United  States,  followed  the  calling  of  a 
farmer,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Lancaster 
county,  that  state. 

Christian  Rohrer,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  and  reared  on  the  farm  upon 
which  he  still  resides.  His  early  education 
was  received  in  the  district  school,  and  after- 
ward he  attended  Farmers'  college,  at  College 
Hill,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  taking  a  two- 
years'  course.  Returning  to  the  farm,  he  was 
married,  August  13,  1861,  to  Miss  Caroline 
Carles,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Livonia  (Rog- 
ers) Carles.  To  this  marriage  there  have  been 
born  four  children,  as  follows:  Alice,  George 
O,  Rodney    K.  and    Sylva    C.      Alice  married 


1158 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  Rev.  J.  M.  Bolton,  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  has  one  child,  Carl;  Sylva  C.  mar- 
ried Anna  Nobling,  and  has  one  child,  Esther. 
The  others  have  not  married. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rohrer  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  Mr.  Rohrer,  as 
a  republican,  served  as  township  clerk  three 
terms.  He  owns  250  acres  of  land,  farming 
1  50  acres.  For  the  past  four  years  Mr.  Rohrer 
has  been  engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  having 
one  of  the  best  equipped  dairy  farms  in  the 
country.  He  is  painstaking  and  methodical 
in  the  conduct  of  this  enterprise,  and  has  met 
with  the  success  that  follows  thrift. 


m. 


[LLIAM  RHOADES,  farmer,  of 
Jackson  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  is  a  son  of  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  that  township,  and 
springs  from  Pennsylvania-Dutch  ancestry. 
His  grandfather  was  Philip  Rhoades,  a  farmer 
of  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  who  removed  to 
Montgomery  county  between  1800  and  1805, 
bringing  his  family  with  him.  Buying  land  in 
Jackson  township,  one  mile  west  of  where 
William  Rhoades  now  lives,  he  built  thereon 
a  log  cabin  and  cleared  his  farm.  At  that 
time  there  were  but  few  settlers  in  Jackson 
township,  so  that  Mr.  Rhoades  may  justly  be 
considered  one  of  the  original  pioneers.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Slyfer  Reformed  church, 
and  politically  was  a  democrat.  He  died  on 
his  farm  at  an  advanced  age.  His  children 
were  as  follows:  John,  Jacob,  Henry,  Lewis, 
Polly,  Sallie  and  Esther. 

John  Rhoades,  the  eldest  son,  and  father 
of  William  Rhoades,  was  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Pa.,  August  10,  1792,  and  was  there- 
fore about  ten  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Ohio.  When  they  reached  Dayton, 
Ohio,  after  a  long  and  tedious  journey  with 
teams  and  wagons,  they  found  a  small  hamlet 


with  only  a  few  cabins  clustered  together. 
Young  Rhoades  was  reared  among  the  pioneers, 
received  the  best  education  obtainable  in  those 
early  days,  which  was  very  limited,  but  being 
of  an  inquiring  and  active  mind  he  gained  a 
great  deal  of  practical  knowledge  which  he 
could  not  have  acquired  at  school,  and  became 
a  thoroughly  successful  farmer  and  sound  busi- 
ness man.  He  married  Catherine  Ruby,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  Ruby,  who  came  to  Montgomery 
county  at  about  the  same  time  with  the 
Rhoades  family.  The  children  of  Jacob  Ruby 
were  as  follows:  Jacob,  John,  Samuel,  Sarah, 
Rebecca  and  Catherine. 

John  Rhoades  settled  on  the  land  upon 
which  his  son  William  now  lives,  about  126 
acres,  which  he  purchased  of  his  brother 
George.  About  twenty  acres  of  this  land  had 
been  cleared.  The  rest  of  it  Mr..  Rhoades 
cleared,  and  erected  upon  it  some  of  the  best 
buildings  then  to  be  found  anywhere  in  that 
part  of  the  country.  He  was  industrious  and 
of  sound  judgment,  and  consequently  pros- 
pered and  aided  all  his  children  to  get  a  start 
in  the  world.  These  children  were  as  follows: 
Barbara,  Mar}',  John,  Jacob,  Catherine,  Sarah, 
George,  Anna,  Peter,  William  and  Lydia. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rhoades  were  members  of  the 
Reformed  church,  and  aided  to  erect  the 
original  log  building  in  which  this  organization 
worshiped,  and  also  its  present  brick  structure. 
Politically  Mr.  Rhoades  was  a  democrat,  and 
was  always  a  strong  supporter  of  his  part}'. 

William  Rhoades,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  February 
4,  1840.  Having  been  educated  as  well  as 
could  be  in  the  common  schools,  he  began 
early  to  work  on  the  farm,  to  ride  the  horse  in 
tramping  out  grain  on  the  barn  floor,  and  to 
perform  other  kinds  of  labor,  then  familiar  to 
all  but  now  superseded  by  improved  methods. 
When  he  was  thirty-two  years  of  age  he  mar- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1159 


ried  Matilda  Stiver,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed December  15,  1872,  and  his  wife  being 
a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sophia  (Rickle) 
Stiver.  For  fuller  mention  of  Henry  Stiver 
the  reader  is  referred  to  his  biography  pub- 
lished elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rhoades 
settled  on  the  old  homestead  upon  which  they 
have  ever  since  resided.  They  are  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Amanda  A. ,  Charles 
E.,  John  H.,  William  F.,  Perry  M.,  Matilda 
C.  and  Forrest  L.  Mr.  Rhoades  is  a  member 
of  the  German  Reformed  church,  and  Mrs. 
Rhoades  of  the  Lutheran  church,  Mr.  Rhoades 
being  a  liberal  supporter  of  religious  work. 
He  has  an  excellent  farm  of  126  acres,  which 
he  has  greatly  improved.  Politically  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  he  is  a  man  that  has  made  his 
own  way  in  the  world  by  means  of  integrity  of 
purpose  and  action. 


Vt^ONATHAN  SCHELL,  one  of  the  old- 
■  est  and  most  respected  residents  of  Jef- 
/•  1  ferson  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
December  10.  18 10,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mar- 
garet (Lesherj  Schell.  who  were  also  natives 
of  Berks  county  and  of  Revolutionary  ante- 
cedents. Peter  Schell  and  John  Lesher,  re- 
spectively the  paternal  and  maternal  grand- 
fathers of  Jonathan  Schell,  were  born  in 
Germany,  came  to  America  in  their  young 
manhood,  and  both  became  soldiers  in  the  war 
for  American  independence,  Mr.  Lesher  hav-. 
ing  command  of  a  company  and  having  fought 
in  the  battles  of  the  Brandywine  and  of  Bun- 
ker Hill.  Both  these  grandfathers  finally  be- 
came permanent  settlers  of  and  farmers  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days. 

Henry  and   Margaret   (Lesher)  Schell,  par- 
ents of  Jonathan,  came  from   Pennsylvania  to 


Ohio  in  1820,  and  located  in  Miamisburg, 
Montgomery  county,  where  the  father  at  first 
followed  his  trade  of  cooper;  but  farming  was 
his  principal  occupation  through  life,  although 
in  his  latter  years  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  plow  points.  His  death  took  place  in- 
1864,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  1866,  leaving  to 
mourn  their  loss  the  following  family  of  chil- 
dren: John;  David;  Catherine,  now  Mrs.  An- 
thony Emert;  Jonathan;  Molly,  now  Mrs. 
Fred  Yaukey;  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Israel  Staley; 
and  Martha,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Kutz. 

Jonathan  Schell,  it  will  be  seen,  passed  the 
first  ten  years  of  his  life  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
later  youth  and  earlier  manhood  were  spent  in 
Miamisburg,  Ohio,  in  learning  and  in  working 
at  the  cabinetmaker's  trade,  but  later  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  near  that  town,  and  there 
lived  until  185  1,  when  'he  moved  to  the  farm 
he  now  occupies  in  Jefferson  township,  on 
which  he  has  made  many  substantial  improve- 
ments, including  all  the  buildings,  and  which 
he  has  brought  to  a  most  excellent  condition 
of  productiveness.  In  his  early  youth,  Mr. 
Schell  helped  to  break  the  first  furrow  for  the 
Miami  canal. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Schell  was  solem- 
nized, in  1  83 1,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Gebhart, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Cramer) 
Gebhart,  the  union  being  blessed  with  ten 
children,  of  whom  eight  are  still  living,  viz: 
Peggy  (Mrs.  Amos  Weaver),  Henry,  George, 
Martin,  Jonathan,  David,  William  and  Sam- 
uel. Since  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Schell 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church — 
a  period  of  over  seventy  years — and  his  seven 
sons  and  son-in-law  worship  in  the  same  faith; 
in  politics,  they  all  are  democrats. 

David  P.  Schell,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza- 
beth (Gebhart)  Schell,  was  born  in  Miami 
township,  April  19,  1850,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Jefferson  township,  where  he  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 


1160 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


twenty  began  farming  on  his  own  account. 
Since  1872  he  has  lived  on  his  present  farm  of 
eighty-six  acres  in  Jefferson  township,  part  of 
which  he  cleared  from  the  forest  and  all  of 
which  he  has  improved  and  placed  under  cul- 
tivation. The  buildings,  which  are  modern 
and  substantial,  have  been  erected  by  him, 
and  the  farm,  as  a  whole,  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  any  other  of  its  size  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Schell  was  united  in  marriage  Decem- 
ber 23,  1870,  with  Miss  Mary  M.,  daughter  of 
George  and  Margaret  (Beachler)  Stine,  of  Jef- 
ferson township,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  six  children,  viz:  Cora 
(wife  of  Charles  Brown),  Jemima  (Mrs.  Will- 
iam Hartzell),  Clara,  Edna,  Mary  and  George. 
The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  enjoy  a  very  high  social  standing 
among  their  neighbors. 


OWEN  G.  SHIVELEY,  one  of  the  old- 
est and  most  respected  farmers  of 
Jefferson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  born  here  on  the  old 
Shiveley  homestead,  November  3,  1815,  and 
was  reared  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 
Christian  Shiveley,  Sr.,  his  grandfather, 
was  born  near  Hagerstown,  Md.,  of  German 
descent.  He  was  married  in  his  native  state, 
and  there  were  born  to  him  children  in  the  fol- 
lowing order:  Jacob  Christian,  Daniel,  David, 
Susannah  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Shiveley  came 
to  Ohio  in  the  old  pioneer  days,  settled  in  Jef- 
ferson township  on  160  acres  of  land,  and 
cleared  up  from  the  woods  a  comfortable 
home,  and  on  this  farm  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  dying  a  highly  honored  citizen  and 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Christian  Shiveley,  Jr.,  son  of  above  and 
father  of  Owen  G. ,  was  also  born  near  Hagers- 
town, Md.,  but  moved  thence  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married   Miss   Susannah   Gripe,  who 


was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  that  state,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Susannah  (Rench)  Gripe. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Shiveley  was  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  a  minister  in  the  German  Baptist 
church.  His  children  were  named  William, 
John,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Susannah,  Hannah 
and  Catherine.  Mr.  Gripe  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania as  a  pioneer  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Madison  township,  where 
he  purchased  a  considerable  body  of  land,  and 
at  his  death  was  able  to  leave  160  acres  to  each 
of  his  children.  After  marriage  Mr.  Shiveley 
first  located  on  a  farm  in  Huntingdon  county, 
Pa.,  and  there  eight  children  of  his  were  born. 
Of  these  children,  Christine  and  John  died 
when  young;  David  is  also  deceased;  Owen  G. 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Samuel;  William 
died  in  Peru,  Ind. ;  Elizabeth  and  Susan  are 
also  deceased.  The  father  of  this  family  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
some  time  prior  to  18 10 — probably  about  1804 
or  1805 — as  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
he  erected  a  two-story  stone  house  in  Madison 
township  in  181 1;  his  original  farm  contained 
160  acres,  which  he  cleared  from  the  woods 
and  subsequently  increased  to  400  acres.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church 
and  died  in  that  faith  when  about  sixty-six 
years  of  age. 

Owen  G.  Shiveley  was  reared  to  farming 
among  the  pioneers  of  Montgomery  county, 
there  being  but  one  house  in  Dayton — and  that 
a  log  one — when  his  father  settled  in  the  coun- 
ty. He  was  permitted  to  attend  the  old-fash- 
ioned log  school-house  of  his  district  as  much 
as  possible  and  received  a  very  fair  education. 
On  the  first  day  of  January,  1845,  he  married 
Miss  Hannah  Ullery,  a  native  of  Madison 
township  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Cath- 
erine (Gripe)  Ullery.  Her  father,  Joseph  Ul- 
lery, was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pa., 
was  a  pioneer  of  Madison  township  and  settled 
on  a  farm  on  Wolf  creek,  but  later  moved  to  a 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1161 


farm  near  South  Bend,  Ind.  His  children 
were  born  in  the  following  order:  Samuel, 
Stephen,  John,  Joseph,  Jacob,  David,  Susan, 
Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Hannah  (Mrs.  Shiveley), 
Barbara  and  Esther. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Shiveley  occupied 
a  part  of  the  home  farm  for  a  year,  and  then 
came  to  his  present  place  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship— then  all  in  the  forest — where  he  has 
carved  out  a  pleasant  home.  Mrs.  Shiveley 
here  died,  January  26,  1890,  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  the  mother  of  the 
following  children:  Christian  R.,  Joseph  U., 
Noah  H.,  Francis  M.,  Aaron  V.,  JohnD., 
Susannah,  Elizabeth  and  Esther.  In  politics 
Mr.  Shiveley  is  a  democrat  and  has  served  in 
several  public  offices.  For  more  than  twenty- 
five  years  he  was  assessor  of  Madison  town- 
ship; he  was  also  decennial  land  appraiser,  was 
trustee  of  Jefferson  township  eight  years,  and 
United  States  enumerator  of  census  one  term. 
He  was  also  treasurer  of  the  Dayton  &  West- 
ern Turnpike  company  for  over  thirty  years. 
He  has  filled  every  position  with  honor  and 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  the  people,  and  no  man  to-day  stands  high- 
er than  he  in  the  esteem  of  the  citizens  of 
Montgomery  county. 


>-j»AMES  W.  SMITH,  a  retired  farmer  of 
a  Harrison  township,  was  born  within 
(•  1  four  miles  of  Dayton,  on  the  Troy  pike, 
north  of  the  city,  November  17,  1843. 
He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Deardorf) 
Smith,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Carolina 
and  the  latter  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and 
four  daughters,  as  follows:  Hannah,  widow 
of  James  W.  Lowry;  Jacob,  John;  Margaret, 
wife  of  S.  M.  Foote;  Benjamin,  deceased; 
Mary  J.,  widow  of  John  S.  Protsman;  Martha, 
wife    of    S.    W.    Massey,    of    Osborn,    Ohio; 


Franklin,  deceased;  William  H.  and  James 
W.  Henry  Smith  was  by  occupation  a  farmer, 
and  at  an  early  day  settled  near  Springboro, 
Ohio.  After  living  there  a  short  time  he  re- 
moved to  Dayton,  where  he  remained  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  then  bought  a  farm  four  miles 
north  of  Dayton,  to  which  he  removed,  and 
added  to  it  until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  about  700  acres  of  land.  He  was  largely 
engaged  in  hauling  wood  to  Dayton,  and 
thereby  became  widely  known  as  "Wood 
Smith."  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church;  in  fact,  they 
were  among  the  founders  of  Ebenezer  Method- 
ist church,  which  many  remember  to  the 
present  day.  His  death  occurred  January  14, 
1 86 1,  in  his  sixty-sixth  year,  while  Mrs.  Smith 
died  December  9,  1878,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  James  W. 
Smith  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Deardorf,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Ohio  in  1801, 
and  settled  near  Springboro.  He  made  the 
journey  down  the  Ohio  river  by  flatboat, 
landed  at  Cincinnati,  and  came  thence  direct 
to  Springboro.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  in  running  a  saw-mill  for  a  number  of 
years,  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  and 
died  upon  his  farm. 

James  W.  Smith  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  Harrison  township,  and  received  a  good 
education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
Eighty-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  three  months.  After  the  war  had  closed 
be  began  farming  and  has  followed  that  calling 
ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  about  two 
years  spent  in  Osborn. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  March  5,  1872,  to 
Miss  Susanne  Neff,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Doan)  Neff.  To  them  have  been  born 
no  children.     They  are  members  of   the  First 


1162 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Reformed  church  of  Dayton,  and  Mr.  Smith  is 
a  member  of  Reed  Commandery,  No.  6,  K.  T. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  post, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican. 

In  1895  Mr.  Smith  retired  from  farming 
and  is  now  living  free  from  care  and  responsi- 
bility, enjoying  the  results  of  his  early  labors, 
and  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
men.  He  owns  forty-six  acres  in  his  home 
place,  and  seventy-four  acres  in  a  farm  in  Har- 
rison township.  He  has'  always  been  a  pro- 
gressive farmer,  and  has  taken  great  interest 
in  forwarding  the  prosperity  of  the  county  and 
city.  His  beautiful  home  is  on  the  new  Troy 
pike,  two  and  a  quarter  miles  from  the  court 
house  in   Dayton. 


^y^V  OAH  SWANK,  farmer,  of  Montgom- 
m  ery  county,  Ohio,  and  now  residing 
[  in  Clay  township,  is  a  native  of  this 
county  and  was  born  in  Perry  town- 
ship, as  was  his  father  before  him. 

John  Swank,  his  grandfather,  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Montgomery  county. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  cleared  up  a  tract  of  160 
acres  from  the  woods  of  Perry  township.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  had  born  to  him  the 
following  children:  Jacob,  George,  Aaron, 
Jabez,  Joseph,  John,  Moses,  Elizabeth,  Sarah, 
Fannie,  Susannah  and  Mary — Joseph  being 
the  only  child  by  the  first  marriage.  The  fa- 
ther of  these  children  died  from  the  effects  of 
an  accident  when  about  fifty  years  of  age — a 
most  respected  pioneer. 

John  Swank,  sixth  of  the  above  sons  and 
father  of  Noah,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
in  his  native  township  of  Perry.  He  married 
Miss  Barbara  Nicewonger,  a  native  of  Clay 
township  and  a  daughter  of  George  Nice- 
wonger, a  pioneer,  who  settled  here  when  the 
Indians  roamed  the  country  at  their  own  free 
will.     John  Swank  and  wife  settled  on  a  small 


farm  in  Clay  township,  which  by  hard  work 
he  cleared  up  and  increased  to  eighty  acres, 
and  on  this  farm  his  son,  Jabez  Swank,  now 
lives.  John  Swank  was  a  minister  in  the 
church  of  the  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  for 
thirty  years  preached  in  Perry,  Clay  and  the 
surrounding  townships,  continuing  in  the  min- 
istry until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  August, 
1878,  when  he  had  reached  his  fifty-sixth  year. 
His  children  were  five  in  number,  and  were 
named  Noah,  Jabez,  Levi,  Frances  and  Sarah, 
the  last  named  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

Noah  Swank  was  born  January  6,  1849, 
was  reared  a  farmer  and  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education.  October  30,  1873,  he 
married,  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  Miss  Sarah 
Huddle,  who  was  born  September  7,  1850,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Barbara  (Beery)  Hud- 
dle. The  father  of  Mrs.  Swank,  Daniel  Hud- 
dle, was  a  son  of  Abraham,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  early  settled  in  Fairfield  county, 
cleared  up  a  farm,  and  was  the  father  of 
the  following  children,  beside  Daniel:  Cath- 
erine, Rebecca,  Barbara,  Elizabeth,  John, 
Sallie,  Mary,  Joel  and  Abraham.  He  was  a 
sturdy  pioneer,  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

Daniel  Huddle  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  in  181 5,  was  a  farmer,  and  married  in 
his  native  county,  becoming  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  Eli,  John,  Abraham, 
Noah,  Daniel,  Samuel,  Solomon,  Catherine, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah  and  Lydia.  He  owned  a 
nicely-cleared-up  farm  of  180  acres,  and  died 
in  1877,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noah  Swank  have  had  born 
to  their  marriage  seven  children,  viz:  Theo- 
dore, Agnes,  Charles  E-. ,  Minnie  and  Ella,  and 
Ira  and  Irving,  twins,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  months.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  in  which  Mr.  Swank 
is  a  trustee  and  steward.      In  his  church  work 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1163 


Mr.  Swank  has  always  been  active  and  ardent, 
and  has  contributed  largely  to  the  erection  of 
two  houses  of  worship.  In  politics  he  is  a  re- 
publican, and  has  held  the  office  of  township 
trustee.  He  has  a  finely  cultivated  farm  of 
165  acres,  well  improved  in  all  respects,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  substantial  and  respected  cit- 
izens of  Clay  township. 


aALEB  THOMAS,  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  veterinary  surgeons  of 
Montgomery  county,  sprang  from  an 
old  colonial  family,  which  was  of 
English  origin.  Isaac  Thomas,  his  grandfa- 
ther, tame  from  South  Carolina.  He  had  two 
brothers,  John  and  Abel,  the  latter  of  whom 
walked  from  South  Carolina  to  Ohio  with  his 
family,  having  a  pack  horse  to  carry  his  effects. 
Isaac  Thomas  married  Sarah  Perkins,  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children:  John,  William, 
Edward,  Nehemiah,  Ebenezer,  Isaac,  Eliza- 
beth and  Mary.  Isaac  Thomas  removed  with 
his  family  to  Montgomery  county  in  18 17,  set- 
tling at  Phillipsburg,  his  boys  all  securing  land 
and  settling  near  him.  His  daughters  had 
married  in  South  Carolina.  Elizabeth  married 
John  Farmer,  and  Mary  married  Absalom 
Leeper,  both  families  settling  near  Phillips- 
burg. At  that  time  the  country  was  a  wilder- 
ness. Isaac  Thomas  entered  part  of  the  land 
on  which  Phillipsburg  now  stands,  and  cleared 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  upon  which  he  lived  for 
many  years  and  died  an  aged  man.  In  relig- 
ion he  was  a  Quaker,  and  assisted  to  build  the 
Quaker  church  at  Phillipsburg,  in  which  the 
Friends  or  Quakers  worshiped  for  many 
years.  He  was  a  man  of  weight  and  influence 
and  his  family  owned  many  acres  of  land  in  the 
vicinity  in  which  he   lived. 

Isaac  Thomas,  son  of  the  above  Isaac,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  February  25,  1804. 
He  was  of  ancient  Quaker  stock  and  came  with 


his  parents  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Montgomery 
county,  at  Becky  Springs,  near  Dayton.  In 
1 8 1 7  the  family  removed  to  Phillipsburg.  In 
religion  he  was  a  Friend,  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  and  married,  October  26,  1827,  Tamar 
Mendenhall,  who  was  born  September  9,  1802, 
being  the  first  white  child  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, Miami  county,  Ohio.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Caleb  and  Susannah  (Gardner)  Menden- 
hall, the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Guilford 
county,  N.  C. ,  in  which  county  he  married 
Susannah  Gardner.  Both  families  were  of 
English  ancestry  and  Quakers  in  religion. 
Caleb  Mendenhall  and  wife  had  the  following 
children:  Miriam,  Griffith,  William,  Caleb, 
Susan,  Grace,  Tamar,  Gardner,  Christy, 
Rhoda,  Kirk,  eleven  in  all,  and  all  lived  to 
mature  years.  'Caleb  Mendenhall  removed 
from  North  Carolina  to  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
settling  in  Union  township.  He  cleared  up 
a  farm  of  102  acres  and  built  a  brick  dwell- 
ing upon  his  farm  in  18 16,  which  was  one  of 
the  first  brick  houses,  if  not  the  first,  in  his 
township.  In  his  latter  days  he  moved  to 
Richmond,  Ind.,  and  there  bought  a  farm, 
upon  which  he  died  when  eighty  years  of  age. 
His  wife  died  when  about  seventy-three  years 
old.  Mr.  Mendenhall  removed  from  the  south 
on  account  of  slavery,  he  being  a  lover  of  free- 
dom and  an  abolitionist. 

In  1 82 1  Isaac  Thomas  entered  ninety-two 
acres  of  land  in  Clay  township,  adjoining  the 
present  farm  of  his  son  Caleb,  cleared  the  land 
and  made  a  good  home  for  his  family.  This 
farm  he  greatly  improved  by  the  erection  of 
good  build'ngsand  in  many  other  ways.  Upon 
this  land  he  never  placed  a  mortgage,  and  it 
was  still  in  the  possession  of  his  widow,  Mrs. 
Tamar  Thomas,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1896.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Permelia,  Harriet,  Milo,  Caleb,  Seth,  Susannah 
and  Irvin,  twins,  and  Elam.  Permelia  married 
Isaac  Goodyear,  of  Miami  county;  Harriet  mar- 


1164 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ried  H.  Jones,  of  Darke  count}',  Ohio.  Isaac 
Thomas  and  his  wife  were  Friends  in  religion, 
and  he  lived  to  be  seventy-six  years  old,  dying 
September  17,  1880,  as  the  result  of  an  acci- 
dent. He  was  a  man  of  steady  habits,  of  strong 
character,  and  prospered  by  thrift  and  industry. 
He  possessed  where  he  lived  262  acres  of  land, 
and  in  addition  thereto  eighty  acres  in  Miami 
county.  He  was  a  widely  and  well  known 
man,  and  it  may  be  said  of  him  that  he  lived  a 
truly  conscientious  life.  In  politics  he  was  a 
republican.  His  aged  widow  is  now  ninety- 
four  years  of  age,  and  is  yet  in  the  possession 
of  her  mental  faculties. 

Caleb  Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  February  23,  1834,  on  his  father's 
farm.  Receiving  the  customary  ccmmon- 
school  education  of  his  time,  he  became  well 
qualified  to  take  care  of  himself,  and  to  man- 
age any  business  affairs  that  might  fall  into  his 
hands.  On  June  23,  1859,  he  married  Har- 
riet Coffman,  who  was  born  October  16,  1837, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Hoover)  Coffman,  the  former  of  whom  was  of 
Pennsylvania-Dutch  descent,  and  whose  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Jane,  John,  George, 
Sarah,  Susan,  Eliza,  Rebecca,  Harriet,  Cath- 
erine and  Ellen.  Mr.  Coffman  was  a  wagon- 
maker  by  trade  and  settled  near  Little  York, 
Montgomery  county,  afterward  removing  to 
West  Milton,  Miami  county,  and  at  length  to  a 
farm  near  Phillipsburg,  where  he  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years,  his  wife  dying  when 
seventy-eight  years  old.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr. 
Coffman  was  an  exhorter  and  class  leader.  He 
was  a  man  of  fine  character  and  well  known 
for  his  high  standard  of  conduct. 

Caleb  Thomas,  when  a  young  man,  went 
to  Iowa,  where  he  bought  and  ran  a  saw-mill 
in  Jefferson  county.  After  his  marriage  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm,  and  1863  removed  to  Clay 
township,  and   lived   on    his  father's    farm    for 


three  years.  In  1865  he  removed  to  a  farm  of 
his  own,  a  fine  tract  of  seventy-five  acres, 
whose  value  he  has  greatly  increased  by  the 
addition  of  excellent  buildings  and  many  other 
improvements.  For  the  past  thirty  years  he 
has  practiced  veterinary  surgery,  and  has  a 
large  practice.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican 
and  is  an  excellent  citizen.  He  and  his  wife  have 
had  nine  children,  as  follows:  Charles  W., 
who  died  when  five  years  old;  George  J.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  months;  John  E., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  months;  Adam 
S.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years; 
Ellen  E. ;  Ora  M. ;  Ward,  who  died  when  sev- 
enteen years  old;  Tiffin  A.  and  Alva  P.  Since 
Mr.  Thomas  has  lived  in  Montgomery  he  has 
belonged  to  the  Christian  church,  assisting  to 
erect  the  church  at  Phillipsburg. 


^"^•AMUEL  TEETER,  farmer,   of  Madi- 
•^K*    son    township,    Montgomery   county, 

h\^_y  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  this  county  and 
was  born  August  10,  1834,  a  son  of 
Abraham  and  Esther  (Paulus)  Teeter,  natives 
of  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  and  of  German  de- 
scent. John  Paulus,  father  of  Mrs.  Esther 
Teeter,  was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  in 
1779,  and  died  in  1835;  his  w^e  was  born  in 
1782,  and  died  in  1843.  Abraham  Teeter, 
father  of  Samuel,  was  a  shoemaker  and  also  a 
farmer,  and  early  after  his  marriage  came  to 
Ohio  and  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  at 
Little  York,  whence  he  removed  to  Elkhart 
county,  Ind.,  in  1835,  and  located  on  a  farm 
of  160  acres  near  Goshen,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  he  and  his  wife, 
strange  to  relate,  dying  almost  at  the  same 
moment,  in  the  same  year,  1839.  Their  chil- 
dren, in  order  of  birth,  were  named  John, 
David,  Daniel,  Andrew,  Samuel  and  Jacob. 

Samuel  Teeter,  the  fifth  of  this  family,  was 
but  a  year  old  when  taken  to  Indiana  by  his 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1165 


parents,  and  at  their  death  he,  David,  Daniel 
and  Andrew  were  brought  back  to  Ohio  to  live 
with  their  maternal  grandmother,  in  Madison 
township,  Montgomery  county.  With  her 
Samuel  resided  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  live  with  David  Brumbaugh. 
Mr.  Brumbaugh  died  a  year  later,  and  Samuel 
continued  to  live  with  his  widow,  Catherine 
Brumbaugh,  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  Van- 
imen,  the  pioneer  of  Madison  township,  until 
he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  in  the  mean- 
time learning  the  blacksmith's  trade.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-three  Mr.  Teeter  married,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1858,  Miss  Mary  Vanimen,  who  was 
born  January  4,  1838,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Bowman)  Vanimen.  Two  years 
after  marriage  Mr.  Teeter  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Madison  township,  upon  which  he 
lived  for  about  twelve  years,  when  he  moved 
to  Osborn,  Greene  county,  and  bought  a  farm 
of  121  acres.  In  1874  he  returned  to  Madison 
township,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm  of 
156  acres,  where  he  has  since  lived  and  greatly 
prospered. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teeter  have  been  born 
the  following  children:  George  W. ,  William 
P.,  Charles  E.,  Mary  Martha,  Albert  and  Ida 
Lizzie  (twins),  Barbara  E.,  John,  Jessie, 
Laura,  Annie  and  Maud.  Of  this  family, 
George  W\,  a  farmer  of  Randolph  township, 
is  married  to  Mary  Flory  and  has  one  child; 
William  P.  is  a  carpenter  and  builder  of 
Springfield,  Mo.,  is  married  to  Martha  Reed, 
and  has  two  children;  Charles  E. ,  also  a  car- 
penter and  builder,  married  Jennie  Dishman, 
and  has  one  child;  Mary  M.  is  married  to  Uxiah 
Keener,  of  Madison  township,  and  has  one 
child;  Ida  Lizzie  is  married  to  Ambrose  Landis, 
a  school-teacher  of  Madison  township,  and 
has  one  child;  Barbara  E.  is  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Brumbaugh,  a  farmer  near  Brookville,  Ohio, 
and  has  two  children;  John  is  in  a  rolling-mill 
at  Saint  Louis,    Mo.,  married    Flora  Meckley, 


and  has  one  child.  The  remainder  of  Mr. 
Teeter's  children  are  still  unmarried  and  reside 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teeter  are 
devout  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church 
and  have  reared  their  children  in  the  same 
faith.  In  politics  Mr.  Teeter  is  a  democrat, 
and  is  in  all  respects  a  good  and  useful  citizen. 


fft 


ILLIAM  UMBENHAUER,  ofWen- 
gerlawn,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
an  ex-soldier  of  the  late  Civil  war, 
was  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
May  14,  1 841.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Catherine  Hinebaugh  Umbenhauer.  Reared 
at  home,  he  received  the  ordinary  common- 
school  education  of  the  day,  and  when  twenty 
years  of  age,  on  July  20,  1S61,  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg  in  company  G,  First  Pennsylvania 
light  infantry,  under  Capt.  West,  to  serve 
three  years  or  during  the  war.  Re-enlisting  on 
January  2,  1864,  at  Mountain  Creek,  Va.,  he 
enrolled  the  next  day,  and  served  in  company 
F,  same  regiment,  until  finally  discharged, 
June  10,  1865,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  John  F. 
Campbell  being  his  captain  during  his  second 
period  of  enlistment.  The  entire  period  of  his 
service  was  three  years  and  eleven  months. 

Mr.  Umbenhauer  was  in  the  hardest-fought 
battles  of  the  campaigns  before  Richmond; 
among  them  the  Seven  Days'  battle,  the  battle 
of  James  river,  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville, 
Bristow  Station,  and  Gettysburg,  the  battles  of 
the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Court  House  and 
Cold  Harbor,  and  in  front  of  Petersburg.  Thus 
he  participated  in  the  hardest-fought  battles  of 
the  Potomac,  and  was  in  the  fierce  artillery 
duel  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  when  four 
hundred  gunners,  two  hundred  on  each  side, 
were  in  action  at  once,  this  being  one  of  the 
hottest  engagements  he  was  in  during  the   en- 


1166 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tire  war.  In  1864  he  was  promoted  to  cor- 
poral for  meritorious  service,  and  was  a  cor- 
poral when  discharged.  He  was  fortunate 
enough  not  to  be  wounded  or  taken  prisoner 
during  his  entire  period  of  service,  but  was 
sick  in  hospital  of  typhoid  fever  for  a  short 
time  in  1861,  before  he  had  participated  in  any 
battle,  being  in  Washington  City  and  in  Balti- 
more while  in  hospital.  Mr.  Umbenhauer  was 
in  all  the  battles,  campaigns  and  marches  in 
which  his  regiment  engaged,  and  was  always 
an  active  soldier,  performing  promptly  and 
cheerfully  the  duties  laid  upon  him. 

After  the  war  was  over  he  returned  to 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  locating  at  Pine  Grove, 
and  there  married  Catherine  Fry,  who  was 
born  in  that  county  April  20,  1847,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Wren)  Fry. 
The  Fry  family  was  of  German  origin.  To 
Henry  Fry  and  his  wife  there  were  born  the 
following  children:  Harriet,  William,  John, 
Sarah  C,  Rebecca  and  David.  John  was  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  served  three  years  in  the 
western  army. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Umbenhauer  settled 
in  Pine  Grove,  but  removed  to  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  in  1869,  finally  removing  to  Wenger- 
lawn  in  1879.  Here  he  has  been  engaged  in 
various  kinds  of  business  and  has  purchased  val- 
uable residence  property.  He  is  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  Parmalee  Horn  post,  G.  A. 
R.,  of  Lewisburg  and  West  Baltimore.  In 
politics  Mr.  Umbenhauer  is  a  republican,  and 
is  a  member  of    the   United   Brethren  church. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Umbenhauer  is  of  Penn- 
sylvania-Dutch stock.  Daniel  Umbenhauer, 
his  father,  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Francis,  Mary,  Sarah,  William,  Chris- 
tian and  Catherine.  Daniel  Umbenhauer  came 
to  Ohio  vvith  his  son  William,  and  died  in  Mi- 
amisburg at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  The  chil- 
dren of  William  Umbenhauer  are  as  follows: 
Sarah   L. ,  Francis   H.,  George    Clayton,  Ger- 


trude C,  Amanda  C,  Emma  and  Ida  M. 
The  family  is  of  excellent  standing  and  reputa- 
tion among  the  citizens  of  the  county. 


<a 


'ILLIAM  WAGNER,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Mad  River  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Dayton  township,  now  Mad 
River  township,  Montgomery  county,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1822.  He  is  a  son  of  Phillip  and  Es- 
ther (Bowman)  Wagner,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va. ,  near 
the  natural  bridge,  and  the  latter  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Philip  Wagner  settled  in  1809  on  the 
farm  on  which  his  son  William  now  lives,  pur- 
chasing originally  300  acres,  paying  therefor  $5 
per  acre.  He  had  been  for  five  years  with 
Col.  Johnson  as  his  assistant,  distributing  sup- 
plies and  rations  among  the  Miami  Indians. 
When  the  war  of  18 12  broke  out  he  enlisted 
in  the  American  army  under  Gen.  Hull,  and 
was  with  that  commander  when  he  surrendered 
Detroit  to  the  British.  The  British  set  their 
prisoners  free,  to  find  their  way  home  through 
the  wilderness  as  best  they  could,  and  to  be 
hunted  down  and  massacred  by  the  Indians; 
but  Mr.  Wagner  was  among  the  fortunate 
ones,  and  found  his  way  back  to  his  farm.  His 
military  services  being  no  longer  required,  he 
began  clearing  his  farm  and  lived  there  until 
his  death  in  1851,  when  he  was  sixty-eight 
years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him  nine 
years,  and  died  in  her  sixty-ninth  year.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Dunkard  church,  her 
father  being  a  Dunkard  preacher.  Mr.  Wag- 
ner was  a  prominent  man  in  his  day,  holding 
various  township  offices.  He  was  for  some 
years  largely  engaged  in  stock  raising,  as  well 
as  in  farming. 

Philip  Wagner  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters,   as    follows:     John,    Benjamin,    William, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1167 


Philip,  Jacob,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Catherine. 
Three  of  the  eight  are  still  living,  viz:  Will- 
iam, Philip  and  Jacob. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  William  Wag- 
ner was  Philip  Wagner,  a  native  of  Rocking- 
ham county,  Va.,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  In  1794  he  went  down  the  Ohio 
river  from  Pittsburg  to  Cincinnati  on  a  flat 
boat,  Cincinnati  then  containing  few  buildings 
except  the  barracks.  Not  being  able  to  find 
shelter  in  that  city,  he  went  to  Newport,  Ky. , 
and  after  remaining  there  a  few  months  went 
up  the  Miami  river  to  the  mouth  of  Tom's 
%Run,  near  Middletown,  and  there  bought  a 
farm.  This  farm  he  sold  in  1804  or  1805, 
and  bought  another  just  west  of  the  present 
location  of  the  soldiers'  home,  upon  which  he 
lived  until  his  death,  in  181 5,  when  he  was 
about  seventy-five  years  old.  He  was  a  man 
of  unusual  physical  strength,  and  of  great  de- 
termination. He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  William 
Wagner  was  named  John  Bowman.  He  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  a  Dunkard  in  religious  belief.  About 
1794  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  1805  near 
Salem,  where  there  had  already  collected  quite 
a  colony  from  Pennsylvania.  Upon  the  farm 
he  purchased  there  he  lived  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  dying  when  eighty  years  of  age. 

William  Wagner,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
has  lived  on  his  present  farm  all  his  life.  The 
place  of  his  birth  was  at  the  cross-roads  just 
east  of  his  present  house.  In  his  youthful 
days  he  was  accustomed  to  see  all  kinds  of  wild 
game  roaming  the  woods,  deer  being  frequent- 
ly seen  in  groups.  He  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  old-fashioned  subscription  school, 
and  in  the  first  school-house  in  the  district, 
which  was  built  on  his  father's  farm.  Re- 
maining at  home  until  September  10,  1848, 
he  was  on  that  day  married  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza 


Thorp,  daughter  of  Veniah  and  Jane  (Van 
Cleve)  Thorp.  To  this  marriage  there  was 
born  one  child,  Esther,  who  died  when  she 
was  fifteen  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Wagner  died 
October  12,  1895,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight, 
she  and  her  husband  having  lived  together 
forty-seven  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a  most  excellent' 
woman  and  a  devoted  wife.  Mr.  Wag- 
ner is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  as  a  republican  he  served  many 
years  as  trustee  of  his  township,  before,  during 
and  after  the  war.  For  the  last  thirty  years 
he  has  entrusted  the  active  management  of  his 
farm  to  a  tenant,  and  during  this  long  time 
Mr.  Wagner  has  been  engaged  in  dealing  in 
real,  estate.  Beside  the  farm  upon  which  he 
lives  he  also  owns  a  fine  farm  of  250  acres  in 
Van  Buren  county,  Iowa,  where  his  two 
brothers  are  now  living. 


^^•AMUEL  WAITMAN,  one  of  the  pio- 
*^^KT    neer  farmers  of  Clay  township,  Mont- 

h\^_J    gomery    county,    Ohio,    was  born   in 
Washington  county,  Pa.,  January  27, 
1  Si  5,  and  is  of  German  descent. 

Jacob  Waitman,  his  father,  was  born  in 
the  Keystone  state  in  1768,  was  reared  a  farmer 
and  weaver,  and  was  married  in  his  native 
state  to  Miss  Margaret  Gelsinger.  He  brought 
his  family  to  Ohio  in  1827,  and  settled  in 
Randolph  township,  Montgomery  county,  on 
ten  acres  of  land,  built  a  log  house  and  cleared 
up  his  farm,  but  his  life  thereon  was  but  short, 
as  he  died  in  1831,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waitman  were 
born  the  following  named  children:  Margaret, 
Kate,  John,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Lydia,  Jacob, 
Benjamin,  Samuel,  Mary  and  Rose  Ann. 

Samuel  Waitman  was  about  twelve  years 
of  age  when  he  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Ohio   with   his   father's   family,   of  whom  the 


1168 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


male  members  walked  all  the  way,  young 
Samuel  trudging  manfully  along  with  the 
others,  and  crossing  the  Alleghany  mountains 
in  November  through  a  raging  snowstorm. 
Being  now  arrived  in  Montgomery  county  and 
being  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  pioneers,  he 
had  the  privilege  of  attending  the  subscription 
school  of  Randolph  township  for  the  period  of 
two  weeks,  the  work  of  clearing  away  the 
forest  calling  him  from  his  studies.  Of  this 
kind  of  work  he  did  a  great  amount,  as  he 
assisted  in  clearing  up  many  acres  for  the 
neighbors,  working  by  the  day  or  month.  At 
the- age  of  twenty  years  he  married,  April  30, 
1835,  in  Clay  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Miss  Esther  Linda  Snell,  a  native  of  German- 
town,  Montgomery  county,  born  February  18, 
1 8 14,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Kate  (Swank) 
Snell.  George  Snell  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  was  a  pioneer  of  Warren  county,  Pa. ;  was 
a  cooper  by  trade,  and  to  him  and  his  wife 
were  born  the  following  children:  Esther 
Linda,  Elizabeth,  John,  Eli,  Lorenzo  Dow, 
Henry,  William,  Julia  A.,  Samuel,  Franklin 
and  Ellen  J. 

After  marriage,  Samuel  Waitman  located 
near  Arlington,  Montgomery  county,  where  he 
worked  out  one  year,  and  then  for  eight  years 
for  Jacob  Overholser,  in  Randolph  township; 
he  then  bought  two  acres  in  the  woods,  built 
a  log  house,  cleared  off  the  place,  worked  in- 
dustriously, and  prospered,  adding  to  his  farm 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  a  fertile 
farm  of  fifty-five  acres,  with  a  comfortable 
dwelling.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Waitman  sixteen  children  have  been  born, 
most  of  whom  lived  to  reach  maturity,  and  of 
whom  seven  are  still  living.  Their  births  oc- 
curred in  the  order  following:  Harriet,  Henry, 
Catherine,  Lorenzo  Dow,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  forty-seven;  Susan,  Caroline,  Elizabeth 
(deceased)  and  Sarah,  twins;  Margaret,  who 
died  young;  Mary  Ann,  who  died  when  twenty- 


seven  years  old;  Lydia  A.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Amy  R.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
John  and  Maria,  twins,  both  of  whom  died  in 
infancy;  Salomie,  also  deceased,  and  another, 
not  named.  The  progeny  of  the  parents  of 
this  family  has  been  further  increased  by  the 
birth  of  twenty-nine  grandchildren  and  twenty- 
one  great-grandchildren.  The  mother  of  this 
large  family  was  called  from  earth  March  25, 
1 89 1,  a  devoted  member  of  the  church  of  the 
Brethren  in  Christ,  of  which  Mr.  Waitman 
also  has  long  been  a  member.  In  politics  Mr. 
Waitman  was  first  a  democrat,  then  became 
a  whig,  and  after  the  formation  of  the  repub, 
lican  party  united  with  its  ranks.  He  is  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  Worman  cemetery.  He 
certainly  deserves  well  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
as  he  has  done  as  much  as  any  man  in  the 
community  toward  clearing  away  the  dense 
growth  of  forest  and  in  bringing  his  township 
up  to  its  present  fruitful  condition. 


>-j>OHN  O.    WARNER,    farmer,   of    Clay 
M      township,    Montgomery   county,    Ohio, 
(•  1      was  born   February    18,   1835,  and   de- 
scends  from    one    of    the    old    pioneer 
families  of  the  county. 

John  Warner,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  there  married,  and  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  viz:  John,  Conrad,  Jacob, 
George,  Mary,  Catherine,  Susan,  Margaret 
and  Elizabeth.  In  1808  he  came  to  Ohio, 
settled  in  Randolph  township,  Montgomery 
county,  on  the  land  now  occupied  by  David 
Stoner,  cleared  the  tract  of  the  timber  and 
wrought  out  a  good  farm.  He  was  a  sturdy 
pioneer,  of  exemplary  character,  lived  to  be 
quite  an  aged  man,  and  died  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church. 

George  Warner,  son  of  John  and  father  of 
John  O.  Warner,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  in    1804,  and   was   a  lad  of   four 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1169 


years  when  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
which  he  largely  assisted  in  developing  as  his 
own  strength  developed.  His  schooling  was 
necessarily  a  matter  of  delay,  as  neither 
schools  nor  teachers  were  to  be  had  in  the 
wilderness  where  his  lot  was  cast,  and  not 
until  after  marriage  did  he  find  a  school  in 
which  to  acquire  the  art  of  penmanship.  But 
he  became  a  thorough  farmer,  and  at  maturity 
married  Miss  Catherine  Olinger,  a  native  of 
Maryland  and  a  daughter  of  John  Olinger, 
then  residing  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Warner,  on  marrying,  first  located  in 
Randolph  township,  then  moved  to  Clay  town- 
ship and  settled  on  121  acres,  adjoining  on 
the  west,  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
John  O.  This  tract  Mr.  Warner  cleared  up 
from  the  woods  and  converted  into  a  produc- 
tive farm,  on  which  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years,  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  an  honored  man  and  the  father  of 
three  children — Annie,    Samuel    and   John  O. 

John  O.  Warner,  son  of  George,  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  enjoyed  very 
fair  advantages  for  an  education.  March  10, 
1856,  he  married,  in  Miami  county,  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Gump,  a  native  of  that  county,  born  in 
1S36,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret 
(Karn)  Gump.  The  father,  Daniel  Gump,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  married  in  that 
state,  and  had  born  to  him  the  following  chil- 
dren, beside  Mrs.  Warner:  Daniel,  David, 
George,  Jeremiah,  John,  Henry,  Jacob  and 
Mary.  On  coming  to  Ohio  Mr.  Gump  settled 
on  200  acres  of  land  in  Miami  county,  cleared 
it  from  the  woods,  made  a  good  home,  and 
later  bought  sufficient  land  in  Indiana  to  pre- 
sent each  of  his  children  with  160  acres.  He 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two  years  and  died 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Warner  lived  a  year 


or  so  on  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law  in  Mi- 
ami county,  then  bought  121  acres  of  said 
farm,  to  which  he  later  added  tracts  of  forty 
acres  and  twenty  acres,  across  the  county  line, 
in  Clay  township,  Montgomery  county,  his 
present  homestead.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Warner 
was  called  from  earth  in  1880,  leaving  behind, 
to  sorrow  for  her  death,  three  children,  Ida, 
George  and  Annie.  In  1882  Mr.  Warner 
married  Mrs.  Susan  Shelby,  widow  of  Chris- 
tian Shelby,  and  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Susan  (Gibble)  Horner.  This  lady,  by  her 
first  marriage,  was  the  mother  of  one  child, 
John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Warner  are  devout  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  and  enjoy  a  high  po- 
sition in  the  regard  of  their  neighbors. 


A~V*AMUEL    H.     WEAVER    (deceased) 
*^^^kT    was    born    on    his    father's    farm    in 

Ks^_-/    Jackson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,   September  7,  i860,    a  son 
of   Daniel    and    Mary   (Heineke)  Weaver,    and 
was  baptized  in  the  Lutheran  church  November 
30,  i860. 

Daniel  Weaver,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent,  and  came 
to  Ohio  a  young  man.  Here  he  was  first  mar- 
ried, in  Montgomery  county,  to  a  Miss  Rep- 
nogle,  who  bore  him  one  son,  Philip.  After 
her  death  Mr.  Weaver  married  Miss  Mary 
Heineke,  and  this  union  was  blessed  with  two 
children — Lewis  A.  and  Samuel  H.  Daniel 
Weaver  was  a  substantial  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  and,  being  an  early  settler,  cleared 
up  from  the  wilderness  the  farm  on  which 
Mrs.  Samuel  H.  Weaver  now  lives.  He  died 
in  March,  1878,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  an  esteemed  citizen. 

Samuel  H.  Weaver  passed  his  earlier  years 
on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  a  good  com- 
mon-school education,  which  he  supplemented 


1170 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


by  extensive  reading.  He  became  a  well- 
informed  man,  well  prepared  for  mercantile 
life,  and  later  entered  upon  various  branches 
of  business.  On  reaching  his  majority  he 
married,  December  25,  1881,  at  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  Miss  Mary  J.  Smith,  who  was  born  July 
16,  1857,  in  Montgomery  county,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Hennemyer)  Smith. 

Jacob  Smith,  father  of  Mrs.  Weaver,  was 
a  native  of  Maryland,  where  he  early  lost  his 
father  through  death,  and  was  yet  a  boy  when 
he  came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Here 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  prospered,  and  first 
married  Susan  Loman,  to  which  union  were 
born  three  children — Sarah  A.,  Nancy  J.  and 
Martin  C.  His  second  wife,  Elizabeth  A. 
Hennemyer,  blessed  him  with  six  children — 
Henry,  George  C,  John  F.,  Celia  E.,  Mary 
J.  and  Samuel  E. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Weaver  and  his  wife 
lived  for  a  few  years  on  the  Weaver  home- 
stead, and  he  then  engaged  in  other  industries, 
becoming  proprietor  of  a  saw-mill,  and  having 
also  an  interest  in  a  cider-mill  and  a  tile  fac- 
tory. He  was  quite  successful  in  these  lines, 
developing  a  marked  faculty  for  business.  As 
a  democrat  Mr.  Weaver  served  as  township 
trustee  for  two  terms,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  school  board  for  five  years.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of 
which  he  was  a  deacon ,  and  for  two  years  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  was  en- 
ergetic and  efficient  in  all  his  undertakings, 
especially  active  in  church  work,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  building  committee  on  the 
erection  of  the  new  Slyfer  church  edifice,  for 
which  he  drew  the  plans.  He  was  a  member 
and  the  secretary  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Farm- 
ersville,  and  was  also  a  member  of  Oak  lodge, 
No.  625,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  New  Lebanon.  His 
lamented  death  occurred  July  31,  1896,  of 
typhoid  fever,  contracted  while  on  a  visit  to 
Alabama,  and  his  loss  waS"  deeply  deplored  by 


the  entire  community  in  which  he  had  lived. 
He  left  a  wife  and  four  children — Cora  L. , 
Harry  H.,  Emma  C.  and  Orpha  J. 


>-j*OHN  J.  WEAVER,  a  well-known  farm- 
K  er  and  esteemed  citizen  of  Jackson 
/»  1  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
is  a  descendant,  paternally,  of  an  old 
colonial  German  family,  and  of  an  equally 
old  German  family  on  the  maternal  side. 

Jacob  Weaver,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Germany,  and  became  a  farmer 
and  distiller  in  Shenandoah  county,  Ya.,  where 
his  death  took  place.  Of  his  children  the 
names  of  the  following  are  remembered:  John, 
Michael,  Jacob,  and  Mrs.  Hickel.  Of  these, 
Jacob,  the  father  of  John  J.,  was  also  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  married  in  Shenandoah 
county,  Va.,  Catherine  Jordan.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  he  and  his  wife,  after 
their  marriage,  lived  in  Shenandoah  count}', 
at  Hawkinstown,  until  18 16,  when  they  came 
to  Ohio,  and  for  about  fifteen  years  lived  on  a 
farm  in  Greene  county.  In  the  winter  of 
1834-5,  they  moved  to  Madison  township, 
Montgomery  county,  where  Jacob  Weaver 
bought  140  acres  of  land,  of  which  but  a  small 
portion  was  cleared.  He  devoted  himself, 
with  steady  industry,  to  the  improvement  and 
development  of  his  land  and  converted  it  into 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township.  He 
died  here  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years, 
honored  and  respected  throughout  the  entire 
community.  His  children  were  named,  in  or- 
der of  birth,  John  J. ,  George  (deceased),  Eliza, 
Martin,  Preston,  Levi,  Jacob  and  Sophia. 

John  J.  Weaver  was  born  in  Shenandoah 
county;  Va. ,  June  23,  1 S 1 6,  and  was  but  four 
months  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Ohio.  He  was  early  inured  to  the  toil  of  the 
frontier  farm,  and  his  education  was  secured 
by  attendance  at  the  old  log   school-house    of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1171 


his  district  during  three  months  in  winter  from 
the  age  of  twelve  until  nineteen  years  old.  In 
those  primitive  days  oats  in  bulk  brought  six 
cents  per  bushel,  corn  eight  cents  on  the 
ground,  or  ten  cents  when  hauled  to  Xenia, 
five  miles  away,  and  hogs,  when  dressed,  one 
and  one-half  cents  per  pound.  Young  Weaver, 
when  a  boy,  wore  buckskin  garments,  and  the 
traveling  cordwainer  made  the  shoes  for  the 
family,  while  many  other  articles  of  apparel 
were  improvised  to  meet  exigencies.  Never- 
theless, pioneer  life  had  its  pleasures  and  was 
greatly  enjoyed  by  the  old  settlers.  Farm  life 
was  health-giving  and  its  toil  contributed  to  the 
development  of  sturdy  sinew  and  muscle  and 
of  clear  and  active  brain. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Weaver  took  place 
March  29,  1838,  at  New  Lebanon,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Brouse, 
who  was  born  in  Canton,  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
June  5,  1 82 1,  the  ceremony  being  performed 
by  Rev.  Elijah  Kuhns,  of  the  Reformed 
church.  Mr.  Weaver,  after  marriage,  lived 
one  year  on  his  father's  farm  in  Madison  town- 
ship, then  removed  to  Perry  township,  bought 
a  lot  of  two  acres  and  a  cooper  shop,  and 
there  followed  that  trade  for  three  years;  he 
then  engaged  in  the  same  business  in  New 
Lebanon  for  ten  years,  and  finally  settled  in 
Jackson  township.  Here  he  bought  a  farm  of 
176  acres,  which  he  improved  and  successfully 
cultivated  until  1871,  when  he  came  to  his 
present  farm  of  104  acres,  in  the  same  town- 
ship. On  this  he  has  erected  substantial  farm- 
buildings,  and  in  1881  built  a  modern  and  con- 
venient residence,  his  farm  being  in  itself  a 
model  and  unsurpassed  by  any  other  farm  of 
its  proportions  in  the  county.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  have  been  born 
the  following-named  children:  Mary  O, 
Eliza  J.,  George  W.  (deceased),  John  Hamil- 
ton, Jacob  Ladan,  William,  Elizabeth  A., 
Preston    P.,    Levi    L.    (deceased),    Otto    M., 


Clara  B.  (deceased)  and  Dora  Etta.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weaver  are  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church,  of  which  Mr.  Weaver  has  been 
a  deacon  and  elder  for  many  years. 

Mrs.  Weaver  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Adams)  Brouse,  and  John  Brouse  was  a 
son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Brouse,  of  Ger- 
man descent.  Michael  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  settled  in  Chippewa, 
Stark  (but  now  in  Summit)  countv,  Ohio,  on 
the  then  frontier,  and  lived  to  the  patriarchal 
age  of  102  years,  dying  at  Chippewa.  His 
children  were  named  John,  Michael,  Philip, 
William,  Elizabeth,  Rachel,  Polly  and  Leah. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Weaver,  John  Brouse,  was 
born  in  Shenandoah  county,  Va.,  was  reared 
in  New  Market,  that  county,  was  a  potter  by 
trade,  and  married  Man'  Adams,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  of  German  parentage.  From  Vir- 
ginia Mr.  Brouse  came  to  Ohio,  conducted  a 
pottery  at  Canton,  then  at  Xenia,  and  in  1827 
settled  in  New  Lebanon,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  also  established  his  trade.  He  after- 
ward lived  in  Lewiston,  Ohio,  and  for  a  short 
time  in  Indiana,  but  ended  his  days  in  New 
Lebanon,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  His  chil- 
dren were  named  Elkanon,  Theresa  C,  John 
A.,  Sarah  C,  Mary  C. ,  Henry  A.,  Elizabeth, 
William  and  George. 


l^y^ILLIAM     S.    WELSH,    one    of    the 
MM  best-known  farmers  of  Clay  town- 

\jL/l  li  p,  was  I'  in  i\  miles  north  of 
Dayton,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
December  1 5,  1826,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  old-time  public  or  district  schools. 
James  Welsh,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Perry  county.  Pa. ,  of  Irish  parentage,  and 
married,  in  his  native  state,  Margaret  Hann, 
daughter  of  Peter  Hann,  of  German  descent. 
To  James  Welsh  and  wife   were  born  the  fol- 


1172 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lowing  children:  Eliza,  born  in  Pennsylvania; 
Mary,  William  S.,  Margaret,  Sarah  (who  died 
young),  Esther  (who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years),  Elizabeth,  James  and  Catherine,  all 
born  in  Ohio.  In  1823  Mr.  Welsh  brought  his 
wife  and  eldest  child  to  Ohio,  using  a  wagon 
team  as  a  means  of  conveyance,  stopped  a 
year  in  Warren  county,  and  then  came  to 
Montgomery  and  settled  on  fifty  acres  six 
miles  north  of  Dayton.  The  year  following, 
he  sold  this  property  and  bought  ninety-five 
acres  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Union,  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  also  bought  eighty  acres  in 
Miami  county,  and  120  acres  in  Wells  county, 
Ind.  He  died  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  well-to-do  as  to 
worldly  goods,  and  left  an  unsullied  reputation 
for  honesty  and  charitable  disposition. 

William  S.  Welsh  was  reared  a  farmer, 
and  on  November  21,  1850,  married  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth Wenger,  who  was  born  in  Randolph 
township,  Montgomery  county,  in  September, 
1 83  1,  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Klep- 
inger)  Wenger.  They  first  located  on  the 
Welsh  homestead,  where  they  resided  for  three 
years;  then  moved  to  the  Wenger  homestead, 
lived  there  about  eight  months;  then  went  to 
Monroe  township,  Darke  county,  and  remained 
there  about  eighteen  months.  Returning  to 
Montgomery  county,  they  bought  the  farm  in 
Clay  township  then  occupied  by  Levi  Gilbert, 
on  which  they  lived  four  years;  then  lived  near 
Laura  four  and  a  half  years,  and  finally  bought 
and  settled  on  the  farm  of  172  acres  formerly 
owned  by  Henry  Limbert,  of  which  they  took 
possession  in  1865.  Here  they  lived  until 
February,  1890,  when  they  moved  to.  a  farm 
near  Phillipsburg,  on  which  Mr.  Welsh  has 
erected  modern  buildings. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welsh 
have  been  born  the  following  children,  in  the 
order  here  given:     Mary  C. ,  born  January  26, 


1852  —  died  an  infant  on  the  Welsh  home- 
stead in  Randolph  township;  John  H.,  born  on 
the  same  homestead  June  21,  1853;  Martha  A., 
born  in  Darke  county  July  20,  1855;  Sarah  E., 
born  in  Randolph  township,  Montgomery 
county,  August  26,  1857;  Eliza  J.,  born  Octo- 
ber 11,  1862 — died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years 
in  Miami  county;  Maggie  A.,  born  November 
10,  1864,  in  Clay  township,  Montgomery 
county,  where  the  three  following  were  also 
born:  William  W.,  February  25,  1867;  James 
F.,  January  17,  1871,  now  married  to  Rettie 
Good;  and  Floy  L.,  November  16,  1874.  Of 
this  large  family,  John  H.  married  Alice  Bink- 
ley,  who  died  September  28,  1890,  leaving  one 
child;  the  husband  then  married  Minnie  Ella 
Eckman,  and  is  now  in  the  hardware  business 
at  Dayton;  Martha  A.  is  married  to  Newton 
Binkley,  a  farmer,  and  is  the  mother  of  four 
children;  Sarah  E.  was  the  wife  of  Michael 
Weist,  a  farmer,  but  died  without  issue;  Mag- 
gie A.  is  married  to  George  Smoot,  a  farmer, 
of  Brookville,  and  has  four  children;  William 
W. ,  a  farmer,  married  Salomie  Peffley,  and  is 
the  father  of  one  child.  The  Welsh  family 
have  a  fine  record  in  Montgomery  county,  as 
well  as  elsewhere,  for  usefulness  and  public 
spirit,  and  their  standing  as  citizens  and  mem- 
bers of  society  is  unexcelled. 


T^yr--9ILLIAM  WENGER,  a  thrifty  farm- 
m  m  er  of  Clay  township,    Montgomery 

\JLyl  and  a  son  of  one   of 

the  township's  pioneers,  is  native 
here,  and  was  born  March  4,  185 1,  on  the  old 
Wenger  homestead  near  Harrisburg,  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Mary  (Klepinger)  Wenger.  He 
received  a  very  good  common-school  training, 
but  a  still  better  training  in  agriculture,  as  he 
was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm. 
He  married,  in  Clay  township,  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Baker,  who  was  born  in  this  township  May  9, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1173 


1858,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Niswonger)  Baker,  well-known  neighbors  and 
early  settlers. 

Samuel  Baker,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Wenger, 
was  a  son  of  Michael  Baker,  a  pioneer  who 
settled  in  Clay  township  in  1805;  Samuel  was 
born  on  the  Baker  homestead,  was  reared  to 
farming,  and  to  his  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Niswonger  were  born  ten  children,  viz: 
Catherine,  Lucinda,  Oliver,  Warren,  Cyrus, 
Zachariah,  Elizabeth,  Winfield,  Emma,  dead, 
and  Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Wenger).  The  father  of 
this  family,  Samuel  Baker,  was  a  man  well-to- 
do,  and  lived  on  the  old  homestead  until  his 
death  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  of  which  he  had  been  a  member  for 
many  years.  He  had  also  served  as  a  school 
director  for  several  terms,  and  had  the  confi- 
dence of  the  entire  community. 

At  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wenger  settled  on  his  ! 
present  farm,  which  then  comprised  but  110 
acres,  but,  as  has  been  said,  he  was  a  skillful 
farmer,  and  well  knew  how  to  handle  his  land. 
He  soon  had  his  original  farm  all  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  making  it  profitable  in 
every  direction,  carefully  attended  to  every 
detail  of  its  tillage,  and  added  to  it  until  he 
now  owns  300  acres  of  as  good  land  as  may 
be  found  in  the  township,  improved  with  a  ] 
modern  dwelling  and  substantial  and  conve- 
niently arranged  farm  buildings.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wenger  have  had  born  to  their  marriage 
twochildren — Stanley  C.  andBessie  E. — whom 
they  have  educated  in  the  best  possible  man- 
ner, and  have  reared  in  their  own  religious 
faith,  that  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  In 
politics  Mr.  Wenger  is  a  democrat,  and  is  now 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
is  a  man  of  strong  mental  endowment  and 
great  force  of  character,  and  has  made  the  im- 
press of  his  mentality  on  the  community  in 
which  he  lives.  He  is  respected  for  his  un- 
bending integrity  and  is  commended   for  his 

52 


public  spirit,  as  he  is  ever  ready  to  aid  liber- 
ally with  his  means  both  church  and  school 
and  all  public  enterprises  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  general  welfare  and  to  advance  the 
prosperity  of  his  township  and  county. 


«w    ■*  ENRY  WESSEL,  a  leading  business 

|f\    man    of    Farmersville,     Montgomery 

r    county,  Ohio,    and  also  a  prominent 

politician  and  prosperous  farmer,  was 

born  in  Oldenburg,  Germany,  August  15,  1843, 

a    son    of    Benjamin    and    Elizabeth    (Taper) 

Wessel,  also  natives  of  Oldenburg. 

Benjamin  Wessel  was  born  in  1812,  was  a 
gilder  by  trade,  and  in  1865  came  to  America, 
whither  his  surviving  children  had  preceded 
him,  these  children  being  Henry,  Joseph  and 
Benjamin.  Mr.  Wessel  settled  in  Cincinnati, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  many  years 
and  became  a  well-to-do  citizen.  In  religion 
he  is  a  Catholic,  and  is  a  trustee  and  council- 
man in  his  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
democrat.  As  a  citizen  he  enjoys  the  respect 
of  all  who  know  him,  and  is  now  passing  his  • 
days  in  quiet  retirement. 

Henry  Wessel  left  the  parental  roof  in 
Germany  at  the  age  of  eight  years  and  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  embarked  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  the 
port  of  Alkaman,  in  Holland,  bound  for  Amer- 
ica, and  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks  landed  in 
Baltimore  in  August,  1861.  From  this  city 
he  came  to  Ohio  at  once,  located  in  Cincin- 
nati, and  there  worked  at  his  trade  until  1872, 
when  he  went  to  Texas  and  thence  to  Mis- 
souri, and  for  two  years  worked  in  the  car- 
shops  of  Saint  Louis.  In  1876  he  located  in 
Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  saloon 
business.  In  1892  he  removed  to  Farmersville, 
where  he  bought  business  and  residence  prop- 
erty, and  for  four  years  was  again  engaged  in 
the    saloon    business.      He    now    employs   his 


1174 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


time  in  the  improvement  of  his  farm  in  Ger- 
man township. 

Mr.  Wessel  has  been  twice  married — first, 
in  Cincinnati,  in  1865,  to  Caroline  Hineagor,  a 
native  of  that  city,  who  bore  him  three  chil- 
dren, who  were  named  Benjamin,  Josephine 
and  Joseph.  Mrs.  Wessel  died  in  her  native 
city  in  1869,  and  Mr.  Wessel 's  second  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  in  Dayton  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Heffner,  a  native  of  the  Gem  City 
and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Heffner,  a  well- 
known  citizen. 

In  politics  Mr.  Wessel  is  strongly  demo- 
cratic, and  on  the  money  question  is  an  advo- 
cate of  free  silver.  He  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote,  in  1864,  for  George  B.  McClellan, 
and  has  always  been  active  in  advancing  the 
interests  of  his  party.  He  is  a  factor  of  no 
small  importance  in  the  political  affairs  of  the 
township  and  county,  and  his  influence  is 
always  felt  in   party  councils  and   at  the  polls. 


/^yAMUEL  WIGGIM,  a  leading  farmer 
«^^^>    of   Mad    River    township,    was    born 

k^^  April  26,  1823,  at  Centerville,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Lytle)  Wiggim, 
both  natives  of  county  Tyrone,  Ireland.  An- 
drew and  Elizabeth  Wiggim  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  John,  Ann 
(wife  of  John  Watson),  Hugh,  Robert,  Andrew, 
Lytle  and  Samuel.  The  last  two  are  the  only 
ones  that  are  now  living,  though  all  but  Robert 
lived  to  be  more  than  sixty  years  of  age,  and 
the  daughter,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  was 
eighty-one. 

Andrew  Wiggim  in  early  life  worked  at  any 
employment  that  came  to  his  hand,  and  grew 
to  manhood  thus  occupied.  He  married  in 
Ireland,  and  in  that  country  his  three  eldest 
children  were  born.  He  had  a  common- 
school  education,    and   when    he    carne  to  the 


United  States,  in  18 17,  he  settled  in  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pa.,  working  there,  as  in  his  native 
county  of  Tyrone,  at  various  occupations.  In 
1 82 1  he  came  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  living  for 
a  short  time  in  Piqua,  removing  thence  to 
Montgomery  county,  and  settling  at  Center- 
ville. Living  in  the  vicinity  of  that  place  un- 
til 1834,  he  then  removed  to  the  farm  upon 
which  his  son  Samuel  now  lives,  and  upon  that 
farm  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
died  August  10,  1858,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five.  His  wife  was  born  in  1782  and  died 
November  18,  1864.  They  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Samuel  Wig- 
gim was  also  a  native  of  county  Tyrone  (Tir 
Eogain,  Tir  Owen,  Owen's  country,  finally 
Tyrone),  was  a  farmer  in  his  native  county 
and  died  therein.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  also  a  native    of    Ireland,  and  died  there. 

Samuel  Wiggim  was  born  in  Van  Buren 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  or  rather 
in  what  afterward  became  Van  Buren  town- 
ship, for  at  that  time  the  county  had  not  been 
divided  into  townships.  His  birthplace  was 
near  the  present  site  of  Centerville,  and  he 
lived  there  until  he  was  eleven  years  of  age. 
He  has  lived  in  Mad  River  township  ever  since 
1834,  a  period  of  sixty-two  years,  and  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  county  for  seventy-three  years, 
or  ever  since  he  was  born.  After  his  father's 
death,  he  bought  the  interests  of  the  other 
heirs  and  has  since  then  kept  the  home  place 
in  his  possession. 

On  November  9,  1854,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Hawker,  daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Sarah  Hawker.  To  this  marriage  there 
were  born  five  children,  as  follows:  Margaret, 
Mary  Belle.  Effie  May,  Clark  and  North,  only 
the  last  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  Clark 
married  Miss  Eudora  Neibel,  of  Shelby  county, 
Ind. ,  and  North  lives  at  home,  unmarried.  Mrs. 
Mary  Ann  Wiggim  died  February  9,  1875,  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1175 


Mr.  Wiggim  married  for  his  second  wife  Miss 
Susan  Elizabeth  Neibel,  on  April  25,  1878. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Re- 
formed church  of  Dayton,  which  was  organized 
in  1833.  As  a  democrat,  Mr.  Wiggim  served 
as  township  trustee  a  number  of  years  and  as 
assessor  three  years.  His  farm  contains  100 
acres  of  land  and  lies  about  four  miles  north- 
east of  the  court  house,  on  the  Valley  pike. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Wiggim  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  the  county,  locating  in  Miami 
township,  and  her  father's  parents  settled  there 
in  1 8 10,  when  her  father  was  only  five  years 
old.  William  and  Susan  (Hammaker)  Neibel, 
her  father  and  mother,  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  latter  having  been  born  in  Har- 
risburg.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  two  daughters,  four  of 
whom  are  still  living,  viz:  Daniel  W.,  David 
L. ,  Joseph  H.  D.  and  Susan  Elizabeth.  For 
a  number  of  years  William  Neibel  held  the 
office  of  trustee  of  the  township  in  which  he 
lived,  and  also  of  justice  of  the  peace.  His 
father,  John  Neibel,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
came  to  the  United  States  early  in  the  pres- 
ent century,  and  served  in  the  war  of  18 12. 


^"V'TEPHEN  WYSONG,  farmer  of  Perry 
*\^^fcT    township,    now  retired,  is  a  descend- 

h\_J  ant  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers,  and 
springs  from  German  ancestry,  who 
came  early  from  Virginia.  Jacob  Wysong, 
his  grandfather,  was  born  in  Franklin  county, 
Va. ,  and  by  his  wife  had  eleven  children,  as 
follows:  Stephen,  Charles,  John  Jacob,  Henry, 
Valentine,  Joseph,  Matthew,  Robert,  Lewis, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Elizabeth 
and  Lydia.  In  religious  faith  Jacob  Wysong 
was  a  Dunkard,  or  German  Baptist,  and  a 
man  of  most  exemplary  character.  He  came 
to  Ohio  in  1818  by  means  of  a  four-horse  team 


and  wagon,  and  settled  on  200  acres  of  land 
in  Perry  township,  which  he  cleared  up  from 
the  woods.  He  was  a  successful  farmer  and 
an  honorable  citizen,  and  died  when  sixty-four 
years  of  age. 

Charles  Wysong,  father  of  Stephen,  was 
born  October  25,  1802,  in  Franklin  county, 
Va. ,  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  brought 
to  Ohio  by  his  parents.  He  married  Margaret 
Gustin,  daughter  of  Elkahana  Gustin,  who 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  and  lived  for  a  short  time  in  Perry 
township,  Montgomery  county,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Warren  county.  He  was  a  member 
of  what  was  called  the  New  Light  or  Disciple 
church.  Charles  Wysong,  after  his  marriage, 
lived  a  few  years  on  the  Wysong  homestead. 
At  length  he  purchased  a  farm  containing 
eighty  acres  in  Preble  county,  cleared  it  of  its 
timber,  and  lived  on  it  until  1873,  dying  in 
West  Alexandria  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six  years.  He  was  very  strong  in  body, 
and  of  an  equally  vigorous,  mental  and  moral 
character.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Ger- 
man Baptist,  and  contributed  liberally  of  his 
means  to  the  church.  He  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  father,  and  the  meetings  of  his 
religious  brethren  were  in  the  early  days  held 
in  his  house.  Mr.  Wysong  was  a  hardwork- 
ing and  industrious  man,  and  made  and  laid 
brick  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  a  natural 
mechanic,  and  made  his  own  tools,  plows,  etc. 
He  for  a  time  followed  pump-making  in  Alex- 
andria, and  also  made  wagons  and  other  im- 
plements. He  was  held  in  high  regard  by  his 
neighbors,  and  it  may  be  truly  said  of  him  that 
his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond.  His  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Hannah,  Harrison, 
Jemimah,  Stephen,  Dorothea,  Lydia,  Rachael, 
Margaret,  Jacob  and  Annie.  From  his  father, 
Jacob,  and  Jacob's  brother,  Valentine,  and 
from  Capt.  Joseph,  descended  all  the  Wysongs 
of  Montgomery  county. 


117C, 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Stephen  Wysong,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  November  3,  1 831,  on  the 
Wysong  homestead  in  Perry  township,  and 
was  one  year  old  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Preble  county  and  settled  in  Twin  township. 
Brought  up  on  the  farm,  he  received  but  little 
education,  and  this  little  in  the  old-fashioned 
subscription  schools.  He  married,  November 
15,  1856,  when  twenty-five  years  of  age,  in 
Perry  township,  Susan  King,  who  was  born 
October  25,  1837,  in  that  township,  a  daugh- 
ter of   William    and    Lydia   (Baker)  King. 

William  King  came  from  Virginia,  was  of 
Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock,  and  had  children  as 
follows:  Annie,  John,  James,  Elizabeth,  Jane, 
Sarah,  Susan,  Catherine,  William  and  Lydia. 
William  King  settled  in  Perry  township  after  the 
birth  of  his  second  child,  John,  cleared  up  a 
farm  of  fifty  acres,  which  he  sold,  and  pur- 
chased 100  acres  in  the  same  township,  upon 
which  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church,  one  of  the 
hardy  and  much-respected  pioneers,  and  died 
in  1863,  aged  sixty-two  years.  His  widow 
died  July  20,  1896,  in  her  ninety-second  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wysong,  after  their  mar- 
riage, settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Perry 
township,  and  a  few  years  later  Mr.  Wysong 
rented  this  farm  and  located  on  a  place  on 
Wolf  creek,  where  they  lived  for  about  eleven 
years,  when  they  removed  to  their  present 
property,  in  1886.  Mr.  Wysong  has  been  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church  for 
about  thirty-five  years,  and  has  been  a  trustee 
of  his  church  almost  as  long.  He  and  his 
wife  united  with  the  church  in  the  same  year, 
1862.  He  has  prospered  through  his  indus- 
try, and  has  earned  a  place  among  the  most 
esteemed  citizens  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wysong  reared  Annie 
C.  Aucherman  from  the  time  she  was  four 
months  old,  her  mother  having  died;  brought 
her  up  as  if  she  were  their  own  child  and  gave 


her  a  good  education.  She  became  the  wife 
of  W.  H.  Riley,  of  Vandalia,  Ohio,  and  died 
July  26,   1896. 


>Y*ESSE  ARNOLD,  a  resident  of  Phillips- 
m  burg,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
A  I  an  ex-soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  was  born 
in  this  county,  May  20,  1845,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Andrews)  Arnold, 
the  former  of  whom  came  from  Rockingham 
county,  Va. ,  and  was  of  ante-Revolutionary 
German  descent. 

Jesse  Arnold  was  reared  to  farming  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  and  seven  months,  he 
enlisted  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  January  1,  1864,  in 
company  C,  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, to  serve  three  years,  but  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  July  28, 
1865,  owing  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
fought  through  the  great  Atlanta  campaign — 
at  Resaca,  Kingston,  Dalton,  Tunnel  Hill, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Dallas,  Atlanta  and  Jones- 
boro;  he  was  also  at  Sugar  Creek  Gap  and 
Crystal  Springs,  and  at  the  latter  place  he  was 
sent  to  the  rear  for  disability.  He  rejoined 
the  regiment  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  always  a 
good   soldier  and  performed  his  full  duty. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Arnold  returned  to 
Ohio  and  married  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Walker, 
who  was  born  in  Preble  county  in  1846,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Phebe  (Wikle)  Walk- 
er, the  parents  of  the  former  having  been  of 
Pennsylvania-German  descent  and  old  set- 
tlers of  Preble  county.  The  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Arnold  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child,  Dora.  Mr.  Arnold  is  a  member  of 
Phillipsburg  lodge,  No.  594,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  including 
that  of  noble  grand;  he  is  also  an  honored 
member  of  Foster  Marshall  post,  G.  A.  R.,  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1177 


Brookville,  and  in  politics  is  a  republican. 
Both  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  soldier  he  has  am- 
ply earned  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
by  his  friends  and  neighbors. 


>-j*ACOB  ANSPACH,  of  Chambersburg, 
J  Ohio,  is  an  old  settler  of  Butler  town- 
/•  1  ship,  Montgomery  county,  and  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  On  both  sides  of  his 
family  he  springs  from  German  stock.  His  re- 
mote ancestors  were  among  the  early  colonial 
settlers  of  Pennsylvania. 

George  Anspach,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  in  1764,  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  married  Magdalena  Peter,  by 
whom  he  had  the  following  children:  John, 
Jonathan,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Jacob,  Elizabeth, 
Catherine,  Magdalena,  Sarah  and  Lydia.  In 
1833  Mr.  Anspach  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Montgomery  county.  He  made  the  journey 
with  teams'  and  was  three  weeks  on  the  way. 
Upon  arriving  in  Montgomery  county  he 
bought,  in  company  with  John  Balleman,  a 
farm  consisting  of  200  acres  of  land.  On  this 
farm  he  lived  one  year,  and  then  sold  his  in- 
terest to  Mr.  Balleman,  and  bought  a  farm  of 
120  acres  in  Miami  township.  This  farm  he 
greatly  improved  by  clearing  it  of  its  timber. 
He  was  a  democrat  in  politics  and  while  living 
in  Pennsylvania  held  several  minor  offices, 
among  them  being  that  of  assessor.  He  was  a 
man  of  integrity  and  stood  well  in  the  estima- 
tion of  all.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  he  lived  to  be  sev- 
entv-seven  years  of  age,  dying  in  1864. 

Jacob  Anspach  was  born  March  19,  1822, 
in  Berks  county,  Pa.  Receiving  but  a  limited 
education,  he  grew  up  on  the  farm,  learned  all 
the  details  of  farm  work  and  adopted  that  vo- 
cation for  life.  He  was  eleven  years  old  when 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  and  well  re- 
members  the  long    journey.      When    he    was 


twenty-seven  years  old  he  married  Elizabeth 
Breahm,  the  ceremony  being  performed  June 
20,  1848.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Lies)  Breahm,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  weaver 
by  trade.  He  married  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
his  children  were  George,  Henry,  John,  Re- 
becca, Wilhelmina,  Mary,  Catherine,  Eliza- 
beth and  Martha.  Mr.  Breahm  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1838,  settling  two  and  a  half  miles  east 
of  Miamisburg,  on  a  good  farm  of  100  acres, 
to  which  he  subsequently  added  thirteen  acres. 
He  was  a  hardworking,  pioneer  citizen,  and  in 
old  age  retired  to  the  village  of  Miamisburg, 
where  he  died  in  May,  1885,  aged  eighty-five 
years.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Reform  church,  and  he  was  an  elder 
of  his  church  for  many  years.  He  was  a  man 
of  excellent  character  and  was  highly  esteemed. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anspach 
lived  for  two  years  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
then  rented  a  farm  near  Centerville,  on  which 
they  lived  for  three  years.  In  1856  they 
bought  eighty-seven  and  a  half  acres  in  Butler 
township,  which  Mr.  Anspach  improved  with 
good  buildings  and  made  a  good  home.  Upon 
this  farm  he  lived  until  18S3,  when  he  removed 
to  his  present  homestead,  which  consists  of 
thirteen  acres,  on  which  stands  an  attractive 
residence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anspach  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  George, 
Mary,  Franklin,  Lucetta,  John,  Albert,  Joseph, 
Emma,  Ida.  The  parents  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  Mr.  Anspach  has 
been  a  deacon  for  many  years.  For  the  past 
ten  years  he  has  been  an  elder  in  his  church. 
He  assisted  largely  to  erect  the  present  edifice 
and  ever  since  the  church  was  established  has 
been  a  liberal  supporter  thereof. 

In  politics  Mr.  Anspach  has  been  and  is  a 
prohibitionist,  and  has  always  been  an  honored 
and  respected  citizen,  whose  probity  of  char- 
acter and  good   qualities  have  given   him  the 


1178 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


confidence    of   the    community    where   he  has 
lived  so  many  years. 


*V^V  OAH  BAKER,  one  of  the  best  known 
m  citizens  of  Brookville,  Ohio,  is  a 
r  descendant  of  an  early  pioneer  fam- 
ily of  Montgomery  county,  his  an- 
cestors having  been  among  the  first  settlers  in 
Clay  township.  Michael  Baker,  his  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Somerset  county,  Pa., 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  married  Catherine 
Smucker,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  The 
children  of  Michael  and  Catherine  Baker  were 
Susan,  Jacob,  Ann,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Cather- 
ine, John,  Michael,  Benjamin  and  Samuel,  the 
first  two  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  others 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 

It  was  in  1805  that  Michael  Baker  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  Susan  and  Jacob,  came 
from  Somerset  county,  Pa.,  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  shipping  all  their  goods  at  Pitts- 
burg on  a  boat  to  be  thus  taken  down  the 
Ohio  river,  and  on  the  way  down  the  river  they 
were  all  spoiled  by  water.  Mr.  Baker  settled  in 
the  woods  one  mile  northeast  from  the  present 
site  of  Brookville,  near  a  good  spring  of  water, 
and  also  near  the  camp  of  a  tribe  of  Miami 
Indians.  These  Indians  he  found  very  peace- 
able and  friendly,  and  on  one  occasion  when 
he  heard  a  rumor  of  war  he  took  his  family  to 
Weaver  Mills  on  Beaver  creek  for  the  winter, 
leaving  his  corn  in  rail  pens  in  charge  of  the 
Indians,  who  cared  for  it,  and  expressed  much 
delight  at  his  return  in  the  spring.  Mr.  Baker 
found  these  Indians  honest  and  good  neighbors. 

When  Mr.  Baker  settled  in  the  locality  de- 
scribed above  it  was  in  the  midst  of  the  pri- 
meval forest,  and  two  and  a  half  miles  to  the 
Rohrer  settlement  to  the  northward  and  eight 
miles  to  the  Hay  farm.  He  entered  a  section 
of  land,  and   immediately  set   himself  to  work 


to  clear  it.  For  a  time,  however,  the  pros- 
pects were  extremely  discouraging,  and  he 
would  have  returned  to  Pennsylvania  but  for 
the  fact  that  his  horses  died  from  some  un- 
known cause.  Thus  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
main in  this  new  country,  and  endure  all  the 
hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer 
life,  but  by  industry  and  pertinacity  he  at  last 
overcame  all  obstacles,  erected  a  good  log 
cabin,  and  cleared  up  160  acres  of  his  land. 
His  nearest  market  and  depot  of  supplies  was 
Cincinnati,  sixty  miles  away.  At  that  time 
there  were  but  a  few  log  houses  in  Dayton, 
and  no  stores.  Mr.  Baker  was  a  man  of  ex- 
ceedingly strong  constitution,  and,  notwith- 
standing the  severities  of  frontier  life,  he  lived 
to  be  nearly  ninety  years  old,  dying  on  his  farm 
August  21,  1854.  His  wife  reached  nearly  the 
same  age.  They  were  devout  members  of  the 
Dunkard  church,  and  were  among  the  earliest 
members  of  this  denomination  to  settle  in 
Montgomery  county. 

Benjamin  Baker,  one  of  the  sons  of  Mi- 
chael, and  the  father  of  Noah  Baker,  was  born 
in  1 8 10,  on  the  old  Baker  homestead  in  Clay 
township.  Having  received  the  ordinary  edu- 
cation given  to  country  boys  at  that  time,  he 
married  Frances  Neiswonger,  who  was  born  in 
18 12,  in  Clay  township,  and  who  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Circle)  Neiswonger, 
the  former  of  whom,  though  of  German  ances- 
try, was  a  native  of  Virginia.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baker  there  were  born  eleven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Saty,  Melinda,  Noah,  Levi,  Mary,  Cy- 
rus, Simon,  Amanda,  Sarah  A.,  Sylvester  and 
Minerva.  Benjamia  Baker  settled  on  the  Salem 
road  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Brookville  on 
land  given  him  by  his  father,  104  acres,  all  in 
the  woods.  This  land  he  cleared,  improved 
and  made  into  a  good  farm  and  home,  thriftily 
adding  thereto  until  at  last  he  owned  about  700 
acres.  An  excellent  farmer,  a  good  business 
man  and  a  progressive  citizen,  he  became   not 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1179 


only  popular  but  also  prosperous.  He  was  the 
first  grain  buyer  in  Brookville,  carrying  on  that 
business  for  many  years,  and  when  the  Pan 
Handle  railroad  was  constructed  through  the 
place  the  company  built  a  side  track  to  his 
warehouse.  As  the  first  postmaster  in  Brook- 
ville he  held  the  office  for  many  years.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  or  Dunkard  church. 

Noah  Baker  was  born  April  11,  1834,  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  attended  common  school 
until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  While  he 
was  sufficiently  well  educated  to  teach  school, 
yet  he  preferred  labor  and  business,  and  be- 
came a  saw-mill  proprietor.  August  31,  1854, 
he  married  Catherine  Litten,  who  was  born 
September  11,  1834,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Sarah  A.  (Blair)  Litten,  the  former 
of  whom  was  an  old  citizen  of  Montgomery 
county,  living  near  Dayton.  While  Mr.  Lit- 
ten was  a  native  of  Maryland,  he  moved  early 
to  this  county  with  his  wife.  His  children 
were  named  as  follows:  John.  Samuel,  David, 
Frances,  Elizabeth,  Grace,  Delilah,  Prudence 
and  Catherine. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker,  shortly  after  their 
marriage,  settled  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres. 
He  soon  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  business  on 
the  same  spot  where  his  mill  now  stands.  He 
prospered  in  this  enterprise  and  now  owns 
valuable  property  in  Brookville,  and  is  still 
engaged  in  milling.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  trustee  in 
the  Methodist  church,  of  which  both  himself 
and  wife  are  members.  Politically  he  is  a  re- 
publican, and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
corporation  council.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker 
there  have  been  born  eleven  children,  two  of 
whom  died  young;  Arthur  was  killed  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  in  an  accident  on  the  Cincin- 
nati, Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad,  near  Car- 
rollton,  Ohio,  and  the  remaining  children  are 
as  follows:  Cornelia,  Fidelia,  Ambrose, 
Frances,  Granville,  Carrie,  Orville  and  Emer- 


son. Mr.  Baker's  sterling  character  and  per- 
sonal worth  have  made  him  one  of  the  most 
widely-esteemed  citizens  of  Brookville  and 
that  vicinity. 


■^"t'AMES  M.  CUSICK,  a  prosperous  busi- 
■  ness  man  of  Brookville,  Ohio,  and  an 
A  1  ex-soldier  of  the  Union  army,  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  one  mile  south 
of  the  town  of  Pyrmont,  February  24,  1840. 
He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Johnson) 
Cusick.  The  Cusick  family  come  of  Scotch- 
Irish  stock,  and  were  early  settlers  in  Virginia. 
The  grandfather  of  the  subject  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  saw  the  burning 
of  the  capitol  building  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
during  that  war. 

James  M.  Cusick  was  well  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  when  a  young  man  worked 
on  the  farm.  On  October  24,  1861,  at  West 
Baltimore,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  soldier  in  company  B,  Sev- 
enty-first Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  and  served  not  only 
throughout  his  full  period  of  enlistment,  but 
also  two  months  more.  When  his  time  ex- 
pired he  was  with  his  regiment  engaged  in  the 
siege  of  Atlanta,  and  the  regiment  was  held 
until  after  that  city  fell,  and  also  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Franklin,  which  occurred  November  30, 
1864.  Mr.  Cusick  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  4,  1864.  He 
was  on  guard  duty  at  Fort  Donelson  in  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  was  in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, in  the  great  battle  of  Atlanta,  and  also  in 
those  of  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Station. 
With  his  regiment  he  was  on  the  march  to 
Nashville  when  the  hard-fought  battle  of 
Franklin  occurred,  which  in  many  ways  was 
one  of  the  severest  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Cusick  was  always  an  active  soldier, 
had  no  furlough  home  during  his  entire  period 


1180 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  enlistment,  was  sick  in  hospital  only  four 
weeks,  and  was  in  all  the  battles,  skirmishes, 
campaigns  and  marches  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Cusick  re- 
turned to  Montgomery  county,  and  in  1865 
married  Annie  Cassell,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 15,  1846,  at  Maytown,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Engle)  Cassell.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cusick 
there  have  been  born  two  children,  viz:  Der- 
mott  H.  and  Imogene.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Cusick  kept  what  is  now  the  Reiley  House, 
at  Brookville,  Ohio,  for  two  years,  and  after- 
ward kept  hotel  at  Covington,  Miami  county, 
Ohio.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the  lightning 
rod  business  for  sixteen  years,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  this  period  bought  a  farm  near 
Brookville,  and  was  postmaster  at  this  place 
under  the  Harrison  administration.  In  1893 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  in  which 
he  has  been  successful.  As  a  republican,  he 
served  as  trustee  of  Clay  township  twelve 
years,  and  is  a  member  of  Foster  Marshall 
post,  No.  587,  G.  A.  R. ,  of  which  he  is  now 
senior  vice-commander.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Order  of 
American  Mechanics,  having  been  the  first 
treasurer  of  his  lodge. 

Mr.  Cusick  is  a  man  well  known  for  many 
miles  around  his  home,  and  enjoys  the  repu- 
tation of  an  able  business  man  and  a  public- 
spirited  member  of  the  community. 


HMOS  J.  COOVER,  one  of  the  most 
substantial  farmers  of  Butler  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
of  old  pioneer  stock,  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Eve  (Beard)  Coover,  and  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  March  22,  1851.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  school,  was  trained  to 
farming,  and  also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade. 


At  Dayton,  Ohio,  December  25,  1879,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  V.  Shriver,  who  was  reared 
in  Dayton,  was  graduated  from  the  Central 
high  school  of  that  city,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  John  William  and  Mary  (Cassell)  Shriver. 
After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coover  lived  on 
the  Coover  homestead  until  1891,  when  Mr. 
Coover  bought  and  removed  to  his  present 
handsome  farm  of  120  acres,  which  has  since 
been  their  home.  To  this  marriage  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  John  W.,  Eva 
S.,  Robert  and  Helen  M.  In  politics  Mr. 
Coover  is  an  ardent  republican,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Yandalia 
United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Cooper  is  a 
thoroughly  practical  farmer  and  an  excellent 
business  man  and  is  universally  respected.  His 
children  are  being  well  educated,  and  he  is 
progressive  in  his  views  regarding  educational 
affairs  and  public  improvements. 

Dr.  John  William  Shriver,  father  of  Mrs. 
Amos  J.  Coover,  but  now  deceased  for  some 
twenty  years  past,  was  one  of  the  most  emi- 
nent of  the  physicians  of  the  city  of  Dayton. 
He  was  a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pa.,  and  a 
son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Williams)  Shriver, 
the  former  of  German  and  the  latter  of  Welsh 
descent.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Phila- 
delphia Medical  college,  began  practice  in  Cen- 
treville,  Pa.,  and  there  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Cassell,  a  native  of  Carroll  county,  Md. ,  and  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Eleanor  (Gibson)  Cas- 
sell—  the  Cassells  being  of  colonial  Pennsyl- 
vania-German descent  and  the  Gibsons  of 
Kentucky-Irish  extraction.  Mr.  Cassell  was  a 
merchant  of  Spring  Mills,  Pa.,  lived  to  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  and  died  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  the  father  of  one  child, 
now  Mrs.  Dr.  Shriver.  To  the  doctor  and 
wife  were  born  nine  children,  viz:  Sarah  E., 
Adeline,  Laura  E.,  Margaret  E.,  Martha  Vir- 
ginia (Mrs.  Coover),  John  M.,  Charles  A., 
Katie  E.  and  Cliff  M.      After  coming  to  Day- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1181 


ton,  Ohio,  the  doctor  attained  great  promi- 
nence in  his  profession  and  died  in  the  faith  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

Mrs.  Eve  (Beard)  Coover,  mother  of  Amos 
J.  Coover,  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Fox)  Beard,  and  was  born  January  15, 
1 8 14,  in  Warren  county,  Ohio.  John  Beard, 
her  father,  was  born  in  Maryland  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  in  early  manhood  came 
to  Ohio.  He  married,  in  Warren  county,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Robb,  a  widow,  and  the  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Susannah  Fox.  The  Fox  family 
came  from  Hagerstown,  Md.,  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and 
both  the  Beard  family  and  the  Fox  family 
were  of  German  descent.  John  Beard  and 
family  came  from  Warren  county  to  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1820,  and  settled  in  Butler 
township  on  100  acres  of  land  on  the  National 
road;  he  also  owned  land  in  Shelby  county, 
and  was  a  well-to-do  citizen.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beard  were  named  Sal- 
lie,  Polly,  Betsey,  Susannah,  Mary,  Eve,  Sam- 
uel, John,  Jacob,  George  and  Nancy.  The 
parents  belonged  to  the  United  Brethren 
church,  in  which  Mr.  Beard  was  a  trustee, 
and  in  politics  he  was  a  democrat.  He  served 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  lived  to  be  eighty- 
seven  years  of  age.  His  mother  died  at  the 
age  of  100  years,  and  his  wife  at  101  years. 
Of  the  children  here  enumerated,  Eve,  whose 
name  opens  this  paragraph,  was  reared  in  the 
wilderness  of  Warren  county,  and  at  twenty 
years  of  age,  December  18,  1834,  was  married, 
in  Butler  township,  Montgomery  county,  to 
Jacob  Coover. 

Jacob  Coover,  father  of  Amos  J.  Coover, 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1809,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth 
(Shoup)  Coover.  Michael  Coover  was  born 
near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  a  son  of  Jacob  Coover, 
and  there  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Shoup,  the  following  children:   John, 


Jacob,  George,  Michael,  Samuel,  Isaac,  Sarah 
and  William — the  last,  a  physician.  Michael 
Coover  brought  his  family  to  Ohio  by  wagon 
and  settled  in  Butler  township  on  the  land  oc- 
cupied by  J.  Q.  A.  Coover,  about  1828,  and 
here  died,  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  Jacob  Coover,  after  his  marriage 
with  Eve  Beard,  worked  in  his  father's  saw- 
mill until  he  purchased  a  farm  for  himself,  and 
on  which  he  reared  his  children,  who  were 
named  as  follows:  Henry  (died  at  forty-nine 
yearsof  age),  Michael  J. ,  Anna,  Rosannah,  Jacob 
(died  a  young  man),  Filda,  Zachariah  (died 
young),  Amos  J.,  and  Mary  C.  Mr.  Coover  pros- 
pered in  his  farming  and  became  the  owner  of 
226  acres  of  good  arable  land.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  trustee  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
he  had  aided  to  build  in  Vandalia.  In  poli- 
tics a  republican,  he  was  for  a  long  time  a 
township  trustee.  He  was  a  man  of  high 
character  and  noted  for  his  industry  and  pub- 
lic spirit.  He  gave  his  children  every  school 
advantage,  and  died  February  23,  1874,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  venerable  widow, 
now  eighty-three  years  old,  retains  her  facul- 
ties to  a  remarkable  degree,  and  is  beloved  by 
all  who  know  her.  Of  their  children,  named 
above,  Henry  married  Adaline  Johnson;  Ros- 
annah was  married  to  Samuel  Keplinger; 
Amos  married  Martha  V.  Shriver;  Mary  mar- 
ried Horace  D.  Hutchin,  and  Michael  J.  mar- 
ried Lucy  Collins.  Michael  J.  and  Jacob  (de- 
ceased) were  soldiers  in  the  three-months'  serv- 
ice in  the  late  Civil  war,  and  both  were  in 
the  same  company. 

Michael  J.  Coover,  the  eldest  of  the  living 
children  born  to  Jacob  and  Eve  Coover,  was 
born  May  19,  1832,  in  Butler  township,  was 
reared  a  farmer,  and  in  1863,  at  Dayton,  en- 
tered the  100-day  service  as  corporal  of  com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  did  duty  at  Washing- 
ton, D.    C,  Arlington    Heights,  White  House 


1182 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Landing,  Richmond,  Petersburg,  Fortress 
Monroe  and  Norfolk,  but  his  active  service 
under  fire  was  confined  to  skirmishes  at  Ar- 
lington Heights  and  White  House  Landing. 
At  the  end  of  four  months  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio.  He  mar- 
ried, in  Dayton,  October  3,  1883,  Miss  Lucy 
Collins,  who  was  born  in  Dayton  January  31, 
1847,  a  daughter  of  Wilber  Collins,  a  pros- 
perous business  man,  now  deceased.  Mrs. 
Lucy  Coover  died  December  6,  1885,  leaving 
one  child,  Edwin  J.,  born  January  10,  1885. 
In  politics  Mr.  Coover  is  a  republican  and  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Vandalia. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Butler  town- 
ship, growing  large  quantities  of  small  fruits 
on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  which  he  owns 
and  upon  which  he  built  a  handsome  dwelling 
about  a  year  after  his  marriage,  having  passed 
the  first  year  of  his  married  life  in  Dayton. 
He  is  one  of  Butler  township's  most  valued 
and  public-spirited  citizens.  (For  further  in- 
formation respecting  the  Coover  family,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  biography  of  J.  Q.  A. 
Coover,  on  another  page). 


aHRISTOPHER    GISH,    M.     D.,    the 
oldest   medical  practitioner  in   Mont- 
gomery county,  a  man  of  learning  and 
a  venerated  and  honored  citizen,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  March  20,  181 5, 
and  is  a  son  of  Mathias  and    Frances  (Hama- 
ker)  Gish. 

His  grandfather,  Abraham  Gish,  emigrated 
from  Switzerland  to  America  a  short  time  after 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  married  a  Miss  Shock, 
by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  as  follows: 
Jacob,  John,  Abram,  David,  Elizabeth,  Cath- 
erine, Susan,  George,  Christopher  and  Mathias, 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.      Abraham  Gish  brought  money  with  him 


from  Switzerland,  and  upon  arriving  in  this 
country  purchased  500  acres  of  land  near 
Elizabethtown,  became  a  wealthy  farmer,  and 
there  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 
He  was  an  industrious  man,  of  high  moral 
character  and  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church.  He  lived  to  be  eighty  years  of 
age.  His  family  was  noted  for  longevity  and 
the  combined  ages  of  his  children  were  over 
900  years.  They  were  all  intelligent  and  tem- 
perate people,  as  well  as  prosperous. 

Mathias  Gish,  the  youngest  son  of  Abra- 
ham, was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  May 
8,  1788,  received  a  common-school  education 
and  became  a  farmer,  beside  learning  the  mill- 
ing business  of  his  brother  David  in  Franklin 
county.  Pa.  In  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  he 
married  Frances  Hamaker,  who  was  born 
April  24,  1791,  in  that  county.  After  their 
marriage  Mathias  Gish  and  wife  settled  in 
Franklin  county,  Pa.,  moving  thence  soon 
afterward  to  Juniata  county,  where  he  bought 
a  mill,  which  he  ran  for  many  years.  In  1835 
he  removed  to  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
bought  land,  and  in  1838 he  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  where  he  bought  a  house  and 
lot  and  there  died,  in  1S72,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  was  well  known  for  his 
integrity  of  character  and  much  esteemed  for 
his  qualities  as  an  exemplary  citizen.  To  him 
and  his  wife  there  were  born  the  following 
children:  John,  Abraham,  Christopher,  Eliz- 
abeth, Frances  and  Mathias. 

Dr.  Christopher  Gish,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  received  the  rudiments  of  his  educa- 
tion in  Pennsylvania,  and  when  eighteen  years 
of  age,  in  1834,  removed  with  his  brother 
Abraham  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  He 
worked  for  some  time  in  Union,  Montgomery 
county,  and  also  in  Preble  county,  as  a  mill- 
wright, and  for  some  time  attended  the  Day- 
ton academy,  a  famous  school  in   its  day.      In 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1183 


1839  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  at  Day- 
ton under  Dr.  Jacob  Bosler,  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians  of  Dayton.  Dr.  Gish  attended  the 
Ohio  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati  in  1840 
and  1841  and  again  in  1850  and  1851,  gradu- 
ating in  the  latter  year.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  at  Dayton  in  1840,  and  re- 
moved during  that  year  to  Salem,  Montgomery 
county,  where  he  built  up  a  large  and  profita- 
ble practice,  riding  many  miles  in  all  directions 
through  the  woods  and  over  all  kinds  of  roads, 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  most  of  his  riding 
being  on  horseback.  For  some  years  he  was 
in  partnership  with  Dr.  James  F.  Hibbard, 
who  became  an  eminent  physician,  and  is  still 
living  at  Richmond,  Ind.,  at  the  great  age 
of  eighty-one  years. 

Dr.  Gish  located  in  Brookville  in  [860, 
and  there  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  ever  since,  a  period  of  thirty- 
six  years,  and  has  thus  been  in  practice  con- 
tinuously during  the  last  fifty-six  years.  He 
is  a  man  of  the  widest  general  information, 
and  has  taken  great  interest  in  scientific  mat- 
ters, especially  in  geology,  having  been  a  close 
and  persistent  student  of  this  fascinating  science 
for  the  past  thirty  years.  He  has  made  a 
large  and  valuable  collection  of  geological 
specimens,  having  traveled  extensively  through- 
out North  America  in  pursuit  of  knowledge 
pertaining  to  this  branch  of  learning.  In  this 
country  he  has  visited  the  Rocky  mountains, 
California,  New  Orleans,  New  York  and  Phil- 
adelphia, all  the  time  adding  to  his  collection. 
The  doctor  is  a  man  of  extensive  reading  and 
information  outside  of  his  special  study  of  geol- 
ogy, and  possesses  a  most  valuable  store  of 
varied  knowledge.  He  is  a  man  of  unusually 
liberal  views  and  well  known  everywhere  for 
his  independent  thought  and  honest  character. 

Dr.  Gish  in  1842  married  Mary  Fiet,  who 
was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  in  18 19,  and 
was    a    daughter    of    Charles     and    Catherine 


(Share)  Fiet.  Mrs.  Gish  died  in  1892,  a 
woman  of  many  virtues.  In  1893  the  doctor 
married  Fannie  Eyer,  who  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  March  4,  1842,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Fannie  (Engle)  Eyer. 
John  Eyer,  her  father,  was  a  miller  by  occu- 
pation, and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  his 
wife  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  Mrs. 
Gish  is  a  member  of  the  River  Brethren 
church.  Her  grandfather  came  from  Switzer- 
land at  the  same  time  as  the  grandfather  of 
her  husband.  Dr.  Gish,  through  his  long  and 
active  life,  has  gained  a  large  store  of  expe- 
rience as  well  as  of  knowledge,  and  his  career 
is  an  evidence  of  the  value  of  intellectual  in- 
dustry and  temperate  habits  in  the  prolonging 
of  human  life. 


m 


RS.  JOSEPH  DAVIDSON,  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Macy  family,  whose 
history  is  published  elsewhere  at 
some  length  in  this  volume.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Wagoner)  Macy,  and 
was  born  December  8,  1846,  on  the  old  Macy 
homestead  in  Miami  county,  and  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Celina  Macy.  On  October 
2,  1868,  she  was  married,  at  the  residence  of 
her  father,  to  Joseph  Davidson,  and  they  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  she  now  lives  after 
passing  the  first  year  of  their  married  life  on 
the  old  homestead.  The  farm  then  contained 
eighty  acres  of  land,  which  Mr.  Davidson,  aided 
by  his  wife,  greatly  improved,  adding  to  it  un- 
til he  owned  120  acres — a  fine  farm,  now  in 
excellent  condition  and  a  pleasant  home.  Mr. 
Davidson  was  born  June  13,  1838,  in  But- 
ler township,  on  the  old  home  farm.  He  was 
a  son  of  William  and  Hepzibar  (Pierson) 
Davidson,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Norway,  March  5,  1800,  and  ran  away  from 
home  and  came  to  America  when  he  was  quite 


1184 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


young.  On  the  way  over  he  was  shipwrecked 
and  finally  landed  in  Montreal,  Canada.  He 
married  Hepzibar  Pierson  on  the  ioth  of  Oc- 
tober, 1830,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Margaret  Pierson.  William  and  Hepzibar 
Pierson  had  nine  children,  eight  sons  and  one 
daughter,  of  whom  Solomon,  George,  William 
and  Margaret  C.  are  still  living.  William 
Davidson  settled  on  and  cleared  up  from  the 
woods  the  eighty  acres  of  land  on  which  Mrs. 
Joseph  Davidson  now  lives,  and  which,  as 
stated  before,  has  been  increased  to  120  acres. 
He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  died  Febru- 
ary 3,  1869. 

Politically  Joseph  Davidson  was  a  republi- 
can. He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Disciples'  church.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  as  follows:  Alonzo  Ohmer, 
Ward  B.,  Howard  O..  Myrtle  and  Carry.  Mr. 
Davidson  was  an  excellent  citizen  of  high 
character,  was  careful,  prudent  and  success- 
ful. The  farm  which  he  left  is  one  of  the 
best  in  Butler  township,  and  is  now  managed 
by  Mrs.  Davidson,  aided   by  her  sons. 

Joseph  Davidson  was  a  member  of  com- 
pany G,  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  national  guard, 
and  entered  the  service  of  the  government  dur- 
ing the  war  as  a  private  soldier  of  company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Ohio  vol- 
unteer infantry,  was  enrolled  May  2,  1864, 
and  served  100  days.  He  was  mustered  out 
of  service  August  30,  1864,  at  Camp  Dennison, 
Ohio.  He  died  July  13,  1892.  Mrs.  David- 
son is  one  of  the  excellent  women  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  patient,  industrious  and  a 
good  manager. 


>t*OHN   KNEE,  an  ex-soldier  of  the  Civil 

■      war  and  an  old  resident  of  Phillipsburg, 

A  J      Montgomery   county,    Ohio,   was  born 

March  15,   1843,  in  Miami  county,  and 

is   a   son  of   David  and  Catherine  iFolkerth) 


Knee,  who  were  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  ex- 
traction, and  whose  children,  born  in  Ohio, 
are  named  Philip,  Samuel,  Susan,  Mary,  Da- 
vid, Sarah,  John,  Lewis,  Hettie,  William  and 
Ernestine.  Of  this  family,  three  of  the  sons, 
Philip,  David  and  John,  served  in  an  Ohio 
regiment  during  the  Civil  war. 

John  Knee  in  his  youth  had  only  the  ordi- 
nary district-school  advantages,  and  is  largely 
a  self-educated  man.  When  but  little  past 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  company 
H,  Sixty-third  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, at  Dayton,  Ohio,  August  28,  1862,  to 
serve  three  years,  veteranized  January  1,  1864, 
at  Prospect,  Tenn.,  and  served  until  honora- 
bly discharged,  July  8,  1865,  at  Camp  Denni- 
son, Ohio,  on  account  of  the  close  of  the 
war.  During  this  period  of  almost  three  years 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Parker's  Cross 
Roads,  Corinth,  Holly  Springs.  Iuka,  Miss.; 
Decatur,  Ala.;  the  great  Atlanta  campaign; 
the  battles  at  Dallas,  Resaca,  Big  Shanty, 
Pumpkinvine  Creek,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chat- 
tahoochie  River,  the  battle  in  front  of  Atlanta 
and  that  at  Jonesboro;  he  was  with  Sherman 
in  the  famous  march  to  the  sea,  being  then  in 
the  commissary  department;  was  at  Goldsboro 
and  Raleigh,  N.  C. ,  and  on  the  home  march 
via  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  took  part  in 
the  grand  review,  and  for  a  short  time  after- 
ward served  in  Kentucky.  The  engagement 
in  front  of  Atlanta  was  the  most  severe  in 
which  he  shared,  and  his  hardest  marching 
was  in  the  pursuit  of  Forrest  through  Missis- 
sippi, in  which  he  endured  much  suffering  from 
cold  and  exposure. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Knee  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  and  here  married,  August 
25,  1866,  Miss  Sarah  E.  Lewis,  who  was  born 
December  24,  1845,  in  Henry  county,  111.,  a 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Nancy  (Stevenson) 
Lewis.  Hiram  Lewis  came  from  New  Jersey 
with   his   parents,   who   settled   on  the  White 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1185 


river,  when  the  Indians  were  still  roaming  the 
prairies  and  forests  of  the  state.  The  children 
born  to  Hiram  and  Nancy  Lewis  were  named 
Benjamin,  William  L.,  James,  Walter  (who 
died  when  small),  Sarah  E.,  Lucinda,  Arthur 
L.  and  Nathan  P.  Of  these,  James  served  in 
the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
and  was  badly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  but  recovered  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

In  1874  John  Knee  and  wife  settled  in  Phil- 
lipsburg,  where  Mr.  Knee  engaged  in  farming, 
which  industry  he  still  pursues  with  much  suc- 
cess. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knee  have  been  born 
the  following  children:  Frank  L.,  Albert  (who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years),  Omer,  Otto  (de- 
ceased), Ira  and  Harvey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knee 
have  long  been  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  of  which  Mr.  Knee  is  a  trustee,  and  in 
this  faith  they  are  rearing  their  children.  In 
politics  Mr.  Knee  is  a  stanch  republican,  and 
as  a  citizen  he  is  respected  for  his  industry, 
integrity  and  usefulness. 


*y-»  OUIS  KUNNIKE,  of  Chambersburg, 
j  Ohio,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers 
_^J  of  Butler  township,  but  now  retired 
from  active  labor,  was  born  at  Celle, 
or  Zell,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  a  town  in 
Hanover,  on  the  Aller,  twenty-three  miles 
northeast  of  the  city  of  Hanover,  October  11, 
1 83 1.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Annastine 
(Ebeling)  Kunnike,  the  former  a  prosperous 
miller  of  Celle,  owning  both  a  grist-mill  and  an 
oil-mill.  The  children  of  Christian  and  An- 
nastine Kunnike  were  August,  Theodore,  Earn- 
est, Louis  and  Herman.  Christian  Kunnike 
lived  to  be  fifty-eight  years  old  and  died  in 
Germany.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  was  everywhere  respected  for  his 
industrious  habits  and  his  high  character. 
After  his  death  Mrs.    Kunnike   married    Henry 


Sheverling,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  in 
1805,  and  was  a  miller  by  trade.  By  this 
marriage  she  had  one  daughter,  Alvina.  Au- 
gust and  Theodore  Kunnike  came  to  the  United 
States,  the  latter  in  1840,  the  former  in  1842. 
Both  of  them  settled  in  Dayton,  Theodore  be- 
ing a  millwright  by  trade  and  August  a  miller. 
In  December,  1843,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheverling 
came  to  the  United  States,  sailing  from  Bre- 
men in  the  good  ship  Goethe,  a  sailing  vessel, 
and  were  six  weeks  and  three  days  on  the  sea. 
They  landed  in  Baltimore  and  came  at  once  to 
Dayton,  settling  in  Butler  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  on  a  farm  on  which  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  now  lives.  This  farm  contained 
sixty-six  acres,  but  since  then  there  have  been 
sold  all  but  about  ten  acres,  which  is  retained 
as  a  homestead.  Mr.  Sheverling  died  in  1884, 
aged  seventy-nine  years.  From  his  fourteenth 
year  up  to  his  death  he  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Sheverling 
lived  to  be  sixty-nine  years  of  age,  dying  in 
1864.  She  was  a  woman  of  many  virtues  and 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  1853 
she  paid  a  visit  to  her  native  land,  taking  with 
her  her  daughter,  Alvina,  remained  a  year  and 
then  returned  to  the  United  States,  living  here 
until  her  death. 

Louis  Kunnike,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  well  educated  in  his  native  country,  at- 
tending school  until  he  was  eleven  years  old, 
and  then  coming  with  his  mother  to  the  United 
States.  After  reaching  Ohio  he  attended 
school  at  Chambersburg,  becoming  a  farmer 
in  early  life,  and  has  followed  that  vocation 
ever  since.  He  now  owns  140  acres  of  land, 
and  is  a  prosperous  man.  Like  his  father  and 
mother,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  having  united  with  that  church  when 
fourteen  years  of  age.  In  politics  he  was  a 
democrat  until  Abraham  Lincoln's  time,  and 
since  then  has  been  a  republican.  Mr.  Kun- 
nike is  a  man  of  undoubted  honesty  and  up- 


1186 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Tightness  of  character,  of  correct  morals,  and 
has  always  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
neighbors  and  friends. 

Miss  Alvina  Sheverling  was  born  February 
1 6,  1838,  and  hence  was  five  years  old  when 
she  came  to  the  United  States  with  her  par- 
ents. She  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  she 
went  on  a  visit  to  Germany  with  her  mother. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  hav- 
ing united  therewith  when  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  with  the  exception  of  the  one  year  spent 
in  Germany  has  lived  in  Butler  township  ever 
since  1848.  She  is  a  woman  of  excellent 
business  ability,  and  by  judicious  management 
and  investment  has  largely  increased  her  in- 
heritance, having  now  177  acres  of  good  farm 
land,  well  improved. 

Herman  Kunnike  was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
Civil  war,  a  private  in  company  G,  Eighth 
Ohio  regiment,  and  was  killed  in  battle. 


>y»OHN  M.  LANDIS,  whose  post-office  is 
J  Clayton,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  old  settlers 
(|1  of  Randolph  township.  His  father, 
Abraham  Landis,  was  one  of  the  original 
pioneers  of  Madison  township,  and  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.  In  that  county  he  was 
married  to  Mary  Miller,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  and  both  -were  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock.  Abraham  Landis  was  a  farmer 
and  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
not  long  after  1805,  settling  in  the  woods  in 
Madison  township,  a  little  clearing  having 
already  been  made  on  his  land.  The  rest  of 
the  farm  he  himself  cleared  and  made  himself 
a  good  home.  He  was  a  hard-working  pioneer, 
and  respected  by  all.  His  children  are  be- 
lieved to  have  all  been  born  in  Montgomery 
county.  They  were  as  follows:  Sallie,  who 
died  young;  Jacob,  Samuel,  Daniel,  Polly, 
Elizabeth,  Nancy,  Leah,  Susan,  Abraham, 
John    M.,     Lydia    and    Michael.      In    religious 


belief  Mr.  Landis  was  a  German  Baptist,  and 
was  a  man  of  high  character.  He  died  on  his 
farm  when  seventy-seven  years  of  age. 

John  M.  Landis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  July  8,  1832,  on  his  father's  farm,  in 
Madison  township.  Having  received  his  edu- 
cation, he  became  a  farmer  from  choice,  and 
when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  on  April  15, 
1856,  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Weaver,  who 
was  born  May  26,  1837,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Nancy  (Hayes)  Weaver,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  farmer. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landis  there  were  born 
the  following  children:  Alice,  Nannie  Bell; 
Edward,  who  died  young;  Charles;  Emma, 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  Clarence  W.  After 
marriage  Mr.  Landis  settled  on  Wolf  creek, 
afterward  removing  to  Darke  county,  and  re- 
turning to  Montgomery  county  in  1870,  buying 
eighty-three  and  a  half  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  he  has  since  lived.  This  farm  he  has 
greatly  improved  and  has  erected  new  and 
tasteful  buildings.  Mrs.  Landis,  who  died 
March  25,  1893,  was  a  most  excellent  woman, 
and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  She 
was  fifty-five  years  old  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  Politically,  Mr.  Landis  is  a  democrat. 
He  has  always  been  an  active  citizen,  and  is 
esteemed  for  his  strong  and  exemplary  char- 
acter and  industrious  habits. 

Clarence  W.  Landis  married  Dora  Geist, 
who  was  born  March  13,  1870,  in  Madison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Erb  and  Rickie  (Clapper)  Geist,  and  of 
Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Landis  there  have  been  born  two  children, 
Artie  and  Alice.  Clarence  W.  Landis  was 
well  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  is 
now  living  on  the  Ananias  Frantz  farm.  Nan- 
nie Bell  Landis  married  Preston  Weaver,  of 
the  National  Cash  Register  company  of  Day- 
ton, and  has  had  three  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  living. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1187 


kS~\  ENJAMIN    MECKLEY,    one    of    the 

l(^^    thriving  farmers  of  Jackson  township, 

J^J    Montgomery  county,   Ohio,  was  born 

here  on  his  father's  farm  August  30, 

1835,  and  's  OI  Pennsylvania-German  descent. 

Christian  Meckley,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  December  19,  1805, 
and  was  a  son  of  Melchor  Meckley,  a  farmer, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years,  the 
father  of  eight  children,  viz:  Christian,  Henry, 
Isaac,  Benjamin,  Joseph,  Jacob,  John  and 
Nancy.  Christian  was  about  twelve  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  at  the  proper  age 
was  apprenticed  to  a  weaver.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  came  to  Ohio,  walking, 
with  ten  companions,  all  the  way  to  Montgom- 
ery county.  Later,  he  made  several  trips  to 
Pennsylvania,  driving  a  team  one  way  and 
walking  the  other;  altogether,  and  in  various 
ways,  he  made  seventeen  trips  between  the 
two  states.  He  finally  located  in  Hamilton, 
Butler  county,  where  he  carried  on  weaving 
for  some  time.  He  then  came  to  Jackson 
township,  Montgomery  county,  and  married 
Nancy  Keener,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
within  three  miles  of  his  own  birthplace,  and 
about  1830  settled  on  the  farm  next  north  of 
that  on  which  his  son  Benjamin  now  lives. 
The  farm  was  in  the  woods  and  comprised 
100  acres,  and  here  were  born  his  six  children: 
Catherine,  John,  Benjamin,  Henry,  Michael 
and  Mary.  He  prospered  through  life,  and  at 
one  time  owned  460  acres  of  land,  most  of 
which  he  disposed  of  to  his  children  without 
interest,  but,  as  a  lesson  in  industry  and 
economy,  insisted  on  their  paying  for  it.  He 
was  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  for  two  terms 
served  as  township  trustee.  His  death  took 
place  April  10,  1884,  in  his  seventy-ninth  year. 

Benjamin  Meckley  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  had  the  advantage  of  the  common 
schools  three  months  each  winter  from  early 
boyhood   until   nineteen    years    old.      April   3, 


1862,  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Barbara  Kay- 
ler,  who  was  born  five  miles  north  of  Eaton, 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  October  1,  1S35,  on  tne 
homestead  of  her  parents,  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
beth (Ozias)  Kayler. 

Benjamin  Kayler  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Va.,  October  22,  1803,  a  son  of  John 
F.  and  Catherine  (Haynes)  Kayler.  John  F. 
was  descended  from  an  old  German  family  of 
Virginia,  and  brought  his  wife  and  children  to 
Ohio  in  181  5.  They  settled  four  and  a  half 
miles  north  of  Eaton,  where  Mr.  Kayler 
cleared  up  a  farm  from  the  woods,  and  at  one 
time  owned  about  400  acres  of  land,  of  which 
he  gave  120  acres  to  each  of  his  children — 
John,  Benjamin  and  William.  He  died  in 
1857,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  having 
become  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
his  township.  Benjamin  Kayler  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  father  and  was  reared  to  manhood  on 
the  farm  in  Preble  county.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Cristman) 
Ozias,  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  of  Ger- 
man extraction,  and  Rev.  Jacob  Cristman,  the 
maternal  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Meckley, 
was  the  first  German  Reform  preacher  in  the 
state  of  Ohio — both  families  having  come  to 
this  state  in  1803.  Benjamin  Kayler  and  wife 
settled  on  a  tract  of  land  in  the  woods  near 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  cut  down  the  trees 
from  which  he  obtained  the  logs  for  his  cabin, 
cleared  up  a  fine  farm,  and  increased  his  origi- 
nal tract  of  120  acres  to  660.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Lutheran  church,  a  man  of  unim- 
peachable character,  and  died  in  the  faith,  in 
1S80,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  the 
father  of  six  children — William,  Catherine  B., 
Phebe,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Amanda. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meck- 
ley settled  on  their  present  farm,  which  then 
consisted  of  1  50  acres.  He  has  been  indus- 
trious and  thrifty  and  has  added  130  acres,  now 
owning  a  compact   and  well-cutivated    farm  of 


1188 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


280  acres,  one  of  the  best  in  Jackson  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meckley  are  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  Mr.  Meckley  hav- 
ing united  with  the  Slyfer  congregation  when 
sixteen  years  of  age,  while  Mrs.  Meckley  be- 
came a  member  of  Zion's  Lutheran  church  con- 
gregation, north  of  Eaton,  when  seventeen 
years  old.  Mr.  Meckley  has  held  the  office  of 
deacon  and  elder  for  twenty-six  years,  and  is 
at  present  an  elder  in  the  church.  The  lives 
of  both  have  been  filled  with  benevolence  and 
charity.  In  the  absence  of  children  of  their 
own,  they  have  reared,  as  their  own  child, 
from  girlhood  to  womanhood,  Annie  Gephart, 
now  the  wife  of  William  Allen  Leise,  of  Day- 
ton. In  politics  Mr.  Meckley  is  a  democrat, 
but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  He 
has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  and  he  and  wife 
bear  an  honored  .name  throughout  the  town- 
ship of  Jackson  and  surrounding  country. 


WOHN  C.  HEIDINGER,  present  post- 
■  master  of  Brookville,  springs  from  Ger- 
/•  1  man  ancestry.  He  was  born  in  Brak- 
enheim,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  April 
29,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Katherine 
(Fisher)  Heidinger.  John  C.  Heidinger  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  excellent  schools  of 
Wurtemberg,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1848,  when  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  sail- 
ing from  Antwerp,  Belgium,  and  landing  in 
New  York.  He  first  went  to  Newark,  N.  J., 
where  he  remained  a  few  months,  and  thence 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  two  years. 
Here  he  worked  on  a  farm  and  also  learned  the 
painter's  trade.  In  1853  he  came  to  Ohio, 
living  for  a  time  at  Cincinnati  and  at  College 
Hill,  in  Hamilton  county,  and  in  1855  removed 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  following  his  trade  all  this 
time.  In  the  same  year,  1855,  he  went  to 
New  Lebanon,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
in    1856  married  Mary  A.    Adams,    who    was 


born  in  Fairfield  county,  at  New  Lancaster,  in 
1830,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sabina 
(Henkle)  Adams.  The  Adams  family  were 
originally  from  Maryland,  and  the  Henkles 
from  Virginia. 

Mr.  Heidinger  resided  at  New  Lebanon  un- 
til 1862,  and  then  removed  to  Johnsville, 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business.  From  Johnsville  he  removed 
to  Van  Wert,  and  thence  to  Franklin,  Ohio, 
in  1867,  and  in  1869  to  Farmersville,  finally 
coming  to  Brookville  in  1871.  In  each  of 
these  places  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, but  upon  reaching  Brookville  he  entered 
the  hotel  business  as  proprietor  of  the  Central 
House,  which  he  conducted  for  sixteen  years, 
retiring  at  the  end  of  this  period. 

In  1884  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  infirmary  directors,  serving  three 
years,  and  proved  a  capable  and  humane  offi- 
cial, his  efforts  being  directed  to  the  benefit  of 
the  public.  In  1893  he  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Brookville  under  President  Cleve- 
land's administration,  and  holds  this  position 
at  the  present  time  (1897).  Mr.  Heidinger 
has  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business  for 
the  past  sixteen  years,  representing  only  stand- 
ard companies.  In  politics  a  democrat,  he  has 
held  several  minor  offices  of  his  party,  such  as 
township  clerk  of  Brookville,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  popular  citizens  of  this  thriving  place.  He 
has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  corpora- 
tion council  and  is  well  known  for  his  integrity 
of  character  and  correct  business  methods. 
Under  his  administration  the  post-office  is  well 
managed  and  the  service  excellent. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heidinger  there  have  been 
born  eight  children,  as  follows:  Three  that 
died  young;  Salina,  who  died  after  her  mar- 
riage; Luther  F.,  deceased;  Edward  C, 
William  and  George  A.  Mr.  Heidinger  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order. 
He  has  passed   nearly   all  his  active  life  in  the 


C  ?^^c£J*<^9~£^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1191 


United  States,  and  is  in  every  way  a  thorough 
American  citizen.  While  living  at  New 
Lebanon  and  at  Johnsville  he  was  post- 
master under  President  Lincoln's  administra- 
tion. He  is  a  genial  and  pleasant  gentleman 
and  is  deservedly  popular  with  all  classes 
of  the  people. 


>-r*  ACOB  C.  POTE,  one  of  the  old  citizens 
M  and  farmers  of  Clay  township,  Mont- 
/•  1  gomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  was  born  in  Indiana 
county,  January  i,  1823,  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Magdalen  (Coy)  Pote. 

Michael  Pote,  grandfather  of  Jacob  C, 
was  born  in  Germany,  and  when  a  young  man 
came  to  America,  served  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  was  one  of  those  who  passed 
the  terrible  winter  of  1777-8  with  Washing- 
ton at  Valley  Forge.  Mr.  Pote  married  a 
Mrs.  Wise,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of 
the  following  children:  Michael,  Jacob,  Adam, 
Elizabeth,  Sophia,  Magdalena  and  Catherine. 
He  settled  down  to  farming  in  Bedford  county 
on  a  tract  of  300  acres  of  land,  realized  a 
competency,  and  died  an  aged  and  respected 
citizen — his  descendants  still  owning  the  old 
farm,  which  some  of  them  occupy. 

Adam  Pote,  son  of  Michael,  was  born  in 
Bedford  county,  Pa.,  in  1795,  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Magdalen  Coy,  and  in  1824  came 
with  his  wife  and  four  children  to  Montgomery 
township,  Ohio.  He  first  located  in  Randolph 
township,  but  later  moved  to  Clay  township 
and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  the  deed 
being  signed  by  the  then  president  of  the 
United  States,  John  Quincy  Adams.  This 
land  he  cleared  up  from  the  wilderness  and 
transformed  into  a  comfortable  home,  and  here 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in 
1867,    the    father    of  eleven    children.     They 

were  named  Magdalene,    Elizabeth,    Samuel, 
53 


Jacob  C,  Mary,  Dolly,  Michael,  Barbara, 
Susannah,  Daniel  and  John.  Of  these,  three 
of  the  sons — Jacob  C,  Daniel  and  John — 
served  in  the  late  Civil  war,  the  latter  two  in 
the  three  years'  service  and  as  veterans  of 
company  B,  Seventy-first  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry. In  politics,  Mr.  Pote  was  at  first  a 
whig,  but  went  into  the  ranks  of  the  repub- 
lican party  on  its  organization.  He  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
and  both  were  noted  for  their  integrity. 

Lewis  Coy,  father  of  Mrs.  Magdalen  Pote, 
was  a  native  of  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
extensively  engaged  in  farming,  owning  600 
acres  of  land.  He  lived  to  be  an  aged  man, 
and  was  the  father  of  four  sons,  viz:  Lewis, 
Henry,  Michael  and  John — Mrs.  Pote  being 
the  only  daughter. 

Jacob  C.  Pote,  whose  name  opens  this 
biographical  notice,  was  but  one  year  old  when 
he  was  brought  to  Montgomery  county.  Here 
he  was  reared  to  farming,  receiving  in  his 
youthful  days  such  an  education  as  could  be 
acquired  in  the  pioneer  schools,  and  on  April 
18,  1847,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Wagoman, 
a  daughter  of  Joel  Wagoman  and  a  native  of 
Montgomery  county.  To  this  union  were  born 
five  children,  viz:  Mary  A.,  Catherine,  Ellen 
J.,  Susannah  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Pote  died  in  1858,  and  on  March  7,  i860,  Mr. 
Pote  married  Miss  Mary  Whisler,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Mary  (Spitler)  Whisler,  and  this 
union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  seven  chil- 
dren, who  are  named  Edward,  David  L. ,  Alice, 
Jessie,  Ida,  Orvilla  and  Cora. 

Mr.  Pote  enlisted  in  the  United  States  vol- 
unteers, first,  for  the  Mormon  war,  but  was 
not  called  out  for  actual  service;  he  next  en- 
listed in  the  Ohio  national  guards  for  five 
years,  was  commissioned  captain  of  company 
F,  Second  regiment,  was  called  out  May  2, 
1864,  and  his  company  merged  with  company 
K,   One   Hundred  and  Thirty-first   Ohio  vol- 


1192 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


unteer  infantry.  He  was  mustered  in  as  first 
lieutenant,  for  ioo  days,  and  was  stationed  at 
Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md.,  but  was  de- 
tached for  provost  duty  in  the  city,  served  i  17 
days,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp 
Chase,  Ohio,  August  22,    1864. 

Mr.  Pote,  before  enlistment,  had  purchased 
a  tract  of  140  acres  of  land  in  Clay  township, 
and  after  his  return  from  the  service  settled  on 
this  property  and  made  of  it  an  excellent  farm. 
He  was  bereft  of  his  second  wife  in  1875. 
She  was  a  devout  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Pote  was, 
in  his  earlier  manhood,  a  Henry  Clay  whig, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  that 
famous  statesman;  on  the  formation  of  the 
republican  party,  he  became  one  of  its  mem- 
bers, and  has  ever  since  been  identified  with 
it.  Mr.  Pote  has  been  successful  in  his  voca- 
tion, and  is  now  one  of  the  most  respected  of 
Clay  township's  citizens. 


8X 


ILLIAM  S.   MUNDHENK,   M.  D., 
a  leading  physician  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  for  the  last  twenty 
years   a    successful    practitioner    of 
Brookville,  springs  from   German  ancestry. 

His  grandfather,  Daniel  G.  Mundhenk, 
was  a  native  of  German}';  married  Louisa 
Sprengel  in  1803,  and  in  1807  emigrated  from 
Pyrmont,  a  small  country  in  the  northwest  of 
Germany,  landing  in  Philadelphia.  When  a 
young  man  Mr.  Mundhenk  was  a  sailor  in  serv- 
ice upon  whaling  vessels,  and  visited  the  Arc- 
tic ocean  and  Greenland.  After  retiring  from 
a  seafaring  life  he  became  a  farmer  and  a  me- 
chanic. By  his  first  wife,  who  died  shortly 
after  reaching  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Mundhenk  had 
two  children,  August  and  Louisa.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Maria  Hagerman,  by 
whom     he    had    eight     children,    as     follows: 


Daniel,  Henry,  Mary  A.,  Michael,  Joseph, 
Charles,  Frederick  and  John.  Mr.  Mundhenk 
settled  in  Montgomery  county  in  1817,  and 
founded  the  town  of  Pyrmont,  laying  it  out 
on  his  own  land,  of  which  he  had  from  500  to 
600  acres.  Upon  this  farm  his  second  wife 
died,  and  for  his  third  wife  he  married  Mar- 
garet Hubler,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Caroline.  Early  in  his  life  Mr.  Mundhenk  was 
a  Quaker,  but  after  reaching  Ohio  he  joined 
the  United  Brethren  church.  He  died  in  Pyr- 
mont in  1859,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  He 
was  one  of  the  well-known  and  popular  men 
of  pioneer  days,  a  man  of  sterling  character 
and  a  valued  citizen.  He  was  engaged  in  both 
farming  and  milling  in  Pyrmont,  erecting  both 
saw  and  grist-mills  early  in  the  history  of 
Montgomery  count}1. 

Frederick  Mundhenk,  father  of  Dr.  Mund- 
henk, was  born  July  4,  181 8,  at  Pyrmont, 
being  the  first  child  born  in  the  settlement. 
His  education  was  received  in  tho  common 
schools,  and  early  in  life  he  learned  the  busi- 
ness of  miller,  operating  both  saw  and  grist- 
mills. November  3,  1843,  he  married,  at  Pyr- 
mont, Mary  C.  Hook,  who  was  born  in  Rock- 
ingham county,  Ya.,  November  11,  1823,  and 
who  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  (Chand- 
ler) Hook,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Rockingham  county,  Va.,  and  was  on  his  fa- 
ther's side  of  English  descent,  on  his  mother's 
side  of  German  ancestry.  He  was  the  son  of 
Robert  Hook. 

John  Hook  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1S12,  being  stationed  for  a  time  at  Norfolk, 
Va.  To  him  and  his  wife  there  was  born  one 
child,  Mary  C.  For  some  years  he  followed 
the  harness  and  saddlery  business  in  Harrison- 
burg, Ya.,  and  at  an  early  day  emigrated  to 
Missouri,  and  returning  from  that  state  located 
at  Pyrmont,  Ohio,  about  1830.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  a  second 
wife,    by    whom   he    had    two   children,    Uriah 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1193 


and  Sarah.  His  death  occurred  in  1869,  when 
he  was  seventy-six  years  old. 

Frederick  Mundhenk  resided  at  Pyrmont 
the  greater  portion  of  his  life.  He  was  an  in- 
dustrious, hard-working  and  prosperous  man, 
owning  some  500  acres  of  land.  For  many 
years  he  was  engaged  in  milling  at  Pyrmont, 
where  he  was  a  well  and  widely  known  and 
honored  citizen,  a  republican  in  politics,  and  a 
liberal  supporter  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  He  had 
one  son,  James,  in  the  Civil  war,  a  member  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
William  S.  and  Minnie  by  his  first  wife,  and 
Frederick  by  his  second   marriage. 

William  S.  Mundhenk,  M.  D.,  was  born 
August  19,  185 1,  in  Pyrmont,  was  educated 
first  in  the  public  schools,  and  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  R.  Conner,  a  promi- 
nent physician  of  Montgomery  county  for  thirty 
years.  Afterward  he  graduated  from  the  Ohio 
Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  in  1876,  and 
immediately  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Brookville,  soon  establishing  himself  in  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice,  which  extends  through- 
out the  surrounding  country.  In  1872  he 
married  Emma  Conner,  born  in  1853,  and  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Conner  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Cusick.  Dr.  Conner  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, and  when  a  young  man  removed  to  Clin- 
ton county,  Ohio,  and  in  1S51  to  Montgomery 
count}',  locating  in  Pyrmont,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  until  1872. 
For  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  Brookville,  dying  there  in 
18.82,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  His  chil- 
dren are  Emma,  Eberle,  Flora  and  Rose.  Dr. 
Conner  was  of  prominence  in  the  medical  pro- 
fession, and  held  a  high  place  in  the  general 
estimation  of  his  fellow-men. 

Dr.  William  S.  Mundhenk  keeps  fully 
abreast   of  the   progress    of   his   profession,  in 


which  he  has  always  maintained  an  enviable 
standing.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ohio  state 
Medical  association,  of  the  Montgomery  coun- 
ty Medical  society,  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  in  politics  is  a  republican.  To  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Mundhenk  there  has  been  born  one  son, 
Herbert  C 
Ohio  State  universitv. 


now  a  diligent    student    at    the 


HLBERT  QUANCE,  of  Brookville, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  an  hon- 
ored citizen,  and  one  of  the  ex-soldiers 
of  the  Civil  war,  springs  from  an  old 
American  family  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and 
is  of  England  and  German  ancestry.  He  is  a 
son  of  Stephen  S.  and  Mary  Ouance,  and  was 
born  February  26,  1848,  in  Lenawee  county, 
Mich.  Having  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  when  fifteen  years  old  he  enlisted 
February  26,  1863,  at  Camden,  Hillsdale 
county,  Mich.,  in  company  B,  First  Michigan 
sharpshooters,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 
While  in  Judiciary  Square  hospital,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
January  20,  1865,  on  account  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  battle.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  the  Wilderness,  of  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  of  Cold  Harbor  and  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg, in  the  latter  battle  being  shot  in  the  left 
leg  by  a  musket  ball,  which  struck  about  the 
middle  of  the  thigh,  shattering  the  bone.  Be- 
ing taken  to  the  field  hospital  it  was  found 
necessary  to  amputate  the  leg  near  the  body. 
For  some  time  he  was  in  the  Army  Square 
hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  later  was 
transferred  to  the  Judiciary  Square  hospital, 
from  which  he  was  in  due  course  of  time  dis- 
charged, having  been  in  the  different  hospitals 
about  six  months  in  all.  The  wound  above 
mentioned  was  the  second  he  received,  the 
first  being  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  when 
a  piece  of  shell  struck  him   on  the   knee  cap  of 


1194 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  left  leg,  disabling  him  for  some  time.  He 
was  also  struck  in  the  groin  by  a  spent  ball  at 
Petersburg.  He  was  an  unusually  strong  boy, 
was  never  sick,  performed  his  duty  cheerfully, 
and  was  throughout  a  faithful  soldier. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Michigan, 
and  remained  at  home  with  his  father  for 
some  time,  attending  school.  About  1871  he 
removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  for 
a  short  time  was  an  inmate  of  the  soldiers' 
home.  In  1S75,  having  purchased  a  small 
piece  of  land  near  Bachman,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  he  married  Annie  M.  Schlosser, 
who  was  born  in  Jay  county,  Ind.,  November 
6,  1857,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Beechler)  Schlosser.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Quance  lived  at  Bachman  until  1886,  when 
they  removed  to  Brookville,  and  there  Mr. 
Quance  bought  his  present  property,  consist- 
ing of -five  town  lots  and  a  good  residence, 
pleasantly  situated. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quance  there  have  been 
born  four  children,  as  follows:  Nellie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Laura,  born 
February  6,  1881;  Lewis,  born  June  16,  1885, 
and  Flora,  born  May  17,  1890.  Mr.  Quance 
is  a  member  of  Foster  Marshall  post,  No. 
587,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  has  held  the  office  of  adju- 
tant. He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Stephen  S.  Quance,  father  of  Albert,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  became  a 
farmer  and  mason,  and  was  married  the  first 
time  in  his  native  state.  Removing  to  Michi- 
gan about  1845,  he  there  worked  at  his  trade 
as  a  mason,  and  later  removed  to  Steuben 
county,  Ind.,  but  died  in  Illinois  in  1896. 
His  children  were  George,  Charles  E.,  Mary, 
Juliette,  Nettie,  Albert  and  Stephen.  He  had 
two  sons  in  the  Civil  war,  Charles  E.  and 
Albert,  the  former  being  in  the  Sixty-first 
Illinois  volunteer  infantry.      Mr.    Quance  was 


a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  his 
first  wife,  the  mother  of  Albert  Quance,  a 
woman  of  many  virtues  and  excellent  qualities, 
died  in  Michigan  about  1848.  Mr.  Quance 
married  the  second  time,  by  this  union  having 
one  child,  Alice.  His  second  wife  having  died 
he  again  married,  but  had  no  children  by  his 
third  marriage. 

Samuel  Schlosser,  father  of  Mrs."  Albert 
Quance,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. His  children  are  Harry  C. ;  Frances  M. ; 
Nancy  and  Annie  M.  He  is  a  citizen  of  Bach- 
man, and  a  sketch  of  his  life  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  these  pages. 


^^»v  w* ILLIAM   PIATT,  an  honored  citizen 
MB  of  Brookville,  Ohio,  and  an  ex-sol- 

\jL>l  1      i    the  (  ivil  war.  is   of    French 

Huguenot  descent  and  of  an  old 
colonial  family  of  the  state  of  Virginia.  He 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  July 
9,  1 841,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Eliza 
(McWhiney)  Piatt.  Having  received  the  com- 
mon-school education  of  his  youthful  days,  he 
was  reared  to  farm  life  and  labor.  His  mother 
having  died  in  1849  he  was  bound  out  to  labor, 
but  received  such  severe  treatment  that  his 
father  secured  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  by  means 
of  which  young  Piatt  became  again  a  free  boy. 
He  then  worked  for  Daniel  Frantz  on  the  farm 
for  nine  years. 

November  15,  1 861,  he  enlisted  at  Poast- 
town,  Madison  township,  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  as  a  private  soldier  in  company  E,  Sev- 
enty-first Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt. 
W.  H.  Callender,  for  three  years  or  during 
the  war.  He  served  until  he  veteranized  in 
that  organization  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  Febru- 
ary 14,  1864,  and  continued  to  serve  until 
honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio, 
January  6,    1866.      He  participated    in    many 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1195 


skirmishes  and  battles,  among  them  those  of 
Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Station,  his  regiment 
having  joined  Gen.  Sherman  on  the  march  to 
Atlanta  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  closing 
battles  of  that  great  campaign.  For  fourteen 
months  he  was  engaged  in  fighting  guerrillas, 
his  company  being  mounted,  and  afterward  he 
was  engaged  in  protecting  the  Louisville  & 
Nashville  railroad.  After  the  fall  of  Atlanta 
Mr.  Piatt  returned  to  Nashville,  taking  part  on 
the  way  in  the  great  battle  of  Franklin,  which 
in  many  respects  was  one  of  the  hardest-fought 
battles  of  the  war,  the  rebels  making  as  many 
as  nine  separate  and  desperate  charges  on  the 
Union  lines,  so  determined  were  they  to  con- 
quer on  that  day,  knowing  that  on  their  suc- 
cess depended  the  possibility  of  their  being 
able  to  capture  Nashville.  After  the  battle  of 
Franklin  Mr.  Piatt  was  on  the  skirmish  line 
near  Nashville  on  December  14,  1864,  was 
shot  in  the  right  wrist,  and  was  in  the  hospital 
in  Nashville  for  six  weeks.  Rejoining  his  regi- 
ment at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  he  went  to  Green- 
ville, east  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until 
after  the  surrender  of  Lee.  Then  with  his 
regiment  he  went  to  Nashville,  remaining  there 
two  months,  and  then  went  to  Texas  to  watch 
Maximilian  in  Mexico,  finally  reaching  San 
Antonio,  Tex.,  where  he  was  mustered  out. 
He  was  always  an  active  soldier,  and  prompt 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  Now,  however, 
he  is  much  broken  down,  which  fact  he  attrib- 
utes to  the  hardships  and  exposures  of  the 
war.  At  Clarksville,  Tenn. ,  he,  with  about 
300  others,  was  taken  prisoner,  paroled  the 
next  day,  sent  to  the  Union  lines,  and  was 
soon  exchanged.  One  of  the  most  severe 
marches  in  which  he  took  part  was  that  from 
Matagorda  Bay,  Tex.,  to  Green  Lake,  Tex., 
his  suffering  on  this  march  being  caused  by  the 
intense  July  heat  and  the  want  of  water. 

After   the   close   of  the  war  Mr.  Piatt  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  farm  work  and 


also  in  buying  and  selling  tobacco,  in  which  he 
has  been  very  successful  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years.  On  March  9,  1882,  he  married 
Miss  Alva  Kepler,  who  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  June  7,  1859,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Willie)  Kepler.  William 
Kepler  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  was  a 
son  of  Jesse  Kepler,  who  settled  in  Montgom- 
ery county  many  years  ago  and  who  died  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1895,  at  tne  age  °f  eighty- 
six  years,  his  wife  dying  at  the  same  age. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  Maria  Hendrick- 
son,  of  New  Jersey.  William  Kepler  and  his 
wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Alva,  Herbert,  Altie,  Lutie  F.,  Lottie  L. , 
Harry  N.,  Charles  J.  and  Maud  A.  Mr.  Kep- 
ler is  now  an  honored  citizen  of  Brookville. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piatt 
settled  near  New  Lebanon,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, resided  there  five  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Brookville  in  1887.  They  have  one  child, 
Estus  E.  Piatt.  Mr.  Piatt  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has  served  as 
one  of  its  trustees,  while  Mrs.  Piatt  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Piatt 
is  a  member  of  Foster  Marshall  post,  No. 
587,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Brookville.  Politically,  he 
is  a  republican  and  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  town  council.  He  is  a  member  of  Oak 
lodge,  No.  265,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  passed 
all  the  chairs,  including  that  of  noble  grand. 
Mr.  Piatt  is  well  known  as  a  competent  and 
honorable  business  man  and  a  good  citizen. 
He  has  recently  received  a  commission  from 
the  Ohio  department  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  as  colonel  on  the  staff  of  the 
quartermaster-general. 

James  Piatt,  father  of  William,  was  first 
married  to  a  Miss  Olinger,  and  by  her  had  the 
following  children:  Rebecca,  Jacob  and  John. 
By  his  second  wife  he  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: William,  David,  James  and  Eliza. 
Jacob,  John,  William  and    David  were  all  in 


1196 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  Civil  war.  John  was  in  the  same  regiment 
with  William.  Jacob  served  one  year,  dying 
March  14,   1S63,  at  Fort   Donelson. 


a  APT.   BENJAMIN   F.  SHOE,   a  vet- 
eran of  both  the   Mexican   and   Civil 
wars  and  a  respected  citizen  of  Clay 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was   born    near    Dayton,  January    13,   1824,  a 
son  of  John  and   Prudence   (Hewey)   Shoe,  re- 
spectively of  German  and  Irish  extraction. 

Shortly  after  reaching  his  majority,  Mr. 
Shoe  enlisted  for  five  years,  or  during  the 
Mexican  war,  August  27,  1845,  m  company 
H,  Fifth  infantry,  at  Newport,  Ky.,  and  on 
reaching  the  front  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey, 
Vera  Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Molina  del  Rey, 
Castle  of  Chapultepec,  the  Gate  of  San  Cosmo 
and  Cherubusco  ( where  he  was  slightly 
wounded).  He  served  under  Gens.  Worth, 
Taylor  and  Scott  until  peace  was  declared, 
after  which  he  served  out  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment, and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Fort 
Washita,  August  27,  1851,  with  the  rank  of 
sergeant,  having  been  promoted  for  meritori- 
ous conduct  in  the  field.  He  then  returned  to 
Montgomery  county  and  found  employment  at 
farm  labor.  November  20,  1859,  Mr.  Shoe 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  Clay  township,  with 
Miss  Sarah  Louisa  Kennard,  a  native  of  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  born  July  29,  1840,  and  to  this 
union  ten  children  have  been  born,  viz:  One 
who  died  in  infancy.  Alice  S.,  Charles  R.,  John 
B.,  William  A.,  James  M. ,  Ella  J.,  Benjamin 
F. ,  Jesse  W.  and  Carrie  B. 

John  Shoe,  the  father  of  the  captain,  was 
a  native  of  Maryland  and  settled  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  when  that  now  populous  and  beautiful 
city  was  merely  an  Indian  trading  post.  To 
him  and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  chil- 


dren: David,  John,  Elihu,  Sarah,  Philip,  El- 
hannon,  Jacob,  Deborah,  Massie  and  Benja- 
min F.  John  Shoe  lived  to  reach  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years,  and  died  in  the  faith  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  Benjamin  Ken- 
nard, father  of  Mrs.  Shoe,  a  tanner  by  trade, 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  from  Indi- 
ana, and  was  the  father  of  the  following-named 
children:  Mary  J.,  Richard,  Catherine,  Ellen, 
Kesiah,  Susannah,  William,  Thomas  R.,  Sarah 
L.  and  Elizabeth.  Of  these,  Richard,  Will- 
iam and  Thomas  R.  served  in  the  Civil  war, 
in  which  their  brothers-in-law,  Isaac  Webster, 
Thomas  Wright  and  Noah  Tucker  also  took 
an  active  part. 

On  marrying,  Mr.  Shoe  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent farm  and  was  engaged  in  the  peaceful  pur- 
suit of  agriculture  until  the  alarm  of  war  was 
again  sounded.  In  the  meantime  he  had  or- 
ganized a  company  of  militia  in  Clay  township, 
denominated  the  Clay  Guards,  of  which  he  was 
commissioned  captain  by  Gov.  Chase,  who 
complimented  him  on  having  the  best  drilled 
company  in  the  state — Mr.  Shoe  having  availed 
himself  of  his  experience  in  the  regular  army, 
which  had  made  him  a  competent  drill-master. 
Nevertheless,  when  the  Civil  war  opened 
Capt.  Shoe  entered  the  volunteer  service  as  a 
private,  enlisting  in  October,  1861,  in  com- 
pany H,  Seventy-fourth  Ohio  infantry,  for 
three  years,  unless  sooner  discharged  by  reason 
of  the  close  of  the  war,  and  served  until  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  in 
March,  1S63,  on  account  of  disability.  Dur- 
ing this  enlistment  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  and  for  four  months  of  his  term  per- 
formed all  the  duties  of  a  first  lieutenant,  al- 
though not  commissioned.  On  being  dis- 
charged, he  returned  to  Montgomery  county, 
but  did  not  remain  long,  as  he  re-enlisted,  and 
on  May  22,  1864,  was  mustered  in  at  Camp 
Chase  for  100  days,  as  drill-master  of  com- 
pany K,  One   Hundred   and    Thirty-first   Ohio 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1197 


volunteer  infantry,  from  which  service  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Chase,  August 
26,  1864,  having  at  this  time  served  1 17  days. 
He  thus  has  a  record  of  military  service  ex- 
tending over  a  period  of  more  than  eight  years. 
In  politics  Capt.  Shoe  is  a  republican.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  respected  for  his  upright  life  and 
his  public  spirit,  and  as  a  defender  of  his  coun- 
try's rights  is  most  deservedly  honored. 


•"V*  AMU  EL  SCHLOSSER,  a  farmer  of 
•^^^k*    Clay  township,   Montgomery  county, 

h^_J  Ohio,  also  a  practical  shoemaker  and 
an  ex-soldier  in  the  late  war,  is  a  son 
of  Moses  and  Sarah  (Fleagle)  Schlosser,  and 
was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  June  24, 1835. 
John  Schlosser,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  was  of  German  descent,  and 
in  1 816  removed  with  his  family  from  Lancas- 
ter county,  that  state,  to  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
his  children  being  John,  Jonas,  Moses  and 
Samuel.  The  journey  to  Ohio  was  made  in  a 
four-horse  wagon,  and  settlement  was  made  in 
the  woods  on  a  160-acre  tract  near  West  So- 
nora.  There  he  succeeded  in  making  a  good 
home,  and  there  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  a 
worthy  citizen.  Of  his  children,  Samuel 
served  in  the  Union  army  five  years  and  one 
month,  passing  all  through  the  late  Civil  war. 
Moses  Schlosser,  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Reiner)  Schlosser,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  March  23,  1808,  and  consequently 
was  eight  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Ohio 
by  his  parents.  He  was  brought  up  among 
the  pioneers  of  Preble  county,  received  a  good 
common-school  education  and  was  reared  to 
farming.  He  was  married  in  Preble  county  to 
Sarah  Fleagle,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  in 
1812,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Isabella 
(Dutch)  Fleagle,  the  father,  Abraham,  being 


one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Preble  county. 
Moses  Schlosser,  after  his  marriage,  farmed 
for  some  little  time  in  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
then  moved  to  LaSalle  county,  111.,  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
farmed  until  1879,  when  he  moved  to  Butler 
county,  Kans. ,  where  he  made  his  home  with' 
his  son,  William,  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  23,  1892.  His  children  were 
named  in  order  of  birth,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Isabella, 
William,  Margaret,  Sarah,  Levina,  and  Phisbie 
and  Almina  (twins).  Of  these,  William  was  a 
private  in  the  Indiana  cavalry,  served  three 
years,  and  lost  his  eyesight  in  the  battle  at 
Athens,  Tenn.,  while  his  elder  brother,  Jacob, 
served  two  years  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fourth  Illinois  infantry.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schlosser  were  consistent  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  Abraham  Fleagle,  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  subject,  served  in  the 
British  and  Indian  wars. 

Samuel  Schlosser  was  educated  in  the  old- 
time  subscription  schools,  was  thoroughly 
trained  to  farming,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  on  September  11,  1856,  married, 
in  Montgomery  county,  Miss  Mary  Beachler, 
who  was  born  August  5,  1834,  a  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Annie  Beachler.  The  father, 
Frederick  Beachler,  was  a  native  of  Germany; 
and,  to  avoid  military  duty  in  that  country, 
came  to  the  United  States  while  he  was  still  a 
young  man,  located  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  and  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  lived  until 
his  death,  in  middle  age,  in  1855,  and  in  the 
faith  of  the  Lutheran  church.  To  Mr.  Beach- 
ler were  born  eight  children,  viz:  Henry, 
Jacob,  John,  Leonard,  Michael,  George,  Lewis 
and  Mary.  Of  these  children  Leonard  was  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Indiana  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  served  100  days  during 
the  late  war. 

Samuel  Schlosser,  after  his  marriage,  lived 


1198 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  county  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  moved  to  Jay  county,  Ind., 
where  he  farmed  for  eighteen  months.  Re- 
turning to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  he  set- 
tled on  a  tract  in  Clay  township.  December 
24,  1863,  he  enlisted  at  Dayton,  in  company 
I,  Ninety-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  until  honorably  discharged  at  Saint 
Louis,  Mo.,  December  26,  1865.  He  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Loudon  and  Clinton, 
Tenn.,  was  all  through  the  famous  Atlanta 
campaign,  then  in  the  battles  of  Rocky  Face 
Ridge,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  again 
in  the  front  of  Atlanta;  took  part  in  the  fights 
at  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy  Station,  Spring  Hill, 
Columbia,  and  at  the  first  battle  at  Franklin, 
where,  on  the  night  of  the  retreat,  he  was  run 
over  by  a  mule  team  and  so  badly  injured 
that  he  has  never  fully  recovered.  After  a 
short  confinement  in  hospital  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  Mr.  Schlosser 
was  transferred  to  Jefferson  barracks,  in  the 
latter  city,  and  assigned  to  the  Second  bat- 
talion veteran  reserve  corps,  in  which  he 
served  until  his  final  discharge.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  above-mentioned  hospital  treat- 
ment he  was  never  laid  up,  save  for  four 
weeks  with  chronic  rheumatism,  and  at  all 
other  times  was  an  active  and  willing  soldier, 
who  took  part  wherever  his  regiment  was  en- 
gaged or  did  duty.  Since  the  war  Mr.  Schlos- 
ser has  followed  his  trade  of  shoemaking  and 
has  also  been  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm,  which  he  had  purchased  before  the  war. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schlosser  have  been  born 
four  children,  viz:  Ann  M.,  Nancy  J.,  Fran- 
cis M.  and  Harry  C.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  Mr.  Schlos- 
ser belongs  to  the  Foster  Marshall  post,  No. 
587,  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Brookville.  Mr.  Schlosser 
is  respected  as  an  industrious  and  honorable 
citizen  and  as  a  devoted  friend  of  the  country 
he  has  served  so  well. 


'^-j'AMES  SUNDERLAND,  of  Vandalia, 
m  Ohio,  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
/•  1  substantial  farmers  of  Butler  township, 
Montgomery  county,  is  of  sterling 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  of  his  father,  August  31,  1823. 
He  is  of  the  third  generation  of  Sunderlands 
in  Ohio,  and  now  occupies  the  farm  on  which 
he  was  born.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Margaret  (Miller)  Sunderland,  for  fuller  men- 
tion of  whom  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
biography  of  Richard  Sunderland,  elsewhere 
to  be  found  in  this  volume. 

James  Sunderland,  when  a  boy,  attended 
school  in  one  of  the  old-fashioned  school- 
houses,  made  of  large,  round  logs,  with 
greased  paper  for  windows,  with  a  large  fire- 
place at  one  end  and  a  stick  and  clay  chimney. 
Here  he  received  the  little  education  that  fell 
to  his  share.  Brought  up  on  the  farm,  he  be- 
came a  farmer,  and  was  married  when  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  April  18,  1844,  to 
Miss  Mary  Wells,  who  was  born  November  12, 
1828,  on  the  Wells  homestead.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Johnson) 
Wells,  for  fuller  mention  of  whom  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  biographical  sketch  of  Rich- 
ard Sunderland. 

After  their  marriage  they  immediately  set- 
tled on  the  old  homestead  and  have  lived  there 
ever  since.  To  them  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Matilda  J.,  Malinda  E., 
Winfield  S.,  Francis  M.,  Emma  F.,  Delia  A., 
Bista  A.  and  Mary  R.  Malinda  E.  died  when 
nineteen  years  of  age;  Winfield  S.  died  July 
18,  1878;  Francis  M.,  May  10,  1872,  when 
nineteen  years  old;  Emma  F.  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  Bista  A.  at  the  age  of  seven,  and 
Mary  R.  when  three  years  of  age. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sunderland  is  a  republican, 
but  is  in  no  sense  a  seeker  after  office.  He 
inherited  100  acres  of  the  old  homestead,  and 
by  thrift  and  industry  he  has  added  to   it  until 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1199 


he  now  has  800  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be 
found  in  this  rich  valley.  It  extends  a  mile 
and  a  half  on  the  Miami  river  and  is  most 
fertile  land,  being  developed  by  skillful  culti- 
vation and  improved  by  the  erection  of  excel- 
lent buildings.  Seventy-five  acres  of  this  farm 
are  still  in  their  primitive  state,  covered  over 
with  noble  timber. 

Mr.  Sunderland  is  a  practical  and  success- 
ful farmer,  and  is  a  man  who  stands  high  in 
the  community  for  the  sterling  worth  and 
strength  of  his  character.  Winfield  S.  Sun- 
derland married  Alice  N.  Brentlinger,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son,  Walter  E.,  still  living.  Ma- 
tilda J.  married  H.  H.  Cassell,  and  they  are 
living  on  the  Sunderland  farm.  Delia  A.  mar- 
ried John  K.  Booker,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  James  A.,  Harry  O.,  Raleigh 
and  Mary  E. 

The  Sunderland  family  descends  from  early 
pioneer  stock,  as  does  also  the  Wells  family. 
Mary  Johnson,  the  maternal  grandmother  of 
Mrs.  Sunderland,  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
and  lived  to  be  ninety-three  years  old.  When 
she  came  to  Ohio  she  was  a  widow,  and  her 
children  were,  Jesse,  John,  David,  Mary,  Re- 
becca and  Nancy.  Mrs.  Johnson  settled  on 
land  in  Montgomery  county,  and  with  the  aid 
of  her  children  made  a  good  home  in  the  woods. 
She  was  a  woman  of  wonderful  mental  ability 
and  was  a  pioneer  of  Butler  township,  settling 
here  in  1804. 


*-|-»     EWIS  R.  SMITH,  an  honored  citizen 
L    of  Brookville,  and  one  of  the  old  sol- 
^^^    diers   of  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  October  24,  1828. 
He  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Richard) 
Smith,  the  Smith  family  being  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock   and   from  an  old  colonial  family. 
On  the   mother's   side,  the  grandfather  of  the 
subject  came   from  Germany,  and  the  mother 


was  born   on   the   ocean   during   the  voyage  of 
the  family  to  America. 

Lewis  R.  Smith  was  taken  by  his  parents 
to  Montgomery  county,  they  settling  on  the 
present  site  of  Phillipsburg,  when  he  was  but 
six  years  of  age,  in  1834.  He  received  the 
rudiments  of  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  later  went  to  Indiana,  where  he 
learned  the  wagon  and  carriagemaker's  trade, 
afterward  mastering  the  carpenter's  trade. 
When  he  was  twenty-eight  years  old  he  mar- 
ried Lydia  Davis,  daughter  of  George  Davis,  a 
native  of  England.  After  his  marriage  he 
settled  at  Phillipsburg,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade,  that  of  carpenter.  The  war  of  the 
Rebellion  having  broken  out,  Mr.  Smith  en- 
listed at  Dayton,  Ohio,  on  August  15,  1 861 , 
as  a  member  of  company  D,  Eighteenth  United 
States  infantry,  and  while  on  the  way  to  Pitts- 
burg Landing  was  transferred  to  company  B, 
of  the  same  regiment,  and  made  orderly  ser- 
geant. He  was  honorably  discharged  August 
15,  1864,  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  October, 
1 864,  he  enlisted  in  company  F,  Seventh  United 
States  veteran  volunteers  (called  Hancock's 
veteran  United  States  volunteers)  for  one  year, 
and  served  his  time,  thus  giving  four  full  years 
to  his  country's  cause.  He  was  in  the  battles 
of  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, the  siege  of  Corinth,  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  beside  many  skirmishes  and  several 
raids.  He  received  no  gunshot  wounds,  but 
was  struck  on  the  right  wrist  by  a  ball  and 
slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River. 
At  this  battle  his  captain  had  both  legs  shot 
off  by  a  cannon  ball  and  the  lieutenant  of  his 
company  was  killed.  During  the  remainder  of 
the  engagement  Sergt.  Smith  was  in  command 
of  the  company,  most  of  whose  members  were 
killed,  so  severe  was  the  fighting. 

Sergt.  Smith  was  sick  for  a  short  time  in 
hospital  No.  13,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  was 
made  a  commissary  sergeant.      He  was  placed 


L200 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  the  convalescent  camp  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
was  ordered  before  the  board  of  transfer,  and 
made  clerk  of  said  board,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  two  months.  After  this  board  was 
disbanded,  Sergt.  Smith  was  sent  to  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  where  he  served  at  headquarters  as 
clerk  until  discharged.  Always  an  earnest  sol- 
dier, he  was  in  all  the  battles,  skirmishes, 
marches,  campaigns  and  raids  of  his  regiment. 
The  severest  engagements  in  which  he  took  part 
were  those  of  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga, 
in  which  the  regular  troops  performed  very 
efficient  service.  The  battle  of  Stone  River 
lasted  nearly  all  of  one  week,  from  the  first 
skirmish  to  the  end  of  the  fighting.  Sergt. 
Smith  was  at  the  time  of  the  war  in  the  prime 
of  life,  vigorous  and  hardy,  and  endured  all 
the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life  with  fortitude 
and  courage.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  to  Phillipsburg,  Ohio. 

His  first  wife  died  previous  to  his  entering 
the  army  in  i  86 1.  By  her  he  had  two  children, 
both  of  whom  died  young.  On  January  31, 
1865,  he  married  Mary  Thomas,  a  widow,  who 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  March  26, 
1 74 1 ,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Warner)  Johns.  She  was  the  widow  of  Seth 
Thomas,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Sixty-third 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  who  died  in  hos- 
pital at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  September  31,  1S62. 

John  Johns  was  of  Welsh  descent  and  a 
pioneer  of  Montgomery  county,  and  a  substan- 
tial farmer.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Elizabeth,  Lydia, 
Lewis  W.,  Samuel  W. ,  Ephraim,  Hettie  A. , 
David,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Susan.  Mr.  Johns 
lived  to  be  seventy-nine  years  old,  and  died  on 
his  farm,  a  respected  citizen.  Politically,  he 
was  a  republican.  He  had  one  son  in  the 
Civil  war,  Lewis  W.  Johns,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and 
who  participated  in  several  battles. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  resided  in  Phillipsburg 


until  1880,  when  they  removed  to  Brookville. 
To  them  there  have  been  born  two  sons, 
George  B. ,  now  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  head 
bookkeeper  for  a  large  manufacturing  firm,  and 
Sylvester  deceased — and  one  daughter,  Ollivia, 
deceased.  Mr.  Smith  is  an  active  republican, 
and  was  postmaster  under  President  Hayes  for 
two  years.  He  served  as  mayor  of  Brookville 
three  terms  and  as  a  member  of  the  council 
one  term.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  six  years,  and  of  notary 
public  twenty-nine  years.  As  a  member  of  the 
school  board  he  has  rendered  valuable  service 
to  his  fellow-citizens. 

His  father,  Peter  Smith,  lived  for  a  long 
time  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  which  county 
he  was  born.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  John  R.,  Mary,  Peter,  Re- 
becca, Lewis  R.,  Henry  and  Samuel  R.  Peter 
Smith  came  to  Ohio  about  1829,  was  a  miller 
by  trade,  but  settled  on  a  farm  near  Canton, 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  removing  with  his  family 
to  Montgomery  county  in  1834.  Here  he 
cleared  a  farm  of  ninety-six  acres,  and  became 
a  leading  and  substantial  citizen.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  had  three  sons  in 
the  Civil  war,  viz:  Lewis  R. ,  Henry  and  Sam- 
uel R.,  the  two  former  in  the  same  regiment, 
and  Samuel  R.  in  the  Sixty-third  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry.  He  died  on  his  farm  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three. 


Sr*      EVI  H.  TURNER,  of  Clay  township, 

r  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  an  ex- 
I  A  soldier  of  the  late  Civil  war,  and  a 
prosperous  farmer,  was  born  in  Lib- 
erty, Jefferson  township,  this  county,  on  the 
1 8th  of  October,  1S44.  His  parents,  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Hoffman)  Turner,  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent,  and  were 
early  settlers  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1201 


Levi  H.  Turner  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  but  continued  his  studies  at  home 
until  some  time  after  he  was  married.  He  was 
reared  to  farming  and  was  noted  for  his  in- 
dustry as  a  young  man.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  enlisted  in  the  Ohio  national  guards, 
under  Capt.  John  Nicholas,  for  five  years.  In 
May,  1864,  he  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  under  the 
call  for  100-day  men,  was  assigned  to  company 
F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  regiment, 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt.  Daniel 
Holderman,  and  was  on  guard  duty  at  Fort 
McHeniy,  Federal  Hill,  Baltimore,  Md.,  until 
his  honorable  discharge  in  August,  1864.  He 
then  resumed  farming,  and  on  October  24, 
1867,  married  Miss  Annie  Baker,  who  was 
born  December  2,  1848,  the  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Frances  (Niswonger)  Baker,  to  whom 
reference  is  made  in  the  review  of  the  life  of 
Levi  Baker  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Turner  farmed  in  Clay 
township  for  a  short  time,  then  removed  to 
Jefferson  township  and  lived  on  the  old  Turner 
homestead  for  about  nine  years.  In  1877  he 
bought  the  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in  Clay 
township  on  which  he  still  resides,  and  which 
he  has  converted  into  one  of  the  finest  places 
of  its  size  in  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Turner  also  resided  in  Dayton  for  about  six 
years,  Mr.  Turner  being  during  this  time  in- 
terested in  a  stone  quarry.  To  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, viz:  Ettie  A.,  who  is  married  to  Oliver 
F.  Dillman,  a  hardware  merchant  in  Brook- 
ville,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children: 
Lillie  M.,  now  a  young  lady;  Clara  L.,  who 
died  at  eight  years  of  age,  and  Chester  H., 
now  a  young  man  and  making  his  home  with 
his  parents.  In  politics  Mr.  Turner  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  he  and  his  wife  and  children  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Daniel  Turner,  the  father  of   Levi  H.,  was 


a  son  of  David  Turner,  who  died  on  his  farm 
near  Lewistown,  Pa.,  and  who  was  the  father 
of  the  following  named  children:  John,  James, 
Robert,  David,  Sarah  and  Daniel.  Of  these, 
John  and  Daniel  settled  in  Dayton.  Daniel 
was  a  cabinetmaker  and  for  many  years  worked 
at  his  trade  in  Liberty.  He  first  married 
Miss  Sallie  Birch,  the  union  resulting  in  the 
birth  of  six  children,  viz:  Harrison,  Mary, 
Sarah,  Elizabeth,  William  and  Jacob.  Mrs. 
Sallie  Turner  having  died,  Daniel  Turner  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Hoffman,  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  Hoffman,  and  to  this  marriage 
were  born  Margaret,  Malinda,  Levi  H.,  Ella, 
John,  Samuel,  Minerva,  Josie,  Manass,  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  Daniel  Turner,  after 
a  residence  of  many  years  in  Liberty,  finally 
purchased  a  farm  of  237A  acres  near  the  town, 
on  which  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
dying  in  December,  1877,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-eight years,  in  the  faith  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


'^-r'EREMIAH  WEST,  an  esteemed  citizen 
a  of  Brookville,  Ohio,  and  an  ex-soldier 
(%  1  of  the  Civil  war,  was  born  October  22, 
1844,  in  Warren  county.  He  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  ( Kelkner  )  West,  the  fam- 
ily on  his  father's  side  being  an  old  American 
family  of  Scotch  descent.  Having  received  a 
good  common-school  education  he  was  begin- 
ning to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  when  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  being  one 
of  the  first  to  respond  to  his  country's  call, 
enlisting  April  16,  1S61,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  for 
three  months,  as  a  private  soldier  in  company 
D,  First  Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  Under  this 
enlistment  he  served  four  months,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  August  16,  1861.  Dur- 
ing this  short  period  of  service  he  was  in  a 
slight  skirmish  at  Vienna,  and  in  the  first  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run. 


1202 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Returning  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
he  enlisted  September  19,  1862,  in  company 
G,  Eleventh  United  States  infantry,  under 
Capt.  \V.  B.  Lowe,  but  served  under  Capt.  J. 
K.  Lawrence.  This  enlistment  was  for  three 
years,  or  during  the  war.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Richmond,  \'a. ,  September  19, 
1865,  at  the  expiration  of  his  full  term  of  serv- 
ice. The  battles  in  which  he  took  part  were 
those  of  Chancellorsville,  the  Wilderness, 
Laurel  Hill,  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and 
North  Anna,  beside  many  smaller  engagements 
and  skirmishes.  At  Cold  Harbor,  June  2, 
1864,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  with  about  500 
others  of  his  command,  on  a  flank  movement 
of  the  rebels,  was  taken  to  the  infamous  Libby 
prison,  confined  there  eight  days,  and  then 
taken  to  the  still  more  infamous  prison  at  An- 
dersonville,  arriving  there  June  15,  1864 
Here  were  confined  15,000  miserable,  starving 
Union  soldiers,  and  during  that  summer  their 
numbers  were  increased  to  about  35,000. 
Owing  to  the  terribly  close  crowding  of  the 
stockade,  the  want  of  shelter  from  the  fierce 
rays  of  the  southern  sun,  the  filth,  bad  water, 
and  exceedingly  poor  and  scanty  food,  the  sol- 
diers died  off  with  frightful  rapidity.  It  was 
estimated  that  about  8,000  died  during  the 
months  of  July  and  August.  Mr.  West's  im- 
prisonment lasted  four  and  a  half  months,  dur- 
ing which  long  period  thousands  of  Union 
soldiers  starved  to  death.  When  he  entered 
the  prison  Mr.  West  weighed  172  pounds; 
when  he  left  it  he  weighed  108  pounds. 

From  Andersonville  he  was  taken  to 
Charleston,  and  was  there  confined  in  the  race 
course,  receiving  about  the  same  treatment  as 
in  Andersonville.  He  was  transferred  thence 
to  the  Florence  bull  pen,  from  which  he  was 
paroled  December  17,  1864,  and  sent  direct  to 
the  Union  lines.  For  some  time  he  was  in 
the  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  and  at  length 
joined  his  regiment  at  Richmond,    Va.      For 


some  time  afterward  he  was  on  detached  duty 
on  the  police  force  until  discharged. 

Having  left  the  army  on  his  honorable  dis- 
charge Mr.  West  returned  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
learned  the  iron  molder's  trade  and  worked 
thereat  until  1872.  In  1871,  however,  he  re- 
moved to  Brookville,  and  in  September  of  that 
year  married  Hester  A.  Mcllroy,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Roberta  ( Bloom )  Mcllroy.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  West  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  office  of  dea- 
con. He  is  a  member  of  Foster  Marshall  post, 
No.  587,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Brookville,  Ohio,  and 
of  Libanus  lodge.  No.  80,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  of 
Lewisburg,  Ohio.  Politically  he  is  a  repub- 
lican. He  was  one  of  the  best  soldiers,  served 
with  patience  and  fortitude,  and  takes  justifi- 
able pride  in  the  time  he  spent  in  the  service 
of  his  country. 


^y^V  AVID  L  BOOHER,  one  of  the  rep- 
I  resentative  citizens  of  Butler  town- 
/^^J  ship,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  original 
pioneers  of  the  county,  was  born  on  his  fa- 
ther's homestead,  July  11,   1841. 

John  Booher,  grandfather  of  David  L. , 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Md.,  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  from  Maryland  moved  to 
Washington  county,  Pa.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Croll,  and  reared  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  names  of  the  following  are 
remembered:  John,  Bartholomew,  Samuel, 
Levi,  Daniel,  Sarah,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth. 
In  1 803  Mr.  Booher  brought  his  family  to 
Ohio  and  settled  four  miles  north  of  Dayton  in 
the  wilderness,  where  Indians  were  numerous 
and  often  came  to  trade  with  the  white  men. 

Samuel  Booher,  father  of  David  L. ,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pa.,  and  when  a 
child  was  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  and 
was  reared   a  pioneer  farmer.      He  first  mar- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1203 


ried  Mary  Beardshear,  and  to  this  marriage 
were  born  George,  Maria,  Lizzie,  Mary  and 
Kate.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Combs,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Elizabeth  Combs,  and  to  them  were 
born  the  following  children:  William,  Eliza, 
Martha  J.,  David  L.,  Jacob,  William  (who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years)  and  John 
K.  In  religion  Mr.  Booher  was  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church  and  Mrs.  Booher 
of  the  German  Baptist  church.  After  his  first 
marriage  Mr.  Booher  settled  on  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  and  by  his  skillful  management  in- 
creased his  estate  until  he  owned  about  900 
acres  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  about 
900  acres  in  Adams  county,  Ind.  He  lived  to 
be  seventy-seven  years  of  age  and  died  univer- 
sally respected  as  one  of  the  most  progressive 
as  well  as  upright  men  of  the  county. 

David  L.  Booher  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  was  reared  to  farming  on 
the  old  homestead.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years  he  married,  in  Dayton,  December  13, 1866, 
Annie  M.  Smith,  born  February  18,  1843,  a- 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Snyder)  Smith. 
He  occupied  a  part  of  his  father's  old  home 
farm,  where  he  lived  until  1879,  when  he 
came  to  his  present  place  of  507  acres,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  In  politics  Mr.  Booher  is  a  republican. 
The  only  child  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booher 
was  named  George  W.,  whose  lamented  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  He 
was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  and  his 
death  was  deeply  felt  by  his  devoted  parents. 

James  Smith,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Booher,  was 
born  in  England  about  1802,  came  to  America 
when  eighteen  years  old,  and  settled  in  Day- 
ton in  1820,  when  that  city  contained  few 
houses  and  but  one  store.  He  passed  some 
years  working  in  distilleries  in  different  parts 
of  the  county,  and  finally  bought  a  farm  of 
200  acres  in  Mad  River  township;  subsequently 


he  purchased  another  farm  of  160  acres,  and 
still  later  another  of  160  acres,  thus  owning 
520  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  took 
place  on  his  original  farm  in  1870,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  in  religion  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
politics  a  republican.  His  children  were  named 
William,  James,  Alvin,  Annie  (deceased),  Jennie, 
Edith,  Anna  M.  (now  Mrs.  Booher),  Elizabeth, 
Lottie  and  Louie.  Mrs.  Smith,  his  widow,  is 
now  a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  is  seventy-seven 
years  of  age.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Snyder,  and  she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
18 19,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Crum)  Snyder,  who  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  in  1820. 


^yy»ILLIAM  WELLS,  whose  post-office 
Mm  is   Vandalia,    Ohio,    is  one    of    the 

\_\_/l  most  substantial  farmers  of  Butler 
township,  Montgomery  county.  His 
father,  Samuel  Wells,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
and  became  an  orphan  in  early  life.  From 
his  seventh  year,  in  which  he  lost  his  parents, 
he  was  reared  by  his  uncle,  Samuel  Wells, 
who  came  to  Ohio  when  his  nephew  Samuel 
was  still  quite  a  small  boy.  This  uncle  settled 
near  the  north  line  of  Montgomery  county,  and 
here  young  Samuel  grew  up  among  the  pio- 
neers. Receiving  only  a  limited  education,  he 
became  a  farmer  at  an  early  age.  He  married 
Mary  Johnson,  and  they  settled  in  Butler 
township,  on  seventy-three  acres  of  land,  then 
covered  over  with  woods.  This  land  Mr. 
Wells  cleared  and  made  a  good  home  and  pro- 
ductive farm.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
Rebecca,  Mary,  Nancy,  Sarah  and  William. 
Mr.  Wells  took  a  deep  interest  in  religious 
matters,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  He  was  a  highly-respected  citizen, 
and  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-seven. 
William  Wells,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 


1-204 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  born  May  16,  1830,  on  the  Wells  home- 
stead in  Butler  township.  Receiving  the  usual 
common-school  education  of  his  day,  he  was 
brought  up  a  farmer,  an  occupation  which  he 
has  followed  all  his  life.  On  May  22,  1850, 
he  married  Nancy  Sunderland,  who  was  born 
March  25,  1832,  in  Butler  township,  on  the 
old  Sunderland  homestead. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells 
settled  on  the  farm  on  which  they  have  since 
lived,  beginning  on  twenty-seven  acres  of  land, 
all  of  which  was  covered  with  timber.  This 
farm  Mr.  Wells  cleared  up,  and,  by  continued 
hard  labor  and  thrift,  at  length  added  thereto 
until  to-day  he  owns  a  farm  of  327  acres,  all 
of  which  is  in  an  excellent  state  ot  cultivation. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Wells  is  a  republican.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
practical  and  able  farmers  of  Butler  township, 
as  is  shown  by  the  growth  of  his  possessions. 
He  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man,  and, 
aided  by  his  faithful  wife,  he  has  achieved  de- 
served success.  Their  children  are  as  follows: 
Ellis  E.,  William  S.  and  Charles  H. 

Ellis  E.  married  Emma  Clemmer.  Will- 
iam S.  married  Laura  Brentlinger,  and  has 
one  child,  Irene.  Charles  H.  married  Cora 
Beeson,  and  has  one  child,  Ralph.  The  three 
brothers  are  all  farmers  upon  the  home  place. 

The  Wells  family  is  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Butler  township,  and  stands  high 
in  the  community.  By  industry  they  thrive, 
and  by  right  living  they  win  the  respect  of  all 
their  neighbors. 


<S~\  EV.    AARON    ZEHRING,    a    retired 

1  /^     minister    of     the      United    Brethren 

P     church,  with  his  residence   at  Brook- 

ville.     Clay     township,     Montgomery 

county,  Ohio,  is  of  Pennsylvania-German   de- 


scent and  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
near  Lebanon,  September  22,  1830. 

Christian  Zehring,  his  great-grandfather, 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  from  Ger- 
many to  America  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  apprenticed 
until  his  passage  money  and  that  of  his  family 
was  paid  in  full  to  the  ship  owners  who  had 
brought  them  across  the  ocean,  when  he  be- 
came a  farmer  and  prospered.  His  son  Chris- 
tian, the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  but 
a  small  boy  on  arriving  in  this  country,  and, 
like  his  father's,  his  services  and  time  were 
sold,  but  he  fell  into  good  hands  and  was 
taught  blacksmithing  and  iron  working.  In 
due  course  of  time  he  married  a  Miss  Rough, 
who  bore  him  the  following  children:  Samuel, 
Henry,  David,  and  a  daughter  whose  name 
cannot  be  remembered.  After  the  death  of 
Mrs.  (Rough)  Zehring,  Christian  again  married, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  John,  Christian, 
Henry,  Philip,  David,  Barnheart,  Peter,  Polly 
and  Susannah.  Having  amassed  considerable 
money,  Christian  Zehring  brought  all  his 
family,  with  the  exception  'of  his  son  John, 
to  the  Buckeye  state,  as  early  as  1818,  settled 
in  the  woods  of  Warren  county,  near  Lebanon, 
and  also  purchased  in  Warren  and  Montgom- 
ery counties  farms  for  each  of  his  sons.  On 
his  new  farm  in  Warren  county  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  and,  although  he  had 
been  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church  in  Pennsylvania,  he  died  in  the  faith 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Barnheart  Zehring,  facher  of  Rev.  Aaron 
Zehring,  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  July, 
1798,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  in 
1818,  the  family  journeying  in  wagons.  He 
had  been  taught  wagonmaking  by  his  father, 
who,  on  that  account,  presented  him  with  but 
eighty  acres  of  land,  while  he  gave  to  his  other 
sons  160  acres  each.  Barnheart  worked  at 
his   trade   in  Warren    county  for  a   number  of 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1205 


years,  and  then  took  possession  of  his  land  and 
began  farming.  In  1823  he  married,  near 
Carlisle,  Montgomery  county,  Elizabeth  Swart- 
zel, who  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in 
1800,  a  daughter  of  Philip  Swartzel. 

Philip  Swartzel  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  German  descent,  and  was  one  of  the 
earlier  pioneers  of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  who 
endured  all  the  hardships  of  frontier  life,  build- 
ing, on  his  arrival  here,  a  cabin  of  round  sap- 
lings, with  neither  door  nor  windows.  He 
had  been  inured  to  hardships  in  the  war  of 
18 1 2,  and  was  well  prepared  for  the  life  of  a 
pioneer,  which  he  perhaps  found  to  be  con- 
genial, as  he  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  To 
himself  and  wife  were  born  ten  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Jacob,  George,  Abraham,  Katie,  Sophia, 
Elizabeth,  Susan,  Mar}-,  Rachael  and  Lina. 

After  his  marriage  BarnheartZehringcleared 
a  piece  of  wild  land,  on  which  he  lived  for  seven 
years,  and  then  resided  on  the  Swartzel  home- 
stead for  quite  a  number  of  years.  He  next 
bought  160  acres  six  miles  north  of  German- 
town,  on  which  he  made  his  home  for  some 
time,  when  he  sold  this  and  bought  another 
tract  of  1 60  acres  in  Montgomery  county,  where 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  in 
which  he  was  a  trustee,  and  to  the  support  of 
which  he  contributed  liberally.  In  politics  he 
was  first  a  democrat,  and  voted  for  Andrew 
Jackson  for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States, 
but  later  changed  his  political  affiliations  and 
became  a  republican,  and  sent  one  of  his  sons, 
John,  to  fight  for  the  Union  in  the  late  Civil 
war.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  born  in  the  following  order: 
Maria,  Catherine,  Susannah,  Aaron,  Abraham, 
Sophia  and  John.  He  died  in  his  religious 
faith,  and  was  an  honored  and  valued  citizen. 
His  widow  lived  to  reach  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-nine  years,  and  died  May  11,   1889. 

Rev.    Aaron    Zehring,    whose    name   opens 


this  biographical  memoir,  received  a  very  good 
preliminary  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  later  attended  the  Otterbein  university  for 
five  years,  entering  the  ministry  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  and  preaching  for  nine  months 
at  New  Hope.  After  his  ordination  in  i860 
he  first  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  and  for 
two  years  filled  the  Mount  Zion  circuit;  he  was 
then  transferred  to  the  New  Haven  circuit  in 
Hamilton  county,  where  he  preached  two  years, 
and  then  for  two  years  officiated  in  Butler,  when 
he  was  disabled  by  sickness.  Soon  after  that 
event  he  temporarily  returned  to  the  Zehring 
homestead  in  Montgomery  county,  where  he  re- 
mained one  year,  then  moved  to  Darke  county, 
where  he  had  charge  of  the  Mount  Zion  circuit 
for  about  two  years,  after  which  he  passed  a 
few  months  in  Hamilton  county,  and  then  for 
three  years  lived  in  Germantown,  Montgomery 
county;  he  next  lived  on  a  farm  for  seven  years, 
then  bought  eighty  acres  two  miles  east  of 
Brookville,  improved  the  place  and  resided  on 
it  three  years.  He  then  purchased  the  old 
Zehring  homestead  of  160  acres,  on  which  he 
lived  until  he  retired  to  Brookville,  when  he 
placed  his  son  Charles  in  charge  of  the  farm,  of 
which  he  still  owns  110  acres. 

Mr.  Zehring  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Preble  countv,  October  10,  1861,  with  Miss 
Sallie  Burtner,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  February  11,  1838,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Kemp)  Burtner,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.,  August  1,  1808,  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent. Mr.  Burtner  came  with  his  parents  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1828,  and  set- 
tled five  miles  north  of  Dayton.  He  married 
\  Catherine  Kemp  in  Germantown,  and  to  their 
union  were  born  Julien,  Lucinda,  Sallie,  Abra- 
ham, Joseph,  Jacob,  Joshua  and  Francis  M. 
Directly  after  his  marriage,  Jacob  Burtner  set- 
tled on  a  farm  of  160  acres,  four  miles  from 
Enterprise,  Preble  county,  and  there  lived   for 


1206 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


many  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  and  in  this  faith 
Mr.  Burtner  expired  at  Germantown,  Mont- 
gomery county,   aged  seventy-eight  years. 

Rev.  Aaron  Zehring  inclines  to  republican- 
ism in  his  political  opinions,  and  is  also  a 
strict  prohibitionist.  In  his  church  work  he 
has  ever  been  ardent  and  energetic,  and  his 
life  has  been  one  of  great  usefulness.  He  and 
his  wife  have  a  family  of  three  children — 
Charles  W.,  Lizzie  C.  and  William  O. 


>-j*ACOB  SEYBOLD,  a  prosperous  farmer 
m  of  Mad  River  township,  Montgomery 
A  1  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Harrison 
township,  same  county,  April  I,  1842. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  George  and  Jacobina 
(Fulmer)  Seybold,  both  natives  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  seven  sons  and  five  daughters, 
six  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  John 
G. ;  Frederick;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Abram 
Prugh;  Jacob,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
William. 

John  George  Seybold,  father  of  these  chil- 
dren, was  a  baker  by  trade  in  his  native  coun- 
try, came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  two 
miles  north  of  Dayton,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death.  He  owned  360  acres  of  land  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  is  evidence  of  his 
industry  and  economy.  He  died  when  sixty- 
two  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him  until 
April  11,  1893,  when  she  died  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one  years  and  nine  months.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
were  most  excellent  people  in  every  respect. 
Mr.  Seybold  was  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  man, 
strictly  attentive  to  business,  and  strongly  in 
favor  of  temperance,  theoretically  and  prac- 
tically. The  paternal  grandfather  of  Jacob 
Seybold  died  in  Germany.      He  was  a  promi- 


nent man  in  his  day,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Ger- 
man army.  The  maternal  grandfather  also 
died  in  Germany. 

Jacob  Seybold  was  reared  in  Harrison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  attended  the 
district  school,  and  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then  began 
the  battle  of  life  on  his  own  account,  by  work- 
ing for  his  father  for  $160  per  year,  using  only 
ten  dollars  of  that  sum  during  the  entire  year. 
Then,  buying  a  team,  he  began  farming  and 
lost  nearly  $300  the  first  year.  His  brother 
then  offered  him  employment,  which  he  de- 
clined, but  continued  to  work  on  the  farm,  to 
buy  stock,  and  has  since  accumulated  a  hand- 
some property,  his  first  year's  experience  hav- 
ing been  of  great  value  to  him. 

Mr.  Seybold  was  married,  February  23, 
1 88 1,  to  Miss  Maggie  E.  Null,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Walts)  Null,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Berberia  and  the  latter 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  No  children 
were  born  to  this  marriage.  Mrs.  Seybold 
was  a  good  woman,  and  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church.  She  was  of  a  happy  and 
lovable  disposition,  and  made  friends  of  all 
with  whom  she  came  in  contact.  She  died 
April  26,  1894.  Their  home  was  a  mansion 
in  its  dimensions,  there  being  twenty-two 
rooms  therein,  and  the  hospitality  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seybold  was  well  known  to  a  great  circle 
of  friends.  Mrs.  Seybold  was  always  of  a 
cheerful  disposition,  carrying  brightness  and 
sunshine  into  the  lives  of  those  about  her. 

Mr.  Seybold  is  of  a  peculiarly  frank  and 
generous  disposition.  As  a  farmer  he  is  in- 
dustrious and  successful,  has  one  of  the  best  of 
farms,  finely  improved,  and  is  an  intelligent 
and  well-informed  citizen.  As  an  independent 
democrat  he  has  held  the  office  of  township 
supervisor  for  fifteen  years.  Few  men,  if  any, 
in  the  county  stand  higher  in  the  estimation  of 
the  people  generally  than  does  Jacob  Seybold. 


Os& 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1209 


>Y*ACOB  DETWILER,  one  of  the  most 
■  venerable  citizens  of  Montgomery  coun- 
(•  /  ty,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.,  September  6,  1814.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Jones)  Detwil- 
er,  who  were  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock. 
Jacob  Detwiler,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
was  a  farmer  of  Montgomery  county,  Pa. 
He  owned  a  farm  of  100  acres,  upon  which  he 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Penn- 
sylvania. His  eldest  son,  John  Detwiler,  fa- 
ther of  Jacob,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Pa.,  and  was  by  occupation  a  farmer.  To  him 
and  his  wife  there  were  born,  beside  Jacob, 
the  following  children:  James,  Amos,  John, 
Abraham,  George,  Abel,  Benjamin,  Catherine, 
Elizabeth  and  Sarah.  John  Detwiler  was  a 
Mennonite  in  religion,  and  lived  to  be  sixty-six 
years  old,  dying  on  his  farm.  He  was  one  of 
the  successful  farmers  of  his  day  and  an  up- 
right citizen. 

Jacob  Detwiler,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  to  hard  work  on  the  farm, 
received  a  good  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  learned  the  wagonmaker's  trade. 
He  was  married  March  9,  1848,  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Pa.,  to  Elizabeth  Rittenhouse,  who 
was  born  April  24,  1824,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Riner)  Rittenhouse.  Her 
grandfather  and  great-grandfather  were  both 
named  Martin  Rittenhouse.  Martin  Ritten- 
house, the  grandfather,  was  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock,  and  was  of  the  third  generation 
from  the  original  founder  of  the  family  in 
America.  The  family  were  Quakers  in  religion 
and  Rittenhouse  Square  was  named  for  David 
Rittenhouse,  the  first  director  of  the  United 
States  mint  in  Philadelphia.  Martin  Ritten- 
house lived  near  Germantown,  Pa.,  in  what  is 
now  included  in  the  town  of  Rittenhouse.  He 
was  an  extensive  land  holder,  and  now  lies 
buried   in  the  old  cemetery   at  Germantown, 

near  where   once   stood    the    old   Penn   treaty 
54 


tree.  He  married  Susan  Detwiler,  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children:  Jacob,  Nicho- 
las, Joseph,  Martin  and  William.  He  was  a 
prosperous  citizen,  a  prudent  man  and  his  long 
life  was  fruitful  of  good  to  his  generation.  He 
died  of  old  age. 

Jacob  Rittenhouse,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Det- 
wiler, was  born  in  Germantown,  was  married 
in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  to  Mary  Riner, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Guispart)  Riner, 
and  was  a  substantial  farmer.  He  and  his 
wife  reared  the  following  children:  Henry, 
David,  Martin,  Jacob,  William,  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth.  In  religious  views  and  opinions  he 
was  unusually  liberal  for  the  day  andage  in  which 
he  lived.      He  died  when  sixty-one  years  old. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Det- 
wiler settled  at  Evansburg,  Pa.,  and  after  living 
there  one  year  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  near  Dayton,  where  Mr.  Det- 
wiler worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  wagonmaker, 
which  he  had  began  to  learn  when  he  was 
eighteen  years  old  in  Pennsylvania.  After 
working  in  Dayton  five  years  he  bought  a  farm 
of  ninety-three  acres  near  Brookville,  lived 
upon  it  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Nebraska, 
but  not  long  afterward  returned  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  busi- 
ness near  Amity.  Then  removing  to  Brook- 
ville he  bought  eighty-seven  acres  of  land  in 
Clay  township,  living  upon  it  five  years,  after 
which  he  bought  a  farm  of  upward  of  ninety 
acres,  which  he  occupied  for  one  year.  He 
then  removed  to  a  farm  of  130  acres  north  of 
Brookville,  which  he  still  owns,  as  well  as  four 
acres  in  Brookville.  Mr.  Detwiler  has  been 
an  honorable  and  industrious  man,  has  reaped 
the  reward  of  his  energy  and  thrift.  He  has 
lived  a  retired  life  for  the  last  thirteen  years, 
and  for  the  past  seven  years  has  been  confined 
to  the  house.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 
His  children  are  Malinda,  Elizabeth,  Medora, 
Jeanette,  Theodore  and  Franklin. 


1210 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


%S~\  EV.  JOHN  H.  BRUMBAUGH,  Clay 
I  <^    ton  post  office,  one  of  the  successful 
P    farmers   of    Randolph   township,  and 
a    minister    in    the    German    Baptist 
church,  is  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock.      His 
grandfather,  Daniel  Brumbaugh,  was  a  brother 
of  the  father  of  the  original  pioneer  of  Ran- 
dolph township,  Samuel  Brumbaugh,  who  was 
the  father  of  John  R.  Brumbaugh,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page. 

Daniel  Brumbaugh  owned  a  farm  in  what 
is  now  Lincoln  township,  Huntingdon  county. 
Pa.,  in  Woodcock  valley.  In  religious  belief 
he  was  a  German  Baptist  and  was  a  deacon  in 
his  church  for  many  years.  He  married  Nancy 
Bowers,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: John,  Abraham,  Daniel,  Isaac,  Eliza- 
beth and  Nancy.  Daniel  Brumbaugh  lived  to 
be  eighty  years  old,  and  throughout  his  entire 
life  was  a  strong,  rugged  man.  He  was  one  _ 
of  the  first  settlers  in  his  neighborhood,  and, 
owning  several  farms,  he  gave  to  each  of  his 
children  land.  A  hard-working,  industrious 
man,  he  was  much  respected  by  all  for  his  ex- 
emplary christian  character. 

Daniel  Brumbaugh,  third  son  of  the  above, 
and  father  of  John  H.,  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  and  lived  on 
the  old  homestead  all  his  life.  He  married 
Mary  Hoover,  who  was  born  in  Blair  county, 
Pa. ,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza- 
beth iPuterbaughj  Hoover.  To  this  marriage 
there  were  born  nine  children,  as  follows: 
Elizabeth,  David,  Levi,  Nancy,  John  H.,  Mary, 
Daniel,  Kate  and  Samuel.  Mr.  Brumbaugh 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
a  devout  Christian  and  an  upright  man.  His 
death  occurred  on  his  farm  when  he  was  sixty- 
eight  years  old. 

Rev.  John  H.  Brumbaugh  was  born  July 
20,  1848,  on  the  old  Brumbaugh  homestead. 
His  education  was  limited  to  that  obtainable 
in  the  district  school,  and  he  was  reared  a  farm- 


er, though  by  assiduous  private  reading  and 
study  he  has  become  one  of  the  best  informed 
men  of  his  day.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
came  to  this  county  and  went  to  work  for  his 
brother  David,  in  Randolph  township,  and  for 
this  brother  he  worked  for  two  years.  On  No- 
vember^, 1 87 1,  he  married  Miss  Sophie  Book- 
miller,  who  was  born  July  2,  1848,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  Bookmiller.  Frederick 
Bookmiller  was  born  in  Germany  and  married 
there.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  three  children, 
Augustus,  Sophie  and  Minnie.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  and  he  married  again,  also 
in  Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  with 
his  family,  and  is  now  living  in  Toledo,  Ohio. 
Rev.  Mr.  Brumbaugh  and  wife  settled  in  Clay 
township,  lived  there  two  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Randolph  township,  where  they 
rented  land  of  Samuel  K.  dinger,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr. 
dinger's  wife  having  died,  he  left  his  farm  of 
ninety-nine  acres  to  Mr.  Brumbaugh,, with  the 
exception  of  a  bequest  to  the  church.  Mr. 
Brumbaugh  has  since  lived  on  this  farm. 

To  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Brumbaugh  there 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  Addi- 
son, Loida,  Effa,  Delia,  Martha  and  John. 
Mr.  Brumbaugh  has  always  been  a  devout 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  having 
been  made  deacon  in  1881,  and  in  November, 
1887,  having  been  ordained  minister.  He  has 
served  his  church  in  that  capacity  ever  since, 
to  the  acceptance  of  the  members  of  the  church. 
He  is  a  man  of  high  character  and  of  extensive 
reading,  and  is  well  qualified  for  the  position 
which  he  so  acceptably  fills. 


^"^EORGE  HORNER,  of  Lewisburg, 
■  ^\  Ohio,  springs  from  Pennsylvania- 
\^J  Dutch  stock.  He  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Ellen  (House)  Horner,  and 
was  born   April   9,    1836,  in    Perry  township, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1211 


Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  received  a  good 
common- school  education,  and  was  brought 
up  a  farmer.  He  married,  November  13,  1854, 
in  Darke  county,  Ohio,  Elizabeth  Norris,  who 
was  born  November  23,  1836,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Ireland)  Norris. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Horner  settled  on  the 
old  homestead,  and  to  himself  and  wife  there 
have  been  born  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Lydia  E.,  Ida  M.,  Florence,  Minnie,  Charles, 
Flora,  Ettie  and  Frank  E.,  their  names  being 
given  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  and  all  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

On  August  8,  1862,  Mr.  Horner  enlisted  at 
Lewisburg,  Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  company 
H,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, under  Capt.  Matthias  Desher,  to  serve 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  going  to 
the  front  left  his  wife  on  the  farm  with  three 
small  children.  He  served  his  country  faith- 
fully for  nearly  three  years,  being  honorably 
discharged  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war, 
May  24,  1865,  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio. 
After  a  service  of  one  year  he  was  promoted 
to  corporal  for  meritorious  conduct.  He  was 
in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga  and  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge;  in  a  hard  shirmish  at  Dandridge, 
Tenn. ;  in  the  battle  of  Chattanooga;  on  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  being  in  the  battles  of  Dal- 
las, Resaca,  Buzzard  Roost  Mountain  and 
Kenesaw  Mountain.  In  the  last  named  en- 
gagement he  had  one  finger  of  his  left  hand 
shot  off,  and  beside  was  shot  through  the  right 
shoulder  by  the  same  ball  as  he  was  loading 
his  gun.  He  was  then  in  the  field  hospital 
until  taken  back  to  Chattanooga,  where  he 
was  in  the  hospital  for  some  time,  and  was 
then  transferred  to  Nashville  and  placed  in 
hospital  No.  1.  After  a  month  spent  there 
he  was  furloughed  home,  remained  ninety  days  i 
and  then  returned  to  the  same  hospital.  After 
a  stay  here  of  two  months  he  was  transferred 
to    Louisville,   and   thence  to    Madison,    Ind., 


where  he  remained  two  months,  being  then 
transferred  to  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until  discharged.  Mr.  Horner 
lost  his  hearing  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 
Beside  the  battles  mentioned,  Mr.  Horner  was 
in  many  skirmishes  and  on  many  hard  marches, 
always  performing  his  duties  as  a  soldier  with 
promptness  and  faithfulness.  He  was  sick 
with  typhoid  fever  in  Kentucky,  and  was  cared 
for  in  a  private  house  for  two  months.  He 
participated  in  all  the  battles,  skirmishes, 
marches  and  campaigns  of  his  regiment,  and 
after  the  war  was  over  returned  to  his  home, 
and  has  ever  since  lived  on  the  same  farm. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horner  have  been 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church  since 
1856,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of  steward, 
and  assisted  to  build  the  church  at  Lewisburg, 
contributing  liberally  toward  its  support.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  sound  republican,  though  in 
early  life  he  was  a  democrat.  He  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  has  been  for 
sixteen  years  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
and  is  in  every  respect  an  excellent  citizen. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  a  gentleman  of  public  spirit 
and  enterprise. 

His  grandfather,  George  Horner,  came 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  George,  Henry,  Michael, 
Jacob,  John,  William,  Catherine,  Susan,  Eliza- 
beth and  Dorothy.  George  Horner  removed 
with  his  family  to  Montgomery  county  as  one 
of  the  early  pioneers,  settling  in  the  woods  of 
Perry  township.  His  death  occurred  when  he 
was  yet  quite  a  young  man,  and  his  wife  and 
boys  cleared  the  farm.  Mrs.  Horner  was  a 
woman  of  great  force  of  character  and  an  ex- 
cellent manager.  The  family  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 

William  Horner,  father  of  George,  was 
born  in  Perry  township,  Montgomery  county, 
about  1 8  14,  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  mar- 


1212 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ried  Ellen  House,  daughter  of  George  and 
Catherine  House.  They  settled  on  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
containing  eighty  acres  of  land,  where  William 
Horner  died  a  few  years  later,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six.  He  was  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren, George  and  Sarah,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve.  Mrs.  Horner  lived 
to  be  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  dying  on  the 
home  place  in  1873.  She  was  a  woman  of 
many  excellent  traits  of  character,  and  had 
many  warm  and  admiring  friends. 

Samuel  Norris,  the  father  of  Mrs.  George 
Horner,  came  at  an  early  day  with  his  family 
from  Canada,  and  settled  in  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  as 
follows:  Thomas;  Mary  and  Louisa,  twins; 
Rachaeland  Elizabeth,  twins;  Maggie,  Almira, 
Andrew  and  Lydia  Jane.  Mr.  Norris  removed 
to  Darke  county,  Ohio,  and  cleared  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  upon  which  he  lived  until  he  was 
eightv-five  years  old,  and  died  in  Lewisburg. 
One  of  his  sons  served  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 


>*j*ESSE  L.  JACKSON,  a  well-known 
J  farmer  of  Butler  township,  Montgom- 
A  1  ery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Fulton 
county,  Pa.,  December  6,  1843,  and  is 
a  son  of  Stiles  and  Anne  (McLoughlin)  Jack- 
son, both  natives  of  the  Keystone  state. 

Stiles  Jackson  came  of  colonial  ancestry 
and  was  a  farmer  in  Fulton  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  born  and  reared  and  where  he  married 
Miss  McLoughlin.  To  them  were  born  the 
following  children:  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  John, 
Charles  W.,  Stiles  H.,  James  R.,  Jesse  L. , 
and  one  child  who  died  young.  Mr.  Jackson 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  republican. 
He  lived  to  be  seventy-nine  years  of  age.    Two 


of  his  sons,  Charles  W.  and  Stiles  H.,  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war — the  former  for  four 
months,  and  the  latter,  as  an  officer,  for  over 
three  years.  Stiles  H.  Jackson  is  now  a  county 
commissioner  of  Coffey  county,  Kans. 

Jesse  L.  Jackson  received  a  very  good  com- 
mon-school education  and  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when, 
August  22,  1862,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  settled 
in  Montgomery  county,  and  married,  March 
22,  1866,  in  Miami  county,  Miss  Catherine 
Smith,  born  August  7,  1848,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Yount)  Smith.  Mr.  Smith 
was  descended  from  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife,  Catherine  Yount,  becoming  the 
mother  of  two  children — Catherine  (Mrs.  Jack- 
son) and  Ira;  by  his  second  wife,  Mary  Ide- 
miller,  he  became  the  father  of  nine  children, 
viz:  George,  John,  Elizabeth,  Alexander, 
Peter,  Jane,  Ida,  Leo  and  Esther.  Both  pa- 
rents are  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Jackson  and  wife  lived  for  a  year  after 
their  marriage  near  Dayton,  and  then  bought 
land  in  Butler  township,  but  shortly  afterward 
went  to  Darke  county,  where  Mrs.  Jackson 
died  April  24,  1872,  the  mother  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Ira,  Charles,  Frederick  and  Re- 
becca, the  last  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Jackson's  second  wife  was  Mary  E.  Tobias, 
whom  he  married  in  Darke  county  September 
28,  1873.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Elizabeth  (White)  Tobias,  and  was  born  near 
Vandalia,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  January 
1 1,  1850. 

Daniel  Tobias,  a  retired  farmer,  is  a  native 
of  Ohio,  of  German  descent,  and  was  married 
March  18,  1847,  :o  Elizabeth  White,  daughter 
of  Barney  White.  Beside  Mrs.  Jackson,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tobias  have  had  born  to  them  six 
children,  viz:  Jonathan,  Sarah,  Laura,  Amelia, 
Walter,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy  named 
David.      Mr.    Tobias,    as   a    farmer   of    Butler 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1213 


township,  was  both  successful  and  prominent, 
but  has  now  retired  to  private  life.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
After  his  second  marriage,  Mr.  Jackson 
lived  for  a  year  in  Darke  county;  and  then  re- 
turned to  Butler  township,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  permanently  settled,  in  1875,  on  ms 
present  farm,  which  then  consisted  of  but  100 
acres,  but  now  comprises  360,  beside  which  he 
owns  too  acres  near  Vandalia.  Mr.  Jackson 
has  been  prosperous  in  all  his  undertakings, 
and  is  now  reaping  the  reward  so  justly  due  to 
his  early  industry  and  economy.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican,  but  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  public  office.  The  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  Jesse  L.  Jackson  and  Mary  E. 
(Tobias)  Jackson  are  named  Flora,  Annie,  Mar- 
tin, Laura,  Harry,  Samuel,  Bertha,  Mamie, 
Arthur  and  Edith.  Of  the  children  born  to 
Mr.  Jackson's  first  marriage,  Ira  married  Min- 
nie Idemiller,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Miami  county; 
Charles,  also  a  farmer  in  Miami  county,  mar- 
ried Dora  North;  Frederick,  engaged  in  the 
same  vocation  in  the  same  county,  married 
Lillie  Idemiller.  Of  the  children  born  to  the 
second  marriage,  Flora  is  married  to  Joseph 
Hartley,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm,  and  has 
one  child;  Annie  is  the  widow  of  Luther  Heid- 
emyer,  and  has  one  child,  a  school-teacher. 


QISS  SARAH  SOPHIA  MUNGER, 
who  lives  in  Mad  River  township, 
was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Warren  and  Elizabeth 
(Shoup)  Munger,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  Washington,  Litchfield  county. 
Conn.,  and  the  latter  of  Hagerstown,  Md. 
Warren  and  Elizabeth  Munger  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas 
J.    Whyte;    Sarah    Sophia;    Alice   M.,    wife  of 


William  F.  Gebhart;  Edmund  Grove,  Warren 
and  Harriet  E.  Elizabeth  and  Sarah  Sophia 
are  the  only  ones  now  living. 

In  his  early  life  Warren  Munger,  the  father 
of  the  subject,  was  a  lawyer,  and  followed  this 
profession  for  some  years,  but  on  account  of 
failing  health  he  adopted  farming  as  a  voca- 
tion, purchasing  a  farm  of  between  400  and 
500  acres  in  Mad  River  township  in  1S32,  and 
moving  upon  it  in  1840.  Here  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  January,  1877, 
when  he  was  nearly  ninety  years  of  age.  His 
widow  died  in  January,  1880,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six.  Both  were  members  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  church.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Dayton,  Mr.  Munger  was  county 
recorder  for  fourteen  years. 

The  father  of  Warren  Munger  was  Edmund 
Munger,  and  was  known  as  Gen.  Munger.  He 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  in  1799  re- 
moved to  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  to  Dayton  in 
1800.  In  April,  18 12,  when  President  Madi- 
son issued  orders  calling  out  a  force  of  1,200 
Ohio  militia  for  one  year's  service,  Gen.  Mun- 
ger was  ordered  to  raise  a  company  in  Dayton. 
Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Meigs  in  Day- 
ton, on  May  6,  1 8 12,  Gen.  Munger  was  sent 
by  him  to  Greenville  to  inquire  into  the  situa- 
tion of  the  frontier  settlements.  Edmund 
Munger  settled  on  a  farm  twelve  miles  south 
of  Dayton,  on  what  is  called  Yankee  street,  on 
which  he  lived  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  prop- 
erty, which  was  of  considerable  value,  he 
divided  among  his  children,  of  whom  he  had 
ten.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religion,  his 
house  being  the  home  of  the  pioneer  preachers 
of  the  day.  He  was  a  most  popular  man,  of 
a  genial  and  pleasant  disposition,  and  had 
hosts  of  friends.  His  death  occurred  when 
he  was  eighty-six  years  old.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him,  and  lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of 
100  years.  Both  lie  buried  at  Centerville. 
The  Munger  family  are  noted  for  their  iongev- 


1214 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ity,  a  brother  of  the  general  living  to  be  ninety- 
four  years  of  age. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Miss  Munger 
was  named  Shoup,  and  his  wife  was  a  Miss 
Dorothy  Groff,  which  name  afterward  came  to 
be  spelled  Grove.  He  was  of  English  descent 
but  a  native  of  Maryland,  while  she  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  or  of  German  descent. 
Mr.  Shoup  came  to  Ohio  about  1812,  and 
bought  the  mills  now  known  as  the  Harris 
mills,  which  he  operated  for  a  short  time  only 
before  his  death. 

Miss  Sophia  Munger,  or  "Aunt  Sophia," 
as  she  is  familiarly  called  by  her  neighbors 
and  friends,  was  reared  and  educated  in  Day- 
ton. She  lived  at  home  until  the  death  of  her 
parents,  when  the  large  farm  was  divided  into 
three  parts — she  and  her  brother  Grove  living 
in  the  old  home  place  until  her  brother's 
death  in  1889.  Her  sister  Harriet  also  lived 
there  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  1893. 
Neither  of  these  sisters  ever  married.  The 
old  home  is  now  occupied  by  Miss  Sarah 
Sophia  Munger.  She  is  a  member  of  Christ 
Episcopal  church,  of  Dayton,  which  was  or- 
ganized in  1819.  She  personally  manages  her 
farm,  which  consists  of  132  acres.  Miss  Mun- 
ger has  always  taken  great  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  city  of  Dayton  and  of  Montgomery 
county,  by  whose  people  she  is  held  in  the 
highest   esteem. 


^VOHN  MYERS,  a  representative  farmer 
fl  of  Montgomery  township,  one  of  the 
/•  ■  oldest  settlers  of  Clay  township,  and  a 
son  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers,  was 
born  July  29,  1828,  about  thirty  miles  west  of 
Columbus,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son  of  Martin  and 
Eva  (Besecker)  Myers,  the  former  of  whom 
came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  with  his  father, 
and  was  of  Dutch  stock. 

Martin  Myers,  who  was  a  son  of  John  and 


Margaret  Myers,  married  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  settled  on  a  farm.  He  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Barbara, 
John,  Catherine,  Margaret,  Elizabeth  and 
Susannah.  Mr.  Myers  removed  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  about  1834,  and  settled  on 
an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land,  then  covered 
with  timber,  and  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
his  son  John.  Upon  this  tract  he  erected  his 
log  cabin,  and  by  continuous  hard  work  for 
many  years  cleared  up  his  farm.  His  wife  was 
a  good  woman,  skillful  with  the  distaff  and  the 
loom,  and  spun  and  wove  wool  and  flax,  in 
this  way  materially  aiding  her  husband  in  the 
long  struggle  for  existence.  He  made  shingles 
from  the  large  oak  and  poplar  trees,  thus 
managing  until  times  had  gradually  improved. 
He  was  a  strong  and  hardy  pioneer,  working 
with  great  industry  and  perseverance  to  make 
a  home  for  himself  and  family.  He  lived  to 
be  fifty-five  years  old,  and  died  on  his  farm  in 
1854.  Mr.  Myers  was  well  known  to  all  the 
settlers  in  his  part  of  the  country  as  a  man  of 
honesty  and  high  character,  and  at  his  death 
had  many  friends  who  mourned  his  loss. 

John  Myers  was  about  six  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  his  father  to  Montgomery 
county.  His  education  was  from  necessity  ex- 
ceedingly limited,  and  he  was  brought  up  to 
the  laborious  life  of  the  farm.  He  married, 
December  17,  1 851,  in  Clay  township,  Mary 
Ann  Ganger,  of  Jackson  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  who  was  born  November 
22,  1834,  and  was  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Richard)  Ganger.  George  Ganger 
was  born  September  5,  181 1,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  the  son  of  John  and  Barbara 
(  Redmond  j  Ganger,  the  former  of  whom  came 
to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Montgomery  county  as 
one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers,  locating  in 
Jackson  township.  His  children  were  as  fol- 
lows :  John,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Joseph,  Chris- 
tina, Mary  and  Fannie.      John  Ganger  settled 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1215 


in  the  woods,  cleared  up  a  farm,  and  lived  to 
be  eighty-six  years  old. 

George  Ganger  came  to  Montgomery 
county  with  his  father,  and  here  married  Eliza- 
beth Richard,  by  whom  he  had  the  following 
children:  Mary  Ann,  Joseph,  Katirann,  Will- 
iam, George,  Levi  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ganger  settled  on  land  two  miles  south  of 
Brookville,  afterward  moving  to  Bachman, 
Clay  township,  Montgomery  county,  where  he 
bought  eighty-six  acres  of  land,  clearing  most 
of  it  of  its  timber,  making  a  good  home,  and 
later  purchasing  forty  acres  more  near  Bach- 
man. Mr.  Ganger  lived  to  seventy-nine  years 
of  age  and  died  on  his  farm.  He  was  a  man 
of  excellent  character,  and  earned  the  appro- 
bation and  confidence  of  neighbors  and  friends. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers 
lived  in  Clay  township,  and  in  1854  settled  on 
the  Myers  homestead.  Here  they  have  re- 
sided ever  since,  and  the  well-directed  labor  of 
Mr.  Myers  has  resulted  in  his  possession  of  a 
fertile,  finely  improved  and  beautiful  farm.  He 
and  his  wife  lived  many  years  in  the  old  log 
house,  which  stood  for  half  a  century.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  areas  follows  : 
Sarah  A.,  John  H.,  Susannah,  Samuel,  Eliza- 
beth, Mary  E.,  Charles  and  Ambert  M. — the 
last  a  school-teacher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  Myers  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  is  a 
citizen  of  standing  and  influence.  He  and  his 
wife  have  reared  a  large  family,  of  which  both 
are  very  proud.  Sarah  A.  married  Daniel 
Boose,  a  farmer  of  Preble  county,  and  by  him 
has  three  children  :  John  H.  married  Sarah 
A.  Gebhart,  of  Clay  township,  and  has  three 
children  ;  Lizzie  married  Joseph  Havermale, 
a  farmer  of  Montgomery  county,  and  has  two 
children  ;  Mary  E.  married  Clarence  Rasor,  a 
farmer  of  Clay  township,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren ;  Samuel  married  Kate  A.  Hamel,  is  a 
farmer  of   Clay  township,  and  has  one  child  ; 


Ambert  M.  married  Clara  Leis,  and  has  one 
child  ;  Charles  married  Cora  B.  Leis,  and 
Susannah  is  at  home. 

Elizabeth  (Richard)  Ganger,  the  mother 
of  Mrs.  Myers,  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (  McPherson  )  Richard.  She  lived  to  be 
seventy-four  years  old,  dying  March  4,  .1891. 
Mr.  Myers'  mother  lived  to  be  eighty-six  years 
old,  dying  in  1890. 


t/^VETER  RASOR,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
1  ■  most  respected  farmers  of  Clay  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is 
also  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest 
pioneer  families  of  the  county,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  following  record. 

John  Rasor,  his  grandfather,  was  the  orig- 
inal settler  of  Clay  township.  He  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  married  a  Miss 
Forney,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of 
eight  children,  viz:  Daniel,  John,  Barbara, 
Sarah,  Annie,  Fannie,  Elizabeth  and  Katie. 
He  came  with  his  family  to  Ohio  in  1805  or 
1806,  and  settled  in  Clay  township  on  the  land 
on  which  Jesse  Kinsey  now  lives,  but  which 
was  then  all  woodland  and  peopled  only  by 
Indians.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  cleared  his  first 
farm  of  160  acres,  and  also  entered  nine  other 
farms  in  the  vicinity,  of  160  acres  each,  com- 
prising, in  all,  nearly  1,500  acres.  He  became 
homesick,  however,  and  made  a  trip  on  foot 
back  to  the  Keystpne  state,  and  on  his  return 
to  Ohio  died  at  the  age  of  about  sixty-three. 

Daniel  Rasor,  son  of  John,  had  preceded 
his  father  to  Montgomery  county  and  had  found- 
ed the  town  of  Union,  in  Randolph  township, 
where  he  built  a  grist-mill  and  distillery.  He 
had  examined  the  land  in  Clay  township,  and 
through  his  reports  the  father  was  induced  to 
immigrate  to  this  locality. 

John  Rasor,  the  second  son  of  John,  the 
pioneer,  and  father  of   Peter  Rasor,  was  born 


ii'if. 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  in  1790,  and  was 
about  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  Clay  township  with  his  father.  He  was 
reared  on  the  homestead  among  the  Indians, 
for  protection  against  whom  the  settlers  built 
a  block  house  on  the  present  site  of  Salem,  in 
which  "they  were  several  times  compelled  to 
take  refuge.  In  181 5  Mr.  Rasor  married  Miss 
Hannah  Michael,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  in  1797, a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Myers)  Michael. 

Jacob  Michael  was  also  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  Montgomery  county,  and  first  lo- 
cated on  Bear  creek,  but  finally  settled  at 
Salem,  Clay  county,  about  1809,  on  a  tract  of 
640  acres,  of  which  he  induced  John  Rasor, 
the  original  pioneer,  to  purchase  276  acres, 
which  constitutes  the  present  John  Rasor 
homestead.  Mr.  Michael  was  a  capital  marks- 
man and  a  mighty  hunter,  but  nevertheless 
cleared  up  a  large  farm  and  became  a  prosper- 
ous and  influential  citizen.  He  lived  to  reach 
eighty-six  years,  and  was  the  father  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Hannah,  Polly,  Henry,  Sal- 
lie,  Elizabeth,  Katie  and  Jacob. 

To  the  marriage  of  John  Rasor  were  born 
eleven  children,  viz:  Peter,  John,  Elizabeth, 
David,  Daniel,  Jacob,  Henry,  Samuel,  Cather- 
ine, Mary  and  Noah.  Mr.  Rasor  was  an  ex- 
cellent manager  and  accumulated  1,600  acres 
of  land,  with  which  he  endowed  all  his  chil- 
dren. He  was  a  prominent  and  influential 
factor  in  the  affairs  of  his  tpwnship  for  more 
than  half  a  century,  and  died  January  19,  1869, 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  his 
widow  surviving  until  June  26,  1875,  when  she 
also  expired  in  the  same  faith. 

Peter  Rasor,  whose  name  opens  this  bio- 
graphical memoir,  was  born  on  the  Rasor 
homestead,  in  Clay  township,  April  15,  18 17, 
the  eldest  of  the  children  born  to  John  and 
Hannah  (Michael)  Rasor.  His  opportunities 
for  an  education  were  limited,  there  being  but 


few  schools  in  the  neighborhood,  and  they  of 
the  class  known  as  subscription.  But  he  be- 
came an  excellent  farmer,  and  May  23,  1839, 
he  married,  in  Clay  township,  Miss  Ann  Maria 
Limbert,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1 82 1,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Wagner)  Limbert. 

Henry  Limbert  was  born  in  Perry  county, 
Pa.,  in  1787,  a  son  of  Henry  Limbert,  a  farm- 
er, born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  of  German 
parentage,  and  a  founder  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  in  Pennsylvania  and  of  Otterbein 
college.  Henry,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Rasor,  had 
born  to  him  thirteen  children,  viz:  John  R. , 
Barbara,  Lewis,  Henry,  Catherine,  Peter, 
Ann  M.,  George,  Levi,  Adam,  Susan,  Eliza- 
beth and  Sarah.  Mr.  Limbert  came  to  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1823  or  1824,  and  settled  on 
a  tract  of  172  acres  in  Clay  township,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  profitable  farm.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
in  high  standing  and  assisted  to  erect  the  edi- 
fice at  Arlington  and  that  in  Clay  township,  he 
being  a  founder  of  the  denomination  in  the  lat- 
ter place.  He  died  June  27,  1869,  a  truly 
good  man,  honored  and  venerated  by  people 
of  all  creeds  and  of  all  conditions  of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Rasor,  immediately 
after  marriage,  settled  on  the  farm  they  still 
occupy,  which  comprises  160  acres  and  was 
then  covered  by  the  forest;  but  this  he  has 
changed  by  hard  and  diligent  work,  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  faithful  wife,  has  made  a 
home  equal  to  any  in  the  township.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rasor  has  been  blessed 
with  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  who  were 
born  in  the  following  order:  John  H.,  Will- 
iam F.,  Samuel  M. ,  Joseph,  Adam  S.,  Sal- 
oma  E.,  Hannah  C. ,  Ezra  M. ,  Martha  A., 
Edward  G.,  Marietta,  Ira  N.  and  Clarence  L. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rasor  are  devoted  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church  and  are  active  and 
liberal  in  its   support,  and   also   take  much  in- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1217 


terest  in  educational  matters.  Mr.  Rasor 
ranks  among  the  best  and  most  trusted  citizens 
of  the  community,  enjoying  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all. 


lS~\  AVID  RASOR,  one  of  the  oldest  na- 
I  tive-born  residents  of  Clay  township, 
/^^J  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead,  January  17, 
1 82  1.  John  Rasor,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, and  married  Miss  A.  Showers.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Daniel,  John,  Lizzie,  Barbara  and  Fannie,  all 
of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Amish 
church  and  was  descended  from  the  ancient 
stock  that  came  from  Germany  in  the  early 
history  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  About 
1805  Mr.  Rasor  moved  with  his  family  to  Ohio, 
and  when  they  passed  through  Dayton  there 
was  in  that  place  but  one  log  cabin.  David 
Rasor  settled  on  the  land  where  Jesse  Kimer 
now  lives.  At  that  time  the  country  was  all 
woods,  and  Mr.  Rasor  entered  a  large  tract  of 
land,  giving  to  each  of  his  children  a  farm. 
He  lived  to  be  sixty-two  years  of  age,  dying 
two  years  after  locating  in  Clay  township,  and 
lies  buried  on  the  farm. 

John  Rasor,  his  son,  and  the  father  of 
David  Rasor,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  when  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  par- 
ents was  fifteen  years  old.  He  was  brought 
up  among  the  pioneers,  amid  primitive  sur- 
roundings and  conditions,  which  did  not  per- 
mit of  much  educational  culture,  but  he  was 
always  a  reading  man,  and  was  well  informed. 
He  married  Hannah  Michael,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  Michael,  pioneers  of  Clay  township.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rasor  there  were  born  eleven 
chilren,  who  grew  to  mature  years,  as  follows: 


Peter,  Elizabeth,  John,  David,  Daniel,  Jacob, 
Samuel,  Henry,  Noah,  Polly  and  Katie.  John 
Rasor,  the  father  of  these  children,  was  reared 
on  the  land  that  his  father  entered,  and  cleared 
up  a  large  farm,  there  being  280  acres  in  the 
homestead,  beside  which  he  owned  a  large 
tract  which  he  gave  to  his  children.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  He  was  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneers, 
and  a  man  of  unflagging  industry.  During  the 
early  days  of  the  settlement  he  was  accustomed 
to  drive  a  four-horse  team  before  a  large 
wagon  twice  a  year,  taking  a  load  of  produce 
sixty-two  miles  to  Cincinnati  to  market,  and 
returning  with  a  load  of  supplies,  thus  making 
himself  of  great  use  to  the  early  pioneers. 

David  Rasor,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiving  but  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  old-fashioned  log  school- 
house.  But  he  learned  to  read  and  write  at 
school,  and,  upon  this  knowledge  as  a  basis, 
has  built  up  an  education  that  is  thoroughly 
practical,  and  has  always  been  a  well-informed 
man  on  all  subjects  of  general  interest,  being 
specially  well-versed  in  all  subjects  connected 
with  agriculture.  In  July,  1843,  he  married 
Delilah  Swenk,  who  was  born  in  Perry  town- 
ship, in  1820,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Swenk,  a  biographical  sketch  of  this  family  ap- 
pearing elsewhere  in  this  volume.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rasor  settled  in  Salem, 
where  they  remained  two  years,  and  in  1846 
located  on  120  acres  of  land,  which  he  had 
received  from  his  father,  all  covered  with  tim- 
ber except  a  small  clearing.  By  dint  of  patient 
industry — the  only  means  in  those  days  of  get- 
ting on  in  the  world — he  cleared  his  land  and 
added  to  it  until  at  length  he  owned  245  acres 
in  his  home  farm,  beside  other  lands  in  Brook- 
ville.  To  him  and  his  wife  there  were  born 
seven  children,  who  grew  to  maturity,  as  fol- 
lows: Henry,  Ephraim  (who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one),  Mary  A.,  Jane,  Sarah  A.,  Amanda 


1218 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


and  Susannah.  The  parents  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  Mrs.  Rasor 
died  March  4,  1894,  aged  seventy-three  years, 
a  woman  of  many  virtues.  Mr.  Rasor  was 
one  of  the  original  republicans  of  the  county, 
and  has  always  belonged  to  that  party.  All 
his  long  life  has  been  passed  in  Montgomery 
county,  where  his  family  has  been  reared,  and 
where  he  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  as  a 
citizen  of  integrity  and  worth. 

Henry  Rasor,  son  of  David,  was  born  in 
1846  on  his  father's  farm.  He  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  the  day,  and 
when  nineteen  years  of  age  enlisted  at  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  in  February,  1865,  in  company  B, 
Eighty-first  regiment  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
to  serve  six  months,  under  Capt.  Fanch.  His 
services  were  rendered  in  South  Carolina, 
North  Carolina,  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania. 
In  July,  1865,  he  married  Susan  Shelt,  of  Pre- 
ble county,  and  a  daughter  of  Amos  and  Eliza- 
beth Shelt.  Mr.  Rasor,  from  his  youth,  has 
worked  upon  the  home  farm,  but  is  now  living 
in  West  Baltimore.  Politically  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  is  one  of  the  public-spirited,  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  the  county. 


m 


'ILLIAM    H.    REYNOLDS,    an    ex- 
soldier   of  the    late    Civil   war,    and 
a    citizen    of    Montgomery    county, 
springs  from  Irish  and  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  ancestry. 

William  H.  Reynolds,  Sr. ,  his  father,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  January  26,  1817,  and 
was  the  son  of  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  and  came  to 
Ohio  about  1831,  settling  at  Salem,  Mont- 
gomery county.  He  married  Elizabeth  Rasor, 
who  was  born  December  8,  1820,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Michael)  Rasor, 
a  biographical  sketch  of  the  former  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere   in   this  volume.      Mr.  Rey- 


nolds and  wife  a  few  years  after  their  marriage 
settled  on  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land  given  to 
Mrs.  Reynolds  by  her  father.  This  land  was 
covered  with  timber,  and  upon  it  he  built  a 
log  cabin,  cleared  away  the  forest  and  made  a 
good  home.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  for  many 
years  a  class  leader  in  the  United  Brethren 
church,  of  which  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers. They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children  :  John  W.,  George  F. ,  William  H., 
James  R.,  Andrew  J.,  Susannah,  Daniel  R., 
Mary  E.  and  Hannah  C.  Politically  Mr. 
Reynolds  was  a  strong  republican,  and  three 
of  his  sons  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war. 
Joseph  was  a  member  of  company  B,  Seventy- 
first  regiment  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  veter- 
anized, served  four  years  and  seven  months, 
and  participated  in  many  battles.  He  was 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant  for  meritorious 
conduct  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  and  was 
killed  in  the  last  battle  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged.  George  F.  was  a  member  of 
company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  William  H.  was 
also  a  good  soldier  in  the  war.  Mr.  Reynolds 
in  1872  removed  to  Jay  county,  Ind. ,  and  set- 
tled in  Red  Key,  where  he  bought  146  acres 
of  land  south  of  town,  upon  which  he  passed 
his  remaining  days.  He  was  an  industrious 
man  and  an  honored  citizen,  serving  as  town- 
ship trustee  and  as  clerk  of  his  township  sev- 
eral times. 

William  H.  Reynolds,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  February  8,  1845,  on  his 
father's  farm.  Receiving  the  common-school 
education  of  the  day,  he  became  well  prepared 
to  struggle  with  the  world,  and  has  been  un- 
usually successful.  Enlisting  in  company  B, 
Eighty-first  regiment  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  February  4,  1865, "when  he 
was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  he  served  until 
July  13,  of  the  same  year,  when  he  was  mus- 
tered out   and  discharged,  on   account  of  the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1219 


closing  of  the  war.  He  served  under  Capt. 
Ira  Foutz,  and  was  on  the  hardest  march  in 
history,  from  Savannah  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
his  regiment  joining  Sherman  at  Raleigh,  N.  C. , 
and  often  marching  thirty-six  miles  per  day. 
He  participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ,  which  took  place  May  24  and 
25,   1865. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Montgomery 
county,  and  on  December  7,  1865,  married 
Rachael  Werts,  who  was  born  March  28, 
1846,  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Piles)  Werts. 
David  Werts  was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  de- 
scent, and  his  father,  Jacob  Werts,  was  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Preble  county,  Ohio.  David 
Werts  was  a  carpenter,  a  cooper  and  a  miller, 
and  lived  many  years  at  West  Baltimore, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  a  prominent  citizen.  He 
was  a  republican  in  politics.  His  children 
were  as  follows:  Rachael,  Corilla,  Amanda, 
Martha  J.,  Joseph  D.,  Perry  D.  and  Eliza- 
beth. He  lived  to  be  about  sixty-five  years 
old,  and  died  at  West  Baltimore,  Ohio,  in 
August,  1 891. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rey- 
nolds settled  on  his  father's  farm,  living  there 
one  year,  and  have  ever  since  lived  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  with  the  exception  of 
twelve  years,  when  they  were  in  Jay  county, 
Ind.,  and  in  Kansas,  where  Mr.  Reynolds 
worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  carpenter  and 
housebuilder,  from  1872  to  1883,  returning  to 
their  present  farm  in  the  latter  year.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  in  which  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds is  a  trustee.  Politically  he  is  a  republic- 
an, and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Marley, 
Ulysses  S.,  Elizabeth  E.,  Alice  L.,  Corilla 
A.,  Perry  A.,  Nora  J.  and  William  O.  These 
children  have  been  brought  up  with  the  great- 


est care,  and  given  a  good  education.  Ulysses 
S.  married  Lena  Heartenstein,  of  Salem,  is  a 
butcher  by  occupation,  and  has  three  sons  and 
one  daughter;  Elizabeth  married  Lewis  Oaks, 
a  farmer  of  Dayton,  and  has  three  sons;  Alice 
married  Charles  Kress,  a  farmer  of  Miami 
county,  and  has  one  son.  Corilla  married 
Ezra  Sarber,  a  farmer  of  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
and  has  three  sons.  All  are  prosperous  and 
well-to-do  people,  and  stand  high  in  the  es- 
teem of  their  respective  communities. 


»-j*OHN  SAYLER,  whose  post-office  is 
■  Clayton,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  leading 
/•  1  farmers  of  Clay  township.  He  sprang 
from  Swiss  ancestors,  who  settled  in 
Maryland  in  old  colonial  times.  His  grandfa- 
ther, Jacob  Sayler,  was  born  in  Maryland,  and 
was  a  son  of  Daniel  Sayler,  whose  father  came 
from  Switzerland.  The  family  belonged  to  the 
German  Baptist,  or  Dunkard,  church. 

Jacob  Sayler  was  a  farmer  of  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  and  a  Dunkard  preacher,  follow- 
ing both  callings  during  his  life.  The  farm 
upon  which  he  always  lived  lay  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.  He  married  Hannah  Garber,  by 
whom  he  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Reuben,  Mary,  Catherine,  Betsey, 
Sarah,  Jacob,  Henry  and  William.  Mr.  Say- 
ler was  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  and 
most  prominent  citizens  of  his  county.  He 
was  a  consistent  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church. 

Reuben  Sayler,  father  of  John  Sayler,  was 
born  July  4,  18 18,  in  Frederick  county,  Md. , 
was  self-educated  and  followed  successfully  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  married  Hannah 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  1 821,  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Catherine  (Linn)  Smith,  the  Smith  and 
Linn  families  being  of  German  ancestry.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sayler  settled  on  a  160-acre  farm  in 


1220 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Frederick  count}',  Md.,  and  there  passed  the 
period  of  their  active  lives.  They  then  retired 
to  Union  Bridge,  in  Carroll  count}',  where, 
after  twenty  years,  Mr.  Sayler  died  in  1878, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  In  his  younger  days 
he  was  a  hard-working  and  industrious  man, 
and  was  always  prosperous.  When  he  died 
he  left  a  valuable  estate,  in  farming  lands  and 
in  city  property.  He  served  as  a  member  of 
the  council  of  Union  Bridge,  and  also  as  mayor 
of  the  town.  Politically,  he  was  a  democrat, 
and  was  an  unusually  intelligent  and  useful 
citizen.  He  was  a  reader  of  history,  a  patron 
of  the  best  literature,  and  took  an  active  inter- 
est in  educational  and  religious  affairs. 

John  Sayler,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  June  18,  1842,  in  Frederick  county,  Md., 
and  was  reared  a  farmer's  boy  on  his  father's 
farm.  His  education  was  such  as  was  then 
supplied  by  the  common  schools.  Removing 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1862,  a  young  man,  he 
became  engaged  in  the  flour-mills,  and  contin- 
ued to  work  therein  for  tvvo  years.  On  April 
18,  1865,  he  married  Harriet  E.  Wampler,  who 
was  born  in  Harrison  township,  Montgomery 
county,  four  miles  north  of  Dayton,  June  15, 
1845.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Cath- 
erine (Puterbaugh)  Wampler,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  January  5,  1820,  in  Carroll 
county,  Md.  In  1827  Jesse  Wampler  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Montgomery  county,  his 
father,  Philip,  being  an  original  pioneer  set- 
tler in  this  county,  locating  on  Still  Water 
river.  Philip  Wampler  was  of  Swiss  origin, 
of  an  old  colonial  family,  and  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  married  Catherine  Rogers, 
of  Carroll  county,  Md.,  and  by  her  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Edward,  Jesse,  William, 
John,  Samuel,  David,  Joseph,  Mary  A.,  Han- 
nah, Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Anna.  When 
he  removed  to  Montgomery  county  in  1827  it 
was  with  horses  and  wagon,  and  upon  his  ar- 
rival he  bought  160  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 


paying  therefor  $14  per  acre.  Afterward  he 
purchased  other  lands,  up  to  the  number  of 
300  acres,  all  in  one  body.  He  died  in  1878 
at  the  great  age  of  ninety  years.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church  for  many  years,  and  was  well  known 
far  and  wide  as  an  honorable  and  upright  man. 

Jesse  Wampler,  his  son,  and  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Sayler,  settled  on  a  farm  after  his  mar- 
riage, at  which  time  he  received  from  his  father 
250  acres  of  land  in  one  body,  which  he  later 
divided  among  his  children  upon  his  retirement 
to  a  homestead  on  which  he  has  lived  ever 
since.  He  has  long  been  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  His  children  are  as 
follows:  Harriet,  William,  Louisa,  and  Laura, 
deceased  wife  of  David  Klepinger,  who  was  at 
the  time  of  her  death  thirty-two  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Wampler  is  one  of  the  progressive  men  of 
the  county,  a  constant  reader  of  the  best  cur- 
rent literature,  and  thus  keeps  himself  fully 
abreast  of  the  times.  The  Wampler  family  is 
one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  noted  for  many 
sturdy  and  valuable  traits  of  character  and  for 
safe  and  reliable  qualities  of  citizenship. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sayler 
settled  in  Harrison  township,  and  lived  there 
six  years,  removing  to  their  present  farm  De- 
cember 14,  1 87 1.  It  contains  104  acres  of 
land,  and  has  been  greatly  improved  by  Mr. 
Sayler.  He  is  now  carrying  on  dairying  on  an 
extensive  scale,  and  is  also  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  native  wine. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sayler  there  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Jessie,  Charles, 
Lloyd,  Dr.  Howard  and  Milton.  The  children 
have  all  been  well  educated  and  Dr.  Howard 
Sayler  is  a  practicing  physician  at  Union, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Sayler  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr. 
Sayler  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  has  served  as 
school  director,  and  is  among  the  best  and 
most  useful  citizens  of  Montgomery  county. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1221 


K^\  ARTHOLOMEW    WILSON,    one  of 

l/**^    the  oldest  business  men   and  farmers 

J^J    of    Wayne      township,     Montgomery 

county,  Ohio,  was   born  here,  on  his 

father's  farm,  July  26,  1826,  and  is  of  remote 

Scottish  extraction. 

Israel  Wilson,  father  of  Bartholomew,  was 
born  in  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  May  24,  1798, 
but  at  the  age  of  three  years  was  left  an  orphan 
and  was  bound  out  to  Moses  Miller,  of  the 
same  county.  In  1812,  when  Israel  was  four- 
teen years  of  age,  Mr.  Miller  came  to  Ohio, 
bringing  with  him  his  family,  young  Wilson 
included,  and  settled  in  the  woods  of  Wayne 
township.  Israel  here  began  learning  black- 
smithing  under  Mr.  Miller,  but,  disliking  the 
trade,  was  permitted  to  learn  millwrighting 
under  a  Mr.  Staley.  In  March,  1824,  Mr. 
Wilson  married,  in  Wayne  township,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Booher,  who  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pa.,  August  16,  1804,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Crull)  Booher.  John 
Booher  was  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Md.,  whence  he  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  1807  brought  his  family  to  Wayne  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  settled 
on  a  tract  of  160  acres,  the  title  to  which  he 
received  from  the  government  in  18 14.  His 
children  were  named  John,  Margaret,  Cather- 
ine, Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Bartholomew,  Mary, 
Daniel,  Anna,  Sarah  and  Levi.  Mr.  Booher 
died  on  his  farm  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church;  his 
widow  lived  to  reach  the  great  age  of  ninety- 
three  years  and  seven  months,  and  died  at  the 
residence  of  her  son  Daniel,  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, her  descendants  numbering  eleven  chil- 
dren, eighty-six  grandchildren,  1  18  great-grand- 
children, and  one  great -great-grandchild. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Wilson  settled  on 
seventy  acres  of  wooded  land  in  Wayne  town- 
ship, and  this  farm  he  increased  to  201  acres. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United 


Brethren  church,  of  which  he  was  a  steward 
and  trustee  for  many  years.  In  politics  he  was 
at  first  a  whig  and  then  became  a  republican, 
and  for  several  years  served  as  township  treas- 
urer. His  death  look  place  January  16,  1874, 
in  his  seventy-sixth  year,  and  he  left  behind 
him  a  spotless  name.  The  children  born  to 
Israel  Wilson  and  wife  were  named  Bartholo- 
mew, John,  Ephraim,  Isaiah  and  Mary  J.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  August  17,  1872,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  was  a  woman 
of  many  estimable  qualities. 

Bartholomew  Wilson,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  in  1846,  began  burning  lime  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  furnished  lime  for  the  old 
stone  court  house  in  Dayton  and  for  many 
other  large  buildings  in  the  city  and  elsewhere, 
and  carried  on  the  business  for  forty-eight  years, 
when  he  retired  with  a  competency.  October 
25,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  A.  Bren- 
ner, who  was  born  in  Wayne  township  June 
2,  1828,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  S.  and  Sarah  A. 
(Mathews)  Brenner,  and  went  to  housekeeping 
on  the  Wilson  homestead,  where  they  lived  for 
three  years.  They  then  moved  to  a  farm  three 
miles  south  of  the  Miami  river,  where  they 
lived  seven  years,  when  Mr.  Wilson  bought  a 
farm  in  company  with  John  L.  Brenner,  at 
present  a  member  of  congress  from  the  Day- 
ton district.  This  farm  contained  163  acres, 
and  here  Mr.  Wilson  lived  for  three  years, 
when  he  built  the  first  house  in  Sulphur  Grove, 
where  he  resided  for  ten  years.  In  1880  he 
moved  to  Dayton,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  1893,  when  he  retired  to  his  present 
place.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Wilson  was 
blessed  with  six  children,  viz:  Henry,  Sarah 
E.,  Dr.  Isaiah  B. ,  Levina,  Laura  and  Mary. 
Mrs.  Wilson  was  called  from  earth  April  3, 
1893,  in  the  faith  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  on  December  7,  1895,  Mr.  Wil- 
son married  Miss  Catherine  Brenner,  who  was 
born  in  Wayne   township  October  10,  1846,  a 


1222 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


daughter  of  Elias  and  Barbara  (Detrick)  Bren- 
ner. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Wilson  has  served  as  steward,  choir. leader 
and  trustee.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican, 
and  served  as  township  treasurer  for  ten  years 
from  i860;  fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Os- 
born  lodge,  No.  414,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Mr.  Wilson 
is  a  man  of  enterprise,  liberality  and  public 
spirit,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  the  entire  community.  He  has  done  much 
toward  the  development  of  Wayne  township, 
and  the  product  of  his  industry  is  scattered 
throughout  the  county  as  a  component  part  of 
many  a  substantial  building. 


ISAIAH  WILSON,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Wayne  township,  is  a  son  of  Israel 
and  Elizabeth  (Booher)  Wilson,  of 
whom  mention  is  made  in  detail  in  the 
biography  of  Bartholomew  Wilson,  published 
above. 

Isaiah  Wilson  was  born  on  the  Wilson 
homestead  in  Wayne  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  August  6,  1835,  received  a  good 
common-school  education,  and  for  thirty-five 
years  was  in  the  lime  business.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years  he  married,  in  Montgomery 
county,  January  23,  1863,  Miss  Elizabeth 
Brenner,  who  was  born  on  her  father's  farm  in 
Wayne  township,  December  9,  1833,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  and  Mary  (Booher)  Brenner. 

Michael  Brenner,  father  of  Mrs.  Wilson, 
was  a  native  of  Fauquier  county,  Va.,  a  son 
of  Lewis  and  Dorothy  (Reprogel)  Brenner,  and 
was  a  mere  boy  when  he  came  with  his  father 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1 808.  He 
here  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  Mary 
Booher. 

After  marriage,  Isaiah  Wilson  settled  on 
the  Wilson  homestead,  and  this  has  ever  since 
been  his  place   of  residence.      He  has  consid- 


erably improved  the  farm  and  has  a  substan- 
tial modern  dwelling,  containing  every  feature 
essential  to  a  pleasant  home.  Mr.  Wilson  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  at  Day- 
ton, and  socially  stands  with  the  best  citizens 
of  the  county.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican, 
for  three  years  was  treasurer  of  Wayne  town- 
ship, and  has  always  held  the  confidence  of 
his  fellow-townsmen.  He  is  very  fond  of  the 
chase,  and  has  made  many  trips  to  the  woods 
of  Michigan  and  Minnesota  for  the  purpose  of 
gratifying  his  taste  for  that  exciting  sport. 


BRANK     WILHELM,     a    native-born 
farmer  of  Butler  township,  Montgom- 
ery  county,    Ohio,   descends   from    a 
wealthy    colonial   family   of   Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  born  July  19,    1840. 

Jacob  Wilhelm  was  the  first  of  the  family 
to  come  from  Germany  to  America,  brought 
with  him  considerable  means  and  settled  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.  His  grandson,  also 
christened  Jacob,  was  the  great-grandfather  of 
Frank,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
and  early  kept  a  hotel  in  Harrisburg.  He  also 
owned  forty  acres  of  land  immediately  east  of 
the  state  house,  and  this  ground  is  now  cov- 
ered with  costly  buildings.  He  died  about 
the  year  1830,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years, 
a  member  of  the  German  Reform  church.  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  had  been 
twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  was  the 
father  of  four  children,  viz:  John,  Peter, 
David  and  Catherine;  to  his  second  marriage 
no  children  were  born. 

John  Wilhelm,  the  grandfather  of  Frank 
Wilhelm,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  a 
tanner  by  trade,  and  married  Anna  Longe- 
necker,  who  bore  him  ten  children,  viz: 
Benjamin,  Daniel,  Mary,  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 
Joseph,  Catherine,  Sarah,  Sophia  and  John. 
In    1820   he    brought   his   family  to  Ohio,  and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1223 


for  one  year  lived  in  Red  Lion,  Warren  coun- 
ty; in  1 82 1  he  came  to  Montgomery  county 
and  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres,  eight  miles 
north  of  Dayton,  on  the  Covington  pike,  in 
Randolph  township.  He  developed  a  fine 
farm,  and  finally  retired  to  Vandalia,  where 
he  passed  his  declining  years  until  his  death, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years,  in  the  faith  of 
the  German  Baptist  church. 

Daniel  Wilhelm,  the  second  son  of  John 
and  father  of  Frank  Wilhelm,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  1802,  and  was  about 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Ohio 
by  his  parents.  He  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm.  In  1825  he  married  Miss  Barbara 
Stouder,  daughter  of  David  Stouder,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  whose  children  were  named 
John,  Barbara,  David,  Sarah  and  Daniel. 
After  their  marriage,  Daniel  Wilhelm  and  wife 
settled,  in  1826,  on  the  farm  of  160  acres  now 
owned  by  their  son  Frank.  This  land  was  at 
that  time  covered  with  timber,  but  Mr.  Wil- 
helm cleared  away  the  primeval  forest,  placed 
the  land  under  cultivation,  and  eventually  had 
one  of  the  best-improved  farms  in  the  town- 
ship. The  children  born  to  Daniel  and  Bar- 
bara Wilhelm  were  named  Hester  (died  in 
1850),  Levina,  Mary,  Joseph  (died  in  1885), 
George,  Martha,  Sarah,  Frank,  Catherine 
(died  in  infancy)  and  Zimri  (who  also  died  an 
infant).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelm  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  in 
politics  Mr.  Wilhelm  was  a  democrat.  The 
death  of  Mr.  Wilhelm  took  place  on  his  farm 
November  2,  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  his  name  stands  to-day  as  a  synonym  of 
integrity. 

Frank  Wilhelm  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  now  his  own,  and  was  well  educated  in 
the  district  school.  In  1859  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  Pike's  Peak,  Colo.,  whence  he  went 
to  Denver,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and 


then  returned  to  his  farm  in  Ohio,  on  which 
he  remained  until  1865.  He  then  joined  a 
United  States  survey  party  and  again  went 
west,  overland,  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  down  to 
the  Indian  Territory,  and  over  to  Julesburg, 
Colo.;  to  Denver;  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah; 
to  Montana  (where  he  was  a  member  of  the 
vigilance  committee),  and  on  to  British  Colum- 
bia, encountering  Indians  at  various  points  in 
hostile  struggles,  and  enduring  all  the  hard- 
ships of  winter  travel  over  the  plains.  He 
did  considerable  gold  mining,  met  with  good 
fortune,  and  in  1869  returned  to  Ohio,  where 
he  has  since  passed  his  days  in  farming,  enjoy- 
ing the  well-deserved  respect  of  all  who  know 
him  and  being  equally  as  successful  in  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits  as  he  was  in  his  search  for  a 
fortune  in  the  west. 


^YOLOMON    WORMON,    one    of    the 
*^^KT    most     venerable    residents     of    Clay 

h<_y    township,    Montgomery  county,  is  of 
Swiss  ancestry,  and  was  born  on  his 
father's  homestead,  south  of  Dayton,  Septem- 
ber 23,   181 1,  being  thus,  also,  one  of  the  old- 
est native-born  citizens  of  this  township. 

Henry  Wormon,  grandfather  of  Solomon, 
was  a  child  aged  but  one  year  when  brought 
from  Switzerland  to  America  by  his  parents, 
who  first  located  in  Pennsylvania  and  after- 
ward removed  to  Maryland  and  settled  in 
Washington  county.  There  Henry  was  reared 
to  manhood,  married  Miss  Magdalena  Cour, 
and  had  born  to  him  nine  children,  viz: 
George,  Mary,  Henry,  David,  Anna,  Jacob, 
Margaret,  Eva  and  Barbara.  Of  this  family, 
David,  who  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Md.,  married  Mrs.  Mary  Shonk,  who  was  born 
in  Maryland,  May  15,  1780,  and  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Wormon  was  the 
widow  of  Henry  Shonk,  and  by  her  first  mar- 


1224 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


riage  was  the  mother  of  one  child,  Elizabeth, 
who  married  John  Schroyer. 

David  Wormon  and  wife  came  to  Ohio  in 
1806  and  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Oc- 
tober 1 1,  near  the  then  hamlet  of  Dayton,  and 
found  shelter  in  a  log  cabin  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Lebanon  turnpike,  but  was  then 
a  mere  wilderness.  Here  he  bought  a  tract  of 
160  acres,  which  was  improved  only  with  this 
log  cabin  and  two  acres  of  cleared  land.  The 
remainder,  however,  he  cleared  up,  and  bought 
or  entered  other  tracts  until  he  owned  700 
acres,  which,  at  his  death,  he  distributed 
among  his  children.  They  were  six  in  num- 
ber, and  were  named  Sarah,  who  was  born 
December  26,  1805,  in  Maryland;  Mary,  born 
in  Ohio  in  September,  1807;  Lydia,  Solomon, 
Margaret  and  David — these  four  also  born  in 
Ohio.  David  Wormon  and  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  ardent 
promoters  of  the  faith,  aiding  liberally  in  the 
support  of  the  local  congregation,  and  in  the 
pioneer  days  threw  their  hospitable  doors  open 
to  the  itinerant  ministers,  and  contributing  to 
the  erection  of  the  first  United  Brethren  edi- 
fice in  Montgomery  county.  The  death  of 
Mr.  Wormon  occurred  May  7,  1854,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine  years.  Mrs.  Mary  Wormon 
died  December  22,  1854,  in  her  seventy-fifth 
year,  having  lived  to  see  thirty-two  grandchil- 
dren and  seven  great-grandchildren. 

Solomon  Wormon,  son  of  David  and  Mary 
Wormon,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and 
received  such  education  as  the  limited  facilities 
of  the  pioneer  schools  afforded.  In  March, 
1849,  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Spitler,  who  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county  December  13,  1823, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  (Wise)  Spitler. 
Jacob  Spitler  was  born  in  Botetourt  county,  Va. , 
came  to  Ohio  in  1804,  settled  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  here  died  February  11,  1857, 
the  father  of  the  following  children:  John, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Jacob,  Lydia,  Mary,  Joseph, 


Esther,  Daniel  and  Ann.  For  several  years 
after  marriage  Mr.  Wormon  lived  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  but  March  10,  1856,  moved  to  his 
present  farm,  then  consisting  of  182^  acres, 
which  he  has  since  increased  to  280  acres.  He 
destroyed  the  old  double  log  house  that  occu- 
pied the  premises  when  he  first  took  possession, 
erected  a  modern  farm  dwelling,  and  has  now 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county.  The 
marriage  of  Solomon  and  Lydia  Wormon  was 
blessed  with  five  children,  named  William, 
Sarah  S.,  Julia,  Emma  and  Jane.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wormon  were  long  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  which  they  liberally 
supported  with  their  means,  and  in  the  faith  of 
which  they  reared  their  children.  In  politics 
Mr.  Wormon  was  a  republican,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighty-five  years  had  a  clear  apprehension 
of  his  duty  to  his  party  and  to  his  country. 
Mrs.  Lydia  Wormon  died  February  11,  1895, 
aged  about  seventy-one  years,  and  Mr.  Wor- 
mon died  December  11,   1896. 

Of  their  children,  Emma  is  now  the  widow 
of  Jordan  Falkner,  and  has  three  children — 
Ward  W.,  Olive  M.  and  Beatrice  P.;  Sarah  S., 
deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Binkley,  an 
architect  of  Dayton,  and  the  mother  of  two 
children — Edwin  W.  and  Edith  B. ;  William 
married  Caroline  Binkley,  is  a  stock  dealer  in 
Clay  township,  and  has  five  children — Howard, 
Clark,  Carrie,  George  and  Earnest;  Julia  was 
married  to  Aaron  Mummert,  a  farmer,  and  has 
two  children — Florence  and  Hayes;  Jane  mar- 
ried Alonzo  M.  Campbell,  of  Brookville.  Of 
the  survivors,  all  maintain  an  excellent  stand- 
ing in  the  esteem  of  the  members  of  their 
respective  communities. 

Edith  Binkley,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Sarah  S.  (Wormon)  Binkley,  married  Allen 
Howard  November  4,  1894,  and  is  the  mother 
of  one  child,  Lowell  E.,  who  was  born  March 
23,  1896,  and  is  the  only  great-grandchild  of 
Solomon  Wormon. 


^0\£f<_ 


J# 


vli-&x_ 


MRS.     GEORGE    BIXLER. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1229 


^^EORGE  BIXLER,  now  living  in  re- 
■  ^\  tirement  in  Brookville,  Clay  town- 
^iW  ship,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Carroll  county,  Md.,  Decem- 
ber 1 8,  1820.  His  great-great-grandfather 
came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Maryland 
in  the  old  colonial  days.  Peter  Bixler,  grand- 
father of  George,  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  but  located  in  Carroll  county 
early  in  life,  married  a  Miss  Vance,  and  had 
born  to  him  the  following  children  :  John, 
Polly,  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Sallie,  Benjamin 
and  Joel.  The  father  died  in  Carroll  county, 
aged  eighty-two   years,  a  well-to-do  farmer. 

Samuel  Bixler,  son  of  Peter  and  father  of 
George  Bixler,  was  born  in  Carroll  county, 
Md.,  October  6,  1799,  and  in  his  youthful 
days  learned  milling,  which  he  followed  for 
ten  years.  He  married,  in  Carroll  county, 
Miss  Leah  Maus,  who  was  born  in  1802, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Kittsmitter) 
Maus,  and  to  this  marriage  were  born  seven 
children,  viz  :  George,  Savilla,  Eliza,  Mar- 
garet (who  died  at  two  years  of  age),  Kate, 
Mary  and  David.  Samuel  Bixler,  after  work- 
ing for  several  years  in  his  father-in-law's  mill 
in  Maryland,  came  to  Ohio  in  1828,  and  for 
three  months  lived  in  Lewisburg.  Preble 
county  ;  then  moved  to  what  was  then  known 
as  Fisher's  mill,  on  Twin  creek,  remained 
there  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then,  in  1830, 
came  to  Montgomery  county  and  bought  a 
160-acre  farm  in  Perry  township,  about  ten 
miles  west  of  Dayton,  at  $5  per  acre,  sixty 
acres  being  cleared  and  improved  with  a  good 
log  house  and  barn.  This  farm  he  paid  for  in 
silver — $800;  of  this  sum  he  borrowed  $500 
from  his  father,  in  Maryland,  making  the  trip 
thither  on  horseback.  He  stowed  the  silver 
in  his  saddle-bags,  and  was  twelve  days  in 
crossing  the  mountains  on  his  return.  At 
night  he  would  stop  at  some  old-fashioned  inn 

and  trust   his  saddle-bags  to  the  safe-keeping 
55 


of  the  landlord.  Mr.  Bixler  succeeded  in  clear- 
ing up  his  farm  and  in  making  an  excellent 
home,  where  he  died  in  1859,  aged  nearly 
sixty  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  New  Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics 
Mr.  Bixler  was  a  democrat.  He  reared  his 
family  in  respectability,  and  he  himself  died 
an  honored  man. 

George  Bixler  was  reared  to  hard  farm 
labor,  and  aided  his  father  in  clearing  the 
home  farm  on  coming  to  Ohio,  he  being  then 
but  eight  years  of  age.  He  attended  school 
two  months  each  winter  until  seventeen  years 
old,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  February 
22,  1847,  in  Perry  township,  Montgomery 
county,  married  Miss  Rachael  A.  Clemmer, 
who  was  born  December  20,  1827,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Phebe  (Nevins)  Clemmer.  John 
Clemmer  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  married  in 
Rockingham  county,  that  state,  and  brought 
his  family  to  Ohio,  about  18 12,  and  settled  on 
Twin  river,  in  Perry  township,  Montgomery 
county,  cleared  a  farm  of  160  acres,  and  there 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  was 
the  father  of  ten  children:  Fannie,  Mary, 
Jane,  John,  George,  William,  Rachael  A., 
Martha,  Silas  and  Catherine. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bixler,  just  after  marriage, 
located  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Perry- 
township,  of  which  fifteen  acres  had  been 
cleared.  Mr.  Bixler  lived  here  but  one  year, 
having  in  the  meantime  built  a  log  house.  He 
then  moved  upon  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
lived  for  a  year,  going  thence  to  a  farm  of  148 
acres  in  the  same  township,  which  he  still 
owns.  To  this  he  added  until  he  owned  250 
acres  in  Montgomery  county  and  380  acres  in 
Darke  county,  and  finally  retired  from  his  farm 
residence  to  Brookville,  February  28,  1895, 
having  given  each  of  his  children  sufficient 
means  to  start  them  well  in  life.  In  politics 
Mr.  Bixler  was  first  a  democrat,  but  was  early 
imbued  with  republican  ideas,  and  was  one  of 


1230 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  organizers  of  that  party  in  Montgomery 
county,  voting  for  its  first  nominee  for  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States,  John  C.  Fre- 
mont. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
New  Lutheran  church,  in  which  faith  they 
have  reared  their  seven  children,  who  were 
named,  in  order  of  birth,  Phebe,  Samuel,  John, 
Mary,  David,  William  and  Jesse  F.  The  fam- 
ily are  held  in  high  esteem  throughout  the 
township  and  in  all  parts  of  the  county,  where 
the  name  is  widely  known. 


WOHN  F.  BEARDSHEAR,  a  well-known 
m  farmer  of  Harrison  township,  Mont- 
hs 1  gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  still  resides,  August 
23,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah 
(Booher)  Beardshear,  also  natives  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  who  were  the  parents  of 
three  children,  viz:  Levi;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of 
Ezra  Bimm,  and  John  F.  The  father  was  a 
skillful  and  thriving  farmer,  accumulated  con- 
siderable land,  and  in  1850  erected  the  dwell- 
ing in  which  his  son,  John  F. ,  now  lives.  He 
died  June  5,  1882,  at  .the  age  of  seventy-six 
years,  in  the  faith  of  the  Baptist  church,  while 
his  wife,  who  was  a  Methodist,  survived  until 
September  20,  1888,  when  she  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years. 

George  Beardshear,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  John  F.  Beardshear,  was  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian  by  birth,  and  at  a  very  early  day  came 
to  Ohio,  bought  or  entered  several  tracts  of 
land  in  what  is  now  Harrison  township,  reared 
a  large  family,  and  here  died  somewhat  past 
middle  life.  John  Booher,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  John  F.  Beardshear,  was  born  near 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  was  also  an  early  settler 
of  Ohio. 

John  F.  Beardshear  was  reared  on  the  farm 
of  his  birth,  received  a  good  common-school 
•education,    and    at   the    death    of    his   parents 


bought  out  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  to 
the  home  place,  upon  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  owns  eighty-two  acres  of  excellently 
cultivated  land,  improved  with  every  modern 
convenience.  He  has  never  married,  and  his 
pleasant  home  is  under  the  care  of  his  aunt, 
Mrs.  Catherine  Booher,  widow  of  Daniel 
Booher.  Politically,  Mr.  Beardshear  is  an 
independent  democrat. 


£~V  AMUEL  BRUMBAUGH,  a  farmer  of 
*^^KT    Perry  township,  Montgomery  county, 

^^  J  Ohio,  is  descended  from  Pennsyl- 
vania-Dutch stock,  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  America  having  come  from  Germany. 
He  was  Conrad  Brumbaugh,  and  was  the 
grandfather  of  Samuel  Brumbaugh.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  he  was  married  in  Germany.  Two 
of  his  brothers  also  came  to  America,  but  the 
date  of  their  coming  is  not  now  known.  From 
these  three  brothers  sprang  all  the  Brum- 
baughs  of  Pennsylvania. 

Conrad  Brumbaugh  settled  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  probably  before  1761,  as  it  is  be- 
lieved that  all  of  his  large  family  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  youngest  of  his  thirteen 
children  was  born  in  1787.  After  a  part  of  his 
children  were  born  he  removed  to  Morrison's 
Cove,  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  but  the  Indians 
becoming  troublesome  he  returned  to  the  more 
thickly  settled  portion  of  the  state.  When  he 
reached  Morrison's  Cove  he  found  the  Indians 
in  possession,  and  that  they  had  destroyed 
everything  he  had  left  behind,  and  had  killed 
all  the  remaining  settlers.  After  the  Indian 
t  oubles  ceased,  Conrad  Brumbaugh  returned 
to  this  place  with  his  family,  made  a  home 
and  lived  there  for  some  time.  Then  remov- 
ing to  Allegheny  county,  Pa.,  he  made  a  home 
for  his  family  there  in  the  wilderness,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  section  of  the 
state.      His  children  were  John,  Daniel,  Jacob, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1231 


William,  Conrad,  David,  George,  Elizabeth 
and  Christiana.  Mr.  Brumbaugh  was  well  ed- 
ucated in  Germany,  and  after  reaching  this 
country  taught  school  and  became  a  minister 
in  the  German  Baptist  church,  being  one  of 
the  first  ministers  of  that  church  in  America. 
George  Brumbaugh,  father  of  Samuel,  was 
born  April  2,  1788,  at  Morrison's  Cove,  Pa., 
and  received  the  meager  education  of  the 
times  in  which  he  lived.  Brought  up  on  the 
farm,  he  himself  became  a  farmer,  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  in  181  5  married  Eliza- 
beth Vaniman,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
September  15,  1789.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Catherine  (Martin)  Vani- 
man, the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, but  came  to  America  at  a  very  early  day, 
lived  for  many  years  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
then  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in 
1805.  John  Vaniman  settled  in  Madison  town- 
ship and  entered  a  full  section  of  government 
land.  He  erected  a  log  cabin  three  miles 
south  of  the  present  home  of  Samuel  Brum- 
baugh. In  those  early  days  he  was  surrounded 
by  Indians,  who  were,  however,  friendly,  and 
frequently  went  to  his  cabin  for  food.  Mr. 
Vaniman  put  in  a  piece  of  corn  on  the  Mad 
River  bottoms,  had  a  good  crop,  and  during 
the  first  winter  he  and  his  family  lived  on  corn 
bread,  turnips,  and  wild  game,  the  latter  being 
then  quite  plentiful. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vaniman 
were  John,  Jacob,  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Pol- 
ly and  Hannah,  all  of  whom  lived  to  become 
men  and  women.  Mr.  Vaniman  was  a  Ger- 
man Baptist  in  religion,  and  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  dying  on  his  farm.  He  was  well 
known  for  miles  around  as  one  of  the  sturdy, 
honest  and  industrious  pioneers.  By  his  con- 
stant and  well-directed  efforts  he  accumulated 
considerable  property,  gave  to  each  of  his  chil- 
dren 160  acres,  and  left  to  his  widow  320 
acres  of  land. 


George  Brumbaugh  settled  on  160  acres  of 
land  which  his  wife  had  received  from  her  fa- 
ther. He  cleared  the  entire  tract  of  its  tim- 
ber, excepting  four  acres,  which  had  already 
been  cleared,  and  made  it  into  a  good  farm. 
He  lived  on  this  farm  until  March,  1848,  when 
he  died,  leaving  the  honored  name  of  a  good, 
useful  and  upright  citizen.  His  children  were 
Samuel  and  Catherine. 

Samuel  Brumbaugh  was  born  February  4, 
1823,  on  his  present  farm,  and  received  the 
usual  common-school  education  of  the  day. 
He  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  on  September  11,  1845,  married 
Miss  Mary  Rife,  who  was  born  February  ii, 
1823,  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Barker) 
Rife.  Jacob  Rife  came  to  Perry  county  about 
1837  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  sixty-eight  years  old. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  By  his  first 
wife:  Daniel,  Annie  and  Catherine,  and  by 
his  second  wife,  Jacob,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary 
and  Frances. 

Samuel  Brumbaugh  has  always  lived  on 
his  present  farm,  upon  which  his  father  settled 
in  181  5,  eighty-two  years  ago.  To  the  origi- 
nal 160  acres  of  land  he  has  added  twenty-six 
acres,  so  that  his  farm  now  contains  186  acres, 
and  is  well  improved  with  excellent  buildings, 
and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Mr. 
Brumbaugh  is  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church,  and  stands  high  among  his  fellow- 
citizens.  To  him  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
the  following  children:  George.  Jacob,  Eman- 
uel, Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Sarah  and  Isaac. 


^-VESSE   GILBERT,  a    well-to-do   farmer 

A      of     Jackson      township,     Montgomery 

nt  1      county,  Ohio,  is  a  native   of   Frederick 

county,    Md.,  and   was    born    July    18. 

1826,  of  remotely  German  ancestors,  who,  on 


1232 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


coming  to  America,  made  their  home  in  the 
wilderness  of  Frederick  county,  Md.,  where 
many  of  the  family  name  reached  distinction. 
The  Ohio  family  may  be  traced  back  to  George 
Gilbert,  whose  children,  Adam,  David,  James 
and  Isaac,  were  all  born  in  Maryland,  where 
George  himself  lived  and  died. 

Adam  Gilbert,  son  of  George  Gilbert,  and 
the  father  of  Jesse,  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  February  5,  1800,  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  married  Catherine  Diffenbaugh,  a 
native  of  the  same  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  Diffenbaugh,  also  of  Ger- 
man origin.  To  Adam  Gilbert  and  wife  were 
born  ten  children,  viz:  Jesse,  Eleanor,  John, 
Jane,  Nelson,  Mary,  Joshua,  Julia  A.,  Louisa 
and  Rebecca.  The  farm  of  Adam  Gilbert  was 
situated  in  Carroll  county,  Md.,  which  county 
was  cut  off  from  Frederick  and  Baltimore 
counties  after  the  birth  of  his  son  Jesse.  He 
owned  about  200  acres  of  land,  located  near 
Westminister,  and  there  he  died  in  1865,  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church.  In  the  later 
years  of  his  life  he  was  a  strong  republican  in 
politics  and  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Union 
during  the  Civil  war. 

Jesse  Gilbert  received  a  fair  common- 
school  education,  was  a  strong  and  rugged  boy 
and  did  a  great  deal  of  useful  work  on  the 
home  farm.  When  about  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  in  1848,  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  located  in 
Jackson  township,  Montgomery  county.  He 
here  married  Mrs.  Hannah  Mullendore,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Swinehart,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Swinehart. 
Peter  Swinehart  was  of  German  descent,  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  county,  Pa.,  and  came  to 
Jackson  township  among  the  early  pioneers, 
entering  the  land  upon  which  Jesse  Gilbert  now 
lives,  the  tract  consisting  of  160  acres.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Swinehart  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children  and  were  strict  members  of  the  Dun- 
kard    or    German    Baptist   church  and  worthy 


members  of  the  community  in  which  they 
lived.  Hannah  Mullendore  (Mrs.  Gilbert),  by 
her  first  husband,  Daniel  Mullendore,  was  the 
mother  of  five  children — Anna  Maria,  Josiah 
(who  died  young),  Leona,  and  two  others  (who 
also  died  young). 

Jesse  Gilbert  and  wife,  at  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  Swinehart  homestead,  and  here 
Mr.  Gilbert  has  since  lived.  Mr.  Gilbert  has 
done  much  toward  clearing  up  and  improving 
this  homestead,  working  long  and  industriously 
to  bring  it  to  its  present  condition  of  fertility 
and  productiveness.  He  has  been  very  pros- 
perous, being  expert  in  his  calling,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  300  acres  of  excellent  farming 
land.  To  the  marriage  of  Jesse  and  Hannah 
Gilbert  were  born  two  children — Adam  and 
Alice — the  latter  deceased.  Mrs.  Gilbert  was 
called  away  February  13,  18S0,  dying  in  the 
faith  of  the  Dunkard  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Gilbert  is  also  a  member.  The  son,  Adam, 
was  born  on  the  homestead  July  18,  1854, 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Moyer,  and  has  two 
children,  Jesse  and  Pearl.  In  politics  Jesse 
Gilbert  was  formerly  an  old-line  whig,  but  of 
recent  years  he  has  affiliated  with  the  demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  public-spirited  and  disposed 
to  aid  all  undertakings  designed  for  the  public 
good,  and  he  enjoys  the  sincere  respect  of  all 
his  fellow-citizens  and  neighbors. 


HOMAS  GILBERT,  farmer  of  Perry 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
sprang  from  sterling  English  ancestry 
on  his  father's  side  and  from  German 
stock  on  his  mother's  side  of  the  family.  George 
Gilbert,  his  father,  was  born  in  Maryland,  Oc- 
tober 2,  1786.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
and  married  Catherine  Wampler,  January  27, 
1825.  To  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: James,  born  November  23,  1825;  Sam- 
uel, born  September   10,    1827;   Thomas,  born 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1233 


January  18,  1829.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren died,  and  Mr.  Gilbert  married  a  widow 
named  Mary  Wampler,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Brown.  To  this  marriage  there  were  born 
George  and  Gideon.  Mr.  Gilbert  and  family 
settled  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  Liberty, 
in  Jefferson  township,  on  160  acres  of  land, 
which  was  at  the  time  partly  cleared  of  its  tim- 
ber. To  this  he  added  until  at  length  he  owned 
300  acres  of  excellent  land,  which  he  improved 
both  by  intelligent  cultivation  and  by  the  erec- 
tion of  good  buildings.  He  was  an  unusually 
prosperous  man,  and  was  well  known  for  many 
miles  around  as  a  straightforward,  honorable 
citizen.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  a  democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  was  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  with 
election  to  the  offices  of  township  trustee  and 
township  treasurer,  beside  several  other  minor 
offices  of  trust.  He  died  in  1862,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six,  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Thomas  Gilbert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio.  He  received  the  education  then 
given  to  the  country-bred  children,  in  a  sub- 
scription school,  and  upon  arriving  at  a  suita- 
ble age  was  put  to  learning  the  carpenter's 
trade,  at  which  he  subsequently  worked  for 
many  years.  He  married,  when  he  was  twen- 
ty-seven years  of  age,  July  4,  1855,  Miss  Ellen 
E.  Colliflower,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  Colliflower. 
Peter  Colliflower  was  born  in  Maryland,  of 
German  extraction,  and  lived  and  died  in  his 
native  state.  His  widow  then  brought  her 
family  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Liberty  in  1848. 
The  children  were  William,  Joel,  Abraham  and 
Ellen  E. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert 
settled  east  of  Liberty  on  three  acres  of  land, 
he  working  at  his  trade  for  fifteen  years.  He 
then  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  Jackson 
township,  where  he  lived  until  1866,  when  he 


removed  to  Perry  township,  having  purchased 
here  ninety-eight  acres  of  land,  partly  cleared. 
This  farm  he  has  greatly  improved,  and  in 
1872-3  erected  his  present  commodious  resi- 
dence. He  is  a  most  careful  and  practical 
farmer,  and  now  has  his  farm  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 

The  eldest  child  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gil- 
bert was  Leroy,  who  educated  himself  and 
graduated  from  the  high  school  of  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  attended  Oberlin  college,  also  a 
college  in  Tennessee  and  the  college  at  Dela- 
ware, Ohio.  He  was  professor  in  an  eastern 
college,  and  iater  was  vice-president  of  a  col- 
lege at  New  Orleans.  Then  going  to  Wash- 
ington, he  became  superintendent  of  the  public 
schools  at  Tacoma,  where  he  died,  leaving  a 
reputation  for  high  character  and  fine  scholar- 
ship. He  married  Miss  Harriet  Faulkner,  of 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children.  The  second  child  of  Thomas  Gil- 
bert is  Charles,  who  married  Margaret  Lamkin. 
He  is  a  farmer  of  Jackson  township,  and  has 
three  children.  Emma  lives  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Nettie  married  John  Bowman,  a  farmer 
of  Jackson  township,  and  has  two  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  politics  Mr. 
Gilbert  is  a  democrat  and  as  such  he  has  been 
elected  a  school  director  of  his  district.  In 
private  as  well  as  in  public  life  he  has  always 
been  looked  upon  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  of 
honorable  character. 

Mr.  Gilbert  learned  his  trade  as  carpenter 
very  thoroughly,  serving  two  years  as  an  ap- 
prentice and  two  years  as  journeyman,  acquir- 
ing all  the  knowledge  necessary  for  a  first-class 
mechanic,  and  has  erected  many  business  build- 
ings and  residences. 

The  great-grandfather  of  Thomas  Gilbert 
came  from  England,  settled  in  Maryland,  and 
married  a  German  woman.  He  had  two  chil- 
dren, Jeremiah   and   Susan,  to   the  former  of 


1234 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


whom  he  gave  a  farm.  On  May  9,  1779,  Jere- 
miah married  Catherine  Weaver,  whose  father 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  were  Thomas,  Elizabeth, 
Catherine,  George,  Hannah,  Jeremiah,  Sophia 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of 
these  children  having  died,  Mr.  Gilbert  married 
for  his  second  wife  Miss  Powell,  August  27, 
1793,  and  by  her  he  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Reuben,  Jeremiah,  William,  Isaac, 
James,  Sarah,  Rhoda,  Mary,  John,  Joseph, 
Lydia,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth  and  Solomon. 
In  all  he  was  the  father  of  twenty-three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  when  quite  young. 
Jeremiah  Gilbert  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  a 
good  citizen,  and  died  in  1822,  when  sixty-one 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church. 


<^~\  EV.    SAMUEL    HORNING,    one    of 

I  /«^  the  present  preachers  of  the  German 
P  Baptist  church  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  also  a  progressive  and 
successful  farmer,  came  from  excellent  Penn- 
sylvania-Dutch ancestors.  His  remote  ances- 
try came  from  Germany,  and  were  among  the 
early  German  Baptists  to  settle  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  great-grandfather,  Ludwig  Horn- 
ing, was  born  in  Germany  in  1708.  Among 
his  children  were  Peter,  Samuel  and  John,  the 
last  named  of  whom  was  born  in  1755,  lived 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Skippack  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Hall,  May  11,  1780.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Jacob,  Lewis,  Catherine,  John, 
Mary,  Ann,  Samuel,  Henry,  William  and  Isaac. 
William  Horning,  the  father  of  Samuel, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  Febru- 
ary 16,  1801,  and  received  a  common-school 
education  in  his  native  state.  Being  of  a  me- 
chanical turn  of  mind  he  learned  the  mill- 
wright trade  and   in  many  ways  showed  that 


he  was  possessed  of  rare  ability  in  this  direc- 
tion. He  married  in  his  native  state,  August 
12,  1826,  Hannah  Price,  who  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  German-  Baptist 
ministers  of  the  country. 

Jacob  Preisz  was  the  original  founder  of 
the  Price  family  in  America,  and  was  born  in 
Wetzenstein,  Prussia,  about  the  beginning  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  He  came  to  this 
country  in  the  fall  of  17 19,  being  one  of  the 
many  who  were  persecuted  on  account  of  their 
religious  principles  in  their  native  land.  After 
reaching  America  he  remained  for  a  time  at 
Germantown,  Pa.,  and  about  1721  settled  at 
Indian  Creek,  Lower  Salford  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.  He  was  a  preacher  of 
great  power  and  influence.  Jacob  Preisz  died 
and  his  remains  lie  buried  on  the  old  home- 
stead now  occupied  by  his  great-great-grand- 
son, Abraham  Price.  He  had  one  son,  John, 
who  was  also  a  minister,  and  who  wrote  poetry 
of  considerable  merit,  a  collection  of  which 
was  published  by  Christopher  Sam  in  1753. 
John  Price  married  young,  and  was  the  father 
of  two  sons,  Daniel  and  John.  Daniel  Price, 
of  the  third  generation  from  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  America,  was  the  father  of  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  the  following  married  and 
reared    families.      These   children  were  John, 

George,  Henry,  Daniel, ,  Elizabeth  and 

Hannah.  George  Price,  who  was  of  the  fourth 
generation,  was  the  father  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  the  names  of  six  are  remembered, 
viz:  Mary,  Sarah,  Daniel,  George,  Hannah 
and  John.  John  became  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  so  young  that  he  was  known  far  and  wide 
as  "Johnny  Price,  the  boy  preacher."  Wher- 
ever he  went  to  preach  people  of  all  denomi- 
nations flocked  to  hear  him.  He  originated  the 
Sunday-school  in  Coventry,  not  without  much 
opposition.  In  his  early  life  he  kept  a  store  in 
the  house  now  occupied  by  John  Ellis,  and 
while  thus  engaged   he   changed   the   name   to 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1235 


Price  to  correspond  with  its  pronunciation. 
When  he  died  the  entire  church  mourned  his 
loss,  for  "  Lo,  a  great  man  is  fallen  in  Israel." 
John  Price  was  the  father  of  twelve  children, 
ten  of  whom  lived  to  marry  and  rear  families 
of  their  own.  These  ten  were  Isaac,  George, 
Rebecca,  Mary,  Hannah,  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
Lydia,  Anna  and  John  R.  The  Price  family 
have  long  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
progress  and  prosperity  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
appear  to  have  been  a  priestly  race  as  far  back 
as  we  have  any  knowledge  of  them,  as  Jacob 
was  a  noted  preacher  in  Europe,  and  his  son, 
John,  was  a  preacher  and  poet.  Daniel,  son 
of  John,  was  also  a  preacher,  and  had  two 
sons  who  were  preachers,  while  in  every  gen- 
eration since  there  have  been  one  or  more 
ministers  of  the  gospel. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Horning  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa., 
and  there  he  ran  a  grist-mill  and  a  clover- 
mill  on  his  farm.  He  and  his  wife  had  seven 
children  born  to  them,  as  follows:  John  P., 
Elhanan,  Daniel,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Jonas  and 
Samuel.  In  the  fall  of  1840  Mr.  Horning 
moved  from  Pennsylvania,  settling  in  Perry 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
later  added  100  acres.  To  him  and  his  wife 
there  were  born  the  following  children:  Re- 
becca, Lydia  and  Samuel.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Horning  were  members  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church.  Mr.  Horning  was  an  ingenious 
mechanician,  having  built  a  threshing  machine 
in  Pennsylvania  and  also  a  feed-cutter,  which 
he  himself  invented.  In  Ohio  he  invented  the 
force-feed  grain-drill,  which  was  constructed 
on  the  same  fundamental  principle  as  those 
now  in  most  general  use.  He  also  invented  a 
horse  hay-rake  and  a  horsepower  for  thresh- 
ers, and  a  two-roller  cane-mill,  beside  several 
minor  implements  He  was  both  skillful  and 
industrious,  and  was  known  far  and  wide  for 


his  integrity  of  character  and  for  his  genial 
disposition.  He  was  one  of  the  early  advo- 
cates of  the  temperance  cause  and  among  the 
first  who  undertook  the  suppression  of  the  use 
of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage  in  his 
neighborhood. 

Rev.  Samuel  Horning,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  March  5,  1848,  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Perry  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  was  reared  a  farmer  and  learned  of 
his  father  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  thus  becom- 
ing familiar  with  the  use  of  all  kinds  of  tools. 
When  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age  he 
married  Anna  Matilda  Eversole,  who  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  September  11, 
1850,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Ev- 
ersole and  his  wife,  who  was  Margaret  Fol- 
krath.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Horning  was  born 
December  8,  1804,  in  Shepherdstown,  Jeffer- 
son county,  Va. ,  and  was  a  weaver  and  a 
farmer.  He  located  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and 
there  married  Mary  Logue,  removing  to  Ohio  in 
1832,  and  settling  in  Greene  county,  where  his 
first  wife  died.  He  afterward  married  Marga- 
ret Folkrath  in  1834,  and  by  this  second  mar- 
riage had  ten  children,  as  follows:  Daniel, 
Catherine,  Maria,  Henry  C,  Elizabeth,  Julia, 
Anna  M.,  Sarah  F.,  John  C.  and  Laura  L. 
He  is  a  most  excellent  neighbor  and  an  hon- 
ored member  of  the  community.  While  a 
member  of  no  church,  yet  he  is  a  supporter  of 
religious  work,  giving  the  ground  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  Eversole  church,  which  is  located 
on  his  farm.  Mr.  Eversole  is  the  last  living 
member  of  his  father's  family,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Roop,  another  member,  having  recently  died. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horning 
settled  on  the  farm  and  moved  into  the  ancient 
mansion,  remaining  there  three  years,  then 
bought  part  of  the  old  homestead  and  erected 
excellent  modern  buildings,  where  they  still  re- 
side.    Their  children   are   as  follows:     John, 


1236 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Jr.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years;  Ed- 
win L.  and  Clara.  Rev.  Samuel  Horning 
has  been  a  minister  of  the  German  Baptist 
church  for  the  past  fourteen  years,  or  since 
August  31,  1882,  and  has  worthily  followed  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  ancestors.  He  is  possessed 
of  a  broad  and  liberal  education,  and  so  highly 
appreciates  the  advantages  of  educating  the 
youth,  that  he  has  given  his  children  the  best 
education  within  his  means,  and  the  best  the 
facilities  of  the  present  day  permit.  He  is  a 
man  of  wide  and  careful  reading,  informed  on 
all  current  topics,  and  well  versed  in  ancient 
and  modern  history  and  theology.  He  and 
his  wife  have  been  members  of  the  church 
since  1872,  their  children  also  uniting  with  the 
church  in  early  life. 


HBRAHAM  NEFF,  of  Perry  township, 
one  of  the  oldest  and   most  respected 
native-born  farmers   of    Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  Jefferson 
township,  was   born  June   7,   181 8,  and  is  re- 
motely of  German  descent. 

Leonard  Neff,  his  grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  when  a  young  man  re- 
moved to  Somerset  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
married  Elizabeth  Miller.  He  went  thence  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  was  a  compatriot  of  the 
famous  Daniel  Boone,  and  at  one  time  found 
shelter  in  the  same  fort  with  him  during  an  In- 
dian raid.  Mr.  Neff  cleared  a  plantation  in 
Jessamine  county,  Ky.,  and  there  died  at  the 
age  of  about  seventy-six  years,  the  father  of 
the  following  children:  John,  Peter,  Eliza- 
beth, Mary,  Michael,  Jonathan,  Joseph  and 
Margaret. 

Michael  Neff,  father  of  Abraham,  was  born 
in  Kentucky  in  1794.  He  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing in  Jessamine  county  and  also  learned  the 
blacksmith   trade.      He   came  to  Ohio  in  181  5 


and  was  married  in  Montgomery  county,  in 
1 8 1 6  or  1 8 1 7,  to  Esther  Weaver,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1795  or  1796,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Heistand)  Weaver, 
the  latter  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of 
German  extraction. 

Peter  Weaver  was  born  in  Germany,  came 
to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  first  made 
his  home  in  Pennsylvania,  married  in  that 
state,  later  brought  his  family  to  Ohio,  and 
was  a  pioneer  of  what  is  now  Jefferson  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  and  at  one  time 
owned  a  section  and  a  half  of  land,  which  at 
the  present  time  is  divided  into  eight  farms. 
His  children  were  named  John,  Jacob,  Henry, 
Elizabeth,  Barbara,  Esther,  Peter  and  Abra- 
ham. He  was  for  many  years  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church,  lived  to  the 
great  age  of  ninety-four  years,  and  died  in 
Elkhart  county,  Ind.,  at  the  home  of  his  eld- 
est son,  John. 

Michael  Neff  and  wife,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  Peter  Weaver  farm  in  Jefferson 
township,  and  here  were  born  their  four  chil- 
dren— Abraham  (the  subject  of  this  memoir), 
Margaret,  Michael  and  Elizabeth,  and  here, 
also,  Mrs.  Esther  Neff  was  called  from  earth 
about  1824.  Mr.  Neff  next  married  Miss 
Barbara  Floro,  daughter  of  Joseph  Floro,  and 
this  union  resulted  also  in  the  birth  of  four 
children — Sarah,  Joseph,  Eve  and  Jonathan — 
all  probably  born  in  Perry  township,  whither 
after  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Neff  removed 
about  1827  or  1828,  and  settled  on  160  acres 
in  the  woods,  of  which  tract,  however,  twenty 
acres  had  been  cleared.  This  land  had  been 
entered  by  Peter  Weaver  in  18 12,  the  deed 
being  signed  by  President  Madison;  the  parch- 
ment is  still  preserved  by  Abraham  Neff,  who 
now  lives  upon  the  farm.  Michael  Neff 
thoroughly  developed  this  place  and  lived  upon 
it  until  failing  health  called  a  respite  from  la- 
bor, when  he  made  a  visit  to  Charleston,  W. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1237 


Va.,  in  hope  of  recuperating,  but  there  died 
July  10,  1 85 1 ,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years. 
He  was  a  whig  in  politics,  an  unswervingly 
honest  man,  and  honored  universally  as  a 
useful  citizen. 

Abraham  Neff,  with  whose  name  this  biog- 
raphy is  opened,  was  reared  to  farming  and 
was  educated  in  an  old-fashioned  log  school- 
house.  He  learned  from  his  father  the  black- 
smith's trade,  also,  and,  when  of  a  little  over 
twenty-two  years  old,  was  married  January  9, 
1840,  in  Jefferson  township,  to  Tracy  Bellmier, 
who  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Md., 
December  15,  1S17,  a  daughter  of  Gabriel  and 
Margaret  (Toby)  Bellmier,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  Marylander  by  birth,  but  of  German  de- 
scent. He  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  Mont- 
gomery county  in  1827  or  1828,  settling  on  160 
acres  of  land  in  Jefferson  township,  but  about 
1850  removed  to  Ogle  county,  111.,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  Catherine,  Susan, 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Tracy,  John,  Charity,  Mar- 
tin, Harrison,  Caroline,  Ruan   and   Thornton. 

Abraham  Neff  and  wife,  after  their  mar- 
riage, lived  for  four  years  on  an  eighty-acre 
farm  in  Defiance  county,  and  then  returned  to 
the  old  Neff  homestead  in  Montgomery  county, 
their  present  home.  To  this  farm  Mr.  Neff  has 
given  much  intelligent  labor,  improving  it  with 
modern  and  convenient  buildings,  and  bringing 
it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  so  that  it 
now  ranks  among  the  best  places  in  the  town- 
ship. The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neff  are 
John,  Miranda,  Allen,  Mary,  Maggie,  Amelia 
and  Althea  (twins),  Peter,  Hettie  and  Minnie. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  old-school  Ger- 
man Baptist  church.  Mr.  Neff  is  very  popular 
with  his  fellow-citizens  and  has  served  them 
as  town  trustee  for  ten  terms  and  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  seventeen  years.  He 
has  always  been  a  promoter  of  good  schools, 
has  liberally   aided  other  churches  beside  his 


own,  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
good  roads  and  other  essential  public  improve- 
ments in  his  township. 


ISAAC  C.    HAINES,    farmer,    of    Mad- 
ison    township,     Montgomery    county, 
Ohio,    sprang  from  German  and   Irish 
ancestry,  his   paternal    ancestors  being 
from  Germany  and  settlers   in   Pennsylvania. 
Three  brothers  named  Haines  came  from  Ger- 
many at  an  early  day. 

Allen  Haines,  the  father  of  Isaac  C,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  and  married,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Nancy  Lemmon,  who  was  brought 
from  Ireland  by  her  parents  when  she  was 
seven  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haines 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Lemmon,  Frank,  Catherine,  Caroline,  Isaac 
C,  Cyrus,  Levi,  Israel,  Henry,  Samuel  and 
John.  In  1826  Mr.  Haines  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Clay  township,  near  Phillipsburg. 
Later  he  removed  to  Miami  county,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  lived  to  a 
good  old  age. 

Isaac  C.  Haines  was  born  October  9, 
1826,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
brought  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  by  his 
parents  when  he  was  about  six  months  old. 
Receiving  a  common-school  education,  he  was 
reared  a  farmer,  and  when  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  married,  August  17,  1846,  Miss  Bar- 
bara Alice  Teetor,  who  was  born  December 
17,  1829,  in  Washington  county.  Pa.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Donson) 
Teetor.  Her  grandfather,  Francis  Teetor, 
came  from  Germany  with  his  family.  His 
wife,  Catherine  Donaldson,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many. Their  children  were  as  follows:  John, 
George,  Catherine,  Barbara,  Susan  and  Jacob. 


1238 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Francis  Teetor  settled  on  the  Ohio  river  at  an 
early  day,  and  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  or  Dunkard  church. 

Jacob  Teetor,  the  father  of  Mrs  Haines, 
was  born  December  I,  1S05,  on  the  Ohio 
river,  and  was  reared  a  farmer's  boy,  though 
losing  his  father  when  he  was  but  two  years  of 
age.  He  grew  to  manhood  and  married  in 
Washington  county,  Pa.,  the  maiden  name  of 
his  wife  having  been  Elizabeth  Donson.  She 
was  born  in  Maryland,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Barbara  (Garber)  Donson.  Thom- 
as Donson  was  a  wealthy  man,  one  of  the  orig- 
inal pioneers  of  Union  and  Randolph  town- 
ships, and  owned  saw-mills  and  distilleries  in 
the  early  days. 

Jacob  Teetor  came  to  Ohio  in  1827  with 
his  family  and  first  settled  in-Union,  Randolph 
township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  160 
acres  of  land.  Later  he  purchased  160  acres 
of  land  in  Madison  township,  upon  which  he 
lived  for  a  time,  afterward  removing  to  Weaver 
station.  Here  he  bought  a  tract  of  fifty  acres, 
and  later  removed  to  Stringtown,  Madison 
township,  where  he  purchased  seventy-five 
acres,  upon  which  he  remained  until  his  death, 
reaching  the  great  age  of  eighty-five  years.  He 
was  always  an  active  man  and  held  several  im- 
portant positions  of  honor  and  trust,  such  as 
superintendent  of  the  Montgomery  county  in- 
firmary for  five  years,  and  also  that  of  town- 
ship trustee  for  some  time.  Politically  he  was 
a  republican  and  in  religion  he  belonged  to  the 
German  Baptist  church.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children:  Barbara  Alice, 
Thomas,  George,  Henry,  Elizabeth  and  Daniel. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  C.  Haines,  after  their 
marriage,  settled  in  Madison  township  near 
Trotwood.  In  1 85  1  or  1852  Mr.  Haines  pur- 
chased land  in  this  township  and  lived  upon  it 
for  some  years.  In  1879  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Montgomery  county  in- 
firmary, a   position  which  he  held  with  credit 


for  seven  years.  In  1886  he  purchased  his 
present  farm,  which  contains  155  acres  in  Mad- 
ison township,  and  which  is  well  improved. 
Politically  Mr.  Haines  is  a  democrat  and  as 
such  has  served  the  people  as  township  trustee 
for  some  years.  As  a  man  of  character  he 
stands  high  in  the  community,  and  enjoys  gen- 
eral confidence  and  respect.  His  children  are 
Eva,  Webster,  Sallie,  Birdie  Emma,  Walter 
and  Clarence.  Mr.  Haines  had  three  brothers 
in  the  late  Civil  war — Henry,  Samuel  and 
John.  Henry  was  a  member  of  the  Fifteenth 
U.  S.  infantry,  and  the  other  brothers  served 
in  Ohio  regiments. 

Eva  Haines  married  Charles  Winters,  a 
hardware  merchant  of  Braidwood,  111.,  and  has 
two  children — Pearl  and  Amy.  Sallie  married 
Charles  Hoffman,  of  Little  York,  Montgomery 
county,  and  has  three  children,  Claudie,  Ethel 
and  Roscoe.  Walter,  who  is  clerk  of  Mad- 
ison township,  married  Laura  Stauffer;  Clar- 
ence married  a  Miss  Mumma,  and  is  a  car- 
penter, but  living  on  a   farm. 


>Y*AC0B  A  HEPNER,  a  farmer  of  Perry 
M  township,  and  a  grandson  of  one  of  the 
/•  1  original  pioneers  of  Montgomery  county, 
springs  from  German  ancestry.  His 
great-grandfather,  George  Hepner,  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  in  r 73  1 ,  and  came  to  this 
country  a  young  man,  accompanied  by  a 
brother,  in  1757.  He  settled  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  and  in  1760  married  Nellie  Kline. 
Their  children  were  Henry  and  Catherine. 
Later  he  removed  to  Rockingham  county,  Va., 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm.  Still  later  he 
came  to  Ohio  with  his  son  Henry,  who  settled 
in  Jackson  township  in  1806.  Here  the  old 
man  died  in  1S08,  when  he  was  seventy-seven 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  a  man  of  strong  character,  and 
the  founder  of  the  Hepner  family  in  America. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1239 


He  was  buried  in  the  woods  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  southeast  of  New  Lebanon,  his  last  rest- 
ing place  being  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of 
Henry  Schoenfeld,  but  formerly  the  farm  of 
Henry  Hepner. 

Henry  Hepner,  the  grandfather  of  Jacob 
A.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in 
1762,  was  reared  a  farmer  and  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade.  In  his  native  county  he 
married  Mary  Hyser,  and  by  this  marriage  he 
became  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
George  and  Polly,  twins;  John;  Sophia;  Lydia 
and  Leona,  twins;  the  first  four  being  born  in 
Virginia,  and  the  last  two  in  Ohio.  Henry 
Hepner  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1806, 
and  located  on  the  line  between  Jefferson  and 
Jackson  townships,  entering  160  acres  of  land 
in  the  latter  township  and  forty  acres  in  the 
former  township.  Selecting  a  huge  oak  tree, 
he  cut  it  down  and  built  his  cabin  round  the 
stump.  This  stump  trimmed  and  dressed  to 
bring  it  into  proper  shape,  served  for  a  table 
for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Hepner  was  well 
known  among  the  pioneers  in  all  that  region  as 
a  man  of  safe  and  reliable  judgment  and  was 
unusually  influential  in  his  neighborhood.  Be- 
ing a  vigorous  and  energetic  worker,  he  pros- 
pered and  became  a  substantial  farmer.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  Church. 

John  Hepner,  father  of  Jacob  A.,  was  born 
in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  in  1797,  and  was 
therefore  but  nine  years  old  when  brought  to 
Ohio  by  his  father.  Educated  principally  in 
the  German  tongue,  yet  he  acquired  a  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  English  to  enable  him  to 
read  and  converse  in  this  language.  His 
father  being  a  blacksmith  as  well  as  a  farmer, 
young  Hepner  was  trained  in  both  callings. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Diehl,  who  was  born 
November  29,  1800,  in  Bedford  county,  Pa., 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Diehl,  for  fuller 
mention  of  whom  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
biography  of  the  Diehl  family,  published  else- 


where in  this  volume.  Mr.  Hepner  settled  on 
section  34,  Perry  township,  on  110  acres  of 
land  in  the  woods,  which  had  been  entered  by 
Jacob  Diehl.  This  land  Mr.  Hepner  cleared 
and  upon  it  built  his  home.  In  his  earlier  life, 
in  this  then  wild  country,  he  was  accustomed 
to  do  a  great  deal  of  hunting,  killing  many 
deer,  wolves  and  wild  turkeys,  wildcats  and 
panthers.  He  was  a  most  industrious  man  on 
his  farm,  and  by  thrift  and  careful  manage- 
ment of  his  affairs  he  came  to  own  271  acres 
of  excellent  land  in  Montgomery  county,  and 
also  150  acres  in  Lake  county,  Ind.  Relig- 
iously he  was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  was  noted  for  his  strong,  upright, 
christian  character.  Politically  he  was  an 
old-line  whig.  Mr.  Hepner  lived  to  be  forty- 
four  years  of  age,  and  died  on  his  farm.  His 
children  were  George,  Jacob  A.,  Elizabeth, 
Rosanna,  John  and  Lydia.  His  wife  died 
when  she  was  forty-nine  years  of  age,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

Jacob  A.  Hepner  was  born  May  24,  1828, 
on  his  father's  farm.  Obtaining  the  common- 
school  education  of  his  day,  he  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  on  September  19,  1852,  married 
Miss  Eve  Neff,  who  was  born  February  6, 
1836,  in  Perry  township,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Barbara  (Floro)  Neff.  For 
fuller  mention  of  Miss  Eva  Neff  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  biography  of  Abraham  Neff. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hepner 
settled  on  the  homestead  farm,  on  which  they 
lived  until  1857,  when  they  removed  to  their 
present  farm  of  107  acres.  Of  this  Mr.  Hep- 
ner cleared  about  forty  acres,  which  he  ma- 
terially improved.  Adding  other  acres  to  its 
original  number,  he  at  length  became  possessed 
of  136  acres  of  good  farming  land.  He  and 
his  wife  reared  the  following  children:  Mary 
C,  born  August  22,  1853,  died  March  26, 
1854;  Minerva,  born  September  23,  1854; 
Sarah  A.,  born  April  22,  1856;  Amanda,  born 


1240 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


October  9,  1858;  Elizabeth,  born  December 
23,  1860,  died  a  married  woman;  Emma,  born 
April  7,  1862,  died  in  April,  1893;  Clara,  born 
March  22,  1865;  George  W. ,  bom  January  4, 
1867;  Jacob  A.,  born  April  12,  1870;  William 
A.,  born  January  14,  1872;  Morris,  born  Jan- 
uary 3,  1876,  and  died  January  10,  iS76;and 
Omar  V.,  born  February  27,  1877.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hepner  are  members  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church,  and  Mr.  Hepner  has  been  an  active 
politician  for  many  years,  being  an  excellent 
speaker  and  an  efficient  worker.  Politically 
he  was  in  early  life  an  old-line  whig,  but  has 
been  a  member  of  the  republican  party  since 
its  organization.  He  has  always  taken  an  act- 
ive interest  in  educational  matters,  and  exer- 
cises his  influence  in  the  direction  of  good 
schools.  He  has  for  this  reason  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  for  many  years. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hepner  mar- 
ried as  follows:  Minerva  married  John  H. 
Wehrly,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  has  one  son; 
Sarah  A.  married  Samuel  Fasnacht,  a  farmer 
of  Sumner  county,  Kans.,  and  has  one  child; 
Amanda  R.  married  Martin  B.  Fasnacht,  a 
farmer  of  Sumner  county,  Kans.,  and  has  five 
children;  Elizabeth  married  James  L.  Weaver, 
of  Boulder  county,  Colo.,  had  three  children, 
and  is  now  deceased;  Emma  married  David  C 
Cloppart,  a  farmer  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  has  one  child;  Clara  married  for  her 
first  husband  Lucien  Berk,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child,  and  after  the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band Mrs.  Berk  married  William  T.  Ninning- 
er,  of  Johnson  county,  Mo. ;  George  W.  mar- 
ried Clara  Bowser,  of  Montgomery  county, 
and  has  two  children;  Jacob  A.  married  Hattie 
Bowser,  is  living  on  the  home  farm  and  has 
one  child,  and  William  A.  married  Bessie  Sly- 
der,  is  a  farmer  of  Montgomery  county,  and 
has  one  child.  The  Hepner  family  is  one  of 
the  most  respected  in  Montgomery  county,  and 
comes  from  good,  old  pioneer  stock. 


ISAAC  MILLER,  whose  post-office  is 
Chambersburg,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the  old 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  highly- 
respected  citizen.  He  was  born  in  But- 
ler township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
March  7,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Sunderland)  Miller.  Isaac  was  a  son 
of  James  Miller,  who  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  from  Kentucky,  in  1794,  settling 
in  Butler  township.  "His  children  were  John, 
James,  Mary,  Martha  and  Isaac.  When  he 
came  to  Ohio  in  1794  James  Miller  settled  on 
140  acres  of  land,  being  the  first  settler  within 
the  limits  of  Butler  township.  His  farm  con- 
sisted of  an  unbroken  forest,  which  he  cleared 
as  fast  as  possible,  in  the  meantime  making  a 
part  of  his  living  by  hunting.  Later  he  left 
Butler  township  and  settled  on  the  Wabash 
river  near  Lafayette,  Ind.  He  was  a  typical 
pioneer,  and  lived  to  a  great  age,  dying  in 
the  last-named  state. 

Isaac  Miller,  father  of  the  subject,  was  born 
in  1790,  and  came  with  his  parents  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Ohio  in  1794.  Growing  up  in  the 
wilderness  among  the  pioneers,  his  education 
was  necessarily  limited.  He  married  in  181 1, 
when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  Elizabeth 
Sunderland,  who  was  born  in  1794,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  who  was  a  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Nancy  Sunderland,  for  fuller  mention  of 
whom  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  biography 
of  Richard  Sunderland,  in  this  volume.  After 
their  marriage  Isaac  Miller  and  his  wife  settled 
on  the  old  Sunderland  homestead,  and  lived 
there  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  stationed 
at  Greenville  about  eight  months.  He  and  his 
wife  had  the  following  children:  Nancy,  Mar- 
tha, Pattie,  Massie,  Richard,  Martin,  William, 
Isaac,  Benjamin,  John  and  Elizabeth.  Mr. 
Miller  lived  to  be  seventy-nine  years  old.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,    and   in  politics    was  first   an  old-line 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1241 


whig  and  became  a  republican  upon  the  for- 
mation of  that  party.  Four  of  his  sons  were 
in  the  Civil  war,  viz:  Richard,  Martin,  Ben- 
jamin and  Isaac.  Martin  was  a  private  soldier 
in  company  H,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, served  his  full  time  and  was  in  many 
battles.  Benjamin  was  in  an  Illinois  regiment, 
served  three  years  and  veteranized,  and  partici- 
pated in  many  engagements. 

Isaac  Miller,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  March  7,  1828,  in  Butler  township,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Reared 
on  the  farm  he  naturally  became  a  farmer.  On 
October  14,  1833,  was  born  Martha  Wester- 
man,  whom  Mr.  Miller  married  in  Butler  town- 
ship. She  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Ellen 
(Harrison)  Westerrnan,  the  former  of  whom 
was  of  English  ancestry,  and  married  his  wife 
in  Maryland.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
Mary,  Martha,  Elizabeth,  Thomas,  Lafayette, 
William,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Henry 
Westerrnan  came  as  a  pioneer  to  Butler  town- 
ship and  purchased  a  good  farm  of  100  acres. 
He  lived  to  be  eighty-two  years  old,  an  hon- 
ored citizen  and  an  upright  man. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  settled  on  the  old  Sun- 
derland homestead,  upon  which  they  lived  for 
thirty  years,  and  then  moved  to  Henry  West- 
erman's  farm  in  Butler  township,  upon  which 
they  lived  ten  years.  They  then  removed  to 
their  present  home  in  Chambersburg.  Mr. 
Miller  now  owns  a  farm  of  fifty-six  acres  and 
is  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Miller  have  had  the  following  children: 
Ellen,  Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years,  and  Elizabeth.  The  parents  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  Mr.  Miller 
has  been  a  trustee  of  his  church  for  twenty- 
five  years.      In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Mr.  Miller  enlisted  in  the  army,  leaving  his 
wife  and  three  little  children  at  home.  At 
that  time  he  was  thirty-five  years  old.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  company  F,  Seventy-fourth 


Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  enlisted  to  serve 
three  years,  or  during  the  war.  He  served 
until  he  veteranized  at  Chattanooga  in  1864, 
in  the  same  organization,  and  served  until 
mustered  out  at  Camp  Dennison,  July  17, 
1865,  thus  serving  his  country  faithfully  three 
years  and  nine  months.  He  was  in  the  states 
of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Georgia, 
and  North  and  South  Carolina.  The  principal 
battles  in  which  he  took  part  were  Stone  River, 
Dalton,  Buzzard's  Roost  Mountain,  Peachtree 
Creek,  Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the 
battle  of  Atlanta,  in  which  McPherson  was 
killed,  and  Jonesboro.  Mr.  Miller  was  also  in 
many  minor  battles  and  skirmishes,  and  went 
with  Sherman  to  the  sea,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Savannah.  He  was  in  all  the  battles, 
marches  and  skirmishes  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged.  He  is  a  member  of  Milton 
Weaver  post,  No.  594,  G.  A.  R. ,  and  has  held 
the  offices  of  junior  and  senior  vice-com- 
mander. Mr.  Miller  is  now  a  hale  and  hearty 
man,  and  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  the  veteran 
American  soldier  and  the  true  and  worthy 
American  citizen. 


>-j*OHN  R.  PEIFFER,  one  of  the  most 
J  expert  mechanics  of  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
/•  1  was  born  in  Newmanstown,  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  March  14,  1850,  a  son  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Rabold)  Peiffer,  also  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  state,  and  of  German 
descent. 

John  R.  Peiffer  received  an  excellent  edu- 
cation, both  common-school  and  academical, 
in  his  native  town,  and  then  served  two  years 
as  an  apprentice  to  a  miller.  He  followed 
this  calling  until  he  reached  his  majority,  and 
then,  in  March,  1871,  came  to  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  which  has  since  been  his  place  of  resi- 
dence. Here  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Bookwalter  Wheel  company,  starting  as  a  day- 


lL'42 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


man,  and  was  so  attentive  and  faithful  in  the 
performance  of  his  duties  that  he  was  pro- 
moted, from  time  to  time,  until  he  was  finally 
placed  in  charge  of  the  bentwood  department. 
After  filling  out  the  long  period  of  twenty  years 
with  the  Bookwalter  company,  he  accepted  a 
position  with  the  Acme  Folding  Boat  com- 
pany, as  general  mechanic,  and  this  place  he 
has  most  creditably  filled. 

Mr.  Peiffer  was  united  in  marriage,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1870,  with  Miss  Alice  C.  Fidler,  a 
a  daughter  of  Augustus  and  Catherine  (Treon) 
Fidler,  of  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county,  Pa. 
To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peiffer  have 
been  born  three  children,  viz:  Catherine  (Mrs. 
Ira  C.  Koehne),  Edward  and  Luella.  The 
family  worship  at  the  German  Reformed 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Peiffer  is  a  republican, 
serving  at  present  his  first  term  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council.  He  is  fraternally  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  a  Forester  and  a 
Knight  of  Honor,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  as 
a  public-spirited  and  useful  citizen. 


>^OHN  RIEGEL,  one  of  the  old  and  sub- 
t  stantial  farmers  of  Jackson  township, 
A  1  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county  since  six  years  of 
age,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  July  12, 
1826,  of  German  ancestors. 

John  Riegel,  his  grandfather,  also  a  native 
of  Berks  county,  was  there  married  and  had 
born  to  him  the  following  children:  Samuel, 
Adam,  Jonas,  Joseph,  Susan,  Rebecca,  Han- 
nah, David,  Lydia,  Polly  and  Sallie.  John 
Riegel  came  to  Ohio  in  1832  and  settled  in 
Perry  township  on  160  acres  of  land  that  had 
been  cleared  only  in  small  part,  and  here  he 
built  a  log  house  and  in  course  of  time  cleared 
all  his  land  and  made  a  comfortable  home. 

David  Riegel,  son  of  John,  the  pioneer  and 
the  father  of  subject,  was  also  born  in  Berks 


county,  Pa.,  and  there  married  Elizabeth 
Koucker.  He  followed  farming  and  milling 
until  1832  in  his  native  county,  and  then  came 
to  Ohio,  lived  for  a  short  time  in  Germantown, 
Montgomery  county,  and  then  bought  a  tract 
of  160  acres  in  Perry  township,  all  in  the 
woods,  but  which  he  subsequently  converted 
into  a  fertile  and  profitable  farm.  He  also 
purchased  an  additional  tract  of  301  acres,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  respected  and  solid 
men  of  the  township.  The  children  born  to 
David  Riegel  and  wife  were  named  Mary  (who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years),  John,  Leah, 
Franklin  J.  and  Harry.  The  parents  were 
long  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  contributed  largely  toward  the  erection  of 
the  house  of  worship  belonging  to  that  denomi- 
nation in  Perry  township.  In  politics  Mr.  Riegel 
was  a  democrat,  but  never  sought  public  office. 

John  Riegel,  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm.  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1849,  he  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Miss  Rebecca  Leis,  who  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  June  9,  1832,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Fidler)  Leis. 

Peter  Leis,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Riegel,  was 
of  German  descent  and  came  from  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in 
1831  or  1832,  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres  and 
lived  to  an  advanced  age.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Kalbough,  bore  him  nine 
children,  viz:  Henry,  John,  Adam,  Polly, 
Peggy,  Sallie,  Katie,  Leah  and  Hannah.  The 
family  were  all  devoted  members  of  the 
Reformed  church. 

Henry  Leis,  father  of  Mrs.  Riegel  and  also 
a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  came  to  Ohio 
when  his  father  came,  brought  his  family  with 
him,  settled  on  160  acres  of  land  near  Slyfer's 
church  in  Jackson  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, and  cleared  up  an  excellent  farm.  His 
children  were  named  Israel,  Peter,  John,  Adam 
(who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years),  Henry 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1243 


(who  died  at  thirteen  years)  and  Rebecca. 
This  family  also  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Leis  was  a  demo- 
crat. He  lived  to  be  about  seventy-five  years 
of  age  and  died  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  an 
honored  citizen. 

John  Riegel,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  at 
his  marriage,  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which 
he  bought  from  his  father,  and  which  com- 
prised 177  acres,  all  in  the  woods  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  fifteen  acres.  Through  per- 
severing industry  he  cleared  up  the  entire  tract, 
improved  it  with  substantial  buildings  and  all 
the  accessories  proper  to  the  success  of  hus- 
bandry, and  has  now  as  fine  a  farm  as  there  is 
in  the  township  of  Jackson.  To  his  marriage 
there  have  been  born  eight  children,  in  the 
following  order:  David,  William  H.,  John  A., 
Franklin,  Mary  A.,  Amanda,  Emma  K.  and 
Rebecca  E.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  in  this  faith  have 
reared  their  family.  They  freely  contribute 
of  their  means  toward  the  support  of  their  de- 
nomination, and  Mr.  Riegel  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  causing  the  erection  of  the  Johns- 
ville  church  edifice,  to  the  construction  of 
which  he  also  freely  contributed.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Riegel  is  a  democrat.  Of  the  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riegel,  David  is  a  farmer  of 
Jackson  township,  married  Belle  Fulse,  and 
has  five  children;  William,  also  of  Jackson 
township,  married  Mary  A.  Minderman,  and 
has  four  children;  John  A.,  living  on  the  home 
farm,  married  Lucy  Dechant,  and  has  eight 
children;  Franklin,  farmer  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, married  Mary  Sheppard,  and  has  two 
children;  Mary  A.  is  married  to  Peter  Leis, 
and  has  two  children;  Amanda  (deceased)  was 
married  to  Benjamin  Comar  (deceased),  and 
had  five  children;  Emma  K.,  married  to  Theo- 
dore Dechant,  has  one  child,  and  Rebecca  E. 
is  married  to  Oliver  Patterson  and  has  four 
children.      Mr.    and   Mrs.    Riegel,    now    nearly 


half  a  century  married,  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren, have  thirty-one  grandchildren  and  one 
great-grandchild.  They  have  resided  for  forty- 
seven  years  on  their  present  homestead  and 
have  so  lived  as  to  have  been  able  to  confer 
many  benefits  upon  the  community  and  in  turn 
to  win  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  residents 
of  the  country  all  around  them. 


■p-VOSHUA  SWARTZEL,  farmer  of  Jack- 
■  son  township,  Montgomery  county, 
(•  1  Ohio,  comes  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  an- 
cestors, his  grandfather  haying  been 
Matthias  Swartzel,  who  came  from  Germany 
and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His  children 
were  Abraham,  Henry,  Philip,  Matthias  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  These  children  he 
brought  with  him  from  Germany,  beside  a  sis- 
ter of  his,  who  afterward  married  a  Boomer- 
shine  and  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio. 
Matthias  Swartzel  came  to  Jackson  town- 
ship after  his  son,  Abraham,  had  settled  here. 
While  he  married  three  times,  all  his  children 
were  by  his  first  wife,  who  came  with  him 
from  Germany.  He  lived  to  be  seventy  years 
of  age  and  died  on  the  farm  adjoining  that  on 
which  Joshua  Swartzel  now  lives.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  served  as 
fifer  under  Gen.  Washington. 

Abraham  Swartzel,  father  of  Joshua,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  married  Eliz- 
abeth Izor,  also  a  native  of  that  state.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Annie,  Matthias, 
Philip,  John,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Abraham, 
Henry,  Daniel,  Polly,  Joshua,  Susan  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy.  In  the  year  1800  they 
came  to  Ohio,  living  for  about  one  year  in 
Franklin,  Warren  county,  and  removing  in 
1 801  to  Jackson  township,  where  they  settled 
on  the  section  on  which  Joshua  Swartzel  now 
lives.  Abraham  Swartzel  was,  in  fact,  the 
second  man  to  settle  in  the  township,  the  first 


1244 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


having  been  a  man  by  the  name  of  Stoner,  who 
lived  on  the  south  line  of  the  township. 

Mr.  Swartzel  was  the  second  man  north  of 
Germantown,  there  being  no  one  in  the  count}' 
to  the  north  or  west  of  him,  and  the  country 
being  literally  a  howling  wilderness,  filled  by 
wolves,  panthers,  deer,  bear,  and  many  other 
kinds  of  wild  animals.  Erecting  a  small  log 
cabin,  Mr.  Swartzel  cleared  up  a  portion  of  his 
farm.  He  entered  an  entire  section,  640 
acres,  and  made  a  comfortable  home  for  him- 
self and  family,  putting  up  good  buildings,  and 
continuing  to  buy  land,  so  that  he  was  able  to 
give  each  of  his  children  a  farm.  The  land  on 
which  Farmersville  now  stands  he  sold  to  his 
brother  Henry,  all  of  his  brothers  being  set- 
tlers in  Montgomery  county.  Mr.  Swartzel 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  aided  in  the  erection  of  several 
church  buildings  in  Montgomery  county. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  mem- 
bers of  Stiver  church,  assisting  to  erect  the 
building,  and  afterward  liberally  supported  the 
organization,  and  filled  the  offices  of  deacon 
and  elder  for  many  years.  Politically  he  was  a 
Jackson  democrat.  He  died  in  1840,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-one. 

Joshua  Swartzel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  May  7,  1819,  on  the  farm  which  ad- 
joins his  present  farm  on  the  west.  Brought 
up  among  the  pioneers,  he  learned  their  habits 
of  industry  and  simple  living,  and  cleared  up 
a  considerable  body  of  land.  On  May  7, 
1840,  he  married  Catherine  Miller,  who  was 
born  March  3,  18 19,  in  Warren  county,  Ohio. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Miller,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  county,  and  whose 
father  was  Christian  Miller.  Beside  Catherine, 
the  children  of  Jacob  Miller  were  John,  Eliza- 
beth, Susannah,  Joseph,  Mary  A.,  Rose  Ann 
and  Adam. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swart- 
zel lived  on  the  old   home   farm    for  about  ten 


years,  and  in  1851  moved  to  his  present  farm, 
which  then  contained  128  acres,  nearly  all  of 
which  he  cleared.  By  quiet  and  persistent  in- 
dustry he  made  his  farm  one  of  the  best  in 
Montgomery  county.  His  children  by  his  first 
wife  were  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  Jefferson, 
who  died  in  infancy;  John  J.,  Joshua  D.,  Jos- 
eph F.,  Manassa  W.,  Orange  O,  Cordelia  C. , 
Rosette  M.  and  Lucy. 

Mrs.  Swartzel  died  in  August,  1873,  when 
about  fifty-three  years  of  age,  and  Mr.  Swart- 
zel married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  Albaugh, 
a  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Michael. 
Mr.  Swartzel  is  now  living  on  the  old  farm, 
his  children  having  all  married  and  gone  to 
homes  of  their  own.  He  is  a  new-school 
Lutheran,  and  a  democrat.  He  has  always 
been  liberal  in  his  support  of  his  church,  as 
well  as  public-spirited  in  relation  to  enterprises 
designed  to  benefit  the  general  community. 
While  he  is  now  seventy-eight  years  of  age  he 
is  yet  hale  and  vigorous,  and  has  probably 
many  years  of  usefulness  and  influence  yet  be- 
fore him. 


^yj»ILLIAM   DUCKWALL,    a    pioneer 
mm  of  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  most  ven- 

\jLJI  erable  ol  the  citizens  oi  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  was  born  in 
Berkeley  county,  Va. ,  August  15,  1808.  His 
parents  were  Henry  and  Rosanna  (Lingerfel- 
ter)  Duckwall,  both  of  German  descent. 

Henry  Duckwall  was  a  native  either  of 
Maryland  or  Virginia,  and  was  a  son  of  Lewis 
Duckwall,  a  local  Methodist  preacher,  who, 
about  1804,  settled  in  Highland  county,  Ohio, 
and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven 
years,  the  father  of  the  following-named  chil- 
dren: Henry,  Mary,  John,  Frederick,  Eliza- 
beth, Jacob,  Samuel,  Lewis  and  Daniel,  to  each 
of  whom  he,  being  the  owner  of  a  large  estate, 
gave  a  home.      Henry  Duckwall  came  to  Ohio 


rffq~±  Q^<  ccyi^^^c^c 


x^Cp  ^^v^X^-L-t-  C&--^C^&T*^rsljC' 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1249 


in  1 812,  lived  in  Clinton  county  two  years, 
and  in  18 14  came  to  Montgomery  county  and 
bought  320  acres  in  the  woods  in  German 
township,  which  land,  with  the  assistance  of 
his  sons,  he  cleared  and  converted  into  a  fer- 
tile farm.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  im- 
portance in  his  township,  and  in  the  early 
days  his  house  was  a  place  of  entertainment 
for  the  pioneer  land-seeker.  In  politics  he 
was  first  a  whig  and  later  a  republican,  and 
filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years.  He  died  at  the  age  of  about 
seventy-three  years,  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also  a  com- 
municant. To  his  marriage  there  were  born 
the  following  children:  William,  Mary,  Lewis, 
Elizabeth,  Henry,  John,  Susan,  Daniel,  Jacob 
and  Sarah. 

William  Duckwall,  the  subject,  was  but 
four  years  of  age  when  he  was  brought  to 
Ohio  by  his  parents.  Here  he  was  reared — as 
were  all  other  backwoods  lads  in  the  pioneer 
days — to  the  hard  work  of  clearing  and  de- 
veloping the  primitive  farm.  He  was  first 
married,  July  8,  1834,  in  Middletown,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Eleanor  Bake,  who  was 
born  January  8,  1813,  but  died  May  25,  1836, 
themotherof  one  child — Edwin.  The  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Duckwall  was  with  Miss  Caro- 
line Bruner,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  Jan- 
uary 27,  1820,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Ellinor 
(Custard)  Bruner. 

Daniel  Bruner,  whose  father  came  from 
Bingen  on  the  Rhine,  Germany,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  but  for  some  time  lived  near  Fred- 
erick, Md.,  and  came  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  in  1826.  He  reared  a  family  of  five 
children,  viz:  Elizabeth,  Caroline,  Margaret, 
Ellen  and  Mary  Jane.  His  death  took  place  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years  in  the  faith  of  the 
Methodist  church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also  a 
member.  He  was  first  a  whig  in  politics  and 
later  a  republican,  an  influential   and   well-to- 

56 


do  farmer,  and  left  to  each  of  his  children  a 
comfortable  competence. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duckwall 
first  located  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  but 
later  moved  to  a  farm  of  116  acres  near 
Brookville,  which  farm  Mr.  Duckwall  improved 
with  good  buildings  and  cultivated  until  1893, 
when  he  retired  to  Brookville  to  pass  in  com- 
fort his  remaining  years,  but  still  owns  his 
farm.  In  politics  he  was  in  his  early  days  a 
whig,  and  voted  for  Henry  Clay  for  president, 
but  on  the  disintegration  of  that  party  he  as- 
sisted in  founding  the  republican  party,  voted 
for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  still  adheres  to  that 
organization.  He  and  his  wife  have  long  been 
consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Sarah  A.,  John  William,  Mary  J.,  Laura, 
Charles,  Francis,  Clayton,  Clara  (who  died  at 
seven  years  of  age)  and  Elmer  E.  Of  these 
Francis  is  a  physician  of  Dayton;  Laura  has 
been  a  teacher  within  the  county  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years,  of  which  five  years  were 
passed  in  Brookville;  John  was  a  soldier  for 
four  years  during  the  Civil  war  in  the  Sixty- 
third  Onio  volunteer  infantry,  was  a  veteran, 
and  served  with  Sherman  through  his  famous, 
campaigns.  The  Duckwall  family  is  widely- 
known  in  Montgomery  county,  and  its  venera- 
ble head,  William  Duckwall,  who  has  fourteen 
grandchildren  and  one  great-grandchild,  stands 
high  in  the  esteem  of  its  citizens. 


a  LARK  YOUNT,  one  of  the  old-time 
farmers  and  citizens  of   Butler  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,    Ohio,  de- 
scends from  an  old  pioneer  family  and 
is  himself  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state,  of  re- 
motely German  ancestry. 

George  Yount,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and,  in  com- 
pany   with    three    brothers    and    one  sister — 


1250 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


William  Henry,  Jacob,  John  and  Catherine 
— came  to  America  many  years  prior  to  the 
opening  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  landed  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  thence  went  to  North 
Carolina,  some  years  later,  where  they  all 
founded  their  homes,  close  to  Deep  river.  In 
1801,  however,  George  Yount  brought  his 
family  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Warren  county, 
near  Lebanon,  but  later  moved  to  a  farm  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Stillwater,  near  Union, 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  April  23,  18 10,  a 
Quaker  in  religion.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Rosanna  Waymire,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  died  August  16,  1814.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  John, 
George,  Frederick,  Rebecca,  Rachel,  Polly, 
Milly  and  Rosa. 

John  Yount,  grandfather  of  Clark  Yount, 
■was  born  in  Pennsylvania  September  23,  1768, 
and  there  married  Mary  Low,  who  was  born 
March  28,  1 77 1 ,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
Henry,  Delilah,  Rebecca,  Solomon  and  Fred- 
erick. John  Yount  moved  with  his  family  to 
North  Carolina,  probably  about  the  year  1799. 
About  two  years  later  the  family  went  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  a  year  afterward,  in  1802,  came  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a 
tract  of  156  acres  in  the  wild  woods,  for  which 
Mr.  Yount  paid  $2  per  acre.  The  Younts, 
Hoovers  and  Marts,  who  all  came  at  the  same 
time,  are  thought  to  have  been  the  first  white 
men  to  tread  the  wilderness  of  this  part  of  the 
•county.  They  had  to  cut  a  wagon  road 
through  the  woods  to  Dayton — the  first  in  this 
part  of  the  township.  Indians  were  numerous, 
game  abundant,  and  the  hardships  and  toil  un- 
remitting. But  industry  conquered  all  things, 
and  Mr.  Yount  died  a  wealthy  man,  at  the  age 
of  about  fifty  years,  in  the  faith  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  December  1,  1822.  His  widow, 
first  a  (Quakeress  and  later  a  Dunkard,  died 
July  22,   1842. 


Frederick  Yount,  father  of  Clark,  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  July  30,  1799,  and  was 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents  in  1802.  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  which, 
as  he  grew  in  years,  he  aided  in  clearing,  and 
also  worked  in  his  father's  saw-mill  on  Dry 
Branch  creek.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years,  in  February,  1821,  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Engle,  who  was  born  in  February, 
1802,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Engle,  a  pioneer 
of  Covington,  Miami  county,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Engle  was  of  German  descent  and  had  a  family 
of  ten  children,  viz:  John,  Michael  and  Philip 
(twins),  Adam,  Henry,  Matthew,  Catherine, 
Sallie,  Eve  and  Abraham.  The  sons  were 
all  great  hunters,  and  one,  Abraham,  acci- 
dentally shot  himself  while  engaged  in  the 
chase.  They  were  all  patriots  and  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  To  Frederick  Yount  and 
wife  were  born  the  following  children  :  Enos, 
born    November    17,   1821;   Sarah  A.,  January 

16,  1823 — died  February  7,  1823;  Clark,  born 
July  10,  1824;  Henry,  born  February  7,  1826; 
Eve,  July  1,  1827 — died  April  5,  1850;  Solo- 
mon, born  March  28,  1829;  Emily,  born  Sep- 
tember 11,  1830;  Elizabeth,  March  10,  1832; 
Johanna,  May  12,  1834 — died  February  7, 
1889;  Ira,  born  January  2,  1836 — died  Sep- 
tember 27,    1837;    Mary  A.,    born   December 

17,  1838 — died  in  1 841 ;  Oliver,  born  March 
29-  1837 — died  March  11,  1838;  Eli,  born 
September  24,  1840;  Rebecca,  born  January 
4,  1842.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Yount 
passed  all  their  days  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  no  family  in  the  county  stood  higher  in 
the  esteem  of  their  fellow-citizens.  They 
were  faithful  in  their  adherence  to  the  Quaker 
faith  and  were  endowed  with  all  the  good 
qualities  for  which  the  Society  of  Friends  are 
so  justly  famous. 

Clark  Yount  was  reared  on  the  homestead 
of  his  parents  near  Fredericksburg,  Ohio, 
which  was  named  in  honor  of  his  father.      The 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1251 


original  Yount  homestead,  entered  by  John 
Yount,  covered  the  site  of  that  village — ex- 
tending, as  it  does,  from  Mongomery  count)' 
into  Miami  county,  in  the  latter  of  which 
counties  Fredericksburg  is  situated.  Clark 
received  a  good  education  in  a  select  school, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  married,  in 
Dayton,  June  8,  1845,  Miss  Mary  Smith,  who 
was  born  November  12,  1825,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  (Whitehead)  Smith. 
David  Smith  was  a  pioneer  farmer  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  to  him  and  wife  were 
born  the  following  children:  Susan,  Jacob, 
Mary,  Esther,  John,  Solomon,  Samuel  and 
Levina.  Mr.  Smith  was  the  owner  of  two 
good  farms  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  church.  His  death 
took  place  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years. 

After  marriage  Clark  Yount  lived  on  his 
father's  land  for  a  year,  then  for  a  year  east  of 
Union,  and  in  1848  moved  to  his  present  farm, 
which  consisted  of  1  57  acres  and  was  but  partly 
cleared.  He  now  has  a  model  home  of  172 
acres,  improved  with  a  modern  dwelling  and 
giving  evidence  of  thrift  and  prosperity.  To 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yount  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Oliver  F.,  Eliz- 
abeth C,  Catherine,  Emily,  Rebecca  A.,  Le- 
vina and  Eli.  Mr.  Yount  and  all  the  family 
are  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  of 
which  Oliver  F.  was  an  elder  and  minister  for 
sixteen  years  prior  to  his  death  in  1888. 

David  P.  Sollenberger,  who  married  Miss 
Rebecca  A.  Yount,  October  10,  1875,  is  a  son 
of  John  W.  and  Catherine  (Peffley)  Sollen- 
berger. John  W.  is  a  son  of  Jacob,  who  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  there  married 
Annie  Wenger  and  came  to  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1827.  He  settled  two  miles  west 
of  Dayton,  and  died  on  his  farm  the  same 
year,  leaving  two  children — John  W.  and  Eliz- 
abeth. His  widow  married  John  Miller.  John 
W.    Sollenberger   was    born    in    Pennsylvania 


March  10,  1823,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents.  Here  he  was  reared  by  his  mother 
and  step-father,  and  March  7,  1843,  married 
Catherine  Peffley,  who  was  born  November  6, 
1824,  in  Montgomery  county.  He  then  moved 
to  Elkhart  county,  Ind.,  bought  160  acres  of 
land,  lived  there  eight  years,  then  returned  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  100 
acres  in  Randolph  township,  and  there  died 
March  22,  1892,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  his  wife 
having  died  on  February  7,  1876,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two.  Mr.  Sollenberger  was  for  many 
years  a  minister  in  the  German  Baptist  church, 
and  was  greatly  respected.  His  children  are 
named  Jacob,  John,  David,  Aaron,  Moses, 
Elizabeth,  William  and  Henry. 

David  P.  Sollenberger  was  born  November 
14,  185  1,  in  St.  Joseph  county,  Ind.,  and  his 
wife  was  born  on  the  Yount  homestead  Janu- 
ary 13,  1854;  they  are  now  the  parents  of  six 
children — John  J.,  Mary.  E.,  Phebe  C,  Oliver 
C,  Isaac  J.  and  David  Laurel.  Mr.  Sollen- 
berger has  been  a  deacon  in  the  German 
Baptist  church  for  nineteen  years,  and  for  two 
years  a  minister.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  117  acres  in  Miami  county,  and  is  an 
esteemed  and  useful  member  of  society. 


'Jrj'OHN  R.  BRUMBAUGH,  Union  post- 
M  office,  Ohio,  a  farmer  of  Randolph 
(Q  J  township,  Montgomery  county,  is  a 
grandson  of  one  of  the  original  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  His  remote  ancestor 
came  from  Germany,  four  or  five  brothers  of 
the  family  corning  across  the  sea  together,  and 
settling  in  Pennsylvania.  They  were  among 
the  first  of  the  German  Baptist  pioneers  that 
came  to  this  country  on  account  of  religious 
persecutions  in  their  native  land. 

Henry  Brumbaugh,  the  grandfather  of  John 
R.,  was  a  son  of  Jacob   Brumbaugh  and  was  a 


1252 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


farmer  in  Woodcock  valley,  Pa.  While  still 
living  in  Pennsylvania  he  married  Elizabeth 
Fulk,  who  was  reared  at  Morrison's  Cove,  in 
that  state.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children:  Jacob,  Samuel,  Daniel,  George, 
Henry,  Esther,  Nancy,  Susan,  Elizabeth, 
Catherine  and  Mary.  In  1 8 14  Mr.  Brumbaugh 
moved  to  Montgomery  county  with  his  family, 
floating  down  the  Ohio  river  in  a  boat  and 
thence  coming  by  wagon  across  the  country  to 
Dayton.  Entering  land  in  Randolph  town- 
ship, 160  acres  covered  with  timber,  he  built  a 
log  cabin  on  it,  and  proceeded  as  rapidly  as 
possible  to  clear  up  the  land.  In  the  course 
of  time  he  added  other  acres  and  became  a 
prosperous  farmer.  He  was  one  of  the  hardy 
and  successful  pioneers,  a  man  of  great 
strength,  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  He 
assisted  in  the  founding  of  the  German  Baptist 
church  in  Randolph  township. 

Samuel  Brumbaugh,  son  of  Henry,  and 
father  of  John  R.,  was  born  April  12,  1806,  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  boy  of 
eight  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Montgom- 
ery county.  Reared  on  a  farm  he  became  a 
farmer,  and,  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  married 
Elizabeth  Rhinehart,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan 
(Brower)  Rhinehart.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brum- 
baugh settled  on  ior>  acres  of  land  in  Clay 
township,  which  was  then  in  the  woods,  and 
this  tract  Mr.  Brumbaugh  cleared  of  its  tim- 
ber and  made  productive.  Afterward  he  re- 
moved one  mile  south  of  where  his  son,  John 
R.,  now  lives,  settling  on  a  good  farm  of  240 
acres,  upon  which  he  lived  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  He  was  in  religious  belief  a  Ger- 
man Baptist  and  for  many  years  a  deacon  of 
his  church.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
John  R.,  Hannah,  Mary,  deceased;  Lydia, 
Sarah,  Jacob  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Brumbaugh  lived  to  be  eighty-nine  years 
of  age,  was  well  known   to  all  the  old  settlers, 


and  enjoyed    the    well-earned    esteem    of  the 
community. 

John  R.  Brumbaugh,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Clay  township,  December 
24,  1829.  Reared  on  the  farm,  he  early  be- 
came inured  to  hard  work.  On  August  21, 
1852,  he  married  Elizabeth  Heckman,  who 
was  born  October  6,  1832,  in  Clay  township, 
Montgomery  county,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  A.  (Brandenburgh )  Beck- 
man.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brumbaugh  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  112 
acres.  Their  children  were  born  as  follows: 
Clara,  Mary  A.  and  Simon,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  Mrs.  Brumbaugh 
died  April  21,  i860,  a  woman  of  many  excel- 
lent qualities  of  character  and  disposition  and 
a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr. 
Brumbaugh  was  married  the  second  time,  in 
October,  1861,  to  Nancy  J.  Heckman,  who 
was  born  September  6,  1837,  and  is  a  sister  of 
his  first  wife.  The  children  by  this  second 
marriage  are  Harriet,  Amanda,  Martha,  Enos 
and  Jessie.  Mr.  Brumbaugh  has  continuously 
lived  on  the  same  farm,  and  by  his  thrift  and 
toil  has  added  thereto  until  at  the  present  time 
he  owns  350  acres,  and  has  also  given  139 
acres  to  his  children.  He  has  been  a  life-long 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church  and  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  his  town- 
ship.     Politically  he  is  a  republican. 


'g' 


QUIRE  HENRY  CUPPY,  a  native 
of  Wayne  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the  farm 
on  which  he  still  lives,  July  4,  1825, 
and  descends  from  ancestors  who  came  to 
America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war. 

John  Cuppy,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native 
of  Prussia,  came  to  America  a  young  man  and 
landed  in  New  York  in  1750.  He  went  to 
Canada  as  a  soldier  in   the  French  and  Indian 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1253 


war  of  1754,  and  after  his  return  married 
Elizabeth  Devore.  He  then  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  near  Morristown,  where  he  combined 
his  trade  of  stonemason  with  the  vocation  of 
farming.  His  children  were  named  Abraham, 
Benjamin,  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  John  and 
Ann.  From  New  Jersey  Mr.  Cuppy  moved  to 
Hampshire  county,  then  in  Virginia,  but  now  in 
West  Virginia,  and  settled  near  Romney, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
and  where  he  had  been  a  substantial  farmer 
and,  for  a  number  of  years,  served  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace. 

John  Cuppy,  his  son,  and  father  of  'Squire 
Cuppy,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  March  11, 
1761.  He  received  as  good  an  education  as 
the  common  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded, 
and  was  reared  a  farmer.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Virginia  and  there  married,  in  Hamp- 
shire county,  Rachel  Caxton,  the  union  result- 
ing in  the  birth  of  Abraham,  Benjamin,  Daniel, 
Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Hannah.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  in  Virginia  in  1820,  and 
Mr.  Cuppy  again  married,  his  second  wife  be- 
ing Miss  Lydia  Oilar,  whom  he  married  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  October,  1823. 
She  was  born  in  Greenbrier  county,  Va. ,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1798,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Hanks)  Oilar,  her  maternal  grandmother 
being  a  relative  of  the  mother  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  Henry  Oilar  was  of  German  de- 
scent, was  a  carpenter  and  farmer,  came  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1808,  and  set- 
tled on  Mud  creek,  but  died,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-eight years,  in  Lafayette,  Ind.  To  the 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Cuppy  were  born  three 
children — Henry,  Fletcher  and  John  A. 

John  Cuppy,  father  of 'Squire  Cuppy,  when 
a  young  man,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  served  under  Gen.  Greene; 
also  fought  at  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine 
and  afterward  was  a  scout  for  Gen.  Wayne  on 
the  Ohio  river,  and  had  many  encounters  with 


the  Indians.  He  was  later  captain  of  a  Vir- 
ginia militia  company,  and  took  part  in  the 
famous  whisky  rebellion  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1794.  The  same  year  he  passed  the  spot 
where  Dayton  now  stands,  being  at  that  time  a 
bearer  of  dispatches  from  Cincinnati  to  Gen. 
Wayne,  who  was  encamped  on  Mad  river,  near 
where  the  town  of  Osborn  now  stands.  Simon 
Kenton,  the  famous  Indian  fighter,  scout  and 
backwoodsman,  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  Mr. 
Cuppy  in  his  old  age  in  Ohio.  On  coming  to 
the  Buckeye  state  Mr.  Cuppy  bought  320 
acres  of  land  from  Daniel  Sunderland,  in 
Wayne  township,  Montgomery  county,  a  small 
spot  only  being  cleared;  but  he  brought  eighty 
acres  under  cultivation  and  made  a  comforta- 
ble pioneer  home,  and  this  land  now  belongs 
to  Henry  Cuppy.  Mr  Cuppy  also  bought 
tracts  of  land  in  Tippecanoe,  Wabash  and 
Dearborn  counties,  Ind.,  and  at  his  death  was 
able  to  give  all  his  children  farms.  Mr.  Cuppy 
was  converted  and  baptized  by  the  eccentric 
pioneer  preacher,  Lorenzo  Dow.  In  politics 
he  was  successively  a  Jackson  democrat,  a 
whig  and  a  republican.  He  voted  for  Wash- 
ington for  president,  and  thereafter  voted  at 
each  presidential  election  until  the  time  of  Fre- 
mont, in  1856.  He  was  awarded  a  section  of 
land  for  his  services  as  scout,  which  he  located 
in  Virginia,  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  in  his  old 
age  he  received  a  land  warrant  for  his  services 
in  the  Revolution,  which  he  located  in  Wapello 
county,  Iowa.  He  reached  the  patriarchal 
age  of  100  years,  three  months  and  seventeen 
days,  dying  June  8,  1861. 

Henry  Cuppy  received  the  usual  instruction 
to  be  obtained  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Ohio, 
and  was  reared  a  farmer.  While  still  young 
he  taught  school  in  Wayne  township  for  seven 
months,  and  among  his  pupils  were  the  now 
famous  Gen.  Geo.  W.  Crook  and  his  brothers, 
Capt.  Walter  Crook  and  Chas.  Crook.  He 
married  in  Dayton,  in  1878,  Sarah  A.  Cuppy, 


1254 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


a  very  distant  relative,  who  was  born  near 
Mount  Pleasant,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Perrin) 
Cuppy.  Abraham  was  a  farmer  and  coal 
miner  on  his  own  land;  he  was  a  son  of  Abra- 
ham Cuppy,  who  was  a  son  of  John,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America.  To  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Henry  Cuppy  were  born  seven 
children,  viz:  John,  William,  Caroline,  Mary, 
Sarah  A.,  Elthiza  and  Margaret.  To  'Squire 
Cuppy  and  wife  were  born  three  children,  the 
only  survivor  being  Emma,  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools.  Mrs.  Cuppy  died  June  18, 
1887,  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Methodist 
church,  and  Mr.  Cuppy  married  for  his  second 
wife  Mary  Griffin.  In  politics  Mr.  Cuppy  is 
an  independent  democrat  and  was  elected  a 
justice  of  the  peace  three  years  ago.  This 
office  he  has  administered  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  public  and  with  much  credit  to 
himself.  He  is  hale  and  hearty  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  has  lived  an  honorable, 
upright  and  useful  life,  and  stands  to-day 
among  the  most  respected  of  the  citizens  of 
Wayne  township. 


>-j*OSEPH  M.  HENDRIX,  a  well-known 
M  farmer  of  Madison  township,  Montgom- 
A  1  ery  county,  is  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
ancestry.  The  founder  of  the  family  in 
this  country  was  Adam  Hendrix,  his  great- 
great-grandfather,  who  came  from  Germany 
and  settled  in  York  county,  Pa.,  where  for 
many  years  he  followed  farming.  His  sons 
were  William  and  Joseph.  The  eminent 
statesman,  Thomas  Hendricks,  of  Indiana, 
was  a  member  of  this  family,  different  branches 
thereof  spelling  the  name  in  different  ways. 
Several  members  of  the  family  served  the 
cause  of  the  patriots  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
William  Hendrix,  eldest  son  of  Adam,  set- 
tled in  South  Carolina,  and   from   him   sprang 


the  southern  branch  of  the  family.  Joseph 
Hendrix,  who  was  the  great-grandfather  of 
Joseph  M. ,  was,  like  his  father  before  him,  a 
farmer  of  York  county,  Pa.  In  that  county 
he  lived  and  died,  leaving  two  children,  Joseph 
and  Isaac.  The  elder  of  these  two  sons, 
Joseph,  was  the  grandfather  of  the  subject. 
A  native  of  York  county,  Pa.,  and  a  farmer, 
he  married  Miss  Agnes  McDonald,  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children:  Adam,  Isaac, 
John,  Daniel,  Washington,  Sarah  A.,  and 
Joseph,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a  physician  of 
Oxford,  Pa.  The  father  of  these  children  was 
a  man  of  wonderful  constitution  and  health, 
and  lived  to  be  eighty-three  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
church,  and  a  man  of  great  strength  of  char- 
acter as  well  as  of  body. 

The  third  son  of  Joseph  Hendrix,  John, 
was  the  father  of  Joseph  M.  Hendrix.  He 
was  born  in  York  county  January  4,  18 14. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rebecca 
Murray,  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Md.,  near 
Baltimore,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Mur- 
ray', who  was  of  Scotch  descent.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hendrix  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  lived  there 
a  year  and  then  removed  to  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  locating  near  Winchester.  By  continu- 
ous labor  and  thrift  Mr.  Hendrix  increased  his 
landed  possessions  until  he  owned  some  400 
acres,  and  became  a  most  prosperous  man. 
He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  children: 
Joseph  M.,  Sarah  A.,  Agnes  J.,  Virginia  R. , 
John  E.,  Delos  F. ,  Franklin  D.,  Edwin  and 
Clara.  In  politics  Mr.  Hendrix  was  a  demo- 
crat, as  such  serving  as  township  trustee  sev- 
eral terms. 

Joseph  M.  Hendrix  was  born  in  1842  in 
Montgomery  county,  near  Farmersville.  While 
yet  an  infant  he  was  taken  to  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation and  was  reared    on   a  farm.      On  Janu- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1255 


ary  24,  1874,  he  was  married  in  Harrison 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  to  Re- 
becca A.  Wampler,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  (Roop)  Wampler,  and  was  born 
in  Harrison  township.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hendrix  settled  on  their  present 
farm,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Elmer  D.,  Edith  R.  and  Nora  A. 
Mr.  Hendrix  has  always  been  a  successful 
farmer  and  a  man  of  principle  and  sterling 
character.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  and 
religiously  a  devoted  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church. 

David  Wampler,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Hendrix,  was  of  German  ancestry,  and  came 
to  Ohio  from  Carroll  county,  Md.  He  married 
in  Maryland,  and  upon  arriving  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  settled  on  Wolf  creek  and  cleared 
up  a  farm.  His  children  were  Philip  and 
David.  Philip  was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Hendrix,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  mar- 
ried Catherine  Royer,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Mary  A.,  Edwin,  Jesse, 
David,  William,  Maria,  Elizabeth,  Catherine, 
Samuel,  Annie,  John  and  Joseph.  Philip 
Wampler  settled  in  Harrison  township,  cleared 
up  a  farm  of  162  acres,  was  a  valued  member 
of  the  community,  and  lived  to  be  seventy-nine 
years  old.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church. 

William  Wampler,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Hendrix,  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Md.,  on 
Sunday,  February  29,  1824.  When  three 
years  of  age  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Montgomery  county.  Receiving  the  usual 
common-school  education  of  the  times,  he 
grew  to  manhood  upon  the  farm,  and  upon  at- 
taining his  majority  married  Mary  Roop, 
daughter  of  David  and  Rebecca  (Grimm)  Roop. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wampler 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Harrison  township  con- 
sisting of  162  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  added 
until  he  ultimately  owned  459  acres  in  Ohio, 


besides  1,000  acres  in  Missouri.  He  was 
known  for  his  probity  of  character  no  less 
than  for  his  thrift  and  success  in  business.  He 
and  his  wife  had  the  following  children:  Re- 
becca A.,  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  David  and 
William.  Politically  he  was  a  republican,  re- 
ligiously a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  in  every  respect  a  useful  and 
most  worthy  citizen. 


HARON  KIMMEL,  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  of  Montgomery  county,  sprang 
from  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock.  His 
grandfather  was  Daniel  Kimmel, 
from  Berks  county.  Pa.,  a  farmer  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church.  He  mar- 
ried Barbara  Kroner,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Susan,  John,  Daniel, 
Jonas,  Lewis,  Michael,  Mattie  and  Hannah. 
He  made  several  journeys  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  on  horseback,  and  one  trip  to 
southern  Illinois,  in  the  same  manner.  This 
was  at  a  very  early  day,  and  on  his  journeys 
he  was  accustomed  to  camp  out  wherever  night 
overtook  him.  About  18 10  he  removed  his 
family  to  Montgomery  county,  settling  five 
miles  west  of  Dayton  in  the  woods,  on  160 
acres  of  land.  Clearing  this  land  of  its  timber, 
he  made  of  it  a  fine  farm,  and  in  course  of 
time  bought  more  land.  He  lived  to  be  about 
sixty  years  old. 

Michael  Kimmel,  son  of  Daniel  and  father 
of  Aaron  Kimmel,  was  born  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  in  January,  1810.  He  received  the  usual 
common-school  education  of  the  times,  and 
was  reared  a  farmer's  boy.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Armantropt,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
March  15,  181  5,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Armantropt,  of  Maryland.  Peter  Armantropt 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  settling  there  at  a  very  early  day.  In 
religion    he    was    a    Lutheran.      His    children 


1256 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


were  as  follows:  Volumtin,  Jeremiah,  Philip, 
Jesse,  Elias,  Catherine  and  Elizabeth.  Mr. 
Armantropt  died  in  Warren  county  at  a  com- 
paratively early  age,  though  his  wife  lived  to 
be  over  ninety  years  old. 

After  his  marriage,  Michael  Kimmel  settled 
in  Jackson  township,  in  the  woods,  on  172 
acres  of  land.  This  farm  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved and  set  out  upon  it  one  of  the  finest 
orchards  in  that  part  of  the  country.  In  1855 
he  sold  this  farm  and  removed  to  Jefferson 
township,  where  he  bought  196  acres,  upon 
which  he  died  in  1889  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  They  reared  the  following 
children:  Henry  S.,  Aaron,  Mary,  George  W., 
Michael  C. ,  Sarah,  David  O.  and  Susan. 

Aaron  Kimmel  was  born  May  2,  1835,  'n. 
Jackson  township,  Montgomery  county,  and 
was  fairly  well  educated  in  the  district  schools. 
On  June  1,  1858,  he  married  Elizabeth  Wal- 
lace, who  was  born  May  18,  1839,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Brown)  Wallace.  Mr. 
Wallace  was  of  sterling  Scotch  ancestry,  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Brough)  Wallace, 
and  was  of  an  old  Virginia   family. 

William  Wallace  was  a  merchant  of  Liber- 
ty, coming  to  Ohio  directly  after  his  marriage. 
By  trade  he  was  a  hatter,  but  became  a  mer- 
chant. He  died  in  1849  of  cholera,  when  he 
was  thirty-nine  years  of  age,  his  wife  having 
died  seven  years  before.  They  left  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sarah,  Eli,  John,  Elizabeth  and 
Mary  A.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Wallace  married  Mary  Beck.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  were  born  three  children,  viz: 
James  A.,  Samuel  and  Margaret.  Mr.  Wallace 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  a  man  of  strong  character,  and  stood  high 
in  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmel 
settled  a  short  distance  north   of   Liberty,  and 


lived  on  the  Kimmel  homestead  five  years, 
moving  thence  to  Jackson  township,  where 
they  settled  on  fifty-three  acres  of  land.  In 
1865  Mr.  Kimmel  sold  this  farm  and  moved  to 
Crawford  county,  111.,  where  he  bought  a  farm 
of  ninety  acres.  Returning  to  Montgomery 
county  in  the  same  year,  he  bought  his  present 
farm  of  eighty-one  acres,  which  he  has  greatly 
improved  by  judicious  cultivation,  by  the  plant- 
ing of  orchards,  and  by  the  erection  of  good 
buildings.  To  him  and  his  wife  there  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Jonathan 
P.,  Althea,  Emma,  Harvey  M.,  Mary  A.,  Les- 
lie B.,  Jessie  D.  and  Carl  W.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kimmel  have  been  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  for  twenty  years.  Politically 
Mr.  Kimmel  is  a  prohibitionist.  He  is  an  un- 
affiliated member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity, 
Randolph  lodge,  and  is  in  all  ways  an  excel- 
lent man  and  citizen. 


m. 


'ILLIAM  N.  KINSEY,  whose  post- 
office  is  Kinsey,  is  the  proprietor  of 
the  oldest  and  one  of  the  largest  of 
the  nurseries  of  Montgomery  county, 
it  having  been  established  by  his  father  in  1 852. 
He  springs  from  Virginia  ancestry,  his  great- 
grandfather having  come  from  Virginia  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  by  horses  and 
wagons,  in  the  early  days.  He  was  a  brother 
of  the  grandfather  of  Jesse  Kinsey,  a  German 
Baptist  minister,  whose  biography  is  published 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Miss  Beckener,  and  by  her  he 
had  the  following  children:  Levi,  Mathias, 
Joel,  Levina  and  Judah.  Mr.  Kinsey,  upon  ar- 
riving in  Montgomery  county,  settled  in  the 
woods,  on  what  is  now  the  Truxel  farm,  one 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  Salem.  This  farm  he 
cleared  of  its  timber,  lived  upon  it  until  he 
reached  old  age,  and  then  removed  to  Whitley 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1257 


enty  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  a  deacon  thereof  for  many 
years  and  a  man  of  fine  mind  and  high 
moral    character. 

Joel  Kinsey,  grandfather  of  William  N., 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Ohio  when  a  boy.  He  was  the  eldest 
child,  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  married,  in 
Randolph  township,  Elizabeth  Brumbaugh, 
who  was  from  Morrison's  Cove,  Pa.  After 
their  marriage  Joel  and  Mrs.  Kinsey  settled 
near  Covington,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  he 
there  died  when  but  thirty-three  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
church,  and  his  children  were  Samuel,  Lydia, 
Noah  and  David,  the  latter  of  whom  died  when 
quite  young. 

Samuel  Kinsey,  father  of  the  subject,  was 
born  near  Covington,  Ohio,  May  26,  1832,  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education,  and 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  married  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years,  on  the  farm  on  which 
William  N.  Kinsey  now  lives,  on  April  23, 
1852,  Barbara  Nead,  who  was  born  December 
19,  1832,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (Yount)  Nead.  Peter  Nead  was  born 
in  Maryland  in  1796,  near  Hagerstown,  and 
was  a  son  of  Daniel  Nead,  a  farmer  and  slave- 
owner, who  also  owned  a  large  tannery.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Peter 
Nead  married  in  Virginia,  managed  a  tannery 
near  Broadway,  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  mov- 
ing later  in  life  to  Augusta  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1846  he  came  to  Ohio, 
when  his  daughter  Barbara  was  fourteen  years 
old.  Settling  near  Trotwood  on  ninety  acres 
of  land  partially  cleared,  he  cleared  the  re- 
mainder of  the  farm,  improved  it  and  made  of 
it  an  excellent  home  for  his  family.  He  and 
his  wife  were  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Samuel,  Daniel,  Mary  and  Barbara.  Mr.  Nead 
was  first  a  Lutheran,  then  a  Methodist,  and 
later  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 


He  was  an  elder  and  a  minister  of  the  last- 
named  church  for  many  years,  and  was  distin- 
guished by  being  among  the  first  ministers  of 
that  church  to  preach  in  English.  He  lived  to 
the  great  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and  died  on 
his  farm.  His  wife  died  when  she  was  seven- 
ty-seven years  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Kinsey  lived  on  In- 
dian lands  in  Indiana  for  a  year  or  two  after 
their  marriage,  and  then  settled  on  the  farm 
adjoining  the  Nead  farm.  Of  this  Mr.  Kinsey 
cleared  up  fifty  acres,  and  by  degrees  added  to 
it  until  he  had  185  acres  of  good  land  in  one 
body,  besides  seventy-five  acres  in  Indiana  and 
eighty  acres  in  Kansas.  Mr.  Kinsey  established 
his  nursery  in  1S52,  and  was  exceedingly  pros- 
perous in  the  business,  being  a  practical  and 
skillful  nurseryman.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
in  which  he  was  an  elder  and  a  minister  for 
many  years.  They  had  born  to  them  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Almira  J.,  Mary  E.,  Cyn- 
thia A.,  Clarinda,  William  N.,  Lydia  L. ,  Sallie 
C. ,  Ellen  B.,  Charles  P.,  Jesse  E.,  Allen  V. 
and  two  that  died  young.  Mr.  Kinsey  was  a 
man  of  great  industry  and  attended  to  his  busi- 
ness with  the  closest  application.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  integrity  of  character,  and  died 
in  1883,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years. 

William  N.  Kinsey  was  born  July  17,  1859, 
on  the  old  homestead,  on  which  he  now  lives. 
Receiving  a  good  common-school  education, 
he  afterward  attended  the  Northwestern  Nor- 
mal academy  at  Ada,  Ohio,  and  also  the 
Miami  Commercial  college,  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
When  thirty  years  of  age  he  married,  July  30, 
1889,  Nettie  B.  Seiber,  who  was  born  July  25, 
1872,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  J.  (Leighton) 
Seiber.  Ephraim  Seiber  came  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock. 
Marrying  in  Ohio,  his  children  are  Susan, 
Amanda,    William,   John  (who   died  a  young 


1258 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


man),  Aldebal,  Nettie  B.  and  Lottie.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinsey  have  been  born  two 
children,  Roy  H.  and  Isabel,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  at  the  age  of  four  years  and  seven 
months. 

Mr.  Kinsey  is  a  deacon  in  the  German 
Baptist  church,  a  man  of  ability,  and  has  all 
his  life  been  engaged  in  the  nursery  business. 
He  was  thus  employed  with  his  father  for 
many  years,  which  thoroughly  qualified  him 
for  the  successful  management  of  the  enter- 
prise, and  at  his  father's  death  he  took  it  up 
and  has  since  carried  it  on.  Mr.  Kinsey  was  a 
member  of  the  County  Agricultural  society  for 
several  years,  and  thus  became  widely  and 
well  known  in  this  part  of  the  state.  His  nur- 
sery contains  about  lOO  acres,  and  in  it  he 
grows  all  kinds  of  fruit  trees,  shrubbery,  and 
small  fruits  of  many  leading  varieties. 


<a 


*ILLIAM     KREITZER,    farmer     of 
Jefferson     township,      Montgomery 
county,    Ohio,    was    born    in    Berks 
county,   Pa.,  May  24,    1836,    and  is 
of  German  descent. 

Peter  Kreitzer,  his  grandfather,  was  born, 
reared  and  married  in  Berks  county,  became 
the  father  of  four  children — Jacob,  John, 
Elizabeth  and  Catherine — and  died  in  his  na- 
tive county.  Jacob  Kreitzer,  son  of  Peter 
and  father  of  William,  was  also  born  in  Berks 
county,  and  there  married  Catherine  Deckler; 
he  was  the  owner  of  two  farms  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, one  of  which  he  sold  in  1838,  when  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Perry  township, 
Montgomery  county,  on  a  tract  of  120  acres. 
Here  he  resided  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dy- 
ing at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  Jacob,  Catherine, 
Mary,  Henry,  Kate,  John,  Rebecca,  Isaac, 
William,  Sarah  and  Lydia.      Mr.  Kreitzer  was 


a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  politics  a 
democrat,  and  a  citizen  of  good  repute. 

William  Kreitzer,  whose  name  opens  this 
biographical  memoir,  was  aged  but  two  years, 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1838.  Oppor- 
tunities for  schooling  were  somewhat  meager 
in  his  boyhood  days,  but  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  At  the  age  of  thirty-three  years,  he 
married,  in  Madison  township,  Miss  Martha 
Heeter,  a  native  of  the  township,  born  August 
12,  1847,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ruhama 
(Nation)  Heeter.  Her  paternal  grandfather, 
Sebastian  Heeter,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
of  German  descent,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Rarick,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia  county, 
Pa.,  February  25,  1777,  and  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  when  she  was  married  to  Mr. 
Heeter,  August  11,  1795.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Katie  Rarick.  The  children 
born -.to  Sebastian  Heeter  and  wife  were  born 
in  the  following  order:  Henry,  Frederick, 
Catherine,  Abraham,  Daniel,  Polly,  Jacob, 
Samuel,  Sarah,  Sebastian  and  David. 

Sebastian  Heeter  was  an  early  settler  of 
Madison  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
and  made  his  home  on  the  farm  on  which  his 
daughter-in-law,  Ruhama  Heeter,  now  dives  — 
the  widow  of  his  son,  Samuel.  For  this  farm 
of  160  acres  he  traded  four  horses  and  a  wagon, 
the  land  being  located  in  a  dense  forest,  through 
which  ran  an  old  Indian  trail.  Forest  and 
trail  were  soon  annihilated,  yet  with  a  great 
expenditure  of  labor,  and  a  productive  farm 
substituted  in  their  place.  Sebastian  Heeter 
was  an  ardent  Lutheran,  and  contributed  liber- 
ally toward  the  erection  of  the  first  edifice 
devoted  to  worship  by  that  denomination  in 
Gettysburg. 

Samuel  Heeter  married  Ruhama  Nation, 
and  by  her  became  the  father  of  the  following 
named  children  —  Mary  M.,  Jacob,  Paulina 
and  Catherine  —  who  grew  to  maturity.     There 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1259 


were  two  others  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Heeter  was  a  democrat  in  politics;  in  religion 
he  was  a  Lutheran,  and  died  in  that  faith  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  His  widow  is  now 
eighty-three  years  old. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreitzer 
settled  for  the  time  being  on  a  farm  of  eighty- 
eight  acres  which  he  had  purchased  in  Jackson 
township,  but  three  years  later  Mr.  Kreitzer 
bought  his  present  farm  in  Jefferson  township, 
comprising  160  acres.  He  has  added  materi- 
ally to  his  lands  since  residing  here,  and  now 
owns  three  good  farms,  comprising,  in  all, 
389^  acres.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kreitzer  were  named  Samuel  J.;  William 
A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months;  John 
D.;  Ruhama  C. ;  Jacob  H.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years;  Mary  M.,  who  died  when 
three  years  old ;  and  Noah,  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreitzer  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  Mr.  Kreitzer  is  a 
trustee,  having  taken  the  place  of  Samuel 
Heeter  at  the  death  of  the  latter;  in  politics 
he  is  a  democrat.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  and 
all  he  possesses  he  has  made  through  his  own 
good  management,  assisted  only  by  his  wife 
and  elder  children. 

Elizabeth  (Rarick)  Heeter,  maternal  grand- 
mother of  Mr.  Kreitzer,  lived  to  be  ninety  years, 
eleven  months  and  twenty-two  days  of  age. 
Catherine  Rarick,  great-grandmother  of  Mrs. 
Kreitzer,  died  in  September,  1829,  aged  sev- 
enty-four, and  her  remains  are  interred  at  Aller- 
ton,  in  Montgomery  county.  Henry  Rarick 
died  January  18,  18 17,  aged  sixty-two  years. 
Ruhama  (Nation)  Heeter  was  born  April  8, 
1 8 1 3,  in  Campbell  county,  Tenn.,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Moser)  Nation; 
Thomas  Nation  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Je- 
retta  (Vickroy)  Nation;  Joseph  Nation  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  of  English  parent- 
age, and  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.     Mrs.    Jeretta   (Vickroy)   Nation    was  a 


daughter  of  Marmaduke  Vickroy,  also  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier  and,  with  his  wife,  a  native 
of  England.  The  children  born  to  Joseph 
Nation  and  wife  were  named  Isaac,  Labar, 
Samson,  Girten,  Joe,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca  and 
Charity.  Joseph  Nation  eventually  settled  in 
Tennessee,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  on  which  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
useful    life. 

Thomas  Nation  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  on  moving  to  Tennessee  married 
Elizabeth  Moser,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Dor- 
cas (Hunnicut)  Moser,  of  Germany.  Thomas 
Nation  and  wife,  prior  to  1S13,  came  from 
Tennessee  to  Montgomery,  now  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  but  later  returned  to  Tennessee;  finally, 
in  1828,  Mr.  Nation  came  back  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  bringing  a  four-horse  wagon 
and  settling  in  Eaton,  where  he  became  a 
teamster.  Mr.  Nation  was  twice  married,  and 
to  his  first  union  were  born  six  children,  viz: 
Ruhama,  Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Hamilton,  Re- 
becca and  Jacob.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  in  Tennessee,  and  Mr.  Nation  next  mar- 
ried, in  the  same  state,  Annie  Lay.  This 
second  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  thirteen 
children,  who  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Isaac,  Charlotte,  Emeline,  Franklin,  Freeland, 
Tabitha,  Celie,  Paulina,  Alfred,  Emily,  Pliny, 
Henry  and  Marks.  The  father  of  this  large 
family  died  in  Eaton,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years,  a  life-long  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  The  children  born  to 
Ruhama  Heeter  were  named  in  the  following 
order:  Mary  Martha,  married  to  William 
Kreitzer;  Jacob,  who  married  Mary  A.  Bow- 
man, and  has  three  sons — John,  Joseph  and 
Charles;  Pauline,  who  was  married  to  Charles 
Watson,  but  is  now  deceased,  having  left  two 
children — Samuel  and  Joseph;  Catherine,  who 
was  married  to  Adam  Krull,  and  is  the  mother 
of  the  following  children:  Silas  F. ,  Esta  C. 
and  Ada  C. 


1260 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Jeretta  (Vickroy)  Nation,  the  wife  of  Jos- 
eph Nation,  came  to  Ohio  when  a  child,  her 
father  having  been  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  and  having  lived  to  be  105  years 
old.  Joseph  Nation  took  a  valiant  part  in  the 
battle  of  the  Horseshoe. 


X) 


ANIEL  LONG,  a  grandson  of  one  of 
the  original  pioneers  of  Montgomery 
county,  sprang  from  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  ancestors.  Lewis  Long,  his 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  the  son  of  Lewis  Long,  who  came  from 
Germany  and  settled  in  that  state.  Lewis 
Long  followed  farming  in  his  native  state, 
and  married  Miss  Mary  Hestand,  afterward 
removing  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and 
settling  in  Madison  township.  He  was  among 
the  very  earliest  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county, 
to  which  it  is  certain  that  he  came  previous  to 
1806,  though  the  precise  year  is  not  now  known. 
Lewis  Long  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Reuben,  Elizabeth, 
Christina,  Barbara,  Isaac,  John,  David  and 
Jacob,  twins,  and  Catherine.  After  residing 
for  one  year  on  the  farm  upon  which  he  first 
located,  Mr.  Long  purchased  a  tract  in  Jeffer- 
son township  containing  200  acres  of  woods, 
which  he  cleared  and  converted  into  a  good 
farm.  Upon  this  land  he  lived  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  when  ninety  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  man  of  vigorous  constitution,  was 
widely  known  as  a  sturdy  pioneer,  as  a  man 
of  great  kindness  of  heart,  and  had  many 
friends  among  both  whites  and  Indians,  the 
latter  being  then  still  quite  numerous  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state. 

Isaac  Long,  son  of  Lewis  and  the  father 
of  Daniel  Long,  was  born  on  the  farm  May 
1,  1806,  was  reared  a  farmer  among  the  pio- 
neers, and  received  as  good  an  education  as  it 
was   possible   to    secure   in    those    early  days. 


Upon  arriving  at  mature  years  he  married 
Esther  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
county,  Pa.,  in  1803  or  1804,  was  a  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Bowman)  Miller,  and 
was  but  six  months  old  when  brought  to  Mont- 
gomery county  by  her  parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  on  a  farm  of  166  acres  in  Harrison 
township,  land  given  them  by  her  father, 
which  he  had  entered  from  the  government. 
Her  father,  Daniel  Miller,  and  her  husband 
cleared  the  farm,  cutting  up  the  timber  into 
cord  wood  and  selling  it  in  Dayton.  Sufficient 
clearing  having  been  done,  Mr.  Long  then  oc- 
cupied himself  in  improving  the  farm,  and 
buying  other  lands.  He  had  one  farm  in  Mad- 
ison township  containing  160  acres;  one  in 
Perry  township  consisting  of  160  acres;  one 
in  Miami  county  of  eighty-two  acres;  and  one 
in  Jefferson  township  containing  104  acres, 
beside  a  lot  in  Taylorsburg  containing  seven 
acres,  making  his  entire  landed  possessions 
aggregate  683  acres,  or  thereabouts.  From 
all  this  it  will  be  seen  that  he  was  a  most  suc- 
cessful manager.  During  his  whole  life  he 
lived  on  his  home  farm,  dying  April  1,  1886, 
aged  seventy-nine  years  and  eleven  months. 
His  estimable  wife  died  May  29,  1888,  aged 
eighty-five  years. 

Mr.  Long  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Long  was 
many  times  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  by 
election  to  office.  In  politics  he  was  a  demo- 
crat, and  was  much  interested  in  all  public 
questions,  and  always  ready  to  perform  his 
duty  either  in  public  or  private  station.  He 
and  his  wife  had  the  following  children:  Dan- 
iel, John,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Samuel,  Isaac, 
Mary,  Henry,  Joseph  and  Hattie. 

Daniel  Long,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Harrison  township,  December  26, 
1829,  received  the  customary  common-school 
education  of  the  times,  and  was  brought  up  to 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1261 


farm  labor.  When  yet  young  he  went  to  Day- 
ton and  there  attended  market  for  some  time. 
He  was  married  in  Wayne  county,  Ind.,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1857,  to  Miss  Salome  Crull,  who 
was  born  May  8,  1836,  in  that  county,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Bowser) 
Crull,  now  deceased. 

Henry  Crull  was  born  in  Huntingdon  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  December  26,  1804,  and  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Salome  Crull,  the  maiden  name  of 
Mrs.  Crull  being  Booker.  John  Crull  moved 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1805,  and 
settled  in  Jefferson  township,  on  160  acres  of 
wooded  land,  which  he  cleared  and  improved. 
He  and  his  wife  reared  the  following  children: 
Mary,  John,  Jacob,  Christina,  Henry,  Samuel, 
Elizabeth  and  Margaret.  John  Crull  lived  to 
a  good  old  age,  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  and  a  most  ex- 
cellent citizen. 

Henry  Crull,  father  of  Mrs.  Long,  was 
married  to  Nancy  Bowser,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 6,  1808,  in  Montgomery  county,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  George  Bowser,  a  prominent 
pioneer  of  that  county.  After  living  here  un- 
til 1S32  he  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ind., 
and  there  cleared  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  to 
which  he  later  added  eighty  acres  more.  Here 
he  lived  many  years,  a  consistent  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children:  Mary,  Will- 
iam, Salome,  Elizabeth,  Susannah,  George 
and  David.  Mr.  Crull  lived  to  be  seventy- 
nine  years  of  age,  dying  August  17,  1883,  on 
his  farm  in  Wayne  county,  Ind. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long,  after  their  marriage, 
settled  on  the  paternal  homestead,  purchasing 
half  of  the  Miller  estate,  consisting  of  104^ 
acres  of  land,  which  they  greatly  improved  by 
cultivation  and  by  the  erection  of  modern  build- 
ings. Their  children  were  as  follows:  George, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years;  Dr. 
Webster  D.,  dentist   of  Dayton,  a  graduate  of 


the  Ohio  Normal  university;  Joseph  F. ;  Hettie 
and  Sylvester.  Hettie  is  a  graduate  of  Mount 
Morris  college,  111.,  Sylvester  also  being  a. 
graduate  of  that  institution.  Politically  Mr. 
Long  is  a  republican  and  religiously  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church.  He  takes 
great  interest  in  the  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood and  has  served  as  school  director  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  is  a  thoroughly  practical 
farmer  and  a  public-spirited  and  useful  member 
of  society. 


^~V  OLOMON  SPITLER,  one  of  the  pio- 
*^^KT    neer  settlers  of  Montgomery  county, 

\^_y  descended  from  an  old  colonial  family 
of  Virginia,  and  originally  from  Ger- 
man stock,  was  born  January  1,  1830.  John 
Spitler,  the  pioneer  of  this  family  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Va. ,  February  6,  1785.  He  was  a 
son  of  Jacob  Spitler,  whose  log  cabin  was  still 
standing  a  few  years  ago.  John  Spitler  set- 
tled in  Montgomery  county  when  twenty  years 
of  age,  in  1S05,  in  company  with  his  sister, 
who  was  named  Mrs.  Barntrayer,  Joseph 
Limert  and  Jacob  Franz  and  wife.  All  trav- 
eled on  horseback,  a  distance  of  500  miles, 
through  the  woods  and  over  mountain  ranges. 
They  stopped  near  Gunckel's  mills,  where  Ger- 
mantown  now  stands,  and  remained  there  one 
year.  Mr.  Barntrayer  concluded  to  move  to 
Covington  and  he  and  Mr.  Spitler  built  a  house 
there.  Remaining  only  a  short  time,  Mr. 
Spitler  removed  to  Brookville,  where  he  cleared 
four  acres  of  land  for  Daniel  Cripe,  and  while 
there  married  Barbara  Rohrer,  in  1807,  theirs 
being  the  first  wedding  in  Clay  township. 
Barbara  Rohrer,  born  in  1788,  was  the  first 
white  child  born  west  of  the  Miami  river,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Rohrer  and  his  wife. 
They  were  married  by  Rev.  Jacob  Miller,  the 
first  German  Baptist  or  Dunkard  minister  to 


1262 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


labor  in  the  state.  The  newly  married  couple 
settled,  in  1808,  on  a  quarter-section  of  land 
.belonging  to  Mrs.  Spitler's  father,  and  here  Mr. 
Spitler  cleared  up  his  farm  and  built  his  log 
cabin,  continuing  to  improve  and  add  to  his 
farm  until  he  owned  1.100  acres.  Upon  this 
farm  he  and  his  wife  lived  sixty-three  years  of 
their  lives. 

The  first  plow  used  by  Mr.  Spitler  had  a 
wooden  mold  board,  and  his  first  cast-iron 
mold  board  was  made  to  order  in  Lebanon, 
Ohio.  For  some  time  he  was  engaged  in 
assisting  to  survey  the  state  road  from  Dayton 
to  Greenville,  a  Mr.  George,  of  Dayton,  being 
the  surveyor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spitler  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  all  of  whom  were  reared  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  all  of  whom  lived  to 
be  men  and  women  and  married.  Their  names 
were  as  follows  :  Mary,  Jacob,  Joseph,  John, 
Susan,  Andrew,  Betsey,  Samuel,  Hannah,  Bar- 
bara and  Solomon.  When  Mr.  Spitler  died 
there  were  seventy-three  grandchildren,  sixty- 
three  great-grandchildren,  and  two  great-great- 
grandchildren. To  each  of  his  children  he 
gave  a  farm.  This  noble  pioneer  and  head  of 
a  most  excellent  family  was  a  man  of  gentle 
disposition,  upright  and  honest,  and  had  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  on  his 
farm  in  Clay  township,  March  24,  1874,  at  the 
patriarchal  age  of  ninety  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  mental  power  and  clearness  of 
thought,  which   he  retained  to  the  last. 

Joseph  Rhorer,  the  father  of  Mrs.  John 
Spitler,  came  to  Ohio  from  Virginia,  having 
previously  gone  to  Virginia  from  Pennsylvania, 
and  upon  reaching  Ohio  settled  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Miami  river  near  Dayton.  When 
he  reached  Dayton  he  was  offered  six  lots  in 
the  best  part  of  the  town  in  exchange  for  his 
wagon.  From  this  place  the  family  moved 
down  the  river  to  what  is  known  as  the  Troxel 
farm,  near  Miamisburg,  at   that  time   knowing 


of  but  one  family  west  of  the  Miami  river,  and 
that  one  lived  four  miles  below.  In  1804  he 
removed  to  Clay  township,  and  followed  Wolf 
creek  until  he  found  the  big  spring  on  the  Wor- 
mon  farm,  where  he  located,  taking  up  three 
quarter-sections  of  land.  His  family  then 
consisted  of  himself,  his  wife,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter,  the  children  being  named  as 
follows:  Joseph,  Daniel,  John  and  Barbara. 
Mr.  Rohrer  was  the  first  settler,  and  for  some 
time  his  was  the  only  white  family  in  Clay 
township.  The  Rohrer  boys  went  to  northern 
Indiana  and  settled  there. 

Solomon  Spitler,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  son  of  John  Spitler,  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  upon  which  he  now  lives.  His  ed- 
ucation was  such  as  the  common  schools  of  the 
day  afforded,  and  on  May  25,  185 1,  when  he 
was  twenty-two  years  old,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Limbert,  who  was  born  August  II,  1833, 
in  Clay  township,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Wagner)  Limbert,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  July  27,  1787,  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.  Henry  Limbert,  whose 
father  died  when  he  was  six  years  old,  removed 
first  to  Maryland,  and  came  thence  to  Mont- 
gomery county  as  one  of  the  oldest  settlers, 
about  1825,  locating  on  160  acres  of  land  in 
Clay  township.  He  was  a  class  leader  in  the 
United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  and  as  a  democrat  he  served  as  town- 
ship trustee.  His  death  occurred  when  he 
was  eighty-two  years  old,  June  27,  1869.  He 
was  a  man  of  strong  character  and  excellent 
citizenship.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  as  follows:  John,  Barbara, 
Lewis,  Henry,  Polly,  George,  Levi,  Adam, 
Susan,  Elizabeth  and  Sarah. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spitler 
lived  on  the  Spitler  farm  one  year,  and  then 
moved  to  Miami  county,  where  they  lived  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  period  they  returned 
to  Clay  township,  Montgomery  county.     They 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1263 


have  lived  on  the  old  homestead  for  fifteen 
years.  They  have  had  the  following  children: 
Phares  O,  Joseph  L.,  Jesse  B.,  Emma  L. , 
Homer  Y.  and  William  W.  As  a  republican 
Mr.  Spitler  has  served  as  township  trustee, 
and  as  school  director  for  twelve  years.  Mr. 
Spitler  is  a  man  of  high  character,  a  good  citi- 
zen, and  is  bringing  up  an  excellent  family, 
giving  them  a  good  education,  and  instilling 
into  their  minds  a  love  of  morality,  religion 
and  country,  the  result  of  which  must  be  a 
high  grade  of  citizenship. 


<V^\  ICHARD  SUNDERLAND,    of    Van- 

I  /^  dalia,  Ohio,  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
P  tiers  of  Montgomery  county,  is  of  pa- 
triotic ancestry.  His  grandfather, 
Richard  Sunderland,  was  born  on  the  Monon- 
gahela  river  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  and  his  father,  Peter  Sunder- 
land, great-grandfather  of  the  present  Rich- 
ard, was  a  teamster  in  the  war  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

Richard  Sunderland,  the  grandfather,  mar- 
ried Nancy  Martin,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  their 
children  were  twins,  William  and  Elizabeth. 
He  moved  with  his  family  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  when  these  children  were  quite 
small,  his  brother  Peter  coming  here  at  about 
the  same  time — probably  about  1800.  In  the 
probate  judge's  office  of  Montgomery  county 
is  a  curious,  musty  volume  of  records,  in  which 
may  be  found  a  copy  of  the  first  will  ever  re- 
corded in  the  county.  The  date  is  June  6, 
1802,  and  is  that  of  Gennet  Van  Norsdall,  of 
Hamilton  county,  Territory  of  the  United 
States,  Northwest  of  the  River  Ohio.  The 
witnesses  to  this  venerable  document  were 
James  Snowden  and  Richard  and  Peter  Sun- 
derland, the  signature  of  each  being  attested 
by  "  his  mark." 

Richard  Sunderland  entered    640   acres  of 


land,  north  of  Centerville,  in  the  pioneer  cem- 
etery near  which  place  lie  the  remains  of  Peter 
Sunderland,  the  father  of  the  two  brothers 
who  attested  the  will  above  mentioned.  Peter 
Sunderland,  the  brother  of  Richard,  also  set- 
tled near  the  same  place.  The  house  in 
which  Richard  Sunderland  lived  was  burned, 
and  he  built  a  new  log  house,  which  also 
burned  down  the  first  night  it  was  occupied  by 
him.  Then  in  1804  he  removed  to  Butler 
township,  and  there  entered  404  acres  of  land, 
for  which  he  paid  $2  per  acre,  and  which  was 
then  covered  over  with  woods.  This  is  where 
James  Sunderland  now  lives.  Richard  Sun- 
derland was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
was  stationed  six  months  at  Fort  Greenville. 
In  politics  he  was  a  whig,  was  an  honored  cit- 
izen, and  lived  to  be  eighty-eight  years  old. 
The  memory  of  this  hardy  pioneer  and  de- 
fender of  his  country's  liberty  is  still  fondly 
cherished  by  the  old  settlers,  as  well  as  by  the 
surviving  members  of  his  family. 

William  Sunderland,  father  of  the  subject, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1794,  and  when 
his  father  brought  his  family  to  Ohio,  coming 
down  the  Ohio  river  in  a  fiatboat,  he  was  very 
small.  Growing  up  among  the  pioneers,  he 
received  a  fair  education  for  the  times,  a  much 
better  one  than  that  of  the  average  pioneer. 
He  had  a  good  deal  of  stock,  much  of  which 
ran  wild  in  the  woods.  Coming  as  he  did  in 
almost  daily  contact  with  the  Indians,  he 
learned  their  language,  and  was  thus  able  to 
transact  all  kinds  of  business  with  the  native 
owners  of  the  forests.  He  was  accustomed  to  go 
among  them  with  the  productsof  his  farm,  draw- 
ing these  products  with  his  ox  team.  He  mar- 
ried Margaret  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  a  daughter  of  James  Miller,  a 
famous  Kentuckian,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
an  early  pioneer  of  that  portion  of  Ohio  where 
Mr.  Sunderland  lived.  William  Sunderland 
settled  on  the  home   farm  after  his  marriage, 


1264 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


and  his  children  were  Richard,  Elizabeth, 
James,  Nancy,  Mamie  and  John.  Mr.  Sun- 
derland lived  to  be  about  seventy-three  years 
age,  was  a  thrifty  and  successful  farmer,  and, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  owned  about  Soo 
acres  of  land.  Politically  he  was  first  a  whig, 
and  in  later  life  a  republican.  His  death  oc- 
curred in    1870. 

Richard  Sunderland,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  June 
28,  1 8 1 8,  on  the  old  farm  homestead.  His 
education  was  such  as  was  then  obtainable  in 
the  primitive  schools  of  the  day.  When  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  married  Eleanor 
Reed,  the  ceremony  being  performed  March 
-°,  I§39.  in  Butler  township.  Eleanor  Reed 
was  born  in  that  township  in  1822  on  the  Reed 
homestead,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Compton)   Reed. 

Isaac  Reed  was  an  original  pioneer,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  which  he  cleared,  and  upon 
which  his  children  were  born.  These  children 
were  Nancy,  Margaret,  Mary,  Eleanor,  Aaron 
and  Isaac.  Mr.  Reed  came  from  one  of  the 
Carolinas,  and  died  when  sixty-five  years  old. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sunder- 
land settled  in  Butler  township,  and  lived  on 
one  of  his  father's  farms  for  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  his  father  bought  for  him 
the  Compton  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  for 
twenty-five  years.  In  i860  Mr.  Sunderland 
bought  his  present  farm  of  138^  acres,  and  by 
thrift  and  good  management  he  has  added 
thereto  until  he  now  owns  310  acres  of  land, 
and  has  a  most  pleasant  home.  By  his  first 
wife  Mr.  Sunderland  had  three  children,  as 
follows:  Aaron,  Mary  E.  and  William.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1855,  aged 
thirty-two  years,  and  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church;  and  on  March  13,  1856,  Mr. 
Sunderland  married  Nancy  Wells,  who  was 
born  June  23,  1835,  in  Butler  township,  on  the 
Wells  homestead,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Sam- 


uel   and    Mary    (Johnson)    Wells,    who    were 
among  the  oldest  settlers. 

Samuel  Wells  was  of  Virginia  stock  and 
was  himself  born  in  that  state.  He  came  to 
Ohio  when  he  was  but  eight  years  old  and  was 
left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age.  He  grew  up 
among  the  pioneers  and  cleared  up  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  Butler  township.  He  married 
Mary  Johnson,  of  North  Carolina,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  David  Johnson,  who  died  in  that 
state,  and  whose  widow  removed  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Butler  township.  At  this  time  Mary 
was  but  seven  years  old,  and  rode  a  pony  all 
the  way  from  North  Carolina  to  Ohio.  Sam- 
uel Wells  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  Their  children  were:  Re- 
becca, Mary,  William,  Nancy  and  Sarah,  all 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  Mr.  Wells  lived  to 
be  eighty-seven  years  old,  and  died  on  his 
farm.  He  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1798,  and 
settled  in  Miami  county  in  18 17  and  in  Butler 
township  in  1822. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sunderland  settled  on  a  farm 
adjoining  the  homestead,  removing  to  their 
present  home  in  i860.  To  them  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Jeannette,  Lola 
and  Flora  (twins),  Addie,  Samuel,  Maggie, 
Efne  and  Edwin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sunderland 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Early  in  his  life  Mr.  Sunderland  was  a  whig, 
but  later  became  and  now  is  a  republican. 
For  fifteen  years  he  served  as  trustee  of  Butler 
township,  and  has  served  as  appraiser  of  both 
Butler  and  Randolph  townships.  During  the 
late  Civil  war  he  was  of  great  service  to  the 
Union  cause,  in  making  up  the  quota  of  his 
township,  in  aiding  the  families  of  the  sol- 
diers, and  in  many  other  ways.  He  has  al- 
ways been  a  great  reader  of  current  literature, 
and  has  thus  kept  abreast  of  the  times.  His 
judgment  is  highly  respected,  and  he  has  served 
for  many  years  on  the  grand  jury  with  credit 
to  himself  and  his  fellow  citizens. 


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OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1267 


>Y*OHN  Q.  A.  COOVER,  whose  post  of- 
m  fice  is  Spanker,  Ohio,  is  one  of  the 
/•  1  most  prominent  farmers  of  Butler  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county.  He  springs 
from  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock.  Michael 
Coover,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  November  i,  1781,  and  be- 
came a  farmer  and  one  of  the  early  ministers 
in  the  United  Brethren  church.  He  married 
in  Pennsylvania,  April  14,  1S07,  Elizabeth 
Shopp,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county  with 
himself,  August  20,  1788,  and  their  children 
were  John  M.,  Jacob,  George,  Michael,  Sam- 
uel, Sarah,  Isaac,  David,  and  William  H., 
all  but  the  last  born  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1829 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Coover  removed  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  settling  on  the  farm  on  which 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  lives.  The  farm 
then  contained  120  acres,  which  he  cleared 
from  the  woods,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
portion.  He  was  a  prosperous  man,  and 
bought  more  land,  until  at  length  he  owned 
234  acres,  and  became  a  very  wealthy  and 
substantial  farmer. 

He  was  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  United 
Brethren  ministers  in  Butler  township,  and 
rode  a  circuit  for  many  years,  becoming  well 
known  for  many  miles  around.  Beside  carry- 
ing on  his  farm  and  preaching  among  the  pio- 
neers, he  ran  a  distillery  for  many  years,  as 
was  the  custom  in  those  days.  The  United 
Brethren  church  of  Butler  township  was  or- 
ganized in  1829  at  his  residence,  services  being 
held  there  and  at  the  residences  of  other  mem- 
bers, until  a  church  edifice  was  erected  at  Van- 
dalia.  Mr.  Coover  died  April  19,  1839,  aged 
fifty-seven  years. 

John  M.  Coover,  father  of  John  Q.  A.,  was 
born  February  13,  1S08,  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.  He  was  about  twenty-one  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents. 
He  followed  farming  all  his  life,    and  married 

Mary  Duncan,  who  was  a  daughter  of  William 
57 


Duncan,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  But- 
ler township. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coover 
settled  on  the  Coover  homestead,  upon  which 
they  lived  all  their  remaining  days.  Their 
children  were  Benjamin  F.,  Martha  E.  and 
John  Q.  A.  Mrs.  Coover  died  when  her 
youngest  child  was  but  six  weeks  old.  Politic- 
ally in  his  early  life  Mr.  Coover  was  a  whig, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  being 
a  member  of  the  state  legislature  in  i860  and 
1 86 1.  He  was  a  man  of  integrity  and  of  true 
christian  character.  He  died  in  1876,  in  his 
sixty-ninth  year,  regretted  by  the  entire  com- 
munity in  which  he  had  so  long  lived. 

John  Q.  A.  Coover  was  born  February  13, 
1S47.  He  was  educated  first  in  the  common 
schools,  then  at  the  Otterbein  university  at 
Westerville,  Ohio,  and  then  at  Wittenberg 
college,  Springfield,  Ohio.  At  this  latter 
school  he  remained  three  years.  He  has 
always  followed  farming  and  has  been  very 
successful.  He  was  married  June  18,  1874, 
to  Sella  C.  Beardshear,  who  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  May  21,  1855,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Coleman) 
Beardshear,  both  of  whom  were  of  Scotch- 
Welsh  ancestry. 

John  Beardshear  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  to  Ohio  in  1802.  He  became  a  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Harrison  township,  and 
married  in  Montgomery  county,  in  1848,  Eliza- 
beth Coleman,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary 
(Van  Cleve)  Coleman.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  William,  Sella  C,  Rilla  M. 
and  Emma  D.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beardshear 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  the  founders  of  Beardshear  chapel,  Mr. 
Beardshear  being  the  principal  contributor  to 
the  building  of  the  church  edifice.  In  politics 
he  was  a  republican.  He  was  a  man  of  excel- 
lent moral  and  christian  character,  exerting  a 
a   wide  influence  for  good,  and  died  January 


1268 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


20,  1873,  aged  about  fifty-eight  years,  honored 
by  all  his  fellow-citizens. 

William  M.  Beardshear,  LL.  D.,  son  of 
John  Beardshear,  is  a  graduate  of  Otterbein 
university,  and  a  post-graduate  of  Yale  college. 
He  was  president  of  Western  college,  at  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  for  eight  years,  and  is  now  presi- 
dent of  the  Iowa  State  Agricultural  college,  at 
Ames,  Iowa. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coover 
settled  on  his  father's  farm,  where  they  still 
reside.  The  farm  now  consists  of  250  acres, 
and  is  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation. 
Upon  it  Mr.  Coover  erected  a  pleasant  and 
tasteful  residence  in  1880.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Coover  there  have  been  born  the  following 
children:  Winifred  F.,  Leila  A.,  Mabel  E. 
and  John  W.  The  parents  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Coover  has  been  a  trustee  for  several  years. 
Politically  he  is  a  republican,  and  has  served  as 
township  trustee  for  four  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Industrial  Order  of  Foresters,  coun- 
cil Cooper,  Dayton,  Ohio.  Mr.  Coover  is  a 
man  of  liberal  education,  and  a  most  valuable 
member  of  the  community,  his  education  ren- 
dering him  a  practical  business  man,  as  well  as 
a  practical  farmer.  Mrs.  Coover  attended 
Otterbein  university  at  Westerville,  Ohio,  and 
is  a  highly  educated  woman,  and  a  suitable 
helpmate  for  her  husband. 


WOHN  W.  UNDERWOOD,  of  Vandalia, 
■  Ohio,  one  of  the  honored  citizens  of 
A  1  Butler  township,  Montgomery  county, 
and  who  has  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  twenty-five  years,  sprang  from  ster- 
ling English  ancestors,  who  settled  in  Virginia 
in  colonial  times.  His  grandfather,  Joseph 
Underwood,  was  a  farmer  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  Virginia,  and   there   lived  all  his  days, 


dying  at  the  great  age  of  ninety  years.      His 
children  were  John  and  William. 

John  Underwood,  the  eldest  son  of  Joseph, 
and  father  of  John  W.,  was  born  in  the  Shen- 
andoah valley,  Virginia,  May  5,  1776.  When 
yet  a  young  man  he  removed  to  Lexington, 
Ky. ,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Mary  Scud- 
der,  daughter  of  James  Scudder,  of  that  place. 
Shortly  after  their  marriage  John  Underwood 
and  his  wife  removed  to  Ohio,  in  1808,  settling 
in  Shelby  county.  They  located  on  1 60  acres  of 
land,  which  he  cleared  of  its  heavy  timber  and 
made  a  good  farm  and  a  comfortable  home, 
building  the  first  brick  house  in  the  county.  His 
children  were  Lucinda,  William,  Esther,  Hugh 
M.,  Sarah  and  John  W.  John  Underwood 
served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
18 12,  under  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Fallen  Timbers.  He 
and  his  wife  were  life-long  Methodists,  and 
were  among  the  early  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Underwood 
lived  to  be  about  eighty-one  years  of  age,  dying 
in  1857  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  John  W. 

John  W.  Underwood  was  born  May  6, 
1828,  in  Shelby  county,  Ohio.  His  education 
was  received  in  an  old-fashioned  log  school- 
house,  made  of  large,  round  logs,  with  a  stick 
and  clay  chimney  at  one  end,  and  with  slabs  for 
benches.  At  that  time  there  were  no  regular 
school  books,  but  instead  any  books  that  could 
be  found  in  the  community  were  taken  to  school 
for  the  pupils  to  read  and  study.  Among  these 
books,  when  young  Underwood  attended 
school,  were  the  New  Testament,  the  life  of 
Daniel  Boone  and  an  English  reader.  Thus 
it  was  possible  for  him  to  receive  only  a  very 
limited  education  in  the  schools;  but  this  was 
supplemented  by  private  instruction  at  home, 
sufficient  for  all  the  really  practical  purposes 
of  a  farmer's  life. 

Mr.  Underwood  was  married  March  28, 
1852,  in  Montgomery  county,  on  his  own  farm, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1269 


to  Miss  Margaret  Hoover,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Felix  and  Lydia  (Fry)  Hoover,  and  who 
was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1832.  Felix  Hoover  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  he  and  his  wife  settled  in  Miami 
county  some  time  in  the  'forties  on  a  farm  of 
eighty-eight  acres,  upon  which  they  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1846.  His  chil- 
dren were  John,  Margaret,  Harriet,  Mary, 
Isaac,  Wilson,  Adam,  Elizabeth  and  Lydia. 
Politically  he  was  a  democrat,  and  was  always 
actively  interested  in  the  success  of  his  party, 
though  not  an  office-seeker. 

Mr.  Underwood  settled  on  the  parental 
homestead,  which  he  farmed  for  two  years, 
and  then  purchased  a  canal  boat  on  the  Miami 
&  Erie  canal,  and  was  on  the  canal  for  ten 
years.  During  this  period  he  bought  two  more 
boats,  and  was  unusually  successful  and  pros- 
perous. Returning  to  the  homestead  in  1864, 
he  has  since  followed  farming.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Underwood  there  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Frank,  John,  Alice,  Charles, 
William,  Shannon,  Adam  and  Emma.  In 
politics  Mr.  Underwood  was  formerly  a  whig, 
but  upon  the  organization  of  the  republican 
party  became  a  republican  and  has  so  remained 
ever  since.  During  the  late  Civil  war  he  was 
one  of  a  committee  whose  duty  it  was  to  see 
that  the  quota  of  the  township  was  filled,  and 
in  all  ways  he  was  essentially  the  friend  of  the 
Union  soldier. 

Mrs.  Underwood  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  Mr.  Underwood  has  been 
one  of  the  township  trustees  for  over  thirty 
years.  He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
October,  1871,  and  has  served  in  that  capacity 
ever  since.  During  his  entire  career  as  justice 
of  the  peace  he  has  had  but  four  cases  ap- 
pealed to  higher  courts,  though  his  docket 
contains  the  record  of  about  1,500  cases. 
Esquire  Underwood  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  was   one    of    the   earliest 


members  of  Vandalia  lodge,  No.  57,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  education  of  the 
young  and  to  the  improvement  of  the  schools. 
As  a  public-spirited  man  he  has  taken  deep  in- 
terest in  the  improvement  of  the  public  high- 
ways, believing  that  the  condition  of  such 
roads  indicates  to  a  great  extent  the  state  of 
the  civilization  of  the  people.  He  stands  high 
in  the  community  for  his  sterling  worth,  integ- 
rity of  character  and  high  sense  of  justice. 
Esquire  Underwood,  in  1890,  was  one  of  the 
appraisers  of  real  estate  in  Butler  township, 
and  it  is  much  to  the  credit  of  his  work  and 
his  judgment  that  no  changes  in  his  valuations 
were  made  by  the  board  of  equalization.  He 
is,  in  short,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and 
reliable  of  the  citizens  of  his  township  and 
county,  and  a  credit  to  the  community  in 
which  he  lives. 


-^VACOB  CARMONY,  a  citizen  of  Wen- 
■  gerlawn,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
/•  1  and  a  native  of  this  county,  was  born 
July  10,  1823,  in  Washington  township. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Stensel)  Car- 
mony,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  son  of  John 
Carmony,  who  was  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch 
descent.  John  Carmony  was  a  farmer  of  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  and  descended  from  one  of 
the  original  settlers  of  that  state.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  following  children:  Jacob,  Sarah, 
Mary,  John,  Joseph,  Catherine,  Margaret  and 
George,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  John  Carmony  removed  to  Ohio 
with  horses  and  wagon  in  18 10,  and  settled 
two  miles  south  of  Centerville,  Washington 
township,  Montgomery  county,  there  entering 
160  acres  of  land,  which  was  covered  with 
timber.  This  land  he  cleared  and  developed 
into  a  good  farm.  He  erected  a  log  cabin  near 
a  fine  spring,  and   this  cabin   stood    for   many 


1270 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


years.  For  some  years  he  ran  a  still  on  his 
farm,  and  in  this  way  supplemented  his  agri- 
cultural labors.  In  religion  he  was  a  Lutheran 
and  in  politics  a  democrat;  was  known  far  and 
wide  for  his  high  character,  and  lived  to  be 
seventy-two  years  old. 

Jacob  Carmony,  his  son  and  the  father  of 
the  subject,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
October  17,  1790,  and  was  reared  among  the 
pioneers.  He  was  about  twenty  years  old 
when  his  father  came  to  Ohio,  and  in  this  state 
he  followed  farming.  On  June  9,  1814,  he 
married  Mary  Stensel,  who  was  born  January 
4,  1796,  in  Mason  county,  Ky.,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Allen) 
Stensel.  Henry  Stensel  was  born  in  central 
New  York,  of  Catholic  parents.  In  the  year 
1774,  before  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  In- 
dians were  friendly  with  the  white  settlers, 
and  were  frequently  at  his  father's  house. 
When  the  war  broke  out  Henry  was  about 
thirteen  years  of  age,  and  the  Stensel  family 
were  at  the  settlement  a  few  miles  from  the 
farm.  One  day  Henry,  his  two  brothers,  and 
all  the  men  who  worked  for  them,  returned  to 
the  farm  to  look  after  the  stock  they  had  left 
there,  and  while  they  were  thus  engaged  they 
discovered  the  Indians  coming  toward  them, 
and  the  boys  ran  for  their  lives,  the  savages 
giving  chase.  William  Stensel  was  shot  and 
scalped,  and  the  other  brother  made  his  escape 
to  the  settlement.  Henry  was  captured  and 
was  kept  for  several  years  a  prisoner  among 
the  Indians.  He  was,  however,  at  last  traded 
to  the  British  troops,  and  allowed  to  return 
to  his  home. 

From  the  time  of  his  capture  to  his  release, 
Henry  had  greatly  changed  in  appearance. 
He  looked  in  fact  more  like  an  Indian  than  a 
white  man,  and  none  of  his  family  recognized 
him  but  his  mother,  who  identified  him  by  a 
scar  on  his  face.  Soon  after  Henry  came  of 
age  he  had  a  disagreement  with  his  parents  on 


religious  matters,  he  having  united  with  theOld- 
School  Baptists,  and  when  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Kentucky,  working  his 
way  to  Lexington,  which  was  then  only  a  fron- 
tier station.  Here  he  remained  a  couple  of 
years,  and  by  industry  and  hard  work  pros- 
pered, becoming  a  land  owner.  Henry  Sten- 
sel married  Elizabeth  Allen,  sister  of  Jeremiah 
Allen,  and  in  1802  moved  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  settled  in  the  woods  of 
Washington  township,  on  160  acres  of  land, 
which  he  converted  into  a  fine  farm  and  ex- 
cellent home,  there  passing  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  dying  in  1833,  when  he  was  seventy- 
two  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  high 
character  and  was  much  beloved  by  the  old 
settlers.  He  was  a  great  hunter,  and  was  a 
bosom  friend  of  Simon  Kenton,  who  is  well 
known  to  all  familiar  with  the  early  history  of 
Ohio.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Martha, 
Mary,  William,  Jeremiah,  Enoch,  Henry, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Clarissa,  Isaac  and  John. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob 
Carmony  settled  in  Washington  township,  on 
a  farm  in  the  woods,  which  he  cleared  of  its 
timber.  This  farm  contained  seventy-five 
acres  of  land.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Henry,  John, 
Elizabeth,  Martha,  William  and  Jacob.  Mr. 
Carmony  lived  to  be  seventy-eight  years  old, 
and  died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Jacob,  in 
1868.  Politically  he  was  a  democrat,  and  in 
all  respects  was  an  estimable  citizen. 

Jacob  Carmony,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  July  10,  1823,  in  Washington  town- 
ship, on  his  father's  farm.  Reared  a  farmer's 
boy,  he  received  a  common-school  education, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  married  Mary 
Tice,  who  was  born  April  24,  1829.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Hulse)  Tice, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  February  22, 
1 80 1,  in  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.  Joseph 
Tice  was  a  son  of  Elias  and  Sarah  (Horn)  Tice, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1271 


Elias  Tice  being  a  tavern  keeper,  at  whose 
tavern  George  Washington  was  frequently  a 
guest.  Joseph  Tice  was  married  January  22, 
1826,  to  Jane  Hulse,  who  was  born  March  14, 
1805,  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Anthony  and  Mary  (Vaughn)  Hulse.  The 
Tice  family  were  descended  from  four  different 
nationalities — English,  Irish,  German  and 
Scotch,  and  the  Hulse  family  were  of  Dutch 
stock.  Joseph  Tice  removed  to  Ohio  in  1833, 
settling  at  Centerville,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  for  some  years  worked  at  his  trade. 
In  politics  he  was  a  democrat,  and  in  religion 
a  Universalist.  His  children  were  Ann  E., 
Mary,  Jerome,  Sarah  A.,  Anthony  and  Joseph. 
Mr.  Tice  lived  to  be  about  seventy  years  of 
age,  dying  in  1871.  His  wife  had  died  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1852. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carmony 
settled  on  land  in  Washington  township.  In 
1866  he  bought  about  166  acres  of  land,  only 
half  of  which  was  then  cleared,  but  the  whole 
of  which  he  brought  under  cultivation.  He 
and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  William  J.,  Joseph  T.,  Mary.  J., 
Franklin,  Armita,  Clarissa,  Sarah  E.,  Henry 
J.  and  Jacob  S.  Mr.  Carmony  is  a  democrat 
in  politics,  and  Mrs.  Carmony  is  a  member  of 
the  New-School  Baptist  church.  Both  are 
excellent  people,  liberal  in  their  views,  chari- 
table in  their  deeds,  and  enjoy  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  that  know  them. 


HARON  MILLER,  a  prominent  and 
substantial  farmer  of  Madison  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Susan  (Bowman)  Mil- 
ler. John  Miller  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Miller, 
the  noted  pioneer  of  Montgomery  county,  who 
lived  on  Wolf  creek,  and  who  is  frequently  re- 
ferred to  in  this  volume.  John  Miller  was 
eleven  years  of  age  when  brought  to  this  coun- 


ty by  his  parents  in  1804,  was  given  the  best 
education  obtainable  in  the  country  schools  of 
his  day,  and  was  brought  up  to  farm  life  and 
labor.  Remaining  at  home  until  he  was  thirty- 
three  years  of  age,  he  then  married  Mrs.  Annie 
Sollenberger,  a  widow,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Winger.  To  this  marriage  there  were  born 
six  children,  as  follows:  Annie,  Susan,  Aaron, 
Sarah,  Mary  and  Moses.  By  her  first  husband, 
Mrs.  Sollenberger  had  two  children,  John  and 
Elizabeth. 

John  Miller  settled  on  a  farm  containing 
160  acres  of  land  in  Harrison  township,  which 
at  the  time  was  covered  over  with  timber  and 
which  his  father  had  entered.  This  farm  he 
cleared  up  from  the  woods,  and  by  prudence 
and  good  husbandry  became  a  prosperous  man. 
He  added  other  acres  to  his  possessions  until 
he  had  240  acres  in  his  home  farm,  160  acres 
in  Madison  township,  and  also  eighty  acres  in 
Harrison  township.  To  each  of  his  children 
he  gave  a  good  home,  and  to  each  of  the  Sol- 
lenberger children  he  gave  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Indiana. 

Daniel  Miller  and  his  sons  built  flat-boats, 
which  they  loaded  with  the  products  of  the 
farm  and  still,  and  thus  laden  permitted  them 
to  drift  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers 
to  Natchez  and  New  Orleans,  where  they  sold 
their  products  and  boats,  returning  by  steam- 
boat. They  made  three  such  trips,  and  did 
well  with  their  merchandise.  Daniel  Miller, 
after  settling  on  Wolf  creek,  cut  a  road  from 
his  home  to  Dayton,  which  village  at  the  time 
contained  not  more  than  two  or  three  houses 
with  shingle  roofs. 

Aaron  Miller,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  January  25,  1834,  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, on  a  farm,  and  was  well  educated  in  the 
common  school.  On  March  18,  1855,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Eva  dinger,  who  was  born  in 
Madison  township  March  23,  1838,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  John  K.  and  Nancy  (Kuntz)  Olin- 


1272 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


ger.  John  K.  Olinger  was  born  in  Trotwood 
and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Eva  (Kagen)  Olin- 
ger, coming  to  Montgomery  county  about 
1804.  John  K.  Olinger  settled  in  Madison 
township,  near  Salem,  and  cleared  up  a  farm 
of  about  160  acres  of  land.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  the  following  children  :  Susan,  Eva 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Olinger  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  a  man  of  exemplary  character.  He 
died  when  sixty-nine  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller,  after  their  marriage, 
lived  on  a  farm  for  one  year,  and  in  1856  re- 
moved to  a  farm  he  had  purchased,  containing 
168  acres,  upon  which  they  have  lived  ever 
since.  This  farm  he  has  greatly  improved  in 
every  way,  but  especially  with  excellent  build- 
ings, including  a  large  residence.  Mr.  Miller's 
life  has  been  that  of  a  progressive,  well- 
informed  farmer,  and  he  has  gained  merited 
prosperity  and  success. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
there  have  been  born  six  children,  as  follows: 
John;  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years;  Andrew,  who  died  when  twenty- 
one  years  old;  Moses,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Martha  and  Lorinda.  In  religion  Mr.  Miller 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
and  in  politics  a  republican.  Of  his  children, 
Jane  married  Dr.  Samuel  Toman,  and  left 
four  children;  Martha  married  John  H.  Con- 
way, and  has  two  sons;  Lorinda  married 
Clayte  Brosier,  a  resident  of  Dayton,  and  John 
married  Lizzie  Gunther,  and  has  one  son. 
Mrs.  Aaron  Miller  died  January  20,  1896. 


\S~\  EV.  JESSE  KINSEY,  a  leading  min- 
I  /^     ister  of    the   German    Baptist    church 
W    and    a    substantial     farmer     of    Clay 
township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
is  a  native  of  the  county  and  was  born  Novem- 
ber s,  1836,  of  Pennsylvania-German  descent. 


David  Kinsey,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  was  there  married  to 
Margaret  Eltzroth,  and  became  the  father  of 
eleven  children,  viz:  Elizabeth,  Polly,  Jacob, 
Rebecca,  Susan,  Eli,  David,  Sallie,  Catherine, 
Delilah  and  Nancy.  In  1805  he  brought  his 
family  to  Ohio  with  a  horse  and  wagon,  first 
camped  at  Cincinnati,  and  then  came  directly 
to  Dayton,  arriving  in  the  spring.  Dayton 
was  then  but  a  small  hamlet  of  a  few  log 
houses,  and  the  party,  which  comprised  four 
families — the  Kinseys,  the  Crips,  the  Millers, 
and  another,  whose  name  is  forgotten,  settled 
near  Wolf  Creek.  Mr.  Kinsey  entered  160 
acres  in  the  woods,  and,  being  a  strong,  robust 
man,  soon  developed,  with  the  assistance  of 
his  sons,  a  good  farm  and  comfortable  home. 
Game  was  very  plentiful,  and  food  was  easily 
obtained  from  this  source  at  the  beginning. 
Mr.  Kinsey  in  the  early  day  was  a  noted  team- 
ster, for  which  his  great  strength  well-fitted 
him,  and  in  that  capacity  he  made  many  trips 
to  and  from  Dayton.  The  three  families  who 
came  with  his  were  all  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  and  at  first  meetings  were 
held  in  the  cabins  of  the  settlers,  but  through 
the  energy  of  Mr.  Kinsey  a  log  church-build- 
ing was  soon  erected,  and  large  numbers  of 
German  Baptists  from  Pennsylvania,  Maryland 
and  Virginia  came  flocking  to  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  thus  a  moral  and  christian  commu- 
nity was  early  founded  in  Clay  township. 
David  Kinsey  prospered  in  his  new  home,  and 
owned  at  one  time  over  1,000  acres  of  land, 
and  after  giving  to  each  of  his  children  an 
eighty-acre  tract,  had  left  a  fine  farm  for  his 
own  use.  He  lived  to  reach  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  was  conspicuous  and  influential  in  the 
affairs  of  his  township  and  county,  and  left  to 
his  family  a  heritage  much  more  valuable  than 
his  land — that  of  an  honored  name. 

Jacob  Kinsey,  son  of  David,  the  founder  of 
the    family   in    Montgomery   county,  was  born 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1273 


October  19,  1805 — the  fall  of  the  year  the  fam- 
ily came  here.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm 
among  the  pioneers  and  received  his  limited 
education  in  the  frontier  school,  but  was  very 
intelligent  and  possessed  of  an  excellent  judg- 
ment, which  afforded  him  a  compensatory  sub- 
stitute for  mere  book-learning,  and  he,  also, 
became  a  leader  in  the  community.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Susan  Boyer,  who  was  born  in  Bo- 
tetourt county,  Ya.,  March  14,  1812,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Boyer,  who  came  to  Ohio  about 
1815,  and  who  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  but 
bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Montgomery  county 
and  became  an  opulent  farmer.  His  children 
were  named  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Henry  and  Eli. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  a  member 
of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

Jacob  Kinsey  and  his  wife  went  to  house- 
keeping on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  passed 
all  the  active  years  of  his  life,  and  then  retired 
to  Stringtown,  where  he  bought  a  small  place, 
on  which  he  died  December  30,  1S82,  at  the 
age  of  nearly  eighty  years,  beloved  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
deacon  in  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  a 
sincere  Christian.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinsey 
were  born  the  following  children:  Noah,  Jesse, 
Margaret,  Harriet,  David,  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
Susan,  Mary  A.,  and  four  who  died  in  infancy. 

Rev.  Jesse  Kinsey  received  a  very  good 
common-school  education  and  was  reared  a 
farmer.  He  married,  February  23.  i860,  Miss 
Christina  Wolf,  who  was  born  December  28, 
1840,  in  Madison  township,  Montgomery 
county,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Miller)  Wolf.  Jacob  Wolf  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, of  German  descent,  and  when  a 
young  man  came  to  Ohio  with  his  father,  who 
settled  in  Greene  county,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  became  a  wealthy  farmer,  owning 
500  acres  of  land  in  the  Miami  valley,  and  died 
in  1863,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  the 
father     of     the     following    children:      Daniel, 


Mary  A.,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Cather 
ine,  Sarah,  Christina,  Joseph,  Harriet,  Lydia. 
For  the  first  five  years  of  their  married  life 
Mr.  Kinsey  and  wife  lived  on  a  rented  farm  in 
Randolph  township,  Montgomery  county,  and 
in  1865  purchased  their  present  farm,  which  is 
now  finely  improved  and  cultivated  and  com- 
prises 1 1 2  acres.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kinsey  no  children  have  been  born,  but 
they  have  reared  four  orphans,  viz:  Samuel 
Graybill,  William  Danner,  Christian  Wolf  and 
Emma  E.  Wolf,  whom  they  have  cared  for 
and  educated  with  as  much  devotion  as  if  they 
were  their  own.  Mr.  Kinsey  has  long  been 
active  in  church  work,  began  preaching  about 
1868,  and  was  ordained  an  elder  in  1883,  as 
well  as  minister.  His  voice  is  influential  in  its 
councils  and  his  labors  as  a  minister  tireless 
and  faithful. 


IRVIN  THOMAS,  of  Center,  Ohio,  a 
veteran  soldier  of  the  late  Civil  war, 
was  born  in  Clay  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  January  29,  1838. 
He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Tamar  (Mendenhall) 
Thomas,  and  was  reared  a  farmer  boy.  On 
August  21,  1862,  when  he  was  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  he  enlisted  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt.  Thorn.  In 
November  this  regiment  was  consolidated  with 
the  Sixty-third,  and  he  became  a  member  of 
company  H,  of  the  new  organization,  his  cap- 
tain being  now  O.  L.  Jackson.  He  veteran- 
ized in  January,  1864,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  July  18, 
1865.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville, 
Ky. ,  having  served  his  country  faithfully  and 
well  for  nearly  three  years.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Parker's  Cross  Roads,  and  in  the 
famous  Atlanta  campaign,  during  which  the 
Union   troops   were   constantly  under  fire  for 


1274 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


nearly  four  months.  While  on  this  campaign 
he  was  in  the  battles  of  Dallas,  Resaca,  Pump- 
kin Vine  Creek  and  of  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
and  was  then  on  detached  duty  as  cook  for  Dr. 
Stewart,  of  the  First  division,  Seventh  army 
corps.  On  July  22,  1864,  he  was  taken  sick 
and  for  three  days  lay  under  a  tree  at  Decatur, 
Ala.,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  ordered 
away  to  avoid  capture  by  the  rebels,  who  were 
about  to  take  possession  of  the  town.  He 
was  taken  care  of  by  comrade  Henry  Meshler, 
of  Clay  township,  and  partially  recovered,  but 
on  account  of  exposure  contracted  a  deafness 
from  which  he  has  not  recovered.  Shortly 
afterward  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  and  was 
in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  afterward  going  on 
the  great  march  to  the  sea.  He  was  also  in 
the  battle  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  and  marched 
on  to  Washington,  D.  C,  participating  in  the 
grand  review.  Then  going  to  Parkersburg 
and  thence  to  Louisville,  he  was  mustered  out 
at  the  latter  place. 

Mr.  Thomas  participated  in  all  the  battles 
in  which  the  Sixty-third  was  engaged  after  he 
joined  it.  and  endured  with  courage  all  the 
hardships  of  a  soldier's  life. 

After  the  war  was  over  he  returned  to 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Mr.  Thomas  has  been  married  twice — 
first  on  November  7,  1S58,  at  Phillipsburg, 
Ohio,  to  Sarah  Tibbs,  daughter  of  Jackson 
and  Mary  (Falkner)  Tibbs.  To  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  five  children,  who  are 
still  living,  as  follows:  Arnold  C,  Francis  O.,. 
William  W. ,  Cora  O.  and  Webster  E.  Mrs. 
Thomas,  the  mother  of  these  children,  died  in 
1 88 1,  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  Mr.  Thomas  was  next  married  to 
Mrs.  Ellen  Pugh,  daughter  of  John  Smith. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Thomas  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Clay  township,  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  and  in  1872  purchased  from  his 
father  eighty-five    acres   of    land.      Upon  this 


farm  he  lived  until  he  removed  to  Phillipsburg, 
in  1892,  building  in  this  place  an  attractive 
residence.  Mr.  Thomas  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  all  things  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the 
old  soldiers  and  the  good  of  the  country  in  gen- 
eral. He  has  manifested  the  strictest  integrity 
in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men  during  all 
of  his  life,  and  as  a  consequence  he  is  held  in 
the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 

Isaac  Thomas,  father  of  Irvin  Thomas, 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  removed  to 
Clay  township,  Montgomery  county,  in  1826  or 
1827,  being  thus  one  of  the  pioneers  in  that 
part  of  the  county.  He  cleared  a  farm  of 
ninety-two  acres  of  land,  and  through  toil  and 
economy  prospered  greatly,  eventually  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  about  400  acres  of  land. 
He  lived  to  be  about  seventy-six  years  of  age, 
his  children  being  Parmelia,  Harriet,  Milo, 
Caleb,  Seth,  Irvin  and  Susannah,  twins,  and 
Elam.  Seth  Thomas  was  a  soldier  in  the  same 
company  with  Irvin,  and  died  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  in  September,  1863.  Mr.  Thomas  was 
a  Quaker  in  religion. 

Irvin  Thomas  has  been  an  Odd  Fellow 
since  July  28,  1874,  a  member  of  Phillipsburg 
lodge.  No.  594,  of  which  lodge  he  has  been 
treasurer  twelve  years.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  Foster 
Marshall  post,  of  Brookville.  His  mother, 
Tamar  Mendenhall,  was  born  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  September  1,  1802,  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Caleb  Mendenhall,  a  Quaker  pioneer  of 
Miami  county,  Ohio.  She  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  Union  township,  Miami  county, 
and  a  woman  of  excellent  character. 


ISAAC  STOCKSLAGER,  one  of  the  old 
settlers  of  Butler  township,  Montgom- 
ery   county,    is    of    German    ancestry. 
His  grandfather,  John  Stockslager,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  the  father  of    John  coming 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY 


1275 


from  Germany.  John  Stockslager  owned  a 
good  farm  of  160  acres  of  land  in  Washington 
county,  Md.,  and  was  the  father  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  John,  Katie,  Jacob,  Philip,  Con- 
rod  and  Betsey.  He  died  on  his  farm  in  Mary- 
land, when  about  eighty  years  of  age.  In 
religion  he  was  a  Lutheran. 

John  Stockslager,  eldest  son  of  the  above, 
and  the  father  of  Isaac  Stockslager,  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Md.,  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  married  Regina  Schlenker, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Schlenker.  John  Stockslager  and  wife  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows:  Isaac, 
Barbara,  John  and  Jacob.  They  were  all  born 
in  Maryland,  where  Mr.  Stockslager  had  a 
farm  of  160  acres  of  land.  He  was  killed 
when  a  young  man  by  being  run  over  by  a 
heavily  laden  wagon.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  devoted  to  his  re- 
ligion and  to  his  family. 

A  few  years  after  the  death  of  her  husband 
Mrs.  Stockslager  came  with  her  children  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Butler  township,  Montgomery 
county.  This  was  in  1833,  and  Mr.  Schlenker 
reached  Dayton,  Ohio,  by  team.  May  1,  1833. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  Daniel,  Solo- 
mon, Polly,  Sallie,  Betsey  and  Lavina.  One 
daughter  he  left  in  Maryland.  He  lived  to  be 
an  aged  man,  dying  in  Montgomery  county. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
a  man  of  sterling  character. 

Upon  arriving  in  Montgomery  county,  Mrs. 
Stockslager  rented  a  house  in  Union,  and  there 
made  her  home.  After  a  few  years  she  mar- 
ried John  Lambert,  by  whom  she  had  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  died  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lambert  bought 
a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Butler  township,  and 
upon  this  farm  she  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  She  was  a  woman  of  many  fine  traits 
of  character  and  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Isaac  Stockslager,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  December  7,  1823,  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  but  ten  years  old  when  he  came  to 
Ohio  with  his  mother.  Receiving  a  limited 
education,  he  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  mar- 
ried, July  9,  1846,  in  Butler  township,  Mary 
Cress,  who  was  born  February  15,  1823.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Plum- 
mer)  Cress,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  of  German  and  Irish  stock. 
He  came  to  Montgomery  county  a  young  single 
man,  married  Catherine  Plummer,  and  had  by 
her  the  following  children:  Jacob,  David, 
Andrew,  Sophie,  Simon,  Alexander,  John, 
Mary  and  Betsey.  John  Cress  became  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  lived  to  be  an  aged  man. 

Isaac  Stockslager  and  wife,  after  their  mar- 
riage, settled  on  the  homestead  farm.  From 
his  earnings  prior  to  his  marriage  he  had  saved 
$500,  which  he  applied  in  partial  payment  on 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  by  the  utmost  econ- 
omy and  persistent  industry  he  not  only  accu- 
mulated the  funds  to  complete  his  payments, 
but  also  added  sixty-nine  and  a  half  acres  to 
his  original  purchase.  The  latter  portion  of 
his  farm  he  has  given  to  his  children,  and  has 
still  the  original  amount,  eighty  acres,  for  him- 
self. He  and  his  wife  had  two  children  who 
lived  to  mature  years.  John  died  when  seven 
years  of  age;  Louis  at  the  age  of  seven  months, 
and  Amanda  and  Jacob  are  still  living.  The 
parents  of  these  children  are  members  of  the 
Adventist  church.  Politically,  Mr.  Stockslager 
is  a  republican.  He  has  always  been  a  hard- 
working man,  and  is  highly  esteemed  as  a  man 
and  as  a  citizen  wherever  he  is  known. 


WOHN   FRANCIS  ALLEN,  a  represent- 

■      ative  farmer  of  Wayne  township,  Mont- 

/•  1      gomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  on  the 

old  Allen  homestead,  on  which  he  still 

lives,  May  27,  1869,  and  is  a  son   of   Stephen 


1376 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Johnes  and   Margaret  (McConnaughey)    Allen, 
of  whom  further  mention  will  be  made. 

Col.  John  Allen,  grandfather  of  John  Fran- 
cis, was  born  in  Monmouth  county,  N.  J., 
November  19,  1797,  and  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Johnston)  Allen,  natives  of  the 
same  state.  The  mother  died  about  the  year 
1 80 1  and  the  father  in  181 1,  and  the  orphaned 
John  was  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  a  black- 
smith until  his  majority,  when,  having  learned 
his  trade,  he  came  on  foot  to  Ohio,  worked 
here  at  his  trade  a  few  months,  and  then  re- 
turned to  New  Jersey.  He  there  married 
Margaret  Johnes,  of  Middlesex  county,  N.  J., 
a  daughter  of  Bergen  and  Martha  (Titus) 
Johnes.  June  4,  1830,  Col.  Allen  came  back 
to  Ohio,  bringing  his  wife  and  three  children — 
Sarah,  Andrew  J.  and  Stephen  J.  He  re- 
mained in  the  vicinity  of  Franklin  for  a  few 
months,  and  then,  September  15,  1830,  set- 
tled on  160  acres  in  Wayne  township,  in  the 
extreme  northern  part  of  Montgomery  county, 
on  which  farm  John  F.  Allen,  the  subject,  now 
lives.  Here  were  born  his  two  younger  chil- 
dren, William  and  Alice.  He  was  an  intelli- 
gent and  practical  man,  accumulated  1,000 
acres  of  land,  and  as  a  democrat  served  as 
township  trustee  for  twenty-three  years.  Mrs. 
Allen  was  called  away  December  14,  1871,  and 
Mr.  Allen  lived  to  be  eighty-five  years,  four 
months  and  seven  days  old,  at  which  great  age 
he    passed    away,    a   greatly   hononed  citizen. 

Stephen  J.  Allen,  father  of  John  F.  Allen, 
was  born  near  Hightstown,  N.  J.,  April  28, 
1830,  and  was  but  six  weeks  old  when  brought 
to  Ohio  by  his  parents.  He  was  reared  to 
hard  work  on  the  farm,  received  the  ordinary 
common-school  education,  and  on  March  16, 
1854,  in  Wayne  township,  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet McConnaughey,  who  was  born  March  28, 
1829,  in  Miami  county,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Anna  McConnaughey,  who  were  old  set- 
tlers   of  that   county.      David    McConnaughey 


was  of  Irish  descent,  was  a  substantial  farmer, 
and  his  estate  still  remains  in  the  possession  of 
his  descendants.  His  children  were  named 
Maria,  James,  Thomas,  John,  William,  David, 
Margaret,  Ann,  Robert  and  Belle. 

After  his  marriage,  Stephen  J.  Allen  settled 
on  the  old  Allen  homestead,  having  received 
from  his  father  162  acres,  to  which,  by  his 
thrift  and  good  management,  he  added  until 
he  owned  950  acres,  becoming  one  of  the  most 
solid  farmers  of  the  township.  In  politics  he 
was  a  democrat,  as  such  rilling  the  offices  of 
township  treasurer,  clerk,  and  trustee,  and 
serving  as  treasurer  of  Montgomery  county  for 
two  terms,  ending  with  1884.  In  this  latter 
office  he  became  well  and  widely  known  to  the 
people  of  the  county,  who  entertained  for  him 
the  highest  confidence  and  regard.  His  chil- 
dren were  named  William,  Anna  M. ,  David  F. 
and  John  F. 

John  Francis  Allen  was  reared  on  the  orig- 
inal Col.  Allen  homestead,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  school,  the  high  school  and 
the  commercial  college  at  Dayton,  and  the 
law  department  of  the  university  of  Michigan, 
at  Ann  Arbor.  He  inherited  450  acres  of  farm 
land  from  his  father,  and  his  life  has  been 
passed  chiefly  in  agricultural  pursuits,  although 
other  lines  of  industry  have  also  engaged  his 
time  and  attention. 

September  23,  1891,  he  married,  in  Day- 
ton, Miss  Esther  W.  Keplinger,  a  native  of 
that  city,  born  May  19,  1868,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Whitley)  Keplinger, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  chil- 
dren— Margaret  Esther  and  Anna  Mary.  Mrs. 
Allen  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Dayton.  In  politics  Mr.  Allen  is  a  demo- 
crat. Beside  managing  his  large  farming  in- 
terests, he  is  a  director  in  the  Eagle  Paper 
company,  of  Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
a  director  in  the  Cast  Steel  Plow  company,  of 
Dayton,    and   secretary   and   treasurer  of   the 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1277 


Miami  Coach  Horse  company,  of  Tippecanoe 
City,  Ohio. 

The  great-grandmother  of  Mrs.  Allen  was 
Mrs.  Catherine  Thompson,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  She  had  previously 
been  Mrs.  Catherine  Van  Cleve,  and  was  the 
mother  of  Benjamin  and  William  Van  Cleve. 
She  was  the  first  female  resident  of  Dayton,  to 
which  place  she  came  on  the  ist  of  April,  1796. 
She  was  also  one  of  the  earliest  inhabitants  of 
Cincinnati,  having  moved  to  that  place  before 
its  name  was  changed  from  Losantiville,  and 
when  two  small  hewn-log  houses  and  a  few 
log  cabins  constituted  the  whole  town.  Her 
first  husband,  John  Van  Cleve,  was  killed  by 
the  Indians  on  June  1,  1791,  within  the  pres- 
ent corporate  limits  of  Cincinnati.  Her  second 
husband,  Samuel  Thompson,  was  drowned  in 
Mad  river.  She  was  the  mother  of  thirteen 
children,  and  her  grandchildren  numbered 
eighty-seven,  and  her  great-grandchildren 
ninety.  She  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Allen  are  David  K. 
and  Mary  E.  (Whitley)  Keplinger,  of  Dayton. 
The  father  was  born  in  Mad  River  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  July  24,  1838,  and 
is  the  son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Kneisley)  Kep- 
linger, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  mother  was  born  in  Richmond, 
Ind.,  on  May  2,  1842,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Effie  (Van  Cleve)  Whitley,  natives 
of  Virginia  and  Ohio  respectively.  For  thir- 
teen years  David  K.  Keplinger  has  been  a 
trusted  employee  of  the  United  States  Express 
company  in  Dayton.  His  children  are  named 
Kneisley,  Eva  Stella,  Esther  Wagner,  William 
Whitley,  Bertha  Cora  Etta,  Emma  and  Mor- 
ris. The  parents  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Keplinger  is  an 
uncompromising  republican. 

Mr.  Allen  has  a  delightful  country  residence 
and  a  fertile  and  profitable  farm.      He  is  a  fac- 


tor in  the  affairs  of  his  township,  of  which  he 
is  one  of  the  most  active  and  useful  citizens 
and  an  honored  member  of  society. 


>-j»OHN  SPITLER,  a  descendant  of  one 
fl  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Clay  town- 
/*  1  ship,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was 
born  here,  on  the  original  Spitler  home- 
stead, April  10,  1S14,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  citizens  of  his  native  township. 

Jacob  Spitler,  his  grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  Jacob's  father 
was  slaughtered  by  Indians  in  a  massacre  in 
that  county  about  the  time  of  Braddock's 
defeat,  but  his  mother  escaped  with  her  three 
children — Jacob,  John  and  a  daughter.  Jacob 
married  in  Pennsylvania  a  lady  who  had  borne 
the  maiden  name  of  Bookwalter,  but  who  was 
the  mother  of  four  children  by  a  former  hus- 
band, named  Lane,  from  whom  descended 
the  Gen.  James  Lane,  of  Kansas  border  war 
fame.  After  his  marriage  Jacob  Spitler  removed 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Berkeley  county,  Va., 
thence  to  Rappanhannock  county,  and  finally 
to  Botetourt  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years,  his  wife  following  him  to  the 
grave  within  a  week.  Their  children  were 
named  Cally,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Betsey,  John, 
Polly,  Samuel  and  Anna. 

John  Spitler,  son  of  Japob  and  father  of 
subject,  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Va., 
February  9,  1785,  was  re?/ed  a  farmer,  and 
came  to  Ohio  in  1805,  in  company  with  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Buntraeger,  riding  horse- 
back more  than  500  miles.  Late  in  the  same 
year  Mr.  Spitler  settled  in  Clay  township, 
Montgomery  county,  on  the  present  site  of 
Brookville,  and  in  1807  married  Miss  Barbara 
Rohrer,  who  was  born  in  1789,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Rohrer, 
who  settled  in  Clay  township  in  1804,  being 
the    first   of  the   pioneers.      Joseph   Rohrer,  a 


1278 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  left  an  orphan  at 
the  age  of  six  years,  was  reared  a  farmer,  and 
married  Mary  Raesor.  He  became  well  to  do, 
owned  about  1,400  acres  of  land  in  Clay 
township,  and  at  his  death,  when  fifty-five 
years  of  age,  gave  320  acres  to  each  of  his 
living  children,  who  were  named  Barbara, 
John,  Joseph  and  Daniel;  two  others  died 
young,  one  of  whom  was  a  boy  that  was 
drowned  at  the  Pinnacles,  at  the  first  settle- 
ment on  the  Miami  river. 

After  marriage  John  Spitler  cleared  up  a 
large  farm  in  Clay  township,  and  during  his 
active  life  became  possessor  of  about  2,000 
acres.  He  bequeathed  160  acres  to  each  of 
his  eleven  children,  who  were  born  and  named 
in  the  following  order:  Polly,  Jacob,  Joseph, 
John,  Susan,  Andrew,  Elizabeth,  Samuel, 
Hannah,  Barbara  and  Solomon,  all  of  whom 
lived  to  reach  mature  age.  Mr.  Spitler  was  a 
man  of  great  strength  of  character,  and 
made  his  mark  as  a  leader  of  men,  being 
wise  in  counsel,  and  always  consulted  when 
it  became  necessary  to  adjudicate  or  arbi- 
trate difficulties  among  his  neighbors.  He 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ninety 
years  and  died  in  1874,  a  conscientious  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church,  of  which 
his  wife  was  also  a  member. 

John  Spitler,  whose  name  opens  thissketch, 
was  educated  in  the  first  school-house  erected 
in  Clay  township  and  was  reared  to  be  a 
thorough  farmer.  April  II,  1839,  he  married 
Miss  Esther  Warner,  who  was  born  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  March  5,  1820,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Rosannah  (Ligenfelter)  Warner. 
Her  father,  Jacob,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Pa.,  and  came  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  in  18 12,  settled  in  Randolph 
township  and  cleared  a  farm  of  160  acres.  By 
his  first  wife  he  was  the  father  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Spitler  was  next  to  the 
youngest,  and  by  his  second  wife  there   were 


born  four  children.  The  second  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Susan  Bruebaker,  but  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  with  Mi*.  Spitler  was  the 
widow  of  a  Mr.  Warner,  a  distant  relative  of 
Mrs.  Spider's  mother.  Jacob  Warner  lived 
to  be  sixty-two  years  of  age,  and  his  widow 
survived  him  thirty  years,  dying  at  the  great 
age  of  ninety-seven. 

For  some  little  time  after  marriage  John 
Spitler  lived  on  the  homestead,  but  in  1841 
moved  to  Darke  county,  where  he  cleared  from 
the  woods  a  farm  of  160  acres,  and  later  re- 
turned to  Clay  township,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  pursued  his  vocation  as  a  farmer 
until  1894,  when  he  retired.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spitler  had  born  to  them  a  family  of  fourteen 
children,  born  in  the  following  order:  Oliver, 
Barbara,  Elizabeth,  Solomon,  Susan,  William, 
Hannah,  Lydia,  John,  Benjamin,  May  E. , 
Ephraim  W.,  Flora  M.  and  Charles  S.  In 
their  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spitler  are  Ger- 
man Baptists,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Spitler  was 
in  his  early  years  a  whig,  casting  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison, 
but  with  the  change  of  parties  fell  into  line 
with  the  republicans,  and  was  a  sound  Union 
man  His  son  Solomon  served  for  three  years 
in  company  H,  Sixty-third  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, in  defense  of  the  national  flag  during 
the  Civil  war. 

Dr.  Ephraim  W.  Spitler,  son  of  John  and 
Esther  Spitler,  was  born  July  2,  1859,  and  re- 
ceived an  excellent  academic  and  collegiate 
education;  he  taught  school  five  years  in 
Darke,  Miami  and  Montgomery  counties,  stud- 
ied medicine  under  Dr.  J.  H.  Spitler,  and 
graduated  from  the  Medical  college  of  Ohio, 
at  Cincinnati,  in  1885.  He  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Jamton,  moved  to  Phillips- 
burg  in  1886  and  is  a  successful  and  progress- 
ive physician. 

The  marriage  of  the  doctor  took  place 
April    26,     1885,    in    Miami    county,    to    Miss 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1279 


Emma  A.  Hershey,  who  was  born  in  that 
county,  March  20,  1861,  a  daughter  of  John 
P.  and  Elizabeth  (Kolp)  Hershey.  Her  fa- 
ther, John  P.  Hershey,  is  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pa.,  and  before  coming  to  Ohio, 
in  1849,  was  the  first  conductor  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania railroad  between  Mount  Joy  and  Phil- 
adelphia. He  is  the  father  of  seven  living 
children  and  still  survives  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years.  In  politics  Dr.  Spitler  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  fraternally  is  an  Odd  Fellow. 


*  w  *      EVI  BAKER,  one  of  the  most  prom- 

|     inent     business    men    of     Brookville, 

^J     Clay  township,  Montgomery  county, 

Ohio,  was  born  here  June  11,  1836, 

on  his  father's  farm,  and  is  a   descendant  of 

one    of    the     oldest    pioneers    in    the    county, 

Michael    Baker,  and  of  one   of  the  wealthiest 

ante-Revolutionary  families  of    Pennsylvania, 

whose  genealogy  will  be  given  at  the  close  of 

this  memoir. 

Michael  Baker,  grandfather  of  Levi,  and 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Smucker)  Baker,  came 
from  Somerset  county,  Pa.,  to  Clay  township 
in  1805,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  200  acres  of 
land  in  the  wilderness,  on  which  there  was  a 
camp  of  200  Indians,  who  were  friendly  and 
proved  to  be  good  neighbors.  He  cleared  up 
this  farm  and  added  to  his  possessions  until  he 
was  the  owner  of  about  2,000  acres.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baker  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
viz:  John,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Michael,  Ben- 
jamin, Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Susannah,  An- 
nie and  Mary.  The  father  lived  to  be  over 
eighty-two  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  expired 
at  the  age  of  eighty,  both  devoted  members  of 
the  Dunkard  or  German  Baptist  church,  and 
the  large  property  was  distributed  among  the 
various  children. 

Benjamin  Baker,  son  of  Michael,  and 
father  of  Levi,  was  born  on  the  original  Baker 


homestead  in  Clay  township,  March  24,  18 10, 
and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
received  as  good  an  education  as  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  afforded  at  that  early  day, 
and  in  1830  married  Miss  Frances  Niswanger, 
the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, viz:  Sadie,  Malinda,  Noah,  Levi,  Cyrus 
(who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years),  Mary, 
Simon,  Amanda,  Sarah  H.,  Sylvester,  Jona- 
than and  Minerva. 

About  1850,  Benjamin  Baker  engaged  in 
the  grain  trade  in  Brookville,  being  the  first 
to  enter  into  that  business  in  the  village.  He 
built  a  warehouse,  and  hauled  his  grain  by 
wagon  to  Dayton  until  1853,  when  the  rail- 
road was  constructed  and  a  track  or  switch 
extended  to  his  warehouse.  For  a  few  years 
he  was  associated  in  this  trade  with  Richard 
Reily,  but  in  i860  Levi,  his  son,  bought  Mr. 
Reily's  interest,  and  the  business  was  contin- 
ued by  father  and  son  until  1866,  when  the 
father  retired.  Benjamin  Baker  was  a  most 
energetic  and  enterprising  business  man.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  Brookville,  opened 
its  first  general  store,  and  was  its  first  station 
and  express  agent.  He  at  one  time  owned 
about  500  acres  in  different  farms — one  of  1  50 
acres  one-half  mile  east  of  Brookville — and  in 
connection  with  his  grain  trade  was  a  large 
buyer  and  shipper  of  tobacco. 

Benjamin  Baker  was  at  first  a  whig  in 
politics,  was  one  of  the  original  republicans  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  during  the  Civil  war 
was  a  pronounced  Union  man.  In  religion  he 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
in  which  faith  he  died,  and  was  highly  es- 
teemed for  his  christian  benevolence  and  un- 
swerving integrity. 

Levi  Baker  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
and  received  an  excellent  common-school  edu- 
cation. January  10,  1856,  he  married,  near 
Brookville,  Miss  Catherine  Ganger,  daughter 
of  George   and    Elizabeth   (Richard)  Ganger, 


1280 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  to  this  union  was  born  one  child,  Mary 
A.,  who  married  Louis  Cotterman,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  Mrs.  Catherine 
(Ganger)  Baker  died  in  1876,  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Baker  took  place  October  17, 
1878.  at  Chambersville,  Va.,  with  Miss  Re- 
becca Koontz,  who  was  born  January  3,  1861, 
a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susannah  (Floro) 
Koontz.  Abraham  Koontz  was  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  of  German  descent,  was  married  in 
Rockingham  county,  \'a. ,  and  was  a  resident 
of  that  state  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion, 
when  he  was  drafted  into  the  Confederate 
service,  but  escaped  and  brought  his  family  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1861  or  1862, 
and  settled  near  Harrisburg.  Here  he  worked 
at  his  trade  as  carpenter  until  his  death,  at 
the  age  of  about  forty-nine  years,  a  member 
of  the  German  Baptist  church  and  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  Sarah,  Catherine 
(who  died  when  thirty-seven  years  old),  Min- 
erva, Rebecca,  Mary  and  Alice. 

Levi  Baker  began  his  business  life  as  a 
farmer,  which  vocation  occupied  his  time  for 
four  years;  he  then  joined  his  father  in  the 
grain  trade  at  Brookville,  and  in  1867  built  a 
residence  in  that  town,  but  had  the  previous 
year  bought  his  present  farm  of  1  14  acres. 
For  several  years  he  was  in  partnership,  in  the 
grain  trade,  with  Daniel  Litter,  but  for  the 
past  nine  years  has  been  associated  with 
Daniel  C.  Williamson.  This  firm  bought  their 
brick  warehouse  in  1885,  Mr.  Baker  being 
also  a  buyer  and  shipper  of  tobacco  on  a  large 
scale.  The  firm  of  Baker  &  Williamson  do  an 
extensive  business  in  grain,  and  are  also  the 
station  and  express  agents  in  Brookville. 

In  politics  Mr.  Baker  is  a  republican  and 
served  as  assessor  in  Clay  township  for  thirteen 
years;  he  is  postmaster  of  Brookville,  having 
been  appointed  under  the  Harrison  adminis- 
tration; he  has  been  land  appraisortwo  terms, 


a  member  of  the  school  board  and  of  the  town 
council,  for  three  years  county  infirmary 
director,  and  is  the  present  town  treasurer. 
He  is  president  of  the  Citizens'  Bank  of  Brook- 
ville, and  is  in  every  way  energetic  and  pro- 
gressive as  a  business  man  and  citizen.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, named  Edith  Lillor  and  Arlie  Levi. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  trace  the  Baker 
family  of  Ohio  to  its  origin  in  America. 
George  Peter  Baker,  who  was  born  and  who 
lived  and  died  in  Strasbourg,  Germany,  had 
four  sons  who  came  to  America  in  1727,  viz: 
George,  Jacob,  Henry  and  Peter.  Of  these, 
George  died  a  youth;  Jacob  married,  but  died 
without  issue;  Henry  died  a  bachelor;  Peter 
inherited  property  from  his  father,  and  the 
accumulated  property  of  his  brothers  through 
long  leases  and  also  by  will.  Part  of  this  es- 
tate is  now  covered  by  Fairmount  park,  in 
Philadelphia,  and  by  the  zoological  gardens  in 
the  same  city.  To  this  valuable  estate  the 
Baker  family  of  to-day  still  lay  claim,  as  the 
original  deed  granted  it  "To  Peter  Baker,  his 
children  and  grandchildren  forever;"  and,  be- 
ing thus  entailed,  the  claim  is  considered  to  be 
valid.  Peter  had  born  to  him  two  children — 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth.  Jacob  married  Hannah 
Lemon,  and  Elizabeth  married  Leonard  Ellm- 
sker.  Jacob  had  born  to  him  ten  children,  of 
whom  one,  Lemon  Baker,  is  the  great-grand- 
father of  Isaac  Baker,  of  Lawrence,  Kans. 
Peter,  to  whom  the  above  mentioned  estate 
was  granted  or  devised,  was  the  great-great- 
grandfather of  Levi,  the  subject;  Jacob  was  the 
great-grandfather;  Michael,  who  settled  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  the  grandfa- 
ther, and  Benjamin  the  father,  as  has  already 
been  shown.  Many  members  of  the  Baker 
family  went  to  Canada  about  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,  and  in  that  country  have 
been  found  the  bibles  containing  the  old  family 
records,  establishing  the    identity  of  the  many 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1281 


heirs  there  and  in  the  United  States  without  a 
missing  link.  One  of  these  ancient  volumes  is 
165  years  old  and  another  is  135,  but  the  rec- 
ords are  all  legible  and  convincing. 


y'-V'OLOMON    BEYL,    an    old    settler  of 

•\^^%T    Wayne  township,  Montgomery  county, 

r<_J    Ohio,  an   ex-soldier  and  a  successful 

farmer,    was    born    in     Northampton 

county,    Pa.,    February    6,    1830,   of    sterling 

German  ancestry. 

Jacob  Beyl,  his  father,  was  also  a  native  of 
Northampton  county,  Pa.,  was  born  in  1806, 
and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Beyl,  Sr. ,  who  owned 
a  large  farm  on  which  he  passed  all  his  life, 
and  reared  a  family,  of  whom  the  names  of 
Jacob,  John  and  Joseph  only  can  be  remem- 
bered. Jacob,  father  of  Solomon,  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  was  married  in  Le- 
high county,  Pa.,  to  Magdalena  Hartman,  who 
was  born  in  that  county  July  27,  1804.  Im- 
mediately after  his  marriage,  Jacob  Beyl  went 
to  housekeeping  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
there  all  his  children  were  born,  viz:  Elizabeth, 
Solomon,  Catherine,  Matilda,  Sarah,  John  and 
William.  In  1838  Jacob  Beyl  brought  his 
family  to  Ohio  by  means  of  wagons,  and  for 
about  four  years  lived  at  Fairfield,  Greene 
county,  where  he  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land,  but  about  1844-45  removed  to  Jasper 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres;  he  was  not,  however,  satisfied 
with  the  change,  and  four  months  later  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  and  for  two  years  conducted  a 
grocery  buriness  at  the  market-house  in  Day- 
ton and  on  Third  street.  About  1846  he 
moved  to  Wayne  township  and  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  Solomon,  his  son,  now  resides, 
and  which  then  comprised  147  acres,  of  which 
but  forty  acres  were  cleared.  The  remainder 
he  himself  subsequently  cleared  and  improved, 
eventually  converting  it  into    a  profitable  and 


comfortable  farm,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  He  and  wife  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  had  been 
an  elder  for  many  years;  in  politics  he  was 
first  a  whig,  afterward  a  republican,  and  for 
two  years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
of  a  very  liberal  disposition  and  was  the  chief 
factor  in  the  erection  of  the  Lutheran  church 
at  Osborn,  contributing  freely  of  his  own  means 
for  that  purpose;  and  this,  united  with  many 
other  generous  acts,  won  for  him  universal  re- 
spect and  gratitude. 

Solomon  Beyl,  it  will  be  seen,  was  about 
eight  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his  parents 
to  Ohio.  He  here  received  a  good  common- 
school  education,  was  reared  to  a  sound  un- 
derstanding of  agriculture  on  the  home  farm, 
and  was  also  taught  the  millwright's  trade. 
October  21,  1852,  he  married,  in  Wayne  town- 
ship, Miss  Mary  Rubsam,  who  was  born  in 
Union  county,  Pa.,  September  II,  1835,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Shane)  Rubsam. 

Henry  Rubsam,  father  of  Mrs.  Beyl,  was 
born  in  Fulda,  Germany,  August  24,  1798,  a 
son  of  John  and  Cornelia  (Swanger)  Rubsam, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  baker  by  trade  and 
lived  and  died  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  whose 
children  were  named  John  J.,  Phebe  J.,  Henry, 
Benedict,  John,  Frances  W.,  Ludwig,  Cather- 
ine, Elizabeth,  Carl  and  Theresa.  Of  these, 
Henry  Rubsam  left  his  home  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  came  to  America  and  for  some 
years  followed  his  trade  of  fuller  and  then  be- 
came a  farmer.  He  married,  in  the  Keystone 
state,  Mary  Shane,  who  was  born  in  Lycoming 
county,  September  18,  1804,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Susannah  (Swartzi  Shane,  of  Penn- 
sylvania-Dutch stock,  and  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  viz:  Mary,  Michael,  Peter,  Rosan- 
nah,  William,  Sophia,  Jacob  L. ,  Theresa  and 
Susan.  For  some  time  after  marriage  Henry 
Rubsam  continued  to  follow  his  trade  in  Penn- 


1282 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


sylvania,  and  in  i  S3 5  came  to  Ohio,  settled 
on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Wayne  township, 
Montgomery  county,  cleared  up  and  improved 
his  place,  and  here  reared  his  children — Eliza, 
Sarah,  Henry,  Mary,  John  and  Jacob  (twins) 
and  George.  He  was  a  republican  in  politics, 
and  in  religion  a  German  Baptist. 

Solomon  Beyl,  after  his  marriage,  settled 
on  the  old  homestead,  which  he  has  increased 
from  its  original  dimensions  to  205  acres  and 
greatly  improved.  His  children  were  named, 
in  order  of  birth,  as  follows:  Jacob  (who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years),  Emma,  John,  George, 
Mary  and  Minnie.  Mrs.  Beyl  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Beyl  is  in 
politics  a  stanch  republican.  His  enlistment 
took  place  August  22,  1862,  in  Osborn,  Ohio, 
in  Capt.  Aaron  Spangler's  company  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Tenth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
to  serve  three  years,  and  he  was  honorably 
discharged,  with  the  rank  of  corporal,  at  a 
Cleveland  hospital,  in  June,  1865,  on  account 
of  the  close  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  Va.,  was  captured  and 
sent  to  Libby  prison,  thence  to  Belle  Isle,  and 
at  the  close  of  thirty-three  days  was  paroled. 
He  returned  home,  but  at  the  end  of  three 
months  rejoined  the  army  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
where  he  was  stricken  with  rheumatism  and 
was  sent  to  the  Howard  hospital,  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ,  whence,  having  contracted  small- 
pox, he  was  transferred  to  a  hospital  in  George- 
town, D.  C,  and  then  furloughed  home.  On 
reaching  Columbus,  Ohio,  he  was  so  enfeebled 
that  he  was  sent  to  Cleveland.  He  there  re- 
covered sufficiently  to  do  light  duty,  and  was 
one  of  the  guards  at  the  time  that  the  remains 
of  the  martyred  Lincoln  lay  in  state  in  the 
city  of  Cleveland. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Beyl  resumed  his 
agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has  prospered 
and  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Wayne   township  and  one 


of  its  most  honored  citizens.  He  still  holds 
his  affection  for  his  old  comrades  in  arms,  being 
a  member  of  Steele  post,  No.  623,  G.  A.  R., 
in  which  he  at  one  time  served  in  the  office  of 
quartermaster. 


aHRISTIAN  A.  COLER,  of  Dayton 
and  Farmersville,  Ohio,  and  one  of 
the  leading  farmers  of  Jackson  town- 
,  ship,  springs  from  old  colonial  stock 
of  Maryland.  His  ancestry  is  both  German 
and  English.  Adam  Roller,  as  he  spelled  the 
name,  was  a  native  of  the  northern  part  of 
Maryland,  and  owned  a  farm  on  the  line  be- 
tween that  state  and  Pennsylvania  (Mason  & 
Dixon's  line),  his  land  lying  chiefly  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  children  were  Joseph,  John,  Polly 
and  Elizabeth.  In  religious  belief  Adam  Rol- 
ler was  a  Lutheran,  and  was  opposed  to  slav- 
ery. He  lived  to  be  seventy  years  of  age,  and 
his  wife  lived  to  be  seventy-five. 

Joseph  Roller,  son  of  the  above,  was  born 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Maryland,  was  reared  a 
farmer  and  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  Eliza- 
beth Eby,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Susan 
(McDaniel)  Eby,  the  Eby  family  being  of 
German  and  the  McDaniel  family  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Roller  first  settled  in  Baltimore  county, 
Md.,  on  a  farm,  but  came  to  Ohio  in  1832, 
locating  in  Montgomery  county,  in  Jackson 
township,  on  160  acres  of  land,  which  was 
partially  cleared,  and  which  Mr.  Roller  fin- 
ished clearing.  This  he  made  into  a  good 
farm  and  upon  it  he  passed  his  remaining  days. 
He  died  at  the  early  age  of  forty-five  years,  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  Mrs. 
Roller  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years,  an 
exemplary  mother  and  Christian,  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Roller  was 
well  educated  for  his  day,  and  was  an  unusual- 
ly successful  man,    accumulating  by  his  thrift 


^f//?^W^ 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1285 


and  good  management  540  acres  of  land.  The 
children  born  to  him  were  Susan,  Christian 
A.,  Noah  and  Jane. 

Christian  A.  Coler  was  born  May  26,  1825, 
in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  and  was  therefore 
seven  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Mont- 
gomery county  by  his  parents.  He  was  well 
educated  in  his  youth,  attending  not  only  the 
common  schools,  but  also  Wittenberg  college 
and,  later,  Miami  university,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1858.  He  had  been  a  teacher 
for  several  years  before  entering  college,  teach- 
ing in  both  Ohio  and  Indiana.  After  his  grad- 
uation he  resumed  farming  and  married  Cather- 
ine Bear,  born  in  1840,  in  German  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Lydia  (Swihart)  Bear. 

Henry  Bear  was  born  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  was  of  German  stock.  He  was 
a  son  of  an  early  pioneer  of  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, was  a  good  farmer,  and  by  his  first  wife 
had  one  child,  Catherine;  and  by  his  second 
wife,  Ellen  Bruner,  the  following  children: 
Albert  S.,  Florence,  Ira,  Paul  and  Myrtle. 
Mr.  Bear  is  still  living  and  is  now  eighty-three 
years  of  age. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coler 
settled  in  Jackson  township,  on  the  line  of 
German  township,  on  a  farm  of  264  acres  of 
land,  which  Mr.  Coler  purchased.  After  six- 
teen years  of  successful  farming  he  removed 
to  his  present  farm,  where  he  owns  165  acres 
of  excellent  land,  beside  several  pieces  of  prop- 
erty in  the  city  of  Dayton.  In  1894  Mr.  Coler 
moved  to  West  Dayton,  but  spends  several 
months  during  the  summer  and  fall  on  his  farm , 
two  miles  southeast  of  Farmersville,  on  the 
Germantown  and  Farmersville  pike.  In  1862 
Mr.  Coler  was  commissioned  captain  of  com- 
pany C,  Twelfth  regiment,  Ohio  national 
guard,  which  position  he  held  until  entering 
the  United  States  service  in  the  spring  of 
1864.      On  the  call  of  the  president  for  troops, 

58 


Mr.  Coler  reported  for  duty  May  2nd,  and  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  company  F, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  regiment,  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  was  on  duty  in  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  was  honorably  discharged 
August  25,  1864,  and  with  his  company  re- 
turned to  Dayton.  Politically  Mr.  Coler  is  ai 
republican  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coler  were  pres- 
ent at  the  inauguration  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  the 
first  president  of  the  party.  Mr.  Coler,  was  a 
member  of  the  Sixty-first  general  assembly  of 
Ohio,  the  only  man  save  one  elected  on  the 
republican  ticket  in  Montgomery  county  in  the 
fall  of  1873.  While  in  the  legislature  in  1875, 
he  advocated  the  enlargement  of  the  Miami 
&  Erie  canal  to  the  capacity  of  the  Erie 
canal  of  New  York,  and  introduced  a  resolu- 
tion to  that  effect. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coler  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Coler  being  an 
educated  man,  has  always  taken  a  deep  in- 
terest in  educational  matters,  and  has  for  sev- 
eral years  served  as  manager  of  the  Farmers' 
institute,  to  which  he  has  contributed  papers. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  G  A.  R. ,  Carlton 
Bear  post,  516,  Germantown,  also  a  member 
of  the  P.  of  H.,  and  has  always  sympathized 
with  the  interests  of  the  farmers.  He  has 
also  taken  an  active  interest  in  school  affairs, 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
several  years.  Mr.  Coler  is  a  man  of  wide 
reading  and  has  a  well-selected  library.  He- 
has  long  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  people- 
and  has  been  called  upon  to  settle  a  number 
of  estates,  and  has  transacted  much  business 
with  the  courts.  A  public-spirited  man,  he 
has  aided  churches,  favored  good  roads,  andl 
encouraged  all  enterprises  calculated  to  advance 
the  public  good.  In  the  many  positions  of 
trust  which  he  has  filled,  he  has  been  faithful 
and  true,  having  given  entire  satisfaction  to 
all  who  were  associated  with  him,  and  having 
won  credit  for  himself  in  every  capacity, 


1286 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


***-*      EWIS    F.    HOFFMAN,   of  Randolph 
f    township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
\     is  a  son  of  one  of  the  early  pioneers. 
His  ancestors  were  of  strong  Penn- 
sylvania-Dutch stock.      His  great-grandfather 
came  to  the  United  States  from  Germany  in 
about  1750,  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 
The   tradition    is  that   two  brothers   came  to 
America  at   that  time,  and   that  their  services 
were  soJd  to  pay  their  passage  across  the  sea, 
as  was  often  the  case  in  those  early  days. 

George  Hoffman,  grandfather  of  Lewis  F., 
was  born  June  21,    1775,  was  married  in  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  to   Elizabeth  Limpard,  and   their 
children    were     as     follows :      Philip,    Joseph, 
John,     Catherine,     Barbara,     Martha,     Jesse, 
Lewis,  Levi  and  George.      The  father,  George 
Hoffman,  was  a  farmer  and   also  manufacturer 
of  woolen  goods  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  18 19 
removed  to   Montgomery   county,  Ohio,    with 
his    wife    and    children,    making    the    journey 
with  a  team  of  five   horses  and  a   big  wagon. 
He  settled    in    Randolph   township,    one   mile 
south    of   Harrisburg.  where    he    bought   land. 
He  cleared  this  land  from   the  woods,  and  ex- 
perienced all  the   hardships   and   deprivations 
of  pioneer   life,  becoming  a    most    substantial 
farmer,  owning  300  acres   of   productive  land. 
George  Hoffman  lived  to  be  nearly  sixty-four 
years  of   age,  dying  April  1,   1839.      He  was  a 
prominent  ministerof  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  was  among  the  first  to  preach  at 
Conccrd,  before  there  was  any  church  build- 
ing erected    in    that   part   of  the   country,  the 
meetings    being    held   in    his   house.      He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  church  at  Concord, 
and  was  accustomed  to  preach   in   all  parts  of 
the    county.      He  died  on  his   farm,  regretted 
by  all  who  knew  him  as  a  man  of  great  worth 
and  usefulness. 

Joseph  Hoffman,  father  of  Lewis  F. ,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1801,  and  was  about 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  drove  the  team 


brought  to  Ohio  in  18 19.  Receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  subscription  schools  of  his  youth- 
ful days,  he  was  brought  up  to  farm  labor  and 
became  a  good  farmer  and  business  man.  In 
his  early  life  he  was  a  teamster,  and  hauled 
flour,  whisky,  etc.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah 
Worman,  and  by  her  he  had  the  following 
children:  Eliza,  David,  Anna,  Levina,  Solo- 
mon, Mahala,  Jesse,  Levi  and  Sarah.  After 
his  first  marriage  Mr.  Hoffman  settled  in  Ran- 
dolph township,  on  106  acres  of  land,  which 
he  bought  of  his  father,  and  by  toil  and  econ- 
omy he  added  to  this  farm  eighty  acres,  so 
that  he  had  a  good  farm  of  186  acres,  which 
he  partially  cleared  from  the  woods,  and  upon 
which  he  erected  a  comfortable  dwelling.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Mary 
Fry,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Lewis  F. 
and  William  R.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  a  practical 
and  successful  farmer.  He  also  followed  team- 
ing to  Cincinnati,  and  afterward  to  Dayton  for 
some  time.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics  was  in 
his  early  life  an  old-line  whig  and  later  a  repub- 
lican. His  two  sons,  Lewis  F.  and  William  R. , 
entered  the  one  hundred  days'  service,  in  com- 
pany A,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Ohio  volunteer  infantry.  Their  time  hav- 
ing expired,  William  R.  re-enlisted  for  one 
year,  and  died  while  in  service,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.  Joseph  Hoffman  died  in  1863,  aged 
about  sixty-two  years,  leaving  the  record  of  a 
busy  and  useful  career. 

Lewis  F.  Hoffman  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  November  15,  1842,  and  received  the 
common-school  education  of  the  time,  which 
was  of  a  higher  order  than  that  obtainable  in 
the  boyhood  of  his  father  or  of  his  grandfather. 
On  May  2,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Ohio  volun- 
teer infantry,  for  one  hundred  days,  and  was 
discharged  from  the  service,  by  reason  of  expi- 
ration  of   his   term   of   enlistment,  in   August, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1287 


1864.  His  service  was  rendered  at  Arlington 
Heights,  and  on  the  farm  of  the  Confederate 
leader,  Gen.  Lee,  and  he  saw  quite  active 
service  during  Gen.  Early's  raid  on  Washington. 

On  September  24,  1867,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Maugens,  who  was  born  January  10, 
1847,  near  Tippecanoe,  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Olive  (Jenkins) 
Maugens,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Frederick  county,  Md. ,  of  German  ancestors. 
John  Maugens  was  a  son  of  David  and  Cath- 
erine (Blickenstaff)  Maugens.  The  Maugens 
family  is  an  ancient  one  in  Maryland.  The 
children  of  David  and  Catherine  Maugens  were 
Elizabeth,  John  and  Mary.  David  Maugens 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  and  lived  to  a  great 
age.  John  Maugens  came  to  Ohio  when  a 
young  man,  was  married  in  Miami  county,  and 
his  children  were  David  K.  and  Mary  A.  Mr. 
Maugens,  who  was  a  capable  and  enterprising 
citizen,  died  in  Miami  county  when  his  daugh- 
ter, afterward  Mrs.  Hoffman,  was  nine  months 
old.  Olive  Jenkins,  his  wife,  was  a  daughter 
of  Esquire  David  Jenkins,  a  pioneer  of  Miami 
county.  David  Jenkins  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Rosetta  Russell,  and  his  second 
wife  Ann  Pierson.  Mr.  Jenkins  was  a  well- 
known  pioneer  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
forty  years.  In  early  times  the  elections  were 
held  at  his  house. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man settled  on  the  home  farm  of  fifty-four 
acres,  which  he  has  greatly  improved  and 
brought  to  an  advanced  condition  of  produc- 
tiveness, and  upon  which  he  is  engaged  in  the 
raising  of  nursery  stock.  His  children  are  as 
follows:  Homer  K.,  born  November  10, 
I  868;  Theodore  C,  born  November  10,  1871; 
Albert,  born  May  31,  1876;  and  Howard,  born 
September  7,  1882.  In  politics  Mr.  Hoffman 
is  a  republican,  and  has  six  times  been  elected 
trustee  of  Randolph  township,  serving  nine 
years.      He  and   his  wife   are   members  of  the 


Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Hoffman 
takes  great  interest  in  educational  affairs,  and 
has  served  on  the  school  board  for  six  years. 
Fraternally  he  was  formerly  a  member  of  St. 
John  lodge,  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  a 
member  of  Little  York  lodge,  No.  696,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs.  Mr.  Hoff- 
man is  a  progressive  and  capable  citizen, 
standing  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  friends 
and  neighbors. 


<>^V  ANIEL  BOOMERSHINE,  of  Farm- 
I  ersville,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
^^^J  and  a  prominent  farmer  of  Jackson 
township,  is  a  grandson  of  one  of  the 
original  pioneers.  He  springs  from  German 
stock,  his  grandfather,  Henry  Boomershine, 
having  been  born  in  Prussia,  Germany.  Henry 
Boomershine  was  impressed  into  the  German 
army  and  became  one  of  King  George  Ill's 
Hessian  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
coming  to  America  with  them  to  aid  in  sup- 
pressing the  revolt  against  the  rule  of  that 
king.  Like  many  others  of  the  Hessian  troops, 
he  took  advantage  of  his  opportunity  to  remain 
in  America  and  to  become  a  citizen  of  the 
country. 

Settling  in  Pennsylvania,  he  married  and 
became  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Peter,  Henry,  Jacob,  Abraham,  John,  Susan 
and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Boomershine  moved  with 
his  family  to  Ohio  some  time  during  the  last 
decade  of  the  eighteenth  century,  settling  in 
Hamilton,  Butler  county.  In  1802  he  moved 
to  German  township,  Montgomery  county, 
settling  on  the  north  line  of  the  township  on 
160  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  was  covered 
with  dense  woods,  he  being  one  of  the  very 
first  to  settle  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Boomershine  was  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  in 
his  vicinity,  and   in    politics  was   a   thorough- 


li?SS 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


going  Jacksonian  democrat.  He  was  a  typi- 
cal pioneer  and  the  founder  of  his  family  in 
Ohio.  He  lived  to  the  great  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years,  dying  in  1836. 

Abraham  Boomershine,  father  of  Daniel, 
was  born  in  Hamilton,  Butler  county,  December 
25,  1801,  and  was  three  months  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Montgomery  county.  Reared 
in  the  wilderness,  he  attended  one  of  the  old- 
fashioned  log  school-houses,  14  x  14  feet  in 
size,  which  was  four  miles  from  his  home 
and  which  was  reached  by  going  through  the 
woods  the  entire  distance,  a  path  having  been 
made  and  marked  out  for  the  purpose.  This 
school,  however,  he  attended  but  a  short  time, 
learning  to  read  German  at  home.  Becoming 
a  farmer,  he  married  Catherine  Cook,  who  was 
born  in  1794,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Margaret  Cook, 
the  former  of  whom  was  of  Pennsylvania- 
Dutch  stock,  and  a  pioneer  of  Jackson  town- 
ship. Abraham  Boomershine  settled  at  first 
in  Germantown,  where  he  lived  two  years, 
and  then  removed  to  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
the  woods,  one-half  mile  from  Farmersville, 
on  which  not  a  stick  of  timber  had  been  cut. 
By  hard  work  he  cleared  up  this  farm  and 
added  other  acres  thereto  until  at  length  he 
owned  239  acres,  and  became  a  wealthy  and 
substantial  citizen,  erecting  excellent  farm 
buildings,  among  the  best  in  his  township. 
He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  children: 
Henry,  Abraham,  Michael,  Lewis,  Daniel, 
William  F.,  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Sarah. 
The  parents  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Boomershine  was 
a  democrat.  He  died  in  June,  1889,  at  the 
great  age  of  eighty-nine. 

Daniel  Boomershine  was  born  June  18, 
1838,  on  the  Boomershine  homestead.  Re- 
ceiving a  common-school  education,  he  was 
reared  a  farmer,  and  on  June  6,  1867,  married 
Sarah    A.    Peck,    who    was    born    August    13, 


1844,  in  German  township,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  James  W.  and  Phebe  (Snethen)  Peck. 
James  W.  Peck  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Au- 
gust 22,  1803,  of  English  ancestors,  and  his 
wife  was  also  born  in  Kentucky,  February  8, 
1808.  They  were  married  in  Montgomery 
county,  August  17,  1834.  James  W.  Peck 
came  to  Ohio  when  a  boy,  and  received  the 
common-school  education  of  his  day.  While 
a  young  man  he  followed  teaming,  and  settled 
on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  German  township, 
which  were  covered  over  with  timber,  but 
which  he  cleared  and  made  fertile  and  pro- 
ductive. His  children  were :  Susannah, 
George  E.,  Mary  J.,  Hannah,  James  F., 
Elizabeth,  John,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Alexander 
and  Matilda.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peck  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church  of  Franklin,  and 
in  politics  Mr.  Peck  was  a  republican.  Mrs. 
Peck  died  January  10,  1865,  aged  about  fifty- 
eight  years.  Mr.  Peck  died  November  4, 
1869,  aged  sixty-six  years. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boomer- 
shine settled  on  the  old  homestead,  lived  there 
three  years,  and  then  one  year  at  Boomer- 
shine mill.  He  then  removed  to  Farmersville 
in  1 87 1,  and  worked  six  years  in  a  mill  in 
which  he  owned  an  interest  with  his  brothers, 
Michael,  Lewis  and  William — a  flouring  and 
saw-mill  on  Big  Twin  creek.  He  was  afterward 
engaged  in  the  butcher  business  for  five  years; 
he  bought  the  Boomershine  homestead  in  1883 
and  enrered  into  the  lumber  and  coal  busi- 
ness. As  a  democrat  he  has  held  the  office  of 
constable  for  six  years,  and  has  been  collector 
of  delinquent  taxes  for  twenty-two  years,  and 
treasurer  of  the  town  of  Farmersville  four 
years,  also  treasurer  of  Jackson  township  six 
years,  all,  as  will  be  seen,  being  offices  of 
trust.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
Farmersville  lodge  No.  482,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
has  held  the  offices  therein  of  junior  warden, 
junior  deacon  and  treasurer. 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1289 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boomershine  are  members 
of  the  Reformed  church,  of  which  he  has  held 
the  office  of  treasurer.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Boomershine  there  has  been  born  one  son, 
Clement  L.  Boomershine. 

Clement  L.  Boomershine,  who  is  at  pres- 
ent mayor  of  Farmersville,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 14,  1868,  on  the  Boomershine  homestead. 
He  was  first  taught  in  the  public  schools,  and 
afterward  attended  the  Heidelberg  university 
at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  June  21, 
1889.  After  teaching  school  in  Jackson  town- 
ship one  year  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1890,  and  has  ever  since  filled  that 
office.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Farmersville 
in  the  spring  of  1893,  and  re-elected  in  the 
spring  of  1895.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  secretary  of  his  lodge. 
Politically  Mr.  Boomershine  is  a  democrat, 
and  is  deservedly  popular  not  only  in  Farm- 
ersville but  throughout  the  county,  where  his 
professional  and  business  ability  are  generally 
recognized.  When  first  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  he  was  but  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and 
when  first  elected  mayor  of  Farmersville  he 
was  only  twenty-five  years  of  age,  facts  which 
in  themselves  testify  strongly  to  his  ability  and 
popularity. 


•""V*  HEREBIAH  JOSEPH  BRADFORD, 
*^^fc£    a    prosperous    farmer    of  Van  Buren 

k^_J  township,  Montgomery  county,  and  a 
member  of  a  prominent  Ohio  family, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  October  12,  1870,  on  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  resides.  He  was  trained 
to  be  a  farmer,  and  has  made  an  unquestioned 
success  in  that  vocation.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Butterfield)  Brad- 
ford. On  the  first  of  September,  1892,  he 
was  married  to   Miss  Annie  E.  Rice,  daughter 


of  Fleming  and  Mary  E.  (Miller)  Rice,  and 
has  one  child,  George  Fleming.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
S.  J.  Bradford  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  an 
independent  republican.  He  farms  165  acres 
of  the  old  homestead,  upon  which  his  grand- 
father settled  many  years  ago.  It  is  finely 
improved  and  has  upon  it  one  of  the  best 
orchards  in  the  county. 

George  G.  Bradford,  father  of  S.  J.  Brad- 
ford, was  born  on  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
lives,  March  14,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  George 
G.  and  Margaret  (McCandless)  Bradford,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  only  two  of  whom  are  now 
living,  viz:  J.  J.  and  George  G.,  the  latter 
being  the  father  of  S.  J.  Bradford.  George  G. 
Bradford,  the  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  and 
died  in  1841,  when  his  son,  George  G.,  was 
eight  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1882, 
aged  seventy-six  years.  She  and  her  husband 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of   18 12. 

The  great-grandfather  of  S.  J.  Bradford 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early 
day,  and  located  in  Van  Buren  township, 
north  of  Beavertown,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  bought  land  and  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  very  old.  He 
had  a  family  of  eight  children.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  George  G.  Bradford  was  James 
McCandless,  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  a  school- 
teacher. 

George  G.  Bradford,  father  of  S.  J.  Brad- 
ford, has  always  lived  on  his  present  farm. 
After  his  father's  death  this  farm  was  divided 
between  him  and  his  brother,  George  G.  still 
later  purchasing  his  brother's  share.  On 
March  29,  1S60,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Butterfield,  daughter  of  Sherebiah  A.  and 
Mary  Butterfield.     To  this  marriage  there  were 


1290 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


born  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, four  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows: 
Annie,  Sherebiah  J.,  Jennie  and  Blanche. 
Annie  married  William  Bryan,  of  Dayton,  and 
has  two  children,  Alonzo  and  Marguerite. 
Sherebiah  J.  married  Miss  Annie  E.  Rice,  and 
is  living  on  the  farm.  Jennie  and  Blanche  are 
living  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  G. 
Bradford  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

The  Bradfords  of  Van  Buren  township  de- 
scended from  John  Bradford,  who  was  a  first 
cousin  of  William  Bradford,  the  second  gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts.  John  Bradford,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  this  state,  came  to 
Ohio  in  1800,  settling  in  Beavertown  in  1801, 
and  bringing  with  him  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. Here  he  carried  on  farming,  and  here 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  married  Miss  Mary  Gilles- 
pie July  15,  1782.  To  them  there  were  born 
twelve  children,  the  names  and  dates  of  birth 
of  whom  are  as  follows:  Robert,  born  Janu- 
ary 7,  1784,  and  died  March  4,  1795;  George 
G.,  born  April  29,  1787,  and  died  June  1,  1840; 
John,  born  April  25,  1790,  and  died  February 
9,  1863;  Jean  Eleanor,  born  March  14,  1792, 
and  died  April  19,  1831;  James  G.,  born  Jan- 
uary 27,  1794,  and  died  October  14,  1823; 
William,  born  May  15,  1796,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 25,  1862;  Samuel  D.,  born  September  22, 
1798;  Mary,  born  December  15,  1800,  and  died 
June  28,  1812;  Margaret,  born  February  22, 
1803,  and  died  March  16,  1856;  David  D.,  born 
July  30,  1805,  and  died  April  8,  1833;  Martha 
Allen,  born  October  27,  1807,  and  died  April 
16,  1808;  Allen,  born  December  12,  1809,  and 
died  October  25,  1866. 

John  Bradford,  father  of  the  above-named 
children,  died  March  22,  1820.  Robert  Charl- 
ton and  Jean  E.  Bradford  were  married  May 
29,  1817.  James  G.  Bradford  and  Caty  Ann 
Conover  were  married  October  7,  18 17.     John 


Bradford  and  Rachel  Retenhouse  were  mar- 
ried September  9,  1S19.  George  G.  Bradford 
and  Margaret  McCandless  were  married  March 
29,  1 82 1.  John  Bigger  and  Mary  Bradford  were 
married  October  23,  1823.  Joseph  Bigger  and 
Margaret  Bradford  were  married  October  26, 
1825.  William  Bradford  and  Margaret  Logan 
were  married  May  2,  1825.  Samuel  D.  Brad- 
ford and  Mary  Ann  Johnston  were  married 
April  24,  1S27.  David  D.  Bradford  and  Ser- 
phina  Crane  were  married  May  10,  1827. 
Allen  Bradford  and  Eliza  Johnston  were  mar- 
ried December  20,   1831. 

John  Bradford  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  the  vicinity  of  Dayton.  He  came  to  Ohio 
in  the  year  1800,  and  located  near  Cincinnati, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  entered 
160  acres  of  land  a  short  distance  south  of 
Dayton,  upon  which  he  moved  with  his  family 
in  1 80 1.  To  him  and  his  wife  there  were  born 
twelve  children,  of  whom  all  save  two  lived  to 
adult  years.  All  of  those  that  reached  ma- 
turity followed  farming  for  a  living.  In  1801, 
when  Mr.  Bradford  settled  near  the  present 
site  of  Dayton,  there  were  but  four  log  cabins 
within  about  five  miles,  and  one  of  these  was 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  at  the  head  of  what 
is  now  known  as  Main  street. 

George  G.  Bradford,  grandfather  of  S.  J. 
Bradford,  was  born  in  Redstone,  Pa.,  and 
came  with  his  father,  John  Bradford,  to  Cin- 
cinnati. Afterward  he  located  on  a  farm  near 
Beavertown,  which  farm  was  later  owned  by 
George  D.  Bradford.  George  G.  Bradford 
married  Miss  Margaret  McCandless,  daughter 
of  James  McCandless.  To  this  marriage  there 
were  born  nine  children,  as  follows:  James  J.; 
Mary  A. ;  John;  Jane  A. ;  William;  George 
G.,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mar- 
garet; Martha  D.;  and  Joseph  A.,  all  of  whom 
lived  to  be  men  and  women.  George  G.  Brad- 
ford was  a  member  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
church,  and    in   politics    he   was  a  whig.      His 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1291 


death  occurred    June    i,   1840,  and   his  widow 
died  September  17,    1872. 

James  J.  Bradford,  son  of  the  above-named 
George  G.  and  Margaret  Bradford,  and  who  is 
a  deacon  in  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
supplied  this  work  with  most  of  the  history  and 
genealogy  of  the  Bradford  family.  He  was 
born  February  13,  1822,  and,  of  course,  had 
but  limited  educational  advantages  in  his  youth. 
He  lost  his  father  when  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  the  duty  of  caring  for  the  family 
devolved  upon  him.  For  eleven  years  he 
worked  for  his  mother  by  the  month,  and  this 
was  the  way  in  which  he  began  life  on  his  own 
account.  By  dint  of  hard  work,  integrity  of 
purpose  and  a  natural  aptitude  for  business, 
he  became  a  prosperous  and  wealthy  man. 
On  February  13,  1861,  he  married  Miss  Har- 
riet P.  Wead,  who  was  born  August  26,  18 19, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Wead, 
of  Van  Buren  township.  To  this  marriage 
there  was  born  one  daughter,  Mary  G.,  born 
July  30,  1862.  James  J.  Bradford  has  been 
for  many  years  a  deacon  in  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church.  In  politics  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, and  while  he  has  not  sought  office,  he 
has  been  elected  to  various  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  His  wife's  parents,  Robert  and 
Mary  Wead,  settled  near  Beavertown  in  1799. 
They  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children,  ten  of 
whom  lived  to  become  men  and  women,  but 
only  four  of  them  are  now  living.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Bradford,  Robert  Wead,  was  born 
September  17,  1781,  in  York  county.  Pa.  He 
was  by  trade  a  tailor,  and  removed  with  his 
family  to  Kentucky  in  1797,  remaining  in  that 
state  two  years.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Gip- 
son,  who  was  born  February  13,  1784,  the 
marriage  occurring  September  30,  1806.  They 
were  the  parents  of  two  children,  John  S.  and 
Mary  J.  Mrs.  Wead  died  November  7,  181 1, 
and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Wead  married 
Miss  Mary  Gipson,  who  was  born  April  5,  1788. 


Their  marriage  took  place  November  25,  1813, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
as  follows:  Ebenezer  G. ;  Eliza;  Harriet  P.; 
William  W. ;  James  W. ;  Samuel  G. ;  Margaret 
H. ;  Joseph  W. ,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  lived  to  become  men  and  women,  but 
only  four  of  them  are  now  living.  Mr.  Wead 
was  a  member  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
church,  and  in  politics  was  a  whig.  His  second 
wife  died  September  12,  1871,  and  he  died  July 
30,  1873,  being  then  nearly  ninety-two  years 
of  age.  He  had  lived  on  his  farm  near  the 
asylum   more  than  sixty-seven  years. 

Elizabeth  (Butterfield)  Bradford,  mother 
of  S.  J.  Bradford,  is  a  daughter  of  Sherebiah 
and  Mary  Butterfield.  Mr.  Butterfield  was  a 
descendant  and  representative  of  an  ancient 
and  noble  family  of  Scotland,  which  for  about 
three  hundred  years  owned  one  of  the  re- 
nowned castles  of  that  country.  At  the  time 
of  the  contest  between  England  and  Scotland, 
which  resulted  in  the  union  of  the  two  kingdoms, 
an  old  man  and  his  five  sons  were  banished  to 
the  American  colonies.  They  landed  in  Bos- 
ton, Mass. ,  and  it  is  from  them  that  the  But- 
terfields  of  this  country  have  descended.  One 
of  these  five  sons  was  the  father  of  Benjamin 
Butterfield,  the  father  of  John  Butterfield,  the 
father  of  Jeremiah  Butterfield,  the  latter  of 
whom  was  born  in  Massachusetts  March  4, 
1776.  In  1787  John  Butterfield  traveled 
through  the  northwest  territory,  now  Ohio, 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  on  into  the  country 
then  belonging  to  Spain.  In  1800  he  made  a 
second  journey  through  this  great  section  of 
country,  accompanied  by  nis  brother  and 
brother-in-law,  who  returned  in  the  fall.  He 
was  engaged  in  surveying  and  assisted  in 
establishing  the  Ludlow  line  of  survey. 

In  1799  Jeremiah  Butterfield  married  Mary 
Campbell,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who  was 
born  in  1781.  Returning  to  New  York  he 
then   in   1802   brought  his  wife   to   their  new 


1292 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


home  in  the  wilderness,  and  erected  his  first 
cabin  within  the  limits  of  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio.  Here  he  owned  upward  of  a  section  of 
land,  which  he  cleared  and  improved,  but 
afterward  built  a  house  in  Butler  county,  where 
the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  Mr. 
Butterfield  traveled  thousands  of  miles  in  the 
wild  western  country,  and  endured  many  hard- 
ships seldom  experienced  even  by  the  pioneers. 
He  traveled  on  foot,  on  horseback,  and  in 
every  way  then  in  vogue.  He  swam  and 
waded  streams,  exposed  himself  to  danger 
from  wild  beasts  and  Indians,  as  well  as  to 
the  diseases  peculiar  to  a  new  and  unsettled 
country,  yet  came  through  all  unharmed. 
After  settling  in  Butler  county  he  dealt  largely 
in  hogs,  making  frequent  trips  by  means  of 
flat  boats  to  New  Orleans.  On  arriving  in 
that  city  he  sometimes  found  the  market  over- 
stocked with  hogs,  and  would  then  take  ship 
for  Havana,  Cuba. 

Sherebiah  Butterfield,  eldest  son  of  Jere- 
miah, was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  was 
reared  a  farmer  and  was  familiar  with  all  the 
trials  and  hardships  of  the  pioneer  farmer's 
life.  He  used  to  accompany  his  father  on  his 
trips  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New 
Orleans.  His  marriage  was  celebrated  in  1828, 
and  his  grandson,  Sherebiah  J.  Bradford,  has 
in  his  possession  a  gun  which  Mr.  Butterfield's 
uncle  carried  through  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  which  his  father  carried  on  his  journeys  in 
the  northwest. 

In  the  entire  city  of  New  York  there  is  per- 
haps no  more  interesting  spot  than  Trinity 
churchyard.  Upon  one  of  the  tombstones 
therein  is  the  following  epitaph: 

•'  Here  lies  the  body  of  Mr.  William  Brad- 
ford, Printer,  who  departed  this  life  May  23, 
1752,  aged  ninety-two  years.  He  was  born  in 
Liecestershire,  in  Old  England,  in  1660,  and 
came  over  to  America  in  1682,  before  the  city 
of  Philadelphia  was  laid  out.  He  was  Printer 
to  this  government  for  upward  of  fifty  years, 


and,  being  quite  worn  out  with  old  age  and 
labor,  he  left  this  mortal  state  in  the  lively 
hopes  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

"  Reader,  reflect  how  soon  you'll  quit  this  Stage. 
You'll  tint!  but  few  attain  to  such  an  Age. 
Life's  full  of  Pain:  Lo  !  Here's  a  place  of  Rest. 
Prepare  to  meet  your  God,  then  you  are  blest." 

"  Here  also  lies  the  body  of  Elizabeth,  wife 
to  the  said  William  Bradford,  who  departed 
this  life  July  8,   1 73 1 ,  aged  sixty-eight  years.' 


Vy^ALTER  L.  MARTINDALE,  one  of 

mm  the  younger  members  of  the  bar  of 

\_jLzl  the   fifth  generation 

bearing  his  name  in  the  Buckeye 
state,  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  and  Melvina 
Cary  (Strong)  Martindale,  allusion  to  the  former 
of  whom  is  made  in  the  history  of  Martindale 
family,  and  whose  biography  in  full  will  be 
found  on  page  1304. 

Capt.  Samuel  Martindale  was  born  Janu- 
ary 10,  1830,  in  Monroe  township,  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  a  son  of  John  and  Amelia  (Camp- 
bell) Martindale,  and  was  always  a  tiller  of 
the  soil.  He  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  also  attended  the  college  at  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  for  a  year  or  more,  and  continued 
to  live  on  the  paternal  farm  until  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  when  he  married,  in  Butler 
township,  Montgomery  county,  June  3,  1853, 
Miss  Melvina  Cary  Strong,  who  was  born  in 
Butler  township,  April  14,  1835,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Pearson)   Strong. 

Col.  John  Strong,  Sr. ,  great-grandfather  of 
Walter  L.  Martindale,  was  born  February  17, 
1724,  and  was  married  to  Louisa  Crouch,  his 
first  wife,  in  1744;  to  them  were  born  four 
children.  He  was  married  to  his  fourth  wife, 
Deliverance  Cary,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Grant,  widow  of  Dr.  Samuel  Cary,  of  Lynn, 
N.  H.,  in  1786;  of  this  last  marriage  were  born 
John  Strong,  Jr.,  at  North  Hetford,  Vt. ,  March 
25>  I7^7>  and  Zebulon  Strong,  born  Septem- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1295 


ber  7,  1788.  Col.  John  Strong,  Sr. ,  died  No- 
vember 17,  1795,  aged  seventy-one  years. 
His  wife,  Deliverance  Strong,  died  at  Cincin- 
nati in  1 8 10. 

When  a  young  man,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  Zebulon,  John  Strong,  father  of  Mrs. 
Martindale,  came  to  Ohio  and  located  at  Col- 
lege Hill,  near  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed for  some  years  at  his  trade  of  carpenter 
and  cabinet-maker,  and  first  married,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1 8 1 3,  Miss  Sarah  Pearson,  who  was 
born  April  7,  1793.  In  August,  1832,  he  came 
to  Butler  township,  Montgomery  county,  and 
in  1833  entered  319^  acres  of  land,  all  in  the 
woods.  He  proved  to  be  a  capable  farmer 
and  added  120  acres  to  his  first  entry,  and  his 
homestead  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  township 
in  its  day.  In  politics  he  was  a  whig  and  in 
his  religious  views  was  independent.  To  his 
first  marriage  were  born  the  following-named 
children:  Sarah,  John,  George,  Mary,  Eber,  Gil- 
bert L.,  Julia  Ann,  Benjamin  G. ,  Bela  F.  and 
Melvina  C. — all  now  deceased  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  youngest  (Mrs.  Martindale).  Mrs. 
Strong  died  January  25,  1846,  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church,  and  September 
20,  1852,  Mr.  Strong  married  Phebe  French, 
but  to  this  union  no  children  were  born.  Mr. 
Strong  was  himself  called  away  January  15, 
1897,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years,  nine 
months  and  twenty  days,  and  no  man  of  his 
day  stood  higher  in  the  esteem  of  the  commu- 
nity. Mrs.  Phebe  (French)  Strong  survived 
until  1895. 

Samuel  Martindale  and  wife,  at  their  mar- 
riage, first  located  on  a  part  of  the  Strong 
homestead,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
1869,  but  between  these  two  dates  a  digression 
may  be  made  in  order  to  record  the  war  history 
of  Mr.  Martindale,  which  must  be  brief:  In 
August,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  Dayton,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  recruiting  service.  He  organ- 
ized   a    company  in    Butler  township  for  the 


three  years'  service,  which  was  mustered  in  at 
Camp  Hamilton,  September  9,  1861,  as  com- 
pany H,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
of  which  company  he  was  commissioned  first 
lieutenant,  under  Capt.  Michael  Gunckel,  and 
took  part  in  the  engagements  of  Corinth, 
Perryville,  Tullahoma,  Chickamauga,  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Atlanta,  Dalton, 
Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chattanooga, 
Pine  Mountain  (general  assault)  and  Peach 
Tree  Creek.  He  was  promoted  to  be  captain 
of  his  company  in  October,  1862;  at  the  siege 
of  Chattanooga  his  hearing  was  destroyed 
through  concussion  caused  by  the  bursting  of 
a  shell  (1863),  and  he  was  finally  honorably 
discharged,  at  the  same  point,  April  8,   1864. 

Capt.  Martindale,  after  his  return  from 
the  war,  remained  on  the  Strong  homestead, 
as  stated,  until  1869.  He  then  moved  to  the 
western  part  of  Butler  township  and  settled  on 
a  farm  of  143  acres,  was  industrious  and  man- 
aged well,  and  in  due  course  of  time  acquired 
800  acres,  located  in  Butler  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  in  Union  township,  Miami 
county.  Before  the  war  and  during  its  prog- 
ress Mr.  Martindale  was  in  politics  a  repub- 
lican, but  afterward  became  a  democrat. 
He  held  the  office  of  county  commissioner  from 
1872  to  1875,  and  served  also,  at  different 
periods,  as  township  treasurer  and  township 
trustee,  and  was  likewise  an  officer  in  several 
stock  companies;  fraternally,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dayton  lodge  of  Freemasons,  and  in 
religion  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 

To  the  marriage  of  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Martin- 
dale were  born  the  following  children:  Ed- 
mund D.,  Warren  O.,  Florence  L.,  Samuel 
C,  Wilson  C,  Walter  L.,  Urilla  A.  and  Ar- 
thur A.  The  death  of  the  captain  took  place 
April  29,  1894,  at  the  age  of  a  little  over 
sixty-four  years.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier, 
always  active  and  prompt  in  the  discharge  of 


1296 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  duty;  was  possessed  of  excellent  business 
abilities;  he  was  a  loving  husband,  a  kind 
father,  faithful  and  warm  in  his  friendships, 
and  a  power  in  the  community  in  which  he 
lived.  Mrs.  Martindale  is  now  living  in  Har- 
risburg.  Through  her  father  she  is  connected 
with  the  well-known  New  England  family  of 
Carys  and  also  with  the  famous  Ohio  poets, 
Alice  and  Phebe  Cary. 

Walter  L  Martindale,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  biographical  memoir,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 19,  1868,  on  the  Martindale  (or  John 
Strong)  homestead  in  Butler  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio.  His  preliminary  edu- 
cation was  acquired  in  the  district  school,  and 
when  sufficiently  advanced,  he  attended  the 
Ohio  Normal  university  at  Ada.  After  his  grad- 
uation from  the  literary  department  of  this  in- 
stitution, he  taught  school  for  five  years — three 
in  Ohio  and  two  in  New  York  state — at  the 
same  time  studying  law.  He  then  entered  the 
law  department  of  the  Ohio  Normal  university, 
and  graduated  from  both  the  scientific  and  law 
departments  in  1894,  in  which  year,  also,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 
He  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Harrisburg,  Montgomery  county, 
where  his  abilities  were  speedily  recognized, 
and  where,  during  the  short  space  of  time 
since  intervening,  he  has  secured  a  patronage 
respectable  in  its  proportions  and  remuner- 
ative in  its  returns. 

Mr.  Martindale  was  happily  united  in  mar- 
riage June  2,  1892,  in  Stokes  township,  Logan 
county,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Minnie  L.  Brubaker, 
who  was  born  October  8,  1871,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  T.  and  Sarah  (Loudenbock)  Brubaker. 
For  a  year  after  marriage,  Mr.  Martindale 
taught  school  in  Vandalia,  Montgomery  county, 
and  it  was  shortly  after  the  birth  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Ethel  M.,  July  13,  1894,  that  he  located 
in  Harrisburg,  his  present  home.  In  politics 
he  is  a  democrat,  and   fraternally  is  a  member 


of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  at  Union,  Ohio.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  respected  and  well-to-do,  own- 
ing 350  acres  of  excellent  farming  land,  and  as 
an  attorney  is  well-equipped,  popular  and 
unusually  successful. 

Joseph  T.  Brubaker,  father  of  Mrs.  Martin- 
dale, was  born  November  12,  1846,  in  Page 
county,  Va.,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  Brubaker, 
who  was  of  Pennsylvania  descent,  and  in  Page 
county,  Va. ,  was  a  wealthy  planter  and  slave- 
holder and  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Joseph  T.,  John,  Perry,  Abraham,  Charles, 
Emma  and  Linna.  Joseph  T.  Brubaker  was 
a  well-educated  gentleman,  and  married,  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  December  15,  1870, 
Sarah  R.  Loudenbock,  and  first  located  in 
Washington  township,  Logan  county,  on 
Loudenbock  land,  comprising  218  acres,  and 
later  settled  on  100  acres  of  his  own  land  in 
Stokes  township.  His  wife  died  May  13,  1874, 
the  mother  of  two  children — Minnie  L.  (Mrs. 
Martindale)  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Brubaker  still  resides  on  his  farm  and  is  an  ex- 
cellent citizen.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was 
drafted  into  the  Confederate  army  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  and  served  until  the  close. 


«>^\  OBERT    CARSON,   one    of    the    ex- 

■  /^  soldiers  of  the  late  Civil  war,  springs 
P  from  Scotch  ancestry,  his  parents  be- 
ing natives  of  Scotland.  He  was 
born  October  3,  1838,  on  the  Atlantic  ocean 
off  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  while  his  par- 
ents were  on  their  voyage  to  the  United  States. 
Reared  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  he  received 
there  a  good  common-school  education,  and 
when  twelve  years  old  became  a  cabin  boy  on 
the  sea,  sailing  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  visiting  different  countries.  After  some 
further  schooling  he  taught  for  a  time,  and 
then  learned  the  painter's  trade.  In  1862  he 
enlisted   at   Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  for  three  years,  or 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1297 


during  the  war,  in  company  B,  Sixteenth  New 
York  volunteer  infantry,  which  regiment,  after 
seeing  some  service,  was  consolidated  with  the 
Twelfth  New  York  volunteer  infantry.  After 
serving  nearly  three  years  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  account  of  wounds  received  in  the 
service.  At  the  time  he  was  discharged,  in 
1865,  he  was  in  hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mr.  Carson  was  in  many  skirmishes  in  Virginia, 
on  the  Potomac  river,  at  Alexandria,  and  was  in 
Washington  when  Gen.  Early  made  his  famous 
raid  on  that  city.  He  was  also  with  Sherman 
on  the  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  took 
part  also  in  many  skirmishes  and  foraging  ex- 
peditions in  the  southern  part  of  the  country. 
He  received  his  wound  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, in  a  cavalry  charge,  the  ball  passing 
through  the  right  shoulder,  paralyzing  his  en- 
tire right  side  and  limbs.  He  lay  in  hospital 
at  Washington  eight  months,  and  after  leaving 
there  went  to  Rochester  and  thence  to  Cham- 
bersburg,  Ohio,  where  he  had  lived  before  the 
war,  and  where  he  owned  land. 

Mr.  Carson  is  a  member  of  Weaver  post, 
G.  A.  R. ,  of  Vandalia,  Ohio.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican,  and  in  religion  a  Presbyterian. 
He  is  one  of  those  who  served  his  country  well 
during  her  hour  of  need  and  trial,  and  thereby 
lost  his  health,  and  partially  lost  the  use  of 
his  body. 

John  L.  Carson,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Scotland,  near  the  town  of  Dumfries,  learned 
there  the  trade  of  painter,  and  married  Mar- 
garet Miller.  They  became  the  parents  of 
two  children — Robert  and  Isabella.  Mr.  Car- 
son came  to  the  United  States  in  1838,  settling 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  Mrs.  Carson  died. 
By  a  second  marriage  Mr.  Carson  became  the 
father  of  five  children.  John  L.  Carson  and 
his  first  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  his  second  wife  being  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church. 

Robert  Carson  first  married  Mary  Brooker, 


of  Chambersburg,  who  died  February  24,  1894, 
and  who  was  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church.  His  second  marriage  took  place 
October  21,  1895,  at  Chambersburg,  Ohio,  to 
Kate  Hilderbrand,  a  widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Watkins,  and  who  was  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Angeline  (Whittacer)  Watkins. 
David  Watkins  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  War- 
ren county,  and  his  children  were  Oscar,  Kate, 
Almira  and  Esther.  Mr.  Watkins'  first  wife 
died,  and  he  then  married  Jerusha  Witcey,  by 
whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Emma. 


»-j'OHN    W.    DRILL,    of    Chambersburg, 
■      Ohio,  one  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the  late 

m  1  Civil  war,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Je- 
mima (Leakins)  Drill.  He  was  born 
February  9,  1828,  in  Frederick  county,  Md., 
and  was  brought  the  same  year  to  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  by  his  parents.  Reared  among 
the  pioneers,  he  acquired  their  habits  and  cus- 
toms, and  was  educated  in  the  little  log  school- 
house,  common  in  the  country  in  the  days  of 
his  boyhood.  When  he  was  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  married,  November  30,  1849, 
Lebina  Hosier,  who  was  born  in  Butler  town- 
ship, October  21,  1829,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Nancy  (Compton)  Hosier.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drill  settled  on  land 
in  Harrison  township,  which  Mr.  Drill  had  pur- 
chased, and  lived  thereon  two  years,  when  he 
sold  it  and  bought  ten  and  a  half  acres,  where 
he  now  lives.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drill  there 
were  born  the  following  children:  Martha  J., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Mary  J., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years; 
Nancy  and  Jemima;  Robert,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  Josephine.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  December  11,   1896. 

Mr.  Drill  enlisted  in  October,  1 861 ,  in  Capt. 
Walter  Crook's  company,  F,  Seventy-fourth 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  to  serve  three   vears 


L298 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


or  during  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Savannah,  Ga.,  by  reason  of  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service,  January  6, 
1865.  At  the  time  of  his  enlistment  Mr.  Drill 
was  thirty-five  years  of  age  and  left  at  home 
his  wife  and  one  child.  He  was  at  the  battles 
of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mount- 
ain, Missionary  Ridge  and  many  smaller  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes,  including  all  of  those  of  the 
great  Atlanta  campaign,  when  the  Union 
troops  were  under  fire  for  four  months.  He 
was  in  the  battle  in  which  Gen.  McPherson 
fell,  and  in  that  of  Jonesboro,  after  which  he 
went  with  Sherman  to  the  sea.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Savannah,  and  that  at  Columbia, 
after  which  he  was  discharged,  his  term  of 
service  having  expired.  Sent  by  ship  from 
Hilton  Head  to  New  York,  he  returned  home 
from  this  latter  city.  He  was  one  of  the  for- 
tunate soldiers  of  the  war,  never  being  wounded 
nor  taken  prisoner  and  being  sick  in  the  hos- 
pital at  Nashville  only  three  weeks.  He  was 
in  all  the  marches,  campaigns,  battles,  and 
skirmishes  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged, 
and  was  always  prompt  and  cheerful  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duties.  As  a  republican  he 
has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  ten  years  and 
is  an  honored  member  of  Yandalia  post,  No. 
94,  G.  A.  R. 

George  W.  Drill,  father  of  John  W.,  was 
born  in  Frederick  count}',  Md.,  October  7, 
17S7,  and  married  in  that  county  Jemima  Lea- 
kins,  who  was  born  December  6,  1791,  in  the 
same  county.  Their  children  were  Daniel. 
Elizabeth,  Jacob,  George.  John  W. ,  Ann  R. 
and  Thomas.  All  except  Ann  R.  lived  to  ma- 
ture years.  In  1828  Mr.  Drill  came  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio,  making  the  journey  with 
a  four-horse  wagon  and  a  one-horse  carriage, 
or  rockaway,  as  it  was  called.  He  settled  in 
Harrison  township,  three  miles  from  Dayton, 
at  Ebenezer  church.  Here  he  purchased  160 
acres  of  land,  mostly  Stillwater  bottom   land. 


With  the  exception  of  ten  acres  he  cleared  this 
tract  of  its  timber,  made  of  it  a  fine  farm  and 
lived  thereon  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying 
January  26,  1835.  His  wife  died  June  23, 
i860,  at  the  residence  of  John  W.  Drill.  Mr. 
Drill  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal church,  and  the  Ebenezer  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  was  built  on  his  land.  He  was 
of  German  ancestry,  his  father  having  come 
from  Germany  to  the  United  States. 

Robert  Hosier  was  born  in  Virginia,  was  a 
farmer  by  vocation  and  was  a  teamster  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2.  He  married  in  Montgomery 
county,  to  which  he  came  when  about  thirty 
years  of  age.  His  wife  was  Nancy  Compton, 
born  in  South  Carolina,  daughter  of  William 
and  Tetty  Compton,  both  of  English  descent. 
Robert  Hosier  was  one  of  the  original  pioneers 
of  Montgomery  county,  settling  here  when 
there  was  but  one  store  in  Dayton.  He  en- 
tered 300  acres  of  land  one-half  mile  east  of 
Chambersburg  before  the  Indians  had  left  the 
country.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children:  Nancy,  Isaac,  Zimri,  Rebecca,  Rho- 
da.  Mary,  Joshua.  Eli,  Leona  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hosier  were 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  he  was 
well  known  throughout  the  country  as  a  sturdy 
and  prosperous  pioneer. 


(D 


OSES  EVANS,  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial fanners  of  Butler  township, 
whose  post-office  is  Fidelity,  Ohio, 
springs  from  Welsh  ancestry.  His 
grandfather,  Joseph  Evans,  was  a  farmer  of 
Georgia,  and  in  1773  married  in  that  state  Miss 
Esther  Buffington.  Their  children  were  Sam- 
uel, born  January  27,  1775;  Hannah,  born 
October  27,  1776;  Isaac,  born  November  7, 
1778;  Moses,  born  September  24,  1780;  Mar- 
garet, born  October  17,  1782;  Adam,  born  De- 
cember  30,    1784;   John,    born    February    16, 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1299 


1787;  Robert,  born  February  7,  1789;  Phebe, 
born  December  13,  1790;  Mary,  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1792;  Aaron,  born  January  13,  1794, 
and  Sally,  born  May  31,  1797. 

Joseph  Evans,  father  of  these  children, 
moved  to  Ohio  in  1802  by  means  of  wagons. 
The  Evans  family  were  Quakers,  and  moved 
away  from  Georgia  on  account  of  their  opposi- 
tion to  slavery.  They  settled  in  Butler  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  near  Yandalia. 
Here  Mr.  Evans  passed  his  remaining  days, 
dying  August  31,  1828,  when  seventy-nine 
years  and  eleven  days  old.  Esther  Buffington, 
his  wife,  was  born  February  1,  1756,  and  died 
May  30,  1830.  Mr.  Evans  was  one  of  the 
sturdy,  thrifty  pioneers,  and  owned  land  enough 
to  give  each  of  his  children  a  good  farm. 

Robert  Evans,  his  son,  and  the  father  of 
Moses  Evans,  was  born  in  Georgia,  and  ac- 
cording to  his  own  statement  was  a  small  boy 
when  the  family  moved  to  Ohio.  Robert 
Evans  received  a  fair  common-school  educa- 
tion in  his  youth,  and  became  a  farmer.  July 
12,  1812,  he  married  Esther  Jenkins,  of  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Jenkins.  Mr.  Evans  after 
his  marriage  settled  in  Miami  county  on  170 
acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  from  the  woods. 
The  town  of  Tippecanoe,  Ohio,  now  stands  on 
this  farm.  Mr.  Evans  became  a  prosperous 
man,  and  bought  additional  land  for  his  chil- 
dren. This  land  lay  in  St.  Joseph's  county, 
Ind.  Politically  he  was  an  old-line  whig  and 
later  a  republican,  and  a  strong  Union  man. 
Four  of  his  sons  were  in  the  Union  army, 
Jesse,  Robert,  Moses  and  Eli.  The  first  three 
were  in  company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
seventh  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  served 
100  days,  and  Eli  served  in  an  Indiana  regi- 
ment. Mr.  Evans  was  a  Quaker  in  religious 
belief,  like  his  ancestors  before  him. 

His  children  by  his  first  wife  were  Thomas, 
Joseph,  William,  Moses,  Morris,  Eli  and 
Esther,   all    of  whom  grew  to  mature    years, 


and  all  married  and  reared  families.  There 
were  several  other  children  who  died  young. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  January  26, 
1835,  and  Mr.  Evans  again  married,  his  second 
wife  being  Mary  Jenkins,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Jesse,  Mary  L.,  Robert, 
Elizabeth  and  one  that  died  young. 

Moses  Evans  was  born  January  17,  1826, 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Monroe  township, 
Miami  county,  Ohio.  His  early  education 
was  only  a  limited  one,  but  sufficient  for  all 
the  practical  purposes  of  a  farmer's  life. 
When  about  twenty-one  years  old  he  married, 
on  February  25,  1847,  Elizabeth  Pearson, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Noah  and  Florentine 
Pearson.  Noah  Pearson  was  an  excellent 
man  and  a  good  farmer  of  Miami  county. 
His  children  were  Simeon,  William,  Elizabeth, 
Mary  and  Henrietta.  Mr.  Pearson  was  also 
a  Quaker  in  religion  and  lived  to  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  After  their  marriage  Moses 
Evans  and  wife  settled  in  Monroe  township, 
within  four  miles  of  Tippecanoe,  on  his 
father's  farm,  of  which  his  father  gave  him 
eighty  acres.  In  1865  he  sold  it  and  moved 
to  his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he 
has  much  improved.  His  wife  died  October 
13,  1856,  a  woman  of  excellent  character  and 
many  virtues.  December  31,  1857,  Mr. 
Evans  married  Ruth  Russell,  who  died  April 
25,  1859,  leaving  no  children.  On  May  3, 
1865,  Mr.  Evans  married  Delilah  Fanner,  a 
widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Yount.  She 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  July  21, 
1833,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Eve  (Fouts)  Yount. 

Solomon  Yount  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  Yount,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  pio- 
neer of  Montgomery  county  and  of  German 
descent.  He  came  with  his  family  from  North 
Carolina  with  the  old  Friends  or  Quakers,  and 
settled  in  Butler  township.  His  children  were 
Frederick,  Henry,  Rebecca,  Delilah  and  Solo- 


1300 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mon.  Solomon  Yount  was  born  July  22,  1797, 
in  North  Carolina,  and  came  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio  in  1802.  He  married  Eve  Yount,  a 
widow,  nee  Fouts,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Sinks)  Fouts.  Solo- 
mon Yount  settled  on  the  land  where  now 
lives  Isaac  Macy,  which  land  he  cleared  and 
then  removed  to  another  farm  in  Butler  town- 
ship, this  latter  farm  containing  170  acres,  and 
upon  which  he  became  a  substantial  farmer. 
His  children  by  Eve  Yount  were  Enos,  Fred- 
erick, Mary,  Roanna,  Elizabeth  and  Delilah. 
He  had  previously  been  married  to  Joanna 
Insco,  and  by  her  had  one  child,  Insco  Yount. 

In  religion  Mr.  Yount  was  a  Quaker  or 
Friend,  and  in  politics  was  first  a  whig  and 
then  a  republican.  He  died  April  10,  1870,  a 
man  of  most  excellent  character  and  of  strict 
integrity. 

Mr.  Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  as  also  his  wife.  He  served  in  the 
one  hundred  days'  service  as  a  member  of 
company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  stationed  at 
Fort  Marcy,  W.  Va.  Mr.  Evans  is  an  hon- 
ored citizen,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  super- 
visor and  member  of  school  board.  By  his 
first  wife,  he  had  four  children  who  are  now 
living:  Hester  M.;  Nancy  J.;  Noah  D.  and 
Harriet.  Mrs.  Evans  was  married  first  to 
Allen  Fanner,  a  farmer  of  Miami  county,  and 
by  him  had  three  children,  Webster,  Callie 
and  Arnold.  Allen  Fanner  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years. 


HE  ARNOLD  FAMILY.— Samuel, 
Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Henry  H.  and 
Abigail  Arnold  were  born  near  Har- 
risonburg, Rockingham  county,  Ya., 
and  with  their  parents,  Daniel  and  Catherine 
1  Harshbarger)  Arnold,  emigrated  to  Ohio  in 
the  year  1830. 


Samuel  Arnold,  a  worthy  citizen  and  pioneer 
settler  of  Wayne  township,  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  was  born  June  24,  18 17,  and  was 
thirteen  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Ohio  by 
his  parents.  He  received  a  common-school 
education  and  became  an  energetic  and  suc- 
cessful farmer,  managing  the  farm  and  raising 
the  crops  while  his  brothers  worked  in  the  saw- 
mill. At  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  married 
Miss  Hannah  Wolf,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Ullery)  Wolf.  Samuel  Arnold,  after 
marriage,  settled  on  a  farm  of  110  acres  on 
Little  Bear  creek,  Montgomery  county.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  are  Jacob  W., 
Abigail  and  Samuel  A.,  all  of  whom  are  mar- 
ried and  living  on  homes  of  their  own  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Hannah  (Wolf)  Arnold  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  March  23, 
1821,  and  died  May  10,  1873.  Samuel  Arnold 
then,  on  March  3,  1878,  married  Mrs.  Lizzie 
Stoneroad,  who  died  in  March,  1879.  He  then, 
in  April,  1884,  married  Mrs.  Polly  Warner, 
with  whom  he  is  living  a  retired  life  near  Brook- 
ville,  Ohio.  Samuel  Arnold  is  of  the  Old  Ger- 
man Baptist  faith,  and  has  held  the  office  of 
deacon  for  many  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  Arnold,  a  devout  minister  of 
the  Old  German  Baptist  church,  was  born  Oc- 
tober 27,  18 1 8,  and  was  twelve  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  Wayne  township,  Montgom- 
ery county.  He  received  a  good  education 
and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  Being  a 
natural  mechanic,  and  particularly  apt  with 
carpenter's  tools,  he  was  able  to  erect  all  his 
own  buildings,  besides  planning  and  aiding 
others  in  the  construction  of  theirs.  May  19, 
1840,  he  married,  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Frantz,  who  was  born  in  Botetourt 
county,  Ya.,  January  30,  1821,  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Crist)  Frantz. 

Michael  Frantz,  father  of  Mrs.  Arnold,  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  a  grandson  of  Peter 
Frantz    and    a  son   of    David    and    Elizabeth 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1301 


(Garst)  Frantz;  David  was  a  farmer,  and  died 
in  middle  life,  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Michael,  David,  Abraham,  Samuel, 
Christian,  Jacob,  Joseph,  Annie,  Elizabeth, 
Lydia  and  Susannah,  all  born  in  Botetourt 
county.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Frantz  came  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Logan 
county,  where  she  passed  the  remainder  of  her 
life,  and  in  the  year  1840,  at  seventy  years  of 
age,  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Old  German  Bap- 
tist church.  Michael  Frantz,  father  of  Mrs. 
Arnold,  was  born  September,  1 791 ,  and  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Marga- 
rette  (Hoh)  Crist,  of  Augusta  county,  Va., 
but  who  became  residents  of  Botetourt  county. 
Jacob  and  Margarette  (Hoh)  Crist  reared  a 
family  of  four  daughters  and  one  son,  viz: 
Betsy,  Barbara,  Catherine,  Jacob  and  Susan. 
Jacob  Crist,  the  father  of  this  family,  died  in 
Virginia,  in  1805,  aged  about  forty  years;  his 
widow,  Margarette  (Hoh)  Crist,  came  to  Ohio 
in  1826,  and  died  in  Clarke  county  in  May, 
1840,  aged  seventy-two  years  and  five  months. 
The  children  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Crist) 
Frantz  were  David,  Elizabeth  and  Catherine. 
Elizabeth  (Crist)  Frantz,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Arnold,  died  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  May  31, 
1823,  aged  thirty  years,  seven  months  and 
seven  days.  The  father  next  married  Susan- 
nah Neher,  and  to  this  union  were  born  John, 
Susannah,  Lydia,  Michael,  Samuel  and  Annie. 
The  mother  of  these  children  also  died,  and 
the  father  next  married  a  widow,  Catherine 
(Ohmarti  Crist,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
Aaron.  Michael  Frantz  came  to  Ohio  in  1823 
and  settled  on  160  acres  of  land  in  Pike  town- 
ship, Clarke  county,  cleared  up  a  good  farm 
from  the  forest,  and  died  on  his  homestead  in 
February,  i860,  aged  sixty-eight  years  and 
five  months.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Old 
German  Baptist  church,  and  recognized  as  one 
of  the  most  responsible  and  useful  citizens  of 
his  township. 


After  marriage,  Joseph  Arnold  settled  on 
his  present  homestead,  which  consists  of 
seventy-six  acres  in  Wayne  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation, 
and  improved  with  a  modern  and  commodious 
dwelling.  Mr.  Arnold  also  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  126  acres  in  Miami  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arnold  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but 
have  reared  three  with  the  kindest  of  parental 
care  and  affection,  viz:  Catherine  Neher, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  John 
and  Melissa  Baird,  both  now  married  and  set- 
tled in  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Old  German  Baptist  church.  Mr. 
Arnold  has  been  a  minister  since  1856,  has  ex- 
tended his  labors  in  the  cause  of  the  church 
over  at  least  twelve  states  of  the  Union,  and 
has  been  in  attendance  at  each  annual  confer- 
ence since  1870. 

Elizabeth  Arnold  was  born  November  29, 
1 82 1,  was  nine  years  of  age  when  brought  to 
Wayne  township,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
was  here  married  to  Daniel  Funderburg  in 
1840,  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Funderburg 
died  in  March,  i860.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Arnold) 
Funderburg  married  George  W.  Studebakerin 
February,  1863,  and  they  are  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Fredonia,  Wilson  county,  Kans. 
Both  are  devout,  active  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  Mr.  Studebaker  being  a 
minister  and  elder. 

Henry  H.  Arnold,  one  of  the  old-time 
farmers  and  mechanics  of  Wayne  township, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  was  born  January 
[  1,  1827,  and  was  but  four  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Ohio;  he  was  reared  to  farming 
among  the  pioneers,  received  the  usual  com- 
mon-school education,  and  was  also  taught 
the  use  of  tools,  for  which  he  had  a  natural 
aptitude,  but  he  and  his  brother  Joseph  both 
worked  in  a  saw-mill  when  young,  and  both 
learned  to  do  millwright   work.      His  maternal 


1302 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


grandfather,  Henry  Harshbarger,  who  settled 
in  Wayne  township  in  1830,  at  the  same 
time  with  the  Arnold  family,  bought  the  farm 
on  which  Henry  H.  now  lives;  this  farm  was 
then  mostly  in  forest;  game,  such  as  deer  and 
wild  turkey,  was  plentiful.  In  the  winter  of 
1830-31,  he  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  farm  on 
Dry  Run,  it  being  the  first  mill  in  Wayne 
township.  He  sold  the  farm  in  1831  to  his 
son-in-law,  Daniel  Arnold.  This  mill  was  run 
almost  continuously  until  1875,  and  here  the 
two  brothers  worked  for  thirty-five  years,  both 
becoming  expert  saw-millers.  At  nearly  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  Henry  H.  Arnold  was 
united  in  marriage,  September  12,  1847,  in 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  with  Magdalena  Crist, 
born  in  that  county,  August  5,  1825,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Magdalena  (Frantz)  Crist. 

Jacob  Crist,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Arnold, 
was  born  January  11,  1801,  in  Augusta 
county,  Va.,  and  was  married  to  Magda- 
lena Frantz,  of  Botetourt  county,  Va.,  in 
1822,  emigrated  to  Ohio  by  wagons  in  1823, 
settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Pike  town- 
ship, Clarke  county,  and  cleared  up  a  farm. 
Magdalena  (Frantz)  Crist,  who  bore  to  him 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz:  Joel,  Jacob 
and  Magdalena,  died  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
August  5,  1825,  at  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  and  is  buried  in  the  Meyers  cemetery, 
Clarke  county,  Ohio.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Peter,  Jr.,  and  Peggie  (Garst)  Frantz.  Peter 
Frantz,  Jr.,  was  a  iarge  landholder  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  he  and  his  family  were  members  of 
the  Old  German  Baptist  church,  Mr.  Frantz 
being  a  minister  and  elder  for  many  years. 
He  died  in  Botetourt  county,  Va.,  in 
1852,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  Jacob  Crist 
was  next  married  to  Catherine  Ohmart,  in 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  in  1826,  and  in  1828 
moved  to  Logan  county,  Ohio,  bought  160 
acres,  and  cut  the  first  tree  from  the  land, 
which  was  all  in   the  forest.      Here    he  hewed 


out  a  well-improved  farm,  on  which  they  lived 
thirteen  years,  then  returned  to  Clarke  county 
in  1840,  and  cleared  up  another  farm  of  160 
acres  in  Pike  township,  built  a  large  frame 
dwelling  and  made  a  comfortable  home. 
Catherine  (Ohmart)  Crist  bore  him  nine  chil- 
dren, viz:  Polly,  John,  Adam,  Christopher, 
Barbara,  Margarette,  Samuel,  Catherine  and 
Aaron.  All  his  children  excepting  two  reached 
mature  age  and  were  married.  Jacob  Crist 
died  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  in  January,  1849, 
aged  forty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Meyers  cemetery.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian 
and  a  faithful  member  of  his  church,  the  Old 
German  Baptist,  for  many  years  holding  the 
office  of  a  minister  and  elder. 

Henry  H.  Arnold,  after  marriage,  settled 
on  his  present  place  of  144  acres,  a  part  of  the 
old  Arnold  homestead,  which  he  bought  of  his 
father  in  1861,  and  here  there  have  been  born 
to  him  nine  children,  viz:  Elizabeth,  Daniel 
(who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years),  Silas  J., 
Henry  C,  Emma  A.,  and  four  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  have  been 
members  of  the  Old  German  Baptist  church 
for  more  than  fifty  years,  and  two  of  their  chil- 
dren are  likewise  members.  Aided  by  his 
faithful  wife  and  children,  Mr.  Arnold  has 
greatly  improved  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Arnold  have  met  with  the  prosperity 
their  industry  deserves,  and  their  undeviating 
rectitude  has  won  for  them  the  respect  of  the 
community. 

Abigail  Arnold  was  born  September  4, 
1829,  and  was  one  year  old  when  brought  to 
Ohio,  and  died  in  Wayne  township,  Mont- 
gomery county,  March  20,  1840. 

Samuel  Arnold,  the  great-grandfather  of 
this  family,  came  to  America  from  Germany, 
arriving  at  Philadelphia  when  it  was  quite  a 
small  town,  and,  with  his  wife,  settled  in  Fred- 
erick county,  Md.  He  was  the  father  of  Dan- 
iel,   Zachariah,    David.    Samuel,    Betsey    and 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1303 


Mollie.  The  father  and  sons  were  all  farmers 
and  of  the  Old  German  Baptist  faith.  Daniel, 
David,  and  Samuel  were  ministers  and  elders 
of  their  church,  and  Zachariah  was  a  deacon. 
Zachariah  Arnold,  son  of  Samuel  and  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subjects,  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  December  5,  1766,  and  married 
Abigail  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Germany  Jan- 
uary 8,  1776;  they  moved  to  Hampshire  coun- 
ty, W.  Va.,  and  settled  on  a  large  farm  near 
Romney,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  eight 
sons  and  two  daughters,  viz:  John,  Daniel, 
Joseph,  Peter,  Samuel,  David,  Benjamin,  Zach- 
ariah, Betsey  and  Peggy.  The  family  were 
members  of  the  Old  German  Baptist  church, 
Joseph  and  Benjamin  being  ministers  and  Zach- 
ariah and  Daniel  deacons.  The  sons  all  owned 
large  farms  in  West  Virginia,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Daniel,  who  emigrated  to  Ohio;  all  were 
married  and  reared  large  families,  except  Peter, 
who  remained  unmarried  and  died  in  1875, 
aged  about  eighty  years.  Zachariah  Arnold, 
father  of  this  family,  died  June  5,  1829,  aged 
sixty-two  years  and  one  month.  His  wife,  Abi- 
gail (Miller)  Arnold,  died  October  24,  1856, 
aged  eighty  years,  nine  months  and  sixteen 
days;  both  are  buried  on  the  old  Arnold  home- 
stead in  West  Virginia,  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  third  generation. 

Daniel  Arnold,  son  of  Zachariah,  and  fa- 
ther of  our  subjects,  was  born  in  Hampshire 
county,  W.  Va. ,  June  30,  1792,  and  Septem- 
ber 3,  1 8 16,  was  married  to  Catherine  Harsh- 
barger,  of  Rockingham  county,  Va. ,  who  was 
born  in  that  county,  January  17,  1795, and  was 
the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Rhine- 
hart  )  Harshbarger.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel 
Arnold  were  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
whose  names  open  this  record.  Daniel  Ar- 
nold, after  his  marriage,  bought  200  acres  of 
land  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  and  there 
followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  until  1830, 

when    he    and  his   family,    his    father-in-law, 
59 


Henry  Harshbarger,  and  part  of  his  family, 
and  Jacob  Snell  and  family,  a  party  of  sixteen 
persons,  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  wagons.  This 
colony  arrived  in  Wayne  township,  Montgom- 
ery county,  in  September,  1830;  of  this  num- 
ber only  five  are  living  at  this  date,  March, 
1897;  they  are  the  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Arnold  above  mentioned,  and 
John  Snell,  of  Miami  county,  all  between  the 
ages  of  seventy  and  eighty  years. 

Upon  his  arrival,  Daniel  Arnold  rented  land 
in  Wayne  township,  on  which  he  passed  the 
first-winter,  and  Henry  Harshbarger  bought  the 
farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  sold  a  year  later  to 
his  son-in-law,  Daniel  Arnold,  who  then  moved 
on  the  farm.  By  hard  work,  as  was  usual  as 
well  as  necessary  in  that  early  day,  assisted  by 
his  sons,  he  converted  the  wilderness  into  a 
comfortable  home,  where  he  passed  the  remain- 
derof  hisdays.  On  December  3,  1845,  he  bought 
fifty  acres  adjoining  the  south  side  of  his  farm; 
about  the  same  time  he  sold  seventy-six  acres 
to  his  son  Joseph,  where  he  still  lives.  Daniel 
Arnold  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  Henry  H., 
July  11,  1864,  aged  seventy-two  years  and 
eleven  days,  from  injuries  received  by  an  acci- 
dental fall  from  a  wagon.  Catherine  (Harsh- 
barger) Arnold  died  December  6,  1852,  aged 
fifty-seven  years,  ten  months  and  nineteen 
days.  Both  are  buried  in  the  family  graveyard 
on  the  old  Arnold  homestead.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniel  Arnold  were  members  of  the  Old  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  and  were  greatly  re- 
spected for  their  general  usefulness  as  citizens, 
and  for  the  reason  that  they  did  as  much  as 
any  pioneers  of  the  township  to  redeem  it  from 
the  forest  and  advance  its  civilization.  Henry 
Harshbarger,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subjects,  was  born  in  Virginia  February  28, 
1774,  and  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Rhinehart, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia  March  18,  1775. 
They  owned  and  lived  on  a  farm  near  Dayton, 
Rockingham  county,  Va.,  where  they  reared  a 


1804 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


family  of  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  viz: 
Catherine  (the  mother  of  our  subject),  Magda- 
lene, Elizabeth,  Barbara,  John,  Henry,  Jr., 
and  Anna,  all  of  whom  came  to  Ohio,  except 
John,  who  remained  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Harsh- 
barger,  after  leaving  Wayne  township,  bought 
and  occupied  a  farm  in  Bethel  township,  Miami 
county.  Here  his  wife  died,  April  2,  1833, 
aged  "fifty-eight  years  and  fifteen  days,  being 
the  first  person  buried  in  the  Hickory  Grove 
cemetery.  Mr.  Harshbarger  then  married  a 
widow  Ullery,  and  returned  to  Montgomery 
county,  where  he  died  at  his  home  on  Little 
Bear  creek,  June  3,  1847,  aged  seventy -three 
years,  three  months  and  three  days,  and  is 
buried  in  Bright's  cemetery  in  the  vicinity. 


•  HE  MARTINDALE  FAMILY  is  one 
of  the  oldest,  most  substantial  and 
respected  in  the  county  of  Montgom- 
ery, Ohio,  and  is  noted  for  its  intelli- 
gence, thrift,  industry  and  sturdy  traits  of 
character,  as  well  as  for  its  prominence  in  the 
social  and  material  progress  of  the  county. 
The  founders  of  the  family  in  America  were 
three  brothers,  who  came  from  England  in  the 
colonial  days,  and  settled  near  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  and  a  son  of  one  of  these,  Maj.  James  A. 
Martindale  (or  Martindill,  as  the  name  was 
originally  spelled),  was  a  patriot  of  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  was  a  great-great-grand- 
father of  Walter  L.  Martindale,  the  lawyer  of 
Harrisburg,  Ohio. 

Maj.  James  A.  Martindale  was  born  in 
South  Carolina  in  1754.  His  father  was  of 
Irish  and  his  mother,  nee'Alexander,  of  Scotch 
parentage,  and  both  came  to  America  with 
their  parents  about  the  year  1735.  James  A. 
Martindale  enlisted  in  1780,  served  as  a  private 
one  year,  as  lieutenant  two  years,  and  eventu- 
ally attained  the  rank  of  major,  and  in  1832 
was  granted  a  pension,  having  rendered  valu- 


able service  at  King's  Mountain,  N.  C,  siege 
of  Ninety-six,  S.  C,  Cowpens  and  elsewhere. 
After  the  war  he  moved  to  Greenbrier  county, 
now  in  West  Virginia,  where  several  of  his 
children  were  born,  and  in  181 1  came  to 
Ohio  and  settled  in  Gallia  county.  He  was 
three  times  married — first  to  a  Miss  Bishop, 
and  of  the  children  born  to  this  union  the 
names  of  Samuel,  Thomas  and  Mattie  are  re- 
membered; after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he 
again  married,  and  after  the  death  of  his  sec- 
ond wife  he  married  a  third,  being  then  over 
ninety  years  of  age.  He  came  to  Montgomery 
county  from  Gallipolis  some  time  after  his  son 
Samuel  had  settled  here,  and  it  is  remembered 
that  at  one  time  the  major,  his  son  Samuel, 
his  grandson  Jesse,  and  his  great-grandson  Ma- 
kinny — four  generations — cradled  wheat  to- 
gether on  the  farm  of  Samuel,  near  Troy.  The 
major  lived  to  reach  the  age  of  ninety-six  years, 
and  his  remains  lie  interred  in  the  soil  of  the 
Buckeye  state. 

Samuel  Martindale,  son  of  Maj.  James  A. 
Martindale  and  great-grandfather  of  Walter  L. 
Martindale,  was  born  in  South  Carolina  and 
was  twice  married.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  he  married  Elizabeth  Campbell,  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  to  this  second  union  were  born 
Rebecca,  John,  Hester,  Lydia,  Rachel,  Martha 
and  Samuel.  The  father,  Samuel,  was  a  farmer 
and  in  1803  came  to  Ohio,  bought  forty  acres  of 
land  near  Waynesville,  Warren  county,  on 
which  he  resided  until  1807,  when  he  came  to 
Montgomery  county  and  settled  on  160  acres 
on  the  north  line  of  Butler  township,  prospered 
greatly,  acquired  several  farms  and  became  a 
citizen  of  great  influence  and  prominence.  He 
was  an  old-line  whig  in  politics  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  church. 
He  was  really  the  founder  of  the  Martindale 
family  in  Montgomery  county,  as  his  father, 
Maj.  James  A.,  was  an  aged  man  when  he 
came  here.      He  also  lived  to  a  great  age,  be- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1305 


ing  over  eighty  years  of  age  when  he  died  an 
honored  pioneer. 

John  Martindale,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and 
grandfather  of  Walter  L. ,  was  born  in  South 
Carolina  in  1798  and  was  brought  when  a  child 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  by  his  father. 
He  here  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm 
among  the  pioneers,  and  first  married  Miss  Mary 
Sidney,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who  had 
come  to  Ohio  in  company  with  two  sisters,  mak- 
ingthe  trip  on  horseback,  afterthe  death  of  their 
parents.  To  this  marriage  was  born  one  son, 
Jesse,  and  after  the  death  of  the  mother,  Mr. 
Martindale  married  Miss  Amy  Campbell, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Amelia  (Henderson) 
Campbell.  This  lady  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  her  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  ex- 
traction. This  second  union  was  blessed  with 
ten  children,  viz:  Elizabeth,  Robert,  Mary, 
Samuel,  Rachel,  John,  William,  Stewart, 
Martin  and  Rebecca.  John  Martindale,  after 
marriage,  first  located  in  Fidelity,  Miami 
county,  where  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  black- 
smith (which  he  had  learned  when  a  young 
man)  until  1821,  when  he  settled  on  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  on  the  north  line  of  Butler  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county.  This  farm  he 
cleared  up  in  great  part  from  the  woods,  made 
a  success  of  farm  life,  and  added  to  his  posses- 
sions until  he  owned  520  acres,  situated  in 
Montgomery  and  Miami  counties,  Ohio,  and 
in  Indiana,  thus  becoming  one  of  the  most 
substantial  citizens  of  Butler  township.  He 
was  a  man  of  sterling  qualities,  and  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Christian  church,  and  in  politics 
was  a  whig.  His  death  took  place  in  1859, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  felt  throughout  the  entire  community. 
Of  his  sons,  Samuel  served  three  years  in  the 
Civil  war  as  captain  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry;  Stewart  was  an  orderly 
sergeant  in  the  Sixty-third  Ohio  infantry; 
Robert  served  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 


seventh  for  100  days  and  was  promoted  to  be 
sergeant,  and  John  served  as  private  in  the 
same  regiment  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
Of  Samuel  Martindale,  the  fourth  child  born 
to  John  and  Amelia  (Campbell)  Martindale, 
full  mention  will  be  made  in  the  biography  of 
Walter  L.  Martindale,  of  Butler  township. 


£"V*AMUEL  F.  NORTH,  one  of  the  vet- 
•^V    eran   soldiers   of  the   late  Civil   war, 

h<_J  springs  from  Scotch  ancestors  on  his 
father's  side,  and  on  his  mother's  side 
from  German  ancestry.  His  grandfather  came 
from  Scotland,  and  his  father,  David  North, 
served  as  a  soldier  when  he  was  eighteen  years 
old,  in  the  war  of  18 12.  David  North  married 
Susan  Fair,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Fair,  in 
Dayton.  She  was  born  in  Taneytown,  Md., 
of  German  ancestry.  Mr.  North  was  a  saddler 
by  trade  and  lived  in  Dayton  until  he  moved 
to  Vandalia,  where  he  died  in  1849,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-three  years,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Mrs.  North,  who  still  lives  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years,  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  North  were  George  W.,  Martha  J.,  David 
V.,  John  V.,  Samuel  F.,  Michael  J.,  Thomas 
J.,  Rebecca  and  Emma.  Four  of  these  sons 
served  in  the  late  Civil  war,  viz:  George  W. , 
Thomas  J.,  Samuel  F.  and  Michael  J.  George 
W.  was  in  an  Ohio  regiment;  Thomas  J.  was 
in  the  Seventy-fourth  Ohio  volunteer  infantry, 
marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea  and  partici- 
pated in  many  battles,  and  Michael  J.  was  in 
company  G,  Second  Illinois  volunteer  cavalry. 
David  V.,  when  a  young  man,  went  to  Mem- 
phis, Tenn. ,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  that 
of  molder;  he  went  with  Gen.  Walker  on  his 
ill-fated  expedition  to  Nicaraugua  and  there 
perished  with  many  others. 

Samuel  F.  North  was  born  April  2,  1840, 
near  Harrisburg,   Ohio.      He  received  a  com- 


1306 


CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mon-school  education,  learned  early  in  life 
what  hard  work  meant,  and  was  but  nine  years 
old  when  his  father  died.  Becoming  a  farmer, 
he  went  to  Mason  county,  111.,  in  the  spring  of 
1 86 1,  and  then  enlisted  at  Havana  in  July  fol- 
lowing, being  enrolled  on  the  23d  of  that 
month,  in  company  C,  Second  Illinois  volun- 
teer cavalry,  to  serve  three  years  or  during  the 
war.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service  January  3,  1864,  at  Memphis,  Tenn., 
in  order  to  re-enlist  as  a  veteran  to  serve  again 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  mustered  out  the  second  time  at  San 
Antonio,  Tex..  January  2,  1866,  by  reason  of 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  promoted  to 
sergeant  of  his  company,  and  held  that  office 
when  finally  discharged.  He  was  in  the  battle 
of  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  and  on  the  Obion 
river,  Tenn.,  on  the  Tallahatchie,  and  in  many 
skirmishes.  He  was  in  a  raid  with  Col.  Sper- 
ling from  the  Florida  coast  to  Gravel  Hill  sta- 
tion on  the  Mobile  &  Columbia  railroad,  and 
on  the  Blakely  &  Claiborne  when  a  fight  oc- 
curred. He  marched  on  through  to  Vicksburg 
and  up  the  Red  river  country  to  Shreveport 
and  then  to  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  being  on  the 
march  from  March  20,  1865,  to  August  18, 
1865.  Mr.  North  was  a  faithful  and  efficient 
soldier  throughout  the  war. 

The  great  conflict  having  come  to  a  close, 
Mr.  North  returned  to  Montgomery  county, 
and  on  March  7,  1867,  at  Vandalia,  married 
Cynthia  A.  Collins,  who  was  born  in  1847, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (Rob- 
erts) Collins.  Mr.  Collins  was  of  Irish  descent, 
but  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  married  Nancy 
Roberts,  of  New  Antioch,  Clinton  county,  Ohio, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  who  lived  to 
mature  years:  Henry  and  Cynthia  A.  Mr. 
Collins  settled  in  Auglaize  county,  at  Saint 
Mary's,  where  he  ran  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
also  managed  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.      He  died 


January  1,  i860,  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  His  widow  lived  on  the  farm  until 
November  17,  1895.  when  she  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  two  months  and  seventeen 
days.  She  was  a  member  of  the  church  and  a 
woman  of  excellent  traits  of  character  and  at- 
tractive disposition. 

Mr.  North  settled  in  Auglaize  county,  and 
there  lived  until  within  a  few  years,  when  he 
sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Montgomery 
county,  buying  his  present  farm  in  Butler  town- 
ship in  1891.  His  children  are  Jennie  and 
Nannie.  Mrs.  North  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  the  children  are  members  of 
the  Brethren  church.  Mr.  North  is  a  repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  Milton 
Weaver  post,  G.  A.  R.  His  daughter  Jennie 
married  Sherman  S.  Sunderland,  and  Nannie 
married  Allen  T.  Routson,  and  has  one  son, 
Nevin  S. 

George  North,  the  grandfather  of  Samuel 
F.  North,  came  from  England  with  Lord  Balti- 
more. He  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Maryland,  and  died  in  Cumberland 
county,  that  state.  His  children  were  John, 
George,  David,  Michael,  Samuel,  Polly,  Betsey, 
Nanny,  Susan  and  Sallie.  Mr.  North  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

David  North,  father  of  Samuel  F.,  was  born 
March  17,  1796,  in  Cumberland  county,  Md., 
and  received  a  limited  common-school  educa- 
tion. While  he  was  a  farmer,  he  also  carried 
on  the  saddler's  trade  at  Hagerstown,  Md., 
and,  having  married  in  Maryland,  removed  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Montgomery  county.  By  his 
first  wife  he  had  no  children.  After  her  death, 
which  occurred  a  few  years  after  marriage,  he 
married  Betsey  Harvey,  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  and  by  her  he  had  two  children,  George 
and  Martha  J.  This  wife  also  died  a  few  years 
after  her  marriage,  and  Mr.  North  then  mar- 
ried Susan  Fair,  who  was  born  March  10,  18 16, 
in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  and  was  a  daughter 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1307 


of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Krouse)  Fair.  Michael 
Fair  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  his  parents 
having  removed  thither  from  North  Carolina. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1 8 1 2.  He  mar- 
ried in  Maryland,  and  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Volusha,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Re- 
becca, Samuel  and  Sarah.  Mr.  Fair  came  to 
Montgomery  county  in  1834,  settled  in  Dayton, 
and  worked  at  his  trade  of  shoemaker.  He 
died  in  Chambersburg  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 


£~V*AMUEL  SOUDERS,  M.  D.,  a  promi- 
*V^^%T    nent  physician  of  Montgomery  coun- 

h<_y  ty,  living  at  Beavertown,  was  born 
near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  September  15, 
1830.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  M. 
(Slater)  Souders,  both  natives  of  Loudoun 
county,  Va.,  and  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  mature  age,  and  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  George,  of 
Hocking  county;  Eli,  of  the  same  county; 
Samuel;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  G.  W.  Baughman, 
of  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  Amos,  of 
Morgan  county,  Ohio. 

Jacob  Souders,  the  father  of  this  family, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  came  to  Ohio  in 
18 16,  and  located  in  Morgan  county,  building 
his  log  cabin  just  across  the  line  from  Mus- 
kingum county.  He  at  first  took  up  160  acres 
of  land  for  himself,  and  later  bought  land  for 
his  children.  There  he  continued  to  live  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  December  22,  1866, 
when  he  was  seventy-six  years  of  age.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  August  10,  1886,  when 
she  died  at  the  age  of  ninety  years  and  five 
months.  They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

The  father  of  Jacob  Souders  was  a  native 
of  Maryland,  in  which  state  he  died  in  middle 
life.  His  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.     The  maternal  grandfather  of 


Samuel  Souders,  John  Slater,  was  a  native  of 
Loudoun  county,  Va.,  and  there  he  died  at 
middle  age,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Comfort,  survived  him  for  some 
years,  dying  at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety-four. 

Samuel  Souders,  M.  D.,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools,  making  such  good 
use  of  his  opportunities  as  to  begin  teaching 
school  when  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  con- 
tinued to  follow  the  profession  of  teaching  for 
eight  years,  attending  Muskingum  college  in 
the  meantime,  and  paying  his  expenses  with 
the  money  he  earned  as  a  teacher.  He  was  a 
regular  graduate  of  the  Ophthalmic  hospital 
in  New  York  in  1861,  engaged  in  practice  and 
intended  to  make  ophthalmy  a  specialty;  but, 
ophthalmy  alone  not  being  remunerative,  he 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  univer- 
sity of  New  York,  and  ten  years  later  gradu- 
ated from  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  college. 
In  1 87 1,  after  a  thorough  preparation.  Dr. 
Souders  began  the  general  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Beavertown,  Ohio,  and  has  continued 
to  practice  there  ever  since,  but,  as  he  had 
practiced  from  1861  to  187 1,  he  has  conse- 
quently been  in  continuous  practice  now  for  a 
period  of  thirty-five  years. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1863,  he  married 
Miss  Jennie  O'Neill,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Elizabeth  (Sherman)  O'Neill,  natives  of  New 
Bedford,  Mass.  Mrs.  Souders  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Pa.,  October  28,  1842.  She 
was  educated  in  the  east,  and  after  coming  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen, was  a  successful  school  teacher  from  that 
time  until  her  marriage. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Souders  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Minnie  Anna,  wife  of  Rev.  E.  W.  Darst, 
now  of  Chicago,  but  who  was  formerly  minister 
for  seven  years  in  Boston;  J.  Maud,  yet  single; 
Samuel  Mott,  principal  of  the  Beavertown 
public  schools;  and  Myrtle,  a  graduate  of  the 


1308 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Conservatory  of  Music,  in  which  she  took  the 
normal  course,  finishing  in  1896.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Souders  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Montgomery 
county  Medical  society,  and  also  of  the  state 
and  national  Medical  associations.  In  his 
practice  he  has  met  with  unusual  success,  and 
is  recognized  throughout  a  large  district  as  one 
of  the  best  of  its  physicians.  In  his  early  life 
he  was  a  whig,  voting  first  for  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott.  From  the  organization  of  the  repub- 
lican party  he  was  a  republican  until  1871, 
when  he  became  a  prohibitionist,  and  has  since 
adhered  to  that  party.  Dr.  Souders  has  been 
a  resident  of  Montgomery  county  for  thirty- 
eight  years,  and  has  a  beautiful  residence  in 
Beavertown. 

He  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  education  of 
the  young,  and  all  of  his  children  have  been 
given  a  classical  education.  In  his  profession 
Dr.  Souders  enjoys  the  confidence  of  a  large 
circle  of  patients,  and  in  the  community  where 
he  has  spent  so  many  years  of  useful  labor  he 
is  esteemed  as  a  good  and  honorable  citizen. 


>Y*OHN  P.  CREAGER,  farmer,  of  Van 
J  Buren  township,  Montgomery  county, 
A  1  was  born  in  Franklin,  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  in  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Susanna  (Doland)  Creager,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Maryland 
and  the  latter  of  Warren  county,  Ohio. 
When  yet  a  small  child  William  Creager  was 
brought  to  Ohio  by  his  parents  and  was  reared 
at  Franklin,  where  his  father  followed  his  trade, 
that  of  blacksmith,  for  some  years,  but  after- 
ward bought  a  farm  upon  which  he  lived  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  William  Creager  and 
his  wife  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
six  sons  and  five  daughters,  seven  of  whom  are 
now  living,  as  follows:  John  P.;  Mary  Ann, 
wife   of   Otho  Mundebaugh;    Ezra;    Susanna, 


widow  of  Nicholas  Eylar;  Jacob;  Eliza  Jane, 
widow  of  James  Mehan;  and  Emma  F.,  wife 
of  Elmer  Marshall. 

William  Creager  grew  to  man's  estate  near 
Franklin,  in  Warren  county,  and  in  1856  moved 
to  Van  Buren  township,  Montgomery  county, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  of  1 5  1  acres,  afterward 
selling  six  acres,  and  lived  on  this  farm  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  November  I,  1892, 
aged  nearly  eighty  years.  His  wife  died  March 
18,  1893,  aged  seventy  years.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church,  and  he  was  a  Lu- 
theran. Both  were  good  citizens,  and  dying 
left  many  friends  to  mourn  their  loss. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  John  P.,  Cas- 
per Creager,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but  of 
German  descent.  At  an  early  day  he  came 
west  and  settled  in  Warren  county,  where  he 
died  at  a  great  age.  There  also  his  wife  died. 
They  reared  a  family  of  five  children.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Mr.  Doland,  located  at 
Franklin  count)',  Ohio,  as  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  county,  and  died  there  at  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

John  P.  Creager,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  to  farm  life  and  labor  on  his  father's 
farm,  which  he  now  owns.  He  received  his 
rudimentary  education  in  the  district  schools, 
but  has  added  to  and  supplemented  this  edu- 
cation, which  was  necessarily  somewhat  crude 
and  deficient,  by  personal  study,  reading  and 
observation,  and  has  thus  become  one  of  the 
well-informed  and  intelligent  citizens  of  his 
county.  On  March  17,  1SS7,  he  married  Miss 
Julia  M.  Ditman,  daughter  of  Jacob  Ditman, 
and  by  this  marriage  he  has  two  children,  viz: 
William  Howard  and  John.  Politically  Mr. 
Creager  is  and  always  has  been  a  democrat, 
but  has  never  sought  any  official  position,  pre- 
ferring the  certain  profits  and  quiet  happiness 
of  farm  life  to  the  turmoil  and  disappointments 
of  politics.  His  farm,  which  is  among  the  best 
in  the  county,  contains   145  acres,  is  well  im- 


OF  DAYTON  AND  MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 


1309 


proved  and  stocked,  and  furnishes  him  and  his 
family  with  all  the  necessities  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life.  Mr.  Creager's  excellent  quali- 
ties have  made  him  many  friends  throughout 
the  surrounding  country,  wherever  known. 


WOHN  ZEHRING,  a  retired  farmer  of 
■  Brookville,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
A  1  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  in  the 
same  county,  March  8,  1841,  a  son  of 
Barnheart  and  Elizabeth  (Swartzel)  Zehring, 
who  were  of  Pennsylvania-German  stock,  of 
whom  mention  is  made  in  the  biography  of 
Rev.  Aaron  Zehring. 

John  Zehring  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  May  2,  1864,  having  enlisted  in 
Johnsville,  he  was  mustered  into  the  Union 
service  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  under  Capt. 
Coler,  but  served  under  Capt.  David  Holler- 
man  at  Federal  Hill,  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  guard 
duty,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp 
Chase,  August  25,  1864,  having  served  about 
two  weeks  over  his  term  of  enlistment.  His 
marriage  took  place  at  Lewisburg,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 15,  1868,  to  Lucretia  Kumler,  who  was 
born  near  Lincoln,  Ohio,  August  13,  1844,  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Frances  (Disher)  Kum- 
ler, both  of  German  descent  and  respectively 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  parentage. 

Rev.  Henry  Kumler,  father  of  David,  was  a 
son  of  a  pioneer  minister,  also  named  Henry, 
whose  wife  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-seven 
years — her  portrait,  which  is  still  in  the  fami- 
ly, being  included  in  a  group  of  five  genera- 
tions. Rev.  Henry  Kumler,  the  younger,  and 
the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Zehring,  was  a  bishop 
in  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  traveled 
through  many  circuits,  but  made  his  perma- 
nent home  in  Lewisburg,  Ohio.  He  lived  to 
be  eighty  years  of  age,  and  was  the  father  of 
eight    children,   viz:     David,   Andrew,   Noah, 


Henry,  Susannah,  Jesse,  Salome  and  Samuel, 
of  whom  two  of  the  sons — Jesse  and  Samuel — 
served  three  years  each  in  an  Ohio  regiment 
during  the  Civil  war. 

David  Kumler  was  born  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, Preble  county,  Ohio,  was  a  wheel- 
wright, and  also  a  surveyor,  and  lived  to  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  To  him  and  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Frances  (Disher)  Kumler,  were 
born  two  children — Lucretia  and  Savilla. 

Capt.  Matthias  Disher,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Lucretia  Zehring,  was  born  on 
the  banks  of  the  James  river,  in  Botetourt 
county,  Va. ,  January  1,  18 17.  His  grand- 
father, Peter  Discher  (as  the  name  was  orig- 
inally spelled),  came  from  Germany  prior 
to  the  Revolution,  was  a  soldier  in  that 
glorious  struggle,  and  fought  under  Benedict 
Arnold  at  Quebec,  Canada.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  located  in  Maryland,  but  some  years 
later  removed  to  Botetourt  county,  where 
his  death  took  place  about  1821  or  1822. 
Of  his  seven  children,  the  youngest,  Chris- 
tian, was  born  in  Maryland  in  1788,  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  sta- 
tioned at  Norfolk,  Va.  He  married  Frances 
Circle  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Botetourt 
county,  Va. ,  where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of 
1829,  when  he  came  with  his  wife  and  five 
children  to  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Harrison  township,  Preble  county,  where  his 
son,  Christian,  now  lives,  and  where  he  died  in 
1 87 1,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years  and  eleven 
months.  His  son,  Capt.  Matthias  Disher,  raised 
or  recruited  company  H,  Ninety-third  Ohio 
volunteer  infantry,  and  fought  through  the 
Civil  war,  thus  continuing  the  military  record 
of  the  family. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Zehring 
located  on  a  farm  of  ninety-seven  acres  in 
Harrison  township,  where  there  were  born  to 
them  three  children — Estella,  Clare  and  Ear- 
nest.     In    1882   they  removed   to   Brookville, 


1310 


CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


where  theyjbought  a  pleasant  residence,  which 
is  still  their  home.  They  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church — old  constitution — in 
which  Mr.  Zehring  has  held  the  offices  of  trus- 
tee and  steward.  He  has  always  been  zealous 
and  active  in  his  church  work,  and  largely 
aided  with  his  means  in  the  erection  of    the 


United  Brethren  church  in  Perry  township. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  but  has  never 
been  ambitious  for  public  office.  He  is  greatly 
respected  by  his  neighbors  in  Brookville,  and 
was  always  regarded  with  esteem  in  his  town- 
ship as  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity. 


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